Jewish News - October 12, 2020

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Southeastern Virginia | Vol. 59 No. 03 | 24 Tishrei 5781 | October 12, 2020

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

10 Teens interview 2nd Congressional District candidates

March 15, 1933– September 18, 2020

21 SIA’s Golf Tournament: An outstanding day of golf and fun

Locals reflect on her impact

25

—page 6

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l e z a M !

Tov

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zel Tov a M 30 In Memoriam: Warren Karesh

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Jewish news jewishnewsva.org

Homeland Security report calls white supremacists the ‘most persistent and lethal’ threat in the U.S.

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

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“I am concerned about any form of violent extremism,”

Ben Sales

Wolf wrote. “However, I am particularly concerned about white

(JTA)—A new report from the Department of Homeland Security names white supremacists as the biggest domestic terror threat in the United States.

The Homeland Threat Assessment, released on Tuesday, Oct. 6, details an array of violent domestic threats in the United States. It also notes that, among other qualities, white supremacists are characterized by their hate of Jews, or by “their perception that the government is controlled by Jewish persons.”

It comes a week after President Donald Trump declined to denounce white supremacists from the presidential debate stage, telling the Proud Boys, a far-right group, to “stand back and stand by.”

The Proud Boys, whose co-founder Gavin McInnes has made anti-Semitic statements, enthusiastically welcomed Trump’s debate comments and began printing shirts with the phrase “stand back, stand by.”

It is also published a month after a whistleblower alleged that high-ranking Homeland Security appointees told officials in the department to downplay the threat posed by white supremacists.

Brian Murphy complained that in writing the Homeland Threat Assessment, he was asked “to specifically modify the section on White Supremacy in a manner that made the threat appear less severe, as well as include information on the prominence of violent ‘left-wing’ groups.”

In the forward to the report, Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said white supremacists are his main focus.

supremacist violent extremists who have been exceptionally lethal in their abhorrent, targeted attacks in recent years. I am proud of our work to prevent terrorizing tactics by domestic terrorists and violent extremists who seek to force ideological change in the United States through violence, death, and destruction.”

Trump frequently stresses what he perceived as the dangers of antifa, a loose network of anti-fascist activists. The word “antifa” does not appear in the Homeland Security report.

According to the report, since 2018, white supremacist extremists have been responsible for more attacks and more deaths than any other ideologically motivated extremists. That

Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 200 Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462-4370 voice 757-965-6100 • fax 757-965-6102 email news@ujft.org Terri Denison, Editor Germaine Clair, Art Director Lisa Richmon, Staff Writer Sandy Goldberg, Account Executive Ronnie Jacobs Cohen, Account Executive Marilyn Cerase, Subscription Manager Reba Karp, Editor Emeritus United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Amy Levy, President Alvin Wall, Treasurer Stephanie Calliott, Secretary Betty Ann Levin, Executive Vice-President jewishVA.org

includes domestic operatives of foreign terror groups like the Islamic State. White supremacists have also conducted half of the 16 total extremist attacks committed since 2018, killing a total of 39 people. Though not specified in the report, that number presumably includes the victims of the synagogue shootings in

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Among all domestic violent extremists, “racially and ethnically

motivated

violent

extremists—specifically

white

supremacist extremists (WSEs)—will remain the most persistent and lethal threat in the Homeland,” the report says. “WSEs have demonstrated longstanding intent to target racial and religious minorities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, politicians, and those they believe promote multi-culturalism and globalization at the expense of the WSE identity.”

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Contents

JewishNewsVA

For subscription or change of address, call 757-965-6128 or email mcerase@ujft.org.

Friday, October 16/28 Tishrei Light candles at 6:08 pm

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

32nd Annual SIA Golf Tournament . . . . . . 21

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

Kerri Cohen joins UJFT/JCC team . . . . . . . 22

“[Justice Ginsburg] let me progress

Neve Michael Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

What’s Happening?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

in my career without my having to

RBG: One Justice for All. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

think or worry about my gender.”

Local teens interview candidates. . . . . . . . . 10

Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Special Section: Mazel Tov . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

In Memoriam: Warren Karesh. . . . . . . . . . . 30

—page 7

Friday, October 23/5 Cheshvan Light candles at 5:59 pm Friday, October 30/12 Cheshvan Light candles at 5:51 pm Friday, November 6/19 Cheshvan Light candles at 4:44 pm Friday, November 13/26 Cheshvan Light candles at 4:39 pm Friday, November 20/4 Kislev Light candles at 4:34 pm

jewishnewsva.org | October 12, 2020 | Jewish News | 3

BRIEFS Jewish researcher Harvey Alter shares Nobel Prize in medicine for identifying hepatitis C virus The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to three scientists who identified the hepatitis C virus, including Harvey Alter, a Jewish researcher at the National Institutes of Health.

“The Nobel Laureates’ discovery of Hepatitis C virus is a landmark achievement in the ongoing battle against viral diseases. Thanks to their discovery, highly sensitive blood tests for the virus are now available and these have essentially eliminated post-transfusion hepatitis in many parts of the world, greatly improving global health,” the Nobel committee said in announcing the prize, which also went to Michael Houghton of the University of Alberta and Charles Rice of Rockefeller University.

Alter, 85, was born in New York and attended medical school at the University of Rochester. Early in his career he worked with Nobel Prize winning scientist Baruch Blumberg, who identified the hepatitis B virus.

In 2000, he received the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research for his work leading to the discovery of the virus that causes hepatitis C. Houghton isolated the genetic sequence of the new hepatitis C virus while working at Chiron Corporation in the 1980s. Rice showed that hepatitis C virus alone could cause hepatitis. (JTA) Dutch Fox sports channel adds anti-Semitic chants to live soccer match With professional sports taking place in empty stadiums because of the coronavirus pandemic, many TV stations are adding audience sounds when they broadcast games.

For a Dutch soccer game on Sunday, Oct. 4, those sounds included anti-Semitic chants.

The gaffe happened in a FOX Sports Netherlands’ live broadcast of a match between the Amsterdam team Ajax and a rival from the city of Groningen. The network added a recording from a past game that featured the popular chant

“Whoever doesn’t jump is a Jew.” Supporters of rival teams sing the chant to taunt the players on Ajax, which many Dutchmen associated with Jews because of Amsterdam’s rich Jewish history. (“I have nothing against your people. When I say I hate Jews, I just mean supporters of Ajax,” one Dutch soccer fan told JTA in 2017.) In recent years, the chant has been heard also at several protest rallies with Islamist participants.

The network apologized for including the chant in its soundtrack for the game.

“Due to human error during the match, during the first halftime a certain chant was heard that should not have been played. The fragment was removed,” FOX News Netherlands wrote on Twitter. “We offer our sincere apologies and are looking into how this could have happened and how to make sure it does not recur.” (JTA)

Kibitz: Oxford English Dictionary’s word of the day The Oxford English Dictionary’s online word of the day was kibitz on Sept. 24.

The dictionary defines the verb as “To watch (a card game or card player) as a spectator, typically while offering (unwelcome) advice or criticism.”

The second definition is closer to the one familiar to the Jewish community: “To chat, banter, or joke (with a person), esp. in a lighthearted or informal manner; to fool around.”

The word comes from the German word kiebitzen.

The dictionary also offers several spellings, including kibitz, kibetz, kabitz and kibbitz. (JTA) YouTube removes Louis Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam channel YouTube has removed the video channel of the Nation of Islam, the organization led by Louis Farrakhan.

YouTube said it removed the channel on Oct. 2, citing its policies against hate speech, according to the Jewish Journal.

“We have strict policies prohibiting hate speech on YouTube, and terminate any channel that repeatedly or

4 | Jewish News | October 12, 2020 | jewishnewsva.org

egregiously violates those policies,” said the statement, according to the Jewish Journal. YouTube said it has removed 25,000 channels for hate speech.

Some individual accounts of Nation of Islam members are still up, with tens of thousands of followers.

Farrakhan is a longtime, vehement anti-Semite who has railed against “wicked Jews,” praised Adolf Hitler, condemned the “synagogue of Satan,” likened Jews to termites and accused them of controlling the U.S. government.

He also has a history of homophobia.

This past summer, a string of celebrities defended or praised Farrakhan and echoed his anti-Semitic rhetoric.

A July 4 speech in which Farrakhan called Jews the “enemy of God” has been viewed more than a million times, according to the Anti-Defamation League. That month the ADL called Farrakhan the “most popular antisemite in America.”

YouTube has also removed white supremacists from its platform this year, including Richard Spencer and David Duke. (JTA)

26-year-old son of millionaire, takes control of El Al airlines Eli Rozenberg, the 26-year-old son of millionaire U.S. businessman Kenny Rozenberg, has taken control of El Al Airlines, after a tumultuous debate over who should manage Israel’s flagship airline.

El Al was privatized in 2004, and since then it has struggled financially, with the coronavirus pandemic worsening the situation.

Eli Rozenberg’s $75 million bid to buy control of the airline offered a lifeline, but some in Israel argued that selling to him would amount to a circumvention of the law prohibiting non-Israelis from owning the airline. Eli Rozenberg is a resident of Israel and an Israeli citizen, but his father, who owns a nursing home chain in the United States, is not. The source of the financing for the deal is a 25-year loan from Kenny Rozenberg, the Israeli business daily Globes reported.

Critics of the deal argued that such a loan amounts to a gift and might mean that Kenny Rozenberg effectively

controls the airline. But Eli Rozenberg pledged that his father was not given any El Al shares as collateral for the loan.

The government accepted that argument and concluded that Eli Rozenberg will be the actual owner. Now that the deal has gone through, Eli Rozenberg is able to name directors and a CEO for the airline. But flights into and out of Israel are severely curtailed because of the nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19, and it is unclear when normal air travel might resume. (JTA)

Supreme Court dismisses Jewish rock star’s Stairway to Heaven lawsuit The Supreme Court effectively ended a years-long legal battle between Led Zeppelin and the estate of a lesser-known Jewish rocker that claims that Stairway to Heaven plagiarized one of his songs.

The court refused to hear the case on Monday, Oct. 5, meaning that a 2016 federal court’s ruling in favor of Led Zeppelin will stand.

Randy Wolfe, aka Randy California, was the front man for the psychedelic rock band Spirit, which was founded in 1967 and performed periodically until Wolfe’s death in 1997. In 1968, the thenbrand new British group Led Zeppelin opened for Spirit on a U.S. tour. A trustee for Wolfe’s estate claimed that Led Zeppelin stole parts of Spirit’s song, Taurus in writing Stairway to Heaven, which would become one of the era’s most iconic rock songs.

The case became one of the most scrutinized in the music industry. Court documents argue that Led Zeppelin’s guitarist Jimmy Page asked Wolfe to teach him how to play Taurus during the tour. Page has claimed he had never heard the song before the start of the lawsuit.

Wolfe, born to Jewish parents in Los Angeles, titled one of his songs Jewish.

Wolfe died in 1997 at the age of 45 while saving his son from drowning off the coast of Molokai, Hawaii. He was able to push his son to safety before drowning. (JTA)

your dollars at work

Village to Neve Michael Village.

Your Dollars at Work provide an abundance of love Lisa Richmon

I

t takes a Virginia village to sustain Neve Michael, the Israeli children’s village located in Pardes Hanna in the northern region of Israel.

Neve Michael is a seven-acre campus housing the only multi-disciplinary children’s home in Israel to offer a wide range of professional services on one site. In addition to educational resources, Neve Michael is that one chance for normalcy and stability for many children, providing at-risk youth a bundle of psychiatry, psychology, occupational therapy, social work, conventional and para-medical therapies.

