Dec 5, 2016 by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater

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Southeastern Virginia | Vol. 55 No. 07 | 20 Kislev 5777 | December 5, 2016

Israel battles blazes â&#x20AC;&#x201D;page 12

27 Local students at AIPAC High School Summit

28 Remembering Joyce Strelitz

30 TJF honors Veterans on Veterans day

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Making miracles Friends, As the year ends, we look back at events, visitors, and achievements—and yes, the challenges—the Tidewater Jewish community experienced in 2016. Our gratitude toward this community’s commitments, its accomplishments, its devotion and its dedication to meeting the challenges—facing not just Tidewater, but Israel, Europe, the Former Soviet Union, and so many communities around the world—is profound. You came, with hundreds and thousands of others, to Federation-sponsored community events, often put on with the help of partner agencies, synagogues and countless volunteers: CRC’s Israel Today Forum, the Holocaust Commission’s Yom Hashoah Holocaust Day of Remembrance, Tidewater Together with Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi Eric Yoffe, the Tzedeakah Wine Tasting Event, What We Carry II film premiere at the sold-out Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Family Shabbats and a mission trip to Israel. You listened carefully to Olga Meshoe, an attorney and human rights activist from South Africa, dispel the myth that Israel is an apartheid state and Matti Friedman, formerly with the Associated Press speak about media’s biased coverage of Israel. Your response and offers of assistance were informed, heartfelt, generous and immediate. And you supported our UJFT Annual Campaign through generous donations. Your gift impacted every aspect of Jewish life in Tidewater, last year providing 9,000 Kosher Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors, helping pay bills and buy medication for more than 400 people in dire financial need, providing funding and scholarships to 400 students in local schools and camps. Your impact extended far beyond Tidewater, too, and with your help we can continue to meet challenges, both existing and new, and secure the future for future generations in Tidewater, in Israel and globally. You gave to our extended Jewish family in Israel, in the Ukraine, in Hungary and in Romania. Thank you for your contributions. Please consider making an

Contents Making Miracles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Briefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Torah Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Worst fears, best hopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Nation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Washington, DC festival pays tribute to Elie Wiesel. . . . . . . . . . 9 John Kerry on two-state solution. . . . . . 10 Fires in Israel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 End of year giving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Happy Hanukkah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Students attend AIPAC Summit. . . . . . . 27

end-of-the-year gift to the UJFT Annual Campaign. Beyond the tax benefits, you’ll help so many others through your tzedakah, the expression of your Jewish values and commitment to this community and to Israel. However, it is not only through UJFT that one can make an end of the year gift and support our community’s valiant efforts of Klal Yisrael—of one Jew being responsible for one another. The Tidewater Jewish Foundation (TJF) is here to partner with you and your family on several exciting and new initiatives to strengthen our community. Here are few ideas to consider before the year ends. TJF offers two unique matching gift programs with limited amount of funds available. You may create a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) or philanthropic fund with at least $7,500 which will be matched by an additional $2,500 from TJF to create a philanthropic fund in your name of $10,000 or more. hrough this fund, you may pass on your philanthropic legacy to your children (see ad on p. 25). TJF also offers a “mini-Donor Advised Fund” as part of the newly launched B’nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy program. With an initial gift of $250, teens can have a philanthropic fund (or mini Donor Advised Fund). TJF will match a gift (up to $250). In addition to these two matching gift program for Donor Advised Funds, TJF recently launched Life & Legacy Program to promote after-lifetime giving to benefit the Jewish community. Ten local organizations have been accepted into this program. See page 14 to learn more. TJF representatives are happy to meet with you to discuss your philanthropic goals and develop a giving strategy that makes sense for you and your family. We appreciate your continued generosity and feel grateful to be part of such a remarkable community. Have a Happy Hanukkah full of light and joy!

Published 22 times a year by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.

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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 Hal Sacks, Book Review Editor Sandy Goldberg, Account Executive Mark Hecht, Account Executive Marilyn Cerase, Subscription Manager Reba Karp, Editor Emeritus Sherri Wisoff, Proofreader United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Jay Klebanoff, President Alvin Wall, Treasurer Stephanie Calliott, Secretary Harry Graber, Executive Vice-President www.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. © 2016 Jewish News. All rights reserved. Subscription: $18 year For subscription or change of address, JewishNewsVA call 757-965-6128 or email mcerase@ujft.org.

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Remembering Joyce Strelitz. . . . . . . . . . TJF honors Veterans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nadiv launches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Geniza ceremony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What’s Happening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mazel Tov. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Who Knew?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Entertainment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Special Section—Hanukkah

Scott Kaplan Tidewater Jewish Foundation

28 30 31 31 32 34 35 35 36 38

Issue Date Topic Deadline Dec. 19 Holiday Entertaining Dec. 2 Jan. 16 Super Sunday Dec. 30 Jan. 30 Mazel Tov Jan. 13 Feb. 13 Cooking and Eating Jan. 27

Candle lighting Friday, December 9/9 Kislev Light candles at 4:31 pm Friday, December 16/16 Kislev Light candles at 4:32 pm

“Once unveiled, the stamp

Friday, December 23/23 Kislev Light candles at 4:36 pm

elicited applause.” —page 17

Friday, December 30/1 Tevet Light candles at 4:40 pm Friday, January 6/8 Tevet Light candles at 4:46 pm Friday, January 13/15 Tevet Light candles at 4:52 pm

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Briefs Jewish groups urge post-election discussion at Shabbat dinners Jewish organizations launched an initiative encouraging young Jews to use Shabbat dinner as a way to promote dialogue about the results of the 2016 presidential election. The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Moishe House, OneTable and Repair the World are calling on young Jews to sign up to host Shabbat dinners through OneTable, a platform that funds young people hosting Friday night dinners. Dinner participants are encouraged to “engage in productive post-election dialogue to help overcome the election’s bitter division.” Following the launch of the initiative on November 15, OneTable received 131 new requests to host Shabbat dinners. The group usually receives 8–9 such applications daily. “It is our hope that people will tap into Shabbat as a safe, sacred space to process the election, to begin to address the painful divides and issues it has surfaced, and to consider how we can work together to strengthen civil discourse,” Sandy Cardin, president of the Schusterman Family Foundation, said. “Shabbat dinner went well. This was a very tough week for all of us, and a good time to build community,” said Jonathan Lane, who hosted a dinner through OneTable in Washington, D.C. (JTA) Hundreds gather to protest hate at park named for Beastie Boys member Hundreds gathered for an anti-hate rally at a vandalized Brooklyn park named in memory of the late Beastie Boys singer Adam Yauch. The rally Sunday, Nov. 20 at the Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn came after the park was defaced with swastikas and the message “Go Trump.” Yauch, known as MCA, died in 2012 at age 47 of cancer of the salivary gland. All three original members of the Beastie Boys were Jewish. The graffiti were painted over by city workers prior to the rally. The playground equipment that had been vandalized was

covered with paper flowers and hearts by local children over the weekend. Fellow band member Adam Horovitz, known as Ad-Rock, was joined on stage by local politicians and by Jewish actor Ben Stiller. “We’re all here today because we’re thinking the same thing: Painting swastikas on a children’s playground is a messed-up thing to do,” Horovitz told the crowd. “And for many of us, it has special meaning, because this park is named for Adam Yauch, who was my friend and band mate for over 30 years, but he was also someone who taught nonviolence in his music, in his life, to all of us and to me. But, this is more about someone in New York City linking Nazi Germany to Donald Trump in a ‘hell yeah’ kind of way.” Stiller also spoke: “As a New Yorker and a parent and an American, I thought it was really important to stand up and say this isn’t OK. Hate crimes aren’t OK, and especially this happening in Adam Yauch Park when Adam Yauch was so about peace and non-violence.” Following the vandalism, the Beastie Boys Twitter account posted a message: “Hate has no place in Brooklyn, NYC, or America.” Several swastikas have been scrawled in New York City and around the state since Election Day on Nov. 8. (JTA)

Record 700 Brazilians to make aliyah in 2016, says Jewish Agency More than 700 immigrants from Brazil are scheduled to arrive in Israel by the end of the year, according to the Jewish Agency. That will be more than three times the annual average of about 200 new Brazilian immigrants and a 45-year record for the South American country, the aliyah group said. “The Brazilian Jewish community is a warm, Zionist community with strong ties to Israel,” said Natan Sharansky, the chairman of the Jewish Agency, who recently visited Brazil and met with the local Jewish community. “Since Israel’s establishment, more than 15,000 Brazilian Jews have immigrated to Israel, contributing to the Jewish state’s national character and strength.”

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The increase in aliyah from Brazil is taking place in the midst of an economic crisis in the country. Some 496 Brazilian immigrants arrived in Israeli in 2015, and 280 arrived in 2014, by the Jewish Agency’s count. (JTA)

Wife of Israeli ambassador excluded from annual get-together The wife of the Israeli ambassador to Chile was excluded from an annual gathering of the wives of diplomats serving in the South American country. Michal Hayet was the only wife not invited to the event Sunday, Nov. 20, which this year was held at the Palestinian Club, a large sports facility and social club located in the elegant neighborhood of Las Condes in the Chilean capital of Santiago. The Israeli ambassador, Eldad Hayet, called his wife’s exclusion an “absolute breach of diplomatic relations” and accused the nonprofit that organizes the event of backing the boycott campaign against Israel led by the local Palestinian community. “If they had invited us, we would have been happy to participate. You are generating a politicization of both the organization and the activity, whose objective was charity for the needy in Chile,” the ambassador said. The organizers sent an apology. But said they could not change the venue and the charity event would be held as planned, without Michal Hayet. “The participation of diplomatic representatives will be reduced,” they said in recognition of the likely fallout. Most Western countries’ representatives said they would not attend, reported AJN news service, citing the Israeli embassy. Envoys from the United States, the European Union and Germany expressed their solidarity with Hayet. “Our exclusion from a traditional charity event as a result of political motivations is an open contradiction of the practice and rules of the diplomatic corps,” the Israeli ambassador wrote in a letter to the diplomatic corps. In May, the University of Chile’s Law Faculty Student Union voted to approve a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

resolution against Israel, which prohibited any academic interaction with the state or its citizens. Chile is home to some 15,000 Jews. The country is also believed to host the largest Palestinian community outside of the Arab world, with more than 300,000 members. (JTA)

Rob Reiner: Jared Kushner ‘turning his back’ on Judaism American filmmaker Rob Reiner accused Jared Kushner, President-elect Donald Trump’s Jewish son-in-law, of turning his back on his religion. “I don’t understand Jared Kushner at all. What is he doing? He’s turning his back on his religion and his heritage just so he can make money? I don’t get it. I just can’t wrap my mind around it,” Reiner, who is Jewish, told The Daily Beast in an interview published last month. Kushner is a modern Orthodox Jew. His wife, Ivanka Trump, converted to Judaism under Orthodox auspices to marry him. Reiner, who also is a Democrat and publicly supported Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, said Kushner’s brothers-in-law, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. retweeted memes from anti-Semitic websites and welcomed support from anti-Semitic and racist groups during the presidential campaign. “The whole time while all those anti-Semitic memes were being passed on throughout the campaign, [Trump] certainly must have known, and his sons Eric and Don Jr. must have known they were retweeting things from anti-Semitic websites,” Reiner said. “Even if you want to cut them all the slack in the world, they have never to this day said, ‘This is absolutely unacceptable and abhorrent that we are being supported by these groups of people.’ They’ve never said it! So they’re completely comfortable with the idea that anti-Semitic and racist groups are supporting them.” In an interview with The Daily Beast, Reiner said of the fortune Bannon made from investing in the TV show Seinfeld, which Reiner’s production company participated in, “It makes me sick.” (JTA)

Torah Thought

A celebration of religious freedom

anukkah’s origins in the drama of a small, yet determined people with a large vision standing up to the might of the Hellenistic empire of antiquity, is a poignant demonstration and a timeless reminder of Israel’s unique and timely legacy. The heroic Maccabees’ successful revolt of the few against the many in 167 B.C.E. following the dictates of the Syrian Greek King Antiochus IV that sought to deprive the Jews of practicing their own faith, was truly a stance of a proud conscience. Our refusal to submit to a superior physical power when our spiritual inheritance was at stake is a clear indication of how deep a bond we held with both our religious convictions and sovereign independence, ready to sacrifice the sacred gift of life for the sake of an ancestral covenant with the compelling God of Freedom and Responsibility. The word Hanukkah and its festival meaning represent the spirit of dedication to irreplaceable ideals and ideas through the cleansing of Jerusalem’s temple from pagan defilement. The Talmud’s focus on the miracle of the cruse of oil lasting eight days reflects the rabbis’ aversion to the bloodshed and the Hasmoneans’ intra-political strife associated with the war and beyond. Consequently, the Books of the Maccabees were not included in our Biblical canon, but were preserved through the Catholic one. In truth, the conflict was not only against the enemy from without, but in response to the assimilation from within. The encounter with the dominant, flourishing and tempting Greek culture led, however, to a fruitful philosophical engagement influencing Rabbinic thought and logic. Hanukkah’s flickering lights have come

to symbolize through centuries of suffering the miracle of Jewish survival in spite of great odds, while endowing the human family with an enduring hope for a world transformed and redeemed. Let us continue to pray and labor that the ancient promise of prophetic Shalom, the first such inspiring and pioneering message of universal embrace, will yet be realized for all of God’s children including the offspring of Isaac and Ishmael whose familial bond cannot be denied. How frustrating and telling that there are Palestinian and other Arab leaders attempting to re-write history with the shameful aid of UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) by removing the incontrovertible Jewish connection, as well as the Christian one, with the Temple Mount, the Western Wall and thus from the Land of Israel. These dark forces are bent on extinguishing Hanukkah’s authenticity and delegitimize the State of Israel. Hanukkah’s celebration of religious freedom of choice is vigorously tested and contested in the controversy over Jewish worship at the Western Wall and its southern end (Robinson’s Arch). The Women of the Wall have long struggled for equal acceptance. The Reform and Conservative movements are painfully disappointed over the unfulfilled agreement by the Israeli government for egalitarian worship in the southern section. These are a cause for concern in the critical context of Jewish pluralism in Israel and IsraelDiaspora relations. As the United States, the State of Israel and the entire free world fight the blight of terrorism which is led by Iran, much can be learned from the old and new Maccabees’ saga and spirit. In the still restive region where Hanukkah’s drama took place, so ironically and tragically, Syria’s dictator Assad with Iranian and Russian participation, sheds his people’s blood including so many children in the barbaric bombing of Aleppo. The Islamic State (ISIS) continues its assault on civilization. The terrorists negate the life-enlightening, pluralistic and

indomitable faith and noble example to inclusive principles of Hanukkah’s bright face a formidable foe—physically, spirituMenorah daring to challenge the darkness ally and psychologically—and prevail. of oppression in all its destructive forms. Jewish News ad now : DECEMBER 5th, 2016 — DRAFT 1a —Dr. Israel Zoberman is the founding All humans have become vulnerable 3/8 Vertical is: 4.875”w x 8.125” h rabbi of Congregation Beth Chaverim. Jews, yet empowered with our people’s

