33026
INSIDE
www.jewishnewsva.org
Southeastern Virginia | Vol. 56 No. 1 | 20 Elul 5777 | September 11, 2017
34 Abisl Theater at BSV
The Jewish Response to
• Shock in Charlottesville • Hurricane Devastation • End to DACA
36 Tidewater teens go to Israel
37 HAT begins school year
5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 200 Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462-4370 Address Service Requested
L’Shanah Tovah Non-Profit Org. US POSTAGE PAid Suburban MD Permit 6543
41
5778
Supplement to Jewish News September 11, 2017
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish News | 17
BeAR welcome brunch Monday, Sept. 18
Estate Planning Educational Seminars
Our law firm’s free educational seminars cover the following topics:
Our practice is problem solving, our passion is planning, and our goal is your peace of mind.
• How second marriages and blended families change the rules in estate planning. • Estate planning options: which work and which do not. • Protecting your loved ones’ inheritance from estate taxes, lawsuits and failed marriages. • Providing for your own care and well being, and that of your loved ones, even if you become mentally incapacitated • Avoiding probate and unnecessary delays and costs. • Avoiding court-appointed guardianships in the case of a disability. • Planning for health care decisions. • Maximizing total control of your property, your assets and your privacy. • How to avoid estate taxes as the laws shift. • Why current tax law may allow for changes that provide ease of administration. • How estate planning for IRAs and other retirement plans work, and how recent law changes impact the way your heirs inherit them.
Location/Dates
VIRGINIA BEACH CENTRAL LIBRARY
4100 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA 23452 Thursday, September 21, 2017 at 11 am or 2 pm Friday, October 6, 2017 at 11 am or 2 pm
CHESAPEAKE GREENBRIER LIBRARY 1214 Volvo Parkway, Chesapeake, VA 23320
Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 11 am or 2 pm Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at 11 am or 2 pm
Carrell Blanton Ferris & Associates, PLC 780 Lynnhaven There is no attendance fee, but seating is limited. Parkway, Suite 330 Virginia Beach, VA For more information, to make a reservation or to view more seminar dates, please 2 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org 23452 visit www.carrellblanton.com or call (757) 689-8668
upfront
Jewish news jewishnewsva.org Published 21 times a year by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
Netanyahu warns UN secretary-general of Iran’s ‘warfronts’ in Syria, Lebanon
QR code generated on http://qrcode.littleidiot.be
JERUSALEM ( JTA)—Prime Minister
becoming head of the United Nations
the bodies of two Israeli soldiers and
Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel warned
in January, responded that he will “do
two other Israelis believed held captive
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
everything in my capacity” to ensure
in Gaza.
that Iran is using Syria and Lebanon “as
UNIFIL fulfills its obligations.
warfronts against its declared goal to eradicate Israel.”
Guterres in his appearance with Rivlin
“I understand the security concerns of
said that calls for the destruction of Israel
Israel,” he said, “and I repeat that the idea
are “a form of modern anti-Semitism,”
Iran is “building sites to produce
or the intention or the will to destroy the
then added, “but you also understand
precision-guided missiles towards that
State of Israel is something totally unac-
that I sometimes disagree with positions
end in both Syria and in Lebanon. This
ceptable from my perspective.”
with the Government of Israel or any
is something Israel cannot accept. This is
Guterres asked Netanyahu that Israel
other government, and that is absolutely
something the U.N. should not accept,”
help improve the Palestinian economy
normal in a society where many of your
Netanyahu told Guterres prior to their
as a way to show the Palestinians that
citizens have exactly the same expres-
meeting in Jerusalem.
making peace with Israel will pay.
sions of opinions.”
Netanyahu also told Guterres that
Prior to meeting with Netanyahu, the
Guterres noted that he started his
the United Nations was failing to pre-
secretary-general also met with Israeli
visit at Yad Vashem, where he laid a
vent Hezbollah from obtaining arms,
President Reuven Rivlin at his residence
wreath in the memorial hall.
a mandate that was part of the U.N.
in Jerusalem. Rivlin called on Guterres to
“Yad Vashem is there to remind us
Security Council Resolution 1701 passed
work to end the discrimination against
that we need to be in the first line in
at the end of the Second Lebanon War
Israel in branches of the United Nations.
fighting against anti-Semitism, but first
in 2006. The prime minister charged
“This targeting of Israel, this singling
of all fighting against all other forms of
that the United Nations Interim Force in
out of the world’s only Jewish state—and
bigotry be it racism, xenophobia, even
Lebanon, or UNIFIL, has not reported
even actions and statements that threaten
anti-Muslim hatred, to promote under-
one of the “tens of thousands of weapons
to destroy Israel are unacceptable and
standing and to promote dialogue, and
smuggling into Lebanon for Hezbollah.”
should come at a price,” he said.
I am very appreciative Mr. President for
Guterres, who made his first visit to
Rivlin also asked Guterres to help
Israel and the Palestinian areas since
intervene with Hamas to bring home
what has been your commitment to dialogue and understanding,” he said.
About the cover (from top left): Organizers from the March to Confront White Supremacy stand in front of the Robert Edward Lee sculpture in Charlottesville, Virginia, August 28, 2017. Texas National Guard soldiers arrive in Houston on August 27, 2017 to aid residents affected by Hurricane Harvey. (Texas Army National Guard photo) Protest in support of DACA (against its rescission) at Trump Tower in New York City, September 5, 2017.
Contents
Quotable
Up Front. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Donor saves JFS thousands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Briefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
A new theater is coming to BSV . . . . . . . . . . 34
Torah Thought. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Brandon’s story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
A Jewish Dreamer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Tidewater teens in Israel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Jewish groups attack call to end DACA . . . . . 8
HAT begins new school year. . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Tillerson says anti-Semitism envoy post to be filled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
What’s Happening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Hurricane Harvey response. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 David Hazony: Israel can save American Jewish life. . . . . 14
Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Mazel Tov. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
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 Sandy Goldberg, Account Executive Heather Sterling, Account Executive Marilyn Cerase, Subscription Manager Reba Karp, Editor Emeritus United Jewish Federation of Tidewater John Strelitz, President Alvin Wall, Treasurer Stephanie Calliott, Secretary Harry Graber, Executive Vice-President www.jewishVA.org The appearance of advertising in the Jewish News does not constitute a kashrut, political, product or service endorsement. The articles and letters appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of this newspaper. © 2017 Jewish News. All rights reserved. Subscription: $18 per year For subscription or change of address, call 757-965-6128 or JewishNewsVA email mcerase@ujft.org.
Upcoming Deadlines for Editorial and Advertising Issue Date Sept. 25 Oct. 9 Oct. 23 Nov. 6 Nov 20 Dec. 4
Topic Yom Kippur Home Mazel Tov Veterans Business Hanukkah
Candle lighting Friday, September 15/24 Elul Light candles at 6:54 pm
“This was a trip of a lifetime… the best two weeks of my life!” —page 36
Friday, September 22/2 Tishrei Light candles at 6:43 pm Friday, September 29/9 Tishrei Light candles at 6:33 pm Friday, October 6/16 Tishrei Light candles at 6:23 pm
Rabbi Rubber’s Shabbat Sermon after Charlottesville. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Friday, October 13/23 Tishrei Light candles at 6:13 pm
L’Shanah Tovah!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Special Section—Rosh Hashanah
Friday, October 20/30 Tishrei Light candles at 6:03 pm
Nadiv’s first year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Deadline Sept. 8 Sept. 22 Oct. 6 Oct 20 Nov. 3 Nov. 17
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 3
Briefs 2018 Youth Olympic Games to use Jewish group’s anti-racism in sports program The 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires will feature a Jewish group’s program battling racism and xenophobia in sports. The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Eleven Points Against Racism in Football program works with sports authorities, athletes, and referees to stop and prevent racial hatred in athletic events and to use sports as a bond between peoples. It will be implemented with the support of the Organization of American States during the games, which will be held Oct. 6–18, 2018. “If we succeed in eradicating racism, xenophobia and discrimination in sport, we can generate a greater awareness in society,” OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro said in a letter to the Wiesenthal Center. “As Nelson Mandela has shown, sport is a powerful tool for changing unacceptable behaviors and promoting inclusive societies.” The Latin American representative of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Dr. Ariel Gelblung is planning an educational site in the Buenos Aires Olympic village. The initiative was inspired by a similar program, Football Against Racism in Europe, or FARE, to prevent violence at major sporting events. In March 2012, the Wiesenthal Center called on the Argentine Football Association to penalize the Chacarita Juniors soccer club over anti-Semitic chants from its fans against the Atlanta Athletic Club of Buenos Aires, a team associated with the Jewish community. One year later, the center asked for sanctions against Atlanta for making racist chants against rival Chacarita. (JTA) NY judge blocks demolition of historic Brooklyn synagogue A New York judge has issued a temporary restraining order to block the demolition of a century-old Brooklyn synagogue to make way for an apartment building. The order came after 17 members of the Chevra Anshei Lubavitch synagogue in the Borough Park neighborhood said
they did not know about the deal by two members to sell the property to a real estate developer. The members also questioned the amount paid for the synagogue, saying the synagogue never sought any other offers. State Supreme Court Judge Marsha Steinhardt ordered that no sides take “any step to proceed with the demolition of the current building or in any other way changing or altering” it. The order will remain in effect until October. Chevra Anshei Lubavitch, which is housed in a structure built in 1906, is the oldest operating synagogue in Borough Park. It reportedly purchased the building in 1914. The synagogue was sold in June to a developer for $3.1 million, and his plan for an apartment building on the space was approved by the state. As part of the plan, the synagogue will pay a one-time fee of $3 million to use the first floor and basement of the new building as a synagogue, according to reports. Some synagogue board members told the court that they only learned of the sale and arrangement after the deed was delivered to the developer. They said the purchase price was “grossly inadequate and does not represent the actual fair market value of the property,” and claimed the sale was “the product of a personal relationship between a trustee” and the developer. (JTA)
US opposes UN ‘blacklist’ of companies that do business in Israeli settlements The Trump administration has called on the United Nations not to publish a database of companies that do business in Israeli settlements. The database, which the administration calls a “blacklist,” was approved by the U.N. Human Rights Council in March 2016 and includes American companies such as Caterpillar, TripAdvisor, Priceline.com and Airbnb. The list is supposed to be updated annually. The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Raad Al Hussein, told U.S. officials that he plans to publish the list by the end of the year and asked
4 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
for comments by Sept. 1 from countries where listed companies are headquartered, the Washington Post reported, citing unnamed diplomats. The sources told the newspaper that Zeid, who previously served as Jordan’s ambassador to the United States, plans to move ahead with publishing the list, calling it a resource for consumers and travelers. Publication of the list has already been postponed once at the request of the United States, according to the Post. “We have made clear our opposition regarding the creation of a database of businesses operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, and we have not participated and will not participate in its creation or contribute to its content,” the newspaper quoted State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert as saying. “These types of resolutions are counterproductive and do nothing to advance Israeli-Palestinian issues.” Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, called the list “an expression of modern anti-Semitism.” The Human Rights Council has no power to sanction any of the companies on the list, but other U.N. committees could use the list to do so. (JTA)
ADL hires Arab-American former Homeland Security official The Anti-Defamation League has hired George Selim, an Arab-American former official at the Department of Homeland Security who worked on countering violent extremism. Selim, who served under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, resigned in July from his role as director of the Office of Community Partnerships at Homeland Security. Born of Egyptian and Lebanese descent, Selim worked primarily with Muslim communities in the United States to combat extremism. He also headed the Countering Violent Extremism Task Force, which coordinated those efforts among government agencies. Selim had worked as an adviser on civil liberties at Homeland Security, as well as at the National Security Council. Selim will head the ADL’s programs on
law enforcement, education, and community security, according to a news release. ADL National Director Jonathan Greenblatt praised Selim’s “unparalleled expertise in engaging communities to stop the destructive extremism that comes from all sides of the ideological spectrum.” ADL is one of a few national Jewish organizations collaborating with Muslims issues. It provides security consulting to religious institutions and publishes a handbook on best practices. At the time of Selim’s resignation, he told the liberal essayist Peter Beinart at the Atlantic, “There were clearly political appointees in this administration who didn’t see the value of community partnerships with American Muslims.” (JTA)
Public transportation on Shabbat is not essential need, Israeli government tells Supreme Court Public transportation on Shabbat is not an essential need, Israel’s government told the Supreme Court in response to a lawsuit. Several liberal groups and a Meretz party lawmaker, Tamar Zandberg, filed the lawsuit calling for public transportation during the 25 hours of the Jewish Sabbath. Buses and trains do not run in Jewish-majority cities of Israel on Friday night and Saturday prior to sundown. The State Prosecutor’s Office said in its filing that in response to certain requests, public transportation is provided on certain lines that are needed on Saturday. The prohibition against permitting public bus lines to run on Shabbat is “based on the law directing the relevant minister to take Israel’s traditions into account as much as possible when determining vehicle traffic on Shabbat,” the filing said, according to Ynet. “Providing licenses for driving on Saturdays, for what few cases specified in regulations, is therefore irregular and is thusly done sparingly.” Not having public transportation on Shabbat is part of the status quo agreement reached between the haredi Orthodox community and David Ben-Gurion before the formation of the state. (JTA)
Torah Thought
Kee Tavo
(Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8)
W
ith the High Holy Days 5778 soon upon us, how reflective of their grateful spirit and challenging thrust is this Parasha! The Israelites were taught that re-entering the Promised Land is more than a physical act. At the core of this great adventure is a spiritual drama calling for giving thanks through a heartfelt thanksgiving, to the God who led Israel from the diverse confines of Egypt’s House of Bondage to freedom’s open promise and the underlying premise of Sinai’s responsibility. The expected offering to the priest from the bounty of “a land flowing with milk and honey” and the consecrated field’s labor, is designed as an uplifting recognition of divine benevolence that should not go unnoticed, but be internalized for generations to come. It becomes a humbling act of acknowledging an individual’s, along with a people’s limitations, particularly for a nation covenanted to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” However, given the human proclivity to take blessings for granted and put aside the true record of one’s accomplishments and failings for short-term self-aggrandizement, implicit in the Israelites’ approaching the priest with earthly goods, is a remembrance of these gifts’ divine origin, which assumes even fuller significance while reciting the liberation saga of the Exodus. A liberation also from our own petty narrowness and pagan blindness to the larger scene of the human enterprise, in which God is a senior partner. It is precisely in the moment of peak
rejoicing of the harvest’s fruitful yield that the celebrating Israelites are commanded to recall the trying beginnings of their people’s sojourn and the subsequent suffering in the crucible of Egyptian tyranny—lest a journey of forgetfulness and neglect ensues with disastrous consequences. It is difficult, though, to reconcile the lyrically tender words, so very relevant at this trying time, “Hashkifa mimon kodschecha min-hashamayim uvarech et-amcha et-Yisrael.” (“Behold from the heights of your holy abode, from heaven
On the threshold of a New Year, may we pledge to pursue in tandem with the Most High the covenant’s loving, yet demanding agenda for our sake, as well as that of the Keeper of our lives.
and bless Your people, Israel…”), to the extraordinarily harsh and indescribable punishments to befall us for straying from God’s Covenant. On the threshold of a New Year, may we pledge to pursue in tandem with the Most High the covenant’s loving, yet demanding agenda for our sake, as well as that of the Keeper of our lives. Shana Tova of shalom’s sweet blessings of healing, hope, and harmony! —Dr. Israel Zoberman, founding rabbi of Congregation Beth Chaverim.
SKY-HIGH EARNINGS! Move your money to Langley and start earning higher returns today!
24 Month Certificate
1.36% APY
*
Limited time offer.
Open yours today! langleyfcu.org 757-827-5328
*APY=Annual Percentage Yield of 1.36% for a 24-month Certificate includes Active Rewards bonus. Minimum to open a Certificate is $1,000. Penalty for early withdrawal. Reinvests to regular 24 month CD at maturity. Some restrictions apply. Rate subject to change. Federally insured by NCUA.
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 5
Nation
A Jewish ‘Dreamer’ is scared, but refuses to despair Penny Schwartz
A GOAL
WITHOUT A PLAN is just a wish.
CUSTOM DESIGN / INSTALLATION Landscape Design | Hardscapes | Landscape Lighting | Hourly Consultations FINE GARDENING Seasonal Color | Container Gardening | Hand Pruning Mulching | Weed Control TURF MAINTENANCE Mowing | Turf Applications | Seeding | Sodding | Irrigation OTHER SERVICES Drainage | Tree Services | Mosquito Control | Organic Fertilization
Harry L. Delyannis
757-425-3272 • harry@hldlandscaping.com RESIDENTIAL • CUSTOM • DESIGN
For the Discerning Critic of Fine Gardening CONTACT US AT (757) 425-3272 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
www.hldlandscaping.com
6 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
BOSTON (JTA)—At 15, Elias Rosenfeld became a “Dreamer.” At the time, the Venezuela native was attending Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School in Miami, where he had lived since he was 6 years old, when his Jewish family moved to South Florida from Caracas. His mother was a media executive and they traveled to the United States on an L1 visa, which allows specialized, managerial employees to work for the U.S. office of a parent company. But tragedy struck the family: When Rosenfeld was in the fifth grade, his mother was diagnosed with kidney cancer. She died two years later. In high school, Rosenfeld applied for a driver’s permit, only to find out that he lacked the required legal papers. He discovered that his mother’s death voided her visa. He and his older sister were undocumented. “It was an embarrassing moment for me,” Rosenfeld recalls more than five years later. Within five months, in June 2012, President Barack Obama signed an executive order, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, granting temporary, renewable legal status to young unauthorized immigrants who had been brought to America by their parents as children. Known as DACA, the order opened up a world of opportunities for some 800,000 young people who were now able to apply for driver’s licenses, temporary work permits, and college. “Dreamers” refers to a bipartisan bill, known as the Dream Act, that would have offered them a path to legal residency. “It was the power of one order that can so directly change one’s life,” Rosenfeld says. “That launched me. I became an advocate.” He launched United Student Immigrants, a nonprofit to assist undocumented students that has been credited with raising tens of thousands of dollars for help with scholarships and applications. Rosenfeld, now a 20-year-old
sophomore at Brandeis University on a full scholarship, spoke with JTA at a rally Tuesday, Sept. 5 outside of this city’s Faneuil Hall, just hours after President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced they would rescind DACA. The president gave Congress a sixmonth window to preserve the program through legislation. Or not. The Boston protest was organized by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, where Rosenfeld is an intern. He shared his story with several hundred people at the quickly organized rally. He explained that DACA enabled him to drive, buy his first car, and apply for internships, jobs, and scholarships. “Today’s news was cruel and devastating. Now is not the time of despair, however, but to put our energy towards effective action,” he said, urging the crowd to work for protective legislation at the federal and state levels. There are some 8,000 DACA residents in Massachusetts. Several Jewish communal leaders attended the rally, including Jeremy Burton, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, and Jerry Rubin, president of Jewish Vocational Services. Representatives from the New England Jewish Labor Committee, which helped spread the word of the rally, held signs in the crowd. Another Dreamer, Filipe Zamborlini, who came to the U.S. from Brazil when he was 12 and now works as a career coach at Jewish Vocational Services, also spoke. “We’re going to mourn today,” Zamborlini, 28, told the assembly. Rosenfeld says the Trump administration’s decision was disturbing and unsettling. “There’s a high level of fear and anxiety in DACA communities,” he says. Rosenfeld recalls too well the sting and uncertainty of being undocumented. “It means you can’t do everything your peers and your friends are doing. You feel American, but you are suffering these consequences from choices you didn’t make,” he says.
Nation But he also sounded a note of optimism, pointing out that Trump called on Congress to act. “We hope Congress follows their president’s word now and does the job of passing one of the many pieces of legislation” before them, Rosenfeld says. He readily admits to feeling scared and anxious.