Established in 1943, Neve Michael provides immediate refuge for children 5 to 18 years of age who have been removed from their home by Israel’s Welfare department due to extreme traumatic domestic circumstances. With an infusion of care and funding from organizations such as United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, tragic lives become inspired stories of transformation.

“Tidewater has had a very special relationship with

Neve Michael over the years,” says Jodi Klebanoff, UJFT campaign chair. “The dollars we raise give these kids a second chance in life so they can become loving, productive adults—many of whom give back later in life.

We are very proud that our dollars go straight to psychological services, and a support system of ‘parents’ who step in, along with counselors and people who listen to them, care for them and give them an abundance of love.

“The children can lead a normal life, celebrate Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and eat together in the dining hall, in a beautiful campus,” says Klebanoff.

The Tidewater Jewish community has a long history of investing in programs locally and globally that guide fellow Jews from isolation, vulnerability and trauma to connection, stability and productivity. One Neve Michael village at a time.

This is part of a series of articles spotlighting local and overseas partner agencies that are beneficiaries of the United Jewish Federation Tidewater’s annual Community Campaign.

Stephanie Calliott and Amy Levy with kids at Neve Michael in 2010.

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Nation

RBG: One Justice for All Lisa Richmon

T

he death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg prompted an emotionally charged deep-dive into her body of work and personal life, including her 20-year long relationship with personal trainer Bryant Johnson. At 67, Ginsburg, aka ‘Notorious RBG,’ who was appointed by President Clinton in 1993, hired Johnson to keep her fit and extend her time on the bench.

I first heard that RBG died at 7:40 pm on September 18 via text from Betty Berklee. “RBG died. Crying emoji.” Berklee, an attorney and Jewish Family Service board member, is one of those people who reserves her outward emotions for moments like these. We texted back and forth for hours that evening, while watching the documentary, RBG, on Netflix.

The gravitas of RBG’s presence on the bench was not lost on me, but it took her death for me to realize how deeply she touched so many people.

As a Cornell freshman in the 1950s, Ruth Bader must have sensed her calling to be a champion of equality, and a loving wife and mother. It would explain one of her first and best moves. She met Marty Ginsburg and chose a life partner who didn’t simply make time and space for his wife’s career. Ginsburg, a supremely accomplished tax attorney in his own right, who passed away in 2010, completely immersed himself in his wife’s mission, and by doing so made every facet of their lives together richer and more rewarding.

Justice Ginsburg’s stance on equal rights for men and women covered reproductive rights, claims to benefits—and pushups! She took every aspect of her workouts very seriously. When it came to doing the right thing for the right reasons, and getting results, RBG never let anyone off the hook, in the courtroom or the gym—especially RBG. The very first Jew and first woman

to lie in state at The Capitol, RBG, was admired by people on both sides of the aisle. She did more than gain the respect of prominent lawyers and rainmakers in our community. She was the original influencer, thought leader and change agent whose soft voice carried a grand message.

Several Jewish Tidewater community members share their thoughts and recollections on Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Betty Berklee, Associate General Counsel, Welbilt RBG was truly a role model to me.

I could go on for pages about the g rou nd-br e a k i ng legal battles she won, the brilliantly Betty Berklee written dissenting opinions she wrote, the societal changes she was able to effectuate through her legal work, and the manner in which she lived her life with integrity and commitment to fighting for equality and social change. But to me personally, her story is so much more. She was a Jewish girl from “the Boroughs,” the daughter of immigrants (her father, like mine, worked in the garment center in NY), at a time when women didn’t have the same path to success that I enjoyed four decades later as a young woman with the very same background.

Through hard work, commitment to education and sheer determination, she attained an education that was once only available to wealthy, white males of a certain social status. She was a fierce, brilliant legal warrior with a powerful mind, in the body of a soft-spoken, demure woman.

With quiet grace and unrelenting determination, she never backed down from the challenges she faced and the battles she fought. She paved the way

6 | Jewish News | October 12, 2020 | jewishnewsva.org

Supreme Court of the United States

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 2016.

for women to attend top colleges and law schools, achieve job equality and professional success while juggling the requirements of family and motherhood.

And despite all the challenges she faced, she did it with humor, humility, decency, competence and honor. I don’t believe that my life (and the lives of generations of women) would be as it is today without the work of RBG. Mona Shapiro Flax, Attorney When I think of all the accomplishments of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, I remember back to the late sixties and early seventies when I was in my teens.

My mother was finishing her doctorate and was met with difficulty at every turn by the university because no woman had

come before her.

Women could not get a credit card without a husband or father’s signature. I remember that my high school had boys’ champi- Mona Shapiro Flax onship football and basketball team, but there was no Title IX. The boys had the state-of-the-art gym, and the girls were relegated to a drafty old gym.

When I was a freshman in college in the fall of 1973, the resident assistant for my dormitory was one of six women in the University of Florida law school class.

By the time I began law school, the ratio was one woman to three men in my law

Nation school class. The ratios now are equal or more women than men in the new classes.

What Justice Ginsburg did for me was to look past those things and make me feel as if there was nothing I could not accomplish. She gave me the freedom to believe that I was equal to or better than my male counterparts. She let me progress in my career without my having to think or worry about my gender.

I have two sons. One of them just told me he is proud to have come from such powerful female role models. Because of Justice Ginsburg, my sons can vocalize their opinions and can dare to be different. Her impact is not limited to women, but to all people.

Additionally, she has been a beacon of light for me both as a woman and as an attorney. In this trying profession, I try to live by her example of preparation, empathy, and patience. I try to follow her words, “Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

he wasn’t the first Democrat to have an office in the White House…it was a Jewish girl born in NY…or better said, a proud Jewish woman…me! I had a small office in the White House to arrange the entire transition before Inauguration Day. I was honored to still be working in the White House when President Clinton nominated Ruth Bader Ginsberg to be on the Supreme Court. The entire White House complex was abuzz with excitement over this milestone appointment. Staff could not attend the Rose Garden ceremony, yet we all watched from our offices in real time this groundbreaking announcement. What I remember most was the phone call I received soon after from my parents, who were thrilled that a Jewish woman from their mutual hometown of Brooklyn had been nominated to be the court’s second female justice, as well as the first Jewish female justice.

Baruh Dayan HaEmet (Blessed is the True Judge).

Janet V. Green, former Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton and director of White House Operations. CEO, Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg After President Bill Clinton was elected, I was proud to be named Special Assistant to the President and Director of White House Operations, tasked with having Janet V. Green the White House open at 12 noon on Inauguration Day. Now, this wasn’t just the offices, this is the White House residence, Secret Service, and Executive Office Buildings— the entire White House compound, which comprises 18 acres. So, while President Clinton may have been the first Democrat to occupy the White House in 16 years,

Jill Kantor Wainger, Attorney While heartbroken by the loss of a true hero, I am inspired by RBG’s legacy and, more than ever, determined to honor her memory.

As a woman, I am grateful for her relentless pursuit of equality, which gave me so many of the rights and freedoms I enjoy today.

As a mother of girls, I will try to honor her life and legacy by teaching my daughters to always stand up and fight for what they know is just and fair.

As a lawyer, I admire the way she so effectively, thoughtfully, and confidently used the power of the law as an instrument for change.

As a human, I am committed to doing what I can to try to make the world a better place. We should all, in the words of RBG, “fight for the things (we) care about,” because there is still so much work to be done.

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Nation

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(JTA)—In the haredi Orthodox world, a gadol is a Torah sage of such outstanding scholarly achievement that their legal conclusions are widely accepted and their words are deemed worthy of close study and repetition. More than just a mere expert, a gadol’s very persona is revered— photos of their visage hang on the wall, their advice is sought, they’re discussed with gushing expressions of admiration— as they symbolize not just a canon of knowledge but an entire community’s aspirations for itself.

For secular, liberal and even Modern Orthodox Jews, “gadol culture” can read as off-putting and over the top. But Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death can help non-haredi Jews acknowledge the necessity and value of gadol figures, since in retrospect, so many liberal Jews adopted her as one.

Justice Ginsburg was obviously a master jurist, whose conclusions were binding in many cases and oft-quoted even when not. But she also became a moral icon, held up as a beacon of sagacity, fierce femininity and strident commitment to progressive justice. She became Ruth the Tzaddik (the righteous one) and even—borrowing from words traditionally reserved for God—the Blessed True Judge.

Appropriately, a rabbinic gadol is surrounded by an aura of stories, mythology and fawning hagiography. Some of this media emphasize just how intensely and gracefully the gadol embodied communal values and how different they are from us in their brilliance, while others detail how surprisingly warm or approachable they are in spite of it.

Ultimately, a gadol is a legal personality with whom we have an emotional attachment. This attachment manifests in material objects, like framed photos, rabbinic “baseball” cards for kids and subtle changes in the kind of hat or dress that a follower dons. For the Notorious RBG, it’s expressed in tote bags, street art, and

homages to her iconic lace jabot.

But the emotional attachment really shows itself upon the gadol’s death.

Thousands gathered to mourn the death of the last American gadol, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, and nearly 1 million attended the funeral of Israel’s last great sage, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. So, too, tens of thousands gathered online and on the Supreme Court steps to mourn the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And just like when these towering spiritual figures passed, many feel inspired by RBG’s life to make meaningful changes in their own.

In their passing, we suddenly feel the gap in our lives that these icons once somehow filled. That’s when you know this “scholar” was actually much more than that.

Maybe Justice Ginsburg’s passing is a good moment for non-haredi Jews to appreciate what works and is so important about gadol culture.

Legal scholarship, whether secular or sacred, is often seen as a dry, limited pursuit. But when someone combines impeccable knowledge of the law with a righteous heart, it’s reasonable to turn to them as a voice and speaker on the largest questions. It applies to Ginsburg, and it applies to Torah sages.

Let’s not dismiss “rabbi worship” when we have our own secular forms of avid moral fandom. And who else should we be appreciating if not our moral and spiritual heroes?

In gadol culture, age is a virtue, with wise elders acting as decision makers and moral voices. Let them and RBG’s legacy remind us not to give into secular society’s gross ageism; a sage in their 80s or 90s is a precious gift.

We all need moral role models. Haredi Jewish culture expects those role models to be deeply analytic thinkers, living a life oriented around text yet somehow seeing far beyond the printed page, in whom the weight of communal responsibility and decades of hard-earned wisdom together adhere. Thankfully, liberal Jewish culture expects the same.

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Don’t let knee pain rob joy from your life! Viscosupplementation therapy is approved by Medicare, and can help you get back to the activities you enjoy.

FDA-approved lubricating medicine directly into the knee joint.

These lubricating and cushioning substances are naturally occurring, but cleared by the FDA to make sure you get the highest quality treatment.

Recent research shows that viscosupplementation can also assist in helping the cartilage in your knees regenerate and repair!

This is NOT an over the counter vitamin or supplement, but an advanced medical procedure.

It is not uncommon to relieve pain and stiffness in the knees in just a few weeks, and the results often last for 6-12 months, or even longer. One study found that 2 years after having these injections 82% of patients were able to avoid total knee replacement surgery!

Reason #2 Pinpoint Accuracy of the Injections In addition to helping hundreds of patients find relief from chronic knee pain, our medical team has also perfected a method that allows them

to target injections with precision accuracy to insure optimal results.

We combine the lubricating viscosupplementation injections with advance diagnostic imaging called ultrasound guidance that allows us to watch your joints move in real time, helping us pinpoint your problem.

When it comes time to perform the injection, this technology allows us to see inside the arthritic knee joint and deliver the cushioning gel medicine EXACTLY where it needs to be. The added benefit is that this also allows the procedure to be virtually painless.

Research has shown that if injections are performed into the knee joint without this type of image guidance that the injection might miss the right location up to 25% of the time. With the technology used at Coastal Regenex Ltd., no expense has been spared to avoid total knee replacement surgery!