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comment

Time to stand up Elena Barr Baum

n Saturday, Nov. 19, the leader of the white nationalist think tank, the National Policy Institute, Richard Spencer, addressed his faithful at the Ronald Reagan building, blocks from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. His words did not veil their references to Nazism, sometimes quoting, “the original German.” He claimed that A mer ica belongs to white people. Calling for a “peaceful ethnic cleansing,” he led the 200 plus attendees as they raised their hands in the Nazi salute and exclaimed “Hail, Trump!” The Museum responded with a beautiful concise statement condemning their hateful rhetoric. Like a recent Elie Wiesel competition, the Museum’s statement pointed out that the Holocaust did not begin with guns or deadly gas or with concentration camps—it began with words. Words like “America was until this past generation a white country designed for ourselves and our posterity,” Spencer said; “It is our creation, it is our inheritance, and it belongs to us.” Frightening? Absolutely. But whom did their statement reach? The powerful statement reached the Museum’s constituency, which is well aware of the dangers of such talk. It

was essentially preaching to the choir. The members of the Association of Holocaust Organizations, to which the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission belongs, have been working on their own statement to issue, but the real question is who SHOULD be the audience for such statements of condemnation? The answer is the American people. All of them. Why is the legitimate press not ringing bells of alarm? These inflammatory and dangerous words should be put before ALL Americans, in hopes that they will respond with a resounding, “NO! This is not true! These are not our values, not the principles of our country!” As an organization whose mission is to “help students apply the lessons of the Holocaust—the dangers of discrimination, peer pressure, unthinking obedience to authority, and indifference—to the moral decisions they make in their own lives,” the Holocaust Commission hopes that all caring citizens will shine a light on the current climate of hatred that has grown more powerful in our country in the past months. The aim is not political, but to help us be more civil; to help lead us back to a place of respect for all Americans. We strive not just for tolerance, but acceptance. There can be no moving forward together without it.

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“NO! This is not

true! These are not our values, not the principles of our country!”

Nation

“Worst fears, best hopes” for the Trump presidency (JTA)—The upset victory by Donald Trump in the 2016 elections stunned a Jewish activist and leadership class that is at times as divided as the electorate at large. JTA asked some of those leaders to describe their concerns and expectations in a series of brief essays, “Worst fears, best hopes.” Nancy Kaufman National Council of Jewish Women As progressive Jewish women, our hope is that as President-elect Donald Trump realizes the gravity of his new role in the U.S. and the world, he will move away from the misogynistic, racist, anti-Muslim, homophobic and anti-immigrant tone set by his campaign and many of his supporters. We hope he will recognize the need to unite the country and reach out to the more than 50 million Americans who did not vote for him.

We hope that he can indeed be president of all the people, as he has promised he will be. We agree with the importance of addressing the economic pain in communities burdened by unemployment and falling incomes, but not at the expense of those least able to make ends meet. We hope his appointments will set a tone of inclusion and respect for all who call our country home. The idea of a Muslim registry is anathema to all of our most basic values as Americans and as Jews. What we fear most is that Presidentelect Trump will do what he promised to do—appoint Supreme Court justices

pledged to overturn Roe v. Wade, abandon voter rights and protections, and turn his back on women and children in need. We fear he will deport millions of immigrants, ban Muslims from entering the United States and deny asylum to refugees escaping war and persecution. We dread a reversal of Obamacare that leaves 20 million without health insurance. We are afraid he will threaten freedom of speech and of the press. NCJW has engaged activist women for over 120 years and we will continue doing such work to preserve all that we can in the new Trump administration. We are proud, passionate and powerful women and we will not stand idly by. We vow to remain true to our Jewish values in the face of these unprecedented challenges. As Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said during the days of racial segregation: “This is no time for neutrality. We

Jews cannot remain aloof or indifferent.” —Nancy K. Kaufman is CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women.

Nathan Diament Orthodox Union A majority of Orthodox Jews voted for Donald Trump for president. They did so upon the twin bases of rejecting Hillary Clinton as the candidate of continuity (for a “third Obama term”) as well as policies Trump proposed on key issues. The foremost reason Trump earned their votes was the belief that he will be best for the security of Israel. Trump vigorously criticized President Obama’s policies toward Israel. Indeed, Trump’s election will have a beneficial impact before he even takes the oath of office on Jan. 20. It likely makes a rumored lame duck peace process move by Obama, at continued on page 8

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the United Nations or via a presidential address, unlikely, if not irrelevant. Moreover, Trump making good on his firm commitment to finally relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem may send the most useful message to Israel’s enemies in decades. Trump also regularly spoke out against the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal and promised to abolish it; those who voted for him are counting on him delivering on that promise. On the domestic front, Trump committed himself to improving education opportunities for American children through school choice initiatives. The cost of Jewish education is the preeminent domestic issue in many Jewish households. Trump broadly spoke of redirecting $20 billion in federal education funds to school choice programs. Such a reform could spark new educational opportunity in America and dramatically address the challenge of Jewish education affordability. Last but not least, religious liberty is the bedrock upon which American Jewry has flourished. It didn’t get much discussion in the campaign, yet it motivated

traditionalists in many faiths to vote for Trump. America is in the midst of a fractious debate over the interplay between expanding gay rights and religious liberty. A compromise approach that delivers fairness for all will take real leadership from the White House and bipartisan leaders in Congress. More broadly, Trump must finds ways—in rhetoric and action—to embrace the value of American society’s religious and ethnic diversity and thus make good on his commitment to be the president for all Americans. —Nathan J. Diament is the executive director for the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center.

Jeremy Ben-Ami J Street The battle lines in the fight for our shared future have never been starker. The Trump administration and its allies have indicated that they may abandon the two-state solution, embrace the settlement project and undermine the Iran agreement. They have threatened to target Muslims, immigrants and other vulnerable groups. We must now defend our shared fundamental values of tolerance, equality and

democracy. My hope is that the Jewish community and our country can rise to this new challenge together, forging a better future for Americans, Israelis and Palestinians alike in the process. We will not get there tomorrow. As Jews and as the children and grandchildren of immigrants, we remember what it means to be victims of persecution. Worryingly, I’ve seen deep-seated fear etched on the faces of colleagues and allies in the United States as well as in Israel, where I spent the week soon after the election. But resistance and courage is as integral to our DNA as is our history of oppression. In that spirit, we at J Street intend to give voice in the days and months ahead to the values of the overwhelming majority of our community. We will fight policies grounded in bigotry, we will stand up when those without power are threatened, and we will speak out against extreme foreign policy prescriptions and attempts to use military force when there are diplomatic options available. —Jeremy Ben-Ami is the president of J Street.

100 anti-Semitic incidents reported in US post-election, watchdog finds

ne hundred anti-Semitic incidents occurred in the 10 days following the presidential election, representing about 12 percent of hate incidents in the U.S. recorded by a civil rights watchdog. The report by the Southern Poverty Law Center looked at 867 hate incidents that occurred in the 10 days following the election of Donald Trump. The incidents targeted various minority groups, including Jews, immigrants, African-Americans, Muslims and the LGBT community. Incidents counted had been submitted through the watchdog’s website or reported in the media. Of the 100 incidents classified as anti-Semitic, 80 were “vandalism and graffiti incidents of swastikas, without specific references to Jews,” while others targeted Jews more overtly, such as the harassment of individuals or vandalism of a synagogue, the report said. Many of the vandalism incidents included

8 | Jewish News December 5, 2016 | jewishnewsva.org

references to Trump, the nonprofit said. The report referred to an attack prior to the election on a historically black church in Mississippi as “a harbinger of what has become a national outbreak of hate, as white supremacists celebrate Donald Trump’s victory.” JTA has reported on anti-Semitic incidents following the election, including acts of vandalism featuring swastikas and Trump-related themes left in public areas as well as on the homes of Jewish individuals. Earlier last month, the head of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, said anti-Jewish public and political discourse in America is worse than at any point since the 1930s. The election season saw the rise of the “alt-right,” a loose far-right movement whose followers traffic variously in white nationalism, anti-immigration sentiment, anti-Semitism and a disdain for “political correctness.”

Many alt-right members, including prominent white nationalists, have been vocal in their support for Trump, who has called for a ban on Muslim immigration to the U.S. and likened Mexican immigrants to rapists. The president-elect said last month that he did not want to “energize” white supremacists and denounced an alt-right conference in Washington, D.C., where speakers railed against Jews and several audience members did Hitler salutes. The Southern Poverty Law Center report said that the 867 incidents “almost certainly represent a small fraction of the actual number of election-related hate incidents,” citing a Bureau of Justice Statistics estimate that two-thirds of hate crimes are not reported to the police. The document also noted that 23 of the incidents reported were anti-Trump, including harassment of supporters of the president-elect. (JTA)

3 Washington, DC book festival pays tribute to Elie Wiesel

UJFT Holocaust Commission director moderates program

s Tidewater’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival was gearing up, the Lessans Family Annual Book Festival at the Bender JCC of Greater Washington was winding down. For its closing program on Sunday, Nov. 13, Jennifer Smith, director of arts and culture and Lisa Del Sesto, cultural arts coordinator, decided to pay tribute to Elie Wiesel, a literary luminary lost this past summer, with a program honoring him as a storyteller. For Of Blessed Memory: Elie Wiesel Remembered, they assembled a panel of dignitaries who each had personal and business relationships with Professor Wiesel, and could tell stories about the man for those not so lucky to have been close to him. Elena Barr Baum, director of UJFT’s Holocaust Commission, was asked to be the moderator for this program. Knowing that the 20th Elie Wiesel Writing Competition and 15th Elie Wiesel Visual Arts Competition were approaching, she took a dozen pieces of previous years’ student art to display at the event. As always happens at the annual student art show, people were amazed by the students’ talent when given the opportunity to contemplate the lessons of the Holocaust and express them through art. The art work beautifully set the stage for the panel discussion. The atmosphere at the event was one of reverence and respect for Elie Wiesel, as well as appreciation for the panelists. Rabbi Joseph Polak is a child-survivor of Bergen-Belsen and was the longtime study partner of Wiesel. The Chief Rabbi of the Boston Beth Din, Polak was the resident rabbi of Boston University, where Wiesel lectured for more than three decades. While in college, Dr. Avraham Rosen was Wiesel’s Teaching Assistant at BU for eight

years before he launched his own career in academia. He has written or edited four books on Wiesel’s writings, and remained close to Professor Wiesel throughout the rest of the Nobel Laureate’s life. Raye Farr is a documentary film expert and directed the creation of the permanent exhibit of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. She worked with Wiesel and his team on the design and production of the museum’s major exhibit areas. Each brought stories of Wiesel’s humanity to the crowd of more than 100 guests. All discussed the fact that Elie Wiesel was the consummate teacher, even when he was not trying to teach. The voice of a generation, the voice of the victims as well as the survivors, Wiesel hated to be known as such. He was humble in his brilliance and his sensitivity. He was in many ways the conscience of the 20th century. Many in Tidewater remember Wiesel’s visit for the 150th Anniversary of Beth El in 2000. None remember it better than that year’s winners of the Holocaust Commission’s Elie Wiesel Competitions, who received their awards that night from the amazing man for whom the competitions are named. Those who knew him and those who heard more about him at the panel from those who did, will long remember his messages for humanity. He will be sorely missed.

Elie Wiesel was the consummate teacher, even when he was not trying to teach.

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The 2017 Elie Wiesel Writing and Visual Arts Competitions are open now for submissions from all area middle and high school students. For more information, deadlines, and downloadable entry forms, visit www.jewishva. org/holocaust-elie-wiesel or email info@holocaustcommission.org. *of blessed memory

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jewishnewsva.org | December 5, 2016 | Jewish News | 9

Nation

John Kerry: There are “things we can do” to preserve two-state solution Ron Kampeas

WASHINGTON ( JTA)— Outgoing Secretary of State John Kerry signaled in a speech that the Obama administration was still considering action on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in its final days, although it might fall short of a direct intervention on the issue. There’s no way to “force-feed” peace between Israel and the Palestinians, Kerry said in a lengthy speech delivered Tuesday, Nov. 29 at the Women’s Foreign Policy Group conference, but there are “other things we can do” to preserve a two-state solution. It’s not clear whether President Barack Obama favors any action on the two-state front, and Congress and the mainstream pro-Israel lobby have said they would vehemently oppose it. Kerry also defended the Iran nuclear deal, as did the outgoing CIA director, John Brennan, in an interview with the BBC, part of what likely will be a full-court press by the Obama administration to persuade President-elect Donald Trump not to kill the 2015 agreement that exchanged a nuclear rollback for sanctions relief. The Obama administration is coming under pressure from groups that favor an assertive U.S. posture on the IsraeliPalestinian conflict to take steps to preserve the two-state solution before Trump takes office. Former President Jimmy Carter in a New York Times op-ed this week urged Obama to back a U.N. Security Council resolution that would recognize Palestinian statehood. J Street, a liberal Jewish Middle East policy group, also has urged Obama to take actions to preserve two states as an outcome, including backing a “balanced” Security Council resolution. The Palestinians reportedly are preparing a resolution condemning Israel for settlement expansion that they hope a sympathetic nation will submit to the Security Council.

