Jewish News - March 22, 2021 by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater

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Southeastern Virginia | Vol. 59 No. 12 | 9 Nissan 5781 | March 22, 2021

Yom Hashoah—April 8

Yom H ashoah

5 Elaine Luria speaks out on Iran

17 The Melton School now enrolling

—page 8

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Lorriane Fink art auction and sale April 12—April 22

23 Camp JCC Early Bird Registration through March 31

Celebrating Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

Years of Easing Human Misery and Saving Lives.

This Passover, help us make it possible to celebrate another kind of freedom. Freedom from a pandemic. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage around the world, there’s reason for hope. And no country has offered more hope for what life might be like again than Israel, which has led the world in immunizing its people.

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Magen David Adom, Israel’s paramedic and Red Cross service, has played a major role in this success. MDA has treated tens of thousands of stricken Israelis, administered Covid tests to more than 4 million, and vaccinated Israel’s most vulnerable populations, including all its nursing home residents. When you support Magen David Adom, your gift has an immediate impact in helping Israelis — today and every day. Make a gift today. Pesach kasher v’sameach.

afmda.org/passover

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Kayla Barney Brain Cancer Survivor Hampton, VA

UPFRONT

JEWISH NEWS jewishnewsva.org

assover usually marks the start of spring and a reminder to celebrate redemption, hope, and

Published 20 times a year by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.

renewal. Now, as we begin to emerge from one of the most challenging years of our lifetime,

we see the possibilities of real celebration in our near future. For Jewish Tidewater, we are able to look forward to those celebrations in part, because of our

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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

community’s diligent efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, we have worked together as a united community to maintain continuity and confront each new challenge as it presented itself. We continued to care for each other—and, in fact, we’ve demonstrated increased efforts with

Terri Denison, Editor Germaine Clair, Art Director Lisa Richmon, Staff Writer Sandy Goldberg, Account Executive Ronnie Jacobs Cohen, Account Executive Marilyn Cerase, Subscription Manager Reba Karp, Editor Emeritus

our COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, our endeavors to help people find vaccine appointments, our providing nourishment for hungry community members, as well as for healthcare workers and first responders, and our financial support of our agencies, schools and synagogues so that they could be properly equipped with PPE, other equipment and updated technology to reach

Betty Ann Levin.

their patients, students and members.

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Amy Levy, President Alvin Wall, Treasurer Stephanie Calliott, Secretary Betty Ann Levin, Executive Vice-President jewishVA.org

We continued offering programs to expand our minds and lift our spirits.

We continued providing classes and opportunities to keep our bodies fit and healthy.

We continued to meet our obligations to care for our Jewish family throughout the world.

We continued to address security needs locally, as well as to stand up against hate.

This has all been possible because of your generous support. Thank you for your financial gifts and for your gifts of time and participation. With increased availability of vaccinations, as we approach Passover, we have every reason to be optimistic for both our community’s

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Chag pesach sameach—wishing all of you and your families a healthy, safe, peaceful, and happy Passover, JewishNewsVA

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Betty Ann Levin Executive Vice President/CEO United Jewish Federation of Tidewater/ Simon Family JCC

April 12 April 26 May 10 May 31 June 14 Jun3 28

Special Section: Passover 5781. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Briefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

A year of Jewish learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

“The chance to learn from the comfort

Rep. Elaine Luria speaks out on Iran . . . . . . . . . 5

What’s Happening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

of home or office has been liberating

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s Legacy Donors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Yom Hashoah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Camp JCC— invest in your child’s Jewish future . . . . . . . 23

March 26 April 9 April 23 May 14 June 28 June 11

Friday, March 26/13 Nissan Light candles at 7:04 pm

Upfront . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Your Dollars at Work: Yeshivas Aish Kodesh . . . 5

Camp Women Summer Men/Dad/Grads Healthcare Seniors

CANDLE LIGHTING

QUOTABLE

CONTENTS

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in ways that were not anticipated.” —page 17

Friday, April 16/4 Iyar Light candles at 7:23 pm Friday, April 23/11 Iyar Light candles at 7:29 pm Friday, April 30/18 Iyar Light candles at 7:35 pm

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BRIEFS COVID RELIEF PACKAGE INCLUDES $2.75B FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS. ORTHODOX JEWISH GROUPS THANK CHUCK SCHUMER. After successful lobbying by Orthodox Jewish groups and others, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tucked $2.75 billion in aid for private schools into the $1.9 trillion pandemic rescue package. The move came over the objections of some Democratic leaders, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and public school advocates who have fought efforts to funnel federal money to private schools. The National Education Association expressed “strong disappointment” at what it called a “Betsy DeVos-era” policy, referring to former President Donald Trump’s education secretary. The funding did pick up a surprise endorsement from Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers and a frequent critic of government aid for sectarian schooling. She told The New York Times “it would be a ‘shonda’ if we didn’t actually provide the emotional support and nonreligious supports that all of our children need right now,” using the Yiddish word for “scandal.” Nathan Diament, public policy director at the Orthodox Union, thanked Schumer, a New York Democrat. “It’s still the case that 10 percent of America’s students are in nonpublic schools, and they are just as impacted by the crisis as the other 90 percent,” Diament told The Times. A previous coronavirus stimulus signed by Trump in December included $2.75 billion for private schools hit hard by the pandemic, a move backed by Orthodox and Roman Catholic groups. The current package directs governors to prioritize the private school funding for schools serving disadvantaged students and private schools “most impacted” by the virus, according to Education Week. (JTA) ISRAEL’S MILITARY SAYS IT HAS REACHED COVID HERD IMMUNITY The Israeli military declared that it has reached herd immunity to COVID-19 after 80% of its personnel had either been vaccinated, had the disease, or both. The announcement makes the Israel

Defense Forces perhaps the first military in the world to achieve immunity to the disease. “Things look a lot more like they did a year ago,” Brig. Gen. Dr. Alon Glasberg, the IDF’s chief medical officer, told reporters, according to The Times of Israel. “It seemed impossible, but now it’s here.” While herd immunity will allow the military to resume normal operations, soldiers will still have to wear masks and socially distance for now. The military’s vaccination campaign comes amid Israel’s record-setting drive to immunize its population. As of earlier this month, more than 4 million Israelis, nearly half the country and the majority of its adults, have been fully vaccinated. (JTA)

CAPITOL RIOTER WITH ‘HITLER MUSTACHE’ WHO TALKED ABOUT EATING JEWS IS A NAVY CONTRACTOR AND ARMY RESERVIST A Navy contractor who was arrested for taking part in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol sports a “Hitler mustache” and allegedly talked about eating Jews. Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, according to The Washington Post, was known by his friends and co-workers as a white supremacist, Nazi sympathizer and Holocaust denier. He was also a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. One Navy officer told the Naval Criminal Investigative Service that HaleCusanelli said “Hitler should have finished the job.” Another seaman said Hale-Cusanelli said if he were a Nazi, “he would kill all the Jews and eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and he wouldn’t need to season them because the salt from their tears would make it flavorful enough.” Hale-Cusanelli allegedly also made comments deriding Black people and babies with disabilities. Photos that federal agents found on his phone show him with a mustache and haircut similar to Hitler’s. The Post reported that Sgt. John Getz, one of Hale-Cusanelli’s supervisors, told agents that Hale-Cusanelli would walk up to people and say “You’re not Jewish, are you?” Hale-Cusanelli’s lawyer wrote in a

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court filing that his client is not a member of any white supremacist organizations and that he denied being a Nazi in an interview with the FBI. According to the Post, he is one of a growing number of Capitol rioters with ties to the military or law enforcement. (JTA)

American Rescue Plan is now here to offer direct and immediate relief.” Among the rescue package’s benefits, Emhoff and Harris on their Western tour are touting the grants and loans for small businesses, especially for restaurants. (JTA)

EMHOFF WANTED TO TOUT THE BENEFITS OF THE STIMULUS PACKAGE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. HE CHOSE A JEWISH BAGEL JOINT. Doug Emhoff, the Jewish husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, is on a swing through Western states with his wife to promote the benefits of the $1.9 trillion stimulus package that the Biden administration just squeezed through Congress. There was a stop at a food bank in Las Vegas and at businesses in Albuquerque, New Mexico. But when he hit Denver, Emhoff headed for a Jewish deli that featured large in a Rosh Hashanah message he delivered before November’s election. Emhoff stopped by Rosenberg’s Bagels in the Colorado city’s Five Points neighborhood. “We were honored to have the Second Gentleman stop by our Five Points location today to talk small business relief (and of course, bagels & lox)”, the bagelry said on its Facebook page, which featured photos of Emhoff meeting with the store’s owner, Joshua Pollack. Pollack launched his eatery in part after moving to Denver because he missed the Jewish food available in his native Bergen County, New Jersey. He has a specially made machine that converts water to New York mineral levels to replicate the gluten levels in New York-area bagels, and he offers Jewish holiday-specific foods: challahs on Shabbat, crown challahs on Rosh Hashanah and latkes on Hanukkah, among others. Pollack, who campaigned in Denver for the election of President Joe Biden and Harris, was the star of an Emhoff Rosh Hashanah video in which he described his economic struggles during the pandemic. “Couldn’t stop by Denver without visiting,” Emhoff said on Twitter. “Josh and I met virtually last year and have kept in touch ever since. This pandemic has greatly impacted small businesses. The

