EDITORIAL
JEWISH NEWS jewishnewsva.org
Be informed.
Published 20 times a year by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
QR code generated on http://qrcode.littleidiot.be
A
friend recently said, “you do a great job of showing all sides
with confidence and without apology.
of an issue in the paper.” Naturally, I appreciated his unso-
If, however, we are not informed and prepared, we risk what
licited comment, as balance and nuance are extremely important,
took place in Tennessee, Texas, and Florida being more possible
especially with a readership with diverse opinions on seemingly
to occur in Virginia.
every issue.
Last month, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an Executive
Sometimes, however, balance is not what’s called for.
Order establishing a Commission to Combat Antisemitism. At
Sometimes, there just aren’t, as my mom used to say, “three sides
this writing, applications are being accepted for individuals to
to every story.” And, the only two sides should be labeled, ‘right’
participate.
or ‘wrong.’ Some issues should garner the exact same reaction
“Every Virginian deserves the protection of the law, and this
from a person who generally votes blue as from someone who
commission will chart a course for our Commonwealth that
votes red.
leaves antisemitism in the past,” said Youngkin in a release. “Our
What I’m referring to are the antisemetic acts that have made national, as well as international headlines in recent months. Consider the Tennessee school board that banned the Pultizer prize-winning Maus, a graphic novel about the Holocaust. Consider the meaning behind Whoopi Goldberg’s words and then the reaction that followed.
Jewish friends and neighbors must know that we stand with them against the tide of hate and discrimination.” For more information, go to www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/va-government/ boards-and-commissions/combat-antisemitism/. Whether you attend a program offered by United Jewish
Terri Denison, Editor Germaine Clair, Art Director Sandy Goldberg, Account Executive Ronnie Jacobs Cohen, Account Executive Marilyn Cerase, Subscription Manager Reba Karp, Editor Emeritus United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Laura G. Gross, President Alvin Wall, Treasurer Mona Flax, Secretary Betty Ann Levin, Executive Vice-President jewishVA.org The appearance of advertising in the Jewish News does not constitute a kashrut, political, product or service endorsement. The articles and letters appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of this newspaper. ©2022 Jewish News. All rights reserved.
Federation of Tidewater’s Jewish Community Relations Council
Consider the small congregation in Texas that was held hostage by a man seeking freedom for a terrorist.
or an ADL webinar on fighting hate (one is scheduled for
Subscription: $18 per year
Thursday, Feb. 17), or you choose to gain your information by
Consider the delay in confirming Deborah Lipstadt as U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. Consider the Nazi demonstrators in Florida.
JewishNewsVA
reading, please be informed.
For subscription or change of address, call 757-965-6128 or email mcerase@ujft.org.
If we do not learn from history (even if that history is last Upcoming Deadlines for Editorial and Advertising
week), we are doomed to repeat it.
To be informed, to possess the understanding of what Maus
Feb. 28 March 14 March 28 April 11 April 25 May 23
represents, why Goldberg’s words set off a firestorm, why it matters that the gunman in Texas chose a synagogue and not a church or a café or a yoga studio, and why it’s important that lead-
Terri Denison
ers denounce Nazi demonstrators, is to have the power to respond
Editor
JCC Maccabi Games in San Diego July 31–August 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Special Section: Investing and Retiring . . . 17 Swordfish Winter Swim team breaks records and wins races. . . . . . . . 25 Career Day at Toras Chaim. . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 PJ Library celebrates Tu B’Shevat at Norfolk Botanical Garden. . . . . . . . . . 26 Israel Club begins at Simon Family JCC . . 27 BBYO keeps busy during winter months. . 27 What’s Happening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Mazel Tov Feb. 11 Camp Feb. 25 Passover March 11 Passover March 25 Mom/Women/Camp April 8 Anniversary Issue May 13
CANDLE LIGHTING
QUOTABLE
CONTENTS Editorial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Briefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Whoopi Goldberg’s charged discourse. . . . . 6 Israel Today hosts Roie Galitz, wildlife photographer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Chava Harpaz, recipient of Simon Family Passport to Israel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 JFit adds pilates chair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Hunter Thomas: new director of UJFT’s Arts & Ideas. . . . 13 B’Tayavon, new recipe column for Jewish News. . . . . 15
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
“Race” is notoriously difficult to define. Is it a group of people with shared physical characteristics? Can other social, economic, and anthropological classifications factor in? —page 6
Friday, Feb. 18/17 Adar I Light candles at 5:30 pm Friday, Feb. 25/24 Adar I Light candles at 5:37 pm Friday, March 4/1 Adar II Light candles at 5:44 pm Friday, March 11/8 Adar II Light candles at 5:51 pm Friday, March 18/15 Adar II Light candles at 6:57 pm Friday, March 25/22 Adar II Light candles at 7:03 pm
jewishnewsva.org | February 14, 2022 | JEWISH NEWS | 3
