30
INSIDE
www.jewishnewsva.org
Southeastern Virginia | Vol. 54 No. 04 | 6 Cheshvan 5776 | October 19, 2015
v
30 HAT Golf Tournament
37 The Hope screening at Sandler Family Campus v
The Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family
Jewish Book Festival
v
November 1–15
38
*of blessed memory
— page 16
TJ F p o i s e d f o r g r ow t h 17 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 200 Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462-4370 Address Service Requested
Mitzvah Day Sunday, Oct. 25
AT HOME
Non-Profit Org. US POSTAGE PAid Suburban MD Permit 6543
41 Seth Siegel Sunday, Nov.1 supplement to Jewish News October 19, 2015 Jewishnewsva.org | At Home | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 21
Redi Carpet - VAB - 12.5.14.pdf 1 12/5/2014 4:53:43 PM
Make your house a home
Come by and visit one of our expert flooring consultants and view thousands of samples of Carpet, Hardwood, Ceramic Tile and more!
very pleased to have new “I was carpet all in one day. It looks
C
M
Y
CM
great. Wish I had done it sooner! I will definitely recommend Redi Carpet to others.
MY
CY
CMY
K
-K. Rigney, Home Owner
(757) 481-9646
2 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
�
2220 West Great Neck Road | Virginia Beach, VA 23451 www.redicarpet.com
Jewish news jewishnewsva.org
Upfront
Published 22 times a year by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
Op-Ed
The New York Times’ “Big Lie” about the Temple Mount by Steven Fine
NEW YORK (JTA)—This month, I opened The New York Times to Rick Gladstone’s article, “Historical Certainty Proves Elusive at Jerusalem’s Holiest Place,” happy that the newspaper of record would explain to its audience the historical context of this embattled piece of real estate. As I read on, I was horrified. “The question, which many books and scholarly treatises have never definitively answered, is whether the 37-acre site, home to Islam’s sacred Dome of the Rock shrine and Al Aqsa Mosque, was also the precise location of two ancient Jewish temples, one built on the remains of the other, and both long since gone,” Gladstone reported. The article received an avalanche of comment from scholars and lay readers, Jews and Christians, who well understood that beneath this article was an attempt to problematize the very existence of the Jewish temples on Mount Zion. While it is true that the temple shrine has not been found, the entire platform of the Temple Mount was built by Herod and his successors and are part of the temple complex—visible to the eye and described in detail by the first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus and others. The attempt to throw doubt on this is obfuscating, taking advantage for political or religious benefit of the appropriate willingness of historians to question sources. While this is quite disheartening, what is most disturbing about this article is that The New York Times gave voice to yet another “Big Lie” about Jews and Judaism. Joining claims of deicide and ritual murder, which are broadly believed in the Islamic world, Muslim commentators in recent years have purveyed the belief that there never was a Jewish temple on the Haram al-Sharif.
Upfront . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Briefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Torah Though. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Iran Nuclear Deal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Election 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Third intifada?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 TJF poised for growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Jewish Book Festival. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Home Section. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Hat Golf Tournament. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 JFS Chanukah Gift Program . . . . . . . . . . 33 Reunion of liberators and survivors . . . . 34
QR code generated on http://qrcode.littleidiot.be
“They claim that 2,000 years ago they had a temple,” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has written. “I challenge the claim that this is so.” Palestinians have much to gain in claiming that there was no Jewish temple. If there was no temple on Mount Zion, then Jews have no claim on that hill, nor to the land of Zion and Jerusalem. Hence, no Zionism. The “Big Lie” that there was never a Jewish temple is thus a cipher for discrediting and undercutting the entire Jewish claim to the Holy Land—the very claim that, in fact, makes this particular land holy. What Palestinians stand to lose by purveying this untruth, however, is the trust of those, like me, who are willing to listen carefully to legitimate claims and to act on them. The claim that there was never a temple is offensive and in no way furthers Palestinian national aspirations. The claim that there is no “Palestinian people” is similarly offensive to Palestinians. But while that claim has mostly disappeared among Jews and Israelis, the “Big Lie” that Jews are foreign to the Holy Land, and that the temple never existed, is alive and well. What disturbs me most is that The New York Times totally missed this complicated history and unintentionally gave the “Big Lie” a voice on its pages, as if it is equal to actual historical fact. The Times deserves credit for (somewhat) correcting the article online, but what about the millions who read only the paper version? —Steven Fine is the Pinkhos Churgin professor of Jewish history at Yeshiva University and director of the university’s Center for Israel Studies and the Arch of Titus Project.
Contents
Quotable Book Reviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beth El’s religious school. . . . . . . . . . . . . CRC screens CBN’s documentary. . . . . . 2nd Annual Mitzvah Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . Week of Extraordinary Deeds. . . . . . . . . What’s Happening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Who Knew?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mazel Tov. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INSIDE—At Home
35 36 37 38 39 40 42 43 43 44
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 Hal Sacks, Book Review Editor Sandy Goldberg, Account Executive Mark Hecht, Account Executive Marilyn Cerase, Subscription Manager Reba Karp, Editor Emeritus Sherri Wisoff, Proofreader United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Jay Klebanoff, 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. © 2015 Jewish News. All rights reserved. Subscription: $18 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 Topic Deadline November 9 Military Salute October 23 November 23 Hanukkah November 6 December 7 Business November 20 December 21 Education December 4 January 11 Super Sunday December 24
Candle lighting
“Face-to-face conversation
Friday, October 23/Cheshvan 10 Light candles at 6:01 pm
is the most human—and
Friday, October 30/Cheshvan 17 Light candles at 5:51 pm
humanizing— thing we do.…
Friday, November 6/Cheshvan 24 Light candles at 4:44 pm
It’s where we develop
Friday, November 13/Kislev 1 Light candles at 4:38 pm
the capacity for empathy.”
Friday, November 20/Kislev 8 Light candles at 4:34 pm
—page 39
Friday, November 27/Kislev 15 Light candles at 4:31 pm
jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 3
Briefs Spain grants citizenship to 4,302 descendants of Sephardic Jews Spain granted citizenship to 4,302 people who identified themselves as descendants of Sephardic Jews. The citizenships were approved on Friday, Oct. 2, The Associated Press reported, following the Spanish parliament’s adoption earlier this year of a law granting citizenship to the descendants of Jews who fled or were expelled from Spain ahead of and during the Spanish Inquisition. A day before the approval, a decree making the law official was approved. The decree allowed applicants to maintain dual citizenship with another country. Under the law approved in June, applicants need not travel to Spain, but must hire a Spanish notary and pass tests on the Spanish language and history. Portugal passed and implemented a similar law with fewer stipulations last year. The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain, or FCJE, which vets applications in Spain under the law in its capacity as consultant and partner of the government on matters concerning the so-called Jewish law of return to Spain, said the majority of applicants were citizens of Venezuela, Morocco and Turkey. (JTA) Top French dictionary defines ‘Promised Land’ as ‘present-day Palestine’ A French Jewish lobby group urged the publisher of the French language’s definitive dictionary to change its definition of “Promised Land” as “present-day Palestine.” The National Bureau for Vigilance against Anti-Semitism, or BNVCA, on Oct. 1 called on Editions Larousse, the publisher of the Larousse line of dictionaries and encyclopedias, to amend its My First Larousse of History book for children following a report on it published Sept. 29 on the news site jssnews.com. Under the entry “The Promised Land,” the Larousse book, which is intended for children, reads: “Led by Moses, the Hebrews reached the Promised Land, present-day Palestine.” The entry on “The Bible” in the same Larousse book states that it dates back to “4,000 years ago and the Hebrews, a people that lived in Palestine.” A variation of the name Palestine, which
the Romans gave the Land of Israel in the 2nd century C.E., was first documented in Greek literature in the 5th century C.E. It is believed to be named after the Philistines, an extinct, non-Semitic people. In a statement, BNVCA President Sammy Ghozlan said the Larousse book “insidiously teaches young children utterly false notions of biblical history.” BNVCA, he added, “wonders whether this is a case of ignorance, incompetence or politically motivated desire to offend the Jewish people and the Jewish State of Israel.” Ghozlan noted that “Palestine did not exist” 4,000 years ago. The Promised Land, he added, “is the Holy Land of Israel, which does not and never constituted the Palestine mentioned in Larousse, neither politically nor geographically-historically.” Ghozlan said he has asked the French education ministry to act against the dissemination and use at public institutions of the Larousse edition. (JTA)
Howard Stern rips Roger Waters over BDS support Radio personality Howard Stern ripped Roger Waters, the founding member of the rock band Pink Floyd, for his support of the boycott Israel movement. “What is with Roger Waters and the Jews?” Stern asked Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the beginning of a seven-minute rant on Sirius XM Radio during which he implied that Waters is an anti-Semite. The rant was motivated by an open letter that Waters published in Salon criticizing rocker Jon Bon Jovi for performing in Tel Aviv on Oct. 3. “The Palestinians are these Arabs that could live in Egypt; they could live in Saudi Arabia, but guess what? Those countries don’t want them either,” Stern, who is Jewish, said on his show. “Israel has a little tiny country, and it bugs the s*** out of Roger Waters. He can’t f***in’ deal with it. “Where do you want the Jews to go, Roger? You want them just to go back to the concentration camps? What is it you want, f***head?” “Jews, go to the dark side of moon and live,” he said, referring to a popular Pink Floyd album. A recording of the rant has been removed from YouTube, citing a copyright claim by Sirius XM.