AMSTERDAM MAYOR ACCUSES NETANYAHU OF HURTING FIGHT AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM At a conference on fighting anti-Semitism by 32 mayors from around the world, the one from Amsterdam took aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for allegedly cheapening the struggle for electoral gain. Femke Halsema, a former leader of the Green Left party, criticized Netanyahu’s recent statement that the Netherlandsbased International Criminal Court has made “anti-Semitic edicts” when the court decided last year that it had jurisdiction to prosecute Israelis for alleged war crimes in Gaza in 2014. “If someone says for political gain that a legal investigation by the International Criminal Court of a state actor in Gaza is anti-Semitism, then you deeply undervalue the meaning [of] anti-Semitism and the dark outcomes of anti-Semitism nowadays and in history,” Halsema said during her video address in the Mayors Summit Against Anti-Semitism, a virtual conference hosted by the German city of Frankfurt with the U.S.-based Combat Anti-Semitism Movement. Israel’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Naor Gilon, pushed back on Twitter. At a conference on anti-Semitism, “one should speak about threats to the Jewish state rather than using this as another opportunity to criticize it” and wonder why Israel is criticized disproportionately, Gilon wrote. The summit was the brainchild of Frankfurt Mayor Uwe Becker, who told JTA that he initiated the event so his counterparts “can learn from each other and feel that they are not alone.” Anti-Semitism in Germany is “as diverse as our society,” Becker said. The coronavirus pandemic “worked like an incubator, speeding up the spread of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.” (JTA)

Local Relationships Matter

NATION Rep. Elaine Luria states opposition to Iranian nuclear program in resolution and letter

ongresswoman Elaine Luria is the primary sponsor of one piece of legislation condemning Iran’s nuclear program. A bipartisan group of House members joined Luria earlier this month to introduce the resolution, which condemns Iran’s decision to enrich uranium to 20% purity. “Iran is a state-sponsor of terrorism and poses an existential threat to our national security and Israel, America’s strongest ally in the region,” Luria said in a statement. “Iran cannot be allowed to continue to progress towards a nuclear weapon and the United States must unequivocally condemn their provocations.” In addition to noting that Iran is in violation of the decades-old NonProliferation Treaty, the resolution states that Iran’s continuing enrichment “is escalatory and intended to decrease breakout

time to produce a nuclear weapon.” It also calls on Iran to “immediately reverse its decision… and abandon its pursuit of a Elaine Luria. nuclear weapon.” Just days after this resolution, Luria joined 24 members of the House in another bipartisan letter, this time to Secretary of State Tony Blinken, calling for continued pressure on Iran. The letter asserts that the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action “did not sufficiently ensure Iran could never obtain a nuclear weapon,” while calling on Blinken to work with U.S. allies—particularly Israel—and Congress to “outline a better, comprehensive deal with Iran” to confront its nuclear program and other activities.

YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK Yeshivas Aish Kodesh brings students to Norfolk and sends them out in the world, fully prepared Lisa Richmon

eshivas Aish Kodesh Talmudical Academy of Norfolk is a four-year high school for Jewish boys, offering a dual curriculum of Judaic Studies, along with a complete General Studies program —in a religious environment. The pride and joy of the YAK staff is the opportunity to provide exceptional instruction in a small school setting. The average class size is six boys. Rabbis and general studies teachers are equally committed to the development and nurturing of graduates with a well-balanced faithbased and academic advantage. David Rowzie teaches history and acts as the General Studies principal. “One of the things we try to do is fill in the gaps that exist when they come to

us,” says Rowzie. There is no YAK ‘type.’ The boarding school attracts Jewish boys from New York, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, and Baltimore who want to get away from home and figure things out on their own. But as young students, they are all different. “Some arrive very talented in Torah and weaker in academics; others need time to find their place. They aren’t as strong with Torah as they are in academics, so we give them what they need to catch up. “The rabbis and I are a united front when it comes to our expectations about class preparation, focus and on-time attendance. We expect the same from them in the morning when they study Torah, and in the afternoon when I teach them history,” says Rowzie. What makes YAK special is the small

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class size. “Having been in education for so long I know how important individual instruction is,” says Rowzie. “Ultimately I want them to be able to have choices whether it’s to be a rabbi or an architect. I want them to go to the school they choose, not apply to several and go to the one that accepts them.” Yeshivas Aish Kodesh students’ extra-curricular activities provide a positive outlet that extends beyond the classroom. Before Purim, the boys were engaged in a school fundraiser. “This type of outreach takes the local community

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and binds it to the three Jewish schools, of which YAK is one,” says Rowzie. “If the parents decide to send their kids here, it’s great. Either way, they realize the benefit of having this kind of school in your community.” This is part of a series of articles spotlighting local and overseas partner agencies that are beneficiaries of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s annual Community Campaign.

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THANK YOU LEGACY DONORS! Today, we honor and thank our Legacy donors, who have committed themselves to the future of the Tidewater Jewish community. Your gift(s) will help meet the challenges and needs our community faces for generations to come. Thank you.

Bertram Aaron Laurent Abitbol Rachel & David Abraham Rachel & Marc Abrams Adelle & Herman* Adler Helen & Warren Aleck Janice Aleck Kimberley & C. Earl Allsbrook Sylva B. Altschul* Jasmine Amitay Tamar & Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz Jody Mattison & Jordan Asher Patricia* & Avraham Ashkenazi Leslie M. & Andrew Auerbach Rosalyn Levy August Gail & Thomas Bachman Jody Balaban Linda & Leigh Baltuch Babbi & Brad Bangel Bessie Banks Roslyn & Michael Barney

Elena & Gary Baum Bobby & Jack Barr* Helen Jayne & Melvin Barr* Dolores* & Alan Bartel Gary Bartel Marlene Bass* Susan & Jon Becker Linda & Calvin Belkov* Lisa Benjamin Gail & Bill Berger Marcia & Amos Berkovich Beth Hirsch Berman Carole & William* Bernstein Helene Bernstein Roy Beskin Frances Levy Birshtein* Paula & Michael Blachman Leyba* & Herman Blumenthal Moira Wright Bodner Bonnie & David Brand Rashi & Rabbi Levi Brashevitzky Isabel* & Louis Brenner

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Bernice & Percy Brill* Elyssa Brinn Edmund Brodie* Wendy Jo Einhorn Brodsky & Ronald Brodsky Eleanor & Leonard Brooke Marjorie & Robert Brotman Beryl & Steven Brown Carol & Allan Brum Kelly Burroughs Aaron Busch* Alice E. Buxbaum Marilyn & Stuart Buxbaum Stephanie Calliott Elyse & David Cardon Rose & Armond Caplan* Jeffrey Chernitzer Rita Cogan* Charlene & David Cohen Leo Cohen Ronnie Lynn Jacobs Cohen Ruth & Aaron Cohen Sol W. Cohen*

Barbara & Harvey Coleman Barry Comess* Jean* & Allan Comess Raizy & Rabbi Velvel Cook Allison & Jeff Cooper Minette & Charles Cooper Monica & John Cooper Ann & Robert Copeland Robin & Todd Copeland Stuart Davis Lisa & Mark Delevie Renee* & Arthur Diamonstein Esther & Glenn Diskin Judy & Larry Dobrinsky Susan & Allan Donn Ronald Dozoretz* Abby & Mark Draluck Leora & Nathan Drory Bronia Drucker* Barbara Dudley Ingrid & David Edery Lois & Barry Einhorn Susan & Martin* Einhorn

Devorah & Morris Elstein Dianne Epplein Thelma Fantuch* Edwin S. Epstein Mary & William Feldman Freda & Jules Feuer* Barbara & Andrew Fine Jan & Morris Fine Karen & Matthew Fine Hyman Fine* Minnie S. Fine* Nancy & Sheldon Fineman Kim & Andrew Fink Mandi & Ross Firoved Gail & Joel Flax Mona & Jeffrey Flax Anne Fleder Esther & Alan Fleder* Gail Fleder Joseph Fleischmann* Nataly & Seth Fleishman Barbara Fletcher* Kristy & Adam Foleck

Sandra & Pete Forte-Nickenig Helen Frank Rita Frank Edwin Franklin Barbara Fried Cantor Wendi & Gigi Fried Harry Fried Kathleen & Walter Fried* Claire & Marvin Friedberg Beverly & Alan Frieden Jodie & Jack Frieden Rosa Frieden* Alicia & Robert Friedman Celia & Jay Friedman Debbie & Mark Friedman Jerome Friedman Leslie Friedman Shari Dozoretz Friedman Ann & Louis Friedman* Fannie & Milton Friedman* Margaret & Leonard Frierman Penny & David Gallo Sidney Gates* Karen Gershman Helen G. Gifford* Amy Ginsburg Pam & Arty* Gladstone Martha Mednick Glasser Richard S. Glasser* Rose Frances Glasser* Hara Glasser-Frei Pearl Glassman* Carly & Cheb Glikman Gail L. & Donald Gogan William Goldback* Farideh & Norman Goldin Charles & Dorothy Goldman Elaine Goldman Jane Klein Goldman Beatrice & Harry Goldman* Bootsie & Morty* Goldmeier Lawrence Goldrich Steven A. Goldstein Martha & Robert Goodman Victor Goodman* Barbara S. Gordon Janet* & Daniel Gordon Paula & James Gordon Freda & Tavia Gordon* Joyce & Harry Graber Helene & Bernie Grablowsky Susan M. Graves William Greene* Carol & Ralph Greenhut Helen & Yehudah Griffin Laura & Fred Gross Louis Grossman Sharon & Michael Grossman Rose Ann Grossman* Carla O. Grune Fay & Norris Halpern* Jeri Jo & William Halprin Amie & Byron Harrell Susan C. Alper & Steven J. Harwood Mickey & Stuart Held Zena Herod Denise & Jason Hoffman Marcia Hofheimer Thomas Hofheimer* Marilyn S. & Stanley I.* Holzsweig Brenda & Abbey Horwitz Susan & Howard Horwitz