Kerry, who spearheaded the last major round of talks between Israel and the Palestinians, in 2013-14, said in his speech that “no one has expended as much time as I have to try to move the process forward.” “But the old saying is real: You can lead a horse to water, you can’t make him drink,” he said. “If they’re not prepared to take the risks—everybody knows what has to be done—but if they’re not ready, then there’s no way to force-feed it. There are, however, other things that we can do that may try to save the possibilities of a two-state solution, and we have to think about that.” Israel vehemently opposes outside intervention, a posture that is shared by much of Congress. In September, 88 senators signed a letter urging Obama to veto any Security Council resolution that recognizes Palestine. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a nonbinding resolution that called on the government to oppose any “Security Council resolutions that seek to impose solutions to final status issues, or are one-sided and anti-Israel.” The American Israel Public Affairs Committee backed the letter and the resolution, which were aimed at stemming any far-reaching final moves by the Obama administration. Obama has suggested that he is reluctant, in his final days, to hamper his successor with any last-minute major policy initiatives, including on Israel and the Palestinians.

10 | Jewish News December 5, 2016 | jewishnewsva.org

If Obama does pronounce on the issue, he may prefer a forum less dramatic than the Security Council, for instance outlining his vision for two states in a speech or news conference. It’s not yet clear how Trump would approach Israeli-Palestinian peace. The president-elect has said he would like a crack at negotiating a deal. On the other hand, with his campaign’s approval, the Republican Party over the summer adopted a platform that for the first time since 2004 does not mention a two-state solution, and defers to Israel on what the parameters of peace negotiations should be. Kerry in his speech also defended the Iran nuclear deal reached between six major powers, led by the United States, and Iran. “Consider where we would be if Iran’s nuclear program was still going ahead full steam in the middle of all of this,” he said. Kerry noted that before the negotiations began on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the pact is known, Iran had the ability to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear device in two months and enough highly enriched uranium to build 10 to 12 bombs. “That’s where we were—two months away from a bomb,” he said. “But under our agreement, Iran agreed to actually reverse that direction altogether.” He cautioned: “The Iran agreement has made the world safer, including our allies and our friends in the Middle East.”

Obama

has suggested

that he is reluctant, in his final days, to

hamper his successor with any last-minute

major policy initiatives, including on israel and the

Palestinians.

Brennan, who is scheduled to depart as CIA director in January, told the BBC this week that it would be the “height of folly” for Trump to tear up the agreement, saying it would lead to a nuclear arms race in the region. Trump has said he would renegotiate the deal if not abrogate it outright, and has nominated as his CIA chief Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., a fierce opponent of the agreement. The president-elect also is considering deal foes for other top national security posts. Al Monitor, a Middle East news site, reported last week that Kerry, in private meetings with Democratic senators, urged the lawmakers to do what they can to preserve the deal. Trump has a range of executive actions at his disposal to pull the United States out of the deal. However, if he chooses not to act, Senate Democrats, while in the minority, could filibuster any congressional effort to force Trump to pull out of the agreement. Separately, the House passed two bills that would advance U.S.-Israel cooperation on cybersecurity. The bipartisan bills, which would expand existing joint research and create a grant for new development, were introduced by Reps. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, and Jim Langevin, D-R.I., after they joined a congressional delegation visiting Israel this summer. Langevin in his release alluded to what intelligence officials have said are likely Russian government-backed hacks during the past year on the Democratic Party and senior figures in the party. “My trip to Israel with Congressman Ratcliffe was an illuminating experience and reinforced my belief that our countries have much to learn from one another when it comes to cybersecurity,” Langevin said in the release. “This belief has only been reinforced in the intervening months as we saw cyber-attacks that targeted the very foundation of our nation, our electoral system.”

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Israel

With the wildfires tamed, Israelis seek answers Andrew Tobin

JERUSALEM (JTA)—As the wildfires that raged across this country for nearly a week were subdued Sunday, Nov. 27, Israelis surveyed the devastation in search of answers. The fires, which continued to flare, consumed as many as 32,000 acres of forest and brush across the country – an area more than twice the size of Manhattan. Tens of thousands of people fled their homes, and hundreds of buildings were burned to the ground. Many dozens of people were injured. Incredibly, no one died. According to security officials, an unseasonable dry stretch and high winds ignited the fires, which then inspired alleged Arab arsonists to join in. Arab politicians protested against what they said was incitement against their community. Controlling the flames required a monumental Israeli operation—and some outside assistance. About 2,000 Israeli firefighters fought the blazes starting Tuesday, Nov. 22, many of them working

24-hour shifts. They received assistance from a dozen countries from around the world and the region. The Palestinian Authority sent 41 firefighters and eight trucks to help. Maya Ben Zvi was one of many Israelis grappling with loss. Her popular family-run restaurant in the Jerusalem hills burned down during a wedding party. She told Israel’s Channel 2 she would rebuild, but that it would take time. “It is denial, I feel like I don’t know what I feel,” Ben Zvi said. “There are moments I weep and there are moments I block it. I cannot contain the force of 21 years invested in this place. “Don’t pressure me, give me my time. I want to thank everyone for their support and love.” Israeli ministers pledged to help people like Ben Zvi rebuild. At a special Cabinet meeting in Haifa, a northern city hardest hit by the fires, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered ministers to clear bureaucratic hurdles for those affected by the fire. The previous evening, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon had

Scene of a fire from Kiryat Yam, Tidewater’s sister city in Israel. The Jewish Agency will provide $1,000 to families whose home was entirely destroyed and/or has been structurally damaged and cannot be lived in for the foreseeable future. It is estimated there are around 700 such families. Funding will be provided by special contributions from Jewish Federations as well as Keren HaYesod communities. Some Agency absorption centers have taken in people evacuated from the fires, including one in Kiryat Yam, which is providing nursing care for 22 elderly Holocaust survivors who were evacuated from their nursing facilities in Haifa.

approved immediate $650 payments to anyone whose homes had been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by the fires. Meanwhile, Israeli security forces targeted alleged arsonists, who they said began setting fires on Nov. 23, according

With fires out in Israel, rebuilding begins JNF launches massive fundraising effort New York, NY—Following six days of devastating fires, Jewish National Fund (JNF-USA) is stepping up fundraising efforts to help the nation recover and assist Israeli partners with much needed resources and aid. Since Tuesday, Nov. 22, approximately 137 people have suffered fire-related injuries. At least 569 homes burned down throughout Israel and in Haifa alone, more than 700 homes were damaged, 37 destroyed, 400 are uninhabitable and 75,000 residents evacuated. Yoram Levy, national spokesperson for the Israel Firefighters and Rescue Services says that this series of fires were some of the worst the country ever experienced. “What made this incredibly difficult to fight, was the number of blazes that took place simultaneously all across Israel,” he says. “We had every firefighter across the country fighting the fires and witnessing extensive damage to infrastructure, housing, and land from the north to the south and east to west. Thankfully, we experienced no casualties among our members, but now we have to look to the future and order many tons of new equipment to replace what we lost.” JNF-USA’s fundraising efforts include raising $10,000,000 to purchase firefighting apparatus (550 new trucks needed), equipment and gear, and staffing rangers for the Elite Forest Protection Unit, a new watchtower in Helez, fireproof gear, binoculars, high powered leaf blowers (to contain the fire), night vision goggles, numerous 300l water tanks and hoses, and drones. Additionally, funds are being raised to assist with temporary housing, repairs, business damage, and supplementary grants; and other outdoor programs. To donate, go to jnf.org/israelfires.

12 | Jewish News December 5, 2016 | jewishnewsva.org

to Israel’s Channel 10. At least 35 people —most of them Palestinians, but at least 10 reportedly Arab Israelis—were arrested on suspicion of setting fires or inciting others to do so. Some were released, including a Bedouin-Israeli man who was locked up for a Facebook post that encouraged arson in a sarcastic tone and with the hashtag “Sarcasm, not serious.” Two Arab Israelis confessed in jail, police reportedly told the Cabinet meeting. Even as security officials warned against jumping to conclusions about the causes of the fires, Netanyahu and other Israeli politicians said they would respond to them as acts of terrorism. Netanyahu said that there was “no doubt” arson was involved and blamed terrorists. At the Cabinet meeting, he pledged to “act forcefully” against arsonists and called such actions worse than “other terror attacks.” “The severity of these cases is not equal in severity to other terror attacks because it is so powerful and it draws on the forces of nature to sow death and destruction,” the prime minister said. Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan on visits to communities damaged by fires called for the destruction of the homes of

Israel arsonists. Israel controversially uses the method as a deterrent against Palestinian terrorists. In separate visits to Halamish, a West Bank settlement north of Jerusalem that was evacuated because of a fire that damaged or destroyed dozens of homes, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett said Israel should respond by expanding settlements. Liberman said there was “proof” that arsonists started 17 of the 110 documented fires. When the extent of the fires was just becoming clear on Nov. 23, Bennett had tweeted that only “someone who this land does not belong to” could have started the fires. Meanwhile, the Arabic hashtag “Israel is burning” was trending on Twitter, with tens of thousands using it to celebrate the ongoing destruction in Israel. Arab politicians decried “incitement” against their community by Israeli Jewish politicians and pointed out that some of the fires were started near Arab communities. Ayman Odeh, the head of the Arab Joint List political party, reacted Nov. 24 to Bennett’s tweet, saying, “To my regret, someone decided to exploit this dreadful situation to incite and to lash out at an entire community.” Hours later, Odeh called on any arsonists to stop, saying they were “the enemies of us all.” Some Orthodox Jewish rabbis saw the fires as a divine retribution. Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, a leader in Israel’s settlement movement, said Nov. 24 that the fires were God’s punishment for the government’s plans to uproot West Bank settlements, including Amona, which the High Court declared to be illegally built on private Palestinian land. “Strong winds usually carry rain, but now all is dry and flammable. It is G-d’s hand that does it,” Levanon wrote in a pamphlet. “Until the disgrace of the threat of eviction is lifted from Amona, Ofra and elsewhere, no rain will fall.” A helpful rise in humidity and drop in wind was expected and rain was forecast.

Top U.S. firefighters “dropped everything” to help Israel battle the blazes Andrew Tobin

TEL AVIV ( JTA)—Call them Israel’s American volunteer fire brigade. Dozens of firefighters from across the United States put their lives on hold— leaving behind jobs and families—to help subdue the wildfires that swept Israel last month. While they all share a love of Israel, only a handful of them are Jewish. “We’re just firefighters. When guys hear about a situation like this one, where the Israelis are working as hard as they can, they want to come help,” says Billy Hirth, a Protestant who retired last year after a 24-year career as a firefighter in Arlington, Texas, and has been coordinating the American effort from Jerusalem. “It’s a brotherhood. Firemen are firemen,” he says. Israel’s Public Security Ministry formally requested firefighting help from the Emergency Volunteers Project, a network of over 950 American volunteers and professional first responders. With the fires coming under control, the firefighters started arriving at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, from where they were schlepped to overstretched fire departments across the country. Some went to work battling the remaining wildfires and those that continued to flare up, while others chipped in with routine firefighting. The Israeli stations remain on high alert, with firefighters having worked grueling shifts. “Many of the firefighters here, including myself, had been working for over 90 hours straight,” says Oren Shishitzky, a spokesman for Israel’s Fire and Rescue Authority. “Because most of the Americans were trained in Israel, they are familiar with how we operate, and they were able to easily relieve some of the burden on the crews, whether with regular fire response in local districts or in extinguishing the remaining wildfires. “I cannot emphasize enough our appreciation that these guys dropped everything around the Thanksgiving

holiday to come here.” Adi Zahavi, 39, founded the Emergency Volunteers Project in 2009 after serving as an overwhelmed first responder during the second intifada and the Second Lebanon War. He set out to prepare willing Americans to help in future crises, from wars to terrorist attacks to natural

Or Many and Jewish National Fund-USA.

disasters. Training sessions are held in the United States and Israel. The deployment of the volunteers is coordinated with Israeli authorities. Of the 39 firefighters now in Israel, 33 are full-timers, including the first female firefighter the group has brought to Israel, and six are part-time volunteers. Several, including Hirth, also came to Israel during the 2014 Gaza war, when the south and center of the country were bombarded with rockets. Many are now working alongside firefighters with whom they have built friendships during training. “The quality of the American firefighters that have arrived is excellent,” Shishitzky says. “They are elite firefighters, with years and years of experience. Many are veterans who serve in some of the best departments in America. “Where there are distinctions in training and practice, those were overcome long ago with the training we have conducted.” Elan Raber, 42, is one of seven Jews

among the firefighters. He flew in from Los Angeles, where he works for the city fire department. Raber is familiar with the station he is serving at in Petach Tivkah because he trained there with the Emergency Volunteers Program. He says he has been responding to routine calls, like traffic accidents, elevator accidents and reports of smoke. “I was here last year and really bonded with the guys, so I wanted to come back. They do have pretty steady action and a lot of equipment to get familiar with,” Raber says. “We’re coming in here while these guys have already been up for three, four days. We can basically help them out and be on standby if the wildfires come back.” Having been born in Israel and served in the Israel Defense Force, Raber views being here as a part of his “calling.” “Unfortunately, there’s a lot of bad press for Israel, so I hope to show that people are willing to drop everything to show solidarity with the people of Israel. I think people see that, and it’s a good thing. Firefighting was my calling, so I’m happy to help out,” he says. A fellow Jew on the other side of the country helped bring Raber to Israel on short notice. Eli Row—the Orthodox Jewish owner of Jet911, an air ambulance company based in the Queens borough of New York City—scrambled to arrange flights for the firefighters over Shabbat, something that Jewish law requires if it could mean saving lives. Row landed in Israel on Monday afternoon to thank the American firefighters for their service. Back in the U.S., 25 firefighters are standing by in case the wildfires again begin to spread.

jewishnewsva.org | December 5, 2016 | Jewish News | 13

first person

End of year giving opportunities Scott Kaplan

his is the time of year we think about other people, friends and family. This year, I hope you will also think about your community and the many ways you can make a difference. Before 2016 comes to an end, consider these exciting programs and matching gift opportunities through the Tidewater Jewish Foundation (TJF) that will help make a difference, while supporting your Jewish community. Below are a few of the ways your family can make an impact today and for future generations during this holiday season.

