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Southeastern Virginia | Vol. 60 No. 13 | 10 Nissan 5782 | April 11, 2022
3 Tidewater Ukraine Emergency Fund continues to raise and distribute dollars
18 JFS: Focus on mental health and wellness
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JEWISH NEWS
UPFRONT
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Tidewater Ukraine Emergency Fund raises and distributes dollars
T
he severity of the war in Ukraine, its inhumane treatment of civilians, and devasting destruction, is apparent to anyone watching or reading the news. What is not found in the mainstream media, however, is that at the start of the war, Ukraine was home to more than 200,000 Jews. In addition to wanting to help all Ukrainians, a special desire and obligation exists to help those in the Jewish community, many who are considered especially vulnerable as they are elderly or impoverished. United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, with assistance from
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Tidewater Jewish Foundation, created the Tidewater Ukraine Emergency Fund in early March to send dollars to help feed, secure, and relocate as many of these people as possible. The Tidewater Ukraine Emergency Fund has raised and distributed almost $278,000 as of Monday, April 4. The money has been sent to United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s overseas partner agencies, the American-Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and Jewish Agency for Israel to be used to assist refugees and those still in Ukraine. The Ukraine Emergency Fund focuses on: • Helping people make Aliyah to Israel • Securing the local community and its institutions • Maintaining critical welfare services • Assisting internally displaced people in multiple locations • Launching an emergency hotline • Securing temporary housing for people in transit • Purchasing satellite phones to maintain communications
Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 200 Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462-4370 voice 757-965-6100 • fax 757-965-6102 email news@ujft.org Terri Denison, Editor Germaine Clair, Art Director Sandy Goldberg, Account Executive Marilyn Cerase, Subscription Manager Reba Karp, Editor Emeritus United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Laura G. Gross, President Alvin Wall, Treasurer Mona Flax, Secretary Betty Ann Levin, Executive Vice-President JewishVA.org The appearance of advertising in the Jewish News does not constitute a kashrut, political, product or service endorsement. The articles and letters appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of this newspaper.
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The 146 Jewish Federations across North America have raised more than $43 million and continue to work with the overseas partners to ensure relief reaches those who need it most. “The needs in Ukraine and for those who’ve left are only growing,” says Betty Ann Levin, executive vice president, UJFT. Help UJFT deliver hope and help now when it is so desperately needed. To give online, go to www.jewishva.org. To give with a check, mail to: United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Attention: Ukraine Emergency Fund 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 200 Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Up Front. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
War in Ukraine impacts matzah prices. . . . . . . . . . 17
Briefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
JFS continues mission for mental health and wellness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Senate confirms Lipstadt as antisemitism monitor. 5 Israel companies want to bring lab-grown meat to the masses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
TJF: New Feldman Family Medical scholarship. . . 19
Biden boosts budget for nonprofit security. . . . . . . . 7
Holocaust education at Norview Middle School. . . 23
Support for area homeless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Yom Hashoah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Tidewater Chavurah acquires Torah scroll . . . . . . . 11
Book Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Chair thrown at captor headed to museum. . . . . . . 12
What’s Happening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Congressman McEachin visits Sandler Family Campus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
B’ Tayavon: Leora Drory shares Passover recipes . . 14
Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Seven new haggadahs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
In Memoriam: Madeleine Albright. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Yom Ha’Atzmaut. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Who Knew?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
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BRIEFS NETFLIX TO PRODUCE A JEWISH MATCHMAKING SERIES Matchmaker, matchmaker—are you going on Netflix? The streaming giant announced a new Jewish Matchmaking series modeled after its hit Indian Matchmaking. Details are scant, and there is no premiere date, but Netflix’s companion site Tudum says it will feature “singles in the US and Israel as they turn their dating life over to a top Jewish matchmaker.” “Will using the traditional practice of shidduch help them find their soulmate in today’s world?” the show asks. Indian Matchmaking was nominated for an Emmy after premiering in July 2020, but was also criticized by many who said it promoted stereotypes and classism. The show’s production group, Industrial Media’s The Intellectual Property Corporation, will also produce Jewish Matchmaking. Netflix has also sustained criticism for some of its other shows such as Unorthodox and My Unorthodox Life, for their negative portrayals of Orthodox Jews. Significant drama has also occurred within the Haart family, who is at the center of My Unorthodox Life, during filming of the show’s second season. (JTA) RUTH BADER GINSBURG’S “DISSENT” COLLAR, JUDICIAL ROBE, BOBBLEHEAD, AMONG OBJECTS HEADING TO SMITHSONIAN The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s children have donated dozens of objects that symbolize her time on the court and her role as a pop culture icon to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The objects include her famous “dissent” and “majority” collars, which she famously liked to wear to telegraph her votes on cases; her judicial robe; a bobblehead and Legos of her likeness; as well as various documents and awards. The museum, which has enshrined the donations in its permanent collection, posthumously awarded the late justice with its Great Americans Medal on Wednesday, March 30 at a ceremony
honoring her achievements. The medal “has honored those who have not only made a lasting impact in their fields but those whose philanthropic and humanitarian endeavors set them apart,” read a press release from the Smithsonian. Past recipients of the award include Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell, Tom Brokaw, Cal Ripken Jr., Billie Jean King, Paul Simon, and Dr. Anthony Fauci. The virtual tribute for Ginsburg featured a biographical film narrated by Gloria Steinem and testimonials from President Jimmy Carter, Chief Justice John Roberts, Barbara Streisand, and Oprah Winfrey, as well as a conversation between the museum’s director, Anthea M. Hartig, and the justice’s children, Jane and James. Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 and served until her death on Erev Rosh Hashanah in 2020. The Washington Post reported that Ginsburg’s family invited curators from the Smithsonian to her chambers a few weeks after she died. “There was always an understanding there, that the Smithsonian would be a big part of where some of the more significant items would go,” James Ginsburg said. “That Mom kept all of this stuff does not surprise me. That was in her nature. She was someone who preserved things.” (JTA)
SECURITY GUARD AT OHIO JEWISH SCHOOL THREATENS SCHOOL ON SOCIAL MEDIA A security guard at a Jewish day school in Columbus, Ohio, was arrested and charged with making terrorist threats against the students and parents at the school. Thomas Develin, 24, worked as a security guard at Columbus Torah Academy, a Modern Orthodox Jewish day school for students from kindergarten through high school, until his arrest Wednesday, March 30. The arrest came after local law enforcement was alerted to photos shared to social media platforms showing Develin
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threatening the school community. “I’m at a Jewish school and about to make it everyone’s problem,” read the caption of one picture of Develin holding a gun posted to his social media account on March 11. Another photo posted that day was captioned: “The playground is about to turn into a self-defense situation,” according to the Columbus Dispatch. JewishColumbus, a community organization that replaced the Columbus Jewish Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Columbus, released a statement crediting law enforcement for responding swiftly to Develin’s posts: “Securing our community is the top priority at JewishColumbus and we remain in close contact with our law enforcement partners as the investigation continues. We want to express our gratitude to the quick-thinking law enforcement officials at the local, state and national agencies. Their training, planning and professionalism stopped the threat. We believe strongly that those implicated in this threat will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” Develin, who previously served in the National Guard, is being held on $1 million bond. (JTA)
SHOOTING AT MIAMI-DADE JCC LEAVES 1 DEAD. POLICE: AN ACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A woman was killed at the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center in Florida’s Miami-Dade County Sunday, April 3 in what police are calling an act of domestic violence. Police said the woman was killed by her husband while she attended her daughter’s swimming lesson. In a statement, the JCC said police believed there to be “no known threat to the Jewish community.” Across the country, Jewish community centers are widely used by Jews and non-Jews alike. A different shooting at an Indianapolis JCC in February stemmed from a dispute during a basketball game and did not involve Jews or represent a threat to the Jewish community, authorities there said.
The statement by the Miami-Dade JCC also credited the safety trainings taken by the organization’s staff for keeping others in the building safe. “Thankfully, years of drills and numerous safety protocols ensured the safety of our members, staff, and community,” the statement said. (JTA)
ZELENSKY: UKRAINE WILL LOOK MORE LIKE ‘BIG ISRAEL’ THAN EUROPE IN THE WAKE OF RUSSIA’S WAR Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s Jewish president, said his country will look more like Israel, a democracy on constant military alert, than like their more relaxed European neighbors, given the prospect of long-term tensions with Russia. “We will become a ‘big Israel’ with its own face,” Zelensky said Tuesday, April 5 at a briefing for Ukrainian media, Haaretz reported. “We will not be surprised if we have representatives of the armed forces or the national guard in cinemas, supermarkets, and people with weapons. I am confident that the question of security will be issue number one for the next ten years. I am sure of it.” Armed soldiers are ubiquitous in Israel, where there is a mandatory draft for men and women and where men may do weeks of reserve duty every year into their 40s. Zelensky clarified that he was not anticipating an autocracy. “An authoritarian state would lose to Russia,” he said. “People know what they are fighting for.” Russia’s war against Ukraine, in its second month, has drawn into battle civilians who have been rapidly trained in the use of rifles and other means of combat. “Ukraine will definitely not be what we wanted it to be from the beginning. It is impossible,” Zelensky said. “Absolutely liberal, European—it will not be like that. It will definitely come from the strength of every house, every building, every person.”
SP EC I A L E VE N T I N VI TAT I O N
NATION Senate unanimously confirms Deborah Lipstadt as antisemitism monitor Ron Kampeas
Deborah Lipstadt.
WASHINGTON (JTA)—The Senate, in a voice vote, unanimously confirmed Deborah Lipstadt, the Holocaust scholar who endured delays and a contentious hearing in her nomination to be antisemitism monitor. The vote late Wednesday, March 30 took mere seconds. “The ayes appear to have it,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin, the Wisconsin Democrat who was presiding over the session, said after calling for a vote. “The ayes do have it. The nomination is confirmed.” There were no “Nos.” It was not clear from the C-Span video, which Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff posted on his Twitter feed, how many senators were present for the vote to confirm Lipstadt to the State Department role. Still, the fact that none of Lipstadt’s erstwhile Republican critics demanded debate or a headcount—actions that could have further delayed her nomination— was in sharp contrast to the procedural maneuvers Republicans used for months to delay her confirmation. Ossoff introduced the motion to nominate Lipstadt in part because he represents Georgia, where Lipstadt teaches at Emory University, but he also noted his Jewish roots in his 4-minute speech. “It was U.S. forces who liberated Dachau and Buchenwald. And Annie and Israel, my great-grandparents, they got out of Europe,” Ossoff said. “Many of my family did not, Madam President, and they perished in the Holocaust. This isn’t
ancient history. This is recent history. And right now, as we speak, the scourge of antisemitism is rising again, in this country and around the world. If we mean the words ‘never again,’ then at long last Madam President, let’s confirm Deborah Lipstadt to fight antisemitism on behalf of the United States.” Lipstadt is now the first antisemitism monitor to have the role of ambassador, under a law passed by Congress in 2020, which enhances her status overseas when she makes representations to foreign governments and allows her more direct access to the secretary of state and to the president should she come across a situation that she believes requires executive action.
Lipstadt is the first antisemitism monitor to have the role of ambassador, which enhances her status overseas when she makes representations to foreign governments and allows her more direct access to the secretary of state and to the president. The fact that the rank of ambassador means the role requires Senate confirmation subjected Lipstadt to scrutiny. Her sharp past criticisms of former President Donald Trump, and particularly of Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, led to delays and a contentious hearing in February. Only two Republicans on the Foreign Relations Committee joined Democrats in advancing the nomination. A broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel groups advocated on behalf of Lipstadt, including groups like the Orthodox Union and Christians United for Israel that maintain close ties with Republicans. Lipstadt, 75, has been for years a go-to expert for the media and for legislators on Holocaust issues, particularly on how the genocide’s meaning should be understood in the 21st century, and whether it had any cognates among anti-democratic forces in the current day.