4 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
During his concert, in an apparent swipe at Waters, Bon Jovi announced: “I’ll come here any time you want.” In the letter to Bon Jovi, Waters accused the singer of standing “shoulder to shoulder” with “the settler who burned the baby,” referring to the arsonists, thought to be Jewish extremists, who firebombed a Palestinian home in August, killing a toddler and several family members. The act was condemned by Israel’s leaders. Waters in his letter listed seven other Israelis who perpetrated attacks on Palestinians and pro-Palestinian activists. He said Bon Jovi had forfeited the opportunity to stand “on the side of justice,” listing pro-Palestinian activists and Palestinians whom Waters regards as heroes or victims. The letter does not mention any Palestinian terrorist attacks or Israeli terror victims, including the two parents killed in a drive-by shooting in the West Bank. Waters backs the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel for its policies concerning the Palestinians. (JTA)
Facebook to launch Israelimade satellite to bring Internet access to Africa Facebook will launch an Israeli-made satellite to bring Internet access to sub-Saharan Africa. Israel Aerospace Industries is building the AMOS-6 satellite, which will be operated by the Israeli company Spacecom in partnership with Eutelsat Communications of France. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the partnership with Eutelsat to launch the satellite, which costs about $300 million, on his Facebook page. The satellite, which is expected to operate for 16 years, is set to launch in 2016, Zuckerberg said. Spacecom is expected to earn about $100 million from the deal, according to Reuters. (JTA) 13-year-old Israeli stabbed, attacker of same age shot dead A 13-year-old Israeli boy riding his bike was critically injured in a stabbing attack in Jerusalem allegedly by 13- and 15-year-old Palestinian assailants. The teen and a second victim, in his early to mid-20s, are in serious condition
following the Monday, Oct. 12 attack in the northern Jerusalem community of Pisgat Zeev, Israel Police reported. The younger suspected attacker was shot by Israel Police and died, while the other suspect was arrested. They are brothers from eastern Jerusalem, according to Palestinian reports. The attack came less than an hour after an Israeli Border Police officer was injured in a stabbing attack outside the National Police Headquarters, also in northern Jerusalem, near the border between western and eastern Jerusalem. The assailant, a female identified by Israel’s Channel 2 as a resident of eastern Jerusalem, was shot in the stomach by the injured officer and seriously wounded. Police arrested an alleged accomplice at the scene, Channel 2 reported. It is the same place that a yeshiva student was stabbed in the neck by a Palestinian assailant on Oct. 8. The attacks came hours after Israel Police officers shot and killed an Arab man in the Old City of Jerusalem after he attempted to stab a policeman. (JTA)
Major oil reserves discovered on Golan Heights Oil reserves that reportedly could provide for Israel’s needs for many years have been found on the Golan Heights. The reserves were found in the southern Golan following a year of drilling, the Afek Oil and Gas company announced. “We are talking about significant quantities,” Yuval Bartov, Afek’s chief geologist, told Channel 2 News. “The important thing is to know the oil is in the rock and that’s what we now know.” The rock could potentially hold billions of barrels and provide for all of Israel’s oil needs for many years, according to Channel 2. Israel consumes 270,000 barrels of oil per day, according to the report. Afek will determine whether the oil can be easily removed without high production costs. In addition to opposition from environmental groups, the geopolitical situation could create obstacles, according to Channel 2. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and annexed it in 1981, a move not recognized by the international community, which considers the strategic plateau occupied territory. (JTA)
Torah Thought
Back to the Beginning: The story of Torah
Y
ou are putting your children to bed, and the transition is made easier for them by the soothing ritual of the bed-time story. Perhaps a bit restless, you attempt to modify the oft-told tale, but your children bring you up short. “No, Daddy, tell it the right way!” We outgrow childhood—at least partially!—but hopefully we never stop cherishing the value of stories to make our world familiar. These stories are not just about well enjoyed characters, fictitious or historical. They make the world navigable. In our synagogue cycle of Torah readings, we have returned to Genesis, and we are re-encountering the stories of Creation and Eden, Flood and Fresh Starts, the folly of Babel, the courage and vision of Abraham, the poignant struggles of Sarah and Rachel to have a child, the maturation of Jacob, the line-jumper, into Israel, a man worthy of blessing and the direct ancestor of our people. We should ponder why the Bible chooses to present religious truth in story form. The Bible is not a philosophical treatise. It is a law-code embedded in a story: the epic of God, very like a loving parent, reaching out to us, to give us good and meaningful lives, and teaching us the discipline that makes such lives possible. Why does the Bible opt for that mode of presentation?
One traditional Jewish theory is that the stories are a surface manifestation of the deeper truth of the Bible. Many centuries ago, the mystical classic, Zohar, pointed out that just as a person wears clothing, but clothes are not the person; has a body, but the body is still the exterior reality, and ultimately has a soul, the very essence of the person’s life, so too, the Torah has clothing, a body, and a soul. The clothing is the story. The body is the law. The soul is the relationship of God and the world. In the past two centuries, insights into the human condition drawn from fields of study as diverse as psychology and folklore have created a new basis for appreciating the value of the story. The human mind is always turning reality into a personal story. When we dream, we revisit life, without the realistic filters that constrain our wakeful story-telling, and the result is often a fantastic jumble—but still a story. We are hard-wired to translate experience into narrative. This is not only true for us as individuals, but also works at the level of culture and society. Stories are how we rehearse and maintain our group identity, our shared values, our ideals. The point of these stories is not primarily to entertain, but to enlist. Become part of the story, by identifying yourself with it and internalizing its lessons. Understood thus, we can realize that it is not dismissive to recognize the story quality of Torah. The question, “is it a story, or did it really happen?” is the wrong question. Ask instead, “what does this story say to me?” Make the story come alive in your own life. The payoff is that your life will find shape and purpose. —Rabbi Michael Panitz, Temple Israel
The soul is
the relationship
PATTY SUTTON
Senior Registered Client Associate
TODD WEST
Senior Vice President-Investments
JASON HOFFMAN
First Vice President-Investments
Our goal as your financial advisors is to help you formulate and implement your family’s wealth management strategy. Whether it’s retirement planning, family philanthropy or the transfer of your wealth to your next generation, your future is our priority and job number one. Please call us to set an appointment to learn more about how we can help you and your family.
of God and the world.
208 Golden Oak Court, Reflections III, Suite 300 Virginia Beach, VA 23452
757-431-6322 direct • 800-446-8096 toll free 757-298-5185 fax
© 2009-2015 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC. All rights reserved.
jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 5
IRAN nuclear Deal
Bill to ‘fix’ Iran deal backed by Dems, even deal supporters WASHINGTON (JTA)—Top Democratic senators, among them both opponents and backers of the Iran nuclear deal, introduced a bill that would address what they say are the deal’s defects. The Iran Policy Oversight Act of 2015 introduced on Oct. 1 brings together Sens. Ben Cardin of Maryland and Charles Schumer of New York, among just four Senate Democrats who joined Republicans in opposing the sanctions relief for nuclear restrictions deal when it was under congressional review, with seven Democrats who backed the deal. The bill would increase defense assistance to Israel to counter potential Iranian conventional threats, enhance congressional oversight of the implementation of the deal and expedite new sanctions against Iran should it be implicated in terrorism. “Previously, U.S. policy toward Iran
BUYING SEASON! NO MORE COLD WINTERS! Specializing in Active 55+ Communities throughout Palm Beach County inc. Boca, Delray, Boynton and beyond.
was so effective because of the congressional unity that brought Democrats and Republicans together on this issue,” said Cardin, the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “We as Democratic opponents and supporters of the Iran agreement are taking the first step forward to chart a new course that borrows from past practice.” Al Monitor, a Middle East news website, reported that Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., the Foreign Relations Committee’s chairman, who has cooperated with Cardin in the past on Iran issues, was reviewing whether to join sponsorship of the bill. Corker’s backing would pave the way to broader bipartisan support. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee was also reviewing the bill to consider whether to lend it its backing, an AIPAC official says. AIPAC vehemently opposed the deal when it was under congressional review. J Street, the liberal Jewish Middle east policy group, said in a statement that it backs the bill. “Comprehensive reporting on Iran’s activities, enhancement of the President’s existing non-nuclear sanctions powers and further strengthening already unprecedented U.S. security and intelligence cooperation with Israel are steps that will bolster the agreement and its critical objective of ensuring that Iran never
retirement communities | beach area condos | country clubs
Browse all listings at
www.allaccessrealtyflorida.com
CALL OR
Steve Jason Broker/Owner
561-305-9515 sijason@aol.com
YOUR NORFOLK CONNECTION TO SOUTH FLORIDA REAL ESTATE
outside the framework of negotiations as “counterproductive.” Separately, the U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 1 approved a bill that would delay sanctions relief until Iran paid out court-won awards to victims of Iranian-backed terrorism, principally 241 U.S. Marines killed in an attack on barracks in Beirut in 2003 carried out by Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy. The bill was approved along partisan lines, with Democrats accusing Republicans of attempting to stymie the Iran deal after the deadline for Congress to kill it lapsed on Sept. 17. “Let’s be honest: This bill is not really about helping these victims,” said Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., the senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and among the minority of Democrats who opposed the deal, speaking against the bill on the House floor. “It’s about exploiting their plight and their tragedy to make a political splash.” Also Oct. 1, the Senate Banking Committee approved a parallel bill that would link sanctions relief to Iran’s payout to its terror victims, and the U.S. Supreme Court said it would consider Iran’s appeal against earlier decisions that it must make such payments.