This Hanukkah commit to at least one family day of giving to others At Hanukkah, consider dedicating one night to giving to others. Incorporate the concept of “Tikkun Olam” (repairing the world) into Hanukkah by on one night, after lighting the candles and in lieu of presents, talking with your children about making a gift to a favorite Jewish charity as a family. Talk about what is meaningful and important to each of you. To create a family philanthropic fund, read below to learn how you can incorporate philanthropy with your family throughout the year. Join me and my family, as we continue this tradition of giving to others in need at Hanukkah. Create a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) If you make charitable contributions to one or more organizations on an annual basis, you may consider establishing a Donor Advised Fund (philanthropic fund) with TJF. For a limited time, if you establish a new Donor Advised Fund (DAF) through TJF with at least $7,500, TJF will match your gift with an additional $2,500 totaling $10,000 or more. A DAF allows you to make charitable gifts into the fund at any time and retain the ability to make distribution requests from the fund to charitable organizations of your choice (Jewish or non-Jewish). Think of it like a charitable parking lot to maintain all

of your philanthropy, managed through our online donor portal, providing 24/7 access. You may also name your child(ren) as successor advisor(s) to your fund. This fund may be established by an individual, a couple or a family. B’nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy (a teen philanthropic fund) If you are a teenager, have one in your home or simply know a teenager (or grandchild), consider establishing a B’nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy Fund in his/her/their name. With an initial gift of $250, a teen can have their own philanthropic fund (a mini Donor Advised Fund). TJF will match gifts (up to $250) simply for establishing the fund with us. This is a fantastic opportunity to use some bar/bat mitzvah gifts and learn how to become a philanthropist and create a mini-version of a regular Donor Advised Fund. Legacy Match Life Insurance Program Life insurance can be used to make a significant philanthropic impact in our community for generations to come. Another great matching opportunity is through the gift of life insurance where the Jewish community is the beneficiary of your policy. TJF now offers a 35% match of premiums for specific types of policies. Life & Legacy TJF was recently selected to participate in the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s Life & Legacy program, which includes a total of 37 different Jewish communities. Life & Legacy is a four-year program that assists communities, through partnerships with Jewish Federations and Foundations, to promote after-lifetime giving to benefit local Jewish day schools, synagogues, social service organizations and other Jewish entities. Since TJF was chosen to lead this initiative for the Tidewater Jewish community, 10 local organizations applied and have been accepted to participate, including: Congregation Beth

14 | Jewish News December 5, 2016 | jewishnewsva.org

El, Toras Chaim Day School, Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, Ohef Sholom Temple, Beth Sholom Village, Jewish Family Service, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Temple Emanuel, Chabad of Tidewater, and Simon Family Jewish Community Center. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation will grant Tidewater Jewish Foundation with matching funds of up to $100,000 per year to provide the participating organizations the opportunity to receive unrestricted incentive grants based on meeting legacy commitment benchmarks. In January, the opportunity to participate by making a commitment to leave a legacy to one or more Jewish organizations will be available to everyone. Charitable IRA Roll Over The charitable IRA rollover, or qualified charitable distribution (QCD), is a special provision allowing certain donors to exclude from taxable income—and count toward their required minimum distribution (RMD)—certain transfers of Individual Retirement Account (IRA) assets that are made directly to public charities. This provision was made permanent at the end of 2015 and therefore is in place for 2016 and 2017. In order for a gift to qualify for the charitable IRA rollover, the gift must be made by a donor age 70½ or older and must be transferred from a traditional or Roth IRA directly to a permissible public charity (such as Tidewater Jewish Foundation for the benefit of one or more organizations). The gift must be completed during the applicable tax year. An individual taxpayer’s total charitable IRA rollover gifts cannot exceed $100,000 per tax year. If you have not already taken your required minimum distribution (RMD), a qualifying rollover gift may count toward satisfying this requirement. Consult your own professional advisor (tax, legal, financial) to learn how this provision may apply to your specific situation.

Scott Kaplan

Gifting of Appreciated Securities The end of year is a great time to consider a charitable contribution of long-term appreciated securities (e.g. stocks, bonds and/or mutual funds that have realized significant appreciation). It is one of the most tax-efficient ways to give. Long-term appreciated securities with unrealized gains (meaning they were purchased over a year ago, and have a current value greater than their original cost) may be donated to a public charity (such as TJF) and a tax deduction taken for the full fair market value of the securities—up to 30% of the donor’s adjusted gross income. Since the securities are donated rather than sold, capital gains taxes from selling the securities may be avoided. The more appreciation the securities have, the greater the tax savings. Appreciated securities may be gifted directly to the Tidewater Jewish Foundation into a current fund or create a new fund, such as a Donor Advised Fund (see above) to benefit one or more organizations now and in the future. You may receive your tax deduction at the time of the gift and determine at a later date (in 2017 or beyond) which organizations will receive distributions from the fund.

To discuss any of these programs, gifting options and specific goals and objectives, and to learn what is right for you and your family, consider setting up a confidential conversation with Scott Kaplan, Tidewater Jewish Foundation president & CEO. Call 757-965-6109 or email at skaplan@ujft.org.

Happy Hanukkah

Supplement to Jewish News December 5, 2016

Hanukkah 5777

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Hanukkah gift ideas for newcomers to the tribe Julie Wiener

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(MyJewishLearning via JTA)—Do you have friends or family members who are new to the tribe? Maybe they recently converted, married a Jew or became newly interested in their Jewish roots? Or maybe you’re the newbie and are wondering what to put on your wish list. Whatever the particulars, MyJewishLearning has you covered, with Hanukkah gift ideas designed to please the Jewish newbies in your life.

Kiddush cups For something flashy and unique—or for someone who is a bit germ-phobic—try a Kiddush Fountain, which pours the wine or grape juice into individual cups. Amazon and other retailers have a wide variety of styles and price points.

Cookbooks

Challah covers

Amelia Saltsman’s The Seasonal Jewish Kitchen ($20.23), Leah Koenig’s Modern Jewish Cooking ($23.33) and chef/restaurateur Michael Solomonov’s Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking ($21) all offer traditional Jewish and Israeli standbys adapted to contemporary tastes and sensibilities. Each was published recently (reducing the possibility that your recipient already owns it) and garnered positive reviews in mainstream and Jewish publications. Meatballs and Matzah Balls ($27.95) is not quite as new—it came out in 2013—but will be of particular interest to Jewish newcomers since its author, Marcia Friedman, is a Jew by choice who combines Italian (she is half Sicilian) and Jewish cuisine in creative and tasty ways.

FairTradeJudaica offers an array of Judaica items produced by artisans in developing countries. These certified fair trade items are not just beautiful, you can rest easy knowing the workers received fair pay in safe conditions and that no child labor was used.

Other kitchen goodies Maybe your Jewish newbie wants to make challah, but is a bit intimidated by the braiding. A silicon challah mold ($14) simplifies the process. Meanwhile, someone making the transition from Christmas cookies to Hanukkah cookies might appreciate a set of Hanukkah-themed cookie cutters ($1.60).

Hanukkiyahs, or menorahs What’s more fitting for Hanukkah than a menorah? Just make sure you give this

16 | Jewish News | Hanukkah | December 5, 2016 | jewishnewsva.org

one early in the holiday, so the recipient gets to use it this year. A convenient option is a compact travel menorah, perfect for someone who wants to celebrate the holiday outside the home.

Shabbat candlesticks For something traditional and inexpensive, try some pewter ones (Amazon has them) that come with a plate for catching the wax drippings.

Mezuzahs From online outlets to local retailers to synagogue Judaica shops, options abound to purchase mezzot. They come in various sizes and styles and are made of myriad materials. Bear in mind that not all have a scroll, so you (or your recipient) might need to purchase that separately.

Jewelry A silver Star of David is simple and matches everything. And a custom-made Hebrew necklace is a great option for a Jew by choice who wants to show off his or her new Hebrew name (and newfound Hebrew literacy). —Julie Wiener is managing editor of MyJewishLearning.

Hanukkah 5777

New Hanukkah Forever Stamp gets warm reception at dedication ceremony Article and photos by Laine Mednick Rutherford

usic, dance, and a few, brief history lessons were part of the buildup which led to the colorful unveiling of the United States Postal Service’s 2016 Hanukkah Forever Stamp on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk. An enlargement of the stamp was placed center stage, covered by a drop cloth, which remained in place until midway through the heartfelt stamp dedication ceremony. Master of ceremonies Joel Rubin gave the 11 am event a celebratory tone, respectfully introducing guest speakers and performers while building anticipation about the stamp’s “reveal.” Program dignitaries included the Air Force Langley Honor Guard, singer Rashida Robinson, Minister Sabrina Wooten and dancer Shannon Stokes. Chrysler Museum director Erik Neil welcomed the audience, Richard Bennett, Jr., Postmaster of Virginia Beach and Diana Branch, Postmaster of Norfolk gave the stamp dedication and closing remarks, respectively.

Virginia Beach Postmaster Ricky Bennett and Joel Rubin.

The local Jewish community was well represented at the ceremony, from guest speakers to audience members. Among the rabbis and other clergy who attended were Cantor Wally Schachet-Briskin of Ohef Sholom Temple who performed a special Hanukkah song, and Rabbi Dr. Michael Panitz who discussed some of the historical relevance of the holiday. Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander also attended the ceremony.

Once unveiled, the stamp elicited applause. Simple, yet elegant, the design features a menorah—or more correctly the audience learned, a h anuk iah—w it h nine, lit candles, positioned as if it’s inside a room, looking out on a snowy scene which contrasts with the warmth of the flames. Following the dedication, audience members showed their appreciation for both the attention given to the holiday and the look of the stamp by purchasing multiple sheets of stamps to use this holiday, and for years to come. Classed as a Forever stamp, it can be used to mail First Class letters with no additional postage, even when postal rates increase.

Rashida Robinson, manager Customer Service, Driver Station U.S. Postal Service; Diana Branch, Postmaster of Norfolk, U.S. Postal Service; Erik Neil, director Chrysler Museum of Art; Richard Bennett, Jr., Postmaster of Virginia Beach, U.S. Postal Service; Rabbi Michael Panitz; Joel Rubin; Minister Sabrina Wooten, Calvary Revival Church; Cantor Wally Schachet-Briskin.

Rabbi Michael Panitz and Cantor Wally Schachet-Briskin.

Read more about the stamp’s design by visiting http://tinyurl.com/j4a8tyw. Purchase the Hanukkah Forever Stamp at local post offices, online at www.usps.com, or other area locations. To see more photos from the stamp dedication ceremony, visit www.fb.com/ UJFTidewater/photos.

Cantor Wally Schachet-Briskin.

jewishnewsva.org | December 5, 2016 | Hanukkah | Jewish News | 17

Spinach Salad with Quinoa, Toasted Pistachios and Cranberries

Hanukkah 5777

Here’s a Hanukkah menu with a healthy flair—and latkes Megan Wolf

(JTA)—Hanukah is a celebration, a joyful holiday with delicious food and family memories. I remember lighting our menorah as a little girl with my bubbe. Now, raising my daughter, I hope to create special memories with her. Food is typically at the center of our celebrations and this Hanukkah, I have created a spinach-focused menu for a delicious and festive meal. Starting with creamy white bean soup, inspired by my mother’s love for soup served in large mugs, this dish sets the tone for a deliciously healthy meal. Warm and satisfying, this dish is topped with jewel-toned sautéed spinach and is pretty enough to serve to company. And its’ easy enough to make on a weeknight.

SAY

Most people think about traditional potato latkes on Hanukkah. My Spinach, Broccoli and Scallion Pancakes with Poached Eggs are just as delicious—you can serve without the eggs, if you like. Growing up, we would enjoy sour cream and applesauce with our potato latkes. Sour cream (or greek yogurt!) would be a perfect pairing for these light, vegetable-filled pancakes. I like mine with hot sauce. Spinach Salad with Quinoa, Toasted Pistachios and Cranberries is among my favorite recipes from my cookbook Great Meals with Greens and Grains, with its interesting textures, bold flavors, and a bright and balanced dressing. It could not be easier to make and is sure to be a hit on your holiday table. Here are the recipes for these winning dishes.

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Serves 4 Ingredients For the lemon vinaigrette ¼¼ cup olive oil juice of 1 lemon 2 cloves garlic, pushed through a garlic press or very well minced ¼ teaspoon salt For the salad ¼ cup quinoa 1 cup water ½ cup shelled pistachios 10 ounces baby spinach 1 medium Anjou pear ½ cup dried sweetened cranberries ½ cup pitted and sliced Cerignola olives Salt to taste

Preparation: To make the lemon vinaigrette: Whisk the ingredients together. To make the salad: Combine the quinoa and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, turn down the heat to low, cover the pot and cook another 10 minutes, or until the quinoa has softened and the water has evaporated; set aside. Toast the pistachios in a small skillet over low heat until they are golden brown and fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes; set aside. Place the spinach in a large bowl. Thinly slice the pear and add it to the bowl along with the cranberries and olives. Just prior to serving, add the toasted pistachios and cooked quinoa, toss with the lemon vinaigrette and season to taste with salt. Serve family style or in individual bowls or on plates Tip: Getting the garlic really finely minced or crushed will help the flavor dissipate, so that instead of biting into a piece of raw garlic, the salad is nicely seasoned with a garlic essence.