Reason #3 Viscosupplementation Treatment is Covered by Medicare

Medical care can be expensive, and sadly that cost often keeps seniors on a fixed income from getting the treatment they desperately need.

The good news is that the viscosupplementation treatments offered at Coastal Regenex Ltd. are covered by Medicare.

This has allowed countless patients with knee pain right here in Hampton Roads the opportunity to get the best state of the art care without draining their life's savings they've worked so hard for.

That's why the medical staff at Coastal Regenex Ltd. is offering a special knee pain consultation that is open to anyone in the Hampton Roads area with knee pain who would like to see if the advanced medical procedures discussed here can help you.

This complimentary consultation is no obligation and allows our medical team to determine if you are a candidate for this treatment‌ or if things are too far advanced and a knee replacement surgery is your only option.

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jewishnewsva.org | October 12, 2020 | Jewish News | 9

Election 2020

Local teens interview Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District’s candidates, Representative Elaine Luria (D) and Scott Taylor (R)

L

eila Abrams is a ninth grade student in Princess Anne High School’s International Baccalaureate program. She served as a Virginia Senate Page under Senator Jen Kiggans of the 7th Senatorial District throughout the 2020 Virginia General Assembly Session. This past summer, she interned for Senator Kiggans.

Drew Goodove is a 10th grade student in Ocean Lakes High School’s Math and Science Academy. He served as a Virginia Senate Page under Senator Frank Wagner of the 7th Senatorial District throughout the 2019 Virginia General Assembly Session. During the summer of 2019, he interned for Virginia Delegate Jason Miyares of the 82nd District.

This past summer, Drew interned for the Democratic Party of Virginia.

Even though not old enough to vote, these two students say they were thrilled to be part of the political process and the opportunity to interview Virginia’s 2nd District Congressional candidates.

never wavered in my support for Israel.

My constituents can continue to register their support for Israel with my office and with their other elected officials. Hearing from constituents who feel passionately about supporting Israel has been helpful to me in my first term in Congress.

Representative Elaine Luria Leila Abrams and Drew Goodove: What would you like the Jewish community to know about your support of Israel, and what can your constituents do to support the U.S.-Israel alliance?

Elaine Luria: I have been a stalwart supporter of Israel in Congress and plan to continue my work to further the bilateral U.S.-Israel relationship.

Whether it is calling on the President to preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge against her adversaries in the region, supporting $3.3 billion in annual security assistance to Israel, or working to weaken Iranian malign influence in the Middle East, I have

L&D: Do you think that Congressional support of Israel is reliable and currently with bipartisan support?

EL: Absolutely. There are a few loud voices, on both sides of the aisle, whose criticism of Israel gets a lot of attention. However, when it comes to votes, the vast majority of members of Congress from both parties strongly support Israel.

L&D: Recently, Israel reached historic agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to establish full diplomatic relations. If elected, what will you do to speak out in support of this diplomatic breakthrough? And what can Congress do to encourage future efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East?

EL: I have released statements supporting the signing of the Abraham Accords and even attended the historic signing ceremony at the White House. The normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE and Israel and Bahrain are proof that what I have

10 | Jewish News | October 12, 2020 | jewishnewsva.org

always believed is true: Israel’s right to exist is undeniable, and it is beneficial to all countries in the Middle East to partner with Israel to improve regional security and foster economic growth.

Iran remains one of the gravest threats to peace prospects for the Middle East, and the Iranian regime’s continued state sponsorship of terror, arming of Shia militias, and other destabilizing activities must be stopped. That is why I co-led H.R. 3331, the Countering Hezbollah in Lebanon’s Military Act, which will force the Lebanese government to stand up to the Iranian proxy and protect Israel.

L&D: Which foreign relations issue(s) impacting the Middle East directly or indirectly is of grave concern? What would you like to do as a member of Congress to help resolve it?

EL: Besides the obvious, such as the threat of a nuclear Iran, I am deeply concerned by the impact of climate change on the Middle East. As average temperatures rise, desertification intensifies, and resources become increasingly scarce. Climate change can act as a threat multiplier. Young men are more susceptible to recruitment tactics by violent extremist organizations when they lack educational and economic opportunity, and climate change threatens to exacerbate income inequality in less developed countries. That is why I strongly support policies that will help reduce carbon emissions and attempt to slow climate change.

L&D: With our country’s current uptick in anti-Semitic and racist incidents, what can Congress do in cooperation with the Jewish and Black communities to eradicate hate speech and incidents?

EL: Our nation stands at a pivotal moment where the status quo cannot remain. I am a member of the Congressional Caucus on Black and

Elaine Luria: I have been a stalwart supporter of Israel in Congress and plan to continue my work to further the bilateral U.S.-Israel relationship.

Jewish Relations, which seeks to build the historic friendship between the Black and Jewish communities. Just as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marched with Dr. Martin Luther King during the Civil Rights era, the Jewish and Black communities must join together to fight the scourge of racism and anti-Semitism in America.

L&D: What can we do to encourage ALL to exercise their right to vote during this national pandemic?

EL: Voting is a key part of the American experiment in democracy, and this election is incredibly important. Every person should register to vote, and everyone should make a plan to be sure that they vote before Election Day. No matter who you are supporting, making your voice heard is always important.

L&D: What is your advice to Americans who are not old enough to vote, but want to be engaged?

EL: It is never too early to start engaging with your elected officials at every level. I love visiting with students who want to share their thoughts about issues that are important to them.

Bob & Augusta Live Forever

Election 2020 L&D: Do you think that Congressional support of Israel is reliable and currently with bipartisan support?

ST: It used to be. However, there has been an undermining of it, indeed a hostility towards it, from the left.

Scott Taylor Leila Abrams and Drew Goodove: What would you like the Jewish community to know about your support of Israel, and what can your constituents do to support the U.S.-Israel alliance?

Scott Taylor: Having spent years in the Middle East, I know the issues very well. I understand the challenges Israel faces from both the Jewish and Arab perspectives. I have been to Israel numerous times over the years; have given an international leadership speech in Jerusalem; was present at the U.S. embassy opening; have met Israel’s leaders, Gulf State leaders as well as the vice president of the Palestinian Authority. While in Congress, I always supported the relationship and the qualitative military advantage the U.S. helps with. I also supported the Taylor Force Act, and since I was a Virginia state delegate, I have always opposed the BDS movement.

The most important thing constituents can do is to educate themselves on Israel, our most vital ally in the Middle East, and support their representatives who, in turn, support the U.S.-Israel alliance. Unless, of course, they want to become even further involved, then there are numerous organizations committed to strengthening that relationship for them to become a part of.

L&D: Recently, Israel reached historic agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to establish full diplomatic relations. If elected, what will you do to speak out in support of this diplomatic breakthrough? And what can Congress do to encourage future efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East?

ST: A couple years ago, I was meeting with the Emir of Qatar, and I publicly asked him when he would recognize Israel. He stated: “We are on that path.” While in Congress, I encouraged Ambassadors from Oman, Qatar, and the UAE to recognize Israel. I also encouraged Ambassadors from Honduras, Colombia, and Guatemala to move their embassies to Jerusalem.

I will continue to do so if re-elected.

L&D: Which foreign relations issue(s) impacting the Middle East directly or indirectly is of grave concern? What would you like to do as a member of Congress to help resolve it?

ST: Iran is a malign actor and continues to contribute to the destabilization of the Middle East. The Trump administration has exerted maximum pressure on them in the form of sanctions. They are committed to ensuring Iran does not get a nuclear bomb, as am I. The normalization of some Sunni Arab states, with others to follow, will help isolate Iran and hopefully change their behavior. Water and energy are also major problems in the Middle East that I believe the United States, and Israel, can help with technology and financing.

L&D: With our country’s current uptick in anti-Semitic and racist incidents, what can Congress do in cooperation with the Jewish and Black communities to eradicate hate speech and incidents?

ST: I think leaders of all parties need

As philanthropists and volunteers, this Virginia Beach couple supported important causes in Hampton Roads.

Scott Taylor: I understand the challenges Israel faces from both the Jewish and Arab perspectives.

to speak up and out against hate speech. However, many do so in a way that fans political flames and either contribute to or enable negative actions or reactions. We could all use leaders who desire to take the temperature down a notch.

L&D: What can we do to encourage ALL to exercise their right to vote during this national pandemic?

ST: This election is too important for the direction of our nation. There are more ways to vote than ever before, we must encourage any apathetic friends to vote.

L&D: What is your advice to Americans who are not old enough to vote, but want to be engaged?

ST: We have some amazing volunteer opportunities on our campaign.

As both candidates emphasized, everyone must use their voice and vote.

Consult the Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s VA VOTING RESOURCE GUIDE for answers to all Virginia voting questions at jewishva.org/VOTE2020.

Although Bob Goodman passed away in 2006 and Augusta Goodman in 2017, they help others today because of the charitable bequest they entrusted to the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. Today, their four children carry on Bob and Augusta’s legacy through donor-advised funds that let them recommend grants to help nonprofits do their best work.

Thanks to their generosity, Bob and Augusta will forever make life better in their home region.

Learn how easy it is to leave your mark on the future by ordering a free bequest guide.

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jewishnewsva.org | October 12, 2020 | Jewish News | 11

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(JTA)—There was an audible gasp as she entered the room. Flanked by bodyguards, with her white gloves prominent, Ruth Bader Ginsburg took a seat next to the bride and groom as cameras clicked rapidly.

I had never co-officiated a marriage ceremony before, let alone with a Supreme Court justice.

Jewish tradition prescribes blessings for all kinds of momentous occasions, including upon seeing a sage of secular renown. I introduced this blessing with trepidation, for when else would I have the opportunity to recite it?

“Blessed are you, Hashem, our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has apportioned God’s knowledge to human beings,” I said. The believer and the atheist all seemed to affirm a loud amen.

What made this gathering all the more personal was that the bride was my first cousin, my best friend from childhood.

Her husband-to-be’s grandmother just so happened to be first cousins with “Kiki,” as the family referred to the justice. And so, the wedding was a family affair.

I remember receiving mail from the country’s highest court and relishing each correspondence from my new “pen pal.”

I wrote back and forth to the justice, as she shared examples of other ceremonies she had performed in the past and we prepared for my cousin’s traditional Orthodox ceremony.

When we stood together under the chuppah and I blessed the justice with as many more years serving on the bench as she would like, the hall erupted in applause.

That was September 2016. Ginsburg smiled when she said the “power vested in me by the U.S. Constitution,” as applause erupted, and concluded by saying, “I now pronounce you wife and husband,” again with a bit of a smirk.

As I reflect on that most memorable time in light of the justice’s passing, there was a painful irony hovering over that ceremony.

While Justice Ginsburg occupied a

seat on the country’s highest court, how might she be honored in an Orthodox synagogue, when in most circumstances she would have been forbidden to receive an aliyah on the basis of her sex?

While she was able to co-officiate the wedding itself, Justice Ginsburg would not have been allowed to serve as a witness for the marriage contract because of her gender: It’s a rabbinic legal document and women cannot serve as witnesses, according to Orthodox interpretations of Jewish law.

On matters such as these, we traditionalists must acknowledge that it is not merely kavod habriyot—honoring the dignity of every human being—that’s at stake here but also kavod haTorah—the dignity and honor of the Torah itself. Does anyone really want to argue that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg would not be a most perfectly suitable witness?

Certainly the Orthodox world has made tremendous strides in advancing and activating women’s roles. And today, the women Orthodox rabbis ordained by Yeshivot Maharat, Harel and Yashrut can and do usher in new responsa regarding these issues.