Iran’s Khamenei forbids further talks between Iran and US
Call or email today! INVESTMENTS • SALES • RENTALS
acquires a nuclear weapon,” J Street said. The bill’s sponsors also include five Jewish senators: In addition to Cardin and Schumer, who will vie next year for the caucus leadership, the nine sponsors include Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Wyo., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. The other backers of the bill are Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., who does not consider himself Jewish but who cited his mother’s Jewish heritage in explaining his backing for the Iran nuclear deal deal; Cory Booker, D-N.J., who has close ties to New Jersey’s Jewish community; Chris Coons, D-Del., and Mark Warner, D-Va. With Republicans opposing the deal, Democrats were subject to heavy lobbying from the White House to back the deal and from opponents of the deal, including AIPAC and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to help kill it. Politico reported Oct. 1 that Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., the minority leader, twice appealed to the White House to explicitly pledge to kill any Palestinian bid at the United Nations to achieve statehood recognition as a means of assuaging pro-Israel groups that would be angered by Democratic backing for the deal. The Obama administration never pledged to stop such a bid, although its officials have said they view bids for statehood
I
ran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, banned future talks with the United States. “Talks with the United States are forbidden because of the countless harm they do,” Khamenei told a group of Revolutionary Guards officers in Tehran on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Khamenei, Iran’s highest authority, has said similar things in speeches since a nuclear deal was reached in July between Iran and six world powers, according to
6 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
The New York Times. However, he had not yet issued an official ban on talks with the United States. He had officially supported the nuclear deal negotiations. “Negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran means penetration,” Khamenei said. “That is how they define such negotiations. They want to open the way for imposition.” Khamenei’s rhetoric clashes with that of Iran’s more moderate president, Hassan
Rouhani, who emphasized at the U.N. General Assembly that Iran was ready to cooperate with the United States to solve the crisis in Syria. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif, has been harshly criticized at home for being the country’s first foreign minister to shake hands with an American president since 1979. Last week, Zarif and President Barack Obama shared a handshake at the United Nations. (JTA)
Harry L. Delyannis
RESIDENTIAL • CUSTOM DESIGN • COMMERCIAL 757-425-3272 • harry@hldlandscaping.com
For the Discerning Critic of Fine Gardening
CONTACT US AT (757) 425-3272 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.hldlandscaping.com
HLD Landscaping, Inc. is a full service landscaping company that has been serving the Hampton Roads area for over 25 years. Landscape Design Hardscapes Landscape Lighting Hourly Consultations Container Gardens Seasonal Color
Tree Services Mosquito Control Hand Pruning Mowing Turf Applications Seeding
Sodding Irrigation Drainage Mulching Fertilization Weed Control jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 7
Election 2016
Amid GOP disarray, Jews in DC search memories and Rolodexes offices,” says Richard Foltin, the American Jewish Committee’s national and legislative affairs director. “To the extent that I have concerns, it’s having voices who oppose compromise and who are not comfortable with the notion that governing is about reaching accommodation both within the party and the other side.” Rabbi Levi Shemtov, the director of American Friends of Lubavitch, says that his Chabad-affiliated group already had ties with a broad swath of the 247 GOP members, noting that Chabad had offices in 320 of 435 congressional districts. “If it’s not one of the members we know, we’ll have someone we can connect to them,” he says before noting that Blackburn met recently with a Chabad rabbi from Tennessee. Among the half dozen or so unconfirmed contenders for the post are Blackburn and Roskam, who led House opposition to the
by Ron Kampeas
WASHINGTON (JTA)—“Do I know this person?” has been a common refrain in the Washington offices of national Jewish organizations since Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, resigned as House speaker last month and his chosen successor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the majority leader, flamed out. Every day sees a new Republican contender named in the media. Some, like Rep. Pete Roskam of Illinois, are well known to Jewish officials. Others, like Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, have community professionals flipping through their virtual Rolodoxes trying to pinpoint the last time they had a meaningful chat. “The community has a history of building relationships, and we’ll reach out and build relationships where they do not exist, not just in D.C. but in field
Iran nuclear deal, as well as Texas Rep. Bill Flores, who chairs the Republican Study Committee, the party’s more established conservative caucus. Declared candidates include Reps. Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Daniel Webster of Florida, members of the harder-line conservative wing of the Republican Party that prompted Boehner to step down. Hovering above them all is Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the chairman of the taxlaw writing Ways and Means Committee. Ryan has indicated that he does not want the top spot, but is under pressure by the party establishment to step into the breach. The GOP caucus is overwhelmingly pro-Israel—each of the prospective speakers put out a statement in March welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress, an address that riled the White House and congressional Democrats.
But the Jewish community has closer ties to the establishment figures who have fallen out of favor among Republican conservatives. Boehner, who orchestrated the Netanyahu speech, has ties to Jewish federations in Ohio dating to his days in the 1980s as a municipal official in the Cincinnati area. McCarthy and Ryan, together with former Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., were the self-described “Young Guns” who rode the wave of GOP disaffection in 2010 to win the House and assume party leadership positions. Cantor is Jewish and has longstanding ties to national Jewish groups. Ryan, the 2012 vice-presidential pick of Mitt Romney, grew close to Romney’s Jewish backers. And McCarthy is a favorite of the Republican Jewish Coalition—his speech to the group in April generated vice-presidential buzz. In recent years, however, the Tea Party
NORFOLK COLLEGIATE Engaging Students. Inspiring Success.
One-of-one, not one of thousands
Meg ’19 and her teacher, Ms. Belle
What’s right for one child may not be right for yours. Our instruction encourages personalization and the pursuit of one’s passions. That’s why a Norfolk Collegiate education isn’t just college preparatory; it’s life preparatory. What differentiates Norfolk Collegiate from other independent schools?
Communication Arts Program Dual Platforms & Lego® Robotics 1:1 iPad® Program
AP Capstone™ Program 3D Printers & Coding Turf Fields & Lights
Bon Secours Partnership Nearly $2M in need-based financial aid distributed
Join us for our monthly Coffee at Collegiate events to learn more! Grades K-5 kick off Nov. 3, at 8:30 a.m. and 6-12 is Nov. 5, at 8: 30 a.m. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 757.480.1495 or visit www.NorfolkCollegiate.org. Lower School campus (Grades K5), 5429 Tidewater Dr., Norfolk & Middle & Upper School campus (Grades 6-12), 7336 Granby St., Norfolk NC_Jewish NewsAd_OCT 2015.indd 1
8 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
10/8/2015 2:47:21 PM
Election 2016 insurgents have been gunning for the Young Guns they had raised to leadership, saying they were doing too little to reverse President Barack Obama’s agenda, particularly his signature health care reforms. Cantor was ousted by an anti-immigration candidate in the primaries, losing his historic post as the first Jewish majority leader in the House of Representatives. McCarthy succeeded him as leader and seemed eager to step into Boehner’s slot. But he withdrew upon realizing that he would not win the speakership on GOP votes alone and was loath to rely on Democratic votes. Ryan does not appear ready to give up the chairmanship of his committee—one of the most powerful in the House—assuming the speakership would require that move. One worry for pro-Israel groups is that newcomers, while broadly pro-Israel, may not yet get the nuances of the pro-Israel lobby’s agenda—for instance advancing funding not only for Israel’s defense, but for other nations as a means of maintaining U.S. influence abroad. A staffer for a senior GOP House member said the turnover in the caucus presented a challenge for pro-Israel groups who seek to educate lawmakers. “About half if not more of the GOP conference has changed in the last six years,” says the staffer, who asked not to be identified. Cantor decried in a New York Times Op-Ed on Sept. 25 the unwillingness of the party’s hard-line wing, numbering 40 or 50 members, to accommodate Obama on any level. “Somewhere along the road, a number of voices on the right began demanding that the Republican Congress not only block Mr. Obama’s agenda but enact a reversal of his policies,” Cantor wrote.
“Strangely, according to these voices, the only reason that was not occurring had nothing to do with the fact that the president was unlikely to repeal his own laws, or that under the Constitution, absent the assent of the president or two-thirds of both houses of Congress, you cannot make law.” In the short term, Boehner’s resignation helps keep government running. Freed from threats from the right to unseat him, he can use his lame duck period to pass spending laws, including a defense bill that boosts Israel’s anti-missile capability. Boehner originally said he would leave on Oct. 31, but has indicated he may stay until a credible array of candidates emerges. The AJC’s Foltin named immigration reform, voting rights and energy security as issues the AJC and the broader community want addressed in the longer run. “We have to be able to move forward on the basis of negotiation and compromise,” he says. “How will we deal with the big picture on these issues?” Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., the sole Jewish Republican in Congress, says he is confident that whoever became speaker would protect pro-Israel funding. “I would not anticipate any delay whatsoever with regards to any legislation that strengthens the relationship between the United States and Israel,” he says. The Republican Jewish Coalition spokesman, Mark McNulty, said his group had ties into virtually every caucus member and was ready to educate anyone who got the slot. “That’s why we’re here, we have the resources to educate people,” he says. “We have a lot of confidence in the resources our legislative team has developed over the years.”
Bank Local Deposit Mobile
One
worry for
pro-Israel groups
is that newcomers, while broadly pro-
Israel, may not yet get the nuances of the pro-Israel lobby’s agenda.