Hanukkah 5777

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Creamy White Bean Soup with Sautéed Spinach Serves 4

Ingredients 1 head garlic, top quarter sliced off and discarded ¼ cup olive oil, divided, plus more for garnish 1 tablespoon butter 1 medium Vidalia onion, sliced 2½ cups low-sodium vegetable stock, divided 1 dried bay leaf 2 cans (15 ounces each) white beans, rinsed and drained, divided ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese Salt to taste 5 ounces baby spinach Preparation Preheat the oven to 375 F. Place the garlic on a piece of aluminum foil and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Wrap into a pouch and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the garlic is soft and golden brown. In a large stockpot, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add 2¼ cups of the vegetable stock, the bay leaf and 1 can of the white beans to the onions. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let simmer for about 20 minutes. Once the garlic is roasted, add it to the soup by popping each clove out of its protective paper. In batches, transfer to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth, then pour the soup back into the stockpot. Add the remaining can of white beans, remaining ¼ cup vegetable stock and the Parmesan to the pureed mixture and heat through, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt. In a sauté pan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, then add the spinach. Cook until completely wilted, about 4 minutes. To serve, pour equal amounts of the soup into each of 4 bowls and top with the sautéed spinach and an extra drizzle of olive oil. Tips: Make sure you are constantly scraping the bottom of the stockpot—that’s where so much flavor lives! Use the best olive oil you can find; it really makes such a difference, especially when used as a garnish.

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Hanukkah 5777 Spinach, Broccoli and Scallion Pancakes with Poached Eggs

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Serves 4 Ingredients For the pancakes 1½ cups chopped broccoli 4 cups packed baby spinach 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 3 eggs ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ cup all-purpose flour ½ cup panko breadcrumbs ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese 4 scallions, thinly sliced, divided For the eggs 4 cups water 4 large eggs 1 tablespoon white vinegar

Preparation: Preheat the oven to 375 F. Place a rimmed baking sheet in the oven to heat. To make the pancakes: Steam the broccoli until tender but still crisp, about 3 to 5 minutes. While the broccoli cooks, saute the spinach in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a skillet until wilted, about 3 minutes, then remove from the heat and roughly chop. In a large bowl, scramble the eggs, and then add the baking soda, flour, panko and Parmesan cheese; stir to combine. Add the broccoli, spinach and half the scallions. Mix to combine. Remove the hot baking sheet from the oven and grease with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. With an ice cream scoop, place pancakes evenly on the baking sheet. Gently press the top of each pancake to flatten. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip and bake for another 2 minutes, or until the centers of the pancakes are cooked through. To make the poached eggs (start with about 8 minutes remaining on the pancakes): Boil the water in a large high-rimmed skillet. Once the water comes to a boil, crack each egg into its own ramekin. Add the white vinegar to the boiling water, reduce the heat to medium-low and drop each egg into the hot water. Cover the skillet and let the eggs cook for 3 minutes. Remove the pancakes from the oven and serve 2 or 3 to a plate depending on their size. Top each plate with a poached egg and a sprinkle of the remaining scallions. Serve immediately. Tip: If poaching all four eggs at once feels too daunting, try two at a time. Eggs cook quickly and this won’t greatly delay your meal.

Hanukkah 5777

How I learned to give up Christmas and love Hanukkah for what it is Randi Skaggs

(Kveller via JTA)—When people find out I’m a Jew by Choice (otherwise known as a convert), one of the first questions I get is, “Was it hard to give up Christmas?” The short answer is yes. Christmas seeps into your soul and is a primary part of every Christian person’s happiest childhood memory log. Could I give up a tree in the corner of the house? Red, green and gold presents heaped on a velvet skirt under the limbs? Stockings hung on the chimney mantle (or, in my childhood chimneyless home, on the wood paneling)? The carols! The mistletoe! The gingerbread houses! How could I give all

that up? It was a process, and one that I wasn’t too happy about at first. I won’t get into my reasons for choosing to be a Jew. But please rest assured, before I go any further, that this choice came after years of soul-searching, an intensive class taught by a wonderful rabbi, prayer after prayer, symbolic dreams and a happy heart. It had nothing to do with my husband, who happens to be a Jew. I just happened to mostly be attracted to Jewish guys, which I later found out is fairly common for those of us also attracted to Judaism. So, back to Christmas. My first Christmas as a Jew was incredibly difficult. All the traditions that

had, at one point, been my traditions, were others’ now, and I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do. Although I’d never been too vigilant about decorating my tiny New York City apartment for Christmas, I suddenly found myself yearning for a tree and lights. I wanted to blast the carols and needed to make a batch of eggnog—stat! So I did what every good convert does—I clung onto Hanukkah like a life preserver. If I couldn’t have Christmas, by God, I’d make the most out of this other holiday. And frankly, that’s how I viewed it—the “other” holiday, the substitute Christmas. No tree? Well, then, I’d hang some blue and white lights around the window. No stockings? I’d find the most

beautiful menorah. No holly? An assortment of dreidels would have to suffice. We ate homemade latkes with applesauce and sour cream every night. I demanded we play dreidel all eight days—even though it was just Dave and me and no kids—and we ate the chalky gelt humorlessly. I wanted to give eight gifts, but Dave told me that was a bit extravagant for just two people, so we just gave one gift the first night. We sang the only two Hanukkah songs we knew—The Dreidel Song and Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah—on an endless loop and always at my request. I was trying to get that same Christmas feeling throughout it continued on page 22

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all, and it just didn’t happen. Finally, I gave up, bought a peppermint mocha latte at Starbucks and locked myself in the bathroom to sing Deck the Halls while weeping like an idiot. As the years went on, it got easier to view Christmas as belonging to others, but my love for Hanukkah was stagnant. Every year in December, I’d watch the evergreen go up, I’d hear songs about peace and joy in every store, and I’d resignedly polish our menorah and buy those tiny bags of overpriced gelt. When our daughter Stella came along, I had a newfound desire to make Hanukkah more meaningful, and I really put my back into it. We bought her eight gifts—one for each night—and the house was an explosion of Stars of David and dreidels. I plugged “Hanukkah songs” into Pandora and heard every instrumental version of The Dreidel Song you could imagine. And while my husband and my daughter seemed delighted by my efforts, I wasn’t as pleased. I still felt incomplete. I still yearned for that Christmas feeling, and I just couldn’t conjure it up via Hanukkah. Over time, I grew to like Hanukkah more and more, but it wasn’t until this year—11 years post my conversion— that I find myself yearning for Hanukkah, grateful for it, beyond happy that I’m a Jew during the Christmas season. What changed? I stopped trying to make Hanukkah into Christmas. I started to look at Hanukkah as the holiday it is—a minor one meant to light a spark in our hearts during this dark time of year and to reignite our pride in our Jewish heritage. It’s not as big a deal as Christmas because it’s not our major holiday. And now I absolutely love that about it. Which doesn’t mean I don’t have fun with it. We bought a cheesy electric menorah this year because Dave mentioned he had one as a kid and always loved it. We bought both of our kids eight gifts each and even have theme nights (book night, chocolate night, art supply night, etc.). We plan to eat latkes most if not all the nights, and I went to a local chocolate

store to buy the “good gelt.” We’ve already finished decorating our house, an effort led with seriousness and dedication by my seven-year-old and composed mostly of handmade crafts. And we have more meaningful activities planned. Like going to our local nursing home to light the menorah and sing Hanukkah songs with our older neighbors. We discovered, after some work, that there are more than two Hanukkah songs. We’ll meet up with our Jewish chosen family here for a few different parties—one at our beloved synagogue. Stella’s going to invite over her best friend, a sweet Catholic girl, to teach her about Hanukkah. And every single night, when I light the shamash candle, I will say a prayer that will have great meaning to me. It will be wonderful, fun and festive, and it won’t be Christmas. And while I’ll always treasure my childhood memories of Christmas, I’m relieved to be released of it now. My heart swells with love and gratitude at the coming of the holiday season. The carols in the stores make me smile and fill my head with sweet memories that I’ll treasure forever. One night, we’ll pile the kids in the car to look at the gorgeously decorated homes in our neighborhood, and we’ll drink some hot chocolate when we return. We’ll even gather with my Christian family around my mom’s sweet tree and watch our cousins’ faces beam with joy at the gifts we gave them. But what I’m most looking forward to is my two-year-old son’s look of wonder when all eight candles are lit, at watching my daughter hug an elderly woman who’s missing her own grandchildren, and singing Matisyahu’s Miracle and really meaning it when I belt out the words: “Eight nights, eight lights, and these rites keep me right, so bless me to the highest heights with your miracle.” —Randi Skaggs is a middle school language arts teacher and mother of two in Louisville, Kentucky. She is an avid storyteller and has won the Louisville Moth Grand Slam, and has performed in New York City’s Moth Ball honoring Louis C.K.

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jewishnewsva.org | December 5, 2016 | Hanukkah | Jewish News | 23

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Hanukkah 5777 Eight ways to celebrate Hanukkah that aren’t about the presents Rebecca Rosenthal

(Kveller via JTA)—We love Hanukkah. The message that the rabbis in the Talmud give about the holiday is that we light candles each night in order to increase the holiness in the world. What a beautiful idea—one that can be completely lost on children. We don’t expect them to be immune to the culture in which we live, but we want to help them understand that the miracle of Hanukkah is about bringing more light into the world, not filling their rooms with more stuff. So here are some ideas that have worked for our families for celebrating Hanukkah with kids that aren’t just about the presents.

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1. Decorate. he mitzvah of Hanukkah is to publicize the miracle, both that the small Jewish army T defeated the large Greek army and that the small jar of oil lasted for eight days. Get the message out by decorating your house. Turn it into a family project by making your own decorations.

2. Do something for others.

Blessings be with you this festival of lights and always

Happy Chanukah

he best way to publicize the miracle is to help others see the light in the world. Find T a project that you can do as a family that helps others in your community or in the world.

3. Donate your tzedakah. S earch your house for those coins that have been hiding in the couch all year. Find a cause that your family is passionate about and donate all that loose change. You’d be surprised how much it can add up to. Instead of presents every night, ask your family and friends to make a donation in your child’s honor.

4. Carve out time together. ommit to turning off your phones C and being present. Sing as many silly Hanukkah songs as you know, play competitive dreidel, and eat some latkes and jelly doughnuts.

5. Read Hanukkah books.

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here are so many fun children’s stories T about Hanukkah. Both PJ Library and Amazon are great sources for finding books that will appeal to your child and the whole family.

6. Invite friends over. onus points for inviting those friends B who have never celebrated Hanukkah. Make sure you brush up on the story before they arrive.

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7. Watch lots of Hanukkah parody videos. his is a personal favorite in my T family, where we watch videos from groups like the Maccabeats to Six13 to videos people made in their own homes (or offices, like we did). Feeling brave? Make your own.

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8. Make a new family tradition. re there things you always wanted A to do in your city? Make a Hanukkah bucket list and do one each night. Or have a latke contest to see who can add the most creative ingredients to the traditional potato pancakes. Add something fun that you can do together as a family and share it with others. And since we know that kids (and grown-ups!) still love to get presents, you can participate in a “get one, give one” plan so that each time your child is given a toy, they have to choose a gently used one to donate. Make it even more meaningful by taking your child to deliver his/her donation to a shelter or a hospital. Happy Hanukkah! —Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal is the director of youth and family education at Central Synagogue in New York City. This piece was written in conjunction with Erin Bouchard, the family engagement project director at Central Synagogue.

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Hanukkah 5777

Created with love—Ohef Sholom Temple crafters sew one-of-a-kind quilts to give to JFS clients Laine Mednick Rutherford

he Leon Family Art Gallery wall on the second floor of the Simon Family JCC has been awash in both color and love the past few weeks. Twelve handmade, one-of-a-kind quilts showcased the craftsmanship of their creators, members of the Tzedakah Quilting Group, part of Ohef Sholom Temple’s Caring Committee. The four women who came to hang the quilts—along with their assistant, Marty Moody—experienced an array of emotions as they saw their pieces on display: accomplishment, compassion, amazement, pride and humility. Celia Friedman, Laura Gilbert, Marsha Moody and Paula Russel began working on the quilts last January, using donated machines stored in the Norfolk synagogue. Other women joined, too, some

veteran quilters or sewers, and some with no experience at all. The group initially met twice a month, but added a third day as they advanced in skill and grew in friendship. “This was my first time making a quilt,” says Friedman. “I like to sew, I thought it sounded like fun and what we’re doing is a mitzvah. Also, we stick to the saying—what happens in quilt group stays in quilt group.” The group embraced a project proposed by Marsha Moody—make eight quilts—not to use, or sell—but to give to Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, fulfilling the mitzvah of caring for the needy. JFS counselors, in turn, would give the quilts to Jewish clients who could benefit from these specially-made gifts. Moody had donated four quilts the year before, discovered the profoundly moving reactions from recipients, and was committed to expanding the program. It wasn’t hard, she said, to get the group to participate. The women chose

Members of the Ohef Sholom Temple Tzedakah Quilt Group: Paula Russel, Celia Friedman, Marsha Moody, and Laura Gilbert.