Connie & Marc* Jacobson Nancy Sacks Jacobson & Edwin* Jacobson Beth & Nathan Jaffe Michael Jaffe Lee & Bernard Jaffe* Rose & Joseph Jaffe* Carol & Joel Jason Gabriele Jiannas & Dr. Fred Pugh Paul & Barbara Johnson Sheila & Robert Josephberg Dorothy & Howard* Kahn Eileen & Stewart Kahn Marcia Samuels & David Kamer H. Lee Kanter* Kathy & Jerry Kantor Bruce Kaplan Erica & Scott Kaplan Bernice & Milton Kaplan* Libbie & Albert Kaplan* Phyllis & Arthur Kaplan* Sue Ellen Kaplan Roberta Joy Kaps Mimi & Warren* Karesh Betsy & Dr. Edward Karotkin Florence Karp* Melissa & Aaron Kass Juliet A. Katz Alene & Ron Kaufman Linda Kaufman Ted G. Kaufman Marilyn & Steven Kayer Debra Keeling Reva & Lee Kelberg* Marissa & Benjay Kempner Arlene & Isidoro Kessel Arlene* & Howard Kesser Kay & Barry Kesser Janna & Arnold Kestenbaum Jodi & Jay Klebanoff Hanna & William Klebanoff* Esther & Andrew Kline Sofia* & David Konikoff Wendy & Albert Konikoff Melanie & Alex Kordis Joyce & Jay Kossman Anne & Edward Kramer Cindy & Ron Kramer Milton Kramer* Rabbi Marc Kraus Celia Krichman* Irwin Kroskin Sylvia & David Krug* Adel & David Kruger* Sue & Jeff Kurtz Nichole & David Kushner Alma & Howard Laderberg* Jody & David Laibstain Phyllis* & David Lannik Robert Lansing Selma & Leon Leach* Sharon Leach Mavolyn B. & Sanford L Lefcoe* Edward Legum Leslie* & Jay Legum Lorna & Steven Legum Dr. Robert D. Lehman Ina & Martin Leiderman Corrie Lentz David Leon Lisa Leon

Sandra & Miles Leon Telsa* & Arnold Leon Betty Ann & Scott Levin Merle* & Leonard Levine Natalie Levinson* Amy & Kirk Levy Paula Levy Gail & Joel Lewis Dr. Mark Lipton Sara & Rabbi Gershon Litt Elayne & Jeffrey Littman Robert Liverman* Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Loiterman Karen & Richard Lombart Joan Kaplan London Becca Lovitz Jason Lovitz Marcia Lovitz Bernard Lubschutz* Joseph Lust Herman Mallick* Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg B. Thomas Mansbach Raizel & Rabbi Shmuel Margolin Rychel & Rabbi Aron Margolin Martin Marin Nicholas Martire Brandy Martire Paola & Noah Matilsky Debra & Bernard Mayer Andrea McGuinness Thomas McGuinness Deborah & Jerry Meltsner Shaina Ettel & Rabbi Menda Janet W. Mercadante Ellen & Bryan Mesh David Metzger & Alicia Willson-Metzger George Metzger Laura & Jerry Miller Hallie Miller* Heather & Doug Moore Melvin Morrison* Marcia & Burton Moss Alyssa & Jonathan Muhlendorf Evelyn Munden Rena & Michael Myers Judith & Stuart Nachman Sara & Norbert Newfield Mimi & Frederic* Nicholson Alan Nordlinger Rosalind & Harry Norkin* Joan Nusbaum* Lois & Bertram Nusbaum* Robert Nusbaum* Marlene Nusbuam Nancy & Charlie Nusbuam Sharon & Bill Nusbaum Carolyn & Charles Osman* Kelli Anne & Bryan Pace Dr. Abbey L. Pachter Barbara & Joseph Patish* John Patton Pincus Paul* Charitable Trust Linda R. Peck Nancy & Stanley Peck Stephanie & Paul Peck Alex Pomerantz Erinn & Felix Portnoy Rona & David Proser Eleanor & Julian Rashkind*

Ann & Allen* Richter Zelma & Bernard Rivin* Gina & Neil Rose Rose & Kurt Rosenbach* Diane & Malcolm* Rosenberg Judith Rosenblatt Ellen & Dr. Scott Rosenblum Barbara Rosenblum Sharon & Gene Ross Beverly & Louis Rostov* Joanne Batson & Philip Rovner Miriam & Rabbi Arthur Ruberg Judy & Robert Rubin Sara Jo & Joel R. Rubin Abraham Rubin* Malka & Rabbi Gavriel Rudin Paula Russel Sarita* & Bert Sachs Karen & Warren Sachs Annabel & Hal* Sacks Ada S. Salsbury Linda & Stanley Samuels Annie & Art Sandler Toni Sandler Reba & Sam Sandler* Judy Saperstein Terri & Lonny Sarfan Laure & Richard Saunders Natalie & Larry Saunders* Margaret & William Sawyer Marge & Steve Schechner Edie & Louis Schlain Lynn Schoenbaum Rachel Schoenbaum Joanna & Craig Schranz Elaine & Joash Schulman Dr. Peter Schulman Helen* & Buzzy Schulwolf Ruby & William Schwarzschild Ruth Schwetz* Miriam & Bob* Seeherman Patti & Paul Seeman Deborah & Peter Segaloff Orit Amar Seiderman Lynn & Robert Seltzer Sandy & Norman Sher Carol & Louis Sherman Annette Shore* Laurie Goldsticker & Gary Siegel Leslie & Lawrence Siegel Marilyn & Kenneth Siegel Barry Simon Carin & Mike Simon Marilyn & Marvin* Simon Shelly & Britt Simon Simon Family Foundation Cheryl & Harris Sloane Jill & Larry Smith Karen Smith Pamela & Louis Snyder Harry Snyder* Helen & Daniel Sonenshine Norman Soroko Spigel Family Linda & Ron Spindel Dorothy & Ron Spitalney Deborah E. Stadlin Alan Stein Jane Stein Michal & Rabbi Yisroel Stein Robert Stein Stuart Stein

Jean & Ira Steingold Joseph Steingold Lawrence Steingold Tara Sundgaard & Neal Stern Robert Stern* Randi Strelitz Renee & John Strelitz Joyce & Leonard Strelitz* Burle Stromberg Steven Suskin Sandra Tabachnick Kevin & Gary Tabakin Marcy & Paul Terkeltaub Marian Bear Ticatch Linda & Alan Troy Hilary Truman Nancy Tucker Jody & Alan Wagner Patti Wainger Nancy & Alvin Wall Doris Waranch Trudy & Martin Waranch Carol & Stanley Waranch* June & Oscar Warner* David Warsof Joel Warsof Lisa & Steven Warsof Herbert L. Weinberg* Amy & Eliot Weinstein Barb Gelb & Kenny Weinstein Carol Downing & Lawrence Weinstein Giselle & Matthew Weinstein Miriam & Harry Weisberg* Diane & Sam Werbel Adam White Eric White Matthew White Harriet & Samuel White* Matthew & Valeria Williamson Dorothy & Manuel Wyron* Syvia Yavner* Steven Yetiv* Tina Yomtob Amy Zelenka Betty & Henry Zetlin* Dorothy Zimmerman Ashley & Greg Zittrain Anonymous (52) *of blessed memory Accurate as of 3/5/2021 Denotes member who has made new legacy commitments, formalized existing commitments or increased the value of existing commitments in the past 12 months.

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Our New Spring Collection is Here!

YOM HASHOAH

Guest speaker: Marion Weinzweig Thursday, April 8, 6:45 pm Via live stream from Ohef Sholom Temple, on the Holocaust Commission’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/holcommission.

oin United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission’s annual Yom Hashoah commemoration for an evening to honor local Holocaust survivors and remember the six million Jews who were murdered during the Shoah.

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Born in Poland, in 1941, Marion Weinzweig is among the youngest of all Holocaust survivors. When she was 18 months old, her parents entrusted her to a non-Jewish business associate and his wife Marion Weinzweig. to protect her. When the Nazis were closing in, that family placed her in an orphanage where she was raised as a Catholic by nuns, who had no idea of her Jewish background. They reared her with many of the stereotypes of the time, and she grew up thinking, “Jews were horrible people!” Marion’s mother perished at Treblinka. At the war’s end, her father, who had survived ghettos and slave labor camps, came to retrieve her. Poland was not a safe place for Jews after the war, so Marion’s father smuggled her into Germany, which was ironically then the safest place for Jews, with the Allies in control. As the only Jewish child amid the displaced persons, speaking only Polish and having to learn German and Yiddish, Marion felt lonely and isolated. With the survivors’ burdens placed on a child, she moved with what remained of her family to Canada when the opportunity arose. Her journey to healing and back to Judaism began there, and continued after her move to the United States. Today she lives in Arizona and has traveled the world sharing her story of survival, documented in her book, Lonely Chameleon, to make sure that the history is not forgotten.