“But I’m also feeling empowered and motivated from seeing the outpouring of support,” locally and across the country, he says. To DACA opponents, including Jewish supporters of Trump, Rosenfeld asks them to look at the facts and the stories of people like himself. “I don’t think it aligns with our values,
with Jewish values and the Jewish community,” he says of a policy that would essentially strip a generation of people raised here of official recognition. Rosenfeld cites the activism of a group called Torah Trumps Hate, which opposes policies that it considers anathema to values contained in Jewish teachings. Growing up, his family attended
synagogue often and celebrated Shabbat and Jewish holidays. Despite the hardships he faced following his mother’s death, Rosenfeld excelled in high school. He completed 13 Advanced Placement courses and ranked among the top 10 percent of his graduating class, according to a Miami-Dade County school continued on page 8
The Ultimate Driving Machine
®
WELCOME TO THE NEW CHECKERED FLAG BMW VISIT US DURING OUR GRAND OPENING.
It began as a vision in Munich. Every detail carefully chosen.Crafted. A blend of sophisticated beauty and high-tech brilliance. Now, made into a reality right here in Virginia Beach!
GRAND OPENING SPECIAL. DRIVE A 2017 BMW 320i FOR $239 / MONTH.*
5225 Virginia Beach Blvd. (757) 490-1111 • bmw.checkeredflag.com *36 months lease. 10,000 miles per year. 10% down plus title, tax and license. First payment $599 and $925 acquisition fee due at signing.
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 7
LOCAL RELATIONSHIPS MATTER MEET:
Rabbi Roz Mandelberg
“Ohef Sholom has been here for 172 years, since 1844, but of course I haven’t been there since then. I’ve been here since 2005. The community is our extended family. We’re all responsible for one another. That’s what community means. Personal relationships are important. We get better service from local businesses. They work with us and they care about us, we’re not just a name on a form.”
“Payday Payroll is an exemplar of being a good corporate citizen. Payday Payroll doesn’t do community service to get more clients or to look good. They do it because it’s the right thing to do. [And] I know that I always get my paycheck on time.”
Wonderful clients since 1995
Start a relationship that matters today, call 757-523-0605.
w w w.p ayd ay p ay r o ll.co m
Comprehensive Payroll Solutions • ACA Compliance and Reporting • HR Support Center Automated Timekeeping • Employee/Applicant Background Screening Labor Law Poster Compliance • Accounting Software Interface • FinFit Employee Loans Pay As You Go Workers Comp Insurance • Payroll Debit Cards • Cobra Administration PD-adC-Qtr-Jewish News-Rabbi Roz-112716.indd 1
continued from page 7
bulletin. Rosenfeld was widely recognized as a student leader, receiving several awards and honors. During the presidential campaign, he volunteered for the Hillary Clinton campaign. Many students who were undocumented live in constant fear, even after receiving temporary legal status under DACA, Rosenfeld says. “There is fear behind the shadows,” he says. “We are always behind the shadows.” Earlier in the day, before the president’s announcement, Brandeis President Ron Liebowitz sent a letter to Trump urging him not to undo DACA. “Here at Brandeis University, we value our DACA students, who enrich our campus in many ways and are integral to our community,” the letter said. “Reversing DACA inflicts harsh punishment on the innocent. As a nation founded by immigrants, we can, should, and must do better.”
Rosenfeld was attracted to Brandeis both for its academics and its commitment to social justice. He is studying political science, sociology and law, with plans to continue his advocacy work on behalf of immigrants. He hopes one day to attend law school and work in politics or practice law. With a full schedule of courses and volunteer work, Rosenfeld gets by without much sleep, he acknowledges with an easy laugh. The Brandeis administration has been supportive, he says, and a meeting on campus to discuss school policy on the issue is planned. Asked what America means to him, Rosenfeld does not hesitate. “It means my country. It’s my home. There’s a connection. I want to contribute,” he says. “I just don’t think it’s valuable to want to kick out people that want to contribute to this country.”
11/27/16 3:23 PM
At this season of new beginnings . . . sending warm wishes that each season of your life be especially blessed.
TIDEWATER CHAVURAH Offering holiday worship filled with warmth, joy and fellowship.
Services will be held in Temple Israel’s Brody Auditorium in Norfolk
Contact Carol at 757-499-3660 or Betsy at 757-495-0730 Arrangements need to be made in advance.
Home
Nation
Plan ahead Home is coming in the October 9 issue. To advertise, call 757.965.6100 or email news@ujft.org
8 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
Jewish groups attack Trump’s call to end DACA immigration program Ron Kampeas
WASHINGTON ( JTA)—An array of Jewish groups and lawmakers attacked as immoral President Donald Trump’s decision to end an Obama-era program granting protections to illegal immigrants who arrived in the United States as children. The Trump administration said Monday, Sept. 4 that it would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program in six months. President Barack Obama had launched DACA in 2011 after multiple attempts failed in Congress to pass an immigration bill that would settle the status of 11 million undocumented immigrants. The program protected those who arrived as children from deportation and granted them limited legal status. In statements, Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the principal objection to Obama’s so-called Dreamers
program was that it was unconstitutional because it was established by an executive order, and indicated that Trump was ready to sign any congressional legislation that would accommodate the “dreamers.” It was unclear what would happen in the meantime or, should Congress not pass legislation, what would happen to the 800,000 people who have sought and received DACA’s protections. Trump in a statement said his hand was forced as well by plans by attorneys general from conservative states to sue to kill DACA. “The attorney general of the United States, the attorneys general of many states and virtually all other top legal experts have advised that the program is unlawful and unconstitutional and cannot be successfully defended in court,” he said. Republican leaders in Congress have expressed a willingness to pass the legislation necessary to protect the affected
Nation immigrants, but Jewish groups and lawmakers said ending the program presented immoral perils, given the failures of Congress in the past to agree on comprehensive immigration reform. “DACA recognized these individuals for who they are: Americans in everything but paperwork,” says Melanie Nezer, the vice president for public affairs of HIAS, the lead Jewish immigrant advocacy group. “Their hopes and dreams are no different from kids who are born here, and there is no legitimate reason for inflicting this needless suffering on them and their families.” The Reform movement calls the action “morally misguided” and demanded that Congress act to redress the rescission. “It is imperative that Congress step up in support of these young people who grew up in the United States and who want to give back to the only country they know as home,” says Rabbi Jonah Pesner, who directs the Reform movement’s Religious Action Center. “We call on Congress to protect DACA recipients from deportation by immediately passing a clean bipartisan Dream Act of 2017 – and on the president to support it.” Richard Foltin, the American Jewish Committee’s director of government affairs, calls the decision “devastating,” and the Anti-Defamation League says it was one of “a long list of actions and policies by this administration that have deeply hurt immigrants and their families.” The ADL notes the pardoning last month of Joe Arpaio, a former Arizona sheriff who had been convicted of discriminatory practices against Hispanics, and the threat to withdraw funding from cities offering sanctuary to illegal immigrants. Other Jewish organizations condemning the decision included Bend the Arc, J Street, the National Council of Jewish Women, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, the Shalom Center and the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect. Bend the Arc listed rallies across the country it would join to oppose the decision. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the umbrella body for public policy, says
it “strongly opposed” the decision and calls on Congress to act to protect the “dreamers.” “The Jewish community has a long history of active engagement in the struggles of new immigrants and in development of our nation’s immigration policy,” it says. “We believe that Congress must enact a permanent solution and we call on lawmakers to act immediately to protect immigrant youth by passing the ‘Dream Act of 2017,’ bipartisan legislation that would replace fear and uncertainty with permanent protection.” Jewish Democrats also slam the decision. “Terminating #DACA now puts 800,000 talented young #DREAMers who love, contribute to, and live in America officially at risk of deportation,” Rep. Eliot Engel, the top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said on Twitter. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., Engel’s counterpart on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says the decision was “clearly written with little thought of the human consequences.” Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, calls the decision “cruel and arbitrary.” Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., one of two Jewish Republicans in Congress, in a long and anguished statement, says he supports Trump’s decision, but adds that he would work to pass legislation to protect the undocumented immigrants. “I am very much willing to work with any of my colleagues on either side of the aisle on this issue and others to find common ground however possible,” he says. “Working together productively and substantively, I am hugely confident that long overdue progress can absolutely be achieved at least in part to move the needle more in the right direction.” Dreamers and their supporters on Monday, Sept. 5 held a candlelight vigil outside the home of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, the daughter and son-inlaw of the president. The couple, who both serve as advisers to the president, reportedly advocated for continuing DACA.
154-20151118-262780
www.mermaidfactory.com Norfolk • 919A W. 21st Street (757) 233-0733
Virginia Beach • 510 Laskin Road (757) 963-7700
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 9
Nation Preseason is buying Season. Condos from the $100s, Villas in the $200s, and single family homes priced in the $300s and higher.
Anne Phillips’ Couture
L’Shana Tova! Fall Fashions arriving daily from Joseph Ribkoff, Frank Lyman, Katherine Barclay, and other famous designers. The most beautiful jewelry to compliment your new Fall Fashions.
4216 Virginia Beach Blvd., Suite 180, Virginia Beach Located at Wayside Village Shops
Mon - Sat • 11 am - 5 pm • 757-431-2888
(or by appointment, including Sundays) Gift certificates available.
10 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
Rex Tillerson, heeding objections, says anti-Semitism envoy post to be filled
T
offices, while in other cases, positions he State Department will fill the and offices would be either consolidated post of special envoy for the Office or integrated with the most appropriate to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism bureau. If an issue no longer requires following the urging of lawmakers and a special envoy or representative, then Jewish groups, but will do away with an appropriate bureau will manage any or combine dozens of other diplomatic legacy responsibilities.” positions. Other envoys that will be retained Secretary of State Rex Tillerson include the special envoy for Israelimade the announcement in a letter sent Palestinian negotiations; Israel and the Monday, August 28 to Sen. Bob Corker, Palestinian Authority, U.S. security coorchairman of the Senate Foreign Relations dinator; special presidential envoy for Committee. the global coalition to defeat ISIS; the The special envoy post, which was ambassador-at-large for international mandated in the Global Anti-Semitism religious freedom; and the special envoy Review Act of 2004, has remained for Holocaust issues. unfilled since Trump’s inauguration in Of 66 current special late January, as have envoys or representatives, many other such posts. 30 will remain. Nine The envoy monitors acts positions will be elimof anti-Semitism abroad, inated, 21 will be documents the cases integrated into other in State Department offices, five merged with reports, and consults other positions, and one with domestic and transferred to the U.S. international nongovSpecial envoys Agency for International ernmental organizations. or representatives Development. The Office to will remain The Anti-Defamation Monitor and Combat of the 66 current positions League, which ran a camAnti-Semitism has been paign to urge Tillerson unstaffed since July 1. to retain the position, Congress memincluding sending the bers, Jewish groups and secretary of state a petiJewish leaders have been tion signed by thousands urging Tillerson to keep of Americans, praised the office open and name the decision. an envoy. “ We commend According to the Secretary Tillerson for listening to the Tillerson letter, the office will be returned voices calling for the appointment of the to the State Department’s Bureau of special envoy to counter anti-Semitism,” Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, National Director Jonathan Greenblatt with two positions and $130,000 in said in a statement. “This position has funding. been an essential diplomatic and politi“I believe that the Department will cal tool in fighting anti-Semitism around be able to better execute its mission by the globe. integrating certain envoys and special “We urge the State Department to representative offices within the regional refrain from eliminating other special and functional bureaus, and eliminating envoy roles which are vital to promoting those that have accomplished or outlived American values of democracy, tolertheir original purpose,” he wrote. “In ance and religious freedom across the some cases, the State Department would globe.” ( JTA) leave in place several positions and
30
hurricane Harvey
Bill’s
Tidewater Jewish community contributes to Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund
H
urricane Harvey bombarded the Gulf Coast on August 26
with destructive winds and devastating flooding. The storm caused catastrophic destruction throughout the city of Houston and surrounding areas. The need for immediate relief and long-term aid continues to rise, with experts predicting that this will be the costliest natural disaster ever. The
Jewish
community
of
Houston was heavily impacted by the hurricane. Following the storm, the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC of Houston was under 8 feet of water, and the most recent reports indicate that 16 members of the JCC staff were displaced from their homes as a result of the flooding. United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Tidewater Jewish Foundation have authorized an initial $10,000 gift ($5,000 from UJFT and $5,000 from TJF) to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, which will go through The Jewish Federations of North America. To donate to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund through Jewish Federations of North America, go to www.jewishva.org.
Rabbi leads a team of spiritual first responders in storm-tossed Texas Andrew Silow-Carroll
(JTA)—It was a day before Hurricane Harvey was due to make landfall, and Rabbi Shira Stern knew she was headed for Texas. As a director of Disaster Spiritual Care for the American Red Cross, she knew there would be people who would have other needs beyond shelter, beyond medical care, beyond a hot meal and a place to dry out. She met people just like them after floods devastated part of West Virginia in 2016, and when Superstorm Sandy pounded her own state, New Jersey, in 2012. So after a circuitous two days of travel she found herself in Dallas, overseeing a team of chaplains in the shelters set up for families chased out of Houston by flooding that so far has claimed at least 60 lives and destroyed tens of thousands of homes and businesses. She and her team of six volunteer chaplains are helping evacuees “access their own spiritual resources,” Stern says, speaking from the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas, which has beds for as many as 5,000 people displaced by the storm. “We don’t impose [our faith] on anybody. We meet people who are very religious or not religious at all or just atheist. We listen to their stories and affirm what they have gone through.” The clergy of all faiths are spiritual first responders, working with families as they arrive at shelters in Dallas and Fort Worth and partnering with local churches and faith-based organizations to do what Stern calls a “seamless carryover for continual care.” “We are a crisis team, and during the long haul of rebuilding, Houston and Davenport and Beaumont and all these other places are going to need long-term care,” she says. “In the process we are creating relationships with all of these faith-based groups.” Spiritual care is perhaps a lesser-known facet of relief provided by the American Red Cross and other organizations on hand, including the Salvation
Army and the National Guard. And it can discomfit some people who worry that clergy are there to make converts among distraught people. But Stern insists the work they do has nothing to do with proselytizing and everything to do with giving people only the tools and comfort they ask for. All the chaplains sign the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster guidelines, which means no proselytizing, no missionizing and no pushing their own faiths. “Suppose someone says, as many do, ‘I am so distraught I want to die,’” Stern says. “The natural response is, ‘You don’t really mean that.’ Instead, we listen to that and we say, ‘tell me more.’ And by listening to the narrative we allow them to make sense of it and put it in its place, and at the same time we open the doors if they are inclined to open those doors and are inclined to enter the spiritual. We never say, ‘I will pray with you or pray for you.’ We say, ‘how can I be helpful?’” Some 1,500 people have arrived at the convention center, most telling similar stories of wrecked homes, flooded highways and uncertainty about friends and loved ones. Around the state, about 42,000 people were housed overnight at shelters in Texas, the American Red Cross said Friday, September 1. Some couldn’t get in touch with family members, and some know people who have died. “There are families that have been separated, not just husbands and wives and mothers and grandparents, but sometimes children and parents,” Stern says. “And we hear stories of agony, and when we get them together the potential tragedy turns into something wonderful. An 8-year-old was brought to a shelter an hour away and it took 36 hours for her parents to find her.” Stern’s Disaster Spiritual Care team is part of a small army of spiritual and mental health professionals who have mobilized for Harvey and its aftermath, as they have done in previous disasters. On the Jewish side alone, the Network of Jewish continued on page 12
Will
Said a Lot About H1m.
What Does Your Will Say About You? Norfolk businessman Bill Goldback valued good health and
great arts performances. Before he died in 2007, Bill arranged for a Hampton Roads Community Foundation bequest to provide grants for performing arts and medicine in Hampton Roads. Goldback grants have helped the Virginia Symphony, The Hurrah Players, The Free Foundation and St. Mary’s Home do excellent work. Thanks to Bill’s generosity he will forever help people in his home region. Connect your passions to the future by ordering a free bequest guide. Learn how easy it is to leave a gift for charity.
www.leaveabequest.org. (757) 622-7951
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 11
Pride
Commitment
With over 13 years of mortgage lending experience serving the Hampton Roads area, I am committed to improving my community. I am proud of where I live and grew up, and I want everyone to feel that same pride. I show that pride and commitment to all of my clients, whether it is their first time buying a home or fifth. Please contact me for all your mortgage lending needs.
• VA • FHA • Conventional • Jumbo Financing • New Construction • Renovation Loans • VHDA First Time Home Buyer Loans
JEREMY KRUPNICK LOAN OFFICER, NMLSR# 298409
DIRECT: 757-822-9813 OFFICE: 757-644-3281
jkrupnick@coastalhomemtg.com www.coastalhomemtg.com/jkrupnick
NMLS #761796
hurricane Harvey continued from page 11
Human Service Agencies and the Jewish Family Service in Houston are launching an emergency support line to provide free telephone-based counseling. The Jewish Federations of North America sent a team of professionals to Houston to help its local federation and Jewish agencies locate community members, provide cash assistance, and work with displaced families. Groups like Chabad and the NCSY Orthodox youth group are dispatching volunteers. But Stern knows from experience that communities must also prepare for the long haul, that the trauma of surviving a disaster is “like a scar and remains in your soul.” When she is not volunteering with the Red Cross, Stern is the rabbinic associate at Temple Rodeph Torah in Marlboro, New Jersey, and director of the Center for Pastoral Care and Counseling there. She planned to stay in Texas until this week before heading back and preparing for the High Holidays. “I can’t get out of the sermon just because I am here in Dallas,” she jokes. When Stern does head back, she will
hand over her duties to another team of spiritual caregivers—they are already bracing for another storm, Hurricane Irma, that is gathering force over the Atlantic. She had nothing but the highest praise for her colleagues, who dropped everything and headed to Texas and for their troubles receive only a food allowance and a place to sleep. But Stern, who has performed bereavement counseling for 38 years, says she understands the spiritual rewards of this kind of work as well as the spiritual challenges. “When people ask, ‘Where is God in this?’ I tell them I try to find God in the people around me who are trying to help,” she says. “I never call these disasters ‘acts of God.’ I think that creates an immediate barrier between people and the divine. “I see God in—I don’t know why terrible things happen—but I do see God in the hands of the compassionate, giving individuals who up and leave their families and their work and whatever it is in order to come here and help people at the most critical crossroads of life.”
Israel looks to send $1 million in aid to flooded Houston Jewish community
Wishing you a year filled with
Peace, Health, Prosperity, and Happiness.