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Forever Helping Others
Bill Goldback’s legacy lives on through the arts. Bill, who died in 2007, left a donation in his will for the performing arts in Hampton Roads.
ISRAEL Israeli companies at NASDAQ want to bring lab-grown meat to the masses Jacob Henry
(New York Jewish Week)—An Israeli biotech company and food giant Tnuva rang the bell at NASDAQ Monday, March 28 celebrating their partnership to produce lab-grown meat. Pluristem Therapeutics and Tnuva joined the race to create meat products from animal cells, using technology they say is more sustainable than natural methods and hoping to meet the demand for cruelty-free alternatives. Tnuva is investing $7.5 million in the partnership, called NewCo, with an option to invest up to an additional $7.5 million over a year-long period. Pluristem CEO Yaky Yanay calls the initial product “cultured meat” and says it is grown from real meat cells, tissue, fat, and muscle. “We’re not talking about a substitute,” Yanay tells the New York Jewish Week. “We will be able to provide a product that will be healthy and eventually affordable.” Tnuva Chairman Haim Gavrieli says that what is important to the product is the taste, the texture, the sensory feelings and “of course, the price.”
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says. “We are getting a lot of support from vegan associations that are telling us they would like to see this type of product.” Yanay says they have had discussions with rabbis and are expecting the product to be certified as kosher and pareve— that is, neither meat nor dairy according to kosher rules. “We are looking at the next generation of gastronomy in the Jewish kitchen,” he says. Gavrieli says that as Tnuva is the largest kosher food company in the world and, as such, they will be able to help bring rabbis on board with this. “It is a religious decision,” he says. “But it is promising. It’s under discussion with leading rabbis in Israel right now.” Pluristem is publicly traded on NASDAQ as well as the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Its muscle regeneration technology is already being used in hospitals around the world. “What we celebrated by ringing the bell at NASDAQ was that we are joining forces,” Yanay says. “We’re going to be focused on cultured food, and we feel very blessed about this collaboration.”
Amnesty USA chief to lawmakers who criticized him: ‘I regret’ speaking for US Jews about Israel Ron Kampeas
The William A. Goldback Fund continues to support arts groups and other causes in our community.
“All around the world, there is a concern about food security,” Gavrieli says. “I think that this kind of collaboration will solve part of this problem in the next five to 10 years.” Other Israeli companies are also trying to bring cultured meat to market. Future Meat recently raised $347 million to launch a production facility in the U.S., and Aleph Farms has unveiled “cultivated” steak and ribeye. Yanay, a vegetarian of 25 years, says that there may be some resistance to labgrown meat, but ultimately, this cultured product will lead to “a more sustainable planet.” “Human beings need to create, to build, to heal—not to destroy,” he says. “As a Jewish person and as an Israeli, we need to make this world a better one. What we are doing will contribute to that.” He adds that there are many vegetarians who are choosing not to eat meat because of environmental concerns or because they do not want the animal to suffer. Cultured meat could provide them an option. “I’m waiting to see and eat the first burger coming from our labs,” Yanay
WASHINGTON (JTA)—The director of Amnesty International’s U.S. branch apologized to Jewish lawmakers for claiming to speak on behalf of American Jews. “I regret representing the views of the Jewish people,” Paul O’Brien said in a March 25 letter, first reported by Jewish Insider, to all 25 Jewish Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, who had joined to condemn his remarks at a Washington D.C. luncheon in which he rejected polling that showed the vast majority of U.S. Jews are pro-Israel. “What I should have said,” he added, “is that my understanding from having visited Israel often and listened to many Jewish American and Israeli human rights
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activists is that I share a commitment to human rights and social justice for all with Jewish Americans and Israelis.” The Jewish Democrats, in a rare show of unity on Israel, last month rebuked O’Brien for his comments about Israel in which he said, “My gut tells me that what Jewish people in this country want is to know that there’s a sanctuary that is a safe and sustainable place that the Jews, the Jewish people can call home.” O’Brien told a reporter at the luncheon that Amnesty did not believe Israel should exist as a Jewish state. In the letter, he clarified that Amnesty was not taking a position on Israel’s Jewish status, but was referring to its 2018 Nation-State law, which he said “explicitly denies the right of self-determination to a part of Israel’s
citizenry.” The human rights group’s international secretary-general, Agnès Callamard, wrote separately to another 11 Jewish Democrats who had raised concerns about O’Brien’s remarks, saying that Amnesty had no objections to Israel’s self-definition as a Jewish state. “There is nothing under international law to prevent the state of Israel from identifying itself as Jewish, as long as the government does not discriminate between its citizens on the grounds of religion or race,” she said in her March 25 letter. O’Brien’s remarks came after Amnesty in a report said it determined that Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank amounted to apartheid.
NATION Embracing Jewish groups’ request, Biden proposes boosting budget for nonprofit security Ron Kampeas
WASHINGTON ( JTA)—President Joe Biden wants to increase federal funding for security for nonprofits from $250 million to $360 million, a key request advanced by Jewish organizations in the wake of attacks on Jewish institutions. Biden included the funding in the homeland security section of the $5.8 trillion federal budget he released Monday, March 28. Presidential budgets function as wish lists, and not every component will likely pass congressional muster, but including the request gives its chances of adoption a significant boost. “In prior years, before President Biden, there were presidential budget proposals submitted to Congress that did not contain any requested funding for the nonprofit security grant program—let alone what we are advocating for,” Nathan Diament, the Washington, D.C., director of the Orthodox Union, said in an email. For this year, Congress increased funding from $180 million to $250 million. But Jewish groups intensified their effort to increase the funding even more after a hostage-taking crisis at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, in January. A number of lawmakers, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader from New York, have pressed for the $360 million figure since 2019, when annual funding for nonprofit security was just $90 million. The Jewish groups cite what they say are increased antisemitic attacks and the vulnerability of other minorities. Elana Broitman, the vice president for the Jewish Federations of North America, noted a recent spate of bomb threats on Jewish institutions and historically Black colleges and universities. “The need for these protections has only grown amid increasing terrorist and domestic extremist threats—as we saw in Colleyville and in bomb threats against Jewish Community Centers and a slew of HBCUs in recent weeks,” she said in a statement. “We commend the Biden administration and [Homeland Security] Secretary [Alejandro] Mayorkas
Ever since there’s been an IDF protecting Israel, there’s been an MDA ensuring their health.
for requesting increased funds to help communities defend themselves against this hatred.” When the nonprofit security program was established in 2005, the vast majority of grants were given to Jewish institutions. Other institutions have made requests in recent years, and the system is overwhelmed.
In prior years, before President Biden, there were presidential budget proposals submitted to Congress that did not contain any requested funding for the nonprofit security grant program—let alone what we are advocating for. “Requests for NSGP grants in 2021 far exceeded program funding, with 3,361 applications totaling nearly $400 million in funding requests versus the program’s $180 million budget,” Secure Community Network, a security consultancy to the national Jewish community, said in a statement praising Biden and Mayorkas for making the request. The grants pay for measures that make vulnerable institutions more secure. “NSGP grants have been used to improve door locks, add panic buttons in school classrooms, install cameras, build new security gates, and strengthen glass doors and exterior windows,” SCN said in its statement. “These funds have also allowed communities to invest in security training, which is crucial to preparing for and surviving attacks.” Separately, JFNA said that a drive to raise money to secure smaller Jewish communities that cannot afford the security infrastructure enjoyed by larger communities has surpassed its goal of $54 million, and has raised $62 million.
Magen David Adom has been saving lives since 1930, some 18 years before Israel became a state. We take immense pride in being Israel’s national emergency medical service and in supplying the blood and medical care for the soldiers who have ensured Israel’s existence. Join us in celebrating Israel’s independence on Yom HaAtzma’ut. Save a life in Israel — and now in Ukraine too.
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Israel’s governing coalition in crisis as right-wing Knesset member resigns, citing Passover food in hospitals Philissa Cramer
(JTA)—Of all the issues facing Israel— violence within the country, how to handle Russia’s war on Ukraine, Iran— the one that appears to have put the country’s delicate governing coalition at risk could appear picayune. When Idit Silman, a member of Knesset from the right-wing Yamina party, surprised government leaders and even her party by resigning Wednesday, April 6, she said she was doing so over hospital food. Her decision vaults issues of religious freedom and Israel’s Jewish character to the center of public discourse. Silman, a former teacher and health care executive, has also opposed efforts to allow egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall, and her husband said she opposed a plan to let more rabbis sign off on conversions. “I will not abet the harming of the Jewish identity of the State of Israel and the people of Israel. I will continue to try to persuade my friends to return home and form a right-wing government,” Silman said in a statement about her resignation, according to the Times of Israel. “I know I am not the only one who feels this way. Another government can be formed in this Knesset.” The ostensibly precipitating issue is a ruling by Israel’s highest court that hospitals must allow people to bring in food that is not kosher for Passover, known as hametz, although the hospitals discourage doing so and serve only kosher-for-Passover food on their own. But that ruling has been in place since 2020, suggesting to many that Silman’s explanation for her resignation may have been a pretense amid pressure from her base to stop working with more liberal factions, including Arabs, within the governing coalition. The coalition formed a year ago after
four elections in two years shook confidence in Israel’s parliamentary system and impeded the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises. Politicians with little in common ideologically agreed to work together to bring stability to the government and, for some, to ensure that longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was ousted. Now, Silman’s resignation leaves the Knesset evenly split, with 60 members on each side, between supporters of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and the opposition, led by supporters of Netanyahu, who has remained on the sidelines and has signaled that he is looking for a way back into power. Silman’s resignation brings her back into alignment with Netanyahu and his Likud party. If she or others are able to convince another member to resign from the coalition, a new election could be required—or, if many resign, the opposition could potentially seize control without an election. If Bennett and his allies can persuade other lawmakers to remain in the coalition, the government can stay in place, but even more tenuously. The split means that Bennett’s allies could no longer pass legislation on their own. Silman’s resignation also means that Israel is being plunged into a governing crisis at a crucial moment for managing tensions during Ramadan, when flare ups between Palestinians and Jews have historically taken place. Israeli news organizations have reported that Bezalel Smotrich, a rightwing former member of Knesset who wants Israel to be governed solely by Jewish law and who opposes rights for Arabs, non-Orthodox Jews and LGBTQ people, appears to have played a role in convincing Silman to resign and even crafting her resignation letter.