But the ordination of women is still far from the norm in the Orthodox world— and it is incumbent upon all of us, especially men with privilege and rabbis like myself, to serve as their allies.

As Justice Ginsburg taught us when she argued cases for gender equality, gender inequity adversely affects men as well as women. Men cannot afford to sit out this fight for gender equality within Orthodox environments.

Our country is in a period of suffering. Jewish law describes the mourner experiencing this state while waiting to bury a loved one—a state of spiritual and emotional suffering.

But suffering can give rise to growth.

Honoring Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy means pushing for justice, fairness and equality in our communities. I will carry this charge with me as I fulfill roles that the Orthodox world does not yet allow women to play.

l e z a M ! v o T

Supplement to Jewish News October 12, 2020

jewishnewsva.org | October12, 2020 | Mazel Tov | Jewish News | 13

C E L E B R AT E YO U R

Mazel Tov A T

Mazel Tov Dear Readers,

C

elebrations look way different than they did on March 2 when we published our first Mazel Tov section for 2020.

Who knew then that COVID-19 would soon put a screeching halt to major celebra-

R I S T O R A N T E I N S P I R E D

B Y

I T A LY

tions with lots of people assembled?

But, even if celebrations are different, they’re definitely not non-existent.

After all, babies are still being born, couples are still getting engaged and married, teens are still being called to the Torah for B’nai Mitzvot, and anniversaries are still taking place. And, let’s not forget that birthdays still pop up on the calendar—COVID or not. People are still moving into new homes and others are still getting new jobs.

And, so, while we wait for the day when we are able to gather again, we are discovering new methods and platforms to celebrate and mark occasions. Our creative Mazel Tov! juices are flowing!

We’re finding new ways to dine and carry-out and set tables ‘socially-distanced’ from one another.

We’re creating new ways to entertain on the back porch or back yard.

We’re purchasing new equipment to make digital connections look and sound better.

And, we’re still booking venues for events…just maybe a little further out.

To everyone who has a reason to celebrate, I hope you find a way to do so, because hearing “Mazel Tov!” nearly always makes the recipient feel proud and happy…and it creates positive vibes for the well-wisher, too.

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14 | Jewish News | Mazel Tov | October12, 2020 | jewishnewsva.org

Mazel Tov!

Terri Denison Editor

Mazel Tov Mazel Tov to Kaitlyn Oelsner Tidewater Jewish Foundation

Kaitlyn Oelsner now an accredited CFRE professional

T

idewater

Kaitlyn Oelsner

Jewish

Foundation’s

The CFRE certification is the only

“I’m thrilled that Kaitlyn decided to

Director of Philanthropy, Kaitlyn

accredited certification for philanthropic

pursue this professional development

Oelsner, recently passed the Certified

fundraising professionals in the world.

opportunity and now has attained this

Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) exam.

Getting certified is no easy feat. According

certification, confirming the high level of

“The life-long pursuit of education,

to CFRE, candidates must “Meet educa-

service she offers to the Foundation and

bettering oneself, is a cornerstone of our

tion, professional practice, and professional

its donor community,” says Randy Parrish,

Jewish values,” says Naomi Limor Sedek,

performance requirements; pass a compre-

TJF vice president and CFO.

TJF president and CEO. “I am so proud of

hensive exam on best practices in ethical

“From managing the LIFE & LEGACY

Kaitlyn’s accomplishment as she contin-

fundraising; and attest that they are knowl-

program, leading strategic planning, to

ues to pursue a level of mastery that will

edgeable and abide by the International

becoming CFRE certified, Kaitlyn is an

continue to be an asset for the Tidewater

Statement

in

incredible asset not just for TJF, but for

Jewish community, as well as for Kaitlyn,

Fundraising as well as laws governing

the entire Tidewater Jewish community,”

personally. Kol hakavod. Well deserved.”

fundraising in their region of practice.”

says Sedek.

of

Ethical

Principles

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jewishnewsva.org | October12, 2020 | Mazel Tov | Jewish News | 15

Mazel Tov It’s a girl for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and wife

Mazel Tov to Leon family on Emily’s Bat Mitzvah

Emily Rebecca Leon will become a Bat Mitzvah on October 17 at Congregation Beth El.

M

E

mily Leon is the daughter of Lisa Finkel Leon and David Leon and the younger sister of Isabella. Emily is the granddaughter of Dr. Abraham and Lynn Finkel

of Schenectady, New York, and of Arnold Leon and Telsa Leon, of blessed memory.

Emily attended Strelitz Early Childhood Center for preschool and completed her elementary education at Hebrew Academy of Tidewater (now Strelitz International Academy.) She is an 8th grade student at Cape Henry Collegiate.

Emily is a talented artist who is funny and kind. She enjoys bike riding, going to the beach, and being with her friends and family.

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inneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey started the Jewish New Year as a new dad.

Frey and his wife, Sarah Clarke, had a baby girl, Frida Jade, the day before the beginning of Rosh Hashanah.

“Nothing prepared us for the love we already feel. She’s a radiant light in our lives,” the Jewish mayor tweeted in announcing the birth. “For us, her birth leading into Rosh Hashanah symbolizes new beginnings and hope in the midst of tough days. She’s our reminder of a better tomorrow.”

The tweet included a photo of the newborn, one with mom and one with both parents.

The couple had announced their pregnancy on Twitter in March, asking rhetorically: “Is there an appropriate way to announce a pregnancy during a global pandemic?”

Frey entered the national spotlight when President Donald Trump called him a “lightweight mayor” after Frey announced that his city would not cover the costs of Trump’s security for a rally there. Fans later referred to him as “the hot mayor.” (JTA)

Jewish News upcoming issues See the paper 3 days before the cover date: JewishNewsVa.org/digital.

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16 | Jewish News | Mazel Tov | October12, 2020 | jewishnewsva.org

Mazel Tov Latin music star Ricardo Montaner goes viral for saying ‘a Jewish daughter-in-law is a gift from God’ B U E N O S AIRES (JTA)— With over 20 million records sold worldwide, Ricardo Montaner is one of the b e s t- s el l i ng Latin American Kike San Martin musicians of all Ricardo Montaner in Miami, time. So, when Florida, June 2010. he speaks, many fans listen.

He surprised many of those fans on Sunday, October 4 when he commented on an Instagram post by his soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

Stefi Roitman, a Jewish Argentine TV star, announced her engagement to Montaner’s son Ricky in the post to the her 2.2 million followers. Ricardo Montaner commented: “You make me very happy, making my son happy…. I love you and I will witness the happiness that you both deserve. Having a Jewish daughter-in-law is a gift from God.” Several Spanish language outlets reported on how the comment garnered nearly 25,000 likes. One called it “striking.” Another said that it is drawing a lot of attention.

The elder Montaner is evangelical Christian.

Ricky Montaner chose an interesting Jewish time to propose: during the Roitman family’s Rosh Hashanah dinner.

The Roitmans in Buenos Aires joined a Zoom call with the Montaners, who now live in Miami. Stefi Roitman, 26, and Ricky Montaner, 29, live in Miami as well.

Roitman has appeared in multiple contests, reality, and kids shows in Argentina.

She was born on July 18, 1994, the day of the infamous AMIA Jewish center bombing in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people and injured hundreds. She appeared in a video about the 25th anniversary of the bombing last year.

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jewishnewsva.org | October12, 2020 | Mazel Tov | Jewish News | 17

Mazel Tov

UJFT/Simon Family JCC partners with Hyatt Place Virginia Beach Lisa Richmon

B

ack when gathering for community events was for the greater good, a brand-new hotel in the heart of Virginia Beach made its debut. Just minutes away from the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus, Hyatt Place Virginia Beach Town Center, became a den of hospitality for out-of-town guests invited to Virginia as part of the 2019 Jewish Book and Film Festivals.

The cherry on top is that the hotel owners intentionally recruit gifted industry managers and give them full autonomy to foster sponsorships/partnerships of their own choosing. United Jewish Federation of Tidewater is among those chosen.

Libby Ross, the property’s sales director, was ready to reach out before the hotel’s opening act in June 2019.

“As a new hotel we wanted to let the world know we were open. What better way to do that than to partner with a local organization,” says Ross. “The JCC is nearby, has wonderful values, and is well known within the community. It was really a no-brainer to reach out and see how we could be supportive.”

Donated and/or discounted rooms and great synergy are a major part of the Hyatt Place partnership package. An immediate connection sparked between Barb Gelb, UJFT director of development, and Ross. The relationship was ‘love at first bite.’

“When we first began to discuss the sponsorship, Libby and Brooke Gillikin came to tour the JCC,” says Gelb.

“They gave us the sweetest care package and we all hit it off. Then, Jasmine (Amitay) and I went to tour the hotel and brought them some challah from the Cardo,” says Gelb. “We’ve just had

a really good relationship. Our guests have loved staying there and it’s clear that Libby and Brooke’s hospitality and warmth emanates through the rest of the staff.”

Corporate training manuals don’t convey human touch.

“I believe some people are just born to serve,” says Ross. “I have this craving to make sure everyone is happy, comfortable, and pleased. I have to know that we exceeded expectations.” Like Ross, Gillikin is equally invested in every aspect of the guest experience and lives up to her titles, sales coordinator and hygiene and wellbeing leader. During the pandemic, the hotel got a shout out on www.nerdwallet.com in an article titled, Which Hotels Have Handled COVID-19 the Best?

“Knowing that our special out-oftown guests were comfortable and well cared for when they weren’t with us allowed us to continue planning for the community,” says Robin Mancoll, UJFT’s chief program officer. We often schedule our authors, experts, and directors for several events scattered around town during their time in Tidewater. The hotel’s central location in Town Center allows us to increase our impact—educating and engaging audiences that we otherwise might not reach.”

Before COVID-19 shut down travel, Hyatt Place had a banner year. Then, the pandemic hit and staff was cut, but corners were not.

“Managers were the ones cleaning rooms, working the front desk and doing laundry,” says Ross. “Nothing was ‘normal’ as cleaning procedures changed along with hotel amenities due to COVID19. Some guests were understanding; others expected a buffet breakfast and an open pool. Right before Memorial

Visit us on the web jewishnewsva.org 18 | Jewish News | Mazel Tov | October12, 2020 | jewishnewsva.org

Libby Ross and Brooke Gillikin.

Day, we were able to bring back most of our staff as Virginia Beach welcomed those who wanted to go to the oceanfront during the summer season.”

Partnerships with organizations such as UJFT distinctly reflect owners and their operational style. “Each owner/ management company does things differently,” says Ross. “Some are very hands on and others expect their team to make the decisions. I enjoy working for Suburban Capital because they give us the tools to run the hotel as we would if we were the owners.”

“It was so nice to work with such wonderful corporate sponsors,” says Gelb. “Libby and Brooke did everything possible to accommodate us—adding extra rooms and accommodating last minute schedule changes, always demonstrating their commitment to supporting the community and our cultural and educational programs.”

“The owners were very happy with the overall outcome of our first year including the partnerships we made,” says Ross.

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Mazel Tov Mazel Tov to Dani Byers

Dani Byers shines as Shalom Hartman Institute for Emerging Thought Leaders Fellow

A

s part of the Summer 2020 Hartman Fellowship for Emerging Jewish Thought Leaders, fellows were asked to ‘write a short persuasive essay or create a piece of multimedia that grapples with big Jewish ideas.’

According to the Shalom Hartman website, ‘the fellows proved themselves equal to the challenge and responded with an array of remarkable and powerful projects on a vast array of subjects, representing a wide array of political positions.’

Dani Byers, a Summer 2020 Hartman Fellow and a senior at Maury High School, had her work featured on the Shalom Hartman website as one of the stand-out capstones. Dani’s message of Destigmatizing Mental Health is meant to “embrace and reassure others that

Dani Byers

they are not alone.”