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Passover 5781

Supplement to Jewish News March 22, 2021 jewishnewsva.org | March 8, 2021 | Passover | JEWISH NEWS | 9

Passover The Passover rules: A cheat sheet of holiday practices My Jewish Learning

assover is among the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays. While the particulars vary significantly from community to community, and even among individual families, there are many Passover customs that are observed in some form by large numbers of Jews. Avoiding leavened bread Passover is the strictest Jewish holiday when it comes to food. For eight days (seven in Israel), Jews traditionally avoid eating food made from leavened grain. Most significantly, this means avoiding any bread or bread products, with some Jews additionally abstaining from any grain product, including beer, pasta, oatmeal and most liquor. Ridding the house of chametz In addition to not eating bread, some Jews completely rid their houses of bread products—known in Hebrew as chametz. Those who strictly observe this custom will clean their house thoroughly to ensure even the crumbs behind the couch are removed. Grain products that are too difficult or expensive to remove will sometimes be kept at home but sold to a non-Jew for the duration of the holiday. Fast of the firstborn Some Jews have the practice that the firstborn in every family fasts on the eve of Passover from sunrise to sunset. This fast is the only one in the Jewish calendar that applies only to one segment of the Jewish community and was established to remember how God spared the firstborn sons of Israel while killing the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. Some Jews have the custom of avoiding the fast by holding a festive meal early in the day to mark the completion of some portion of Torah study. The Seder The centerpiece of the Passover holiday is the Seder, a ceremonial feast held at 10 | JEWISH NEWS | Passover | March 22, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org

Vlad Fishman/Getty Images

home on the first night of the holiday (some Jews who live outside Israel hold two seders, one on each of the first two nights). The Seder meal is intended to dramatically retell the story of the liberation of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt and is laden with symbolic foods and rituals, including the eating of the bitter herbs (symbolizing the hardship of slavery) and the dipping of a green vegetable into saltwater (symbolizing the bounty of the spring season). As with nearly all Jewish observances, the Seder is preceded by the lighting of candles and the blessing of wine. Eating matzah Dubbed “the bread of affliction,” matzah is an unleavened cracker, usually made from wheat, that is baked quickly (in under 18 minutes) before the batter has a chance to rise. It is eaten at the Seder and throughout the holiday in remembrance of the haste in which the Jews left Egypt, leaving no time for their bread to rise. Matzah is the consummate symbol of Passover, which is sometimes referred to in Hebrew as chag hamatzot—the holiday of the matzah. Synagogue services Like all Jewish festivals, Passover has a special synagogue service that includes specific Torah readings for the holiday and the chanting of Song of Songs, the poetic work attributed to King Solomon. The memorial service Yizkor is also traditionally held in the synagogue on the final day of the holiday, one of only four times during the year it is recited.

Passover From Seinfeld to WWII Morocco, these new Haggadah options will spice up your Passover Seder Gabe Friedman

(JTA)—The pandemic has altered the experience of the Passover Seder, but one thing hasn’t changed: It’s a golden age for creative Haggadahs. Artists, comedy writers, a range of clergy and more have given the ancient text a modern spin in recent years and disseminated them widely online with the help of self-publishing platforms and aggregation hubs such as Haggadot.com, which also allows users to customize their own. But the sheer number of Haggadahs— and their various topics, which range from political issues to playful humor—can make choosing a fresh one a bit overwhelming. Here are a few new notable examples to try if you’re attempting to give your Seder a makeover, whether it’s held on Zoom or in person.

For those mentally afflicted by the pandemic Bari Mitzmann, a Jewish blogger with a sizable Instagram following, for the second year has spearheaded a joint Haggadah project she calls HaKol B’Seder—in Hebrew it can mean either “everything in the Seder” or “it’s all good.” Her thorough Haggadah and broader guide to the holiday weaves in an array of female voices—ranging from chefs to moms to therapists—who either talk about how a specific part of the Seder resonates with them or provide tips on how to fruitfully get through the Passover season. It’s aimed at those feeling overwhelmed by the COVID pandemic, all of the preparations that a Seder entails, the pressure to intellectualize the holiday’s themes or all of the above. There are “wellness check-ins” throughout—one, for instance, discusses the “mental slavery” of loneliness and

isolation, and of the drudgery of modern life (think cell phones, long work hours, etc.). There’s a guided meditation session accessible through a QR code. Then, there are several recipes and food ingredient checklists to help the busy crowd with meal prep (including a couple of fun cocktail suggestions, like the Nile Sour, which includes cognac and honey). For those who exhaled when Trump left office Dave Cowen has contributed to humor sites such as McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and that flavor of humor— intelligent, knowledgeable about politics and current events—shines through in his latest work, The Biden-Harris Haggadah: Thank G-d! Cowen imagines how various figures, ranging from those in the White House to others such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and Merrick Garland, would narrate a Seder, if

all brought together in one room. “Well, thank G-d it’s over,” former President Barack Obama begins the introduction, speaking about the Trump years. “Last year was tough. Who else needs a drink?!” Fauci says before reciting the blessing for the first cup of wine. “We did it! A Jew is sorta in the White House! Well, in the neighborhood,” Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris’ Jewish husband, says before leading the candle lighting. Cowen had published The Trump Passover Haggadah: ‘People All The Time They Come Up And Tell Me This Is The Best Haggadah They’ve Ever Read, They Do, Believe Me’ in 2018. For the Seinfeld super fan The Seder is definitely not “about nothing,” as the iconic ’90s sitcom Seinfeld is often described. Beyond a retelling of the continued on page 12

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Passover continued from page 11

Exodus story, which Jews have looked to for inspiration for millennia, the holiday meal’s guiding text is loaded with symbolism and ways to connect the biblical tale to contemporary times. As Rabbi Sam Reinstein writes in the introduction to his Seinfeld-themed The Haggadah About Nothing, his goal is to use the series’ characters and storylines as a foil to show how not to experience the holiday. The Seder, he argues, is supposed to help transform its participants, to make them feel change in their lives. Part of the humor—and frustration—that surrounds Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer on the show is that they never change, no matter how clear a moral lesson they are handed. But the real appeal of The Haggadah About Nothing is its constant specific Seinfeld references. Reinstein is creative in finding connections and often cites multiple episodes at once to make his points. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this is not

the first Seinfeld Seder guide to hit the market—Cowen published a parody Yada Yada Haggadah in 2019, and Martin Bodek published a Festivus Haggadah last year. For the kids who can’t wait for the food already No matter one’s religious observance, the Seder can feel a bit long when the smells of matzah ball soup and brisket are emanating from the nearby kitchen. Last year, Rabbi Matt Berkowitz and Dr. Ron Moses conceived a slim, fold-up seven-page pamphlet—aptly named The Express Haggadah—not to help families rush through the Seder, but to assist in getting them through the ritual in its entirety. “‘What if the game ended at halftime?’ ‘What if the movie cut-off in the middle?’ Those would be unfinished stories,” a press statement reads. The Express Haggadah enables families to ‘get through it’ before food comas and ‘shpilkes’ cut the seder off in the middle.”

Chag Sameach! Best wishes for a Passover season filled with health, peace, safety, and joy.

12 | JEWISH NEWS | March 22, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org

True to form, nothing is left out, from the core prayers to the Exodus story, which is told in a series of quick blurbs. For the artistically inclined Some Haggadahs of centuries past were illustrated manuscripts, artist Emily Marbach points out in the introduction to her Collage Haggadah, which features her own beautiful pastiche works. “The Middle Ages were a very fruitful time for new Haggadot. The Birds Head (I have made one collage in homage to that version), The Sarajevo and the Golden Haggadot are just a few of the most well known,” she writes. “There are the Mocatta, Prato, Barcelona, Darmstadt, the Hileq and Bileq—I could go on.” Marbach, a London-based collage artist and printmaker, intersperses the pages of prayer and storytelling with dozens of stimulating works, some of them a blend of ancient imagery with a pop art sensibility.

Another artful option that could double as a coffee table book year-round is the Asufa Israeli art collective’s Haggadah, available in Hebrew and English. The group has produced a new version each year since 2013. For the history buff “Next year may we be free men in Palestine,” Nissim Ben Shimon wrote in 1943. As World War II began to swing in favor of the Allies, Ben Shimon, a Moroccan Jew in Rabat, wrote what has been deemed The Hitler Haggadah—a semi-humorous Seder text heavily influenced by the events of the war. Translated this year into English from the local Judeo-Arabic of the time, it offers a running commentary of sorts about the war’s events, cracks Nazi jokes and infuses the Seder prayers with hope for a better future for Europe’s Jews, all from a rare North African perspective.

Passover One early passage starts: “Wicked Hitler enslaved us And the Allied Forces rescued us With a great and mighty outstretched arm…”

Among the poets whose words make the new order are Emma Lazarus, Adrienne Rich and Yehuda Amichai. There’s also art by the painter, sculptor and ceremonial artist Tobi Kahn.

For the Reform Jew The Reform movement in America has published many Haggadahs over the past 130 years, since it first brought to print an English-language version of a Haggadah published in Germany decades earlier. The movement’s latest offering is Mishkan HaSeder, which adds contemporary poetry and social justice commentary to the traditional rabbinic text.

For curious kids (and their grownups) The Kveller Haggadah isn’t brand new, but it’s still fresh. This Haggadah is full of colorful illustrations, a clear explanation of the Seder’s many complicated parts and short essay inserts by modern commentators on Passover’s past and present.