150 West Main Street l Norfolk, Virginia 23510 l 757.625.4700 l www.wec-cpa.com
12 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry is advancing a plan to send $1 million in emergency aid to Houston’s flood-hit Jewish community. In announcing the plan Monday, Sept. 4, Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett called it an “unprecedented” opportunity for Israel to repay world Jewry, which has helped the Jewish state in times of need. “The Jewish State is measured by its response when our brothers around the world are in crisis,” Bennett said in a statement. “For years the Jewish communities stood by Israel when it needed their help; now it is our turn to stand by Houston’s Jewish community.” Bennett’s office said the plan would be finalized in “the next few days” and presented for Cabinet approval first thing next week. The money would be transferred through Israel’s consulate in Houston and would go toward repairing and rebuilding local schools, synagogues, and Jewish community centers damaged by tropical
storm Harvey. “From talks we’ve had over the past week with the heads of the community and Israel’s Consul General we learned the damage [to the Houston Jewish community from the storm] is vast, and the rehabilitation will take years,” Bennett said. Israeli groups last week joined local Jewish institutions on the ground. The Israeli humanitarian group IsrAID rushed to Texas to provide supplies, remove debris and lead stress relief and recreational activities. United Hatzalah, a volunteer emergency service, sent its psychological first aid unit. According to a recent report issued by the Diaspora Affairs Ministry, American Jews give well over $2 billion to Israel every year, accounting for 9 percent of donations to the Jewish state. They contribute about another $12 billion through investments, exports and tourism, the report said. The U.S. government provides Israel $3 billion in annual military assistance.
hurricane Harvey
Houston Jewish community ravaged by Harvey’s torrential rains ( JTA)—Most Houston-area Jewish institutions have been flooded due to Tropical Storm Harvey and a large portion of the city’s Jewish population is living in areas that have experienced flooding, according to the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. “While we do not yet know the full extent of the damage, we know that most of our Jewish institutions have flooded,” the federation said Monday, August 28 in a Facebook post. “We know that 71 percent of our Jewish population lives in areas that have seen massive flooding and Jews have been displaced from their homes with flooding ranging from six inches to 10 feet. We know that close to 12,000 elderly members in our community live in areas impacted by flooding.” As some two inches of rain fell per hour in the Houston area, according to reports, Jewish institutions were pitching in to provide shelter and relief for those affected by the storm. Several displaced families were taking shelter at the Robert M. Beren Academy Orthodox Jewish day school, the Texas Jewish Herald Voice reported. The Union for Reform Judaism’s Green Family Camp in Bruceville, Texas, announced in a Facebook post that it
would open up to accept former campers, congregants, and friends affected by the storm. The post said the camp could provide housing, food, air conditioning, internet, and electricity “for a limited time.” Meanwhile, Chabad-Lubavitch of Texas is coordinating truckloads of kosher food to be sent to the area and will set up a kosher food pantry available to the Jewish community as supplies reach the area. Chabad emissaries in Houston have been preparing and delivering kosher meals to people evacuated to emergency shelters or who took shelter in hotels, according to Chabad.org. IsraAID, an Israeli-based humanitarian aid agency that responds to emergency crises and engages in international development around the world, said in a tweet that it was coordinating with governmental and nongovernmental first responders and that its emergency teams continue to prepare for deployment. It sent seven members to Houston, who were set to join three others who already were in the United States when the hurricane hit. “The level of rain that we’re seeing here is biblical,” David Krohn, a cantor at Houston’s Congregation Brith Shalom, told Haaretz. “It’s diluvian rain all day and all night, rain that keeps accumulating.” (JTA)
Jewish founder of Dell pledges up to $36 million to rebuild Texas (JTA)—Michael Dell, the Jewish founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, has pledged up to $36 million to rebuild Texas in the wake of the devastation caused by tropical storm Harvey. Dell announced the donation on Friday, Sept. 1 to the Rebulid Texas Fund, established by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. He grew up in Houston in a neighborhood that was hard hit by the tropical storm. “This disaster is personal to everyone who has roots in Texas. Both of us were born and raised in Texas, and the street
Michael grew up on in Houston is under water now,” a statement issued by the foundation said. The goal of the fund is to raise money “for longer term recovery and rebuilding of our communities, in addition to helping with immediate relief efforts,” according to the foundation. The Dell Foundation donation includes a matching campaign. The foundation launched the fund with $18 million and will match other donations up to another 18 million.
A good plumber is hard to find...
DON’T PANIC, CALL ATLANTIC 100OFF
$
HOT WATER HEATER INSTALLATION Expires 10/31/17 One per household. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer valid with repairs.
30OFF
$
PLUMBING OR HVAC REPAIR Expires 10/31/17 One per household. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer valid with repairs.
49.00
$
COMPLETE HVAC SYSTEM INSTALLATION Expires 10/31/17 One per household. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer valid with repairs.
24 Hour Emergency Service 7 days a week!
757-460-6100
Virginia Beach (757) 460-6100
Newport News (757) 874-2200
Richmond (804) 225-9616
www.atlanticheatcool.com jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 13
David Hazony is this year’s first Israel Today speaker on Tuesday, September 12. For information, go to page 41. To learn more about the Israel Today series, or to RSVP to this free, open to the community event, contact Melissa Eichelbaum at meichelbaum@ujft.org, or 757-321-2304
Israel today
David Hazony thinks that Israel can save American Jewish life
H
Sally Abrams
is must-read essay in Tower Magazine, “Israeli Identity and the Future of American Jewry,” outlines the scope of the assimilation problem we are facing. Hazony says: Oblivion knocks. The two obvious alternatives—aliya and Orthodoxy— require so radical a change in one’s lifestyle that they’re nonstarters for most American Jews. If those were the only options, most would choose oblivion. Hazony offers a third choice—Israel as a civilizational force, the source of a dynamic Hebrew culture that enables us to construct deeper, richer Jewish lives. He calls this “Israeliness,” a new form of Jewish identity, and he implores us to tap into it. Israeliness is a vigorous engagement with Israel the people and Israel the place. It means taking advantage of Israel’s
cultural exports, rooted in millennia of Jewish texts and experience. It stands apart from political activism on behalf of Israel. Israeliness is intended to nourish our Jewish souls, and in turn, those of our children. Hazony is on to something important. And in the best Israeli sense of being a bit audacious, I’d like to add a thought of my own. Jewish schools, camps, synagogues, and youth groups are essential partners in connecting our kids to the people and culture of Israel. But Israeliness begins in an Israel— loving home. Reading Hazony’s piece made me think back on raising our four kids. It was my own quest for a deeper Jewish connection that pulled me toward Hebrew and toward Israel. My family was swept along with me, in an unstoppable momentum
Best Wishes for a Happy New Year!
Ted Kaufman Vice President/Financial Advisor 500 E. Main St., Suite 300, Norfolk, VA 23510 757-446-6880 TKaufman@BBTScottStringfellow.com
BB&T Scott & Stringfellow is a division of BB&T Securities, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. BB&T Securities, LLC, is a wholly owned nonbank subsidiary of BB&T Corporation, is not a bank, and is separate from any BB&T bank or nonbank subsidiary. Securities and insurance products or annuities sold, offered, or recommended by BB&T Scott & Stringfellow are not a deposit, not FDIC insured, not guaranteed by a bank, not guaranteed by any federal government agency and may lose value.
14 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
that steadily ramped up the Israeliness in our home. We did not ignore Israeli politics and current events while raising our kids, but they did not dominate either. Our Israeliness was joyful and fun- f illed. Idan Rachel’s music—on high volume— rode along with us in the car. Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipes became the most requested dishes. Our kids still remember the thrill of taking Rami Kleinstein to dinner after he performed in Minneapolis. Visiting Israel as a family became a priority, a dream fulfilled in the summer of 1998. Not only was it the first trip to Israel for our kids, it was also the first for my husband and me. We wanted to experience Israel as a family before our kids headed there on teen programs. Our three-week trip was life-changing. It was, to quote an old song, “coming home to a place you’ve never been before.” While it took us 41 years to get to Israel for the first time, my husband and I have returned almost 20 times since. Our kids have returned to Israel on teen programs, Birthright, and other family trips. One child spent a semester at Hebrew U, another went on Young Judea’s Gap Year program. I love hearing our kids talk about Israel with familiarity and affection. Each one has a deep bank of experiences to draw upon. Our kids see travel to Israel not as a “one and done” bucket list item, but as a beloved place to return to again and again. We also brought Israel home by hosting Israeli counselors sent by the Jewish Agency to work at the JCC day camp. Each young adult was a delight, bringing his or her own Israeliness into our home. It was through this program that we got our “fifth kid,” the Israeli girl who became a member of our family. Her wonderful parents, siblings, and cousins became our family in Israel. Through these beloved people we experience an Israel far removed from the tourist scene. When our “Israeli daughter” married in 2009, our whole family traveled to Israel for the wedding. My husband and I even stood under the chuppah, alongside her parents. It was one of the happiest days
of my life. Over time, our family’s circle in Israel has grown, with loved ones in Hadera, Jerusalem, Haifa, and the Galilee. Israel is not an abstraction, a distant country on the map. Israel is Israelis, the people we know and love. Now three of our kids are married and raising Jewish families of their own. Our youngest child intends to do the same. How much did being raised in an Israelloving household shape the choices they have made? That’s impossible to measure. The question reminds me of the times my husband and I have gone to wine tastings. When the sommelier asks, “Do you taste the oakiness in that vintage?” all I can do is stare stupidly and nod yes. The truth? There’s no way I can separate out the flavor of the oak cask in which the grapes aged. It’s all blended together into something wonderful. Likewise, I cannot tease out the strand of growing up in an Israel-loving home. It’s blended together with other essential strands of raising Jewish kids : Jewish summer camp, Hebrew school, synagogue, youth groups, Shabbat and holiday observance, and more. I cannot quantify the impact of the Israeliness in our home. But I am certain it shaped our kids. Helping the next generation of parents create Israeliness at home should be a communal priority. I’m glad to be part of our community’s Partnership2Gether program, which pairs Minneapolis with Rehovot for people -to- people programming. It is the essence of what Hazony recommends: “…rediscovering Israel as a country, not just a cause, and yourself as someone searching…”. And it is this – seeing our Israeli counterparts as resources and partners in this journey. “Find your own Israel,” Hazony says. We did. I hope you will too. Sally Abrams co-directs the Speakers Bureau of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas. This piece was originally published in Times of Israel.
Conflict in Charlottesville
Shabbat sermon: A remarkable Bar Mitzvah ceremony on a day of concern Rabbi Arthur Ruberg
I
wasn’t here at Beth El last Shabbat, a day that brought concern and anxiety to us Jews in the Commonwealth and beyond. Miriam and I were in Florida so we could be with her father as he celebrated the 80th anniversary of his bar mitzvah. He put aside his walker and walked up on the bimah in his shul. He chanted his Haftarah in a loud and strong voice. He read his Maftir portion from the Torah scroll. He made a few remarks recalling the day of his bar mitzvah. Then he recited the Shehechinyanu as the congregation joined in. And of course, he sponsored the kiddush luncheon and was sure to arrange to add bagel, lox, and herring to the usual menu of tuna and egg salad. I lead off my sermon this morning with that story from last Shabbos. But why? Not only because it was about my father-in-law (many of you at Beth El know him). Not only because when a 93-year-old does what he did, it’s pretty remarkable. And not just to tell you that we’re not the only shul that serves Temple Tuna at kiddush. What made this 80th anniversary bar mitzvah celebration so special was where and when the original bar mitzvah took place. Albert Brunn’s bar mitzvah was held in Berlin, Germany on the Shabbat of Parashat Ekev in August, 1937. While he and his family were in shul praying and celebrating his coming of age as a Jew, Nazi brown shirts roamed the streets outside, bullying any Jews they saw. Nazi swastikas were displayed everywhere. Germans saluted each other with “Heil Hitler.” The boys who played soccer with Albert just a few years earlier no longer would even say hello. And it would only get worse. The next year, his synagogue was vandalized, looted, and burned on Kristallnacht, the “Night of the Broken Glass.” Men were carted away that day to concentration camps including Miriam’s maternal grandfather. And within another year, the Nazis invaded Poland. Worldwide war began and with it soon after, the
systematic murder of 6,000,000 Jews in Europe. The synagogue where Miriam’s father had his bar mitzvah was no longer. And frankly, so were most of the bar mitzvah guests, never to be seen again. That was Berlin in August of 1937. Fortunately, last Shabbat on August 12, 2017, a different spirit prevailed in Margate, Florida where we were. Not only was Albert Brunn still alive as a proud Jew while Hitler and all his Nazi henchmen were long gone, he was surrounded by loved ones. Two of his three daughters were there with him, one of his grandsons read Torah. And while his two little great grandsons were too young to make the trip, their lives are a testament to the family he built. Their attendance at JCC preschool, not to mention his Jewish educator daughter, his rabbi son-in-law and grandson, and grandson who made Aliyah just to mention a few—are all a tribute to the tradition he upheld 80 years ago and continues to uphold today. It was a moment that was emotional, exhilarating, and proud, not just for us the family, but for everybody in shul. But I have to share with you this—a day that seemed so perfect and should have been so perfect became tinged with sadness and concern that came from the news and the scary images emanating from of all places, our own Commonwealth of Virginia. Because 80 years to the day after my father-in-law’s bar mitzvah in Berlin, Nazis are on the march again, not in Germany where we expect it, but in the United States of America where we don’t, and in Charlottesville, no less. The TV news reporters called the modern-day purveyors of hate Neo-Nazis. Friends, they are not neo-Nazis. They are Nazis. They don’t have the power the German Nazis had. We need to make sure they never do. There is no Hitler to lead them today. And whatever you think of Donald Trump, please, please don’t compare him to Hitler. The invasion of Charlottesville last Friday night and Saturday was said to be perpetrated by White Nationalists from continued on page 16
ilbert Eyecare Fall in love with new Autumn Styles excellence in eyewear
Eyecare NORFOLK
Full scope eyecare including Pediatric Optometry
www.GilbertEyecare.com
220 W. Brambleton • 757-622-0200
VIRGINIA BEACH
1547 Laskin Road • 757-425-0200
Largest argest Scooter Selection! BEST PRICE GUARANTEE FREE DELIVERY www.goldentech.com 6059 East Virginia Beach Blvd. Norfolk, VA 23502
757.455-9889
Your Local Authorized Golden Dealer!
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 15
Conflict in Charlottesville continued from page 15
around the country. Call them that if you want. But they were Nazis. They dressed like Nazis. They shouted Nazi slogans. They came armed with guns like the Storm Troopers. Whenever the name of the Mayor of Charlottesville was mentioned, they shouted “Jew, Jew!” They chanted “Take back the country from the
Jews.” They cursed at a Jewish reporter and shouted at him “go back to Israel.” Some of you may have read the piece written by the president of the synagogue in Charlottesville. Suspicious looking characters patrolled the street outside the synagogue Shabbos morning and were heard to call out “There’s the synagogue” and “Sig Heil.” When the service was
Wishing you a healthy, happy and charitable new year. Since 1955
“Security in Every Job.”
HerculesFence.com • 757-321-6700
Congratulations to
Generations Home Health Approved for Accreditation by ACHC “Generations Home Health has demonstrated a commitment to providing quality care and services to consumers through compliance with ACHC’s nationally recognized standards for Accreditation.” Accreditation valid through July 25, 2020
16 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
over, the congregants were asked to go out the back entrance and to leave in groups. During Talmudic times, the Jews in Babylonia would leave their shuls in groups in case they were to be attacked. We’re not in Babylonia any more. But here 100 miles from us, it happened again. I know that African Americans have good reason to be angry, concerned, and afraid, too. And here I go talking just about attacks on Jews. I don’t apologize for that. For years, we have all quoted Pastor Martin Niemoller—“they came for this group, they came for that group, they came for them…but now they’re coming for us and there’s nobody left to stand up for me.” Those were Nazis marching in Charlottesville Friday night. They marched with torches; the “German fire,” one of my professors called them. They came to intimidate whatever students or others were taking refuge in the dorms on the grounds. If you closed your eyes, you could imagine you were at a Nazi night rally in Berlin or Nuremberg in 1937. For the Nazis of Germany, black people were almost irrelevant, an inferior race to be brushed aside. The Jews were the real enemy. Remember that. And so it is with today’s American Nazis. Last Friday night, many Jews and blacks said they were afraid. Personally, I’m not afraid. I’ve lived 71 years and seen some rough times in America and I’m not about to say the Nazis are about to take over. They may be emboldened. They may be boasting. But they’re not taking over. And no, I’m not going to talk today about what the President said and didn’t say, or did or didn’t do, and what he really believes. Publicly, he has equated the Nazis and the Klan with the violent actions of the American Left. Sixty-five million Americans voted for Donald Trump. Most of them are not racists. Most of them want no part of Nazis. Many of them had parents or grandparents who fought and died fighting the Nazis. The anti-Nazi and non-racist Americans can influence this government. They can make their views known to the president of their party. I know there are Jews in some numbers who voted for this president. Some of them either don’t want to admit it or are embarrassed by it. They
voted for him either because of their views about Israel or economics or because they simply disliked the other candidate. Frankly, they can have more influence on this president and his party representatives than some of us can. And my hope is that they will do that, that they will make their voices heard whether it’s to the President or to the Congress, or to Jared Kushner or to Fox News; their message I hope, will be this—yes, Mr. President, to an extent, you’re right. There are violent bad actors in America on both sides of the left-right divide. But America simply must not allow Nazis to thrive and to prevail. But first and foremost, they must be mar-
Those were Nazis marching in Charlottesville Friday night.
ginalized and they must be stopped. A lot of my rabbinic colleagues are into the approach of “fight hate with love.” To trivialize it, “have you hugged your neighbor today?” Personally, in the wake of Charlottesville, I’m not in the mood for hugs. I am in the mood for political action, for writing letters, for writing sermons, and for reaching out to those who will stand with us. My father-in-law has had an incredible life story. Maybe I’ll share it with you sometime. He lived during the rise of the Nazis. He encountered Nazis. But he outlasted them. With God’s help and with all of our action together, I hope that Charlottesville 2017 will be the high water mark of Nazi activity in this country, never to be reached again. Together we can make that happen. Shabbat Shalom, and may this Shabbat be better and more peaceful than last Shabbat. Rabbi Arthur Ruberg delivered this sermon at Congregation Beth El on Saturday, August 19.
L’Shanah Tovah
5778
Supplement to Jewish News September 11, 2017
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish News | 17
Wishing you a happy & healthy
ROSH HASHANAH 2
3
99
lb. Empire All Natural Kosher Turkey
5
ea.
Empire Kosher Chicken Sausage 12 oz. pkg., select varieties
3
99 ea.
8 oz pkg.
for
2 $5
3 lb. pkg., individually quick frozen
99 ea.
2 $5
2 $5
3 lb. Bag Yellow Onions
2
Empire Kosher Chicken or Turkey Bologna
12 oz. btl.
5 lb. Bag White Potatoes
Kedem Sparkling Juice
64 oz. btl., select varieties, save on first 2, additional quantities $4.99
25.4 oz. btl., select varieties
2 $1 for
4
99
10 $10 for
1
29
Ginger Gold Apples
lb.
for
Kedem Grape Juice
for
Essential Everyday Clover Honey
99
ea. Empire Kosher Chicken Split Breasts
frozen, all natural
for
2 $5
9
99
lb. Empire Kosher Turkey Breast
frozen, hen or tom
99
Serving the local community for 60 y rs!
Beigel Pretzels
5 oz. pkg., select varieties
2$3 for
Essential Everyday Egg Noodles 16 oz. pkg., select varieties
ea.
Yehuda Gelfilte Fish 24 oz. jar, select varieties
Kedem Tea Biscuits 4.2 oz. pkg., select varieties
2 $4 for
Osem Cake 8.8 oz. pkg., select varieties
299
ea.
Mrs. Adler’s Gefilte Fish or Pike’n Whitefish 24 oz. jar, select varieties
Sale prices effective only at 730 W. 21st St., Norfolk, VA through September 22, 2017. While supplies last. No rain checks. © 2017 Farm Fresh Supermarkets. All rights reserved.
18 | Jewish News | Rosh Hashanah | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
Ohef Sholom Temple wishes you
Published 21 times a year by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. 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
Shanah Tovah Happy New Year
Dear Readers,
A
s
this
High
Holiday
season
approaches, a fresh New Year feels
incredibly important for 5778. The news around the globe, nation, and our very
Terri Denison, Editor Germaine Clair, Art Director Sandy Goldberg, Account Executive Heather Sterling, Account Executive Marilyn Cerase, Subscription Manager Reba Karp, Editor Emeritus
own state, continues to have most of us on the edge of our seats and not far from our trusted news sources. Soon, however, we’ll be in our seats in our respective synagogues—and, hope-
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater John Strelitz, President Alvin Wall, Treasurer Stephanie Calliott, Secretary Harry Graber, Executive Vice-President www.jewishVA.org
fully, removed, if at least for a couple of hours, from the turmoil swirling around the world. After all, isn’t that part of the special beauty of these Days of Awe? Traditionally, a time for reflection and
The appearance of advertising in the Jewish News does not constitute a kashrut, political, product or service endorsement. The articles and letters appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of this newspaper. © 2017 Jewish News. All rights reserved.
repentance, the High Holidays are also a time for rejoicing, for celebrating, and, of course, for eating.