A member of Ohef Sholom Temple, Dani is the daughter of Julie and Rob Byers.

Rachel Bloom is helping produce a series called I’m In Love With The Dancer From My Bat Mitzvah Curt Schleier

(JTA)—The Crazy Ex-Girlfriend team is back with a show that sounds even more Jewish: I’m In Love With The Dancer From My Bat Mitzvah.

The series, which has been put in development by the CW Network, is described as a romantic mystery comedy about a young woman just shy of graduating from college who is romantically rejected. She then becomes obsessed with a dancer from her bat mitzvah and eventually involves her friends in a criminal conspiracy. It’s inspired by true events, Deadline reports.

The show’s creator is Ilana Wolpert, who was an assistant on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Rachel Bloom, the creator and star of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, will help write and executive produce, but not act in the show.

Rachel Bloom at the 37th College Television Awards, May 25, 2016.

jewishnewsva.org | October 12, 2020 | Jewish News | 19

Mazel Tov The Chicken Soup Manifesto features hundreds of recipes from around the world Rachel Myerson

(JTA)—I fell in love with Jenn Louis’ latest cookbook, The Chicken Soup Manifesto at first sight. The James Beardnominated chef has curated a collection of more than 100 beautifully photographed chicken soup recipes, which allowed me to vicariously travel the globe with my favorite comfort food as a guide. What more could an Ashkenazi gal with wanderlust wish for?

When I got a chance to chat with Louis, she was as vibrant as her book.

Like me, her prototypical chicken soup was her mother’s matzah ball soup, which she made on Shabbat and Jewish holidays. The recipe is there, on page 62, the matzah balls “exactly how she made them. I think everyone likes a different kind. Mine are really tender on the outside with a bit of chew in the middle.”

The accompanying photo features the blue and white china Louis inherited from her mom.

If matzah ball soup is your starting point, too, Louis recommends branching out to the Romanian Supa de Pui cu Galuste de Gris (page 196) with semolina dumplings. The dumplings are fluffy with whipped egg whites and poached, “like super yummy clouds.”

But don’t be afraid to dive in, says Louis. “It’s chicken soup! It should be fun! Explore, learn…it’s a great way to travel.”

Some of the recipes come from Louis’ own travels. “I took a cooking class in Ethiopia and learned to make Doro Wat (page 33). Even though it’s more of a stew, I really wanted to include it.” But most of them were collected through expansive research. “It’s not a creative book,” explains Louis, “it’s a documentary. It’s a

shout-out to how cool these recipes are, and how much we all have in common.”

Some came from Louis’ periodic appeals on social media, “I’d put call outs on Facebook once in a while. Like, ‘Hey! Who’s got a chicken soup they grew up with in their family?’”

Others were told to her orally. Was it difficult to translate word-of-mouth instructions into quantifiable amounts?

I ask. “Somewhat. There’s a Palestinian recipe—it’s a really great story. This woman sat next to me on a plane and, halfway through the flight, she looked at me and said, ‘Hi, I’m Hanan. I’m a Christian Palestinian, the peaceful kind.’

She was super sweet. I didn’t tell her I was writing a book, but she told me about her mom’s chicken soup recipe and I wrote it down. It called for, like, a ‘handful of rice,’ so I tried my best to replicate it.” Their encounter ended after

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landing, and Louis never got Hanan’s details. “I’d love to send her a copy [of the book] but I don’t know where she lives!”

The research process was rich and fruitful. “Just when you think you’re done,” Louis explains, “you find this cool new recipe. It’s really fun to unfold all the layers. They’re all super delicious dishes.”

And, she says, despite major differences in flavor, the functions of chicken soup are universal: comforting, often healing broths, intended to stretch a chicken as far as it can go.

Can she pick a favorite? “The South American soups are so unique because they have corn and yucca, which make them sweet and totally different to anything else.” Louis pauses.

“Or the Kanjee from Sri Lanka (page 179). I made it in my Instant Pot on a rainy day then went for a walk with my friend. When we got back home, we opened the pot—it was so fragrant. We sat and ate the soup, then split the leftovers because they were so good.”

But, of course, much depends on your mood. Or the time of year. Louis is keen to assure me that chicken soup is not just for winter—“there’s a summer soup from Finland (page 189) with green beans and baby carrots that you can eat chilled. It’s really lovely.”

Regardless of the recipe, Louis is full of tips to achieving the most flavorsome dish, with an entire section dedicated to getting the most out of your chicken.

“You always want to cook your chicken slow, on a really lazy simmer. If you cook a little slower, it keeps the meat tender,” she tells me. And if you want a richer broth, use homemade chicken stock, “it’s special… heartier and more luxurious than just using water.”

At the end of the day, Louis reiterates, exploring the diverse offering of chicken soups should be fun. “Make one recipe a week,” she urges, “and learn something new.”

This post originally appeared in The Nosher.

it’s a Wrap 32nd Annual Strelitz International Academy Golf Tournament draws 107 golfers Carly Glikman

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n Tuesday, September 15, a perfectly crisp morning, the Strelitz International Academy 32nd Annual Golf Tournament, affectionately known as the Bob Josephberg Classic, took place on the Bayville Golf Club course.

Sporting face-coverings and hand sanitizer, many notable SIA supporters attended, including tournament co-chairs Ilana and Nathan Benson, SIA board president David Cardon, John Strelitz, and Angela Jenkins, who has represented Bob Josephberg since the tournament’s inception in 1988.

The Bob Josephberg Classic is SIA’s biggest fundraiser. With the help of 96 sponsors, this year’s tournament raised more than $126,000 for the future of Jewish education and community leadership in Tidewater—providing financial sustainability and broader access to SIA for families.

Following opening speeches by Nathan Benson and David Cardon, the players teed off in a Florida best ball style tournament. On the fairways, two brand new Lexus’ from Charles Barker Automotive for the hole in one competition sponsored

by Charles Barker and Towne Insurance were in view.

Different from previous years’ tournaments, players were able to request a single cart if desired, and to prevent a large crowd gathering under the pavilion, the after-play reception and raffle were cancelled. The complete set of team scores and winners were announced later that week through email. Despite the changes and challenges, the tournament saw an outstanding 107 golfers and 25 volunteers turn out for a fun day.

“It was truly spectacular to witness more golfers at this year’s tournament than we’ve had in years! Thank you to all who volunteered, attended, and sponsored SIA. We could not have done this without each and everyone of you!” says Cardon.

The tournament follows many months of people confined to their homes due to COVID-19. During the spring, Strelitz International Academy switched to full

digital learning to keep their students, families, and faculty safe. The school’s success and ability to pivot so quickly resulted in an increase in fall enrollment when all SIA students returned to in person instruction.

“There was a lot to celebrate and cheer for during the golf tournament. Our smaller classroom sizes and exceptional International Baccalaureate education are exactly what our community needed during these unprecedented times,” says

Heather Moore, Head of School, “Our families understand the value in a place they can trust to not only educate their children, but also keep them safe and sound during the pandemic.”

SIA congratulates the winners and thanks all sponsors, players, volunteers, and the Cardo Café for the day’s support.

The 33rd Annual Tournament is slated for Tuesday, September 14, 2021. “With much hope, the tournament will see the return of its awards reception, but no

Winner Flight 1: Chris Lyon, Alvin Wall, Rick Westbrook, and Ron Kramer.

Winner Flight 3: Peter Abraham, Peter Feigenbaum, Evan Kalfus, and John Strelitz.

matter what, SIA’s community support will always be the biggest winner,” says Moore.

For more information, contact Carly Glikman, SIA director of development, at 757-424-4327, or email cglikman@strelitzacademy.org.

Strelitz International Academy is a constituent agency of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.

Winner Flight 4: Karen Whyte, Dale Jacobs, Randy Caplan, and Susan Kletz.

Winner Flight 2: Noah Matilsky, Anthony Sambuchi, Matt Angelelli, and Jerry Valianos.

jewishnewsva.org | October 12, 2020 | Jewish News | 21

SIMON FAMILY PASSPORT TO ISRAEL

Jewish Tidewater

Kerri Cohen joins UJFT/Simon Family JCC as development associate

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Are you a Jewish teen who wants to go to Israel?

The Tidewater Jewish Foundation can help fund the trip through the Simon Family Passport to Israel Fund!

• Grants are available for students age 13 to 22, traveling to Israel on an organized and staffed peer trip.

• Incentive grants awards are up to 30% eligible expenses (maximum of $6,000 per student).

Apply from October 1 – November 15 at jewishva.org/passport

erri Cohen recently joined United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Simon Family JCC as a development associate.

Born and raised in Suffolk, Va. she has also lived in Texas, Mexico, and Massachusetts. Cohen holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in leadership studies. She has a great deal of experience in the business world and in business development, and says she is eager to make her mark in the non-profit world.

In her new position, Cohen will work with Barb Gelb, UJFT/Simon Family JCC director of development, on building corporate sponsorships and the Patron of the Arts programs, as well as on developing more opportunities for businesses and individuals to partner and support UJFT and JCC programs and events.

The mother of two daughters and two stepsons, Cohen says, “My COVID-19 silver lining is that three of the four are living at home now. My oldest daughter was supposed to start at Tel Aviv University this year, which has been postponed, and my youngest step-son has recently moved home from DC since he is working remotely—it just made sense

Kerri Cohen

to be here with family instead of alone up there.”

Cohen’s youngest daughter is at Strelitz International Academy and her oldest stepson lives in New Jersey with a young family of his own. Cohen says she loves to read, travel, and host holiday meals for family and friends.

“We’re thrilled that Kerri has joined our team and look forward to the expanding our programs with her help,” says Gelb.

VIRGINIA 2020 ELECTIONS Important deadlines Friday, Sept. 18, 2020 — Absentee Voting Begins Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 — Last day to register to vote online, by mail, or in-person at your registrar’s office Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 — Last day to request an absentee ballot via the mail-in form Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020 —Last day to request an absentee ballot via the online form Saturday, October 31, 2020 — Last day to vote absentee in-person Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 — Election Day!

For more information, contact Ann Swindell aswindell@ujft.org | 757-965-6106 foundation.jewishva.org 22 | Jewish News | October 12, 2020 | jewishnewsva.org

Friday, Nov. 6, 2020 — Last day for mail-in ballots to be received by the registrar in order to be counted. Must be postmarked by November 3.

For more information, go to https://ujft.salsalabs.org/vavotingresourceguide.

what’s happening Get ready for Pickleball leagues Intermediate: Saturdays, Jan. 9–Feb. 7, 8–10 am Advanced: Saturdays, Jan. 9–Feb. 7, 10 am–12 pm

Modern Hebrew: from biblical roots to everyday conversation

Jaffe Gymnasium, $35 JCC member | $40 non-member

Tuesdays, Oct. 13, 20, 27 and Nov. 10, 17, 24 at 12 pm, on zoom

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A 6-Week course at the Konikoff Center for Learning at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater

he intermediate division (rank 3.0-3.5) 8-week pickleball league will utilize five players per court in a switch-partners doubles round robin format with rally scoring that creates random rotating partners throughout.

Points will be assigned to each participant relevant to the score of each player’s games played, which will be about 6 games per week.

The advanced division (rank 4.0+) 8-week pickleball league will utilize five players per court in a switch-partners doubles round robin format with rally scoring that creates random rotating partners throughout. Points will be assigned to each participant relevant to the score of

each player’s games played, which will be about 6 games per week.