THIS MAY, APPLY TO THE 2022 FELDMAN FAMILY MEDICAL & HEALTH PROFESSIONS STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP With up to $10,000 a year, the Feldman Family Medical and Health Professions Student Scholarship of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation is now accepting applications. Who is eligible? This scholarship is open to Jewish students living in Virginia, with priority to those in the Hampton Roads area, and have been accepted to a Virginia based institution for a degree in medicine, dentistry, Physician Assistant, nursing as LPN, RN or Nurse Practitioner; pharmacy or physical therapy; ancillary medical professions, and all those who will be comforted and cared for as a result. How do I apply? Applications open May 1, 2022. Apply online at bit.ly/tjf-feldman. Completed application is due by July 1, 2022. 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 200, Virginia Beach, VA, 23462 | tjfinfo@ujft.org | 757-965-6111 jewishnewsva.org | April 11, 2022 | JEWISH NEWS | 9
JEWISH TIDEWATER
Support for those who are homeless in the community Patti Wainger
W
hen driving up to Congregation Beth El, a group of homeless people are frequently seen across the street at New Life Church waiting to get in to have a meal. Riding down Colonial Avenue, an old woman might be seen pushing a grocery cart with all her belongings in it, or homeless folks on street corners or on the steps of neighborhood churches seeking shelter or money for food, might also be seen. The pandemic has hit the homeless population in a devastating way. In previous years, Beth El joined forces with other churches and synagogues in housing the homeless for one week each year through the NEST program. At the beginning of the pandemic, Beth El members worked with Mercy Chefs to provide hot meals daily for 20 folks living
in tents on 19th Street. The city eventually evicted these people, and most moved to a tent city run at the Greyhound Bus Station. Beth El did a major drive collecting food, clothes, and toiletries for those living in the Greyhound Shelter. In the fall, Norfolk purchased a motel at 1050 Tidewater Drive where they are able to house 100 residents. During inclement weather, an additional 60 people come to the shelter to sleep on the floor and receive meals. Unfortunately, the shelter does not have adequate storage space for the type of items Beth El members donated in the past; however, the residents are still in dire need of food. For those who want to contribute, send a check to the Urban Renewal Center, First Presbyterian Church, 820 Colonial Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23507. Specify on the check that the contribution is for food for the
10 | JEWISH NEWS | April 11, 2022 | jewishnewsva.org
Norfolk Shelter. Providing additional help for those in need, there is a Norfolk Homeless Task Force comprised of members from local churches and synagogues, as well as of representatives from Urban Renewal Center, Ghent Area Ministries (GAM), the Norfolk Community Services Board, and the Norfolk Homeless Shelter. Those in need can go to area sites daily to receive breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Once a month, Ohef Sholom Temple opens its doors to provide a hot lunch, as well as clothing and toiletries. In addition, the synagogue prepares dinner once a month for the 100 residents at the Norfolk Shelter. To learn about joining the Ohef Sholom team, contact Dorianne Villani at Dvillani@cox.net. As a participant in the Norfolk Homeless Task Force, Beth El has done its part contributing funds from its Homeless Fund when the need arises. Recently, there was a gang-related shooting during which a mother and her daughter were caught in the crossfire and the mother was wounded. The single parent mother, who has recovered, has four children in The Park Place School. Beth El sent a contribution to the school’s discretionary fund to help this family. One member group of the Task Force is the Ghent Area Ministry, whose mission is to help people find a home or keep them in their home. As a supporting member of GAM, Beth El is among 20 area churches helping address the economic, social, and human needs of people in transition. Located at 1301 Colonial Avenue, GAM opens its doors Monday–Friday with its director and volunteers on site providing services that include distributing clothing, providing financial assistance for prescriptions, as well as access to dental and vision services, helping citizens who have transportation needs with HRT for work and health services, and assistance with utility and rent payments, etc. Computers are on site and a supervisor is available to lend support to clients who need housing or jobs. When a person in need knocks on the door at Beth El, the staff refers them to GAM for support. To
contribute to GAM, send a check to Ghent Area Ministry, 1301 Colonial Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23507.
Its intention is to show the Jewish people’s determination to improve the world. Jewish sages taught that every Jew has something to contribute, whether it is money, time, or attention. With this in mind, it is important to continue to help those in need in the community.
Congregation Beth El, like other congregations such as Ohef Sholom, is committed to doing tzedakah. In Hebrew, the word means righteousness or justice, and it is an ethical obligation that the Torah mandates, also known as a mitzvah or law. Its intention is to show the Jewish people’s determination to improve the world. Jewish sages taught that every Jew has something to contribute, whether it is money, time, or attention. With this in mind, it is important to continue to help those in need in the community. Patti Wainger is a member of Congregation Beth El and of The Norfolk Homeless Task Force.
Local Relationships Matter
JEWISH TIDEWATER
Tidewater Chavurah acquires Torah scroll
T
hrough the efforts of its rabbi, Ellen Jaffe-Gill, Tidewater Chavurah has received a Torah scroll to use during Shabbat and holidays. Rabbi Jaffe-Gill acquired the scroll through the Jewish Community Legacy Project, an organization that helps small congregations with planning resources and solutions. The organization gave Jaffe-Gill’s name to Dr. Michael J. Bukstein,
The oldest Jewish congregation in Illinois, B’nai Sholom Temple was founded in 1852 and remained in the red-brick, Moorish Revival synagogue it built in Quincy in 1869, until the dwindling Reform congregation sold the building and deconsecrated it last year.
former president of B’nai Sholom Temple in Quincy, Illinois. Bukstein invited JaffeGill to apply for one of the four sifrei Torah, and in February informed her that Tidewater Chavurah had been chosen as a recipient. The oldest Jewish congregation in Illinois, B’nai Sholom Temple was founded in 1852 and remained in the red-brick,
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Moorish Revival synagogue it built in Quincy in 1869, until the dwindling Reform congregation sold the building and deconsecrated it last year. Its other Torah scrolls were donated to congregations in Indonesia, Germany, and Myrtle Beach, S.C. The sefer Torah is in good condition—“very readable,” Rabbi Jaffe-Gill says. “We are beyond thrilled and grateful for this wonderful and unexpected gift.” The torah also bears a mantle and a yad, or pointer. For more information about the Torah scroll, contact Rabbi Jaffe-Gill at rabbicantorejg@ gmail.com or 215-359-7806. For service or membership information about Tidewater Chavurah, contact Carol Smith at 499-3660 or carita@verizon.net.
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The chair a Texas rabbi threw at his captor is headed to the American Jewish museum Andrew Lapin
(JTA)—When the rabbi at the center of January’s synagogue hostage standoff first encountered the stranger who would soon hold him at gunpoint, he served him a cup of tea. Eleven hours later, as part of a daring escape, the rabbi threw a chair at him. The teacup and the chair, items that together depict the terrifying arc of the synagogue hostage crisis at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, are now becoming literal artifacts of the American Jewish experience. Congregation Beth Israel has donated the items to the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia for a new exhibit on modern-day antisemitism in America, which
will open to the public this spring. The exhibit will be accompanied by a video interview with Rabbi Charlie CytronWalker and the three congregants who were held hostage inside his synagogue by a British-Pakistani national. “‘The Cup and The Chair’ are not only artifacts that document a historic event but are symbolic of fundamental Jewish values: ‘Welcoming strangers’ and ‘Redeeming captives,’” Misha Galperin, the Weitzman museum’s president and CEO, tells the Jewish Telegraphic Agency via email. “They also represent the basic American ideals of embracing newcomers and bravery in the face of danger. This is what Jewish Americans aspire to be and what the Weitzman Museum aspires to represent.”
The items will be placed on the museum’s ground floor, with high visibility to the public. The Weitzman’s chief curator and director of exhibitions and interpretation, Josh Perelman, says the intent is “to serve as a reminder of our collective responsibility for protecting and expanding the ideals enshrined at Independence Hall.” The synagogue had not revealed the names of two of the hostages, congregants Lawrence Schwartz and Shane Woodward, prior to the announcement of the museum exhibit, though Woodward had previously been identified as a hostage by a Jewish gun-rights YouTube channel. The events in Colleyville invigorated a national conversation on antisemitism in America, with Jews and non-Jews alike seeing fresh evidence of its unsettling
prevalence. In its aftermath, CytronWalker testified before Congress and became a national advocate for increased synagogue security funding. He is leaving Congregation Beth Israel in July to lead a synagogue in North Carolina. “We look forward to a time when future generations will not endure this Anti-Semitic hatred,” Congregation Beth Israel’s board of directors said in a statement. “The Weitzman Museum will play a large part in allowing the public to visit and learn as well as protect religious freedoms for Jews in America and worldwide.” The Philadelphia museum opened with great fanfare in 2010 and entered bankruptcy last year, exiting after a gift from the fashion designer Stuart Weitzman allowed it to purchase its building and establish an endowment.
CHAG PESACH SAMEACH! ALL OF US AT THE UNITED JEWISH FEDERATION OF TIDEWATER AND THE SIMON FAMILY JCC WISH YOU A PEACEFUL PASSOVER
12 | JEWISH NEWS | April 11, 2022 | jewishnewsva.org
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Congressman McEachin visits Sandler Family Campus
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Passover B’TAYAVON
B’Tayavon is equivalent to French’s Bon Appetit. In Jewish News, B’Tayavon is where locals share favorite recipes. This issue features two of Leora Drory’s favorites.
Something new for Passover Leora Drory
F
alling in the spring, as it does each year, Passover is a great time to take advantage of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially after enjoying delicious soups and stews during the chillier winter months. Springtime and Passover and asparagus seem to all meet at the same time each year. While I try to stay more on the “cleaner” side of eating during Passover, sometimes those old “Passover favorites” are hard to resist, and well let’s face it: Passover only comes once a year, so why not indulge a little? So, how about a meal that serves as a “Passover compromise”—a healthy entree and a more decadent side dish/dessert to enjoy? Here is my version of a healthy entree complimented by one of our Passover favorites—taken from Susie Fishbein’s Passover cookbook.
ASPARAGUS CHICKEN
CRANBERRY– PINEAPPLE KUGEL
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
3–4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 pound medium asparagus spears – washed and ends trimmed off ¼ cup Passover mustard 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons lemon juice Toothpicks
Cranberry Base Nonstick cooking spray
Pineapple Topping 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
4 cups matzoh farfel
½ cup sugar
1
Preheat oven 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Blanch asparagus in salted boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes until bright green and slightly tender. Drain and cool slightly. Cut asparagus spears in half. Discard bottom half (or save for another recipe). Flatten chicken. Place asparagus in chicken and roll. Secure ends with a toothpick. Place chicken on baking sheet. Combine mustard, oil, and lemon juice: stir with a wire whisk until blended. Brush mustard mixture on chicken. (If you find that the mustard is too powerful, you can temper it with a dollop or two of honey, to taste.) Bake 20 to 25 minutes depending on thickness of chicken. Remove toothpicks before serving. You can also make this dish an appetizer by cutting the chicken into ¼ inch strips and cutting the asparagus into 5-inch pieces.
14 | JEWISH NEWS | Passover | April 11, 2022 | jewishnewsva.org
½ cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ cup potato starch
1 (16-ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 (20-once) can crushed pineapple, drained
2
DIRECTIONS
⁄3 cup sugar
⁄3 cup vegetable oil
¼ cup orange juice
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350-dgrees F. Heavily spray a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place the farfel into a large strainer. Wet the farfel under running water and drain. In a large bowl, mix the farfel, sugar, cinnamon, cranberry sauce, oil, and orange juice. Use a wooden spoon to thoroughly combine. Press into the prepared pan. Prepare pineapple topping: in a medium bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar. Add the oil, potato starch, and pineapple. Mix. Pour over the cranberry base. Bake uncovered for 50 minutes. Run a knife or spatula around the perimeter to loosen the kugel before unmolding.