We would love to welcome you for the High Holidays. We are a warm and joyful Reform congregation, welcoming those of all religious backgrounds, race, and sexual orientation. We welcome Jews by birth, Jews by choice, and Jews at heart.
We offer:
• Jewish education for all ages • Spiritual prayer with inspirational music • Programming that fosters connections • Opportunities to make a difference in the world
A House of Prayer for All Peoples
www.ohefsholom.org 530 Raleigh Avenue Norfolk, VA 23507
Feel free to contact us: information@ohefsholom.org or 757-625-4295
If you’re still not sure where you will worship this season, or if you don’t have
Subscription: $18 year For subscription or change of address, call 757-965-6128 or email mcerase@ujft.org.
your congregation’s details handy, the listing, which begins on page 22, is a good resource. United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Shalom Tidewater helped compile the information. Did you know that JNF used to issue High Holiday stamps? I didn’t either. But Joe Weintrob, a local avid stamp collector,
QR code generated on http://qrcode.littleidiot.be
has pages and pages of them. Our brief piece about him and his collection is on
Upcoming Special Features Issue Date Sept. 25
Topic
Deadline
page 30.
L’SHANAH TOVAH! from
Shikma Rubin
A couple of personal reflections for the holidays, as well as a great chicken pomegranate recipe, rounds out the section.
Yom Kippur
Sept. 8
Oct. 9
Home
Sept. 22
On behalf of the Jewish News staff, I
Oct. 23
Mazel Tov
Oct. 6
wish you a happy, healthy, and peaceful
Nov. 6
Veterans
Oct 20
Nov 20
Business
Nov. 3
Dec. 4
Hanukkah
Nov. 17
New Year. L’Shanah Tovah!
Shikma Rubin - (757) 490.4726 c Licensed Mortgage Consultant, NMLS# 1114873
srubin@tidewaterhomefunding.com TidewaterHomeFunding.com/shikma/ Terri Denison Editor
Tidewater Home Funding is licensed in Virginia, North Carolina & Florida. NMLS# 41552 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish News | 19
Rosh Hashanah Unique High Holiday stamps part of Joe Weintrob’s collection
CRN-1582467-083016 Ticatch Financial Management is not an affiliate of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp.
J
ISRAEL BONDS Invest in Your Traditions INVEST IN ISRAEL BONDS israelbonds.com
2017 • 5778
Development Corporation for Israel 11140 Rockville Pike, Suite 585 N. Bethesda, MD 20852 washington@israelbonds.com 877.425.1918
Invest in Israel Bonds israelbonds.com This is not an offering, which can be made only by prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before investing to fully evaluate the risks associated with investing in Israel bonds. Member FINRA
20 | Jewish News | Rosh Hashanah | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
oe Weintrob knows a thing or two about stamps. After all, he’s been collecting them since 1955. While his chief focus is generally postage stamps from around the world, a stamp for a different purpose caught his eye in the mid 1980s. “I was asking about Israeli stamps at a stamp show and found these,” says Weintrob. “These” are “Bank of the Book of Israel” stamps produced by Jewish National Fund that were used primarily to decorate High Holiday tickets and to put on letters to indicate support of JNF. JNF began issuing the High Holiday stamp series in 1936 and stopped production in 1962— about the same time
it started selling trees, according to Weintrob. The stamps originally cost about 25 cents, but now sell for $3 or $4 and up to $80 each. “I have to go to every dealer at stamp shows to ask if they have Israeli stamps,” says Weintrob. “Most dealers just don’t know what to do with them because they’re not postage stamps.” Weintrob says he also purchases the stamps on ebay. To find them, he searches Israel/JNF/KKL (Keren Kayemeth L’Israel). The current vice president of Brith Sholom, Weintrob laughs when asked why he started his collection. “I was a Cub Scout and my mom was the Den Mother. She told me I needed a hobby and to start a stamp collection. I don’t think she thought I’d still be doing this at my age.”
Rosh Hashanah This Rosh Hashanah, I challenge you to focus on the positives Nina Badzin
(Kveller via JTA)—Two essential parts of preparing for Rosh Hashanah, our clean slate for the year, is asking forgiveness from anyone we wronged and making a list (mental or written) of the ways we fell short since the last time we heard the shofar. Ideally that hard work of going to friends, family, and anyone else deserving of our forgiveness happens in the weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah. By the time Yom Kippur rolls around 10 days later, we should be ready to confess our mistakes as a community, having already considered our personal paths to “teshuvah,” repentance, and how we will do better this year. I find the exercise of writing down all my regrets before Rosh Hashanah rather easy. If, like me, you’re the kind of person with a high capacity for guilt, you probably find that task easy, too, since we already felt badly about it during the year. I regret contributing to any gossip. I regret listening to any gossip. I regret not helping individuals or organizations more. I regret not calling more. I regret not answering the phone. I regret resorting to texts and emails. I regret the rudeness of looking at my phone in the middle of a conversation. I regret all the times I rolled my eyes. I regret any time I spoke more than I listened, both in person and online. I find that my kids, perhaps through nature and nurture, also have no problem (OK, after some prodding) coming up with people deserving of apologies and ways they could have behaved better during the year. Surprisingly, the more challenging task for all of us is remembering the times we could have made the wrong choice but didn’t. In Rabbi Joseph Telushkin’s book A Code of Jewish Ethics Volume I: You Shall By Holy, he suggests that in addition to focusing on our transgressions before Rosh Hashanah, we also make a list of the good we did this year. He provides a sample prayer modeled after the Al Chet (“For the sin I committed by.…”) recited
on Yom Kippur. Instead of “For the sin I committed,” he starts each line with “For the mitzvah we (or I) performed.” He ends the prayer with these encouraging words: “All these things, God, please remember and inspire us to do more acts like these in the year ahead.” I find the “For the mitzvah I performed” exercise difficult because it feels like a brag sheet and encouraging our kids to similarly “brag” can be confusing for them, too. But the power of focusing on both the mistakes and the positive actions we performed this year is about as powerful of a Rosh Hashanah preparation that you can get. By considering all the good I did in a year, I am reminded of my capacity to make the right choices, and it provides hope that I can do even more good in the year ahead. Perhaps one day the “mitzvah list” will look longer than the regret list, but I don’t believe God expects perfection. Think about the wisdom of the fact that the one major mitzvah (commandment, not “good deed”) for Rosh Hashanah is to hear the shofar. The shofar is our spiritual wake-up call. It would not be required every year if we were expected to have lived flawlessly. I challenge everyone to make a list of all the good you did this year, even if it’s something you only did one time and fell short every other time the situation presented itself. That is the point of this prayer, to remind us that if we were able to avoid, for example, contributing to gossip during one conversation, then we have the capacity to make that same good choice again. I’ll give you a few sample ideas. Remember, even if I only made the right choice once, it counts! For the mitzvah I performed by happily donating money to a friend’s race. For the mitzvah I performed by consciously focusing on someone’s positive traits even when I was angry, or at least not exaggerating the incident that made me mad. For the mitzvah I performed by not passing on information that was not mine
Family owned and operated since 1917
SouthSide ChApel 5792 Greenwich Road Virginia Beach 757 422-4000
MAeStAS ChApel 1801 Baltic Avenue Virginia Beach 757 428-1112 Chris Sisler, Vice President, Member of Ohef Sholom Temple, Board member of the Berger-Goldrich Home at Beth Sholom Village, James E. Altmeyer, Jr., President, James E. Altmeyer, Sr., Owner
Advance funeral planning Flexible payment plans Financing available
CheSApeAke ChApel 929 S. Battlefield Boulevard Chesapeake 757 482-3311
Making your arrangements in advance is one of the best ways to show your loved ones that you care about them. Our Family Service Counselors have the training and experience that will help you in the process. Our services
denbigh ChApel 12893 Jefferson Avenue Newport News 757 874-4200
include a free funeral cost estimate, and we offer many options for financing. Visit our web site for a three-step Pre-Arrangement Guide or contact the Altmeyer Pre-Arrangement Center directly at 757 422-4000
RiveRSide ChApel 7415 River Road Newport News 757 245-1525
www.altmeyer.com
Approved by all area Rabbis and Chevrah Kadisha to share. For the mitzvah I performed by admitting to my spouse or my children that I was wrong. For the mitzvah I performed by graciously hosting friends for Shabbat. For the mitzvah I performed by introducing friends to each other and introducing professional contacts to each other rather than hoarding the people in my life. For the mitzvah I performed by remembering not to “reply all,” thereby avoiding wasting everyone’s time. For the mitzvah I performed by donating
my time even when I would rather be watching something on Netflix. To repeat Rabbi Telushkin’s concluding line, “For all these things, God, please remember and inspire us to do more acts like these in the year ahead.” Nina Badzin is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer and mother of four. Her essays, short stories and book reviews have appeared on numerous sites and in literary magazines. She is the co-founder of The Twin Cities Writing Studio, blogs weekly at http://ninabadzin.com and tweets @NinaBadzin.)
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish News | 21
Rosh Hashanah
41 Annual September Sale
High Holiday Services 5778
st
WED.
20
THURS.
21
FRI.
SAT.
22
SUN.
23
24
OUR ENTIRE STOCK WILL BE ON SALE
25 –50 %
%
Regular Price
SALE HOURS 10:00AM - 7:00PM This is our only sale! Don’t miss it!
w w w. K i t c h e n B a r n O n l i n e . c o m
Hilltop North Shopping Center • 757-422-0888
L ’Shana Tovah!
Freda H. Gordon Hospice & Palliative Care wishes you and your family a sweet and Happy New Year!
Freda H. Gordon
Hospice and Palliative Care
5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 500 • Virginia Beach, VA 23462 757-321-2242 • www.hpctidewater.com
22 | Jewish News | Rosh Hashanah | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
T
idewater’s Jewish community provides myriad places and ways to worship, observe, and celebrate the High Holidays. Shalom Tidewater compiled the following list which includes times of services and contact information for area congregations.
B’nai Israel Congregation
bnaiisrael.org • 757-627-7358 Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 20 Minchah 6:45 pm Candle Lighting 6:47 pm Thursday, September 21 Shachris 8 am HaMelech 8:45 am Torah Reading 10:25 am Sermon and Shofar 10:45 am Community Tashlich 5 pm Minchah 6:15 pm Class Maariv 7:35 pm Candle Lighting 7:42 pm Friday, September 22 Shachris 8 am HaMelech 8:45 am Torah Reading 10:25 am Sermon and Shofar 10:45 am Minchah 6:30 pm Candle Lighting 6:44 pm Maariv: Following Mincha Yom Kippur Monday, September 25 Class with Rabbi Haber: Toward a Meaningful Yom Kippur 7:15 pm Friday, September 29 Slichos 6:30 am Shacharis 7 am HaMelech 9:30 am Torah reading 11:20 am Sermon 11:50 am Yizkor, approximately 12:10 pm Minchah 5 pm Neilah 6 pm Havdalah 7:28 pm B’nai Israel services are open to all Jews in Tidewater. Childcare is provided during major services. To inquire about membership or reservations, email office@bnaiisrael.org.
Chabad of Tidewater
chabadoftidewater.com 757-616-0770 Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 20 Evening Services 7 pm Community dinner 8:15 pm Thursday, September 21 Morning Services 10 am Shofar Sounding 11:45 am Mincha and Tashlich Services 5 pm Evening Services 7:40 pm Community dinner 8:15 pm Friday, September 22 Morning Services 10 am Shofar Sounding 11:45 am Evening Services 7 pm Yom Kippur Friday, September 29 Kaparot Morning Services 8 am Afternoon Service 3:30 pm Fast Begins 6:47 pm Kol Nidrei Services 6:40 pm Saturday, September 30 Morning Service 10 am Yizkor Memorial Service 12:30 pm Mincha and Neilah Closing Service 5 pm Fast ends at 7:28 pm Followed by light dinner
Congregation Beth Chaverim
www.bethchaverim.com 757-463-3226 Guest Rabbi Dan Roberts Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 20 Eve of Rosh Hashanah Services 8 pm
Rosh Hashanah Thursday, September 21 Rosh Hashanah Service 10:30 am Friday, September 22 Friday Night Service 8 pm Saturday, September 23 Discussion with Rabbi Roberts, Kiddush Lunch to follow 10:30 am Yom Kippur Friday, September 29 Kol Nidre Services 8 pm Saturday, September 30 Yom Kippur Services 10:30 am Youth Services with guest singer Chuck Fink and Youth Group 10:30 am Discussion with Rabbi Dan Roberts 2 pm Vidui Service with special guest Chuck Fink 3 pm Torah Service 4 pm Yizkor Memorial Service and Concluding Service 4:30 pm Sisterhood Break-the-Fast immediately follows: $15 per adult, $6 per child 7-12, free for children under 3.
Congregation Beth El
bethelnorfolk.com • 757-627-4905 Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 20 Erev Rosh Hashanah Congregational Service 5:45 pm Family Service 5:45 pm Thursday, September 21 Shacharit 8:15 am Babysitting 9:30 am Children’s programming 10:30 am Tashlikh (at The Hague) 5 pm Mincha-Maariv (at Beth El) 6:45 pm Friday, September 22 Shacharit 8:15 am Babysitting 9:30 am Children’s programming 10:30 am Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat 5:45 pm Yom Kippur Friday, September 29 Erev Yom Kippur Kol Nidre 6:15 pm Babysitting 6:15 pm
Saturday, September 30 Shacharit 9 am Babysitting 10 am Children’s programming 10:30 am Yizkor 12:45 pm Study session 3:15 pm Mincha 4:15 pm Neilah 5:30 pm Maariv 7:20 pm Blowing of Shofar/Havdalah 7:30 pm Light Processional 7:30 pm
Kempsville Conservative Synagogue Kehillat Bet Hamidrash
kbhsynagogue.org • 757-495-8510 Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 20 Ma’ariv 6:45 pm Thursday, September 21 Services 9:30 am Meet at KBH to walk to Tashlich 6:45 pm
Tashlich services followed by Mincha and Ma’ariv at KBH 7 pm Friday, September 22 Services 9:30 am Yom Kippur Friday, September 29 Candle Lighting 6:31 pm Kol Nidre 6:40 pm Saturday, September 30 Services 9:30 am Yizkor approximately 12 pm Mincha and Neilah 5:30 pm
Ohef Shlolom Temple
ohefsholom.org • 757-625-4295 Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 20 Early Service Family-Friendly Worship and Child Care 6:15 pm Late Service 8:15 pm Thursday, September 21 Early Service, Family-Friendly Worship and Child Care 9 am Late Service 11:30 am continued on page 24
& SHMEARS Holiday entertaining is easy with Einstein Bros. Bagels!
We can cater to any size group and deliver fresh-baked bagels, delicious egg sandwiches, fresh-brewed coffee & so much more to your home, office or anywhere.
EBCATERING.COM 1.800.BAGEL.ME (1.800.224.3563)
1148 Volvo Pkwy. • Chesapeake, VA 23320 • 757.410.3646 Franchise Location • Locally Owned & Operated
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish News | 23
Rosh Hashanah continued from page 23
Sunday, September 24 Tashlich at the Hague 11am Yom Kippur Saturday, September 30 Early Service, Family-Friendly Worship and Child Care 9 am Late Service 11:30 am Study Session (in Chapel) 1:30 pm Afternoon Service (in Chapel) 2:45 pm Interlude 4 pm Memorial and Concluding Services 4:15 pm Break the Fast and and Havdalah 6 pm
Rodef Sholom Temple Interested in services? Contact Pam Gladstone. 422 Shirley Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23517 757.625.7821
www.bethelnorfolk.com
Sharing Judaism. Enriching Holidays.
Wishing You a Year full of
Happiness & Joy Providing Care to Children and Adults for Over 60 years
Norfolk (757) 583-4382 Chesapeake (757) 547-7702 Virginia Beach (757) 481-4383 www.allergydocs.net
24 | Jewish News | Rosh Hashanah | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
rodefsholomtemple.org 757-826-5894 Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 20 Evening Service 8 pm Thursday, September 21 Morning Service 9 am Mincha-Maariv (followed by light supper) 6:30 pm Friday, September 22 Shabbat Shuvah Service 6 pm Saturday, September 23 Shabbat Shuva Service 9:30 am Sunday, September 24 Graveside Prayers (Jewish Cemetery of the Virginia Peninsula, Rosenbaum) 11 am Tashlikh at Huntington Park Beach 4:30 am Yom Kippur Friday, September 29 Kol Nidre Service 6:45 pm Saturday, September 30 Morning Service 9:30 am Study Session 4:15 pm Mincha/Neilah Service 5:14 pm Shofar Blowing 7:17 pm Maariv 7:18 pm Break the Fast 7:29 pm
Temple Emanuel
tevb.org Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 20 Evening Services 6 pm Thursday, September 21 Babysitting 9:30 am* Family Service 10 am
Friday, September 22 Morning Services 8:30 am Sunday, September 24 Family Beach Picnic 12:15 am Tashlich with Religious School Yom Kippur Friday, September 29 Kol Nidre Service 7 pm Saturday, September 30 Morning Services 8:30 am Babysitting 9:30 am* Family Services 10 am Tora Services and Yizkor 10:30 am Minha and Neilah 5:30 pm Community Break the Fast 7:40 pm Wednesday, October 12, 9 am Babysitting* 10 am Family Service 10:30 am Torah Service and Yizkor 11:30 am Mincha and Neilah 5 pm Community Break the Fast 7:20 pm *Babysitting available for infants–5 years. RSVP to the Temple office.
Temple Israel
templeisraelva.org, • 757-489-4550 Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 20 Evening Services 6:30 pm Thursday, September 21 Morning Services 8:45 am Tashlich at Nancy Tucker’s home 5:45 pm Children Ages 3–6, Education Wing 10:30 am Ages 7–12, Sandler Hall 10:30 am Arts and Crafts (Sandler Hall) 12 pm Friday, September 22 Morning Services 8:45 am Minch and Kabbalat Shabbat 6:30 pm Yom Kippur Friday, September 29 Minchah Services 6:15 pm Lei Lei Berz—Cello Solo 6:25 pm Kol Nidrei Services 6:30 pm Saturday, September 30 Morning Services 8:45 am Mincha Service 5 pm Ne’ilah 5:45 pm Shofar and Break Fast 7 pm Children Ages 3-6. Education Wing 10:30 am Ages 7-12, Sandler Hall 10:30 am Arts & Crafts (Sandler Hall) 12 pm
New Adventures are Calling this Fall!
Temple Sinai
templesinai-nn.org • 757-596-8352 Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 20 Evening Services followed by Oneg Shabbat (Childcare available) 7:30 pm Thursday, September 21 Morning Service immediately followed by Tashlich ceremony at Lion’s Bridge (Mariner’s Museum) 10 am Yom Kippur Friday, September 29 Yom Kippur Eve Service (childcare available) 7:30 pm Saturday, September 30 Morning Service (childcare available) 10 am Afternoon Service 2 pm Yizkor Service (childcare available) 3:45 pm Ne’lah Service followed by Break-the-Fast 4:45 pm
T H E TA L B O T ON GRANBY
Tidewater Chavurah
tidewaterchavurah.org • 757-464-1950 Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, September 20 Evening Service 7 pm, Brody Auditorium, Temple Israel, Norfolk Thursday, September 21 Morning Service 10 am, Brody Auditorium Tashlich 5 pm, Congregants’ home in Virginia Beach Yom Kippur Friday, September 29 Kol Nidrei 7 pm Brody Auditorium, Temple Israel Saturday, September 30 Morning Service/Yizkor 10 am Brody Auditorium N’ilah and Break-the-Fast 6 pm Congregants’ home in Virginia Beach
Whether you’re in the mood to play horseshoes, enjoy dining with new friends every night, attend water aerobics class, or simply view a movie with your neighbors, new adventures are waiting for you at The Talbot on Granby. This fall, leave the cooking, cleaning, and home maintenance to us. It’s your turn to relax and enjoy our
T H E TA L B O T
exceptional lifestyle.