Old Point makes life easier with anytime, anywhere banking. OldPoint.com 757.728.1200 Member FDIC
©2015 Old Point National Bank
DANHECHTKOPF Director of Luxury Sales Douglas Elliman Real Estate Miami Beach, FL Dan.Hechtkopf@elliman.com
305.323.3247
Please contact me for all your Miami real estate needs jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 9
Election 2016
Bernie Sanders finally opens up about Jewish childhood by Ron Kampeas
(JTA)—I interviewed Bernie Sanders a couple years ago when word first circulated that the Vermont senator might seek the presidency. Though he knew about JTA going in -- and must have known questions about his Jewish background were coming -- he didn’t want to get into it. I wrote at the time: But Sanders is hesitant to draw a connection between his Jewish background and his priorities as a senator. With a series of observations about the Jewish history of rootlessness and oppression, Sanders begins to describe the role of his lower-middle-class upbringing in forging him into the Congress’ only self-described socialist. Then he catches himself. ‘This isn’t a profile,’ he declared, interrupting himself.” It kind of is though, I remember thinking.
Sanders, now deep into a serious bid for the Democratic nod, in a New Yorker profile realizes he has to give a little on his biography—including the Jewish stuff. Margaret Talbot gets the goods, but first must field a version of Sanders’ objection to me. She writes: “When I asked Sanders a question about his early years, he sighed with the air of a man who knows he can no longer put off that visit to the periodontist. ‘I understand,’ he said. ‘I really do. For people to elect a president, you’ve got to know that person—you’ve got to trust them.’ He insisted that he was happy to talk about his life. But he couldn’t resist sermonizing first: ‘When I talk about a political revolution, what I’m talking about is how we create millions of decent-paying jobs, how we reduce youth unemployment, how we join the rest of the world, major countries, in having paid family and sick
leave. I know those issues are not quite as important as my personal life.’ And then, unnecessarily: ‘I’m being facetious.’” Then he dives right in, and it turns out the Jewish thing looms large, at least in a cultural-political way. Talbot writes: “Sanders did say that two aspects of his upbringing had exerted a lasting influence. One was coming from a family that never had much money. And the other was growing up Jewish—less for the religious content than for the sense it imbued in him that politics mattered. Sanders’ father was a Polish Jew who, at the age of 17, came to America shortly after his brother, and struggled through the Depression in Brooklyn.… “Sid Ganis, a Hollywood producer who grew up in the same building as Sanders, described their neighborhood as an enclave of ‘ordinary secular Jews,’ adding, ‘Some of us went to Hebrew school, but mainly it was an identity in that it got us out of school on Jewish holidays.’ Sanders told me that, in the aftermath of the Second World War, his family ‘got a call in the middle of the night about some relative of my father’s, who was in a displaced-persons camp in Europe someplace.’ Sanders learned that many of his father’s other relatives had perished. Sanders’ parents had been fundamentally apolitical, but he took away a lesson: ‘An election in 1932 ended up killing 50 million people around the world.’ “Sanders’ close friend Richard Sugarman, an Orthodox Jew who teaches religious studies at the University of Vermont, said, ‘He’s not what you would call rule-observant.’ But, Sugarman added,
If
‘if you talk about his Jewish identity, it’s strong. It’s certainly more ethnic and cultural than religious—except for his devotion to the ethical part of public life in Judaism, the moral part. He does have a prophetic sensibility.’ Sugarman and Sanders were housemates for a while in the ’70s, and Sugarman says that his friend would often greet him in the morning by saying, ‘We’re not crazy, you know,’ referring to the anger they felt about social injustices. Sugarman would respond, ‘Could you say good morning first?’” Yet for all the protestations that Sanders’ identity is not about religion, this is Talbot’s kicker, quoting Sanders addressing Liberty University, an evangelical Christian school in Virginia, and quoting from Amos: “The occasion also played to the prophetic side of Sanders—the register in which he can sound like an Old Testament preacher. Unlike his slicker rivals, Sanders is most at ease talking about the moral and ethical dimensions of politics. ‘We are living in a nation and in a world—the Bible speaks to this issue—in a nation and in a world which worships not love of brothers and sisters, not love of the poor and the sick, but worships the acquisition of money and great wealth.’ His voice broke—all those stump speeches had been leaving deep scratches on the record. But his outrage was unmuffled. Staring at the crowd, he quoted the Hebrew Bible, his fist punctuating nearly every word: ‘Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.’” Still left unanswered: Which kibbutz helped shape Sanders in the mid-1960s?
you talk
about his Jewish
identity, it’s strong. It’s certainly more
ethnic and cultural
than religious—except for his devotion to the ethical part of public life in Judaism,
the moral part.
10 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
R emember Last Winter?
I
t’s the cold, hard truth – winter is right around the corner.
If you’ve had enough of worrying about your loved one’s high heating bills, shoveling snow, slipping on ice and trying to get out in bad weather for groceries or doctors’ appointments, think about encouraging them to visit a Commonwealth Assisted Living community. Here they’ll enjoy the privacy of their own suite, as well as an abundance of services and amenities that make life fun, enjoyable and, most of all, worry-free for the whole family. From delightful dining and complimentary transportation to a full social calendar and maintenance-free living, this is the lifestyle they deserve.
Move in by October 15 and Receive $500 off of First Month’s Rent! The Ballentine - Norfolk | 757-347-1732 Churchland House - Portsmouth | 757-517-0340 Commonwealth Assisted Living at Hampton - Hampton | 757-707-8091 Commonwealth Memory Care - Norfolk | 757-785-0830 King’s Grant House - Virginia Beach | 757-347-2752 Leigh Hall Assisted Living - Norfolk | 757-347-1251 Georgian Manor - Chesapeake | 757-644-3825
www.CommonwealthAL.com
jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 11
Election 2016 Hillary Clinton talks to Lena Dunham about feminism, college years by Gabe Friedman
Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer, P.C. is excited to announce we are relocating effective October 27, 2015. Please update our contact info to: Suntrust Building 150 W. Main St., Suite 1200
Find us online! www.wec-cpa.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/weccpa LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/wall-einhorn-&-chernitzer-p.c.
12 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
(JTA)—In the wake of the never-ending email scandal and Bernie Sanders’ rise in the polls, Hillary Clinton is feeling some serious heat in the 2016 presidential race. In an attempt to connect with younger voters, the Democratic front-runner agreed earlier this month to be interviewed by Lena Dunham, the Jewish creator of HBO’s hit show Girls. The full interview is available to subscribers of Dunham’s new Lenny newsletter, whose name is a portmanteau of Lena and Jenny (as in Dunham’s Girls co-writer Jenni Konner). Konner has also pointed out that it’s the name of an “old Jewish man.” The newsletter includes content on “feminism, style, health, politics, friendship” and more according to its website, politico.com. A minute-long preview clip of the interview shows Clinton—who confessed that she does not watch Girls—as relaxed as she has ever looked in a public appearance. Asked by Dunham if she considers herself a feminist, Clinton leaned forward with a smile and said, “Yes, absolutely.”
“You know I’m always a little bit puzzled when any woman of whatever age, but particularly a young woman, says something like, and you’ve heard it, ‘Well, I believe in equal rights but I’m not a feminist.’ Well, a feminist is by definition someone who believes in equal rights,” the former secretary of state said in the clip. “I’m hoping people will not be afraid to say, that doesn’t mean you hate men, it doesn’t mean you want to separate out the world, so you’re not a part of ordinary life—that’s not what it means at all! It just means we believe that women should have the same rights as men, politically, culturally, socially, economically. That’s what it means.” According to Politico, Clinton also talked with Dunham about her college years and early 20s, as well as her initial ambivalence about a political career. Dunham supported Barack Obama in the 2012 election. Rumors also swirled back in July that Malia Obama, the elder of the Obama daughters, was interning (or at least hanging out) on the set of Girls, which is filmed in Brooklyn, N. Y.