After Passover, there’s nothing more beautiful than fresh bread or bagels coming out of the oven. The restaurant, nestled in Great Neck Village, can seat up to 49 and offers a quick carry-out of bagels, sandwiches and salads. The bagels are authentic; crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Kveller is part of 70 Faces Media, like the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

TIDEWATER JEWISH FOUNDATION: PASSOVER LETTER

his past year has brought unprecedented challenges to the Tidewater Jewish community. However, the pandemic, and the hardships produced by it, have also brought out the best in our community. While I have only been in Tidewater for less than a year, I have witnessed an extraordinary amount of care, compassion, and philanthropy in this wonderful community. As the president and CEO of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation, I’ve had a front-row seat to the incredible support this community has given to each other. Whether it was donating to the food pantry at Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, helping local congregations with streaming needs, Naomi Limor Sedek. feeding frontline healthcare heroes, or giving money to the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, I have been left in awe of the transformative and communal response of Jewish Tidewater. Just like last year, we are once again celebrating a socially distant Passover during a pandemic. Unlike last year, however, we have cause to celebrate the tremendous successes of our entire community. From establishing safe protocols for our children at Strelitz International Academy to vaccinating staff and residents at Beth Sholom Village, to ensuring the survival of our agencies and congregations as they innovate to continue to serve, the Tidewater Jewish community has continually found ways to help those in need. So, this year, I wish you, your family, and your loved ones a happy, safe, and socially distant Passover. May this year be the last we celebrate so distant from each other as slaves to the pandemic. I look forward to the day we can celebrate freely as a community together once again. As we conclude our Passover Seders every year, may we be next year in Jerusalem. Sincerely, Naomi Limor Sedek President/CEO Tidewater Jewish Foundation

jewishnewsva.org | March 8, 2021 | Passover | JEWISH NEWS | 13

Passover Vaccinations and tests enable some families to gather for Passover Seders this year Shira Hanau

(JTA)—The Darvick family did Jewish holidays by videoconference long before a pandemic forced them. “We call it Skypanukkah,” Elliot Darvick told The New York Times in December

2011, when the family was featured in an article about celebrating Hanukkah over Skype. So when Zoom Seders suddenly became standard last year, the Darvicks were prepared. But this Passover, the Darvicks will be together again.

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By the time the holiday begins later this month, both Debra Darvick, 64, and her husband, Martin, 73, will have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as will one of their children. Those vaccinations are making the couple feel comfortable getting together with their kids and grandkids from Chicago and New York at their home in Birmingham, Michigan. “We’ve Zoomed with Olivia a lot. I haven’t felt totally bereft,” Debra Darvick says of her oldest granddaughter, whom the Darvicks had hoped to visit every month or so but mostly saw over Zoom. “But I know what we’ve missed.” While Purim 2020 may have been the first Jewish holiday to be altered by the then-novel coronavirus, Passover was likely the one in which the most North American Jews felt the impact. As the most widely observed Jewish holiday ritual in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center’s 2013 study of American Jewry, Passover Seders mark a moment where large family get-togethers double as an opportunity to pass down traditions from one generation to the next. For many households last year, those gatherings were replaced by small Seders among members of the same households or conducted over Zoom. But this year, with some 54 million Americans having received at least a first dose of the vaccine as of March 4 and with the rate of vaccinations averaging approximately 2 million doses a day, some families are considering ways to celebrate in person. New guidance from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that those who are vaccinated can likely gather in small groups with others who have taken the COVID shot without taking on major risk. “Interactions of people who are fully vaccinated with other people who are fully vaccinated (or immune due to previous infection) likely come with a very low risk for everybody involved,” Florian Krammer, a vaccinologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, wrote in a recent Twitter thread about how vaccinated people should think about changing their behaviors.

Still, to balance the risks with the benefits of gathering, many have come up with their own plans to gather as safely as possible. For some families, those plans include a strict schedule of quarantining and testing before gathering. For others, vaccinations or recent COVID infections and positive antibody tests mean they feel safe getting together. For Lesley Herrmann, 74, who lives in Manhattan with her husband, this year’s Seder may include as many as 10 people. The Herrmanns have already been vaccinated, as have many of their relatives with whom they normally share a Seder. Others in her family who may attend have recovered from COVID and still have antibodies. For Herrmann, who says Passover is her favorite holiday, this year will still be smaller than the usual 15 - 20-person Seder she usually hosts. But it will be a major improvement over last year, when she and her husband stayed home and did the Seder by themselves with family joining over Zoom. “We made haroset and chicken soup, but it was sad,” Lesley Herrmann says. “I’m thinking this year will be a lot more cheerful.” For Joel and Fran Grossman, 66 and 70, Passover this year marks a few significant milestones. To see their son for the first time since the pandemic started and their daughter for the first time since last summer, the couple will fly from Los Angeles to New York and spend the Seders with their children in Brooklyn. The couple wouldn’t have considered making the trip before receiving the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine last month and are still taking precautions — like buying upgraded seats to ensure adequate distancing and holding the Seders outdoors. They say it’s worth it for the opportunity to see their children again after such a long separation. “Every single mundane task I have to do, maybe normally I’d say what a pain in the butt,” Fran Grossman says. “Now I’m saying I’m the luckiest person to be able to afford a safe ticket, to be able to have been vaccinated.”

Passover She adds: “I’m feeling such gratitude for being able to be in the place and time to be able to do this.” For Adina Avery-Grossman, 59, of Teaneck, New Jersey, planning the Seders is usually a multi-week project replete with spreadsheets to manage her menus and grocery lists. This year, a vestige of those huge spreadsheets lives on in the color-coded calendar she’s prepared to keep track of the quarantine and testing schedule her family will undergo to assemble this year. “We had a meeting and we went over this, and first we called the doctor,” AveryGrossman says of her plan. The plan requires the guests to limit their activity starting about two weeks before Passover, be tested about a week before the Seder and then stay home while awaiting test results until arriving at the Seder. Adding to Avery-Grossman’s peace of mind is that some of her Seder participants will already be vaccinated. “We told everybody, if it’s not really

conducive to you, we’ll pick it up next year,” she says, noting that the plan requires strict adherence to the rules. “But everyone wanted to be together.” Avery-Grossman usually hosts some two-dozen guests, suggesting this year’s gathering of seven could seem like a sadly small group. But that’s two more than last year, when she spent Passover with her husband, daughter, son and daughter-in-law. “Adding two more people, it feels like we’re beginning to make that journey from slavery to freedom. The strictures are opening up again,” she said. Of course, the vaccine rollout continues to be sluggish in parts of the country. While President Joe Biden has announced that the United States will have enough vaccines for all of the country’s adults by May, the manufacture and distribution have proven erratic. For many, this Passover will look much like it did last year: alone but perhaps for the company of faces on a computer screen.

Although Rachel Arnold’s parents, who live in Rhode Island, have been vaccinated, she does not want to take any risks by visiting them because she goes into an office regularly for her job. Arnold says she hopes to make this year feel special by looking at her Seder preparations as a fun cooking project. “I’m going to do a roast chicken and tzimmes. I’m also going to make the chopped liver, and I’m thinking about making matzah ball soup,” she says. But the cooking project doesn’t make it any less upsetting that she’ll be spending another Seder alone. “When my parents and I talked about it last year, we thought we’ll do it again next year,” Arnold says. “I haven’t seen my parents for a year and it’s really sad.” But still, after a year of relentless tragedies, the themes of the Seder this year feel especially resonant for many, particularly with the light at the end of the tunnel provided by the vaccines.

“COVID has been constriction and it has been a plague,” Debra Darvick says. “So yeah, some of the questions will be what do we hope to do in this coming year? What has this year of constriction meant?” Avery-Grossman, too, is thinking about what she may hold onto from these pandemic Passovers into future years. While she enjoyed the big, boisterous Seders she hosted in years past, she’s not sure she will rush back to that, having enjoyed the smaller Seder with just a few family members. “Maybe we’ll do one big Seder and one really intimate Seder,” she says. But Lisa Goldman, an editor living in Montreal, after two Passovers alone, is hoping for a triumphant return to her pre-pandemic Passover Seders in 2022, with family and friends together at her apartment for the big event. “I’ll probably have to get an extra table,” she says. “I’ll make the biggest brisket in history.”

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Passover Masa Tiganitas is Sephardi matzah brei—but much better Rachel Ringler

(The Nosher)—Leave it to Sephardic Jews to make even a pedestrian dish—the ubiquitous matzah brei, a mash-up of fried matzah and egg—into something sublime. In his landmark book, The Sephardic Kitchen, Rabbi Robert Sternberg introduced many of us to the flavors and pleasures of Sephardic Jewish cuisine. Masa Tiganitas

Sephardi matzah brei INGREDIENTS: 4–6 pieces of matzah whole milk for soaking the matzah 4 large eggs, well beaten

¼ cup plain Greek yogurt Vegetable oil for sauteing Arrope* or honey Chopped, lightly toasted walnuts

is a Passover recipe of the Greek Jews—tiganites is the Greek word for pancakes, and, according to Sephardic cook and author Jennifer Abadi, tiganitas is related to the word for “fried.” Masa Tiganitas is also a dish enjoyed by Italian Jews during Passover. In Sternberg’s version, matzah squares are soaked in milk, dipped in a combination of egg and yogurt and then fried in oil. As opposed to matzah brei, or bumelos de masa, the matzah in Sternberg’s recipe is not crushed. They are left whole, dunked, and fried before being sweetened with a drizzle of honey or arrope (a syrup made of grapes) and topped with a sprinkling of walnuts. Think fried matzah meets baklava. I am in love. This recipe has been reprinted with permission from The Sephardic Kitchen.

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DIRECTIONS: 1. Place the whole matzah into a wide, deep, mixing bowl or a square baking pan that can accommodate them all without breaking them. Pour the milk over them to cover. Soak the matzah pieces in the milk until they soften enough so that they can be cut but are not so soft that they will disintegrate. 2. While the matzah pieces are soaking, beat the eggs in a mixing bowl together with the ¼ cup yogurt. When the matzah pieces are soft enough, gently remove them, one at a time, and lay them on paper towels. Cut each matzah into four quarters. Stack the squares on top of one another on paper towels or on a plate. 3. Pour enough oil into a 12-inch skillet to come up the sides ¼ inch. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it is sizzling but not smoking. 4. Dip 1 square of matzah from each stack into the beaten egg. Allow the excess to drip back into the mixing bowl. Place the square in the skillet. A 12-inch skillet will hold 2–3 squares while they are frying. 5. Fry the tiganitas until golden brown on both sides. Keep the tiganitas warm in a 250-degree oven until all are ready.

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6. Place the tiganitas onto serving plates. Serve with Arrope or honey poured over the tiganitas and sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Serves 4.