Passover Seven new haggadahs to brighten your 2022 Passover seder Caleb Guedes-Reed
( JTA)—The main components of the Passover seder—a word that literally means “order”—remain constant over time. But the style doesn’t have to stay the same. Artists, authors, rabbis, and even comedians pump out new haggadahs, the books that guide the seder, every year. This year, Passover’s Exodus story feels as urgent as ever, as multiple global conflicts—the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and the Russian invasion of Ukraine—have triggered massive refugee crises. The latter crisis has involved thousands of Jews who are seeking shelter in Eastern Europe, Israel, and beyond. Here are some fresh new options for 2022—some aimed at addressing the moment, others focused on fun distraction. For those looking to engage with the contemporary global Exodus HIAS, the nearly-150-year-old global Jewish refugee aid organization is busy these days: more people are displaced around the world than at any other time in recorded history. The group’s free and downloadable 2022 haggadah includes first-person stories from refugees and updated facts and figures about modern crises. Topics like violence, poverty, food insecurity and the lack of access to education that refugees face are all brought front and center. There is also a new insert for children that asks them to put objects onto the plate representing their own families’ migration stories. “As we consider our own history of escaping violence and persecution at the hands of a merciless tyrant, we also reach forward to those still in need of protection,” the haggadah reads. For the Israeli history buff Modeled after the American group with the same name, The Israeli Black Panthers were Middle Eastern and African
immigrant activists who banded together to bring attention to their dire economic and social situations in Israel in the 1970s. Written in a tin shack in Jerusalem on a stolen typewriter, The Israeli Black Panthers Haggadah was first written in 1971. A year later, a fire destroyed most of the Panthers’ archives, including their copies of the haggadah. It was thought lost for over 40 years, until a rabbi who collected haggadahs acknowledged he had a copy. This completely bilingual (HebrewEnglish) haggadah, which is being published in English for the first time, includes an introduction from Reuven Abergel, one of the movement’s founders, and other essays that reflect on the Panthers’ struggle and how it connects to the Passover story. It also includes powerful archival images of the Panthers engaged in activism. For the prettay, prettay, prettay big fans of Larry David Those who enjoy Curb Your Enthusiasm and its hysterical cast of characters will love this eponymous haggadah by Dave Cowen, a comedy writer and the author of two unofficial Seinfeld haggadahs. The Curb Your Enthusiasm Haggadah invites seder guests to essentially treat the meal as one big episode of Larry David’s HBO sitcom, and to divide the roles from the cast list amongst guests. Cowen substitutes curse words with the word hametz—or leavened bread, the food group that’s very forbidden on Passover—creating a memorably funny script. One example: Larry David: “Jeff, are you hametzing continued on page 16
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This Passover, consider these four questions:
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Do you support these organizations on an annual basis?
Do you want them to exist for future generations?
How will you assure Jewish tomorrows?
Did you answer yes to any of those questions? If so, consider becoming a Legacy donor with the Tidewater Jewish Foundation, where we work with you and your family to develop a philanthropic plan that will maximize your gift’s impact. To learn more, contact us at tjfinfo@ujft.org or 757-965-6111
16 | JEWISH NEWS | Passover | April 11, 2022 | jewishnewsva.org
Passover continued from page 15
seriously with this hametz?” Jeff Greene: “Yes. I am. And we are. And could you please stop using that bad language?” Larry David: “What bad language? Hametz? I can’t say hametz anymore? You’re not saying hametzing hametz anymore? Jeff Greene: “At least not for Passover.” For the English major Martin Bodek is another veteran comedy haggadah writer, having published past versions such as The Emoji Haggadah, The Festivus Haggadah and The Coronavirus Haggadah. Now he has turned his focus to another popular topic: William Shakespeare. Bodek’s The Shakespeare Haggadah: Elevate Your Seder with the Bard of Avon pairs a Hebrew version of the haggadah with a parodic Shakespeare-ian “translation” of sorts on every page. In his words: “Thou canst useth this as an actual Haggadah too, as the full Hebrew text be on the left, and Shakespeare’s rendering be on the right. So it readeth right, which sounds like it should beest the opposite, but it be not as confusing as thou mayest thinketh.” For the feminist seder Similar to her other widely acclaimed previous prayer poetry books and liturgical works, such as The Book of Blessings and The Days Between, Marcia Falk’s Night of Beginnings haggadah tones down the Exodus story’s patriarchal imagery, highlighting the actions of the story’s female characters, like Miriam and the midwives. Falk’s haggadah also features the author’s own watercolor drawings and poems, alongside Jewish psalms and songs and questions that invite personal reflection and discussion.
For the New Yorker Don’t Fuhaggadahboudit. It’s a mouthful for a name, but a bit of wordplay most New Yorkers will appreciate. Danielle Brody’s haggadah, which she also playfully illustrated, “puts an entertaining spin on the thousand-year-old tale,” her press release reads. “Examples include: a quarantined Afikomen, Moses sailing down the East River on the ferry, and plagues like [COVID] variants and social media outages.” Brody originally published her haggadah last year but updated it this year with new content and even an original song. For those supporting a loved one in recovery For many, Passover is a joyous holiday filled with family, friends, and good food. However, for those in recovery from substance abuse, being surrounded by alcohol can be a trigger. Rabbi Shais Taub, a member of the Hasidic Chabad-Lubavitch movement, is a believer in the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program—which some argue has quasi-Christian influences—and runs a support group for addicts. “When I meet a Jewish person who is in active addiction, I do not offer them to go synagogue and pray. The first place I’m going to send them is to the appropriate 12-step group,” Taub told NPR in 2009. His The Four Cups—A Recovery Haggadah includes practical tips for conducting a Seder for those in recovery and their supportive loved ones. Honorable mention: For curious kids (and their grownups) Our sister site Kveller’s haggadah isn’t new—it was first published in March 2020—but it still deserves a spot on any haggadah list, especially for families with young children. It makes the seder more digestible for kids, and it also features insights from renowned researchers who explain the connections between memory and food.
Passover War in Ukraine puts a crunch on matzah prices David I. Klein
(JTA)—On Feb. 24, two shipping containers laden with 20,000 pounds of shmura matzah were slated to head out of port in Odessa, Ukraine, on their way to Orthodox Jews in the United States. Two hours before they were to be loaded onto a ship, Russia invaded. The shipment was the last of 200,000 pounds of unleavened bread that Ukrainian matzah bakeries shipped to the U.S. this year, in addition to what they ship to Europe and Israel. Now, technically outside of Ukraine’s customs zone, it could neither be returned to the country nor travel on to the U.S. Rabbi Meyer Stambler, head of the Chabad-affiliated Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, estimates that his factories in Ukraine account for about 15–20% of the market share in the U.S. for shmura matzah, the carefully “guarded” variety preferred by devout Jews during the seder. Shmura matzah is handmade in small batches with a higher level of supervision than most other types of matzah. That already makes it significantly more expensive than the factory stuff. A single pound box of shmura matzah could go from anywhere between $20 and $60, the Forward reported in 2018. In contrast, Instacart offers at least three different brands of regular matzoh that come in under $10 for a 5-lb. box. “I think the U.S. market will feel it,” Stambler says. “I think we are probably going to have a deficit of shmura matzah this year.” An already over-extended shipping industry after two years of pandemic hasn’t helped the situation either. Still the rising prices are a testament to Ukraine’s continued role in supporting Jewish life not just in Eastern Europe, but around the world. Barely over a month ago, he would have said business was booming,
Stambler explains. “This year, we even opened a new matzah bakery, another branch, in Uman,” he says. Beginning baking around Hanukkah time, the Ukrainian factories supply shmura matzah to Jewish communities in the entire former Soviet world in addition to their customers in the U.S., Israel, and Western Europe. They are sold in the U.S. under the brand names Tiferes and Redemption, among others. In Dnipro, the city where Stambler and his main matzah factory are based, long forgotten are periods of pogroms in the 19th century, which sent Eastern European Jews fleeing to the U.S. The Holocaust and even Soviet repression also seemed to be distant memories. Today, Dnipro—known until 2016 as Dnepropretrovsk—is the most Jewish city in Ukraine, boasting the massive Menorah Center, a seven-branched building designed to look like the sacred candelabra and filled with kosher restaurants, wedding halls, ritual baths, and other amenities for a Jewish community. Though he has an Israeli and American passport, which would allow him to leave, Stambler has stayed behind to support the community, even after getting his family to safety. “It’s very important to know that we’re staying here because we’re a part of the community, a part of the city.” Stambler says. “Just like President Zelensky said, each person has to fight on his own front. Our front is spreading Yiddishkeit.” As Russian missiles struck the outskirts of Dnipro on a Friday night last month, dozens still gathered for Shabbat, including many refugees who had come from harder hit regions. “We’re helping people from the whole Ukraine,” Stambler says. “From Kharkiv, from Zaporizhia, from Mariupol. We had 70 families who came out of Mariupol.” Matzah production is still going on in town as well, though Stambler says
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www.altmeyerfuneralandcremation.com about two thirds of the factory’s staff had fled. Now they are making matzah just for Ukraine. “We’re going to make a very big campaign to bring the seder to every Jewish home,” Stambler says. Stambler has plans for the 20,000 pounds in port as well. “The only way I can bring it back to Ukraine is if it’s for the needs of the army,” Stambler explains. Ukrainian men between 18 and 60 are forbidden from leaving the country
in case they are needed for the war effort. Many Jews have already joined volunteer self-defense units, which are organizing across the country. If the war stretches till Passover, Stambler says, there will be many Jewish mouths looking for matzah in the Ukrainian Army. Most of it will stay in Ukraine, he says, but a last truck is still scheduled to bring some of the surplus out to the U.K. It will be the last international shipment of Ukrainian Matzo this year.
