Calendar Through DECEMBER 9 PLAYING IT SAFE: ‘SOCCER SHOTS’ PROGRAM STRIKES OUT AT THE SIMON FAMILY JCC. MONDAYS: Through–11/30/20: K-1st grade, 3:30-4:15 pm, 2nd - 3rd grade, 4:30- 5:15 pm. WEDNESDAYS: Through–2/9/20; 3-4 years, 3:30-4:00 pm and 4:15- 4:45 pm. With CDC guidelines in place, the soccer field is the SAFE place for Soccer Shots fall fun! Four eight-week sessions are open for the fall. Cost is $120 for members and $160 for potential members, including a jersey! Register at the JCC front desk or call 757-321-2338. For more information, contact Sarah Cooper at scooper@simonfamilyjcc.org. THROUGH FEBRUARY 24, 2021 SWORDFISH WINTER SWIM TEAM, Ages 5–18 Mondays–Wednesdays, 6–7:30 pm, JCC Indoor Pool. Open to all boys and girls ages 5–18 years, recreational competitive swim team offers certified, experienced coaching to swimmers that wish to improve technique, get fit, and make friends. This is NOT swim lessons, however having competitive experience is not required. Cost is $255 for JCC members and $310 for non-members. Each swimmer receives a custom team canvas sport bag, t-shirt, and swim cap. A sibling discount of $25 is available at registration. For more information or to register, visit the JCC in person or call 757-321-2308. DECEMBER 2, WEDNESDAY Amy Schwartz, author of Can Robots Be Jewish: Inspirational Rabbis Answer Pressing Questions of Modern Life. JewishVa.org/BookFest. 7:30 pm. See page 32. DECEMBER 6, SUNDAY Hanukkah Cooking with Michael Solomonov presented by the Konikoff Center for Learning. Join community chefs Leora Drory and Marcy Mostofsky as they cook along with James Beard Foundation award-winning chef, Michael Solomonov. They will demonstrate how to cook the perfect Hanukkah meal, from apple shrub to sfenj (Moroccan doughnuts), just in time for the holiday. Via Zoom. 4 pm. Pre-registration required. JewishVa.org/JIKCL. DECEMBER 7, MONDAY Jonathan Kaufman, author of The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China. JewishVa.org/BookFest. 12 pm. See page 32. DECEMBER 8, TUESDAY Israel Story in Conversation with Fauda star, Ala Dakka! The Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Simon Family JCC, Embassy of Israel, & Community Partners’ 10th Annual Israel Today Series presents a conversation between Israel Story Podcast co-founder Yochai Maital, and Netflix hit show Fauda star Ala Dakka. Pre-registration required. 12 pm. Free. For more information and to register, go to JewishVA.org/IsraelToday or contact Leigh Casson at lcasson@ujft.org or 757-321-2304. DECEMBER 13, SUNDAY Second Sunday community Phone-a-Thon. 10 am–1 pm. To volunteer to make calls or to make a gift, contact Amy Zelenka, campaign director, at 757-965-6139 or at JewishVa. org (click United Jewish Federation of Tidewater then “Give Now” at the top of the screen). See page 33. Casey Breton, author of Going Rogue (At Hebrew School). In partnership with the Patricia Sarah Ashkenazi Religious School, Ohef Sholom Temple Religious School, and Temple Emanuel Religious School. Presented via Zoom. Pre-registration required. 11:30 am. Free. For more information or to register, contact Patty Shelanski at 757-452-3184 or pshelanski@ujft. org or JewishVa.org/BookFest. See page 32.
Who Knew Israeli teen Deni Avdija goes to Washington Wizards with 9th pick of NBA Draft Marc Brodsky
( JTA)—Deni Avdija, the 19-year-old Israeli basketball phenom, was taken by the Washington Wizards with the ninth overall pick of the NBA Draft this month—the earliest an Israeli has been picked in league history. Avdija, a lanky 6-9 forward for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel’s top professional league, becomes the second player from the Jewish state to go in the first round. Omri Casspi, also a standout forward for Maccabi Tel Aviv, went 23rd to the Sacramento Kings in the 2009 draft and played 10 years in the NBA for several teams. “Israel is a small country, to represent the country and be in the highest spot is amazing,” Avdija told ESPN. “I’m super excited to take my game to the next level.” Asked what message the so-called “Prince of Tel Aviv” would send to family, friends and fans at home in Israel, he said, “I love them and I’m gonna make you proud.” The draft was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking to the media by Zoom after being chosen, Avdija said he couldn’t imagine being a lottery choice out of a small country like Israel. Making history, he said, is “a blessing.” He and Casspi spoke about playing
in the NBA. “We talked a lot about the rookie year specifically, about the skills I would need, all the travel and the schedule,” said Avdija, who turns 20 on Jan. 3. ESPN has described Avdija as a future “big playmaker”—tall enough to play power forward, but also with the “ballhandling, creativity and playmaking skill” of a point guard. Its scouting report adds that he brings “toughness, competitiveness and swagger.” Avdija, a native of northern Israel who lives in the coastal town of Herzliya, near Tel Aviv, holds dual Israeli and Serbian citizenship. His father, Zufer, a Muslim Serbian-Israeli citizen, played for his native Yugoslavia’s national basketball team as well as several Israeli pro teams in the 1990s. His mother, Sharon Artzi, is a Jewish Israeli and former track and field athlete. A second Israeli was also picked— marking the first time that two Israelis were picked in the same draft. The Boston Celtics took Yam Madar with the 47th selection. The 19-year-old has played for Hapoel Tel Aviv, in the same Israeli league as Avdija, for the past two years. He’s a 6-2 point guard described as a solid defender and passer. Madar, at least for the 2020-21 season, will likely play overseas as the Celtics have few roster spots available. Boston will retain his rights.
Jewish News upcoming issues See the paper 3 days before the cover date at www.JewishNewsVa.org/digital.
DECEMBER 15, TUESDAY LATKEPALOOZA! with Erica Perl, author of The Ninth Night of Hanukkah. JewishVa.org/ BookFest. 6 pm. See page 32. DECEMBER 16, WEDNESDAY Thane Rosenbaum, author, essayist, and law professor discusses his book Saving Free Speech… From Itself. In partnership with the UJFT’S Jewish Community Relations Council and it’s Combating Hate Task Force along with the Holocaust Commission. Pre-registration required. 12 pm. Free. For more information and to register, go to JewishVA.org/Bookfest or contact Megan Zuckerman, Director, Community Relations Council at mzuckerman@ujft.org. See page 32. 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.
education December 40
Food/Romance January 25
Investing February 8
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