ON GRANBY
Call 757-451-5100 to learn more about our fall specials!
6311 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23505
www.TheTalbotOnGranby.com jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish News | 25
Rosh Hashanah OP-ED
Yom Kippur is a reminder of the awesome, and awful, power of words Joyce Newmark
L ’Shana Tovah!
Jewish Family Service of Tidewater wishes you and your family a sweet and Happy New Year!
You never know when you’ll need help, but you’ll always know where to find it.
L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu!
26 | Jewish News | Rosh Hashanah | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
(JTA)—For nearly 50 years, my father had a best friend named Al. They grew up in the same neighborhood in Brooklyn, and after returning from the service in World War II, they each married and moved to the same Long Island town and opened related businesses. They were closer than brothers. In fact, when my brother and I were growing up, our parents’ wills named Al and his wife, rather than any relatives, as the people who would become our guardians should that become necessary. Even after my parents moved to Nevada, the two couples remained close, speaking on the phone every week or so and visiting back and forth every couple of years. Almost 40 years ago, Al’s daughter was getting married and my parents were planning to travel to New York for the wedding. One day, the two couples were on the phone talking about the wedding. My mother had recently undergone foot surgery and was walking around in ugly post-surgery shoes. “I may have to wear blue jeans and sneakers, but we’ll be there,” she told Al’s wife. The response: “But the wedding is formal!” My mother was hurt. She thought the only proper response to her statement was, “We don’t care what you’re wearing, we just want you to be there.” Al’s wife was hurt, too. She felt that my mother had to know how stressed she was trying to plan the perfect wedding and shouldn’t have teased her. Neither would apologize. The phone calls became less frequent and my parents began saying that traveling to New York would be expensive and uncomfortable—and in early September it would be hot and humid. They decided not to attend the wedding. Nine months later Al was dead of lung
cancer and my father finally flew to New York to be a pallbearer at the funeral. Like many men of his generation, my father wasn’t one to talk about his feelings, but from the day Al died he insisted that when you were invited to a simcha you must go, no matter the circumstances. Still, it was too late to repair what had been broken. All this hurt resulted because no one involved could take back a few unthinking words spoken in haste. The power of words has a very real, almost physical presence on Yom Kippur. Look at the list of “al chets,” or confessions, that we recite again and again on this day. We confess our sins of using foul language, speaking falsehoods, idle chatter, slander, disrespecting our parents and teachers, and spreading gossip. On and on; perhaps half the sins we confess are sins of speech. Why? Because, despite our communal confessions on Yom Kippur, most of us are not thieves or doers of violence. We are not evil people, but sins of words are easy to commit. We do it every day. That’s why at the end of every Amidah we recite the prayer of Mar, son of Ravina, “My God, keep my tongue from evil, my lips from lies,” rather than praying “God, help me not to steal, help me not to murder.” The truth is, you can never take back words, you can’t go back to the time before the words were spoken. You can’t forget, but you can forgive. And most important, the time to do something about broken relationships is now and not next year or someday. Nothing is more precious than love and friendship. Because words have power, not only to hurt but to heal. —Rabbi Joyce Newmark of Teaneck, New Jersey, is a former religious leader of congregations in Leonia, New Jersey, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Rosh Hashanah How I keep my Bubbe’s memory alive during the High Holidays Stacey Zisook Robinson
(Kveller via JTA)—As a kid, I didn’t live a particularly Jewish life. We were sent to Hebrew school on Tuesdays and Thursdays and got dropped off at Sunday school. We fidgeted through services occasionally— usually because we were attending a bar mitzvah or it was High Holidays season. I went to Saturday morning services pretty regularly the year prior to my own bat mitzvah—only because it was a requirement. My parents were under no such requirements, so their weekends were filled with other things. They got their Judaism through osmosis, I guess—the act of taking us to temple, their proximity to the building, hearing us practice a prayer or a chant. That was Jewish enough for them. Don’t get me wrong, they took great pride in their Judaism. Not only did they occasionally drop into a service on Shabbat, they never missed attending High Holidays services, enjoyed lox and bagels on Sunday mornings at the local deli (and the much less kosher ribs on Sunday nights), followed all the “famous” Jews who made it into the news for good (ya!) or ill (oy!), and observed all the holidays (that they knew of), and by “observe” I mean mom cooked a huge meal and the extended family came to feast. The beginning of every holiday meant soup. Chicken soup, replete with lokshen (noodles), knaidlach (matzah balls, the harder the better), kreplach (think “Jewish ravioli” and you’ll be close). Even those occasional Friday nights when, for no discernible reason, mom got it into her head to “do Shabbat,” dinner started with chicken soup. And while her mother would make the noodles from scratch, along with the kreplach and knaidlach, mom was happy to start with the package variety of everything but kreplach. My mother visited her mother often. We lived in the south suburbs of Chicago; Bubbie was on the north side, our version of the shtetls of Poland and Russia, though
made up of high rises and gorgeous lake views. Still, Tevye would have fit right in after a day or two. Every so often, her pilgrimage had a specific mission: replenish the kreplach supply. She stored them in the freezer until needed. I would come across the bag every so often as I searched for something else and I would seriously think of taking — just one! — to eat, but in the days before microwaves, I couldn’t come up with a way to do it quickly and, more important, stealthily. As my grandmother aged, though the quality never diminished, the amount of kreplach did. It was difficult for her to chop the meat by hand, in her wooden bowl and with an ancient blade. Somewhere my mother has that recipe for kreplach, as dictated by my Bubbie. There’s even a video of her, my mother, sister-in-law, and niece learning the art of kreplach-making. Mom also has the recipes for brisket and chopped liver and challah and roasted chicken and kishke and every other food that has come to mean holiday and feast and family and love. Most are kept in her head. I told her years and years ago that she never needed to buy me another present, that for any birthday or holiday, all she needed to do was write down one of the recipes. She swears she’s doing this, but I’m not holding my breath. I know—I could look up the recipe for anything I would ever want to cook on the interwebs. But those recipes don’t taste the same as the ones from my mother, who got them from her mother, who got them from her mother, who got them from that long line of ancestors going back into almost forever ago. When I make my soup—as I did last year for Rosh Hashanah—I think back to my Bubbie, whom I called the first time I made her soup. Add some salt, she said. How much? Enough. You’ll taste it. But it’s water, Bubbie!! You’ll know. An exasperated sigh. Add the carrots after you’ve skimmed off the dreck that floats to the top. Dreck? Ew. Don’t forget the dill! How
High Holy Days • 5778 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Eve of Rosh Hashanah Service • 8:00pm
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Rosh Hashanah Worship • 10:30am
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 Kol Nidre Service • 8:00pm
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Yom Kippur Morning Service • 10:30am Discussion with guest Rabbi Dan Roberts • 2:00pm Afternoon Service • 3:00pm Yiskor & Concluding Service • 4:00pm Break-the-fast to follow in our Social Hall
• All Guests Welcome • Youth Services and Babysitting available upon requestt
L’Shanah Tovah! Congregation Beth Chaverim
3820 Stoneshore Road, Virginia Beach 23452
Virginia Beach’s only Reform Temple
much dill? Enough. You’ll know. Oy. I was beginning to sense a pattern here. Finally: And five minutes before it’s done…. Wait. What? How will I know when it’s done? You’ll know. I feel my grandmother with me whenever I make her soup. I feel her mother, and hers, and all of them—that long line of them back to forever ago. My kitchen is crowded with their presence, in the steam and the scent and the bubbling pot that holds so much more than soup. I got lost in that thought as I stirred and skimmed that day. My 17-year-old
came into the kitchen. “Soup!” he said. I nodded. “You know, you have to write that recipe down for me before I go away to school next year.” I nod again, mostly because I couldn’t talk in that minute. “Is it done yet?” How will I know if it’s done? I’ll know. Stacey Zisook Robinson has been published in several magazines and anthologies. She is the author of the book, Dancing in the Palm of God’s Hand. She blogs at http://staceyzrobinson.blogspot.com.)
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish News | 27
Rosh Hashanah
Pomegranate and Honey Glazed Chicken Liz Rueven
(The Nosher via JTA)—Pomegranates, or rimonim in Hebrew, are among the most recognizable and highly symbolic fruits in Jewish culture. Originating in Persia, these reddish, thick-skinned fruits (technically a berry) begin to appear in markets at the end of summer and are readily available for holiday cooking by Rosh Hashanah. According to Gil Marks in The Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, the abundance of seeds, nestled into a white membrane
and encased in a protective and leathery skin, is associated with the 613 commandments in the Torah. They serve as symbols of righteousness and fruitfulness, as expressed in the Rosh Hashanah expression, “May we be full of merits like the pomegranate (is full of seeds).” This ancient fruit, prized for its juice and seeds (called arils), is mentioned in the Bible as one of the seven most bountiful agriculture products of ancient Israel. It is associated with fertility and sensuality, and is mentioned six times in the Song of Songs.
28 | Jewish News | Rosh Hashanah | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
In biblical times, pomegranates were used to add tart flavors to ancient dishes before lemons and tomatoes were discovered. Since then, pomegranates have been used to add unique and complex dimensions to Sephardic and central Asian soups, stews, sauces, chutneys and desserts. They may be juiced, dried, reduced, ground or pressed into pomegranate oil. Today, pomegranates are prized for their antioxidant and potent nutritional value, just as they were in ancient Egypt when the seeds were believed to heal intestinal disorders. Juice, molasses (actually a reduction and thickening of the juice and sometimes called pomegranate concentrate or syrup) and arils are used in a wide range of applications including cocktails, glazes, simmer sauces, and glistening toppings for green salads and vegetable dishes. In The New Persian Kitchen, author Louisa Shafia offers numerous pomegranate dishes, including a classic Iranian stew called fesenjan that is often served at celebrations. The chicken is cooked with beets and thickened with coarsely ground walnuts and pomegranate molasses. As in many Persian dishes, pomegranate seeds are used as a glistening, jewel-like garnish. Shafia illustrates removing the seeds a few different ways, but I like the “water method” best. Simply slice off the two ends and quarter the fruit with a knife. Submerge the quarters in a bowl of cold water and pull out the seeds with your fingers. The pith and skin float to the surface as the arils sink to the bottom. Scoop out everything but the seeds and pour water and seeds through a mesh colander to collect them. Consider using pomegranates in your Rosh
Hashanah meals when it is considered a positive omen, or segulah, to incorporate symbolic foods in our holiday menus. Whip up this easy chicken dish and you’ll have both bountiful and sweet symbols covered. Holiday chicken is potent with pomegranates goodness as this symbolic fruit is used in three ways: juice, molasses, and arils (seeds). The flavors are bold, tangy, and slightly sweet—a Middle Easterninfluenced sweet and sour. Pomegranates are highly symbolic in Jewish tradition, most often associated with fertility and good deeds. By combining the tart flavors of pomegranates with honey here, the sweetness balances the tang and positive energy is imbued in this main course for Rosh Hashanah. Liz Rueven’s blog, Kosher Like Me, features restaurant and product reviews, tips on events where like-minded eaters like her can actually eat, and news about folks in the food world.) The Nosher food blog offers a dazzling array of new and classic Jewish recipes and food news, from Europe to Yemen, from challah to shakshuka and beyond. Check it out at www.TheNosher.com.
Rosh Hashanah Pomegranate and Honey Glazed Chicken Ingredients 1 4-pound chicken cut in eighths (breasts cut in half if large) 4 tablespoons canola oil (separated: 2 tablespoons for simmer sauce and 2 tablespoons for browning the chicken) 1 large onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced ½ cup pomegranate molasses ½ cup sweetened pomegranate juice ½ cup honey 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth 1 teaspoon cumin ½ teaspoon powdered ginger ¹⁄ 8 teaspoon allspice ½ teaspoon turmeric salt and pepper to taste For the garnish: 2 tablespoons parsley 2 tablespoons pomegranate arils (seeds)
Directions Heat 2 tablespoons canola oil in a large pan (you’ll need a lid for later). Wash pan.
Sauté chopped onion until soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and sauté for 2–3 minutes (do not brown).
Rinse chicken parts, pat dry, season with salt and pepper.
Add pomegranate molasses, juice, honey, broth and spices. Stir and bring to boil. Reduce to an active simmer, and cook uncovered, for about 20 minutes or until sauce is reduced by about half the volume and slightly thickened. Taste sauce and adjust seasoning. Too tart? Add 1 to 2 tablespoons honey. Want more kick? Crack more black pepper. Remove sauce from heat and pour into bowl. Set aside.
Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in pan and place chicken parts skin side down. Brown on one side and flip to second side. Do not crowd chicken in the pan, as this causes chicken to steam rather than brown. Lower heat, pour prepared simmer sauce over the chicken. Cover pan and simmer on low for 35–40 minutes. Remove from pan and platter, garnishing with chopped parsley and pomegranate arils. Note: The simmer sauce may be prepared two to three days ahead and refrigerated until ready to prepare the chicken.
INDIA 2018
Delhi / Taj Mahal / Goa / Bombay / Elephants Island February 21-March 5, 2018 or November 2-13, 2018
PERU 2018
Lima / Cusco / Machu Picchu June 13-22, 2018
Visit “Destinations”on
NUZTRAVEL.COM for 2018 itineraries to India and Peru.
Get ready for the trip of a lifetime! A vacation with Nuz Travel is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Every aspect of your trip is fully vetted beforehand, and everything is included in one price - flights, luxury accommodations, gourmet meals, transfers and activities. Enjoy a variety of unique travel experiences which cater to the most discriminating tastes. From visiting the Taj Mahal and morning yoga, to excursions to Machu Picchu and creating a Peruvian dish, no two trips are ever the same.
Philanthropy is also an integral part of Nuz Travel. We seek to create longstanding partnerships in the communities we visit and to leave behind a positive impact wherever we go. Nuz Travel donates a portion of each trip’s cost to charity.
In India, we donate to the Assema School, and in Peru, La Libertad Orphanage.
nuztravel.com // 757-633-3038 // NuzTravelLLC@gmail.com // 440 Monticello Ave. Suite 1700, Norfolk, VA 23510
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish News | 29
Rosh Hashanah Kedem/Royal Wine recommends delicious wines that capture spirit of the New Year—plus kosher wines under $20
R
osh Hashanah is a time when Jewish people reflect on the past and look toward a brighter future, so it’s only fitting to consider these themes when sharing special holiday meals with family and friends. To that end, wine expert and blogger Gabriel Geller recently compiled a short list of wines for the Rosh Hashanah table—two Israeli, two French, and one from California—that aren’t necessarily fancy or expensive, but are worthy of the celebration. Lessons from history Geller’s first recommendation, Carmel’s SELECTED Mediterranean Blend 2016, is a great choice for the New Year. “If there was a single winery that has always known how to reinvent itself while retaining the lessons from its rich history,” he explains, “Carmel is the one.” Carmel, one of Israel’s very best wineries, recently released a line-up of eight wines in its Selected series that are “very much affordable and quite pleasantly drinkable,” he says. The Mediterranean Blend in particular is a “delicious, inexpensive, food-friendly” follow-up to Carmel’s successful, award-winning and high-end Mediterranean, which includes varieties such as Petite Sirah, Mourvedreand Viognier, and Petit Verdot. Pair it with lamb stew.
L’Shana Tova
from the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater 30 | Jewish News | Rosh Hashanah | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
In the spirit of humility The custom of taking inventory of the past year during the High Holidays requires a certain measure of humility. In that vein, Geller focused on two French wines that are not considered extravagant, yet bear the same features and qualities of some of the country’s most prestigious vintages. The new Château Royaumont 2014, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc from Vignobles Péré-Vergé in Pomerol, is remarkably complex and has the potential to be cellared for 10 years or more after harvest. Serve it with caramelized duck
breast in a raspberry coulis. Geller also recommends keeping an eye out for the Pascal Bouchard Le Classique 2016, from the Chablis appellation in Burgundy. “Unlike most kosher Chardonnay wines, this one is unoaked and radically different, style-wise.” Showcasing a bright citrus and green apple profile with notes of saline and earthy minerals and “lip-smacking acidity,” it’s a perfect foil for Dover Sole in Almond Butter sauce. Geller suggests comparing the Pascal Bouchard side-by-side with another excellent, but very different Chardonnay, such as the Matar Chardonnay 2014 from Israel. Its slightly creamy texture and buttery notes work beautifully with Balsamic Glazed Chicken. For a Sweet New Year The tradition of indulging in sweet fruits and treats on Rosh Hashanah represents hopes of being granted a sweet New Year. Geller turns to Herzog Wine Cellars for its stellar Late Harvest series dessert wines. His personal favorite is the Chenin Blanc 2015, grown in the Herzog Family’s vineyard in Clarksburg, California from a variety originating in France’s Loire Valley. He says the wine has “a luscious, almost oily texture reminiscent of quince jam, pear, and lemon drops with hints of dried apricots and honeysuckle,” making it the perfect companion for an apple pie. Great values under $20 Because Rosh Hashanah is such a special time for family and friends, Kedem/ Royal Wine asked Geller about affordable favorites to serve with festive meals or bring along as gifts. “The word is finally getting out that ‘excellent’ wine doesn’t have to be ‘expensive’ wine,” he says. His picks include the aforementioned Carmel Selected Series, Chateau Trijet, and Terra di Seta Chianti Classico as well as wines from the Herzog Late Harvest Series.
L’Shana Tova!
How will YOU inspire future generations?
Inscribe your vision for a sweet Jewish future with a legacy gift to your favorite Jewish organizations through Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s LIFE & LEGACY program.
Contact Barb Gelb at 757-965-6105 or bgelb@ujft.org to learn about how you can establish your Jewish Legacy through your will or estate plan. LIFE & LEGACY Partner Agencies:
HEBREW ACADEMY OF TIDEWATER
HEBREW ACADEMY OF TIDEWATER
Konikoff Center of Learning
Konikoff Center of Learning
LIFE & LEGACY is jointly funded by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and the Tidewater Jewish Foundation H A T www.JewishVA.org/TJF
H EBREW A CADEMY T IDEWATER
OF
Konikoff Center of Learning
Konikoff Center of Learning
OF
EBREW
CADEMY
IDEWATER
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish News | 31
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Two Top 50 Nationally Ranked Programs
Ranked #24
Ranked #43
As a nationally ranked destination medical center, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is proud to be a resource for consumers looking for high-quality, innovative care and advanced programs.
For more information about the U.S. News recognition, go to sentara.com/usnews.
sentara.com/usnews
Your community, not-for-profit health partner
32 | Jewish News | Rosh Hashanah | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
Tidewater
Donor saves JFS thousands through coupons
N
ot everyone who donates to Jewish Family Service gives in monetary form. At least, not directly. Janna Kestenbaum has been giving of her time and efforts to JFS for years through couponing. About once a quarter, Kestenbaum brings her coupons to JFS and goes shopping with volunteer coordinator, Jody Laibstain to stock the JFS Food Pantry. Laibstain estimates that each shopping trip yields about $1,000 worth of food— for free—to stock the pantry and help feed many in the community. Much of what is purchased JFS wouldn’t normally get through regular food donations, such as meat, frozen vegetables, etc. Personal struggles made lasting impression “Although I can’t remember learning about couponing at my mother’s knee, I certainly learned about frugality. I was a divorced mother of a toddler when I became more focused on stretching my paycheck,” Kestenbaum says. “I remember turning in aluminum cans for recycling just to have enough money to buy some fresh fruit for my child. The personal struggles I had at that time made a profound impression on me. Eliminating hunger in a land of abundance became my personal mission. That was almost 30 years ago. “I learned from my mom to stock up on things when they were on sale or clearance, so once I found out how to get coupons in quantities, I started to practice what has come to be called “extreme couponing.” With careful planning and research, I strategized how to get the maximum merchandise for the least amount of money. Eventually, I built a binder system to organize my couponing enterprise,” says Kestenbaum. While most people coupon for just themselves and their family, Kestenbaum found that
a side effect of getting groceries and nonfood items for a lot less was that her family didn’t necessarily utilize all those items, either because the quantity was beyond their needs, or they personally didn’t care for everything. Consequently, a stockpile for donation was born. Kestenbaum says, “It didn’t take long before I was filling my car a few times over with donations for the Food Pantry at least four to five times each year.” JFS won my allegiance About six years ago, Kestenbaum started donating her time and coupons to JFS. “JFS considers their clients as individuals with their own needs and tastes, and allows them to select the foods they will be receive. So, it was JFS Food Pantry’s business model, as well as the way clients are shown dignity and humanity, that resonated with me and won my allegiance,” says Kestenbaum. “There is a commitment of time and effort which varies. Sometimes I have friends help me by being a second shopper to double the couponing success in the same amount of time. As a result of these efforts, I’ve been able to triple my buying power and that brings me great satisfaction,” says Kestenbaum. Kestenbaum urges everyone to donate to the JFS Food Pantry, explaining, “Most of us can manage some canned goods or dry goods added to our regular grocery list. There’s always something on sale. Split a case or a multipack, browse your home pantry, do a collection at work. Imagine that you are an instrument of God’s love. If one is sure of a comfortable existence, be just as sure that others can use your help.” September is Hunger Action Month. To organize a food drive or donate to the JFS Food Pantries, contact Jody Laibstain at 757-321-2222 or Maryann Kettyle at 757-459-4640.