Bernard’s Legacy Lives Forever

WHAT’S HAPPENING

A year of Jewish learning Sierra Lautman

year ago this month, the world entered the pandemic. Amazingly, Jewish organizations of all sizes, including United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, have seen increases in the numbers of engaged adult learners over the past year. In this time of uncertainty, Jewish adults have found that the opportunity to learn online can provide something they can count on. Zoom webinars can nourish the spirit or challenge the mind. Small group, ongoing, online courses, such as Melton, offer the chance to mingle and develop relationships when social isolation is the difficult reality for many. The study topics have bound learners together with something meaningful to discuss aside from challenging news stories. Restarting the Melton School in Tidewater meant shifting the model to the virtual classroom, which has several advantages. Past Melton students, for example, who no longer live in the area, may learn with familiar faces. A daughter in Virginia Beach can take a course with her father who lives in Miami— meeting weekly on Zoom to learn, to laugh, and to grow together. While many are ready to rejoin the world for in-person programs, the chance to learn from the comfort of home or office has been liberating in ways that were not anticipated. The commute from a couch to a dining table, or one screen to the next, is much shorter than any drive. Some participate while preparing dinner, enjoying their morning coffee, or while on a lunch break at work. With spouses seen vacuuming behind a muted learner and children

climbing into laps to kiss parents goodnight and wave to the faces on the screen, this new reality provides a chance to glimpse into each other’s lives and feel like a part of a larger family. The newfound intimacy is important for some, and the increased chance for anonymity is the best part for others. It’s possible to be on camera in class while waiting for dinner to come out of the oven, but then turn off the camera to eat in privacy. Those who are hesitant to speak up in class are able to put their questions into a chat box. The incredible flexibility of a virtual classroom suggests more ways to contribute, more ways to ask questions, and more ways to respectfully disagree with one another. Many lessons have been learned over this past year—for instructors and organizations, in addition to learners. Of course, when the pandemic is over, in-person classes and lectures will be offered again. But, since the convenience of tuning in from offices, learning from homes, or listening

while stuck in traffic is attractive to many, virtual and hybrid programs and classes are here to stay. Plus, a virtual setting allows national and international scholars to be “in residence.” The hard work of learning how to Zoom this year will certainly not go to waste. This year might have felt like ‘a yearon-pause,’ but that is actually not the case. People have gained new understandings and have grown, spiritually, and intellectually. There is hope for a better tomorrow, as well as for plenty of opportunities to learn together. For more information about the Melton School in Tidewater and other Jewish learning opportunities, go to JewishVA.org/KCL or contact Sierra Lautman, director of Jewish Innovation at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, at 757-965-6107 or slautman@ujft.org.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING Park Avenue Synagogue Cantor Azi Schwartz in concert for Temple Israel

Merchants of Hate: The Rise of White Supremacy

Sunday, April 25, 7:30 pm, Zoom, $36

A conversation with the ADL and former mayor of Charlottesville

ot many clergy are considered YouTube sensations, but Azi Schwartz, senior cantor of Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City, has become just that, thanks to his creative and moving versions of Jewish prayers. Cantor Schwartz will present a selection of his songs in an online concert, curated just for Temple Israel in Norfolk, as well as for anyone who wants to purchase a “ticket” to enjoy the 40-year-old Israeliborn cantor’s vast talents and hear him speak about his approach to Jewish music. The synagogue secured the services of Cantor Schwartz through a simple outreach by the temple board of directors’ vice president, Norman Soroko. “I just think he’s amazing, but I never thought he would be so humble and willing to coordinate a program just for our area,” says Soroko, who is chairing the event. “We will hear some of his ‘greatest hits,’ including his amazing version of Adom Olam sung to I’ll be Back from Hamilton, and then, talk to us during a live Q&A that Joel Rubin, our past president, will moderate. I can’t wait.”

Thursday, April 1, 7:30 pm, Temple Israel’s First Thursday, Zoom, free Batya Glazer

D Azi Schwartz.

Tickets to “An Evening of Jewish Music with Cantor Azi Schwartz” are available through the synagogue’s website, www. templeisraelva.org. “You don’t have to be a member of Temple Israel to ‘attend’ this very community oriented event,” says Steve Legum, Temple Israel’s president. “Join us online and invite family and friends anywhere who have either heard of Cantor Schwartz or just want a spiritual uplift during these very challenging times.” For more information, go to www.templeisraelva.org or call 757-489-4550.

Tidewater Chavurah: Who is ready for weekly Torah study? Tuesdays, 7 pm, Zoom

abbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill of Tidewater Chavurah, now leads a weekly Torah study on Tuesday evenings. Discussion focuses on the parshat ha-shavua, the Torah portion that will be read on the following Shabbat. Read in English, Rabbi Ellen provides insights into the Hebrew as appropriate. Participants need a printed Tanuch,

(the complete Hebrew Bible, or Chumash, the first five books divided into Torah portions, with commentary), or internet access to pull up the Torah portion on a site such as sefaria.org. Contact Rabbi Ellen for the Zoom link at rabbicantorejg@gmail.com to get started.

Visit us on the web jewishnewsva.org 18 | JEWISH NEWS | March 22, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org

oron Ezickson, Anti-Defamation League’s Mid-Atlantic/Midwest division’s vice president, and Michael Signer, former mayor of Charlottesville and author of Cry Havoc: Charlottesville and American Democracy Under Siege will speak with Joel Rubin for Temple Israel’s First Thursday program. United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Jewish Community Relations Council is partnering with Temple Israel on this event. The invasion of Charlottesville by white nationalist militias during August 11–12, 2017, and the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, mark turning points in America’s history and is part of the rise in hate groups, white supremacy, and anti-Semitism across the nation. The rise of anti-Semitic attacks has been significant. The mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on October 27, 2018, the shooting at a kosher supermarket in Jersey City on December 10, 2019, and the Saturday night Hanukkah attack at the home of a Hasidic rabbi in Monsey, New York on December 28, 2019 are examples of incidents that have heightened the focus on safety and security. Since 1913, ADL’s mission has been to “stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all.” Dedicated to combating

anti-Semitism, prejudice, and bigotry of all kinds, as well as defending democratic ideals and promoting civil rights, ADL is recognized as a leading resource on effective responses to JEN FARIELLO. violent bigotry, con- Michael Signer. ducting an annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents and drafting model hate crime statutes for state legislatures. ADL is also a leading provider of anti-bias education and bullying prevention programs in K-12 schools and on college campuses. The ADL has worked closely with the JCRC on a number of programs, including a partnership with Norfolk Public Schools to roll out ADL’s No Place for Hate program, facilitate their Words To Action workshop with students and parents, and regular speaking engagements. ADL also works with the JCRC on important legislative initiatives. Join the JCRC and Temple Israel, along with the ADL and Mike Signer, to better understand these events and how they are part of a wider context. Pre-registration is required. To RSVP, visit JewishVA.org or contact Batya Glazer, director, UJFT JCRC, at bglazer@ujft.org.

CALENDAR MARCH 22, MONDAY Author talk with Jennifer Voigt Kaplan, discussing her book, Crushing the Red Flowers. This is the story of how two ordinary boys cope under the extraordinary circumstances of Kristallnacht. Part of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with the Konikoff Center for Learning. For middle schoolers. 7 pm. Free. Pre-registration required. For more information and to register, go to JewishVA.org/arts-ideas/book-festival or contact Sierra Lautman, director of Jewish Innovation, at slautman@ujft.org, or 757-965-6107. MARCH 23, TUESDAY Camp JCC Virtual Open House. Camp JCC returns to in-person programming this summer. Join this informational session to learn about Camp JCC 2021 and the program modifications in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Dave Flagler, Camp JCC director, will present and answer questions about the upcoming summer. 7 pm. For more information and to register, contact Dave Flagler, director of camp and teen engagement, at dflagler@ujft.org. MARCH 24, WEDNESDAY Stories of Breaking Free: A Virtual Women’s Seder. Take a modern twist on an ancient tradition with an innovative and inspirational women’s seder. The Braid, a Jewish story company, will guide through an evening of storytelling filled with food, laughs, heart-opening empowered journeys of self-discovery, and connection. This event is presented by the Konikoff Center for Learning at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, in partnership with Bender JCC of Greater Washington, JCC of Greater Baltimore, and select JCC’s across the country. 7:30 pm. Tickets $18. For information and to register, JewishVA.org/KCL or contact Sierra Lautman, director of Jewish Innovation, at slautman@ujft.org, or 757-965-6107. APRIL 1, THURSDAY Merchants of Hate: The Rise of White Supremacy, a conversation with the ADL and former mayor of Charlottesville. For Temple Israel’s First Thursday program, in partnership with the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Jewish Community Relations Council, Joel Rubin will speak with Doron Ezickson, ADL’s Mid-Atlantic/Midwest division’s vice president, and Michael Signer, former mayor of Charlottesville. Pre-registration required. 7:30 pm. Free. For more information and to pre-register, visit www.JewishVA.org or contact Batya Glazer, director of UJFT’s JCRC, at bglazer@ujft.org. APRIL 12, MONDAY Newark Minutemen: A True 1930’s Legend About a Boxer Who Tries to Save a Nation’s Soul Without Losing His Own. A soon to be released movie, Newark Minutemen is a true 1930’s story about a Jewish boxer who fights for the mob and FBI to stop Nazis from taking over America. This is not a WWII story. It comes well before, and on American soil. The militia of Jewish mafia boxers, the Newark Minutemen, rise-up and fight Hitler’s American Nazi shadow party, as well as the greatest enemy of all—American complacency. Meet Leslie K. Barry a screenwriter, author, and executive producer. Free. 12 pm. For more information and to register, go to JewishVA.org/Bookfest or contact Patty Shelanski, Arts + Ideas manager, at pshelanski@ujfjt.org or 757-452-3184. APRIL 12, MONDAY–APRIL 22, THURSDAY Paintings by Lorraine Fink, Virtual Art Auction and Sale. On view in the Leon Family Gallery at the Sandler Family Campus. Lorraine Fink’s art is rich in color and wonder, evoking feelings of celebration and contemplation. She has generously donated 99 paintings to benefit Visual Arts programming and classes at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC. For more information contact Kerri Cohen at Kcohen@ujft.org. To view, bid, and purchase art, visit www.JewishVA.org/LFinkArt. Send submissions for calendar to news@ujft.org. Be sure to note “calendar” in the subject. Include date, event name, sponsor, address, time, cost and phone.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE

Grant helps feed the hungry

ewish Family Service received a grant from Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation in the amount of $2,500 to purchase food for members of the community who might otherwise go hungry.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Lorraine Fink art auction, sale, and exhibit Monday, April 12–Thursday, April 22 On View: Leon Family Gallery, Sandler Family Campus Auction and sale: www.JewishVA.org/LFinkArt

orraine Fink is generously donating 99 original works of art for auction and sale with all proceeds benefiting visual arts programming and classes at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC. All 99 paintings will be on view in the Leon Family Gallery for this 10-day event. This is an unprecedented opportunity to purchase one or more of these colorful, beguiling, and thought-provoking paintings that express Fink’s delight with nature and humankind. At Old Dominion University, where Lorraine Fink earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts in 1978 and her Masters of Fine Arts in 1983, she studied painting and printmaking. Fink’s works have been shown in many juried and invitational art shows; she has won numerous awards; her paintings and sculpture are in public and private

collections; and she has had more than 45 one-woman shows. She continues painting at age 96. “We are honored by Lorraine’s gracious donation. Plus, we are excited to have them displayed in the Leon Family Gallery,” says Betty Ann Levin, executive vice president/CEO United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC. To view, bid, and purchase from this collection by Lorraine Fink, go to www.JewishVA.org/LFinkArt. For additional information, contact Kerri Cohen at kcohen@ujft.org.

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OBITUARIES HERBERT K. BANGEL PORTSMOUTH—Portsmouth lost a favorite son with the passing of Herbert K. Bangel on Thursday, March 11, 2021. A native and lifetime resident of Portsmouth, Virginia, he was born on May 29, 1928 the son of the late Abe A. Bangel and Florence Block Bangel, and was predeceased in death by his brother, Stanley J. Bangel. Herb was an early achiever, which was reflected by his obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 14 years. He obtained his driver’s license on his 14th birthday, and became one of the youngest messengers in Portsmouth’s Civil Defense program during World War II. After graduating from Wilson High School, the week after his 16th birthday, he matriculated at the University of Virginia. There, he was a member of the varsity boxing team and received his varsity “V” as manager of the baseball team. He was awarded a B.S. in Commerce degree at 19, entered the University Law School, passed the Bar Examination after his second year, but remained in law school and obtained his Juris Doctor degree. In January 1950, at the age of 21, he joined his father, Abe, and brother, Stanley, in the practice of law and the institution of Bangel, Bangel & Bangel was born. Within two years, he became one of the youngest attorneys to qualify to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. He was a member of the following bar associations: Portsmouth Bar (president, 1964), Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar, Tidewater Trial Lawyers Association (board of directors 196873), Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (board of directors 1970), American Trial Lawyers Association, and a permanent member of the Judicial Conference for the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. He served as a substitute judge of the Portsmouth General District Court (1979–84) and as a Commissioner in Chancery for the Circuit Court of the City of Portsmouth (1973-84), and was listed in Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who in America. Active in his religious community, he had served as general chairman of the

Portsmouth Area United Jewish Appeal (1959); President of the Portsmouth Jewish Community Council (1958– 59); President of the Gomley Chesed Synagogue (1970–72), was the first president of its Men’s Club (1955–56), and served as one of the congregation’s three trustees. He freely volunteered his time to his native Portsmouth and served as president or chairman of many organizations, including: Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce (1973), Portsmouth Area United Fund (1971), Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority (1975–1983), Portsmouth Community Foundation (1985–87), and Tidewater Recreation and Stadium Authority (1968–76). In addition, he served on the board of directors of Maryview Hospital (1969–87) and its Foundation (1990–99), and while a member of the Board of Visitors of Eastern Virginia Medical School (1983–91), he served as its vice-rector (1987–88). Other board memberships included the Portsmouth Industrial Foundation (1968–90), Tidewater, Virginia Development Council (1972-80), and Urban League of Tidewater (1978-79). The business community benefited by his serving on the board of directors of Merchants & Farmers Bank, Dominion Bank of Greater Hampton Roads (vice-chairman of its board and chairman of its executive committee), Tidewater Professional Sports (treasurer and vice-president), TVX Broadcast Group, Cox Cable of Portsmouth (president), Suburban Country Club (president 1961–62), Ocean Club, and as a founding member of the Board of Governors of the Town Point Club in Norfolk. One of his notable contributions was as a founding member and officer of Portsmouth Community Action, Inc. (1969–74), an organization credited by many as improving his city’s race relations and economic development. His city recognized his many contributions to its religious, community, and business sectors by selecting him as Portsmouth’s First Citizen in 1974. Although he had a deep affection for his City of Portsmouth, his deepest love

20 | JEWISH NEWS | March 22, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org

was for his family. He is survived by his best friend and wife of 72 years, Carolyn Kroskin Bangel; his daughter, Nancy Bangel and her husband, Mark Robbins; his son, Brad J. Bangel and his wife Babbi; his adoring grandchildren, Addie Bangel (Jacob Wright), Ross Bangel (Lindsay), Hannah Bangel (Matt Greene), Leah Flax (Scott), Melanie Haga (Ryan Dunlap), and Sam Haga (Sarah Johnson); and his great-grandchildren, Jude, Lucy, Benji, Sonny, Ozzy, Abe, Morrison, Grove, Levi, Stella and Rebecca. Graveside services were held in Gomley Chesed Cemetery. Services were live streamed on H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Facebook Page. Memorial donations may be made to Congregation Beth El, Post Office Box 11012, Norfolk, VA, 23517; Children’s Hospital Of The King’s Daughters, 601 Children’s Lane, Norfolk, VA 23507, or the charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com.

DARBY BEETHAM VIRGINIA BEACH—Darby Beetham died peacefully at home on February 20, 2021. He leaves to cherish his memory his three children: Anna Beetham Goldenberg (Edward), Diane L. Beetham, and Darby L. Beetham (Ann), along with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Originally from Fanwood, N.J.and later, San Rafael, Calif., he was most at home on his sailboat wherever he was traveling. Always the adventurer, his sailing exploits took him up and down the West Coast, through the Panama Canal and throughout the Caribbean and to New Zealand. When he wasn’t sailing or diving, Darby worked for Systems Development Corporation and AAA. He was proud of his military service during the Korean War Era and retired as a Captain with the US Air Force. He was laid to rest alongside his wife, Jean Anna Beetham, in a private ceremony in Fairview Cemetery, Westfield, N.J.

away at home surrounded by family on March 10, 2021. There was a private burial service due to the pandemic. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Lawrence Diamond. She is survived by two daughters, Sherry Diamond Liebman of Virginia Beach and Marian Diamond (Ari Tapper) of Fairfax Station, Va.; four grandchildren: Daniel, Rachel, Ben, Zoe and her cat, Callie. Our mom, Judy, was raised in Phoebus, Va., and was a proud Hampton High Crabber. She graduated from the College of William and Mary at the age of 19 with a bachelor of arts degree. She worked as a social worker, then in the government, and thereafter worked with her husband at their family-owned drugstore, Diamond Pharmacy, for 53 years. She was a member of B’nai Israel Synagogue and then of Adath Jeshurun Synagogue for over 60 years. She was active in Ladies Auxiliary of AJ, Hadassah, National Council of Jewish Women, Bridge Club, a member of Red Hat Society, Warwick Garden Club and volunteered with special needs children. Those who knew our mom knew how incredibly intelligent she was. She was fun-loving, spunky and had a great sense of humor. Mom enjoyed making new friends and treasured old. Momma loved her family dearly and was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She loved all animals, especially cats and enjoyed many activities with her family including going on vacations, seeing Broadway shows, walks on the Noland Trail in the Mariner’s Museum, fishing (in earlier years) and singing Broadway show tunes with us. She made beautiful flower arrangements. Our mom was altruistic and kind and brought joy and laughter to everyone who knew her. “A single person is missing and the world is empty. How grateful we are to have had her in our lives.” (Meryl Streep) Donations in her memory to The Virginia Living Museum (thevlm.org) or Peninsula SPCA (PHS-SPCA.org). Altmeyer Funeral Home.