A prize will be awarded to the player with the most points accumulated throughout the season. Log-in online at GlobalPickleball. network is required for each player, but registration payment is due via the JCC front desk. Masks and social distancing are required at all times except while playing. No spectators permitted. There is limited availability of 15 players for each division (intermediate and advanced). REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS 1/2/2021. To register, visit the JCC in person, or call 757-321-2338. Call 757-321-2308 for more information..

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ost Modern Hebrew vocabulary words are derived from biblical root words.

Class participants will learn the language starting with examples of how biblical root words morph into the contemporary Hebrew language. Students will also learn to identify biblical root words in everyday conversation and will have many chances to practice the Hebrew alphabet.

Introductory Modern Hebrew grammar will be included in the class structure.

For more information, contact Sierra Lautman, director of Jewish Innovation, slautman@ujft. org.

Mah Jongg Day & Luncheon upDate The Janet Gordon Annual Mah Jongg Day & Luncheon

is Beth Sholom Village’s signature fundraising event of the year and a beloved tradition for our community. Because the health and safety of Beth Sholom’s residents, patients and supporters is our top priority, at this time it is simply not possible to host an inperson event.

While excellent resident and patient care remains the focus, this year more than ever before, Beth Sholom Village needs your support. COVID-19 has resulted in unprecedented costs associated with fighting to keep residents and staff safe.

In place of what would have been your registration fee or sponsorship for this year, please consider making a donation to Beth Sholom Village. All donors will receive tickets for the live virtual raffle on October 25, 2020.

Visit www.bethsholomvillage.com/donate to contribute and choose your prizes today, or call Amy Weinstein, Director of Philanthropy at 757-961-3046 with questions.

jewishnewsva.org | October 12, 2020 | Jewish News | 23

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival 2020–2021*

*events shown only through October 29

All events are open to the community with RSVP or tickets required and will take place virtually until further notice.

For more information about the Festival, to register, sponsor, or volunteer, contact Patty Shelanski at 757-452-3184 or Pshelanski@ujft.org or jewishva.org.

I Am Anne Frank & I Am Benjamin Franklin (Ordinary People Change the World Series) with author Brad Meltzer and illustrator Christopher Eliopoulos

Presented by Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Community Partners’ 10th Annual Israel Today Series as part of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival

Tuesday, October 13, 6:30 pm For children ages 5–8 In conversation with Holly Firfer, CNN journalist Tickets for this virtual event: $6 or $23 with either book (includes shipping) or $40 with both books (includes shipping). A limited number of signed books are available.

Presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with The National JCC Literary Consortium

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n a time when heroes are in high demand, Brad Meltzer returns with his talented illustrator, Christopher Eliopoulos, to present two new books in his Ordinary People Change the World Series: I Am Anne Frank & I Am Benjamin Franklin. These books focus on the traits that made these ordinary heroes great—the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live

heroically themselves.

Parents: have pencils and paper ready—Christopher Eliopoulos will teach the youngest viewers how to draw their ordinary heroes!

his is the true story that inspired the Netflix film, The Red Sea Diving Resort.

In the early 1980s on a remote part of the Sudanese coast, a new luxury holiday resort opened for business. Catering for divers, it attracted guests from around the world. Little did the holidaymakers know that the staff were undercover spies, working for the Mossad—the Israeli secret service.

Written in collaboration with operatives involved in the mission and endorsed as the definitive account, this is the complete, neverbefore-heard, gripping tale of a top-secret and often hazardous operation.

Raffi Berg is the Middle East editor of the BBC News website.

Daniel Limor was the Mossad commander who led the covert mission to rescue thousands of Ethiopian Jewish refugees fleeing famine and war, coined Operation Brothers.

veryone knows Steve Madden’s name and his shoes, but few are familiar with his story. Over the past 30 years, Madden has taken his eponymous shoe company from the fledgling start-up he founded with a mere $1,100 to a global, multi-billion-dollar brand. But Madden’s mistakes, from his battle with addiction to the financial shortcuts that landed him in prison, are as important to his story as his most iconic shoes.

Steven Madden is an entrepreneur, an award-winning designer, and a business titan whose eponymous company is currently worth $3 billion. On the flip side, he is an ex-con, a recovering addict, and a devoted family man.

Ottolenghi Flavor: A Cookbook with author Yotam Ottolenghi Friday, October 16 at 12:30 pm Tickets for this virtual event: $45 with book (includes shipping) Presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with The National JCC Literary Consortium

The Cobbler: How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell From Grace, and Came Back Stronger Than Ever with author Steve Madden Thursday, October 15, 8:00 pm In conversation with Holly Firfer, CNN journalist

Red Sea Spies: The True Story of Mossad’s Fake Diving Resort with author Raffi Berg in conversation with Daniel Limor, the Mossad commander who carried out the mission, found the famed resort and recruited the team involved Thursday, October 15, 12 noon, FREE

24 | Jewish News | October 12, 2020 | jewishnewsva.org

Tickets for this virtual event: $11 or $36 with book (includes shipping).

A limited number of signed books are available.

Presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with The National JCC Literary Consortium

jewishva.org/arts-ideas/ book-festival

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he New York Times bestselling author of Plenty and Jerusalem teams up with Ottolenghi Test Kitchen’s Ixta Belfrage to reveal how flavor is created and amplified through 100+ innovative, super-delicious, plant-based recipes.

Yotam Ottolenghi is a seven-time New York Times best-selling cookbook author who contributes to the New York Times Food section and has a weekly column in The Guardian. Ixta Belfrage spent her youth dipping her fingers into mixing bowls in places as far-flung as Italy, Mexico, and Brazil. She formally began her culinary career at Ottolenghi’s Nopi restaurant before moving to the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen.

Anna Solomon, author of The Book of V.: A Novel Monday, October 19, 12 noon, Free As part of the Simon Family JCC’s Book Club Series Presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival

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he New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Safran Foer re-evaluated his meat-based diet—and his conscience—in his powerful memoir and investigative report, Eating Animals. Now, he offers a mind-bending and potentially world-changing call to action on climate change.

Most books about the environmental crisis are densely academic, depressingly doom-laden, and crammed with impersonal statistics. We Are the Weather is different—accessible, immediate, and with a single clear solution that individual readers can put into practice straight away.

A significant proportion of global carbon emissions come from farming meat. Giving up meat is incredibly hard and nobody is perfect—but just cutting back is much easier and still has a huge positive effect on the environment. Just changing our dinners— cutting out meat for one meal per day—is enough to change the world.

Jennifer Steinhauer, author of The Firsts: The Inside Story of Women Reshaping Congress Tuesday, October 20, 7:30 pm, Free Presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with the Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and The Weinstein JCC of Richmond

A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK ily is a mother and a daughter. And a second wife. And a writer, maybe? Vivian Barr seems to be the perfect political wife, dedicated to helping her charismatic and ambitious husband find success in Watergate-era Washington D.C. Esther is a fiercely independent young woman in ancient Persia, where she and her uncle’s tribe live a tenuous existence outside the palace walls.

These three characters’ riveting stories overlap and ultimately collide in this bold, kaleidoscopic novel intertwining the lives of three women across three centuries.

Anna Solomon is the author of three novels—The Book of V., Leaving Lucy Pear, and The Little Bride —and a two-time winner of the Pushcart Prize.

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Jonathan Safran Foer, author of We are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins Before Breakfast Monday October 19, 8:00 pm Tickets for this virtual event: $11 or $25 with book (includes shipping) Presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with The National JCC Literary Consortium

Presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with The National JCC Literary Consortium

“No one makes me laugh harder than Judy Gold. If I had to pick one comedian to write a book about free speech, it would be Judy.” —Amy Schumer

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n Yes I Can Say That, comedy veteran Judy Gold argues that “no one has the right to tell comics what they can or cannot joke about…. Laughter is a unifier. It’s the best medicine....” For Gold, nothing is more insidious than enforcing silence and repressing jokes—the job of a comedian is to expose society’s demons, and confront them head-on, no prisoners allowed.

Judy Gold is an American standup comedian, actress, television writer, and producer. She won two Daytime Emmy Awards for her work as a writer and producer on The Rosie O’Donnell Show, and has starred in comedy specials on HBO, Comedy Central, and Logo. She is currently the host of the hit podcast Kill Me Now.

Nancy Grace, author of Don’t be a Victim: Fighting Back against America’s Crime Wave Tuesday, October 27, 8:00 pm Tickets for this virtual event: $11 or $36 with book (includes shipping).

A number of signed copies are available.

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n the November 2018 midterms, the greatest number of women in history was elected to Congress. It was a group diverse in background, age, professional experience, and ideology, and all were swept into office on an enormous wave of grassroots support.

New York Times reporter, Jennifer Steinhauer, chronicles these women’s first year in Congress, follows their shift from trailblazing campaigns to the daily work of governance. Vivid and smart, The Firsts delivers fresh details, inside access, historical perspective, and expert analysis as these women—inspiring, controversial, talented, and rebellious—do something surprising: make Congress essential again.

The conversation will be moderated by Roberta Oster, communications director of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy.

Judy Gold, author of Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come for the Comedians, We Are All In Trouble Thursday, October 22, 8:00 pm in conversation with Mara Davis, Atlanta Media personality Tickets for this virtual event: $11 or $30 with book (includes shipping)

Presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with The National JCC Literary Consortium Presents

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iscover gripping true crime stories and the surprising tools to stay safe — from iconic legal commentator, TV journalist, and New York Times bestselling author Nancy Grace. Grace wasn’t always an influential legal authority. One moment changed her future forever: her fiancé was murdered just before their wedding.

Driven to deliver justice for other crime victims, Grace became a felony prosecutor and for a decade, put the “bad guys” behind bars in Atlanta. Now, with a new and potentially life-saving book, she puts her crime-fighting expertise to work, to empower people to stay safe in the face of daily dangers.

continued on page 26

jewishnewsva.org | October 12, 2020 | Jewish News | 25

Calendar

Jewish Book Festival continued from page 26

Grace is an award-winning legal journalist, victims-rights advocate and New York Times bestselling author. She headlines Oxygen’s Injustice with Nancy Grace, hosts the daily Crime Stories with Nancy Grace on SIRIUS XM and appears regularly on ABC’s 20/20 and Nightline, as well as on Daily Mail TV. She is founder and publisher of CrimeOnline.com.

Mike Leven, author of Can’t Do It Yourself: How Commitment to Others Leads to Personal Prosperity Thursday, October 29, 8:00 pm Tickets for this virtual event: $11 or $36 with book (includes shipping). A limited number of signed copies are available.

Presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with The National JCC Literary Consortium

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: 10/7/20–2/9/20; 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.

OCTOBER 13, TUESDAY I AM ANNE FRANK & I AM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. (Ordinary People Change the World Series) with author Brad Meltzer and illustrator Christopher Eliopoulos. For children ages 5–8. Join United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Simon Family JCC Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with The National JCC Literary Consortium.

In conversation with Holly Firfer, CNN journalist. Tickets for this virtual event: $6 or $23 with either book (includes shipping) or $40 with both books. A limited number of signed books are available. 6:30 pm. Contact Patty Shelanski, Arts + Ideas manager at pshelanski@ujft. org or 757-452-3184. See page 24.

OCTOBER 13, 20, 27, NOVEMBER 10, 17, 24, TUESDAYs MODERN HEBREW: FROM BIBLICAL ROOTS TO EVERYDAY CONVERSATION A 6–week course at the Konikoff Center for Learning at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. Class participants will learn the language starting with examples of how biblical root words morph into the contemporary Hebrew language. 12 pm on ZOOM. Contact Sierra Lautman, director of Jewish Innovation, slautman@ujft.org.

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ike Leven, a storied hotel executive and respected Jewish leader, served at the helm of the Days Inn, Holiday Inn, Las Vegas Sands, and other noteworthy hospitality businesses and most recently as the CEO and chairman of the Georgia Aquarium.