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish News | 33
L’Shana Tova
ARTS and culture
Beth Sholom Village to add performance stage to its active community room The Abisl Theater will present entertainment with a “Jewish Twist”
Members of the Theater Advisory committee at Beth Sholom Village include Marcia Brodie, Madi Rossettini, Chris Kraus, Wendy Auerbach, Minette Cooper, Bob Seltzer , Steve Suskin, Susan Eilberg, Leslie Shroyer, Paula Krukin Levy, Bobby Levin, Marilyn Johns, Sara Jo Rubin, Joel Rubin, and Richard Marten.
I
Happy New Year from the
Simon Family JCC 34 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
t has hosted everything from bingo games to women’s auxiliary lunches, but by summer 2018, what is known today as The Pincus Paul Social Hall, named for a late benefactor, will also house the area’s newest performance space. Nestled inside the Berger-Goldrich Home at Beth Sholom Village in the College Park section of Virginia Beach will be The Abisl Theater at Beth Sholom Village: Music, Comedy, and Stage plays with a Jewish Twist. In Yiddish, a Jewish language that shares its roots in German and Hebrew, “abisl” means “a little,” and that’s what the new theater will be, a right sized setting for intimate performances. “There will be singing and dancing, stand-up and improv, and at least one staged play each year based on a Jewish theme,” says Steve Suskin, director of philanthropy at Beth Sholom Village, who also happens to be a part-time actor and occasional director at “little theater” productions in Hampton Roads. Skukskin was previously development director at the Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk. “The space, which can hold from 80 to 150 persons based on seating, is perfect for shows that primarily appeal to a Jewish audience, but not exclusively,” says Suskin. Food will also be part of the fare at The Abisl Theater as Beth Sholom showcases the excellent cuisine it provides for its residents and through its catering department. “There will be a ‘dinner theater’ atmosphere at some performances, featuring either full meals or ‘abisl’ (tapas
type) offerings plus beer, wine, and spirits,” says Suskin. The Village has recruited a diverse committee of local individuals with interest in the arts to contribute ideas on programming, marketing, and staging. After two meetings, the energy is high. “I love Abisl,” says Madi Rossettini, who has directed musicals and other theater productions. “It connects what we are doing to our Jewish heritage, and it’s fun.” Susan Eilberg, a past director of the Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk, appreciates the diversity of acts the theater can host. “We can bring in performers from outside the area, but I really like the opportunity this can present for local people to share their talents.” Former talent agent Bobby Levin is happy to be part of the planning. “Jewish culture is so rich. A new stage to present it is always a good thing.” It will be next spring or summer before The Abisl welcomes its first audience, although Suskin says there will likely be a sneak preview of what it has to offer later this year. “In the meantime we have dedicatory options in the theater, and I would love to talk to anyone interested in associating the name of their company or family with this wonderful new addition to the community,” says Suskin. “And if you have some stage experience, I want to talk to you, too.” Contact Steve Suskin at 757-420-2512 ext. 402 or ssuskin@bethsholomvillage.
Relax by the Water
first person
Brandon’s story: thee of a special needs Jewish learner faYe Howe
In the beginning… We got the first diagnosis in 2003. ADHD. Nothing to worry about there, right? Lots of kids have ADHD. Heck, even I have ADHD. But as time went on, we knew that there had to be more than just that. So, in July 2006, when Brandon was six years old, we took him for testing by a speech therapist. Then, we received another diagnosis. Communication Disorder—Expressive Language Disorder, Auditory Processing Deficit, Visual Processing Deficit. Then, in November, another. High Functioning Autism (HFA), specifically Asperger’s Syndrome. And the diagnoses continued into December. Significant Anxiety. Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD), Right Hemisphere Cerebral Dysfunction. Brandon attended the Shalom Children’s Center at the JCC in Norfolk. When the JCC moved to Virginia Beach, we put him in Parkdale School. When it was time for school, he started Kindergarten at Granby Elementary. Twice. In first grade, he was moved to a self-contained classroom at Jacox Elementary. He stayed there until he hit his speech therapist. He was moved to Camp Allen. He lasted three days there. They put him on homebound
Privacy: over an acre, wooded. Convenience: easy access to Southside and Peninsula medical centers. L Asquare K EfeetSincluding M I Tmaster H suite with study, wet bar, fireplace. Space: over 5000
2 GREAT HOUSES 2 GREAT PRICES Ready for you to enjoy! This all brick home overlooking serene Lake Smith is bright and up-to-date. New roof and windows. Custom neighborhood convenient to all of Hampton Roads.
services. I finally got him in the SECEP Autistic Children’s Program. He was fairly successful in this program. In the sixth grade, the SECEP staff wanted to move him to their Re-Ed program. Trusting them, I agreed. Lesson learned —be careful about which community organization you choose to entrust your child’s educa- 5113 Crystal Point Drive $539,900 tion. He was bullied horribly. He still has nightmares and flashbacks. Over the years, Brandon had a few placements at Virginia Beach Psychiatric Hospital. We also placed Brandon at Cumberland Hospital for Children and Adolescents. From there, he was placed at the Hughes Center for Autistic Children. He was there for more than a year. When he was discharged and came home, he was placed at Rivermont School Tidewater. It isn’t the best placement for him, but it is the only choice we had. So, now you have the story of Brandon. Lots of diagnoses. Lots of school and hospital placements. Lots of turmoil. Lots of struggles.
Temple Learning Oh, wait. I’ve left something out. The one consistent thing in Brandon’s life. Religious School/Sunday Learning at Ohef Sholom Temple. He started in pre-K. Except for when he was hospitalized, he attended every year. He grew up at OST. He grew up with the same classmates. It wasn’t easy at OST Sunday Learning. I couldn’t just drop Brandon off like I could with his sister. I had to stay, just in case he lost control. But the temple and Sunday staff stuck it out with me. They never once suggested that Brandon should be anywhere other than where he was. In 2013, the education director received a grant 2017 Confirmation Class of Ohef Sholom Temple. Brandon is in the back row, third from the United from the right. Photograph by Dmitry Gotkis Photography.
.
Doctor, This House Will Cure— The Blues — Virginia Beach
$879,000 5113 Crystal Po
Take time to $165,000 $200,000 smell the roses... 317 Hospital Drive 309 Plaza Trail Court from the deck Buy for smaller payment than rent! and the hot tub! Janet Frenck, GRI 757-439-4039
757-439-4039 Howard Hanna William E Wood GRI Janet Frenck, 1321 Laskin Road,CRB, Virginia Beach, VA, 23451
janetfrenck@williamewood.com janetfrenck@howardhanna.com William E. Wood & Associates 1321 Laskin Road • Virginia Beach
“They knew that I was different; but not less.” —Dr. Temple Grandin, Innovator. Author. Activist. Autistic.
Jewish Federation of Tidewater to start a program for children with special needs called Open the Gates. OST hired a certified Special Needs teacher and assigned a one-on-one assistant to Brandon. We met and developed a Jewish Individualized Education Plan (JIEP). Before long, I noticed that there were other students in the program; students of all ages and grades. Brandon started thriving in the classroom. He participated in the work. He joined in the discussions. He learned. Brandon is 16 years old now. An amazing thing just happened. He was Confirmed along with those same classmates. The young men and women in
his Confirmation class were so kind; so understanding; so generous. After the Confirmation, when I was congratulating each of them individually, their response to me was, “Brandon was amazing.” They were all so proud of him. And now, another amazing thing is happening. After Confirmation, the director of Family Learning offered Brandon a job as a Madrich, teen assistant. He acknowledged that Brandon would probably not be able to do the traditional job that the Madrichim do. But he said that if Brandon was interested in working, he would find some place for him. We submitted the application and will know soon what position he will fill and how he will do. So, the story of Brandon is to be continued.… faYe Howe is a member of the Family Learning Committee at Ohef Sholom Temple. Her favorite quote on the subject of special needs learners is reprinted here. For more information about Open the Gates at Temple, and Temple’s 1-year, Sunday Learning Open Enrollment for independent households, contact chris@ohefsholom.org
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 35
TIDEWATER teens
Tidewater teens in Israel Several Tidewater teens found themselves in Israel this summer. Traveling on various trips and programs, they all were positively impacted by their experiences—and, for different reasons. Jewish News asked a few of these young adults to share a bit about their trips. Not one hesitated!
Austin Kramer with friends at Masada.
Austin Kramer Clemson University Birthright Israel
A
pledge brother at Clemson asked me to go on Birthright on a national trip, Shorashim—the only Birthright trip organizer that has Israeli soldiers for the entire 10 days. Those seven Israelis
were some of the greatest people I’ve ever met. In the Negev, we stayed in Bedouin Tents, woke up at 3:30 am and hiked up Mazada for the sunrise. It was so perfect…everyone was cheering. A more emotional moment took place at Mt. Herzl. The prior evening, we had gone to Yad Vashem. At Mt. Herzl, one of the soldiers took us to a grave and talked about a friend who had been attacked and killed. That story connected everyone on a much deeper level. It was a tough part of the trip, but one of my favorites. After the Birthright portion of the trip, I extended with some friends for three more days in Tel Aviv. We stayed with one of the Israeli soldiers. We went to a family dinner for Shavuot where everything was all white. It was beautiful and fun and I felt like I had known them for years. This was a trip of a lifetime…the best two weeks of my life!
Jordan Simon University of Virginia Birthright Israel and Onward Israel
I
started my summer traveling on a Birthright Israel trip with Yael Adventures with other college age students from across America. Following the Birthright portion of the trip, I remained in Israel as a participant in Onward Israel, an eight week internship program sponsored by Hillel International. I had the opportunity to shadow several nurses in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. My program was based in Tel Aviv where participants lived in apartments in the south of the city. For half of the week, I observed the roles of physician and nurse proJordan Simon viders in a busy eight-bed hospital ICU setting. On the weekends, I had the opportunity to travel across the country and visited my family in Jerusalem. Overall, I learned more than I had expected, becoming immersed in the culture and clinical experiences I saw firsthand. After this experience, I feel even more strongly about my goals to work in a cardiac ICU after I graduate from University of Virginia’s School of Nursing.
Natalie Simon University of Virginia Birthright Israel and Onward Israel
A
Jordan and Natalie Simon.
36 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
s a third year UVa student studying Human Biology, this summer, I traveled to Israel on a Birthright trip with Yael Adventures followed by eight additional weeks of immersion in Israeli life and culture as an Onward Israel participant. I was set up in an apartment in Tel Aviv (two blocks from the beach), given stipends for food and transportation, and I traveled all over Israel
for educational seminars with other college students. I spent my days during these inspiring weeks at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, conducting research in the surgical oncology research lab and then shadowing the lab director, Dr. Guy Lahat, in his surgeries, including major tumor resections (sarcomas). In lab, we worked to uncover the interplay of the unique cellular interactions between pancreatic cancer cells and the omentum. It was an amazing summer and I am so thankful for the opportunity Onward gave me to perform research-based medicine. Plus, I got to spend the summer with my twin sister, which was so special!
34th Season 2017 -18
TIDEWATER teens Hannah Abraham First Colonial High School NFTY L’dor V’dor
T
his summer I attended the NFTY in Israel L’dor V’dor trip through my summer camp, URJ Camp Harlam, a Reform Jewish camp located in Kunkletown, Pa., which I’ve attended for five awesome summers! This trip consisted of a week in Poland and four weeks in Israel. The sites I saw and things I learned permanently changed my life and the way I view the world, truly giving new meaning to the phrase L’dor V’dor. Our trip began in Prague, where we saw the old city and toured synagogues. The last day in Poland was focused on the Holocaust. We went to Birkenau and Auschwitz. When we arrived at Birkenau, we had a tour guide and the barracks were turned into little museums, so it was difficult for me at this point to feel the full impact of what truly happened there. When we arrived at Auschwitz, however, things were completely different. There were no barracks turned into museums. Only remnants of the gas chambers remained. We simply and devastatingly walked down the very same train tracks that millions of Jews arrived on years before. It was very hard for me to process where I was and that this was real. The
full impact of our visit to Auschwitz didn’t hit me until we had a memorial service later that day and a rabbi spoke on how anti-Semitism is alive and well. Tears rolled down my cheeks when he mentioned a Jewish cemetery that had recently been vandalized with swastikas and the fact that there are people who argue that the Holocaust never took place. The next day we headed to the airport to begin our journey to Israel. Arriving in Israel was the most incredible feeling in the world. It almost instantly felt like home. For the first time in my life I no longer felt like the minority—I was surrounded by fellow Jews. During the first week we spent four days in the Negev desert, where I found my new love for hiking. We hiked Mount Shlomo, which was challenging, but absolutely breath taking. Then, we made our way to Jerusalem. We went to the Western Wall, which surprisingly, was my least favorite part of the trip. There were men and women yelling to “cover up!” or trying to hand us scarfs. In the 100 degree weather, short sleeves and long skirts was about all my hot-natured self could endure. Soon we went to Tel-Aviv, my favorite place in Israel and home of the most amazing falafel I’ve ever tasted. After spending a couple of days in Tel-Aviv, we stayed one night in a Bedouin village, rode camels, and slept on mats under a huge tent. In the morning, we hiked Masada to see the sun rise, which was breathtaking! Perhaps the most meaningful part of our trip came next—Chavaya, where we picked what we wanted to do for
Join us for the world's #1 musical! The African savanna comes to life with Simba, Rafiki, and an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey to the jungle...and back again in this aweinspiring celebration of life! T.C.C. ROPER CENTER * NORFOLK October 13 - 15 SUFFOLK CENTER FOR CULTURAL ARTS October 21 AMERICAN THEATRE * HAMPTON October 28 & 29
four days: Gadna (IDF training), Sea to sea (hiking), an archaeological dig, and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). I chose Tikkun Olam. We went to a soup kitchen and packed meals for families and worked with Arab children, helping to teach them English. These kids absolutely stole my heart. It didn’t matter to them that I was a Jew and they didn’t treat me any different. The last few days of our trip, was centered around modern Israel. We went back to Tel-Aviv and to Shuk Ha’Carmel—a marketplace. The Shuk was crazy—a really small crowded area with people selling anything you could imagine, fresh fruit, candy, fish, jewelry, and much more. It was a shopping experience like no other. Leaving Israel was extremely hard, as I fell in love with this place, the people, and the culture. I will be back soon!
HURRAH FOR THE HOLIDAYS December 2017 BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER December 2017 SAFARI: TALES OF THE GRIOT February 2018 PETER PAN March 2018 GREAT AMERICAN LIP-SYNC BATTLE May 2018 BLUES, SOUL, AND ROCK ‘N’ ROLL July 2018 Disney’s SLEEPING BEAUTY Kids August 2018 Individual & Family Memberships Now Available!
Ben Levy Norfolk Academy BBYO’s International Leadership Seminar in Israel
I Ben Levy, Joseph Strelitz, and Jack Kalfus at the Western Wall.
am thankful that I was able to share my trip to Israel with almost 100 other Jewish teens from across America and the world. The friendships and experiences that I made there were amazing and will last me a lifetime. I had never been to a Holocaust memorial before, so I did not know what to expect when I went to Yad Vashem. It was extremely emotional and I felt more connected to my Judaism and my fellow Jewish people than I had ever felt before.
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 37
it’s a wrap
what’s happening
HAT begins a new school year proclaiming, “We’re more than a school, we’re family!
A
s Hebrew Academy of Tidewater and Strelitz Early Childhood families enter the building this year, they are greeted with friendly smiles, photos of engaged children, and a new bulletin board that announces, “There’s no place like the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater.” On August 22, students excitedly returned to school and parents were welcomed to the annual first day of school’s Back to School Parent Coffee. The HAT trademark is the warm nurturing community (kehillah) of the caring faculty, Jewish values, and individualized student attention. “The warm community is like a family here. When I came to the school, I immediately felt at home,” says Maureen Sullivan, the school’s student support specialist who joined the HAT faculty a year ago after leaving a long time position with the Virginia Beach Public Schools. “We are thrilled to welcome our new faculty members to our excellent educational team,” says Heather Moore, HAT’s head of school. A native of Virginia Beach, Adam Leiderman, is the new physical education teacher for HAT and Strelitz. HAT also added a full time conversational Hebrew Language instructor, Israel native, Yafa Bosler, who teaches conversational Hebrew to students in kindergarten through grade five. Bosler is a former HAT parent and joins HAT after teaching in the Virginia Beach Public Schools for 17 years. Although HAT students have always had instruction in Hebrew as a
second language, the new curricular structure is designed to give students more consistency and fluency as they move from kindergarten through grade five within the HAT Hebrew program. “We also will be adding an optional Hebrew lunch period for students who want to practice their skills,” says Moore. Also new this year, the HAT faculty completed a Project Based Learning (PBL) training to implement more inquiry based units in the curriculum. Teaching through PBL allows students to work on units for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge. The PBL approach enables teachers to design units based on their students’ strengths and interests allowing the students to provide input in activities that support individual levels and learning styles. In addition, the creation of a Maker Space is underway. Students will be able to create their own inventions using the building materials and tools in the Maker Space center. While HAT and Strelitz students begin an exciting school year of growth and change, the faculty says it wants to wish the 2017 graduates good luck as they embark on their new middle school adventures at area top middle schools: Norfolk Academy, Norfolk Collegiate, Plaza IB Middle Years Program, The Brickell Academy, and Cape Henry Collegiate.
38 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
Up now and up next in the Leon Family Gallery Erin Dougherty
September Yoni Alter’s Cities exhibit brings a splash of pop-art style to the Leon Family Gallery. Featuring skylines of some very recognizable cities, as well as fresh interpretations of city architecture and objects, Alter’s work joins a line-up sure to excite art lovers throughout Tidewater. Alter’s work is featured, and lauded, across the world. Thanks to his Shapes of Cities series, his work has been chosen by cities such as New York and London to represent their marketing endeavors as well as decorate the buildings lining their streets. The collection includes cities such as San Francisco, Sydney, and Shanghai. To create the effect of the city without a massive image, Alter clusters together key buildings and landmarks in
an accurate comparative scale. The effect is absorbing, allowing the viewer to be transported in an instant through Alter’s bright depictions. October Erez Kaganovitz, the creator of Humans of Tel Aviv, began the project in 2012 after stumbling upon Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York blog. Since then, he has photographed thousands of Tel Aviv citizens and captured their stories to share with the world. Each photograph depicts one small moment in Tel Aviv life from refugees from Africa who fled to Israel to Singaporean immigrants who moved to Tel Aviv after finding their faith in Judaism. The goal of Humans of Tel Aviv is to show “the reality as I see it in Tel Aviv…I want to show that Israel is not only a war zone; we are a vibrant civil society.”