JUDITH NEVIAS DIAMOND NEWPORT NEWS—Judith Nevias Diamond (29 & holding + 63) passed

NORMAN MORGAN RICHMOND—Norman Morgan, 78, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away

OBITUARIES peacefully on March 1, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rebecca Cohen Morgan and Herman Morgan. He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Francine Morgan; his sons, Spencer G. Morgan, Esq. (daughter-in-law Maria Morgan), Justin G. Morgan, Esq. (daughter-in-law Meredith Morgan), Dr. Neil J. Zemmel; grandchildren, Amanda Morgan, Katelin Morgan, Madison Morgan, Ashley Morgan, Vivienne Zemmel and Margot Zemmel; sister, Beverly Robinson (brother-in-law, Dr. Arvin Robinson); brother, Phillip Morgan (sister-in-law, Mireille Morgan); and many loving nieces and nephews. Norman grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He loved playing sports as a young man and never let his small stature be an obstacle. He won junior city and state tennis tournaments and played basketball and table-tennis at very high levels. In his younger years, he enjoyed watching baseball games and had an extensive autograph collection. Norman also was an active member of Jewish youth group Monarch AZA, participated in Glee club and had a great love for 1950s music. Norman had the unique experience of attending three different high schools: Douglas Freeman High School, then his parents moved to Miami Beach, Florida and he attended Miami Beach High School his junior year. During Norman’s senior year, he moved back to Richmond, and lived with his brother, Phillip, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School. After high school, Norman attended the University of Miami his freshmen year, but then had an opportunity to return to Richmond to be a partner with his brother and father at Windsor House Furniture. While working full time, Norman enrolled at Richmond Professional Institute, now known as Virginia Commonwealth University (“VCU”) and attended for five years, taking business classes. During Norman’s earlier professional years, he had an opportunity to go into door-to-door magazine sales in Dallas, Texas. This experience, far from home, as he often recalled, helped him grow with confidence and independence.

In 1971, Norman took a risk and started The International Dining Club Ltd.(“IDC”), which would be his lifelong career and a very successful business. IDC is a discount membership club for restaurants, sports teams and cultural institutions, which advertised and promoted them. Norman took great pride in starting IDC on a “ping-pong table in the basement” at his home, and grew it into a large multi-state business. At its height, IDC had programs in dozens of cities up and down the east coast ranging from Boston to South Florida to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Norman was very grateful for his IDC staff and employees, and often spoke highly of them long after his retirement and they adored him. Norman retired in 2008 and was very happy and pleased to see his former colleague and dear friend, Barry Lazarus, continue on with IDC, which is still in operation to this day. After retirement, Norman enjoyed

playing tennis at Westwood Club where he was a founding member and had a wicked inside-out shot! He developed his net game as he got older and started playing doubles. Norman also continued playing basketball at the Jewish Community Center until he was 63 when he suffered a medical set back. Norman had a heck of a 3-point shot and a unique

hook shot allowing him to score over taller men. Norman’s love for sports also included softball and he was a fearless pitcher. Norman’s other interests included gardening; and when he lived in Goochland County, in Partridge Hill, he had a tremendous garden where he continued on page 22

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OBITUARIES continued on page 22

grew everything from tomatoes to corn and watermelon. Norman would often refer to himself as a “gentleman farmer.” He enjoyed using a large rototiller and riding his lawnmower over his four acres. Norman’s sons greatly enjoyed growing up in Partridge Hill, in what was at that time considered the “country.” Living in the “country,” Norman was one of the first local users of satellite dish technology; he made it known that he wanted to give his family more viewing options than The Love Boat. Norman was an extremely passionate VCU Basketball fan and attended most home games and traveled to many away games. Norman started the then very aspirational “Final 4” booster club at VCU and was fortunate to have seen VCU actually make the Final 4 in 2011, where he attended the event in person. Norman was married to the love of his life, Francine for 31 years. They met on a blind date in 1988. This was truly his “beshert” or soulmate. They enjoyed friends, restaurants and spending time with their families and their beloved children and their families, particularly their six granddaughters. They traveled all over the United States and cruised the Caribbean and the Mediterranean with Norman’s sister Beverly and her husband, Arvin, whose company they particularly enjoyed. They shared a passion for dancing and music together and went out dancing with friends frequently Norman adored his father, Herman, and called Herman every single day after his mother Rebecca passed away. Norman imparted much wisdom to his sons about all aspects of life, which they have all benefited from. Norman will be remembered for his gentleness, humor, the great pride that he had in his children and grandchildren and his love of family. While his Lewy Body Dementia robbed him of many things, he never once complained. Norman will rest next to his former business colleague and best friend, Mark Fetter. Funeral services were held at Emek Shalom Holocaust Memorial Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Lewy Body

Dementia Association (https://www.lbda. org/) and/or Virginia Commonwealth University Athletic Department–Men’s Basketball (https://www.support.vcu. edu/give/athletics).

PAUL LEN TUROK VIRGINIA BEACH—Paul Len Turok passed away peacefully early on Tuesday morning, March 16, 2021 at the age of 69. Paul was born in Cape Town, South Africa to father, Hillel Turok and mother, Bete Turok both of blessed memory. He is survived by his brother, Marc and sister, Karina. In September of 1986, Paul immigrated with his wife and children to Virginia Beach, Va. in order to provide them an opportunity of a better life. The Turok family was quickly adopted by Beth El Synagogue and the Tidewater Jewish community as one of their own. As a passionate architect, Paul’s crowning career achievement was being able to design the Sandler Family Campus, which he put his heart and soul into as a way to show his appreciation for the all the Jewish community has done for his family. Along with his immense passion for his architecture, Paul’s true pride has always come from his family—his loving wife, Vivian, son, David (Doniele, Jax, Joey) and daughter, Lindi (Josh, Lennex). We are so grateful for the tremendous care, generosity and outreach from our beloved friends and community during Paul’s final months. In particular, our family could not be more thankful for Dr. Barbara Parks, Paul’s long standing internist, who was the guiding light through all of his medical endeavors. We are truly indebted for the care and attention Dr. Parks gave, along with the entire heart team at Sentara Hospital, where Paul became a favorite amongst the nurses with his contagious smile and optimistic personality. The funeral was held at Princess Anne Memorial Park in Virginia Beach. The funeral service was live-streamed on H.D. Oliver Funeral Facebook page. Donations to Beth El Congregation, the American Heart Association, or any charity that puts a smile on your face.

22 | JEWISH NEWS | March 22, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org

CARL SHAPIRO, BRANDEIS BENEFACTOR WHO LOST MILLIONS TO MADOFF, DIES AT 108 Penny Schwartz

BOSTON (JTA)—Carl J. Shapiro, one of Boston’s most significant philanthropists and Brandeis University’s most generous donor, died March 7 at his home in Boston. He was 108. Shapiro built his initial wealth in the middle of the 20th century by transforming his father’s small coat factory into Kay Windsor, a national manufacturer of women’s cotton dresses that had a showroom in New York City’s Garment District. The business earned Shapiro the moniker “Cotton King.” After selling the business in 1971 for $21 million, Shapiro placed some of that money with the now-convicted swindler Bernard Madoff, an investment that eventually ballooned to more than $1 billion. Through the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation, he and his wife, who died in 2012, supported many medical institutions, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, cultural centers and local initiatives in Boston and Palm Beach, Florida, where they also lived. They supported Jewish causes as well, giving large donations to the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial and Museum. Their names are prominent at the community center at NewBridge on the Charles, the senior living residence of Hebrew Senior Life. “The Shapiros’ philanthropy has benefitted thousands of children and families, making the arts and education more inclusive for all, helping those seeking employment and job training, and enriching Jewish life in Greater Boston and beyond. He will be greatly missed,” Marc Baker, president and CEO of Combined Jewish Philanthropies, said in an email. The couple’s largesse is most notable at Brandeis, where over the years they gave more than $72 million to the suburban Boston campus. Their names adorn the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Student Center, the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Admissions Center, and the Carl J. Shapiro Science

Center. They also supported programs at the college. The couple gave their first $10 to Brandeis in 1950, just two years after the university’s founding, according to Brandeis Now. While neither attended the college, they felt a kinship with the school founded by the American Jewish community at a time when many other colleges excluded Jewish students. “This institution would not have achieved or been able to maintain its reputation for academic excellence without the Shapiro’s family’s dedication,” Brandeis President Ronald Liebowitz said. In 2003, Brandeis awarded Shapiro, who served on the board of trustees, an honorary degree. The Shapiros’ philanthropy was upended with Madoff ’s admission of fraud at the end of 2008 for running the largest ever Ponzi scheme, using money from newer investors to pay fabricated profits to others. Two years later, Shapiro agreed to repay $625 million from his investment profits as part of the federal government’s effort to recover the losses for Madoff’s victims. Shapiro, who said he never knew about Madoff’s scheme and was stunned to learn about it, reported losing a total of $545 million, which included $250 million that he gave Madoff just weeks before the scandal was exposed. Shapiro, who was born on Feb. 15, 1913, was one of three children. He left Boston University during the Depression to help run his father’s business. Ruth Gordon, whom he married in 1939, died in 2012 after 73 years of marriage; a daughter, Rhonda, died in 2014. He is survived by two daughters, seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Many of them were involved in the family’s giving. “The kitchen table in our home became the family foundation’s boardroom,” Rhonda Zinner wrote in her mother’s obituary. “My sisters and I were blessed to be raised by a father and mother whose values taught us the importance of doing all you can to try and make a difference.”

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come in stories. This includes the story of the kindergartner who struggled to let go of his father’s leg at the beginning of the day, but engages with friends and moves past the feelings of trepidation. This includes the story about the day a camper reached a new level in swim while everyone cheered. There is the story about the teen that quietly sat in the back row in class, became a leader among fellow camp counselors, eventually returned as camp leadership and mentored others that were similar. The return on investment isn’t quantifiable, but it is obvious in the growth of campers, counselors, and their peers and through the impact that they will have on the future. After this challenging year, consider giving a child the intangible gift of Camp JCC; a summer of Jewish engagement, a summer of disguised experiential learning, and a summer of joy and fun. For more information about Camp JCC or to register, go to campjcc.org or email Dave Flagler, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s director of Camp and Teen Engagement at dflagler@ujft.org. Early Bird Registration ends March 31.

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1860 LASKIN ROAD • VIRGINIA BEACH 24 | JEWISH NEWS | March 22, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org

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Jewish News - March 22, 2021

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