26 | Jewish News | Hanukkah | December 5, 2016 | jewishnewsva.org

a traditional heartstring pattern to follow. Working with as much donated fabric as they could gather, the ladies began weaving stories into their patterns as they cut strips of cloth, sewed them together into blocks, then stitched the blocks together, and ended with the addition of a soft, fleece backing. Each woman created one quilt from the first stitch to last, spending between 75-80 hours in the process, which had been the initial goal. But the group chose not to stop once their individual quilts were finished and continued sewing, working together to complete four more. Jody Laibstain, volunteer and transportation coordinator for JFS, worked as a liaison with the group. She marveled at the bright and warm creations arrayed on the gallery wall. “These quilts will go to good use and, unlike some of the other gifts we gratefully receive, these will stay in the Jewish community,” Laibstain says. “There are many people in the Jewish community who need things—you may never meet one of these people, but they are here—and when will these people get anything that was made with love, like

this, just for them?” “These are truly pieces of art,” says Laibstain. “They are heirlooms—something someone will keep forever—to keep warm and to treasure.” When the quilts are taken down, Laibstain will deliver them to JFS caseworkers who already have recipients in mind. Each quilt comes with a special “gift tag;” a small patch is attached to the quilt’s back, showing the year the quilt was sewn, and these special words: “Made by our hands for you. Tzedakah Quilt Group.” The quilters have already begun working on next year’s gifts, and are accepting donations of material, working equipment and contributions for the purchase of fleece. For more information about the quilting group, contact Ohef Sholom Temple, 757-625-4295, or visit www.ohefsholom. org. To find out more about Jewish Family Service of Tidewater’s services or volunteer opportunities, contact 757-321-2222, or visit www.jfshamptonroads.org.

The quilt group never considered selling their quilts, but were proud to have them on display at the Leon Family Art Gallery.

Local high school students selected to attend AIPAC’s Schusterman Advocacy Institute in Washington

or three days last month, more than 400 high school students from across the nation attended AIPAC’s Schusterman Advocacy Institute High School Summit in Washington, D.C for Israel advocacy and political activism training. Six students from Tidewater attended, with two nominated by local synagogues: Haley Bartel, a Norfolk Collegiate junior from Ohef Sholom Temple, and Evan Gordan, a Cape Henry junior from Congregation Beth El. They learned how to effectively strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship through direct involvement in the American political process, and lobbied members of Congress on the final day of the Summit. Their reflections of the Summit follow: Haley Bartel I can easily say that the AIPAC High School Summit was one of the best experiences of my life. I loved Israel growing up, and when I visited in 2011, I felt an immediate connection. As a budding young Jewish adult, I felt this was the one place in the world where I was truly accepted. However, with time, that connection took a backseat to everything else in my life. Israel was important to me, but it wasn’t fresh in my mind. The AIPAC Summit changed that. I had no idea what to expect. I’d been to conventions through BBYO, and had a mix of experiences. Before the convention began, all of the teenagers were hanging out in the lobby socializing. I looked around and was astonished. It wasn’t a BBYO convention—that was for sure! There were Orthodox Jews, Reform Jews, Americans, Israelis—you name it. The group’s diversity immediately gave me a good feeling. Throughout the night, I met people from all over. The thing that amazed me the most about this was that people came from so far away, all different corners of

the nation, in fact, because they loved Israel. I learned so much that night, not only about the Israeli-American relationship, but about what I can do as a Jewish teenager to defend my homeland. Another thing that surprised me was that not everyone was Jewish. For example, one of the speakers I met was Christian. When she was younger, her dad would read her current events and she would hear about the awful things occurring in the Middle East. As a young child, it upset her. But, there was always one common hero: Israel. She said she wanted to be a part of the good that Israel was doing for the world, and that’s why she joined AIPAC. The highlight for me was lobbying Congress. Initially, this frightened me, as I had no idea what it meant to lobby Congress, much less how to do so. However, the convention offered a series of programs to prepare me for the process. When it came time to lobby, I felt ready. The coolest part was that I was speaking on a topic that Congress was voting on that same day! It was insane to know that I had a part in that decision. Attending was one of the best decisions of my life. I learned things I will use forever and made life-long friends. I am grateful to this wonderful organization for giving me this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I cannot wait to get more involved. Evan Growing up in a Jewish, very pro-Israel household, AIPAC was an acronym that was talked about all the time. I knew it was a pro-Israel group but that was about it; I never really paid it any mind. All I cared about was that AIPAC supported Israel. So when I was invited to go to the AIPAC Schusterman Advocacy Institute High School Summit of course I said yes. I was eager to learn about the organization that my parents talk so fondly about.

Evan Gordon, Haley Bartel, John Thomas (chief of staff for Congressman Scott Rigell), Evan Roesen, Jack Rosenbaum and Wendy Weissman, assistant director, UJFT Community Relations Council.

The Summit was incredible. While there, I met other Jewish teens like myself from all across the country, all who were interested and devoted to the safety of Israel. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I still have a lot to learn about American Israeli affairs (I considered myself very learned on the subject). AIPAC not only enhanced my knowledge on Israeli issues, but it also taught me that just knowing the facts doesn’t make a difference. The Summit taught me that just knowing the information, the treaties and bills and

deals, etc. is only the first half in truly making a difference on American Israeli relations; the second half is using this information through advocacy, which the summit taught me to do, as well. The most useful (and my favorite) lesson was how to lobby. My group lobbied John Thomas (chief of staff to Congressman Scott Rigell). This was an experience I will never forget. The amount of knowledge I gained and people I met is frankly overwhelming. I recommend any junior of senior to attend the Summit. I promise you won’t regret it.

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jewishnewsva.org | December 5, 2016 | Jewish News | 27

in memoriam

Joyce “Gila” Strelitz—A Woman of Valor January 9, 1932–November 5, 2016

oyce Strelitz demonstrated her kindness and caring for others each and every day, inspiring peers and young leaders alike to joyfully engage in Tikkun Olam. Having served on (and often chaired) nearly every local Jewish board in Tidewater, as well as on area cultural, medical and education boards, and on the national board of the UJA Women’s Division, among others, Joyce understood that leadership means using one’s position to be an influence for good—in the family, in the community and in the world. Among the first members of a newly created United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Campaign division in the late 1960’s, she continued to lead years later through the Tom Hofheimer Young Leadership Mission to Israel, which she co-chaired with her sister-in-law Marcia Hofheimer. The program takes 20 young adult leaders from Tidewater’s Jewish community to Israel as the culminating event of a two-year leadership development program. During the 1980s, Joyce led several missions, including one in 1982 which brought Jewish and Christian women to Israel. “It was very moving,” she recalled, “to realize that this was not just my Israel.” She also described a mission of seven women to Russia in 1988 (on the eve of Glasnost and Perestroika). With adrenaline flowing, the women moved clandestinely throughout the country, visiting “Refuseniks.” Perhaps nothing illustrates Joyce’s successful fundraising career better than her efforts for Tidewater’s community campus—bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars from outside the Jewish community. Those relationships have led to strong ties between the Federation and some of the leading Christian organizations in town. “When I spoke with Joyce, I sensed that Judaism was not a conscious act layered upon other socially demanded roles, but a natural and wholly integrated state of being,” says Harry Graber, UJFT

executive vice president. “She lived it, breathed it and it was inseparable from her essence. “Joyce’s genuine love of Israel, defiance of anti-Semitism and love of our community was not intentionally and consciously meant to be inspirational, but it was because that is who she was.” Preparing for the end, she planned her own service, “She did it her way,” says daughter, Bonnie Brand. “She selected the poem to be read and the classical music to be played.” Her son, Brian Strelitz notes that she wanted an upbeat funeral, recalling his mom saying, “Look, I know people will be sad, and there will be tears. I know people will miss me, hey I will miss me.” Following are excerpts from her funeral, held at Ohef Sholom Temple.

Rabbi Lawrence Arthur Forman

The name, Gila, means one who fills her life with joy and happiness by lifting up the hopes and aspirations of her family and Jacob Strelitz My grandmother had people. an amazing intellect, and

How did our cherished “Gila” live her life? The name, Gila, means one who fills her life with joy and happiness by lifting up the hopes and aspirations of her family and people. Gila personifies the Woman of Valor in Proverbs 31, where we glimpse some of her attributes: She is a magnificent wife and mother, a teacher to her children, an inspiration to her people! Her granddaughter, Genna, observes that Gila was a strong and independent woman, often standing toe to toe with her powerful husband, Leonard, of blessed memory, working with him on every level, raising their children—Bonnie, Brian and E.J.—to a right and proper path, taking the family to Europe and Israel, building Haynes Furniture into a

28 | Jewish News December 5, 2016 | jewishnewsva.org

respected business, along with Buddy and Arlene and their family. Gila was never a shadow in anything with which she was involved. Gila was a Renaissance woman for all seasons and an exemplary role model. Friends of all ages loved being around this exciting, bright and vivacious lady… they knew she was always up for great conversation and for engaging in current, local, national and international events. She taught us about responsibility, integrity, dignity, purpose and class. With Leonard, Buddy and Arlene, Israel’s safety, viability and advancement became their cause celebré and they devoted themselves and their resources to the protection and strengthening of the Jewish people, here and around the world.

used it to give me the perspective I needed to persevere through my challenges. Some of my most joyous memories of Gila took place on the golf course. She cherished playing her favorite game with her grandchildren. Through golf, I learned from her the value of an even temperament and positive attitude. Whether she hit a great or terrible shot, she never focused on the last and always focused on the next. I witnessed that same mindset through her struggle with cancer. Never did she complain or lament, despite the pain she endured. She set an incredible example of high will power and mental strength. We will miss her tremendously, but are grateful for her many gifts.

Brian Strelitz Mom told me, “Brian, I left nothing on the table.” This was an accurate description of her appreciation, gratitude and happiness with her very full 84 years. She was so intelligent and talented. She was an incessant reader, with a library full of books and magazines everywhere. She did The New York Times crossword puzzles, was fluent in French, learned Hebrew and was a Silver Life Master at Bridge. She loved music; and there was no genre that was an exception. With opera, she loved listening and attending shows, and when she loved something, she took a position: thus her leadership role in establishing the Virginia Opera Association. Sitting around the table—singing show tunes—Fiddler, Oliver, Oklahoma, Sound of Music, she took the lead, she had the voice. And at celebrations, she did her thing: Recipe: melody to popular song and amazingly funny, but fitting lyrics about whoever was being celebrated, equaled a Gila masterpiece that we all loved and looked forward to; in case you were wondering—they were excellent (opinion not just from a son). Mom left nothing on the table by definition—because she did it all. But she left nothing on the table also because of the legacies she gave to us from that table. Her selflessness, which defined her as a person and further translated into tikkun olam and philanthropy, is a value of great importance in our lives. Her passion and commitment to Eretz Yisrael is a gift straight from her table, and has been and always will be a top priority of ours. But our best gift from that table was the opportunity to spend six decades with a mom who lived/loved life with passion/ diversity—but never for a moment with anything less than perfect grace—and

Give Gifts of ISRAEL BONDS Celebratory Occasions just like Mom, we take these memories and her zest for life and fill our own tables—to pass to our children, and G-d willing, them to theirs. She recently told Bonnie: Let everyone know—I had a ball.

Sasha Strelitz Gila recently told Talia and me that her favorite service is Neila, because it guided her through pivotal points in her life. In the spirit of Neila, which is essentially the closing remarks of the High Holidays, here are some closing remarks on our Gila. It’s evident by the location of Gila’s house, and all the things inside of it that she loved beautiful things. Yesterday I sat at her desk: everything orderly, everything neatly placed where it seemingly belongs; everything perfect from the ar rangement of her hanging plants to the Leonard and Joyce Strelitz. penmanship on her lists in the drawers. Like the tulips she so loved, it appears to me the more I meditate on her that Gila is a manifestation of beauty. She was a lover of poetry, and I think these lines from John Keats’ Endymion encapsulate Gila: A thing of beauty is a joy forever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness.

In honor of her majoring in philosophy, let’s put aside the obvious examples of beauty: that which wooed our grandfather so many years ago, how she prided herself on having produced beautiful children and grandchildren, and even all of the time and energy she spent painting beautiful works of art.

Give Gifts of ISRAEL BONDS For All Celebratory Occasions

Beauty philosophically is more than just something for our sense of sight as Aristotle explains, “to be a beautiful living * creature, every whole made up of parts STARTING AT STARTING AT must present a certain order in its arrangement of parts.” So, I invite you to think about the arrangement of Gila’s parts. * Gila’s pragmatism and rationality, like the INVEST IN ISRAEL BONDS ∙ ISRAELBONDS.COM STARTING AT AT agency she exercised towards the STARTING end of her life, beautiful. Gila’s sense of fairness, * and her purposeful cultivation of meanSTARTING AT STARTING AT ingful relationships with everyone around her on their terms. This also speaks INVEST IN ISRAEL BONDS ∙ ISRAELBONDS.COM to Gila’s integrity. She had an agnostic view of people, and very rarely judged INVEST IN ISRAEL BONDS ∙ ISRAELBONDS.COM for judgment’s I sake. When Development Corporation for Israel Executive Director, Adam Herman Development Corporation for Israel she spoke to RegisteredExecutive Representatives, Richard Karlin and Adele Gravitz Director, Adam Herman people, no 6900 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 307 Registered Representative, Richard Karlin and Adele Gravitz Bethesda, MD 20815 word was out washington@israelbonds.com 6900 Wisconsin Avenue,· 301.654.6575 Suite 307 Bethesda, MD 20815 of place; every washington@israelbonds.com • 301.654.6575 I thought, every infusion of wit Development Corporation for Israel I *Available only online. This is Adam not an offering, which can be made only by prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before investing to fully evaluate the Executive Director, Herman and wisdom,Registered Representatives, risks associated with investing in Israel bonds.and IssuesAdele subject to availability. Member FINRA. Photos: Aleksandr Kutsayev, Corbis, Comstock, istockphoto.com Richard Karlin Gravitz Development Corporation for Israel 6900 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 307 Executive Director, Adam Herman every piece of Bethesda, MD 20815 Registered Representatives, Richard Karlin and Adele Gravitz advice were all washington@israelbonds.com 6900 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 307 Bethesda, MD 20815 meaningfully washington@israelbonds.com placed among instances of that laugh we’ll all remember fondly, that guttural, genuine laugh. Beautiful. Aside from the rationality and integrity, Gila’s beautiful soul often sought out truly divine moments in which the entire family created good times together. The beautiful creature that she was, Gila gave us a sense of family life; she shaped it and directed it so that we all look to the past with fond memories, reflect on the honest support and love we receive from each other in the present, and gaze at the future with a significant value on family. This is beautiful. We will all miss her. We will long for her thoughtful parody songs at family occasions. We will miss her giddy laugh419 Colonial Avenue • Norfolk, Virginia ter, with or without vodka. We will miss (757) 627-1383 • www.thewilliamsschool.org her advice. Gila, we will all miss you profoundly. Grades K- 8 Shine on, beautiful woman, shine on.