jewishnewsva.org | April 11, 2022 | Passover | JEWISH NEWS | 17
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE
JFS continues mission for mental health and wellness Support is urgently needed JFS Staff
T
hroughout the past year, Jewish Family Service, in partnership with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, has been highlighting the importance of mental health and wellness through a series of events. These events are part of JFS’ 18th Annual Spring Into Healthy Living activities, and culminate in a race at the 31st Street Park on the Virginia Beach Ocean Front on Sunday, May 1. Events have focused on actions the community can take to help eradicate stigma around seeking mental health support, and in connecting the community to available resources. To ensure that education around topics of mental health and wellness are in the forefront of conversations, JFS recently hosted two events: Becoming Stress Resistant, and From Longing to Belonging. Becoming Stress Resistant focused on learning techniques to be mindful of the ways in which stress impacts mental health and wellness. “None of us are immune to the effects of stress,” says Kelly Burroughs, JFS CEO and facilitator of the event. “It is how we recognize and interact with this stress that can become either helpful or harmful.” The past two years of social isolation has led to increased numbers of people who report feeling depressed, anxious, and suicidal, and these are now further exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. “These events are not just distractions. They have very real physiological and psychological changes to our bodies and our brains,” says Burroughs. She cites one study that claims loneliness has the same ill health effects of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Tips for ‘Becoming Stress Resistant’ include first recognizing the signs of stress and being able to correctly pinpoint the underlying emotion. “We have
a tendency to say that we are either ‘fine’ or ‘frustrated,’” says Burroughs, “but in reality, we are hurt, disappointed, scared, and anxious. Once we can recognize and label these underlying emotions, we are better able to deal with the root cause of our stress.” This training was provided free of charge, and is available for the community. Contact Kelly Burroughs at 321-2244 to learn more about bringing this training to an organization or group. On Wednesday, March 9, JFS hosted author and advocate Shelly Christensen, MA, FAAIDD, for the event, We All Belong: Including and Supporting Jewish Adults with Disabilities and Mental Illness into our Communities. Christensen spoke of her own experiences in the Jewish community having a son with disabilities and of her struggles in the school system. Her sense of being welcomed and supported in her synagogue led her on her path to being a leader in the Jewish disability inclusion movement. Christensen has more than 20 years of experience working with local, national, and international organizations on the topic of inclusion, and co-founded Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month ( JDAIM) in 2009. Through Inclusion Innovations, Christensen provides consulting, keynote speaking, and training to Jewish and interfaith organizations. Rabbi Michael Panitz’s D’Var Torah underscored the comments made later by Christensen. “The longing to belong is something that we ought to prize and treasure. When we worry that children regard an age 13 ceremony as an exit ticket because it’s a capstone experience they finish, we wonder what could we have done differently so that you would long to belong? Let’s recognize that those that long to belong can teach us all a tremendous
18 | JEWISH NEWS | April 11, 2022 | jewishnewsva.org
amount. Let’s honor them, let’s welcome them, let’s learn from them…and remember that what makes us alike is not a matter of abilities…. It’s not our abilities. It is something much more fundamental—the image of G-d that is undiminished and bright in every one of us whether we are able in this way, that way, or in a different way.” C h r i s t e n s e n’s passion was evident as she delved into the ways people are the same and not different. “Each Rabbi Michael Panitz, Shelly Christensen, Kelly Burroughs, and Debbie Mayer. person needs to find their purpose and make ways to get there, remembering its have been unable to hold fundraising ok to fail.” She has seen how people with events for the past two years and are woedisabilities can be made to feel ostracized fully short on our annual campaign goal,” or shown attention for the wrong reasons, says Kelly Burroughs, JFS CEO. These emphasizing that “people with disabilities funds are used to help support all the JFS should not be a mitzvah project.” mission based programs, such as Meals on Christensen’s book, From Longing to Wheels, food pantries, Jewish Financial Belonging can serve as a resource for Assistance, the Holocaust Survivors organizations to further their inclusion of program and as subsidies for Jewish indieveryone in the Jewish community. She is viduals and families that cannot afford also working with Gabrielle Kaplan Mayer counseling and home care. on a new podcast, Stories of Belonging—The “We encourage the community to supintersection of Faith, Disability and Mental port these efforts through sponsorships Health. Information about purchasing the and to participate in the 18th Annual book and the podcast can be found on her Run, Roll or Stroll event,” says Burroughs. website, inclusioninnovations.com For more information, contact Brooke Rush Support JFS at 321-2238 or Kelly Burroughs at 321-2244. JFS seeks sponsorship support for these ongoing events. “We have been greatly impacted by the COVID pandemic. We
TIDEWATER JEWISH FOUNDATION
TJF and Feldman family unveil new medical and health professions scholarship fund Thomas Mills
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ecently announced by Tidewater Jewish Foundation and the Feldman Family, The Feldman Family Medical and Health Professions Scholarship Fund is an annual scholarship that will award up to $10,000 a year to Jewish students living in Virginia—with priority given to Hampton Roads residents—who have been accepted to matriculate at a Virginiabased institution for a degree in their chosen healthcare field. “Our goal is to build the community by education,” says Dr. William Feldman. “I don’t want to see people discouraged going into the profession because of
finances. Moreover, by opening it up to more people, I think it’ll do good for the entire Jewish community in the state of Virginia.” Feldman, and his wife, Mary, have always felt that strengthening the Jewish people comes through investing in individuals’ success. For the Feldmans, that meant uniting their passion for Jewish philanthropy and medical and health professions. Feldman was a pediatrician for 33 years in Hampton Roads and served on various committees at Eastern Virginia Medical School and Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. “After retirement, it was good to give back and also look at the future
of medicine in Hampton Roads,” says Feldman. “It became clear to me that one of the big problems people have is not only being accepted to medical school, but also paying for it. Anything that could be done from a scholarship point of view to alleviate debt would be a good thing.” The scholarship aims to incentivize Jewish students to enter healthcare fields through Virginia-based institutions. Up to $40,000 will be available for four years, with a maximum of $10,000 a year. Applicants must be entering the field of medicine, dentistry, Physician Assistant, nursing as LPN, RN, or Nurse Practitioner; pharmacy or physical therapy; and other ancillary medical professions.
“When William reached out to us about creating this new scholarship for students in the healthcare field, we worked together to bring their legacy to reality,” says Naomi Limor Sedek, president and CEO of Tidewater Jewish Foundation. “We are so excited to help Jewish students in Hampton Roads and throughout Virginia achieve their dreams of being a medical or health professional.” Applications for the Feldman Family Medical and Health Professions Scholarship are open from May 1 until July 1, 2022. To see eligibility, to apply, or for more information, visit bit.ly/tjf-feldman.
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ISRAEL FEST
Yom Ha’Atzmaut
Sunday, May 1, 12–4 pm, Sandler Family Campus Five reasons to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut in Tidewater Hunter Thomas
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here will be something for everyone at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s and Simon Family JCC’s annual Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration. By taking a tour of Israel outdoors on the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus, the community will experience some of the exciting tastes, smells, attractions, and sites that make Israel the country she is today. Here are five reasons to join the community in celebrating Israel as the tiny nation turns 74: 1. Great food: Israel is known for its bright, flavorful food. Have a taste of shawarma, cauliflower, donuts, hummus, pita, and more with the famous chefs Gili Ben Shahar and Ohad Kvity from Tel Aviv’s Meat Carneval. 2. Shopping in the shuk: In Jerusalem, visit the shuk, an open-air market bustling with activity. Shop locally-made and Israeli-sourced artwork, jewelry, produce, and more. 3. An activity for everyone: From yoga and massages at the Dead Sea, to games in Tel Aviv, or camel rides in the Negev Desert, people of all ages and backgrounds will find something to enjoy. Visit the Kotel in Jerusalem, walk the boardwalk in Eilat, or surf in Tel Aviv. 4. An opportunity to learn: On the trek through Israel, visitors will find art, exhibits, and posters sharing exciting facts about Israel’s founding, the country’s culture, its STEM and engineering focus, and information about the people who built the state. 5. Peoplehood: Israel isn’t complete without her people, and no community celebration is complete without community involvement. Volunteer to help at the event, or get involved with Yom Ha’Atzmaut by attending the celebration, participating in a community art project, visiting the activities and offerings from community partners, and inviting family and friends of all faiths to make the day truly unforgettable. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, visit JewishVA.org/IsraelFest.
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Nofar Trem makes cotton candy at a Yom Ha’Atzmaut Celebration in Israel.
ISRAEL FEST Yom Ha’Atzmaut—The pride of a nation Nofar Trem
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srael’s Independence Day, a day of celebration and revelry for Jews around the world, is preceded by Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day for the fallen soldiers. Yom Hazikaron is a somber day in Israel, as citizens hold services in memory of the soldiers that fought and died for the country. Their stories are shared, and people can be found paying their respects throughout the day nationwide. A few minutes after the sun sets, the mood in Israel shifts as the people celebrate the results of the solders’ sacrifice; the beautiful State of Israel, the people who make this beauty a reality, and their freedom. The official “switch” from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha’Atzmaut is recognized with a ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem in which the flag is raised from half-staff to the top of the pole. Then, in every city and region—from Eilat to Haifa—concerts, parties, feasts, and entertainment showcase the collective
national pride of all who reside in Israel. If it was possible to look down at Israel from space during Yom Ha’Aztmaut, a sea of blue and white would be seen. The following day, most make their way to a park or beach for what feels like a nationwide cookout. Families gather, play music, enjoy an array of Israeli foods, and appreciate each other’s company to rejoice in the celebration of the country’s birthday. This is a day to reflect on the time when all Jews were finally welcome to be who they are without trepidation. With the very tumultuous history of Jewish people around the world, Israelis take great pride in their nationality and make sure each Yom Ha’Atzmaut is one to remember. To learn more about the Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebrations in Israel, and how to celebrate this year at the Reba and Sam Sander Family Campus, visit JewishVA.Org/IsraelFest or contact Nofar Trem, youth and family program coordinator at ntrem@ujft.org.
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater brings together synagogues, Jewish agencies, and schools for an unforgettable Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration Sierra Lautman
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s the Tidewater Jewish community is busy planning a “return” to its Yom Ha’Atzmaut program that will bring the entire community to the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus, a key feature of the celebration is the collaboration between the regional synagogues, Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, Tidewater Jewish Foundation, Strelitz International Academy, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, and Simon Family JCC. It is these partnerships that will make the community celebration of Israel @ 74 a success. This is a celebration of Israel, foremost. But it’s also a coming together of community leaders, each department of
UJFT and Simon Family JCC, local synagogues, Jewish agencies, and SIA. It will be a great place for everyone to get back to fun, games, food, activities, enjoying each other’s company, and celebrating all that Israel has to offer – together. This year’s Yom Ha’Atzmaut community celebration’s synagogue offerings will include a smoothie stand, crafts, Judaica shops, fun activities for all ages, and more. Volunteers for the festival include leaders from all area synagogues and partnering organizations. For more information on Yom Ha’Atzmaut or to sign up to volunteer, visit JewishVA. org/IsraelFest or contact Sierra Lautman at SLautman@UJFT.org or 757-965-6107.
Yom Ha’Aztmaut: A time for everyone in Tidewater to celebrate Israel Elka Mednick
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oin the Jewish Community Relations Council to celebrate Yom Ha’Aztmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. Yom Ha’Aztmaut is an exciting and fun way for the Jewish community and the greater Tidewater community to engage with and learn about Israel and all it offers. The wide-ranging activities of this year’s celebration will spotlight Israel’s rich and diverse culture, innovative spirit, extensive contributions to humanity, and democratic civil society. Community partners and elected officials will be in attendance and are sure to enjoy experiencing the history, culture, and sights of Israel that will lead to stronger bonds of mutual support and understanding. Learn about the momentous day of
May 14, 1948—the fifth of Iyar, when the State of Israel was officially declared at the Tel Aviv Museum. Read the Declaration and get to know the authors, signatories, and goals set forth in the fateful document. Then, explore modern Israel and the people and industries that drive it today, including an exciting pair of chefs with their finger on the pulse of avantgarde food trends. Don’t miss this opportunity to further your own understanding and appreciation for where Israel is, where Israel has been, and where it is going in the future. All without having to board a flight. For more information on Israel Fest or to sign up and volunteer at the festival, visit JewishVA.org/IsraelFest. To learn more about the Jewish Community Relations Council, contact Elka Mednick at emednick@ujft.org.
SIerra Lautman in front of the planning wall for Yom Ha’Atzmaut.
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YOM HA’ATZMAUT
Israeli Culinary “Renegades” to wow attendees at the Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration in Tidewater Yom Ha’Atzmaut Community Celebration, Sunday, May 1, 12–4 pm, Sandler Family Campus Sierra Lautman
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sraeli friends, chefs, and culinary renegades Gili Ben Shahar and Ohad Kvity combined their love of meat and fire to offer foodies an incredible, all-sensory experience. Next month, residents of Tidewater will have the opportunity to see, hear, feel, and taste the culinary extravaganza that is Meat Carneval when the team arrives from Tel Aviv to join the community’s
celebration of Israel @ 74. The Meat Carneval journey began when the world of food service didn’t, in Ben Shahar and Kvity’s opinion, provide diners the full sensory experience the friends dreamed possible. Together, they transformed this missed opportunity into a social experiment that takes food to a new level. The duo began hosting fun culinary evenings for friends who gave them such positive feedback that they decided to form a catering business. And, that is how Meat Carneval was born. Kvity began his culinary career at Mul Yam, where he worked his way up to sous-chef under the direction of Yoram Nitzan. He then continued as sous-chef at Tapaya and Alba, and as chef at Sergos. Ben Shahar is a food connoisseur, entrepreneur, dairy farmer, and former hi-techie who has managed event halls in both Israel and Southeast Asia. Born out of their passion for food and the perception that eating should be a much more meaningful experience than just putting nourishment into one’s body, Meat Carneval has re-envisioned, reshaped, and all but taken over the food scene in Tel Aviv. The high demand for their events has led to the chefs traveling the world
to share their passion—and food—with others. This year, they will travel all the way from Tel Aviv to Tidewater to celebrate Israel turning 74 at the Yom Ha’Atzmaut Community Celebration. This culinary experience will engage all five senses, assures Kvity and Ben Shahar, “We will bring together all the flavors, smells, textures, and sounds that we love—that ignited this fire inside all of us—and put it in front of the wonderful
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people of Tidewater. We cannot wait to share this experience with you all.” The chefs, by the way, will also present vegan options. To learn more about this year’s Yom Ha’Atzmaut Community Celebration, visit JewishVA.org/ IsraelFest or contact Sierra Lautman, director of Jewish Innovation at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater at SLautman@UJFT. org or 757-965-6107.