In his new book, Can’t Do It Yourself, Leven takes the reader on a journey through his life, from growing up in a multi-generational household with Russian immigrant grandparents in a close-knit Jewish community in Boston, to an executive for some of the most noteworthy hotel chains. Each chapter ends with 11 different lessons to live by in business and life.

Win round trip tickets for 2 on The ROX. The new, no-stress way to travel.

The ROX offers round trips between Virginia Beach and DC, Virginia Beach and Charlottesville, and between DC and Charlottesville.

Enter on Facebook at JewishNewsVA to win one of the 2 trips for 2 from Virgina Beach Towne Center to Washington DC’s Pentagon City.

You’ll ride in the affordable luxury of an executive coach.

See The ROX at www.RideTheROX.com Winners will be announced in the Nov. 30 Jewish News Hanukkah issue.

Value is $252 each round trip per person.

26 | Jewish News | October 12, 2020 | jewishnewsva.org

OCTOBER 15, THURSDAY RED SEA SPIES with author Raffi Berg and Mossad commander Daniel Limor.

Join the Jewish Community Relations Council of the UJFT, Simon Family JCC, and Community Partners to kick off its 10th ANNUAL ISRAEL TODAY SERIES. Hear from author Raffi Berg, the incredible story that inspired the film Red Sea Diving Resort, and a first-hand account of the operation that saved the lives of thousands of Ethiopian Jews from special guest Dani Limor, lead Mossad agent that created and carried out the undercover, top-secret mission.

This virtual event is free and open to the community with registration. 12 pm. For more information and to register, contact Patty Shelanski, Arts + Ideas manager at pshelanski@ujft.org or 757-452-3184. See page 24.

OCTOBER 15, THURSDAY THE COBBLER: HOW I DISRUPTED AN INDUSTRY, FELL FROM GRACE, AND CAME BACK STRONGER THAN EVER with author Steve Madden. In conversation with Holly Firfer, CNN journalist. Presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with The National JCC Literary Consortium. Everyone knows Steve Madden’s name and his shoes, but few are familiar with his story. Tickets for this virtual event: $11 or $36 with book (includes shipping). A limited number of signed books are available. 8 pm. Contact Patty Shelanski, Arts + Ideas manager, at pshelanski@ujft.org or 757-452-3184. See page 24.

OCTOBER 16, FRIDAY OTTOLENGHI FLAVOR: A COOKBOOK , with author Yotam Ottolenghi. Presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with The National JCC Literary Consortium. The New York Times bestselling author of Plenty and Jerusalem teams up with Ottolenghi Test Kitchen’s Ixta Belfrage to reveal how flavor is created and amplified through 100+ innovative, super-delicious, plant-based recipes. Tickets for this virtual event: $45 with book (includes shipping). 12:30 pm. Contact Patty Shelanski, Arts + Ideas manager at pshelanski@ujft.org or 757-452-3184. See page 24.

OCTOBER 20, TUESDAY JCRC Your Vote is Your Voice series. Join the Weinstein JCC of Richmond for a joint community discussion with Jennifer Steinhauer, New York Times reporter and author of The Firsts: The Inside Story of the Women Reshaping Congress, will share her perspective on how these women are making Congress essential again. Free and open to the community, via Zoom. 7:30 pm. Contact Megan Zuckerman, director, Jewish Community Relations Council at mzuckerman@ujft.org. See page 25.

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.

Israel

As Genesis Prize goes to a vote, its impact on Jewish causes grows Larry Luxner

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oron Almog, a former head of the Israeli Defense Forces’ Southern Command, was one of the heroes of Israel’s 1976 hostage rescue operation in Entebbe, Uganda, and winner of the 2016 Israel Prize for lifetime achievement.

But the thing he says he’s most proud of is ALEH Negev-Nahalat Eran, a rehabilitation village he founded in southern Israel for 160 physically and mentally disabled children and young adults. It’s named after Almog’s son, Eran, who was born with severe autism and died in 2007, at the age of 23, from a rare disorder known as Castleman disease.

ALEH-Negev is one of 15 organizations, including nine in Israel, to receive grants derived from the 2020 $1 million Genesis Prize, often described as the Jewish Nobel. Last year’s laureate, Natan Sharansky, chosen in December 2019, donated his prize money to Jewish and non-Jewish groups fighting COVID-19’s spread throughout the world.

“During this pandemic, we cannot do social distancing, but we do need lots of PPE,” says Almog, whose organization received a $50,000 grant. “You cannot keep two meters distance from these kids. You need to hug them, wash them, treat them. A lot of the money we received will go to PPE as well as respiratory equipment and oxygen. We’ve also increased salaries for our medical staff because they’re doing double shifts and there’s more risk.”

This year, for the first time since the inception of the Genesis Prize, the Genesis Prize Foundation has opened up the laureate selection process to the wider public. More than 45,000 people worldwide sent in submissions for more than 4,000 nominees, and seven finalists were selected.

Now the public will have a chance to vote on those finalists: actor Sacha Baron Cohen, singer Barbra Streisand, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan,

actress Gal Gadot, former U.K. chief rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and Hollywood producer Steven Spielberg.

To cast a vote, visit the Genesis Prize website anytime between now and October 26.

The Genesis Prize has evolved from an elite, committee-driven process to a more inclusive approach that seeks to engage the entire Jewish world,” says Steve Rakitt, Genesis Prize Foundation president. “The voice of the Jewish people from all walks of life, different demographic groups and across generations will now become an extremely important factor in the nomination and selection of our honorees.”

The prize, launched in 2013 and financed through a $100 million endowment, recognizes Jewish individuals with outstanding “professional accomplishments, contributions to humankind, and pride in their Jewish heritage.” Previous winners have included former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, BritishIndian sculptor Anish Kapoor, actor Michael Douglas, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, actress Natalie Portman and musician Itzhak Perlman.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg received a lifetime achievement award in 2018.

After Bloomberg won the first prize, he announced that he’d donate all the proceeds to charity. All subsequent winners have followed suit, sending more than $16 million overall (other donors often match Genesis Prize Foundation funds) to myriad philanthropic priorities, including fighting anti-Semitism, supporting refugees, promoting innovation, improving the lives of individuals with special needs and advancing women’s equality.

When last year’s prize went to Sharansky—the onetime Soviet dissident turned Israeli politician and later head of the Jewish Agency—he initially planned to donate his prize money to projects that

support human rights, according to Sana Britavsky, deputy CEO of the Genesis Prize Foundation.

“But when COVID-19 started, Natan generously decided that all his prize money should go to vulnerable populations here in Israel and abroad,” Britavsky says. “He chose to give to projects that would work for real people, where that kind of help would make a real difference.”

Britavsky adds, “The unique partnership between the Genesis Prize Laureates and The Genesis Prize Foundation makes possible this type of philanthropic impact.”

Sharansky said in a statement, “Many people of good will around the world have given generously to help organizations and individuals who have been devastated by COVID-19. I am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to this humanitarian effort.”

Among the recipients was the European branch of the Jewish outreach organization Moishe House, which subsidizes homes throughout the world that serve as Jewish community hubs for Jews in their 20s. Moishe House is using the funding to expand its volunteer activities in support of isolated, elderly Jews affected by COVID-19 in Madrid, Moscow, Paris and Rome.

“We received this grant to increase the work we do fighting loneliness and isolation,” Alejandro Okret, chief global officer at Moishe House, says.

When the pandemic hit Italy, Moishe House residents in Rome immediately set up donation points at three supermarkets where they encouraged people to donate food or take whatever they needed. They also launched an effort to record the stories of their grandparents, to keep them engaged and connected with others. In Moscow, Moishe House volunteers made phone calls to isolated elderly people, and delivered them medication. In Paris, participants read for the blind.

Genesis Prize grants also went to

the Association of Rape Crisis Centers of Israel, which has seen a 40% surge in domestic violence cases during the pandemic; the Weizmann Institute of Science, to help develop a coronavirus vaccine; and to Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering for coronavirus-related research.

The Genesis Prize organization is expecting at least 75,000 people to cast online ballots before voting concludes on October 26. The winner will be announced in early 2021.

If this approach proves successful, Rakitt says, all future laureates will be selected this way.

“It’s a reflection of the way the world is going,” Rakitt says. “For years, the Genesis Prize was modeled on the Nobel and other prestigious prizes. It had a limited number of people who could nominate, and an even more limited number who could select. We want to hear the voices of the Jewish community around the world. That’s why we’re opening up the process.”

This article was sponsored by and produced in partnership with The Genesis Prize Foundation, which aims to foster Jewish identity, inspire Jewish pride and strengthen the bond between Israel and the Diaspora.

This article was produced by JTA’s native content team.

jewishnewsva.org | October 12, 2020 | Jewish News | 27

Obituaries France Levy Birshtein Norfolk—Frances Levy Birshtein, 81, passed away peacefully with her family by her side in Norfolk, Virginia on September 28, 2020.

The daughter of the late Fannie and Hyman Davis, she was born Frances Anne Davis on February 8, 1939 in Manhattan and spent her early childhood in Haverstraw, New York, along with her late older brother, David Davis, and her late younger sister, Jeanne Rabinowitz.

She moved to Norfolk at a young age and attended Taylor Elementary, Blair Middle School, and Maury High School.

An athletic child, she developed a love for tennis and went on to become a state champion in high school two years in a row. She continued to play tennis through adulthood and picked up the game of golf later in life like a natural.

Additionally, she played clarinet in her high school marching band.

After graduating from Maury High School as the valedictorian of her class, Mrs. Birshtein attended the College of William & Mary on a full scholarship, where she received her bachelor’s degree.

She continued her education and blazed a trail for women as the only female student at William & Mary Law School.

She completed both degrees in just over four years to take advantage of the undergraduate scholarship. Upon graduation in 1962, she returned to Norfolk and practiced law for many years as one of the first female attorneys in the city.

Frances lived according to her belief that one should “remember from whence they came and always give back.” Over the course of her life, she was a pillar of her community, serving as the president of numerous organizations: William & Mary Hillel, the local chapter of Hadassah, the Hebrew Ladies Charity Society, Beth El Synagogue’s Sisterhood, the Auxiliary of Beth Sholom, the Beth Sholom Home, and The Terrace at Beth

Sholom. True to her beliefs, she went on to serve as a board member of Jewish Family Service, where she represented the Hebrew Ladies Charity Society, the organization which had provided her with a much-needed gift certificate in her youth to purchase a confirmation dress when her family was unable to afford such an extravagance.

She also created Life and Legacy scholarships at Old Dominion University, Beth Sholom Village, and Jewish Family Service. A deeply proud Jew and Zionist, she traveled several times to Israel over the years.

In 1964, Mrs. Birshtein married Dr. Donald Marvin Levy, with whom she had five children, while also raising her niece and nephew, Deborah Eken and the late Edward Davis. Following Dr. Levy’s untimely death in 1984, she married Oscar Brandeis Birshtein in 1986, with whom she had a loving and fulfilling marriage until his death in 1997.

In 2001, she married Stanley Weigen, to whom she was married until his death in 2013.

Referred to as “Mimi” by her grandchildren, Frances was committed to education and took great pride in the many post-graduate degrees achieved by her five children, all of whom survive her: Jeffrey Levy, Michael Levy, Stephen Levy, Douglas Levy, and Susan Brown. Frances is also survived by her eight grandchildren: Daniel Levy, Olivia Levy, Chloe Levy, Dylan Levy, Molly Levy, Noah Levy, Mallory Brown, and Landon Brown. She is dearly missed by her daughters-in-law: Anne Levy, Gina Levy, and Dara Levy and her son-in-law, Jonathan Brown.