Sanders campaign apologizes for ejecting pro-Palestinian group from rally
T
he presidential campaign of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders has apologized for ejecting members of a pro-Palestinian student group from a rally in Boston. The incident occurred at a large Sanders rally at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, where members of Boston Students for Justice in Palestine said they were told by police and venue staff to take down a sign reading “Will Ya #Feel The Bern 4 Palestine??!” According to an account posted on the group’s Facebook page, police told the activists that they were trespassing and threatened them with arrest if they did not leave the venue. Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ campaign manager, told the Washington Post that the instructions to take down the sign
came from a “rogue” low-level campaign employee. “That person has been excluded from working on any of our future events,” Weaver said. He also said that the campaign called and apologized to the student group. The group also posted a video on YouTube of the activists’ ejection from the venue. On its post, Boston Students for Justice in Palestine wrote, “We understand we may have asked a tough question for Bernie’s campaign. However, what concerns us most about being unwelcome in this political space on the basis of a sign is not what is says about Bernie’s stance on Palestine, but rather, his team’s refusal to entertain diverse viewpoints.” (JTA)
Election 2016
Bernie Sanders, he’s not—he’s Barney Frank by Curt Schleier
(JTA)—When Barney Frank first ran for a seat in the Massachusetts legislature, he more closely resembled a rumpled guy who slept in his suits than a polished pol. His campaign poster featured a photo of Frank looking typically disheveled. The slogan: “Neatness isn’t everything.” More recently, he prepared bumper stickers that read “Vote Democratic. We’re not perfect, but they’re nuts.” The “they’re” in this case meant Republicans, of course, particularly their Tea Party wing. One of the delights of the documentary Compared to What: The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank, which premieres Oct. 23 on Showtime, is that it reveals this cheeky, irreverent side of a man better known for his pugnacious, doesn’t-suffer-fools-gladly style. Moreover, it shows him to be more a pragmatist than ideologue, willing to
compromise and work across the aisle to pass legislation. It was that apparently rare ability that enabled him to get the 2010 financial reform bill passed—it was known as the Dodd-Frank Act. Beyond Frank’s bluster and funny oneliners, however, the film is an affectionate, moving portrait of a good man. It makes excellent use of archival footage and fresh interviews to offer a balanced portrait of his 40-year career in public office, including 32 in the House of Representatives. Frank, 75, announced his retirement in 2012. The decision, he says, was unrelated to the growing partisanship in Congress. “I was just tired,” he says. “I just didn’t have the energy.” Frank says he has no regrets leaving office when he did. It freed him so that he no longer had “to pretend to be nice to people I don’t like.” Still, Frank believes that had he stayed,
he would have been effective despite the acrimonious climate. “I was in Congress when Newt Gingrich was there, and I was tasked by the Democratic leadership to lead the fight against him on the floor,” he recalls. “It’s different because there’s more rhetoric and less legislating, because you’re in the fight for public opinion. It’s a different role, a less satisfying role. But one I’d feel comfortable in.” Frank offers a cure for what ails us: cut military spending and eliminate the war on drugs. That, he claims, would “free $150 billion for health care and [low-cost rental] housing.” His support for federal financing of multi-family residential rental housing— he doesn’t believe everyone needs to own a home—is one of the things he says he’s proudest of, though legislation he helped pass in the House was often killed in the Senate. He’s similarly proud of his efforts
to establish LGBT rights. Its something he’s embraced on a personal level: Frank married his partner Jim Ready in July 2012 in a ceremony officiated by then-Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. It’s nice to know that Frank got his happy ending, but what emerges in Compared to What is how the the earlier years of Frank’s career he felt forced to keep his sexual identity a secret, reflecting the attitudes of the time. Frank realized he was gay when he was 13 growing up in Bayonne, New Jersey. “It was a strong Jewish community,” he recalls. “Bayonne was about 10 percent Jewish. This was the ’40s’ and there was a lot of anti-Semitism, so the Jewish community tended to band together. “My family wasn’t religious. We were very ethnic. But I went to Hebrew school continued on page 14
Norfolk Academy need art Sandy norfolkacademy.org
respectful listener first. respected leader in time. Your child is growing up every day. But what is he growing toward? At Norfolk Academy, he shares our campus with older students and teachers who model impassioned leadership every day—and he follows the example they set. His journey from impressionable child to confident role model unfolds here, in time.
First Grade Open House Sunday, October 25, 2015
Where students grades 1-12 grow into responsible and responsive citizen-scholars. 1585 Wesleyan Drive | Norfolk, Virginia 23502 | 757-455-5582 jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 13
Election 2016 presents
continued from page 13
and had a bar mitzvah. Growing up and going forward, I recognized a lot of Jewishness: in my taste in food, in my sense of humor and I do have a larger than normal number of Jewish friends than would be statistically expected.” Frank settled in Boston as a student at Harvard, where he graduated in 1962. In 1967 he worked on mayoral candidate Kevin White’s first campaign—and was named chief of staff when the 38-year-old White won the election. In 1972, still closeted, he won the first of four consecutive terms to the state legislature. In the late ’70s, with a new law degree from Harvard, he planned to come out, recognizing it meant the end of his political career. His plan was to serve one more term and go into private practice. He started by telling close friends and family he was gay. Then, in 1980, Pope John II ordered priests to withdraw from electoral politics and Father Robert Drinan, a Massachusetts congressman, complied and threw his support behind Frank—who won the seat he would hold for more than three decades. Frank bowed to political reality and kept quiet until 1986, when he heard a soon-to-be published book was going to out him. First he told his mentor, the late House Speaker Tip O’Neill, who told him not to worry; rumors happen. When Frank told O’Neill that this time it was true, O’Neill was upset—he thought Frank would be the first Jewish speaker. But Frank’s public reveal didn’t hurt him in the polls. Neither did his involvement, while still closeted, with a male hustler that led to a reprimand, the most minor of all disciplines Congress can impose on a sitting member. He continued to win elections by margins so impressive that six
I
times, the Republicans didn’t even bother putting up a candidate. Throughout his tenure, Frank was a strong supporter of stricter environmental laws, of Israel and civil rights. Asked if the Jewish concept of tikkun olam motivated him, he responded, “I don’t know that. I do think Jews statistically tend to be more liberal and more concerned with repairing the world. I don’t remember saying I’m Jewish and I have to do this. “I don’t think about why I’m doing something, just if it’s right. Though I guess if you’re a person who has been the object of prejudice, it will make you angry about it.” So it might be surprising that Frank has spoken out against a fellow progressive and Jew—and one he’s been mistaken for at times: Bernie Sanders, whom he’s urged to withdraw from the presidential race. “You absolutely shouldn’t be surprised by my view, given that I am for taking the most liberal position you can win on,” he says. “Sanders cannot win the presidency. “I don’t think having an intra-party fight is helpful. I want to win the presidency. I want a Democratic president to appoint the next Supreme Court justices. I want the Democratic president to support health care. We’re fighting Republicans now, saying how dare you call the president [Obama] a socialist. There isn’t the remotest chance of Sanders winning.” In a lengthy conversation interrupted by several phone calls—he always called back in minutes—only one subject was off limits: his legacy. “That’s not for me to say,” he says. “Talking about it you come off arrogant or overly modest.” Thankfully, the Compared to What does it for him.
don’t think
having an intra-
party fight is helpful. I want to win the
presidency. I want a
Democratic president to appoint the next
Supreme Court justices. I want the Democratic president to support health care.
BY ARTHUR MILLER DIRECTED BY CHRIS HANNA
OCTOBER 27-NOVEMBER 15 @ THE WELLS THEATRE Tickets start at $19
757.627.1234 VAStage.com Show proudly sponsored by the Larry & Jan Goldrich Foundation
14 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
SEASON SPONSOR
Providing compassionate end-of-life care enables families to be in the moment and enjoy time together.
Ev e ry ye ar i n th e Ti dewate r Jewi sh c o m m un i t y…
It takes a village. Our Village. Our rehabilitation team works with patients to regain strength, confidence and quality of life.
Life can be unpredictable, but the excellent care at Beth Sholom Village is not. In our third and final special report, learn the many ways we are serving the community. •
Hospice Care: Our sister agency, Freda H. Gordon Hospital and Palliative Care of Tidewater (HPCT), provides compassionate end-of-life care for our patients and their families. Being informed and educated about what options are available is very comforting for all involved. HPCT is a valuable source of relief in a difficult time so you can focus on embracing every moment.
•
Rehabilitation: The Lee H. and Helen Gifford Rehabilitation Pavilion serves skilled nursing residents and assisted living residents. Our short stay rehab patients typically come to us after a knee or hip replacement and while here, regain strength and mobility before returning home. Our tenured team, which includes physical, occupational and speech therapists, strives to achieve the highest quality of rehabilitation possible.
•
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care: Alzheimer’s is the most well-known form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual disabilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.
We provide safety, comfort and excellent medical care to dementia patients who can no longer care for themselves.
•
It is a privilege to serve the talented residents at Beth Sholom Village in our stable, caring environment.
•
Our Sholom Unit at The Berger-Goldrich skilled nursing facility tends to residents with severe Alzheimer’s and dementia who can no longer care for themselves. The unit is designed and staffed to provide safety, comfort, security and high quality medical treatment with appropriate activities to encourage involvement in daily life.
•
The Memory Enhancement Unit at The Terrace Assisted Living has a homelike yet secure area for residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia. It features a quiet and sunny environment with activities that include music as well as arts and crafts.
Health and Wellness Center: The Rose Frances and Bernard Glasser Health and Wellness Center promotes a safe and healthy lifestyle for residents, staff and the community. In collaboration with a doctor, the Center’s nurse practitioner works as primary care provider to treat both chronic and acute illnesses. The Center also offers regular checkups, flu shots and INR checks and conducts new hire drug screening for local employers.
(757) 420-2512
www.bethsholomvillage.com jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 15
Third intifada? The Palestinian violence is Israel’s new normal by Ben Sales
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israelis have become accustomed to dismal news in the past few weeks—mornings and evenings punctuated by stabbings, car attacks and rock throwing. The cycle of random violence has left dozens of Israelis and Palestinians dead, and many fearing the worst: The start of a third intifada, or armed Palestinian uprising, that could claim hundreds more lives. But since the second intifada started in 2000, fears of a repeat have proved unfounded. Conditions in Israel and the Palestinian territories have changed since that time, and short bursts of low-level violence are the new normal. “It’s a matter of days until this stops,” says Nitzan Nuriel, the former head of the prime minister’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau. “This has no goal. It will be forgotten. The reality is we have waves of terror. It doesn’t matter what the reason is.”