YOM HASHOAH
Holocaust education at its core: Lessons taught at Norview Middle School
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indra Mosher, a new media specialist at Norview Middle School, is serious about students learning Holocaust history. A transplant from upstate New York, where Elie Wiesel’s Night was required eighth grade reading, Mosher loves offering students the books that United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission sends their library each year from money raised through White Rose donations. On Wednesday, March 23, Mosher invited members of the Holocaust Commission to the school to witness the culmination of a Holocaust unit led by seventh grade social studies teacher Rebecca Washington. At the start of the unit, Washington assigned each student the name of a person who lived during the Holocaust, with information similar to that on the identity cards that are sometimes handed out at Holocaust Museums, to bring the enormity of the Holocaust to a personal level. During the unit, students decorated a paper butterfly to represent their person, with the name and the student’s thoughts about how they must have felt during such a difficult time. Eventually,
all of the students’ butterflies were placed on the wall outside the school library. At the unit’s conclusion, students gathered in front of the butterfly-covered wall and learned the fates of their people. Washington read each student’s person’s fate to the hushed group. Some had lived,
Looking upon the wall at the end of the exercise, with more black dots than butterflies, above a sea of crumpled artwork, the students saw another representation of the destruction of the Holocaust.
and became survivors. Some had not, and were victims. For each student whose person had been murdered (and she used that word), the student had to replace the butterfly on the wall with a large black dot. In a final act to help them understand the inhumanity of the Nazis, those whose butterflies were removed had to crumple their creation and leave it on the floor in front of the wall, just as the Nazis took no care in disposing of their victims. Looking upon the wall at the end of the exercise, with more black dots than butterflies, above a sea of crumpled artwork, the students saw another representation of the destruction of the Holocaust. Educators such as Washington and Mosher deserve much appreciation for teaching young people the lessons of the Holocaust, and for allowing the Commission to witness this powerful teaching moment.
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We are looking for Sponsors! To become a Spring into Healthy Living Sponsor visit: https://tinyurl.com/Sponsor-Signup If you are a business or organization that would like to donate items or products for runners bags Call Brooke Rush at 757-321- 2238 Register Today at:
https://runsignup.com/runrollstroll Students place their butterflies on the “Holocaust Memorial” wall at Norview Middle School.
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YOM HASHOAH
Community invited to participate in 2022 Holocaust Commemoration events Reading of the Names on Zoom
Yom Hashoah Commemoration
Wednesday, April 27, 10 am–2 pm Contact hhorwitzintune@yahoo.com to reserve a spot
Wednesday April 27, 6:45 pm Congregation Beth El Masks are required.
Elena Baum
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he Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s annual community events to honor the Holocaust Day of Remembrance, Yom Hashoah, will be held both on Zoom and in-person on Wednesday, April 27. The Reading of the Names will take place on Zoom. As it is when it is in-person, it is possible to participate or simply observe and honor. The first in-person Yom Hashoah commemoration event since 2019 will take place during the evening at Congregation Beth El. The free event includes a guest speaker, a poignant candle lighting ceremony, and prayers from area clergy and leadership. Holocaust survivor, Dr. Al Munzer, is this year’s guest speaker. Born in the Netherlands in 1941, Munzer and his two older sisters were entrusted to two different Gentile families for their protection when their parents sensed peril.
Munzer was lucky to have been cared for by a Dutch-Indonesian family and their Muslim nanny, who treated this endangered Jewish boy as their own child. Their family was the only one he knew until he was almost five years old. At war’s end, Munzer and his mother were the only survivors from their family, his sisters having been betrayed and deported, and his father succumbing to the harsh treatment in various concentration camps, and dying shortly after
liberation. Munzer and his mother immigrated to the U.S. in 1958, and he went on to a distinguished career as a pulmonologist. As one of the youngest Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, Munzer shares his story, and his memories, which are created mainly through photographs and his mother’s shared history, as a volunteer at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Dedicated to educating students on the
Dr. Al Munzer.
history of the Holocaust and its lessons, Munzer will also speak to students from five local schools while he is visiting the area. In addition to hearing from Munzer at Yom Hashoah, student winners of the Holocaust Commission’s annual Elie Wiesel competitions and recipients of the Commission’s Excellence in Education awards will be honored and recognized. This year’s competition, the second with completely online entry, received more than 1,200 entries, from Tidewater, across Virginia, as well as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Utah, and California. Special awards will also be presented to distinguished Holocaust educators. For more information, visit www. HolocaustCommission.org, email info@holocaustcommission.org, or call 757-965-6100.
Baby Al with sisters Eva and Leah.
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Baby Al with rescuing family.
BOOK REVIEW The Jews Should Keep Quiet (Franklin D. Roosevelt, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, and the Holocaust) Rafael Medoff Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 2019. 387 pages.
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rofessor Rafael Medoff is an orthodox ordained rabbi and prolific author who is the founding director of the David S. Wyman Rabbi Zoberman. Institute for Holocaust Studies as well as the co-editor of its online Encyclopedia of American Response to the Holocaust. The Jews Should Keep Quiet is dedicated to the late Wyman whose breakthrough 1984 book, The Abandonment Of The Jews, charted a pioneering and courageous path of consequential and painful realities in confronting the Shoah’s monumental dimensions. The revealing new material helps demonstrate beyond a doubt a direct link of FDR and Rabbi Stephen S. Wise whose joint policies and assertions of commission and omission, contributed to an overwhelming calamity for the Jewish people and humanity. Medoff succeeds in debunking long-held views such as that FDR, who was practically worshiped by adoring American Jews for his New Deal, cared for Jews and their preeminent leader, Rabbi Wise. Emerging is a Machiavellian plot to cynically outmaneuver a naively trusting Jewish leader who was enamored by a clever president who bestowed upon Wise and his family tokens of friendship and gratitude, ensnaring Wise to believe that FDR would not betray him and even more critically, a vulnerable European Jewry in Hitler’s devouring clutches. In fact, unwittingly or not Wise enabled FDR, a master manipulator in his constant intimidating harangue “that he wanted the Jews to keep quiet” and their obeyed silence would best serve to save fellow Jews and even protect American Jews in a highly antisemistic society which by 1940 had more than 100 antisemitic organizations with the vast popularity of the antisemitic Catholic priest, Father Charles Coughlin. Isolationism, Nativism
and following the Great Depression and high unemployment, as Medoff’s points out in FDR’s defense, weighed on him while also burdened with WWII preparations. Thus, Wise did all in his substantial power to enforce Jewish fatal inaction as leader of the major Jewish organizations: The American Jewish Congress, which he founded to neutralize the then anti-Zionist American Jewish CommitteeThe World Jewish Congress, the Jewish Institute of Religion that he founded and later merged with Hebrew Union College. He was also chief editor of the magazine, Opinion. To aggravate matters, FDR’s mom, Sarah, and other family members were unabashedly antisemitic. FDR himself was proud of his family being devoid of “Jewish blood.” He explained away Polish antisemitism to the dismayed Wise, that it resulted from Jewish prominence. How reason the 1939 sordid affair of FDR turning away the SS St. Louis though the US Virgin Islands offered safe haven to the 937 desperate fleeing Jewish refugees? How understand that FDR opposed, aiding, and abetting a notorious antisemitic State Department, in 11 of his 12 years in office (1933–1945) to fulfill the quota for Germany, and his refusal to accept 20,000 Jewish German children? Vice President Henry Wallace quotes Secretary of War Henry Stimson that the State Department is “the wailing wall for Jews.” Three days before Yom Kippur on October 6, 1943, the first Jewish march on Washington took place with more than 400 Orthodox rabbis participating to Wise’s chagrin. Organized by the Bergson Group, this massive demonstration of very traditional rabbis in practice and appearance, who spoke Yiddish and represented a distinct old world Jewish flavor, made Wise and fully acculturated American Jews very uncomfortable, concerned of how non-Jews would react. This impressive turnout of spiritual leaders on behalf of their millions of European brethren, sought to pressure FDR’s Administration to create an agency focused on rescuing the Jews from extinction. Fearing embarrassment and worse, FDR chose the meek
approach of avoidance and refused to even meet with the rabbis’ delegation. It was only under the cloud of a likely adoption of a Congressional resolution to firmly support Jewish refugees and with a pending election, did FDR agree to reverse course and establish the War Refugee Board on January 23, 1944. Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr., the only Jew to ever serve in a FDR cabinet, was instrumental in FDR’s long-coming acquiescence in saving Jewish lives. Yet, the tragic delay amounted to a loss of more than four million Jewish lives and 440,000 Hungarian Jews. Medoff emphasizes that since the WRB managed to save 200,000 Jews and 20,000 non-Jews till the war’s end in May 1945—numbers that pale in comparison to the vast losses—is proof that had the WRB been established earlier it would have made a significant difference. FDR’s Administration’s mantra with Wise buying into it, that Jewish rescue should await Nazism’s defeat, proved to be false and disastrous. Liberty ships transporting American troops to Europe and returning home empty, could have carried refugees. The failure of responding to Jewish pleas to bomb the railways and bridges leading to Auschwitz and the murder of 1.1 million Jews, in the guise that aerial military operations took precedence, has no justification. Allied planes dropped bombs on enemy oil and chemical installations nearby. On August 20, 1944, a major American bombing campaign raided a target five miles from Auschwitz with the participation of the famed African American Tuskegee Airmen piloting 100 Mustang fighters. Sixteen-year-old prisoner Elie Wiesel witnessed it with joy and later bemoaning in his classic Night, that no bombs rained on Auschwitz. Wise is blamed for his inability to free himself from his all-consuming allegiance to FDR. Perhaps, muses Medoff, Wise’s increasing health issues were a factor. A persisting puzzle—to what extent was FDR and for that matter Rabbi Wise
victimized products of their times, and to what degree did they fail to rise above their times and make a critical difference? Following the February 1945 Yalta Conference, FDR met with Saudi Arabia’s King Ibn Saud aboard the USS Quincey, at which both of them nixed the revival of Jewish life in Palestine. It is safe to conjecture that had FDR been in office in 1948, he would not vote for the declared Jewish State. Already in spring 1938 the both visionary and practical David Ben-Gurion called FDR “an anti- Zionist.” In his 1949 autobiography, Challenging Years, Wise seals his positive evaluation of FDR with glowing words, though Medoff interprets it as opening a window for potential criticism of his idolized hero. Thus, Wise seeks to defend his own blemished record that cannot be separated from FDR’s indefensible record. “’It is in his rendezvous with destiny that he was equal to its measureless and majestic responsibility. Woe to them who vainly sought and seek to divert this heroic figure from his definitely appointed rendezvous.’” Medoff concludes, “He (FDR) saw America as “a Protestant country” with “the Jews” and people of other backgrounds present only “on sufferance.” Perhaps, then, it is not surprising that he was disposed to policies that would exclude, restrict, dispense, or silence such minorities. To stifle Jewish criticism of these policies, Roosevelt exploited the insecurities of a mostly immigrant and not yet fully accepted community and maneuvered Rabbi Wise to help endure that the Jews would keep quiet.” Rabbi Dr. Israel Bobrov Zoberman is founder and spiritual leader of Temple Lev Tikvah and is Honorary Senior Rabbi Scholar at Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church. He and his family of Polish Holocaust survivors lived from 1945 until 1949 among refugees in Kazakhstan (USSR), Poland, Austria, and Germany.