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It’s a wrap TJF honors Veterans with Veterans Day ceremony and serving on Navy SEAL Team TWO and Navy SEAL Team FOUR. Feldman served 11 years in Naval Special Warfare with the SEALs, and with the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, and is now executive vice president of sales at ADS, Inc. Special mention was made of the Jewish Veterans War Monument, which was completed and dedicated in 2010, after years of planning by many local Jewish veterans. Retired Army sergeant, Samuel “Sonny” Werth,* envisioned the memorial and spent timeless energy fundraising to make the dream a reality. The beautiful monument on the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus is dedicated to all who have served with true bravery. Memorial pavers are available for purchase. Honor a veteran by contacting Ann Swindell at 757-965-6106 or aswindell@ujft.org for more information.

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pproximately 60 people attended Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s 7th Annual Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11. Scott Kaplan, president and CEO of TJF, welcomed guests to the ceremony and Captain James Eilberg, SC, USN (Ret), officiated. Other local clergy who participated include Cantor Aaron Sachnoff, USN; Cantor Elihu Flax; Rabbi Israel Zoberman, IDF (Ret); Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz; Rabbi Gershon Litt and Rabbi Sender Haber. Local veterans who participated in the ceremony include LCDR Brant Feldman as featured speaker, CW04 Jim Gordon and Captain Marcus Friedman (Ret). Captain James Eilberg again served as event chair, helping create, promote and implement this meaningful program. Feldman spoke about leadership and his experience learning the most important qualities of a great leader while training

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It’s a wrap Nadiv, new YAD Men’s Giving Circle, holds inaugural meeting

Inaugural members (“Founding Fathers”) of the new men’s giving circle through YAD called Nadiv, which means “generosity” in Hebrew. Bottom row: Justin Katz, Joash Schulman, Alex Pomerantz, Paul Weiner, and Danny Rubin. Middle row: George Metzger (guest speaker), Brandon Terkeltaub, Seth White, Sam Sacks and Ro’ee Mor. Top row: B yron Harrell, Nathan Epstein, Scott Kaplan, David Calliott, Chris Hamilton and Rabbi Boruch Danzinger.

he new giving circle for YAD Men, Nadiv, held its first-ever meeting Wednesday, Oct. 19 at the Sandler Family Campus. Nadiv (which means “generosity” in Hebrew) is a giving circle combined with a monthly Lunch and Learn that features top-notch speakers on business and current events. In a giving circle, a group of people pool their charitable donations, beyond their annual campaign gift, and decide together where to allocate their money and time. Nadiv will provide a space for YAD men in their 20s and 30s to gather, network, learn about needs in the Jewish community and grow closer as a group. It will feature Jewish and secular lunch topics and a “giving” component. By pooling everyone’s annual contributions, the group will donate to a local Jewish cause

and have a hands-on role in strengthening the community. At the first meeting, the group heard from George Metzger, owner of VirginiaBeach based RP55, a clothing/apparel manufacturer and distributor. RP55 works with some of the biggest names in music and fashion (local rapper/producer Pharrell, for example) to promote their clothing and apparel brands. Metzger shared with the group his lessons for business success. “I hope Nadiv becomes a brotherhood within itself and a place for young Jewish men to network and do good for the Jewish community,” says Danny Rubin, who chairs the group through YAD. “We have an opportunity to create something from scratch, and that’s exciting.” To join Nadiv, contact Leah Abrams, YAD director, at 757-965-6127 or labrams@ujft. org. To learn more, visit jewishva.org/nadiv.

Geniza Ceremony at Holy Lawn Cemetery Norman Soroko

n Sunday, Nov. 6, about 100 students, parents and clergy stood at two open graves at Holly Lawn cemetery to bury more than 1,000 sacred books, tallits, tefillins and Jewish papers containing Hashem’s name. This ceremony, called the Geniza Ceremony, entailed the burying of sacred Jewish items. These items are buried, not destroyed. The ceremony was conducted by Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz, Rabbi Michael Panitz, and Cantor Wendi Fried. Rabbis Arnowitz and Panitz each gave beautiful readings regarding the burial of these sacred books and Cantor Wendi read the Rabbanan Kaddish. Sharon Wasserberg, educational director, worked with all the students in getting items donated.

Items were donated by members of Congregation Beth El, Temple Israel, Temple Emanuel and Beth Chaverim. This was a community burial and was in part a study lesson for the children. This event was chaired by Norman Soroko. Altmeyer Funeral Home donated their time, staff and vehicles and underwrote the costs incurred for opening and closing the two graves at Holly Lawn Cemetery.

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jewishnewsva.org | December 5, 2016 | Jewish News | 31

what’s happening Beyond the Book Festival

Jill and Amnon Damti

Deaf and hearing dance duo from Israel performs Two Worlds

The Definition of Anti-Semitism, an evening with Kenneth Marcus

Sunday, Dec. 11, 6 pm, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art

Tuesday, Dec. 6, 7:30 pm

Israel Today

Sherri Wisoff

n Israeli husband and wife dance duo, one deaf and one who hears, will share their uniquely choreographed dance work, Two Worlds, at Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach. Combining pantomime, sign language and expressive movement, this dance team creates a moving narrative that challenges concepts of human limitation, weaving together a world of silence with a world of sound. Celebrated Israeli dancers, choreographers and educators, Jill and Amnon Damti have traveled and performed across Israel and the globe, sharing their collaborative dance message—“everything is possible”— with diverse audiences—in schools, community centers and prisons, as well as through workshops for dance instructors, deaf children and signlanguage choirs. Jill and Amnon Damti. Amnon has been invited several times to Gallaudet, in Washington D.C., the largest university for the deaf, to choreograph and participate in international festivals. He received the prestigious Kinor David (David’s Violin Award), and is titled the “Best International Deaf Dancer” and performed for President George H.W. Bush at the White House in 1990. Both Amnon and Jill have been awarded the “Persons of the Year” award, in the area of dance, according to their website. Born deaf, Amnon was placed in an institution for the hearing impaired in Jerusalem at age five. He spent 10 years there. This experience had a powerful impact on his dancing, a medium which allows him to express his need for freedom and movement. “This is my reaction to the years I was kept in a closed institution, where I was not free to go out. When I left, I discovered a new world that was totally unfamiliar to me. That experience was like a bridge, a passage to a new, unknown world. It was like falling into a hole. I started from zero and dancing saved me,” says Amnon, during a phone call from Israel. Amnon was the lead dancer in the Israeli dancing troupe, Moshe Efratis Kol Demama (The Voice of Silence) for the hearing impaired, before he created his own company, Chushihi (The Sixth Sense).

32 | Jewish News December 5, 2016 | jewishnewsva.org

Kenneth L. Marcus.

ounder and president of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights

Under Law, Kenneth Marcus has written an indispensable book about the manner in which anti-Semitism has evolved from the ancient world to the present. Tracing the history from anti-Judaism to secular Jill, born in the U.S., was a professional gymnast and water ballet artist who had an affinity for dancing, but never studied it professionally. Jill’s aliyah to Israel brought these two creative people together, forging a professional and personal partnership with marriage and two children. “I had this very talkative boyfriend for eight years and then married a man who communicates without sound,” she says. Like many married couples, Jill finishes her husband’s sentences, but with fluent sign language. Mindy Brown, an internationally renowned sign language interpreter, will be at the MOCA performance to make it accessible to sign language users. A Children’ Art Workshop to make “tunnel art” will be available for children while parents enjoy the performance. Tickets are $20 or $25 for JCC members. This performance marks the fourth event in the Israel Today series sponsored by Charles Barker Automotive presented by the Simon Family JCC, the Community Relations Council of UJFT and community partners. For more information or to purchase tickets for the event or the workshop, visit www. JewishVA.org/IsraelToday.

anti-Semitism, Marcus offers insights into the ‘new anti-Semitism’ on university campuses around the globe. This event is the first in a three-part series focusing on anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment on university campuses presented by Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC as part of the Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival. For more information on the series, including

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Defiant Requiem

Sunday, Jan. 15, 2 pm TCC Roper Performing Arts Center

he Emmy-nominated documentary film, Defiant Requiem, will be shown as part of the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film at the Tidewater Community College Roper Performing Arts Center in Norfolk. The film tells the story of Rafael Schachter, a brilliant young Czech conductor who created a prisoner choir at the Theresienstadt concentration camp, and with one copy of the score of Verdi’s Requiem, taught his fellow prisoners to “sing to the Nazis what they could not say.” The event is co-sponsored by the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission. A discussion following the film will feature Maestro Murry Sidlin of the Defiant Requiem Foundation and Timothy Hensley of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. For tickets and other information, go to SimonFamilyJCC.org/FilmFestival or call 757-321-2338.

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LOCAL RELATIONSHIPS MATTER MEET:

Rabbi Roz Mandelberg

“Ohef Sholom has been here for 172 years, since 1844, but of course I haven’t been there since then. I’ve been here since 2005. The community is our extended family. We’re all responsible for one another. That’s what community means. Personal relationships are important. We get better service from local businesses. They work with us and they care about us, we’re not just a name on a form.”

Calendar December 6, Tuesday Beyond the Jewish Book Festival event with founder and president of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, Kenneth Marcus, speaking on his book, The Definition of Anti-Semitism. Free and open to the community. Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus, 7:30 pm. To RSVP (required) contact crc@ujft.org or 965-6107. See page 32. Fighting anti-Semitism with legal advocacy. The Society of Professionals. 6–7 pm. $10. RSVP at edougherty@ujft.org.

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December 7, Wednesday Hebrew Academy of Tidewater Konikoff Center of Learning Open House. 8:30 am. 757-424-4327 or csimon@hebrewacademy.net. See page 32. December 11, Sunday Celebrated Israeli dancers, Jill & Amnon Damti as part of Israel Today. 6 pm at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. See page 32. Purchase tickets (Tickets: $20, JCC members: $15) at www.JewishVA.org/IsraelToday or by calling 757.321.2304.

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34 | Jewish News December 5, 2016 | jewishnewsva.org

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mazel tov to Achievement Rabbi Israel Zoberman, who was named honorary senior rabbi scholar at Eastern Shore Chapel. On the evening prior to Thanksgiving, Wednesday, Nov. 23, Congregation Beth Chaverim welcomed the clergy and members of Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church for their 16th annual Joint Thanksgiving Service. The Rev. Thomas Deppe, Rector of the 327-year-old church, proclaimed Dr. Israel Zoberman, Beth Chaverim’s founding rabbi, to be his church’s “Honorary Senior Rabbi Scholar.” This is a first in Virginia’s history. Currently, two Episcopal Churches in Massachusetts have a Rabbi-in-Residence— Emanuel Church in Boston and Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield. Engagement Nachi Mostofsky on his engagement to Sarah Mayerfeld of Passaic, N.J. Nachi is the son of Rabbi Sholom and Tehilla Mostofsky. Sarah is the daughter of Yossie and Renee Mayerfeld. The couple will be married in New Jersey on January 25, 2017 and plans to live in Queens, N.Y.

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Associate Rector, The Rev. Julia Messer; Rabbi Israel Zoberman; and Rector, The Rev. Thomas Deppe.

Adina Mostofsky on her engagement to Yudi Nathan of Boston, Mass. Adina is the daughter of Rabbi Sholom and Tehilla Mostofsky. Yudi is the son of Scott Nathan and Elise Nathan. The couple will be married in New Jersey on January 2, 2017 and will live in Waterbury, Conn.

Mazel Tov submissions should be emailed to news@ujft.org with Mazel Tov in the subject line. Achievements, B’nai Mitzvot, births, engagements and weddings are appropriate simchas to announce. Photos must be at least 300k. Include a daytime phone for questions. There is no fee.