Israelis have been bracing for a third intifada ever since the second one ebbed to a close in 2005. Waves of terror have risen and fallen, along with concerns that the region is on the verge of another conflagration. Most recently, a string of Palestinian attacks in late 2014, including the murder of four Orthodox Jewish men, including three rabbis, and a Druze police officer at a Jerusalem synagogue, sparked talk of a third intifada. But those clashes died out after several weeks. Another rash of attacks came and went two years ago. Now, after two weeks of near-daily attacks, some Israelis and Palestinians are already calling this string the third intifada. But during the past 15 years, Israel has created safeguards to keep Palestinian violence in check. “Every night we have actions to detain people who are involved in terrorist activities,” Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner says. “We have operational
Registered Representative/Securities offered through Signator Investors, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC. The Spindel Agency is independent of Signator Investors, Inc. 154-20150303-221366
LIFE INSURANCE • LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE • 529 PLANS EMPLOYEE BENEFITS • ESTATE PLANNING STRATEGIES • INVESTMENTS 16 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
access at any given time to any place.” After hitting a peak in 2002, attacks on Israelis waned the following year when Israel completed the first part of a security barrier near its pre-1967 border with the West Bank. Part fence and wall, the barrier has proved controversial. Its route cuts into the West Bank at points in what critics call an Israeli land grab. And the restrictions on Palestinian movement imposed by the barrier, as well as the fence around Gaza, have led some to call Gaza an open-air prison. Still, the barrier coincided with a sharp decrease in Israeli deaths from terrorism. Terrorists have infiltrated it repeatedly, but successful Palestinian terror attacks dropped 90 percent between 2002 and 2006. Militants attacking Israel from Gaza now shoot missiles over the barrier or dig tunnels under it. The current wave of violence has mostly involved attacks in the shadow of the security barrier—either in the West Bank or in Jerusalem. Both are Palestinian population centers with easy access either to Jewish communities. A handful of stabbings have taken place in central Israel, perpetrated by Palestinians who were able to sneak across the barrier. The unorganized, “lone wolf” attacks occurring across Israel have created an atmosphere of insecurity and tension, even as the attacks have been relatively small in scale. There’s a feeling, some say, that an attack could happen anywhere at any time. “No one is in charge to say tomorrow we stop the attacks,” says Shimon Grossman, a medic with the ZAKA paramedical organization who is responding to the ongoing violence just as she did in the second intifada. “Whoever wants to be a shaheed [‘martyr’] takes a knife and stabs people. “It’s very scary for people because they don’t know when the end will be, what will stop it. Last time people knew to stay away from buses. Now you don’t know who to be afraid of.” Another significant obstacle to a third intifada has been the West Bank Palestinians themselves, who have worked with Israel for eight years to thwart terror attacks. In 2007, Hamas seized full control of the Gaza Strip, violently ousting the moderate Fatah party, which controls the
West Bank’s Palestinian Authority. Since that takeover, the P.A. and Israel have viewed Hamas as a shared enemy and coordinated on security operations aimed at discovering and arresting Hamas terror cells. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas of inciting the ongoing violence. But Abbas has maintained security coordination with Israel through the clashes and has a history of opposing violence. Nuriel says that while Abbas is not to blame for the attacks, he stands to benefit from them. “He has an interest for the conflict to get headlines,” Nuriel says. “He wants to show there’s chaos here. He wants to show it’s in places that Israel controls.” But a majority of Palestinians are fed up with Abbas and oppose his stance on nonviolence. Rather, Palestinian society as a whole appears to support violence against Israelis. A poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey research this month found that 57 percent of Palestinians support a return to an armed intifada, an increase of 8 percent from earlier this year. Half believe the P.A. has a mandate to stop security coordination with Israel, and twothirds want Abbas to resign. “This is an explosion of a whole generation in the face of the occupation,” says Shawan Jabareen, director of Al-Haq, a Palestinian civil rights group. “No one can say when it will stop unless people get hope that things will change. But if they see there’s no hope, I don’t know which way it will take.” Even if the attacks continue, according to former Israeli National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror, Israel will retain the upper hand. The best course of action, he wrote in a position paper this month, is to maintain current security operations and be cautious in using force. “Now we no longer have to prove anything,” Amidror wrote in the paper for the Begin Sadat Center for Security Studies. “Israel is a strong, sovereign state, and as such it must use its force prudently, only when its results have proven benefits and only as a last resort.”
Tidewater Jewish Foundation poised for growth T
he “millennial-aged” organization of Tidewater’s Jewish community, the 31-year-old Tidewater Jewish Foundation embodies the attitude of a young adult who views his career with endless opportunities, new ventures to be established and relationships to be expanded—all enacted with smart strategies. The arrival just over 11 months ago of Scott Kaplan as president and CEO marks the latest in TJF’s board’s commitment to continue to innovate and look to future growth. “I’ve been taking it all in,” says Kaplan. “The past year has been sort of an orientation.” While Kaplan says he “hasn’t met everyone yet,” he’s devoted a lot of time and energy to meeting synagogue and community leaders, donors and members. “This is a marathon, not a sprint,” he notes. A self-proclaimed “Jewish mutt” (he became a Bar Mitzvah through the Conservative movement, attended a Zionist Jewish summer camp, was very active in the Union for Reform Judaism’s youth group –NFTY, lived in Israel for a year during college, and observes several Jewish holidays with modern Orthodox family members), Kaplan believes in creating an inclusive and collegial environment. In fact, he views TJF as an integral part of a “Jewish eco-system (all of Tidewater’s Jewish organizations)
that requires patience, balance and cultivation with each component living off of one another.“The Foundation’s role is to secure the future and in a way that is best for the eco-system,” he says. Kaplan sees his job’s current goal is to plan for the next 10 years. “I’m coming into TJF standing on the shoulders of giants—Hal Sacks and Philip Rovner, the first two heads of the foundation—and the dedicated families whose vision and dollars built this place.” Kaplan clearly understands the value of “listening and understanding.” After earning a psychology degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (during which he studied abroad for a year in Israel at Hebrew University of Jerusalem) and an MBA with a concentration in organizational development from Boston College, Kaplan worked for Mass Mutual Financial Group recruiting and developing high potential managers for its Executive Development Program. Living in Western Mass, Kaplan attended a Havdalah program at Harold Grinspoon and Diane Troderman’s home. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, a private family foundation, created the PJ Library program and JCamp 180 and funds numerous other Jewish programs throughout the world. Kaplan and Grinspoon met,
they “walked and talked” and Kaplan soon became the associate director of the Grinspoon Institute for Jewish Philanthropy, later renamed JCamp 180. Tasked with improving Jewish overnight camps through board development, strategic planning and fundraising consulting, his fire was lit and he transitioned from the Fortune 500 environment to the Jewish non-profit world. After three years of travel and realizing he wanted to be home more with his young family, he left the Harold Grinspoon Foundation for the Jewish Federation of Western Mass where he served as the endowment director for seven years. Now, he brings this experience, along with new ideas and twists on old programs to TJF. “I want to re-launch, revive, rebuild and re-energize the Create a Jewish Legacy program. We’ll do it one person, one family at a time, working with each organization to build endowments.” Another focus is the revised Legacy Match Life Insurance Program. “It will help promote gifts to benefit our Jewish community fueled by matching funds from TJF,” says Kaplan. He also hopes to launch a teen philanthropy program. Mini-donor advised funds established at a teen’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah, this program intersects families,
Scott Kaplan
synagogues and TJF. “This program engages the next generation,” says Kaplan, “and not necessarily with people who are already part of UJFT or TJF. It should strengthen the Foundation/ Synagogue partnerships.” Kaplan’s list of potential community impact programs and funds is long, his strategies are developed and while he’s listening, he’s embracing Tidewater’s current and future leaders.
Amy Weinstein joins Tidewater Jewish Foundation
T
Amy Weinstein
he need to make lemonade out of lemons with the recent departure of Shelby Tudor, former Tidewater Jewish Foundation donor services manager, caused a shift in staff positions, which according to Scott Kaplan, TJF president and CEO, will allow TJF to “better serve our Jewish community.” Tudor, former TJF donor services manager, left Tidewater last month to move to California when her husband received a great job opportunity in Los Angles. For four years, Tudor grew her role and was moving toward more of a development function. “Her sudden departure provided the
chance for us to step back, pivot and position ourselves for future growth and to support the needs and challenges of our Jewish community,” says Kaplan. “We are always looking with an eye toward growth and development of our funds to strengthen our Foundation, Federation, affiliates and our Jewish community.” As a result, TJF welcomed Amy Weinstein to the team in the newly created position of director of development, working closely with Kaplan. Weinstein served for the past six years as director of the Young Adult Division of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. “Amy has a strong track record of
success and great experience developing leaders and engaging new members of the community,” says Kaplan. “We are thrilled to transition Amy’s knowledge and relationships to continue working in our Jewish community to make a lasting impact. We know she will add tremendous value to our team and has already made a difference.” Later this month, Danielle Crumpler joins TJF as a part-time development associate. Crumpler will also serve in a part-time capacity for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater as a database administrator/ report writer.
jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 17
at the Simon Family JCC
Diverse lineup for JCC’s annual Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival
E
Sunday, Nov. 1–Sunday, Nov. 15
ight authors will speak at the Simon Family JCC as part of the Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival, enlightening the minds of the young and old, history buffs and environmentalists. Seth M. Siegel will kick off the Festival Sunday, Nov. 1, discussing his recent release, Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water Starved World, which conveys how Israel set the example for others to follow with innovations in water usage. This program will appeal to anyone interested in the environment as well as those who take pride in Israel’s many underpublicized accomplishments. It is presented in partnership with the UJFT’s Community Relations Council. A positive spin on her bouts with cancer and a blood disorder is the subject of the luncheon Tuesday, Nov. 3, when Deb Ebenstein shares her memoirs through humor in her book Mani-Pedi Stat. This event is presented in partnership with Jewish Family Service and Beth Sholom Village. Norfolk native Allan Goodman returns home to present his book Father, Son, Stone on Wednesday, Nov. 4. As Hal Sacks wrote in a review for the Jewish News last year, “this lawyer, judge, former CEO of Shoney’s and beloved lay leader for 20 years at Beth Sholom Home of Eastern Virginia used his spare time to write an historical novel. The book opens in the future, year 2035,
18 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
as the narrator, Nuri ibn Hamid, begins describing his 90-year-old grandfather unfolding a perplexing story to him when he was 18 years old. Goodman has created an historical mystery that, though complex, moves smoothly backward and forward from the seventh century, cleverly weaving the fictional and historical—replete with events (and characters) with which we should all be familiar.” It’s all about kids and breakfast on Sunday, Nov. 8. This PJ library and Children and Family Departmentsponsored event will feature a book read in both English and Hebrew by a favorite character…all while eating a delicious breakfast at the JCC. This year’s community read, Henna House, will be presented by its author on Tuesday, Nov. 10. An evocative and stirring novel about a young woman living in the fascinating and rarely portrayed community of Yemenite Jews of the mid-20th century, its author, Nomi Eve, is the acclaimed author of The Family Orchard. Henna tattoos from a designer will be available. Paper Love: Searching for the Girl My Grandfather Left Behind, is Sarah Wildman’s quest to know more about the lost love of her grandfather who escaped from Austria. This lunchtime event, on Thursday Nov. 12, is presented in partnership with the Holocaust Commission of the UJFT. Hear a retelling of Aesop’s famous tale, Hare and Tortoise Race Across Israel, by children’s author Laura Gehl
on Friday, Nov. 13. In this interactive program, presented in partnership with Strelitz Early Childhood Education Center, preschool and elementary age children will be treated to a reading as well as a bit of Israeli geography and culture. For the 5th annual Global Day of Jewish Learning, the theme is “Love: Devotion, Desire and Deception.” Two authors will present their recent works to conclude the book festival, Sunday, Nov. 15. For adults, Anthony David will discuss An Improbable Friendship: The Remarkable Lives of Israeli Ruth Dayan and Palastinian Raymonda Tawil and Their Forty-Year Peace Mission, along with breakout groups lead by area rabbis. Young adults can simultaneously hear about Love and Miss Communication, when Elyssa Friedland’s heroine tosses away her computer and promises herself a break from the online world. A vast array of books will be on sale in the Cardo of the JCC. Browse for pleasure and for holiday books for family and friends. All events are free and open to the public, with a charge only for the two lunch events. To purchase a lunch, or for additional information, call 321-2338. of blessed memory
*
The Simon Family JCC is a of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
constituent
agency
Sunday, Nov. 1, 6:30 pm
Sunday, Nov. 8, 10 am
Friday, Nov. 13, 9:30 am
Keynote speaker and dessert reception
Presented in partnership with the Children and Family Department of the JCC and PJ Library
Presented in partnership with Strelitz Early Childhood Center
in partnership with the Community Relations Council of the UJFT
Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water-Starved World by Seth M. Siegel
This book provides a model for solving worldwide water problems, showing how Israel managed to turn water shortage from a burden into an opportunity. It offers a prescription on how countries, cities and businesses can avoid the worst by following Israel’s example.
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 12 pm
For children ages 1–4
PJ Library is generously supported by the Simon Family Foundation
Children’s Character breakfast and book reading Enjoy a book reading in both English and Hebrew by a favorite children’s character, while eating a delicious breakfast at the JCC.
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7 pm Tattos, Tea & Tastes of Yemen Get a henna tattoo from a designer!
Hare and Tortoise Race Across Israel by Laura Gehl
In this retelling of Aesop’s fable, young readers will learn about Israel’s cultural and geographical highlights. Written by a children’s book author and mother of four, Gehl will make this a highly interactive presentation suitable for preschool and elementary children.
Sunday, Nov. 15, 2–4 pm Presented in partnership with the Board of Rabbis and Cantors of Hampton Roads
Free babysitting while parents enjoy these events.
Presented in partnership with Jewish Family Service and Beth Sholom Village
Global Day of Jewish Learning Two authors, two events!
Catered lunch $8*/$12 per person RSVP by Oct. 29 *JCC member price
Community Read: Henna House by Nomi Eve
Mani-Pedi STAT: Memoirs of a Jersey Girl Who Almost Lost Everything by Deb Ebenstein
Enjoy the story of the author’s positive spin on life after two bouts with cancer and a rare blood disorder, all as a young adult. This funny memoir is one many can relate to with its profound honesty and sassy humor.
This is an intimate family portrait and a panorama of history. From the traditions of the Yemenite Jews, to the far-ranging devastation of the Holocaust, to the birth of the State of Israel, it’s a rich, spirited, and sensuous tale of love, loss, betrayal, forgiveness, and the dyes that adorn the skin and pierce the heart.
For adults
Thursday, Nov. 12, 12 pm
An Improbable Friendship: The Remarkable Lives of Israeli Ruth Dayan and Palestinian Raymonda Tawil and Their Forty-Year Peace Mission
Presented in partnership with the Holocaust Commission of the UJFT
by Anthony David
Box lunch available for $8.50—advance purchase required by Nov. 6 at the JCC Front Desk.
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7 pm Presentation and dessert reception
Explore the surprising friendship between and biographies of Israeli Ruth Dayan, now 97, who was Moshe Dayan’s wife, and Palestinian journalist Raymonda Tawil, Yasser Arafat’s motherin-law, now 74. Breakout discussion groups lead by some area rabbis will focus on the Global Day of Jewish Learning theme of Love: Devotion, Desire and Deception.
Paper Love: Searching for the Girl My Grandfather Left Behind by Sarah Wildman
Father, Son, Stone by Allan H. Goodman
Inspired by the desire to learn why Moshe Dayan returned the Temple Mount to the Muslim authority in 1967 in Jerusalem, the book (written by Norfolk native Allan Goodman) spans various periods of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This pageturning tale includes personal loss, religious conflict, political ambition, and long-hidden family secrets.
Determined to learn what happened to her grandfather’s love during the Holocaust, Wildman sets out on a quest about both her grandfather’s triumphant escape from Austria and of what became of the woman he left behind.
For young adults
Love and Miss Communication by Elyssa Friedland
Crushed by the romantic and professional blows, and overwhelmed by the social media rat race that has little compassion for life’s downward spirals, the heroine Evie tosses her computer into the Central Park Reservoir and vows to remain offline until her 35th birthday.
jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 19
BLOG
Does Susan Rice think Benjamin Netanyahu is a racist? by Ron Kampeas
( JTA)—Dennis Ross’ book about the United States-Israel relationship is about to come out, and it includes a bombshell revelation about tensions between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ross, in a passage excerpted from the book Oct. 8 in Politico, says that Susan Rice, the U.S. national security adviser, was so furious with Netanyahu’s angry reaction to news of an acceleration in Iran nuclear talks in November 2013 that she told Abraham Foxman, the Anti-Defamation League’s then-director, that Netanyahu did everything but “use the ‘N-word’ in describing the president.” Ross—the former peace negotiator who worked for Obama on Middle East issues, including Iran—says he understood Rice to be accusing Netanyahu not of racism,
but of attacking the president in nearly every other way. His book is titled Doomed to Succeed: The U.S.-Israel Relationship From Truman to Obama. Issues of race have popped up more than once in the relationship between Obama and American Jews and Israel. Notable examples are Obama’s disavowalof his anti-Semitic pastor, Jeremiah Wright; racist expressions about Obama from those identified with Netanyahu; black lawmakers otherwise sympathetic to Israel seeing Netanyahu’s speech to Congress as part of a pattern of white comeuppance; and Obama’s fury with Netanyahu for making a bogeyman of bused-in Arab voters during Israel’s March election. So did Rice, in her conversation with Foxman, mean to say Netanyahu was a racist? I’ve asked Foxman to give me his firsthand impression, and I’ll update when
he does. Rice’s spokesman gave The New York Times an answer about her relationships with the Israelis, but did not directly address the “N-word” quote. Ross, in a conversation posted this month by The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg, says he does not think Rice thinks Netanyahu is a racist (nor does he think Netanyahu is a racist). Rather, he says, Rice thinks Netanyahu has pulled out every stop except for racism in his contentious relationship with the president to fight the Iran nuclear deal.
of race
have popped up more than once
in the relationship
between Obama and American Jews and Israel.
NEW LEGACY MATCH LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM
Create a
Issues
Goldberg asks: “Is there a chance—did she use this expression, ‘N-word,’ just as a way of saying, ‘This is how bad it got,’ or was the president really thinking that Bibi was engaged in some sort of racebased attack?” “I think it’s the former,” Ross says. “This is how mad we are at what he’s doing, and doesn’t he realize that we did a deal in good faith, and look at how he’s reacting, or he’s overreacting to it. It’s out of bounds.”
Have you considered making a lasting gift to YOUR Jewish Community? Life Insurance can be used to Create a Jewish Legacy for you and your spouse.
Offered by the Tidewater Jewish Foundation
AT-A-GLANCE:
SAMPLE PREMIUMS FOR A $250K POLICY TO BE PAID FOR 10 YEARS Couples Age
40
50
60
Total Annual Premium $250,000 Policy
$2,270
$3,456
$5,381
Annual Premium Paid By TJF
$1,135
$1,728
$2,690
Tax Deductible Annual Premium Paid By Donor
$1,135
$1,728
$2,690
Net Annual After-Tax Cost To Donor
$760
•
Policy must have a minimum face value of $250,000
•
Premiums are to be paid in 10 years or less and the Tidewater Jewish Foundation will pay 50% of the premium up to $60,000 per policy in total ($6,000/year maximum)
•
Beneficiary(ies) of the policy must be Jewish affiliates
•
Donations of existing policies may be considered
•
TJF partners with local life insurance professionals in issuing charitable life insurance policies
•
Be recognized as a member of the Simon Family Legacy Society.