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WHAT’S HAPPENING Jerusalem Quartet to perform two concerts in Tidewater Monday, April 25 St. John’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth, 10:30 am Robin Hixon Theater, Clay and Jay Barr Education Center, 7:30 am
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Jewish Family Service’s Annual Run, Roll, or Stroll returns Sunday, May 1, 31st Street Park Virginia Beach Oceanfront 5K Run/Walk: begins at 8 am 1 Mile Run/Walk: begins at 9am
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ewish Family Service of Tidewater’s annual Run, Roll, or Stroll race as part of its Spring Into Healthy Living returns to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront on Sunday, May 1. Much more than a race, it is a time to gather as a community in fellowship and activity. The race is open for everyone—families and children are especially encouraged to register for the 1 Mile Fun Run. The event includes a special warmup session prior to the race with Yolanda from the Simon Family JCC. Plus, every race entry is eligible for raffle prizes including day passes to Hunt Club Farm, a Route 58 Deli gift card, Fleet Feet gift card, and many more. For more information and to register, go to runsignup.com.
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regular and beloved guest on the world’s great concert stages, the Jerusalem Quartet visits Tidewater for two concerts with the Virginia Arts Festival. Since the ensemble’s founding in 1993 and subsequent 1996 debut, these Israeli musicians have embarked on a journey of growth and maturation. In fact, the four musicians each have extensive resumes, performing throughout the world with the finest conductors and orchestras solo, and with the Quartet. With Jerusalem as their ‘home base’ the Quartet’s members are not exactly ‘from’ Jerusalem. The three founding members— Alexander Pavlovsky, Sergei Bresler, and Kyril Zlotnikov—met as students while attending the Jerusalem Academy for Music and Dance in Jerusalem. Pavlovsky and Bresler are originally from Ukraine (Kyiv and Kharkiv, respectively). They both currently live in the Jerusalem area. Zlotnikov is originally from Minsk, Belarus, and now lives in Lisbon, Portugal. Ori Kam, the fourth member, was born in La Jolla, Calif. and lived in both the U.S. and Israel while growing up, and currently lives in Tel Aviv. Kam joined the group in 2010 when the
Jerusalem Quartet Images:
Jerusalem Quartet
founding violist, Amihai Grosz, left to join the Berlin Philharmonic. When in Tidewater, the Jerusalem Quartet will perform works by Haydn, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Webern, and Tchaikovsky. The New York Times said, “A good string quartet, wisdom has it, is like a single instrument with 16 strings. That sort of unity of sound and purpose is a given in any performance by the extraordinary Jerusalem Quartet.” For more information on the Jerusalem Quartet in Tidewater, go to vafest.org.
CALENDAR APRIL 12, TUESDAY
Simon Family JCC’s Annual Senior Seder is back and open to all seniors in the Tidewater community. Chazzan David Proser of KBH Synagogue will lead participants in a fun, engaging, and abbreviated service followed by a delicious traditional Passover meal. Tickets are $10. Space is limited. Registration deadline is April 7, 2022. To register, visit the JCC front desk or visit www. JewishVA.org/Seniors or call 757-321-2304.
APRIL 27, WEDNESDAY
Reading of the Names, sponsored by Congregation Beth El’s Men’s Club, will take place via zoom. For more information or to reserve a time, email Beth El Men’s Club President, Howard Horwitz at hhorwitzintune@yahoo.com. See page 24. Yom Hashoah at Congregation Beth El. Also available via livestream on the Holocaust Commission Facebook page. Dr. Alfred Munzer is the guest speaker. 6:45 pm. For more information, email info@holocaustcommission.org. See page 24.
MAY 1, SUNDAY
Yom Ha’Atzmaut. 12–4 pm. Sandler Family Campus. See page 20. Send submissions for calendar to news@ujft.org. Be sure to note “calendar” in the subject. Include date, event name, sponsor, address, time, cost and phone.
WHO KNEW?
2022 GRAMMYS: ZELENSKY’S VIDEO ADDRESS AND OTHER JEWISH MOMENTS Shira Hanau
(JTA)—While the Oscars had a moment of silence for Ukraine and various onscreen messages, the Grammy Awards went further—with a video address from Ukraine’s Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelensky. “What is more opposite to music? The silence of ruined cities and killed people,” he said in the prerecorded video. “Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos. “They sing to the wounded. In hospitals,” he added. It was a dramatic highlight of the
music industry’s biggest night and symbolic of Zelensky’s rise to a prominent stage in global pop culture. Here are the Jewish winners and other Jewish moments from the festivities, which took place in Las Vegas for the first time on Sunday, April 3: • Pop star John Legend followed up Zelensky’s address with a powerful performance of a new song, Free, which borrowed a few lyrics from Go Down Moses, the famous Black spiritual song about the Old Testament’s Exodus story told on Passover. A Ukrainian refugee also read a poem live onstage during the
A SCRIPTED TV SERIES ABOUT RUSS & DAUGHTERS IS IN THE WORKS Julia Gergely
(New York Jewish Week)—Russ & Daughters may be famous across the city—and the world—for its Jewish delicacies like smoked fish, bagels, and babka. But soon, the appetizing institution may also become fodder for a TV series. As Deadline reported last month, Time Studios is developing a scripted series about the venerable Lower East Side eatery and the family behind it. According to the publication, the studios have entered a “shopping agreement” with Niki Russ Federman and Josh Russ Tupper, the fourth-generation owners of Russ & Daughters. Polish-Jewish immigrant Joel Russ opened the store in New York in 1914, and moved it to its still-operating location at 179 E. Houston St. in 1920. With his daughters Hattie, Ida and Anne as business partners, Russ & Daughters became the first business in America to add “& Daughters” to its name in 1935, according to its website. Federman and Tupper took over in 2009, steering the business through its 100th anniversary, and opening the popular Russ & Daughters Cafe in 2014, just
around the corner. They then opened locations in 2016 at The Jewish Museum on the Upper East Side (which closed during the pandemic), and in Brooklyn’s Navy Yard in 2019. According to Deadline, Federman and Tupper will serve as consulting producers, while the executive producer will be Kim Rozenfeld, who was, until recently, an executive at Apple TV+. The business was the subject of the 2014 documentary, The Sturgeon Queens. In December 2021, Tupper and Federman appeared on a holiday edition of Padma Lakshmi’s Taste the Nation on Hulu, where they taught Lakshmi to make latkes, offered samples of the store’s signature Ashkenazi appetizing offerings, and shared their family’s history. “What started as an immigrant story about pursuing a new life in America grew into generations of family members with their trials and tribulations set against the backdrop of dozens of critical moments in our society,” said Time Studios’ vice president of film and TV, Kaveh Veyssi, in a statement to Deadline. “While their story is so specific and unique, there are elements of it that will appeal to everyone.”
performance. • Jewish day school grad Jack Antonoff, who wore a Star of David necklace to the MTV Music Awards in 2017, continued his dominant reign as pop’s most in-demand producer. He won non-classical producer of the year for his work in 2021 with Taylor Swift, Lana Del Ray, Lorde and others. • Ben Platt, perhaps the most famous alum of Camp Ramah, sang Not a Day Goes By from Stephen Sondheim’S Merrily We Roll Along, in memory of the Jewish composer behind some of Broadway’s most beloved musicals who died in November
at age 91. • Jewish rap star Doja Cat won in the best pop duo/group performance category for her song Kiss Me More featuring SZA. She got emotional while accepting the award. • The Foo Fighters, whose non-Jewish frontman Dave Grohl has a history of releasing covers on Hanukkah, won best rock album for Medicine at Midnight, best rock performance for Making A Fire and best rock song for Waiting on a War. The band’s drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died on March 25, was given a tribute video.
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OBITUARIES DAVID RAPHAEL MAIZEL VIRGINIA BEACH—David Raphael Maizel passed away on April 2, 2022 surrounded by the love of his family and closest friends. David is survived by his wife, Honey, his son Lee (Isabel), his son Jay (Susan), his son Ari (Nikki), his daughter Hally, his brother Raymond (Karen), his five grandchildren Tatyana, Lake (Sarah), Bella (Ben), Max, and Gemma, and a legion of nieces, nephews, cousins, and family members throughout the world. David was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Patterson, New Jersey on December 25, 1948 to Joseph and Ruth Maizel. An exceptional student and high school basketball player, David was destined for greatness at an early age. He graduated from Rutgers University and received his medical degree from the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. During medical school, David enlisted in the US Navy, serving as a physician in Exmouth, Western Australia, and Boone Clinic at Little Creek Naval Station in Norfolk, Va.
David was honorably discharged at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After leaving the US Navy, David dedicated his medical career to family medicine and was the founder and managing director of Providence Road Family Practice, a primary care practice that continues to serve the Virginia Beach community in Kempsville. After integrating with Sentara in 1995, David served as executive medical director, and later president of the Sentara Medical Group. David was loved and admired by his patients, his staff, and his colleagues throughout his career. David was proud of his Jewish heritage and remained committed to community involvement throughout the past 45 years. David was a board president and member of the board of directors at Temple Emanuel in Virginia Beach, member of the executive committee at Beth Sholom Village in Virginia Beach, served on the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, and served as leadership giving chair and
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chair of the general campaign for United Way of Hampton Roads. To those who knew him, David was one of the kindest, most caring, and intelligent human beings on the planet. David was equally welcoming to his family and friends as he was to perfect strangers, and to know him was to adore him. David’s passing is a tremendous loss for his family and for his beloved community, but his legacy will be carried on by his children and grandchildren who will live to honor his memory. Funeral services for David took place at Temple Emanuel in Virginia Beach. The family requests donations to the David Maizel Memorial Fund supporting clinical and religious activities on campus at Beth Sholom Village (visit www.bethsholomvillage.com or contact the development department), the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater (https://holocaustcommission. jewishva.org/) or Zero The End of Prostate Cancer (https://zerocancer.org). Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com.
BEVERLEY SAUNDERS WEISMAN VIRGINIA BEACH – Beverley S. Weisman passed away March 20, 2022. Altmeyer Funeral Home-Southside Chapel is assisting with arrangements. To leave an online condolence, visit www. altmeyerfh.com. ESTELLE HARRIS, ACTRESS WHO PLAYED GEORGE’S MOTHER ON SEINFELD
“I understand her frustrations. She needs to break away from her husband. She would be much happier doing her own thing. She doesn’t need therapy. She needs more love from George and her husband. Then she’d be a perfectly delightful and delighted human being.” Harris was born in New York City in 1928 where her parents, Jews of Polish descent, owned a candy store in Manhattan. When Harris was seven years old, the family moved to Tarentum, Pennsylvania, where Harris suffered from antisemitic bullying at school. She quickly turned to the theater, aided by elocution lessons, and found her calling. Before working as a professional actress, Harris married Sy Harris, a window blinds salesman, with whom she had three children. After staying at home when her children were young, she began her career working at dinner theaters in New York City in the 1970s. Though Harris went on to a prolific career recording voiceovers for commercials and playing minor characters in movies and TV shows, she became so identified with her Seinfeld role that fans frequently stopped her on the street to tell her she reminded them of their own mothers. Jason Alexander, who played her character’s son George on Seinfeld, remembered his “tv mama” in a tweet. “One of my favorite people has passed —my tv mama, Estelle Harris. The joy of playing with her and relishing her glorious laughter was a treat. I adore you, Estelle,” he wrote.