Dr. Mark Goldfeder to speak about Israel and the United Nations Tuesday, October 17, 7:30 pm Sandler Family Campus
A
scholar of law and religion and comparative Jewish Law, Dr. Mark Goldfeder will speak about Israel’s relationship with the United Nations, the perceived bias toward Israel, and how it relates to the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. The event is presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Community Relations Council and the Society of Professionals, together with the Norfolk Kollel. Goldfeder is a senior fellow and project director at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University and has been published in numerous publications on Jewish law and marriage, polygamy, and Israeli law. He is special counsel for International Affairs at the American Center for Law and Justice, director of the Restoring Religious Freedom Project, and also editor of the Cambridge University Press Series on Law and Judaism. In addition to the community event, a professional networking opportunity with Goldfeder is planned at 6 pm, prior to the community event. He also will lead a Continuing Legal Education class during an afternoon session with legal professionals, based on the topic Jewish and American Law. To RSVP for this free and open to the community event or for more information, contact MEichelbaum@ujft.org or 757-321-2304.
SAVE THE DATE Sunday, October 29, 2017
what’s happening The Norfolk Kollel partners with UJFT’s CRC and Society of Professionals to offer Jewish-themed CLE
New Month, New Day, New Name!
THE
Tuesday, October 17, 12 pm, Simon Family JCC Rabbi Gavriel Rudin
A
s part of its mission to provide educational classes to Tidewater’s Jewish community, The Norfolk Kollel is partnereing with the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Community Relations Council and Society of Professionals to provide a Jewish themed CLE (Continuing Law Education) course. The course is currently pending approval for 3 CLE credits from the Virginia State Bar. Dr. Mark Goldfeder, a senior lecturer at Emory University Law School in Atlanta, as well as an ordained rabbi and Dayan (Rabbinic Judge) will present this CLE. Titled “Secular Law vs Halacha,” the CLE will examine and compare American Law with Halacha (Jewish Law) and will point out some aspects of Civil Law that have roots in ancient Biblical texts. The course will also discuss Dr. Mark Goldfeder situations where Halacha has played a role in civil lawsuits such as cases where Jewish law was used as grounds for a divorce, or as factors in determining child support payments. With extensive education and a background in both civil and Jewish law, Goldfeder expertly weaves together fascinating concepts of these two diverse and complex systems of law. This course will provide a snapshot of the vastness of Jewish law and the Halachic process, both in ancient times and today. This CLE will be followed up with a lecture series from The Norfolk Kollel, that will further delve into the history of the Jewish Code of Law and how it interacts with civil law. Details of that series will be forthcoming. (See accompanying article for community event) The cost of the CLE is $150, which includes a Kosher lunch catered by the Cardo Cafe. For more information, or to be added to Kollel’s email list, email rabbirudin@norfolkkollel.com. Register online at www.norfolkkollel.com/cle.
Rachel Abraham,
JANET GORDON ANNUAL
Mah Jongg Day & Bruncheon
50/50 Raffle
Dana Patish and the Mah Jongg Committee would like you to Save The Date!
N
Year of the Rooster! Co-Chairs Rachel Abraham, Dana Patish and N the Mah Jongg Committee would like you to M Save the Date!
sriahC oC
M
F
Handcrafted gifts made by Beth Sholom Residents!
Amazing decorations and food
Same eht dna hsitaP anaD fantastic food eettimmoC ggnoJ haM and raffle evaS ot uoy ekil dluow !etaD ehT prizes! ,maharbA lehcaR
F
For additional information or to reserve a seat, call Claire Roth at 757-961-3024
Two Critically-Acclaimed Films: One in Yiddish, One in Hebrew. Menashe
Opens Friday, Sept. 15 In the heart of New York’s ultra-Orthodox community, a widower struggles to prove he’s suitable for fatherhood. Yiddish with subtitles.
Seniors plan colorful New Year celebration Wednesday, September 13, 1 pm Simon Family JCC
F
or seniors at the JCC, Rosh Hashanah will arrive a bit early this year and include an afternoon of art. Michele Barnes, an artist and art teacher, will lead the group in a painting event. Following the painting portion of the afternoon, Rabbi Israel Zoberman will facilitate a discussion on the holiday while participants enjoy symbolic Rosh Hashanah refreshments—honey cake and, of course, apples and honey.
The Women’s Balcony
Opens Friday, Sept. 22 A rousing, good-hearted tale about women on patriarchal power in a devout Orthodox community in Jerusalem. Hebrew with subtitles.
For details and showtimes, go to www.narocinema.com
The free program is made possible by the Joseph Fleischmann* Memorial Fund. RSVP is required, and limited space is available. Reserve a space by stopping by the JCC front desk or calling 757-321-2338.
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 39
what’s happening Tidewater Limmud: an afternoon of learning
The Heart of Judaism: Bringing Torah and our lives into dialogue
Sunday, November 12, 1–5 pm, Simon Family JCC
Friday evening, September 15, 6:30 pm and Saturday, September 16, 10 am Kehillat Bet Hamidrash/Kempsville Conservative Synagogue
R
Rabbi Michael Panitz
Ezra Glinter
B
ringing people together of all backgrounds and ages to help nurture, mentor, and celebrate Jewish life and learning for an afternoon, is the goal of Tidewater Limmud. Part of the Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival, the event is open to the community, regardless of religious affiliation. Tidewater Limmud is presented in partnership with the Board of Rabbis and Cantors of Hampton Roads, in coordination with the Global Day of Jewish Learning, and is part of a worldwide grassroots phenomenon based on the values of giving, learning,
B
Rabbi Barry Schwartz
participation, and respect. In addition to interactive breakout sessions, keynote speakers and discussion leaders include Rabbi Michael Panitz, Ezra Glinter, author of Have I Got a Story for You, and Rabbi Barry Schwartz, director of the Jewish Publication Society. Join the journey with Tidewater Limmud —after all, everyone has something to learn and something to share. Contact Melissa Eichelbaum at meichelbaum@ujft.org for more information, or visit http://www.simonfamilyjcc.org/jewish-life-learning/. $18 to attend.
Be a Tidewater Limmud presenter
ased on the concept that everyone should be a student and that anyone can be a teacher, Tidewater Limmud is an opportunity to teach a workshop on any and all areas of Jewish content. Take part in this festival of Jewish culture through shared learning by teaching about a favorite Jewish topic such as Jewish art, texts, food, literature or Israeli politics, technology, culture, or any other Jewish-related topic. Since diversity is a core principle of
Tidewater Limmud, the workshop can be presented in a variety of ways (lecture, workshop, film, panel, or debate, for example). Presenters of all backgrounds and ages are welcome. For more information on becoming a presenter, contact Melissa Eichelbaum at meichelbaum@ujft.org. In Limmud, all are equal, and presenters also register and pay $18 to attend. Presenters are not paid.
40 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
*Of blessed memory
abbi Jason Rubenstein, services and continues dean of Students and with dinner and learning Alumni at Yeshivat Hadar with Rabbi Rubenstein. in New York and teacher His topic will be “It’s Not of Talmud and Jewish About You: What are our Thought, is this year’s Metaphors for G-d? What Kehillat Bet Hamidrash/ Should they Be?” Shabbat Kempsville Conservative morning services will be Synagogue’s Scholar-infollowed by a kiddush Residence. He will present luncheon and learning sessessions addressing The sion entitled “Do We Have Heart of Judaism: Bringing What it Takes?: From the Torah and our lives into Ideal Prayer-Leader to the Rabbi Jason Rubenstein dialogue. Ideal Person.” Rabbi Rubenstein was The cost for the Shabbat ordained in 2011 by The Jewish Theological program is Ages 0–10, free; 10–8, $10; 19 Seminary (JTS), where he also completed and over–$18. Babysitting will be provided. graduate work in Talmud. An alumnus Registration requested by September 12. of Harvard College, the kollel of Yeshivat To register on-line, go to http://tinyurl.com/ Ma’ale Gilboa, the Wexner Graduate kbh-registration. Contact kbhsynagogue@ Fellowship, “Rav Jason” has led multiple gmail.com with questions. programs for the Nesiya Institute. In 2015, For those who can’t attend the he received The Covenant Foundation’s Shabbat, but would like to learn with Pomegranate Prize for emerging leaders in Rabbi Rubenstein, KBH continues the traJewish education and was named one of dition of sharing Selichot programs and “15 American Rabbis You Haven’t Heard of, services with the community’s Conservative But Should” by Tablet Magazine. He lives Congregations and hosts this year’s event. in Riverdale, N.Y., with his wife Arielle and Registration is not necessary and all are weltheir two sons. In the rare moments when come. The learning begins at 8:30 pm with a he’s not teaching or with his family, he meaningful Selichot topic, “Remembering, enjoys cycling, chess, and excellent coffee. Forgetting, and Repenting.” A reception When asked about this topic, Rubenstein and Selichot services will follow. says, “We come to Judaism because of Rabbi Rubenstein served as the Legacy what matters most to us: memories of our Fellow for KBH in 2010 and the congreparents, hopes for our children, meaning, gation joyfully welcomes him back to the despair, and hope. But all too often, Jewish community. communities focus on an entirely different set of things—ritual, literacy, holidays. In This Program is made possible through this Shabbat’s sessions, we’ll develop the funding by the United Jewish Federation, Jewish conversations around what matters Tidewater Jewish Foundation, and Simon most, beginning with the Torah and the Family Foundation. Talmud and continuing into our own lives.” Friday evening’s program begins with
what’s happening BeAR Literacy program invites new volunteers and welcomes returning members
Annual Campaign kickoff features David Hazony
Monday, September 18, 11 am Sandler Family Campus
Tuesday, September 12, 6:30 pm Sandler Family Campus
Wendy Weissman, assistant director CRC
T
he Be A Reader literacy program will launch the 2017-2018 school year with a welcome brunch and meeting for volunteers and school captains. Commonly called BeAR, Be A Reader is a literacy program through United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Community Relations Council. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of volunteers, the program has operated for nearly 19 years. BeAR’s primary goal is to help at-risk second grade students in area public schools acquire the reading skills they need for future success. Each week, volunteers read one-on-one with a child at participating schools for one hour. “It’s only a short period of time each week, yet it means so much to the children we work with,” says longtime mentor and school captain, Carol Rosenblatt, who has volunteered with BeAR since 2006. “So many of these students lack someone working with them at home, some come from two-parent households, but many do not,” she says. The volunteers, according to Rosenblatt, offer these students dedicated one-on-one time that they typically do not get from home. All but one of the participating BeAR schools are considered Title 1, which means that a large percentage of the students come from low-income families. The schools with the Title 1 status receive financial assistance to ensure that the children meet state academic standards. BeAR provides the students with five books
for their at-home library, school supplies, and a commitment of one hour per week throughout the school year. While the literacy program’s ultimate goal is to help students who are struggling with reading, the outcome is usually much more. In fact, by the end of the school year, most of the children who have participated in the program are reading at grade level or above. David Faircloth, principal of Larrymore Elementary and a supporter of the BeAR program, both from an academic and social perspective, says, “Our students gain more than academics. Their confidence level grows and their social skills improve because of the positive, collaborative, warm atmosphere our volunteers provide.” The longevity of the program speaks to its success, and the volunteers are what make BeAR sustainable. “We LOVE the program because of the wonderful volunteers and the invaluable service they provide to our students. They are truly making a difference every time they step into the building,” says Faircloth. Opportunities to get involved with BeAR include volunteering, purchasing school supplies, or making a donation to the BeAR program where all funds are used to purchase books, school supplies, and workbooks for students. For more information on BeAR, including ways to get involved, contact Wendy Weissman at wweissman@ujft.org or 757965-6107 or visit JewishVA.org/BeAReader.
David Hazony
U
nited Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2018 Annual Campaign kicks off with a cocktail reception and keynote address by acclaimed author and lecturer, David Hazony. An American-born Israeli writer, translator, and editor of The Tower Magazine, Hazony is a senior member of The Israel Project. The entire Jewish community is encouraged to celebrate the start of a new campaign and the opening night of a yearlong celebration of Israel’s 70th birthday. This year’s event is held in partnership with UJFT’s Israel Today series. In a year that promises many exciting opportunities to join together, the Federation’s “Powered by Federation” theme speaks to the vast array of programs and services funded by UJFT and delivered by local and overseas beneficiary agencies. It also speaks to the herculean efforts of JDC volunteers and professionals, who, for example, battle through war zones to ensure that elderly Jews in Ukraine receive food boxes and a modicum of social interaction. In addition, Powered by Federation acknowledges the technological advancements occurring in Israel which seek to improve the world in many areas, including medicine, water reclamation, and energy production.
The start of the annual campaign signals a re-dedication to the Jewish community of Tidewater, so it is no coincidence that Campaign kickoff takes place near Rosh Hashanah—a time in the Jewish calendar which asks Jews to be introspective and to challenge themselves to do all that they can to improve themselves and the world around them. As the community approaches the start of the New Year and a new campaign, it’s the right time for asking, for thinking, and for supporting one another. In the coming weeks, Federation volunteers and professionals will make calls and set appointments to ask for support from members of the Jewish community. Those calls might include requests for a faceto-face meeting during the mid-October Week of Extraordinary Deeds or perhaps ask for a meeting over coffee or lunch, or maybe even come from a brand new solicitor who will nervously ask for a gift for the very first time. The support of Tidewater Jewish community donors enables the Federation to make a tremendous impact locally, as well as for vulnerable communities around the world. Donors are the fuel that powers the Federation. Throughout the year, the Federation will bring to life stories about the programs and people impacted by UJFT funds in future Jewish News articles. Make sure to follow the Federation on Facebook. For more information on Campaign kickoff or to RSVP, contact Melissa Eichelbaum at meicelbaurm@ujft.org or 757-965-6100.
BeAR volunteers at end of year wrap up meeting, June 2017.
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 41
what’s happening
Calendar
Films in Yiddish and Hebrew at NARO Menashe opens Friday, Sept. 15 The Women’s Balcony opens Friday, Sept. 22
SEPTEMBER 12, TUESDAY David Hazony kicks off Israel Today 2017-2018 with his vision for the future of American Jewry at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus. 7:30 pm. Free. For more information or to RSVP, contact Melissa Eichelbaum at 757-321-2304 or meichelbaum@ujft.org. SEPTEMBER 13, WEDNESDAY Senior’s Club host their annual Rosh Hashanah celebration. 1 pm. Free to the community. For more information or to RSVP, contact Melissa Eichelbaum, meichelbaum@ujft.org or 757-321-2304. See page 39. September 17, Sunday Jane Gardner shares her positive message and the importance of patient advocacy as a cancer survivor. 2 pm at Chrysler Museum. Presented by Jewish Family Service, WHRO, Chrysler Museum and EVMS. www.jfshamptonroads.org. 757-664-6200. Brith Sholom Fall Dinner affair at Beth Sholom Village. 5:30 pm. Fall themed Kosher meal followed by entertainment by Ellen Hochman leading a sing-along to the oldies. $10 for members; $20 for guests. Contact LeeAnne Mallory, secretary, at 757-461-1150 or email at Brith.sholom1@hrcoxmail.com for reservations for this event or membership information. SEPTEMBER 18, MONDAY Be a Reader (BeAR) welcome breakfast at the Sam and Reba Sam Sandler Family Campus. 11 am. For more information or to RSVP, contact Wendy Weissman at 757-965-6107 or wweissman@ujft.org. See page 41. September 19, Tuesday 29th Annual Hebrew Academy of Tidewater Konikoff Center of Learning Golf Tournament. Tee Off 12 noon. Bayville Golf Club. 757-424-4327.
T
wo films with Orthodox Jewish themes are planned to screen this month at the Naro Expanded Cinema in Norfolk. The first, in Yiddish, Menashe, takes place in the heart of New York’s ultra-orthodox Hasidic Jewish community. Menashe—a kind, hapless grocery store clerk—struggles to make ends meet and responsibly parent his young son, Rieven, following his wife Leah’s death. Tradition prohibits Menashe from raising his son alone, so Rieven’s strict uncle adopts him, leaving Menashe heartbroken. Though Menashe seems to bungle every challenge in his path, his rabbi grants him one special week with Rieven before Leah’s memorial. It’s his chance to prove himself a suitable man of faith and fatherhood.
In Hebrew, The Women’s Balcony, is a rousing, good-hearted tale about women speaking truth to patriarchal power. An accident during a bar mitzvah celebration leads to a gender rift in a devout Orthodox community in Jerusalem when the synagogue’s women’s balcony collapses, leaving the rabbi’s wife in a coma and the rabbi in shock. Charismatic young Rabbi David appears to be a savior after the accident, but slowly starts pushing his fundamentalist ways and tries to take control. His patriarchal preaching test the women’s resolve and creates a dispute between the community’s men and women. For more information, go to www.narocinema.com.
OCTOBER 10, TUESDAY Tikun Olam Family Workshop with Humans of Tel Aviv’s Erez Kaganovitz - Erez Kaganovitz teaches children and families to help repair the world through photography and art with this interactive, family friendly workshop. Dinner is included. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children. To RSVP and purchase tickets, visit http://jewishva.org/IsraelToday. RSVP is required due to limited seating. 5:30–6:30 pm, Sukkah on the Reba & Sam Sandler Family Campus. 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.
mazel tov to Birth Rona and Chazzan David Proser on the birth of their new granddaughter, Kenna Ruby Malinow. Kenna is the daughter of Maura Proser and Josh Malinow, and was born in Denver. B’nai Mitzvah Alan and Sallie Shapiro on the B’nai mitzvah of their grandchildren, Jacob and Michaela Shapiro, Saturday, August 5, at Beth Sholom Temple in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Harriett and Harvey Eluto on the B’nai mitzvah of the grandchildren, Ryan and Natalie Kaskawitz, Saturday, August 12, at Temple Beth Or in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mazel Tov submissions should be emailed to news@ujft.org with Mazel Tov in the subject line. Achievements, B’nai Mitzvot, births, engagements and weddings are appropriate simchas to announce. Photos must be at least 300k. Include a daytime phone for questions. There is no fee.
42 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
first person
Nadiv, Young Men’s Giving Circle, caps off successful first year Danny Rubin, Nadiv chair
W
hen we saw the JCC campers playing with oversized Connect4 and checkers boards on the blacktop, an entire year of experimentation and hard work came full circle. Yes, all the effort was worth it. In fall 2016, YAD—United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Young Adult Division—launched Nadiv (Hebrew for “generosity”), a giving circle for young professional Jewish men. We currently have about 20 members. The idea was twofold: 1) Provide a monthly opportunity to network and hear from interesting business-related speakers, and 2) Pool everyone’s $36 annual membership and choose—as a group—how to
donate the funds. On both fronts, Nadiv was a huge success. We heard from a variety of engaging speakers including Glenn Sutch, head of the new Waterside District and George Metzger, an accomplished clothing manufacturer and distributor. With every speaker, the group learned important lessons for our own budding careers. As for the giving circle, Nadiv held lengthy conversations on how and where to make our donation of approximately $800. We decided to give to the JCC Summer Camp and purchase several outdoor games like the giant Connect4 board, a checkers set, and Ladder Golf. As a final meeting of the summer, we met with the campers and played the games we purchased. It was meaningful
to see our hard work on display and how much the campers enjoyed the games. “Nadiv is such an innovative project,” says inaugural member Byron Harrell. “We became closer as young profession- Nadiv members Byron Harrell and Matt Baldwin play Connect4 with JCC campers. The group chose to donate its funds to purchase outdoor als and helped children in games like checkers and Ladder Golf. our Jewish community. A total win-win.” It’s a recipe for success, and we’re just Heading into year two, Nadiv has even getting started. greater ambitions. We plan to create a signature event that will again impact the Want to join Nadiv? Contact Jasmine Amitay, lives of children in our Jewish commuYAD director, at jamitay@ujft.org or 757nity. Stay tuned for more details. 965-6138. Learn more about Nadiv at http:// The bottom line: Nadiv creates brotherjewishva.org/nadiv. hood, helps young men with their careers, and allows them to make a difference.