Her unbreakable commitment to family is evident in the nurturing relationships she had with her many relatives and their extended families everywhere.

She was a true matriarch.

The funeral and memorial service was

28 | Jewish News | October 12, 2020 | jewishnewsva.org

held at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com. Donations to Jewish Family Service and Beth Sholom Home.

Doris Riemer Friedman Norfolk—Our amazing mom and special force of nature, Doris Friedman, left this earth on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. She was surrounded by her loving family, and that’s exactly what she would have wanted. She was beautiful both inside and out and fortunately blessed with a long life…a good life…for 94 years.

Our mother was born in Brooklyn, the daughter of Oscar and Rebecca Riemer.

Her mom was a Sabra, born in Israel.

Our Dad told her at the end of their very first date that he was going to marry her. And she did—at the young age of 19. Although she spent the remainder of her life in Virginia, Brooklyn was always in her heart and soul. Our parents were blessed to spend almost 60 years of happy married life together.

Exercising both her mind and body were cornerstones of her life. Later in life she went back to school earning an undergraduate degree from Old Dominion University and a masters degree in social work from Norfolk State University. She loved tennis, swimming, hula dancing, yoga, bridge, and scrabble.

Her boundless energy and zest for living earned her the admiration of so many who knew her.

Mom was a lifelong and founding member of Temple Israel and so very proud of being Jewish! She was her happiest when she was doing a mitzvah, a good deed, for someone else. She was fiercely independent and tenacious about her beliefs and feelings and she always acted with heart and determination. On her refrigerator she displayed and tried to follow the famous quote by Eleanor Roosevelt “Do one thing every day that

scares you.”

Doris was pre-deceased by her husband Morris (Sonny) Friedman. She is survived by her daughters Lorie Friedman (Elaine), Jodie Frieden ( Jack), Abbie Korman (Robert). She is also survived by her grandchildren; Jessica Frieden Shultz (Brian), Laura Frieden Gibbons (Jonathan), Adam Korman and Michael Korman, as well as her brother-in-law Harold (Boodie) Friedman (Bobby); several nieces and nephews and extended family members.

Contributions in her memory may be sent to The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, 800 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, Va. 23505, the Norfolk SPCA, 916 Ballentine Blvd, Norfolk, Va. 23504, or Temple Israel, 7255 Granby St., Norfolk, Va. 23505.

Due to Covid 19 the family chose to have a private service for immediate family. Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com.

Howard Earl Gold Winter Park, Fla.—Howard Earl Gold, age 81, of Winter Park, passed away on Thursday, September 24, 2020, at AdventHealth Winter Park.

Howard was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, a son of the late David and Julia Cohen Gold. He was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts earning a degree in Engineering and worked as an Industrial Engineer in the Soft Goods Industry. In 1959, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, he married the former Barbara Meyer, his wife of nearly 62 years, who survives him.

They relocated to the Orlando area from Massachusetts in 1994 and are members of Congregation Ohev Shalom.

In addition to his wife, Howard is survived by his sons Stanley (Julia) Gold of Virginia and Eric Gold of the Aleutian Islands; and daughter Rosalyn (Gary) Wolf of Palm Bay. He was the proud

Obituaries grandfather of David (Jenna), Benjamin (Teresa), Chelsea Gold and Peter Wolf and great-grandfather of Alexandra, Ari, Jacob, Clark and Gwen. Howard is also survived by his brother, Lawrence (Eileen) Gold of Marietta, Georgia.

Contributions to Congregation Ohev Shalom, 615 Concourse Parkway, Maitland 32751, or a charity of choice.

A private family service was held at Congregation Ohev Shalom Cemetery with Rabbi David Kay officiating.

Julian H. Gutterman Virginia Beach—Julian was born on November 13, 1930 in Flandreau, SD, the son of Simon and Satoris Weinberg Gutterman, and died on September 27, 2020.

He graduated from Flandreau High School in 1948 where he played in the marching band for four years. Julian continued playing his clarinet in the University of Iowa Marching Band for three more years. At Iowa, Julian joined Phi Epsilon Pi social fraternity his freshman year and was the fraternity’s treasurer his senior year. He graduated in 1952 with a degree in accounting.

After graduation, he moved to Norfolk, Va., where he joined Goodman & Company, CPAs to start a 44-year career with the company, mostly as a partner. In August of 1975, Julian had a blind date where he met the love of his life, Tessie Taflambas Bailey. They married on June 12, 1976 and began blending their families. They also enjoyed traveling together to see the USA and the world.

During Julian’s professional career, he was a member and officer of these organizations: Norfolk Jaycees, VA Jaycees, Tidewater Chapter of the VA Society of CPAs, Tidewater Chapter of the American Heart Assoc., Tidewater Estate Planning Council (founding member), Temple Israel, and the Norfolk Kiwanis Club. When he retired, Tessie and Julian moved to Seagate Colony Condos where Julian served 14 years as its treasurer.

Julian was predeceased by his parents and two infant children. He is survived by his wonderful wife of 44 years, Tessie, their children, Renee (Wally), Marc (Theresa), Denise, and Andrea

(Anthony), 9 Grandchildren and 4 Great Grandchildren, his two brothers, Jordan (Sue) and Lorence (Sharon) and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was held in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com.

and caring friend to all who knew her.

She was a lifetime member and former president of the Sisterhood at Temple Emanuel.

She is survived by her daughters, JoAnn Kroll (Jeannie), Kevin Tabakin (Gary), Lori Kroll (Bradley), Natanya Russell, 6 grandchildren, 1 great granddaughter, nephews, and many nieces.

Burial was private. Donations can be made to Temple Emanuel.

Ida M. Rubin Scottsdale, Az.—Ida M. Rubin passed away at her home in Scottsdale, Arizona on September 18, 2020 at the age of 92 in the presence of her three children. continued on page 30

Marcy Markowitz Herring Norfolk—Marcy Herring passed away on September 10, 2020 at the age of 89.

Her graveside service was held at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Lillian Ann Kroll Virginia Beach—Lillian Ann Kroll, 89 passed away peacefully on September 24 with her daughters at her side.

She was born in North Carolina to Franklin and Doris Leigh. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 56 years, Maury Kroll. Ann was a loving

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in memoriam

Obituaries continued from page 29

Born in Montreal, Canada, she moved to Norfolk, Va. upon marrying Leroy Rubin after his service in WWII. Together, they raised a family, were proud members of the Temple Israel community, and were the proprietors of Fabric Mart.

Loving mother and wife, she is survived by her three children, Karen Ortner (Leon) of Charleston, S.C., Toby Lehrman (Matt) of Scottsdale, Az., and Carl Rubin of Phoenix, Az., as well as two grandchildren, Harrison Lehrman of New York City and Marissa Lehrman of Boston, Mass. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy.

Funeral services were private. H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Online condolences may be sent to the family through hdoliver.com.

Norman Charles Shroyer Franklin—Norman Charles Shroyer, 88, of Franklin Virginia passed away September 17, 2020. Born on October 31, 1931 in Hastings, Mich., he was the son of the late Lloyd and C. Marguerite Lancaster Shroyer.

Norm was a graduate of Battle Creek High School in Michigan and served in the US Air Force. He received an undergraduate degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, schools he loved and supported throughout his life. Norm was the technical director for Union Camp Corporation from 1970 to 1993.

Norm spent his retirement years traveling the globe with his wife Mary and giving back to his community as a volunteer in Franklin. He was a member of the Rotary Club, and regularly attended weekly meetings. He served with the Franklin-Southampton United

Way. Norm was a member of Franklin Presbyterian Church. He also spent time woodworking, creating tables and cabinets for his family.

Norm is remembered by friends and family for his infectious smile, laugh, and outgoing personality. His family remembers him as fiercely competitive in all family games, from cribbage, cards and all board games including Aggravation, played on a board his father made.

“Stormin’ Norman” had a love/hate relationship with golf, which often left him with drives shorter than he would throw his driver.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 63 years, Mary Luella Martin Shroyer; a daughter, Susan S. Muller (Peter) of Blairsville, Ga.; a son, Dr. Michael N. Shroyer (Leslie) of Norfolk; a brother Rodney Shroyer (Judy) of Palm Springs, Calif.; four grandchildren, Amy S. Lightbourn (James), Aaron Shroyer, Sam Muller, and Lauren Muller; and one great grandchild, Landon Lightbourn.

Memorial donations to The Village at Woods Edge in Franklin. www.wrightfuneralhome.org.

Herman Weisberg Atascadero, Calif.—Herman Weisberg died peacefully on Oct. 1 in Atascadero, Calif., where he’d lived for the past decade. The son of Nathan and Annie Weisberg, who fled religious persecution in Lithuania, Herman was born in Norfolk on March 5, 1926.

He served in the Navy during WWII, mostly in the Pacific and notably Battle of Okinawa. Serving his country was among his proudest achievements. After the war, Herman returned to Norfolk and entered the retail furniture industry. A pioneer in local television advertising, he produced high-profile commercials for

Visit us on the web jewishnewsva.org 30 | Jewish News | October 12, 2020 | jewishnewsva.org

six decades. He’s probably best remembered for those featuring his daughter Joanna.

Friendly and outgoing, Herman always had a joke and a spontaneous song to share. He viewed every customer as a prospective new friend. He was also a deeply spiritual man, devoted to his Jewish traditions and large, extended family.

Herman remained in the furniture business until he closed Cost Plus/Futon King Furniture in Virginia Beach at the age of 85. A lifelong fitness advocate, he did pushups into his 90s. On retirement, Herman and Faye Meeks Weisberg, nicknamed Kat, his cherished wife of 46 years, moved to the central coast of California.

Herman was preceded in death by Kat, as well as his beloved siblings Sylvia Weisberg Weissman, Sam Weisberg and Harry Weisberg. He is survived by his sister Rosalee Weisberg Bain of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla; daughter Joanna Weisberg Wemple and her husband Shayne Wemple of Atascadero; son Paul Weisberg and his wife Melissa Weisberg of Virginia Beach; son Louis Weisberg and his husband Robert Wright of Milwaukee; and son Michael Luper of Parkland, Fla. He also leaves behind four grandchildren: Jacqueline Weisberg and Gabrielle Weisberg Cabreros of Virginia Beach; Cayden and Skylar Wemple of Atascadero; Rachel Luper Fleekop of Coral Springs, Fla; Ashly Luper of Portland, Ore.; Samantha (Luper) Lauren of Los Angeles. In addition, he’ll be remembered lovingly by 19 nephews and nieces and their spouses.

A memorial service will be scheduled in the post-COVID future.

Donations in Herman’s memory to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

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Warren Karesh: A man of insight and integrity Jay Klebanoff

Warren Karesh

D

r. Warren G. Karesh passed away on Tuesday, August 25, quieting a voice that added greatly to our Jewish community.

Warren and his wife, Mimi, were active participants in United Jewish Federation of Tidewater activities throughout their time in Hampton Roads. Warren and Mimi cared deeply about our community, their Judaism, and about Israel.

Until their move to Washington, D.C. to be closer to children and grandchildren, Warren and Mimi could always be counted on to show up for UJFT and JCC events, especially for visiting speakers discussing issues focused on Israel.

Warren rarely missed an opportunity to ask a probing question during these speaker sessions.

I last talked to Warren in April, having called to discuss his Federation gift. We had a very pleasant conversation and Warren committed to a gracious gift, despite fighting cancer and dealing with the confines of a COVID quarantine. The success of our Federated campaign was important to Warren and Mimi.

When we next are able to host a live speaker on the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus, I will think of Warren and try to honor his memory with a question that mimics his insight and sincerity.

He will be missed.

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