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WHO Knew? Poem handwritten by Anne Frank sells for $150,000

poem handwritten by Anne Frank was sold for $150,000 at auction, more than four times the minimum bid of $32,000. The poem was sold Nov. 23 by the Bubb Kuyper auction house in the western Dutch town of Haarlem, the French news agency AFP reported. It was sold to an unnamed online bidder after two minutes of bidding that AFP described as “tense.” There were 20 collectors who bid in person and others who bid by telephone and online, according to the report. The eight-line poem is written in Dutch in black ink on a piece of white

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paper that has yellowed with age. It is dedicated to “Cri-cri,” the sister of Anne Frank’s primary school friend Jacqueline van Maarsen, and is advice from one girl to another. It is dated March 28, 1942, three months before the family went into hiding from the Nazis in an Amsterdam attic when Anne was 12 years old. Christiane ‘Cri-cri’ Van Maarsen died 10 years ago. Jacqueline van Maarsen reportedly also has a poem dedicated to her by Frank but does not wish to sell it. Letters written by Anne and her sister Margot with American pen pals sold for $165,000 in 1988, according to AFP. (JTA)

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obituaries Harriet S. Collector Norfolk—Harriet S. Collector, 91, passed away peacefully in her home on November 28, 2016, surrounded by loved ones. Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Asher and Ray Salomon. Harriet was preceded in death by her beloved first husband, Bernard Bernstein, of blessed memory and by her brother, Adolph. Harriet is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Joseph Collector; her three adoring children, Ronnie Henderson and her husband, Don of Houston,Texas, Joseph Bernstein and his wife, Betsy of West River, Maryland, and Lisa Hunter of Virginia Beach. Also left to cherish her memory are her seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild by whom she was lovingly called “Bubbe.” Her grandchildren are Adrian Taylor and his wife, Kimberly and their children Ashlynn and Anthony; Noah Taylor and

his wife, Ashley and their sons Barrett, Cameron, and Corbin; Seth Taylor and his wife, Jenifer and their daughters Sarah and Rafaella “Rafi”; Harmony “Rachael” Malbon and her husband, Josh and their son, John “Johnny” Roger; Joseph “JB” Bernstein; Cami Manley and her husband, Scott and their son, Cole; Adam Henderson and his wife, Letty and their children Edward, Adam Jr, Atiana and Aliana and Edward’s son, Aayden. She was also adored by a special granddaughter-in-law, Dana McKee and her husband, Tom. She also had three stepchildren; Stephen and Leah Collector, Joseph “Skippy” Collector and Robert Collector. Harriet was fortunate to have had two great loves in her life. After her husband, Bernard’s, passing in 1968, with whom she raised her three children, she married Joe in 1971 and spent 45 wonderful, happy years with him in the home they built in Norfolk. Ever loving and generous in heart and spirit; they

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traveled the world, spent their summers enjoying the company of friends and loved ones in their backyard swimming pool, were life-long members of Beth El Temple, cooked countless family dinners and loved and supported their family in every way possible. Ever the fashionista, “Bubbe” loved nothing more than being with her family and friends, hosting Passover and holiday dinners, and bringing everyone together for food and wine. Harriet adored her husband Joe, who made her laugh and took care of her in every way, always. They were quite the pair. She loved music, dancing, gardening, cooking and was an amazing artist. Her quick-wit, good looks and generous spirit made her irresistible to all who knew her. She was kind and smart and made friends everywhere she went. She will be missed dearly, by many, and leaves quite a legacy. A graveside service took place at Forest Lawn Cemetery with Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Congregation Beth El Temple. H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Online condolences may be made at www.hdoliver.com. Selma Lillian Graber Virginia Beach—Selma Lilian Graber nee Levin was born to Rose and Harry Levin on October 10, 1932 in Brooklyn, N.Y. She passed away peacefully at home on November 19, 2016. She attended Brooklyn College in New York City and taught elementary school after graduation. She devoted her life

to music, to her husband, children and her community. She had a keen, artistic eye for interior decorating. Selma sang with the San Francisco Opera and locally with the group Town and Gown. Selma actively sought opportunities to volunteer including performing music programs at local nursing homes and as a docent at Chrysler museum. She is survived by her husband Stanley Graber, her children Jay, Shari, Alyssa and Mark, as well as by her eight grandchildren and a great grandson. The funeral took place at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Condolences can be sent to www.altmeyerfh.com. Joan Marilyn Pizor Norfolk—Joan Marilyn Pizor, 85, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. Born in Wilmington, Delaware, she was the daughter of the late Lena Davidowitz Cooper and William Cooper. She was a member of Temple Beth Emeth in Wilmington. Joan spent much of her life working in a partnership with her husband in their family business. Joan loved reading, traveling, playing bridge, and the arts. She loved her family first and foremost, and uniting extended family for events and reunions was a pleasure and a priority. She is survived by her devoted and loving husband of 65 years, Harvey Pizor; her daughter Marcie Waranch and husband Yehudah Argaman of Norfolk; her son Barry Pizor and wife Lynne of Katy, Texas; and five grandchildren William

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obituaries Pizor and wife Lauren, Scott Pizor, Rebecca Waranch, and Mitchell Waranch. A funeral service was conducted in the Norfolk Chapel of H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. with Rabbi Michael Panitz officiating. Burial followed in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Online condolences may be offered to the family through www.hdoliver.com. Hilda Jane Silverman Virginia Beach—Hilda J. Silverman, 88, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister went to be with the Lord on October 19, 2016. She was born in Seth, West Virginia and resided most of her life in Virginia Beach, Va. Hilda graduated valedictorian of her high school class and was awarded a scholarship to The Medical College of Virginia School of Nursing. She met her husband Morris S. Silverman in Richmond while practicing nursing. They moved to Virginia Beach in 1947 and proceeded to raise a family. When her husband died in 1961, Hilda went back to nursing at Virginia Beach Hospital on 25th Street. She later continued her nursing education at Norfolk General School for Nurse Anesthetist. After completing her studies, Hilda was a practicing nurse anesthetist at Norfolk General Hospital. She excelled at her profession and was a member of the trauma team and the first open heart team in Norfolk led by Dr. Thompson. Hilda continued practicing her profession and retired from Atlantic Anesthesia in 1992. She was a very gentle lady and enjoyed interior decorating and collecting fine antiques and art. Hilda was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters, her husband Morris Sawyer Silverman and her son-in-law, Steven T. Pugh of Denver, Colo. Hilda leaves behind her daughter,

Mary B. Pugh of Denver, two granddaughters, Lisa Pugh and Courtney Pugh and great granddaughter Claire Pugh. She also leaves behind her son, Michael E. Silverman of Virginia Beach, his wife Patricia A. Compton and her two grandsons Preston R. Silverman, his wife Cameron Peake Silverman of San Francisco, Calif. and David S. Silverman of Winston-Salem, N.C. A graveside burial service was conducted by Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Rabbi Ben Zion Shenker, composer of 500 Hasidic melodies Rabbi Ben Zion Shenker, who composed more than 500 Hasidic melodies, or niggunim, including some recorded by Itzhak Perlman, has died. Shenker died Nov. 20 in Brooklyn, New York, at 91. He reportedly suffered from heart problems. Shenker, who was an ordained rabbi, was associated with the Polish Modzitzer Hasidic sect. He recorded his own melodies and had them recorded as well by prominent musicians such as the violinist Perlman and klezmer clarinetist and bluegrass mandolinist Andy Statman, along with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He also influenced the music of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, according to The New York Times. Shenker’s best-known melodies are for Eshes Hayil (A Woman of Valor) and for the 23rd Psalm, Mizmor L’Dovid (A Psalm of David). His melody for Yasis Alayich (Rejoice Over Thee) is played at most Hasidic weddings. “After the Hasidim fled Europe, he became the repository of all that music,” says Statman, who was working with Shenker on a recording just days before his death, according to the Times. “He was a supremely musical person, and his

understanding of how to sing a melody, color it and ornament it was just incredible.” Shenker was born in Brooklyn four years after his parents, Mordechai and Miriam Shenker, emigrated from Poland. As a teenager he began serving as the musical secretary for Rabbi Shaul Yedidya Elazar Taub, the rebbe of the Modzitz of Poland, who was taken with his ability to sight read music. In 1956 he started a record label, Neginah, and eventually recorded nine albums of Modzitz melodies. It inspired other Hasidic dynasties to record their melodies as well, The New York Times reported. He worked in a family-owned sweater company and later as a partner in a small diamond business. He also served for nearly six decades as the cantor of a Modzitzer synagogue in Brooklyn. He is survived by three daughters, 23 grandchildren and more than 90 great-grandchildren. (JTA)

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entertainment

An Orthodox lesbian character—and other reasons to watch Younger Linda Buchwald

(JTA) — TV Land’s Younger is a fun sitcom about Liza (Sutton Foster), a recently divorced 40-year-old mother who passes herself off as 26 after having a tough time landing a job in the publishing industry. The show—created by Darren Star, of Sex and the City and Beverly Hills, 90210 fame—has already impressed us with its Jewish content. In the first season, one of Liza’s young new friends, Lauren (Molly Bernard), decides to throw a “Hot Mitzvah”—a “redo” of the bat mitzvah when you’re older, better looking and more confident. (This is an amazing idea and we hope it catches on.) Now in its third season, Younger recently upped the Jewish content with an observant Jewish lesbian, Malkie (Sally Pressman), who’s the love interest of Liza’s best friend and roommate, Maggie, who is not Jewish (though she is played by actress Debi Mazar, who has a Jewish father). She just may be the first gay Orthodox character to have a major arc on a mainstream television show. So far, Malkie’s been in three episodes. (Spoiler alert: She was moving too fast for Maggie but they ended on good terms, so we’re hoping she’ll show up again.) After all, Jewish gay characters are rarely shown on television, and neither are Orthodox characters of any kind—so to have a character that is both is a win for visibility in itself. “It brings this underground group to light,” says Miryam Kabakov, executive director of Eshel—whose mission is to create community and acceptance for LGBTQ Jews and their families—of Malkie’s appearance on the series. Whatever happens with Malkie, Younger is worth watching for its strong female characters and its potential for more Jewish content. You can catch up on Amazon or at TV Land’s website or app—the holiday season is the perfect time for binge-watching such a fun show. And regardless of what happens to Malkie, her impact is felt. Here are five reasons why Malkie’s appearance on Younger has been groundbreaking.

1. She introduces the term “Orthodyke” to a pop-culture audience Malkie and Maggie meet at a community garden; Malkie invites Maggie to an event at her boutique to celebrate her new spring line. When Maggie walks in and sees the mezuzah and Israeli wine, she says, “I thought you were gay, not Orthodox.” To which Malkie replies, “Well, why can’t I be both? I’m what you might call an Orthodyke.” Hearing that term on television was surprising, says Kabakov, who is also the editor of the anthology Keep Your Wives Away From Them: Orthodox Women, Unorthodox Desires. The term first originated in an informal social group that formed in Jerusalem in 1992, she says, and it later moved to New York in 1995. “We became really popular, but we were never recognized by any community—not the Jewish community, not the Orthodox community—so for me, this is really exciting,” she says. “Now everybody has exposure to this group of people that I’ve identified with, and connected with and found community with.” Kabakov says that the first time she heard the word Orthodyke used publicly was in comedian Judy Gold’s routine. “Some women were very happy about it,” she recalls. “It was the first time they felt they had made a bit more of the mainstream.” Kabakov notes that you’d pretty much have to know an Orthodyke to use the word. (She adds that if they started the group today, they would not have used the word dyke, which is outdated now.) “Somebody [who works on the show] had to know somebody or have been in a circle where they heard the word,” she says. 2. Malkie shows that Orthodox woman can be stylish There is a misconception that dressing modestly means looking frumpy—but women of all stripes can cover-up in well-fitting, attractive clothing. Malkie owns a boutique on Brooklyn’s uber-hip Bedford Ave. called Covered Girl (perfect name) and tells Maggie that she sells

38 | Jewish News December 5, 2016 | jewishnewsva.org

“stylish clothing for the modern woman, mostly Orthodox Jewish women.” The clothes—such as flowy tops and fun hats—appeal to anyone. Maggie picks up a nice scarf when she walks in. 3. She demonstrates that religion and sexuality are not mutually exclusive “I just think it’s so cool how you’ve managed to hold onto your faith and sexuality,” Maggie tells Malkie at one point. In a single statement, Maggie puts a spotlight on a small community that has managed to do just that. For Kabakov, who grew up in a modern Orthodox environment, “I decided that I was going to be fine,” she says of her personal journey. “Nobody could take my Orthodoxy from me.” 4. The episodes expose viewers to other aspects of Judaism, including the mikvah When Malkie runs into her ex-turnedBFF, Sarah, Sarah asks her if she’s going to the “spiritual spa.” Maggie, who doesn’t realize Sarah is referring to a mikvah, gets jealous imagining Malkie naked at a spa with her ex. This being TV, Maggie decides to follow them there and drags Liza along. When Maggie goes in—with her numerous tattoos on full display—one woman yells, “There’s a shiksa at the mikvah! Run!” The pandemonium that ensues is exaggerated for comedic effect—the women race to get out of the water and then drain it—but for the most part, it gives the audience more information about a ritual they might not know much about. For example, when Liza sees a sign that reads “10 Commandments of Our Modern Mikvah”—which includes rules

like no acrylic nails, no cell phones and you must immerse fully—there’s actually some Jewish law on display here. 5. Younger gets a lot right about being Orthodox and gay For a half-hour sitcom with limited time to devote to this subplot, it’s impressive how many details the show gets right. For one, it’s not unusual for an Orthodox lesbian to date a woman who isn’t Jewish, Kabakov says. “It’s a personal preference, but I have met women who have no problem being with a non-Jew; for some it means not having to deal with the conflict [between the Orthodox community and being gay] for two people,” she explains. At times, the show misses the mark. When Maggie hosts a Shabbat dinner for Malkie’s friends, she buys kosher food (at a shop called The Kosher Butcher’s Daughter) and makes dishes like sweet potato latkes and lox crostini. Maggie’s kitchen isn’t kosher, however, so Malkie and her friends probably wouldn’t have been so nonchalant about eating off of her nice dishes—she should have at least used paper plates and plastic utensils. But the accuracies are far more important than the errors—and what Younger does is give readers a taste of this community. Malkie points out there are lots of Orthodox lesbians in Brooklyn—surprise!—and Kabakov agrees. “Having a community is key to identity formation and retention,” she says. “When people are completely alone in their identity that is seemingly conflictual, the chances of them identifying that way are not going to be as strong as if they have a group of friends that identifies that way and is proud of it and makes it work.”

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jewishnewsva.org | December 5, 2016 | Jewish News | 39

Wishing you a holiday thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bright with joy, warm with hope, and spent in the company of those you love.

Happy Chanukah from YOUR Tidewater Jewish Foundation

40 | Jewish News December 5, 2016 | jewishnewsva.org