Kids Connection is the Simon Family JCC’s Before & After School ENRICHMENT program for children pre-K through sixth grade. An extension of the Virginia Beach City Public School’s CURRICULUM, our program helps your child GROW and LEARN through: • • • • • • •
Homework ASSISTANCE SWIM lessons Art, science, music, and cooking projects KidFit-youth EXERCISE and nutrition programs Supervised computer time with filtered internet content A Promethean Smartboard ® Sports and GAMES
Open from 6 am until 6 pm, we are here to SERVE the needs of your family, and when school is closed, we’re open! Winter break and spring break camps are also available. TRANSPORTATION is provided to and from several Virginia Beach City Public SCHOOLS. (Kingston, King’s Grant, Malibu, Arrowhead, Hebrew Academy, Indian Lakes, Kempsville, Larkspur Middle, Point O’ View, and Providence).
For more information or to register, email LBest@SimonFamilyJCC.org or call 757.321.2306 jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 43
obituaries Alex Morris Berkowitz Virginia Beach—Alex Morris Berkowitz of Virginia Beach, passed away on Friday August 18, 2017 at the age of 73. He fought a short and courageous battle with cancer and was surrounded by loved ones throughout. He was the beloved husband of Elise Zelinger Berkowitz for 50 years, father to Sheri Rosenberg (David), Jay Berkowitz (Cheryl) and Jeffrey Berkowitz (Mandy). He was the doting grandfather to his three grandsons, Noah, Evan, and Jack. He was the younger brother of Sue Ellen Teach (Seymour) and was predeceased by his mother and father, Bell and Jack Berkowitz, of blessed memory. Born and raised in Norfolk, Alex was a graduate of Maury High School and Old Dominion University. He was an entrepreneur who was successful in many ventures, and most recently as the founder and owner of First National ATM of Virginia for the last 25 years. Alex was happiest surrounded by family and friends—with many, he celebrated more than 60 years of friendship. Known as a gentle man, Alex always had a smile on his face and sincerely enjoyed the opportunity to make others around him happy. He never met a stranger and touched the hearts of everyone he encountered. He was a student of life and loved long chats, learning about other people. Alex was an avid collector of vintage and muscle cars. He loved buying and selling rare vehicles and had a fascination for anything with a motor—including various boats, a Sears & Roebuck moped (which the family still owns), and once, even an electric bicycle. He frequently cooked Sunday family dinners—enjoying grilling and slow roasting meats. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to loving friends and family near and far who have sent their well wishes and have kept Alex in their hearts throughout his short battle. The family is especially appreciative of Dr. Barbara Parks in Virginia Beach and Dr. William Jarnagan and his team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York for their excellent and gentle care of Alex. The funeral was held at Ohef Sholom Temple. Alex was laid to rest
at a graveside service at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Following the burial, the meal of consolation was held at Ohef Sholom Temple. The family requests donations to a charity of the donor’s choice. Please continue to keep his memory in your hearts and forever remember his warm smile and kind eyes. Arnold “Arnie” S. Cohen Virginia Beach—Arnold S. Cohen, 74, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 26, 2017. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Rose (Schlessenger) Cohen. Arnie was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1943. He was a graduate of Virginia Beach High School (1961) and attended Richmond Professional Institute where he received a BS in Retailing. At a young age, Arnie served honorably in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Upon completion of his service, he opened Arnie’s, a local provider of beach apparel, located at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. After 35 years in business, he resigned to focus on “things I never got to do in the summer.” Following his retirement, he continued to be involved in the local business community as a property-owner and landlord for several oceanfront entertainment businesses. Arnie’s greatest passions were for traveling abroad and the latest technology. Arnie had a special place in his heart for his longtime companion and pet dachshund, Brinkman. Arnie is survived by his niece, Wendy Lessard and nephew, Dr. Richard Hoffman and their children. A graveside funeral service was held in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens with Cantor David Proser officiating. Memorial donations may be made to Arnie’s favorite charity, at https://www.redcross.org/ donate/. H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Online condolences may be shared with the family and friends at www.hdoliver.com. Howard M. Laderberg Norfolk—Howard Melvin Laderberg, 93, died peacefully August 24, 2017, at Beth Sholom Home.
44 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
He was a native of Portsmouth, but resided in Norfolk for the last 30 years. He was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Alma Goldstein Laderberg. He was the youngest child and last one of his immediate family left to cherish the memories of his parents, Bessie (Sifen) and Will Laderberg (of Poland and Russia, respectively), and siblings Albert, Paul, Sol, Evelyn and Flo. He is survived by his children, William and Harry Laderberg and Linda (Leigh) Baltuch of Norfolk and Romney Laderberg of Boston, Mass.; his grandchildren Sheila Laderberg Tarasiuk (Dawid), Daniel Baltuch (Ilana), Julie Laderberg Morano (William) and Rachel Baltuch (fiancé Brian). Remembering their beloved Pop-Pop are Amelia Morano, Alice Tarasiuk, and Eliyahu, Yaakov, Eliezer and Chananya Baltuch. Sisters-in-law Thelma Laderberg and Freida Goldstein are among many family and friends who will remember him. He was a proud WWII Army Air Corp veteran, stationed at Fairfield-Sulsun Army Air Base, which was renamed Travis Air Force Base. He worked on weights and balances for the aircrafts. A lifelong businessman, his first experiences in the business world were at the family’s Laderberg’s Department Store in downtown Portsmouth, where he worked as a child during the depression. That was followed by other family businesses, The Economy Shoppe with brother Paul, High Point Furniture Outlet with brother Sol. After Sol’s retirement, sons William and Harry joined him at HPFO until it closed. He grew up attending Chevra T’Helim Synagogue in Portsmouth. He was a longtime member of Gomley Chesed Synagogue, being very active on the board of directors for many years. He was also a member of Temple Israel. His generous philanthropy can be felt far away in Israel, as well as at such local agencies at ACCESS College Fund, The Foodbank of Southeast Virginia, Beth Sholom Village, Jewish Family Service, and the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, which he initially presented in memory of his beloved wife, Alma. He was honored to be in the position to help others near and far.
In 1970, he received the United Jewish Appeal Leadership Award. He was the Gomley Chesed Synagogue Men’s Club recipient of the Blue Yamulke Man of the Year in 2005. He thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie of his tennis buddies until he hung up his racquet at age 84. He immensely enjoyed family activities, giving so many family members great memories for so many years of holiday gatherings at his home. The Howard Laderberg Family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to the following: Carmen B. Johnson (8.5 years) and Leslie Daniels (4.5 years) of Jewish Family Service, who lovingly cared for Mr. Laderberg as though a member of their own families. Other valued members of JFS who cared for Mr. Laderberg over the past 9 years include Frances, Tiphaney and David. The entire family is very grateful for the presence of Beth Sholom Village, the new home provided for him for the past five years. The comprehensive and compassionate care he received from the entire staff was exceptional. The family liked knowing he was living at a place where, quite literally, everyone knows your name. A memorial service was held at Beth Sholom Village with Rabbi Michael Panitz and Cantor Elihu Flax officiating. Burial was private. Memorial gifts of meaning can be made to Beth Sholom Village, ATT: Claire Roth, 6401 Auburn Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464, or to a charity of one’s choice. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Online condolences may be offered to the family through www.hdoliver.com. Gail A. Littman Norfolk—Gail A. Littman, 79, passed away September 1, 2017. She was the widow of Abraham Littman and is survived by a daughter, 3 sons, a brother, a sister, 7 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild and loving companion Tom Whinnery. Graveside services were held at Forest Lawn Cemetery. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts.
obituaries Shirley S. Macon Virginia Beach—Shirley S. Macon, 91 passed away on August 12, 2017. A lifelong resident of Tidewater, Shirley graduated from Maury High School in 1944 and immediately married her high school sweetheart, Lawrence Macon. Shirley remained at Larry’s side throughout his various business ventures, first as a cashier at the United Cigar Drug Store, then as a sales clerk at Macon’s Camera Shop and later, Allied Brands. Her role as first mate continued during their retirement years cruising the Chesapeake Bay until Larry’s passing in 2012. However, her most satisfying career was taking on the role of Grandma Shirley. Nothing could stop her from any of her three grandchildren’s activities, and she relished each and every event. She was a member of Congregation Beth El. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Larry, and her son, Jonathan. Survivors include her son and daughterin-law, Clay and JoAnn Macon, her three grandchildren, Conrad Macon, and his wife Meredith, Sylvia Macon and Emily Macon, and one great-grandchild, Rose Macon. Shirley’s family is most grateful to the staff of the Terrace at Beth Sholom Home and Sentara Leigh Hospital for their caring and professional assistance during Shirley’s final days. Funeral Services were conducted graveside at Forest Lawn Cemetery with Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz officiating. Contributions to the Terrace at Beth Sholom, or the charity of choice. H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Online condolences may be offered at www.hdoliver.com. Carol Buxbaum Waranch Virginia Beach—Carol Buxbaum Waranch “A woman of valor, who can find? For her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31. Carol Buxbaum Waranch, age 89, peacefully passed away Thursday, August 17, 2017 in her home. She was born March 11, 1928 in Queens, New York to the late Julius and Margie Weiner Buxbaum. She and her late husband, Stanley Waranch, were happily married for 69 years.
She is survived by her four daughters, their spouses and families: Suzanne Gruelle (Dennis), Caren Alexis (Peter), Andrea Stein (James) and Diane Garfinkel (Eric). She will also be greatly missed by her 11 grandchildren: Lauren Shomaker (Brett), Jill Jacobson (Lowell), Evan Berger (Kate), Jonathan Alexis (Natalie), Matthew Alexis (Davis), Michael Stein, Brett Stein, Daniel Garfinkel, Jamie Garfinkel, Cary Garfinkel and Julia Garfinkel, as well as her five great grandchildren: Hannah and Eva Shomaker, Elliott Jacobson, Sally and Kathryn Alexis. She is also survived by her loving sibling, Stuart Buxbaum (Marilyn) and her sister-in-law, Shirley Liss, brother-inlaw, Seeman Waranch (Doris), and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Carol spent her childhood years in New York until she moved with her family to Hampton Roads, Virginia. She excelled in academics and attended Westhampton College in Richmond, Virginia at age 16. Upon graduation, she married Stanley and they moved to Norfolk to begin their lives together. Carol was active in the community serving as president of the Tidewater Section of the National Council of Jewish Women and involved in the Ohef Sholom Temple Sisterhood. Raising four daughters and supporting her husband as he pursued his career were truly her main priorities. She enjoyed working in the garden, and attending the symphony and opera. In addition, she was an avid reader and knitter. Grandma Carol was famous for her intricate baby blankets for each of her grandchildren knitted with tender, loving care. She was a gracious hostess —opening her home on every Jewish holiday to family, friends, and newcomers to the community. Mom, your welcoming ways and warm heart will always be remembered by your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. We love you. Funeral services were officiated graveside at Forest Lawn Cemetery by Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg. Memorial donations to Ohef Sholom Temple Floral Fund, The Strelitz Diabetes Center, Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, or a charity of the donor’s choice. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments.
Stanley Waranch Virginia Beach—Stanley Waranch, 91 years old, peacefully passed away on August 12, 2017 in his home after a long illness. He was born February 9, 1926 in Norfolk, Virginia to the late Eldridge and Nellie Brodsky Waranch. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Carol Buxbaum Waranch, as well as his four daughters, their spouses and families: Suzanne Gruelle (Dennis), Caren Alexis (Peter), Andrea Stein (James) and Diane Garfinkel (Eric). He will also be greatly missed by his 11 grandchildren: Lauren Shomaker (Brett), Jill Jacobson (Lowell), Evan Berger (Kate), Jonathan Alexis (Natalie), Matthew Alexis (Davis), Michael Stein, Brett Stein, Daniel Garfinkel, Jamie Garfinkel, Cary Garfinkel and Julia Garfinkel, as well as his five great grandchildren: Hannah and Eva Shomaker, Elliott Jacobson, Sally and Kathryn Alexis. He is also survived by continued on page 46
SouthSide Chapel 5792 Greenwich Rd. Virginia Beach 757 422-4000
Family owned and operated since 1917 M aeStaS Chapel 1801 Baltic Ave. Virginia Beach 757 428-1112
Chris Sisler, Vice President, Member of Ohef Sholom Temple, Board member of the Berger-Goldrich Home at Beth Sholom Village, James E. Altmeyer, Jr., President, James E. Altmeyer, Sr., Owner
CheSapeake Chapel 929 S. Battlefield Blvd. Chesapeake 757 482-3311
• Affordable services to fit any budget • Advance funeral planning • Professional, experienced, caring staff • Flexible burial options
denbigh Chapel 12893 Jefferson Ave. Newport News 757 874-4200
• Flexible payment options www.altmeyer.com
Approved by all area Rabbis and Chevrah Kadisha
Riverside Chapel 7415 River Road Newport News 757 245-1525
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 45
obituaries continued from page 45
his loving siblings: Shirley Liss, Seeman Waranch (Doris) and brother-in-law, Stuart Buxbaum (Marilyn) and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Stanley grew up in Richmond, Virginia. After attending University of Virginia, he served in the U.S. Army. During this time, Stanley entertained the troops as “Stan the Record Man,” a radio disc jockey. A life long love of music remained and singing along with Frank and Dean were his specialty. The highlight of his return to Richmond was meeting the love of his life, Carol and, after 69 years, it was clearly a good decision. Newly married, they settled in Norfolk. Stanley was soon invited into his father-in-law’s building business in Virginia Beach. He showed up to work in a business suit, tie, and briefcase in hand, however; he was promptly told to go home and change into his field clothes. Within a short time, Stanley was back in the office and took charge growing Buxbaum and Waranch into a successful company. Thus began a lifetime career in the home building business. In 1962, he served as president of the Home Builders Association of Virginia. By 1972, Stanley was proud to be elected president of the National Association of Homebuilders, recognized in the national Homebuilders Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C. and continued to be a lifetime director. For at least 20 years, he served in the prestigious position of chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board of Atlanta. Stanley delighted in the travel opportunities and treasured the life long
friendships he made along the way. Despite his other commitments, Stanley stayed devoted to his community. He was president of the Tidewater United Way Campaign, the first president of the Tidewater Builders Association, and was inducted into their hall of fame. Recently, Tidewater Builders Association honored him by creating the “Stanley Award,” given annually to local homebuilder professionals. Additionally, he served on the board of directors of Ohef Sholom Temple, chaired the board of Tidewater Community College and served on the board of directors at Eastern Virginia Medical School. While accomplishing so much in his professional endeavors, Stanley’s greatest pride and joy was always his family. He cherished his time with each of them and having everyone all together was even better. After a private burial, a memorial service officiated by Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg took place at Ohef Sholom Temple, followed by a meal of consolation in Kaufman Hall. Memorial donations to Ohef Sholom Temple Torah Fund, Eastern Virginia Medical School, The Strelitz Diabetes Center or a charity of your choice. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Michel Zemil Virginia Beach—Michel Zemil, 83, died Sunday, August 20, 2017 in a local hospital. He was a native of Washington, DC and a resident of Hampton Roads since 1976. He was the son of the late Abraham
Employment Oppor tunity Jewish Life & Learning/Senior Program Coordinator Creative self-starter with proven organizational skills needed for full-time position of Jewish Life & Learning/Senior Program Coordinator. Works collaboratively with staff/ teams in multiple areas of the UJFT/Simon Family JCC to bolster opportunities for Jewish education and seniors programming experiences in our various communities. For job description, visit www.jewishva.org or www.simonfamilyjcc.org. Submit resume w/salary requirements to: resumes@ujft.org
46 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org
and Elizabeth Luftig Zemil and was preceded in death by his sister Roni Packer. He was a a United States Air Force Veteran of the Korean War, and retired from Crawford House Furniture after 20 years employment. He was a member of Temple Israel and the Greenbrier Country Club. He was an avid golfer. He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Susan Bronstein Zemil of Virginia Beach and his children; Beth Paradis and her husband Michael of Virginia Beach and Bret Zemil of Denver, Colorado, his brother, Herb Zemil of Maryland and his grandchildren, Mariah and Mason, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. A graveside funeral service was held in Forest Lawn Cemetery by Rabbi Michael Panitz. Memorial donations may be made to Temple Israel. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Online condolences may be sent to the family at hdoliver.com.
Hungarian monument to Jewish Holocaust victims smashed A monument in Hungary commemorating Jewish slave workers later murdered in the Holocaust was defaced. At least three marble plates signifying Jewish headstones were smashed last month in Balf, a town located 120 miles west of Budapest, the Jewish weekly Szombat reported. A government spokesman issued a “strong condemnation” of the act, which police are investigating. There are no suspects. The monument, which comprises dozens of marble tablets in the shape of headstones, was unveiled in 2008. The positioning of the headstones evokes a group of people walking – meant to honor the memory of those forced to work there by pro-Nazi Hungarians before they were murdered. Those commemorated in the monument are victims of what the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem calls the death marches of Hungarian Jews through Austria in the spring of 1945. The previous year, Hungarian Interior Minister Gabor Vajna pledged to provide the German Reich with 50,000 Jewish men and women as slave laborers.
By 1945, Hungary’s fascist Arrow Cross handed over 76,209 Jews to the Germans “on loan” until the end of the war. After an arduous march from Budapest at the height of winter, in which thousands died, the survivors arrived in a weakened state to the border and were handed over to the Germans. Some were forced to dig trenches, other to build structures. Of the 35,000 Hungarian Jewish forced to work in the Lower Danube Gau area, a third died of starvation, exhaustion and diseases. To prevent the spread of epidemics, Nazi guards would shoot anyone suspected of being ill. (JTA)
Jewish couple killed in Brooklyn house fire remembered as ‘righteous’ A Brooklyn couple killed in a house fire was remembered as “genuine,” “righteous” and “devoted to family” at their joint funeral. Mourners spilled outside a Borough Park chapel for the joint funeral of Howard and Evelyn Gluck, who were killed early that morning in a blaze that ripped through their two-story, woodframed home in the haredi Orthodox Jewish neighborhood. Howard was 61 and worked for a hardware company. Evelyn was 59. The couple had four children, three living in New Jersey, as well as grandchildren. As fire engulfed the home they had lived in for nearly four decades, the couple’s 17-year-old daughter, Chana, stood on the roof shouting for someone to help her parents, who were trapped inside, the New York Times reported. Chana was rescued by firefighters and admitted to the hospital for smoke inhalation. She attended the funeral for her parents that afternoon supported by family members. The cause of the fire is being investigated and it is not clear if there were working smoke detectors in the home. Hundreds of mourners attending the funeral heard eulogies of the Glucks delivered in Yiddish. “They were just so special,” their son Yeidel said tearfully. Speakers were set up in the parking lot allowing the overflow to hear the remarks, according to the Times. (JTA)
CELEBRATE THE HIGH HOLIDAYS WITH
Joan Nathan & Whole Foods Market! This September, “the queen of American Jewish Cooking” is partnering with us to bring you some favorites from her latest cookbook, King Solomon’s Table. Our chef’s cases and hot bars will feature special ready to serve holiday dishes: COD WITH TOMATOES, DRIED PLUMS, ONIONS AND PINE NUTS SLIGHTLY SWEET AND SOUR CABBAGE SEVEN SACRED SPECIES SALAD WITH WHEAT BERRIES, BARLEY, FIGS, GRAPES AND POMEGRANATE SWEET AND CRUNCHY KUGEL TAHINA COOKIES
Receive a free copy of King Solomon’s Table when you place a High Holiday order of $100 or more at shop.wfm.com.* *Good on individual online orders placed by September 27; one book per customer.
$35 VALUE!
jewishnewsva.org | September 11, 2017 | Jewish News | 47
48 | Jewish News | September 11, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org