Shira Hanau
(JTA)—Estelle Harris, the Jewish actress who played George Costanza’s mother on the sitcom Seinfeld, died Saturday, April 2 at the age of 93. Harris played the role of Estelle Costanza, the always shrill and frequently apoplectic mother to George Costanza, on the sitcom from 1992 until the show’s finale in 1998. According to Deadline, the character of George’s mother was named Estelle before Harris landed the part—but her name wasn’t the only thing Harris shared with her onscreen character. “I’m not that different from Estelle Costanza,” Harris told the Chicago Tribune in 1995, at the height of her Seinfeld fame.
STEPHEN SHALOM, AMERICAN SEPHARDIC PHILANTHROPIST WHO PROMOTED TOLERANCE Stephen Shalom, a leader of the U.S. Sephardic Jewish community who promoted Middle East peace and religious tolerance, died at 93. Shalom died last month. The heir to a handkerchief manufacture fortune, I. Shalom, now known as New York Accessory Group, Shalom was at different times in his life a leader of major Jewish and pro-Israel philanthropies. They included the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York (now the UJA Federation of New York), the
OBITUARIES World Sephardi Federation and Israel Bonds. He was also involved with the American Jewish Committee; HIAS, the Jewish immigration advocacy group; the Jewish Agency, and the Joint Distribution Committee. Shalom said the accomplishment of which he was most proud was working with Rep. Stephen Solarz, D-N.Y., with the blessing of President Jimmy Carter, to bring 400 Jewish women who wanted to marry within their faith to the United States from Syria in 1977. Born in Brooklyn to parents who had immigrated from Aleppo, he regretted and resented the stereotype that had attached to Jews of Middle Eastern and Sephardic origin as being militant and intolerant of Arabs. As Israeli governments turned to peace-making, he encouraged Sephardic leaders in Israel to join the efforts, in order to increase their influence in a country that once was dominated by Ashkenazi Jews, but also to roll back perceptions that Sephardim and Mizrahi Jews were anti-peace. He encouraged his friend Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Israel’s most influential Sephardic rabbi, to give his blessing to Middle East peace talks and helped establish the Tami Party, a Sephardic religious party that existed in the first half of the 1980s and that promoted religious moderation. Shalom often said that the erroneous image of Mizhrahi Jews as being intolerant came because so many Sephardi communities were coopted by more rigid Ashekanzi sects in Israel as Mizrahi Jews fled their native lands. “As Sephardics were increasing in number” in Israel “particularly in the early ’50s as they left the Arab lands— there were about a million Jews in Arab lands—I always thought they would be the bridge between the secular and the more Orthodox” and Jews and Arabs, Shalom told the American Jewish Committee in an oral history project in 1991. “It hasn’t happened that way.” He is survived by two daughters, Alice Franco and Frances Shalom, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A son, Robert, died in 2020. He will be laid to rest at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. (JTA)
IN MEMORIAM
Madeleine Albright, first woman Secretary of State and a refugee who discovered her Jewish roots late in life craft attempting to flee the country, killing four people aboard. “Frankly, this is not cojones,” she said. “This is cowardice.”
She called State Department bureaucrats, whom she never fully trusted, “The White continued on page 30
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Madeleine Albright
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WASHINGTON ( JTA)—Madeleine Albright was the quintessential late 20th-century Jewish diplomat, haunted by the Holocaust and determined to use what tools her adopted country had to crush inhumanity when it arose. Except she didn’t know she was Jewish until she was in her 50s, or so she claimed, a revelation that led some Jews to embrace her and others to question whether, like so many others, she had been driven by persecution into denial. Albright, 84, died Wednesday, March 23 of cancer, 25 years after making history by becoming the first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state. Albright was adept at outmaneuvering statesmen—always men—who thought they knew much better than she did. She also delighted in subsequent years in the fact that two close friends, Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice, followed her into the secretary of state role, to which she had been nominated by Clinton’s husband, President Bill Clinton. Albright hated macho posturing. If she had a credo, she stated it at the U.N. Security Council in 1996, after the Cuban air force shot down two small civilian
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IN MEMORIAM Boys.”
continued from page 29
But though she cherished the feminism she embraced in her 40s when her husband, a newspaper fortune heir who made her wealthy, abruptly left her for another woman, her drive was informed less by her status as a woman than as a two-time refugee: in 1939, fleeing her birthplace, Prague, as a toddler, and then in 1948, when she was 11, fleeing the city once again as Communist troops moved in. That sensibility informed her toughminded diplomacy. Clinton’s second term marked a shift in his diplomatic footing from the Vietnam war opponent wary of American involvement overseas to a robust interventionist whose policies and credible threat of military force helped end carnage in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq, and expanded the NATO footprint right up to Russia’s doorstep. Key to that transition, which still reverberates in the crippling American sanctions on Russia for its war against Ukraine, was switching secretaries of state from the reserved and camera-shy Warren Christopher to the gabby, sound bitefriendly Albright. Albright, an early backer of Bill Clinton when he was a relatively unknown Arkansas governor, was his first U.N. ambassador, repayment in part for the money she helped raise for his campaign. She chafed at her relative lack of influence in the administration, however; Clinton’s lack of action in Rwanda infuriated her. Years later, she still fumed, telling an interviewer who challenged her on her efforts at the United Nations to preclude an international effort to stop the genocide that she was “glad you asked that.” “President Clinton has said repeatedly that failure to act in Rwanda was the biggest policy mistake of his presidency,” Albright told The Washington Post in 2014. “It’s my biggest regret from that time.” As she matured into her role as U.N. ambassador, she could no longer contain herself. The images of Serbs forcing Bosnian Muslims onto rail cars reminded her of the Holocaust, in which many members of her extended family were murdered. She lobbied for air strikes against Serbian targets, once telling Colin Powell, then the chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, “What’s the point of having this superb military you’re always talking about if we can’t use it?” Powell, famous for his Vietnam-era-founded reluctance for military intervention, said the question nearly caused him an “aneurysm.” As secretary of state, she could, and did, address the frustrations she had endured as U.N. ambassador. She was behind Clinton’s decision to confront the Serbian military in 1999 as it bore down on Kosovo. Yugoslav strongman Slobodan Milosevic once told her, “Madam Secretary, you are not well informed.” Albright, whose father Josef Korbel, had served as a diplomat in Belgrade, countered, “Don’t tell me I’m uninformed—I lived here.” She also muscled Boris Yeltsin’s Russia into not blocking the entry into the NATO alliance of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Facing down men who thought they could outwit her was more a vocation than a pastime. In 1998, at U.S.-mediated talks with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at Wye River, Maryland, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was resisting concessions as Bill Clinton sought to advance the Oslo Accords Netanyahu had reviled. Netanyahu planned a dramatic signal that he was ready to leave the talks. He ordered his team to place their suitcases in front of their cabins. Albright caught wind of the scheme. She knew that Yitzhak Mordechai, Netanyahu’s defense minister, jogged; she also knew that Mordechai didn’t think as highly of Netanyahu as Netanyahu thought of himself. She drove out to where Mordechai jogged and asked him to chat. They did, he bent over to kiss Albright, who barely stood 5 feet, on the cheek, and Mordechai and his staff did not place their suitcases on the porch. Netanyahu went back to the talks and Clinton secured the Wye River Accords. As secretary of state, she helped engineer the ouster of Boutros Boutros-Ghali as U.N. secretary-general, in part because when she was ambassador to the United Nations he resisted her pressure to not publish a report blasting Israel for its killing of civilians during a conflict in Lebanon in 1996.
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The ethos that brought Albright to diplomacy was one that spurred so many other American Jews to enter public service, a dedication borne of the horrors of the midcentury to seek a benevolent American hegemony in its latter half and into the 21st century. “I am an optimist who worries a lot,” is how she characterized her outlook when she spoke in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2012 on a book tour. Her optimism may have blinded her to how deeply embedded in Iran’s political culture was its resistance to compromise. At her urging, Clinton suspended tough nuclear sanctions on the country—ones he had just imposed—so she could deal with Mohammad Khatami, an ostensible western-looking moderate. Khatami’s initiatives were sidelined by the hardline theocracy, and American administrations did not take seriously Iran’s nuclear threat until President Barack Obama imposed far-reaching sanctions in 2010, after Iran was well along in its program. Jewish organizations saw her as a formidable if sometimes contentious ally. “She was tough on negotiating and debating issues but a warm caring human being in one-on-ones,” said Abraham Foxman, who led the Anti-Defamation League when Albright was in government. “The epitome of mensch in the best and broadest sense of the word.” But Albright’s mastery of the 20th century caused many Jews to find odd her claim in 1997, after a lengthy Washington Post exploration of her past, that she only learned from the newspaper that she was Jewish. The Post story recounted the efforts of a Jewish cousin and a Czech mayor to get in touch. Inconsistencies in Albright’s recounting of the revelation didn’t help. She would say at times that it was the Post that brought her the news, and at other times that it was government vetters who were digging into her past as she was under consideration for senior spots in government. That led to difficult questions: If Albright knew she was Jewish in 1993 or 1994, why did she not reveal it until 1997, when a newspaper was about to go public? Her parents, assimilated Jews who converted to Roman Catholicism and then to Episcopalianism, hid her Jewishness
from her to protect her, but how could she not be curious about the death of three of four grandparents, who turned out to have been murdered by the Nazis, as were others in her extended family? “Was Madeleine Albright afraid to come to terms with her past because she thought it might hurt her future?” Lisa Hostein, JTA’s editor-in-chief in 1997, wrote at the time. “Maybe she was afraid that her stature would be diminished before her international colleagues if they knew of her Jewish roots. Maybe she felt her aspirations to become secretary of state would be jeopardized if her family history was confirmed.” Hostein articulated difficult questions for Albright from Jews who were out in public life and bore their identity’s slings and arrows as well as its joys. “In an age when Jews in America worry about the future of Jewish survival not because of anti-Semitism, but because of assimilation, tales of such rejection ring especially cruel,” Hostein wrote. Some Jewish leaders accepted Albright at her word. Czech Jewish leaders noted that they had accompanied her to Jewish sites in Prague before and after the revelation; after she knew she was Jewish she was much more emotional, they told JTA in 1997, during her visit to Prague in July of that year. “It is common for Jews from this part of the world to be ignorant of their Jewish roots,” said Tomas Kraus, then executive director of the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic. “A substantial number of Czech Jews have only recently discovered their ancestry.” Albright did not like to talk about her parents’ choice to keep her in the dark, but when she did, it was in the voice of a blunt-edged diplomat who understood how the 20th century robbed some people of agency, and how they did what they had to do to reclaim it. “My parents were fabulous people who did everything they could for their children and brought us to this amazing country and were protective, overly so in terms of worrying about us and all kinds of things,” she told the Post in 1997. “I can’t question their motivation. I can’t. I don’t know how else to put it.”
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