$1,158
$1,802
For full program details, please contact: 70
$8,770
$4,385
$4,385
$2,938
Rates are for illustrative purposes only and based on recently quoted non-smoker preferred rates for a 2 lives (survivorship policy). Assumes combined tax rate of 33%. Actual illustrated premiums may differ.
20 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
Scott Kaplan, President & CEO • skaplan@ujft.org 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 200 • Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Phone 757-965-6111 • www.JewishVA.org
AT HOME
Supplement to Jewish News October 19, 2015 Jewishnewsva.org | At Home | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 21
You “Toucan” live in paradise all year long!
and now it’s even more affordable!!
E EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS DIS
now available on your new
Heating/Cooling System Trane Trade In Allowances Trane Special Financing • 10 Year Warranty Media Air Cleaner • Programmable Thermostat
Dear Readers, Fall is a favorite season of the year for many, including me. While the spring is
the time to begin spending more of our days inside. (That is, after we get those leaves raked and gardens prepared for the winter!) Moving indoors, however, doesn’t mean going to sleep. These months offer the perfect time for some extra cleaning, tackling
Climatemakers
that long-awaited decorating or renovation
1953-2014
62
dial HOT-COLD (468-2653)
www.climatemakers.com
Program dates are September 15 – November 15, 2015. See your participating Trane dealer or visit Trane.com for complete program eligibility,dates, details and restrictions. Available through participating independent Trane dealers.All sales must be 2015_Layout to homeowners in the contiguous United States. VoidAM where prohibited. News ad-OCT 1 9/28/15 10:38 Page 1Valid on qualifying systems only.
sophisticated. fun. modern. furniture.
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 Hal Sacks, Book Review Editor Sandy Goldberg, Account Executive Mark Hecht, Account Executive Marilyn Cerase, Subscription Manager Reba Karp, Editor Emeritus Sherri Wisoff, Proofreader Jay Klebanoff, President Alvin Wall, Treasurer Stephanie Calliott, Secretary Harry Graber, Executive Vice-President www.jewishVA.org
project, making certain your home and all of its parts (roof, heating and air and other essentials) are in good working order, and maybe even hosting a dinner party or two. For some, it might also be the time to
DistinctlyDecorum
Published 22 times a year by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
when we look to outside, fall tends to be
CALL CLIMATEMAKERS TODAY! Since 1953
Jewish
HOME
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. © 2015 Jewish News. All rights reserved.
commit to purchasing a home. Our articles and advertisers in this section reflect all of these activities. For
Subscription: $18 year For subscription or change of address, call 757-965-6128 or email mcerase@ujft.org.
example, Shikma Rubin, a loan officer at Tidewater Home Funding, writes about helping a young couple with the loan for their first home and the trend of millennials becoming homeowners. We even have an article on Jewish calendars that so often take center-stage in our kitchens on refrigerators. So, after reading this section, perhaps you’ll be inspired to cook, to shop, to organize or just sit by the fire and read. Whatever you choose, we hope you enjoy! In Ghent at 301 West 21st Street n Norfolk www.decorumfurniture.com n 757.623.3100 Monday thru Saturday 10-6 • Thursday & Friday till 8 • Sunday Noon-5
22 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | At Home | jewishnewsva.org
Terri Denison Editor
QR code generated on http://qrcode.littleidiot.be
Upcoming Special Features Issue Date
Topic Deadline
Nov. 9
Military Salute
Oct. 23
Nov. 23
Hanukkah
Nov. 6
Dec. 7
Business
Nov. 20
Dec. 21
Education
Jan. 11, 2015 Super Sunday
Dec. 4 Dec. 24
HOME Jamie Geller launches HOME
Fast, fresh family-friendly, food and craft video tutorials New York, NY—Jamie Geller, world-renowned Jewish food and lifestyle expert and bestselling author recently launched HOME by Jamie Geller. On the site, www.home-jg.com, homemakers can register for a fee for how-to video courses providing methodology, tips, techniques, and skill sets focusing on cooking, creativity, and crafting all from the comfort of home. Each video course includes in-depth detailed classes hosted by Geller along with some of the most knowledgeable experts in the industry. HOME by Jamie Geller is produced by Ananey Communications, the leading multichannel TV firm in Israel in partnership with Kosher Media Network.
Courses include: • The Ultimate Challah Course: Challah baking is part magic, part science and 100% spiritual. Learn the technical skills, tips and tricks to make picture perfect challah each and every time. • Brisket 101: All about that delicious, sumptuous, melt in your mouth cut of meat which reminds so many of childhood, whether a family dinner or a holiday feast. Learn how to master simple techniques and methods for no-fail brisket, that’s simply the best. “I am so thrilled to launch HOME together with Ananey Communications,” says Geller.
“One of the most rewarding parts of my job is touring North America, Europe and Israel teaching tips, tricks and techniques to enhance and ease people’s day-to-day lives, both in and out of the kitchen. Our new platform featuring premiere lifestyle, cooking and crafting courses, now makes the process of creating a more delicious, more beautiful and most importantly more meaningful life readily available to busy homemakers of all skill levels all over the world.” Known as the “Queen of Kosher” (CBS) and the “Jewish Rachael Ray” (The New York Times) Geller is the founder and chief creative officer of Kosher Media
Network, publisher of JamieGeller.com, JOYofKOSHER.com and the award winning JOY of KOSHER with Jamie Geller magazine. She appears regularly on the TODAY SHOW, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS, Martha Stewart Living Radio and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Family Circle, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, RachaelRay.com, Yahoo and more. Geller and her husband live in Israel with their six busy kids who give her plenty of reasons to get out of the kitchen fast. For more information, visit: JamieGeller.com.
The Breakers – Palm Beach Weekend Getaway! We invite you to explore the new Tommy Bahama shop presentation at Willis Furniture. Experience an array of collections from the brand that defines casual elegant style, and enter to win a weekend getaway to The Breakers Resort in Palm Beach. Our talented design staff is ready to assist you in creating the essence of resort living in your home, from selecting a few signature items to designing the room of your dreams.
Register to Win a fabulous weekend getaway for two to The Breakers in Palm Beach. The prize includes airfare for two, weekend lodging at The Breakers, airport transfers and a $500 gift card for entertainment.
Must register in the showroom.
Fine Furniture. Casual Prices. BEDDING • CARPET • RUGS • WINDOW TREATMENTS
757-340-2112 | 4220 VIRGINIA BEACH BOULEVARD • MON-FRI 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M., SAT 10 A.M. TO 5:30 P.M., SUN 1 TO 5:30 P.M. www.willisfurniture.com
WF_10-19_JewishNews.indd 1
9/24/15 11:43 AM
Jewishnewsva.org | At Home | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 23
Discounts as big as a house. Or condo. Or apartment. Laurent Abitbol, Agent 121 W 21st Street Norfolk, VA 23517 Bus: 757-416-7500 laurent@insureghent.com 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Mon - Thurs 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fri 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sat 1103155.1
See just how big your savings could be. Your savings could add up to hundreds of dollars when you put all your policies together under our State Farm roof. GET TO A BETTER STATE. CALL ME TODAY. ®
HOME Make your home smell great this fall
™
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL
Add inviting, festive fall fragrances to your home with candles.
COMET
PLUMBING SUPPLY
Repair Par ts Specialists
g n i mb
Plu
!
sy a e e d a m
! f l e rs
u o y t i o d
Open 7 Days a Week! 4920 Cleveland St., #104 • Virginia Beach, VA
473-1683 • www.cometplumbing.com 24 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | At Home | jewishnewsva.org
StatePoint—When updating your home each season, most of the emphasis is placed on delighting your sense of sight. Why not spend some time on your home’s fragrance? To refresh your home this fall, consider these tips: Start Fresh With the cooling weather and new beginnings, autumn is an excellent time of year to do a deep clean, just as many do in spring. Clean your refrigerator, pantries and any other areas that contain food, discarding expired items and wiping down surfaces. Reduce mold in humid areas of your home with ventilation and dehumidifiers. Shampoo rugs and take this opportunity to launder seldom-washed linens, like window treatments, dust ruffles and bedspreads. Dust surfaces, such as your bookshelf, coffee table and knick-knacks. Add Scents Add inviting, festive fall fragrances to your home with classic jar and tumbler candles that evoke the fall experience from the comfort of home—whether it’s a walk among falling leaves, an afternoon picking berries or a sip of warm cider.
For each room, pick a scent and add candles in a variety of sizes to add a festive feel to the room with both sight and scent. For example, five new fall 2015 fragrances from Yankee Candle are perfect for bringing the outside in, such as Autumn in the Park, which evokes the scent of fresh peeled apple, fallen leaves, lemon zest and a hint of pumpkin, or Sugar & Spice, a swirl of cinnamon, buttery vanilla and sugar crystals. Set to Bake You can use fragrance to entice your family’s taste buds too. In fall, it’s time to reunite with your oven and slow cooker. Use in-season ingredients and traditional fall herbs and spices to fill your home with delicious and delightful flavors and aromas. Apple cinnamon crisp and pumpkin pie make for delightful desserts when the weather cools; and warm, inviting stews, soups and chili using autumn’s hearty harvest should include vegetables like squash, fennel and beets and spices like cumin and cardamom. Out with the old, in with the new: when it comes to scents and flavors, take time to refresh your home in fall with all the best that the season has to offer.
HOME First Person
A home loan for a 19-year-old? Believe it by Shikma Rubin
H
ow do I know millennials are serious about becoming homeowners? This spring, I did a home loan for a couple of 19-year-olds. Over the past year, I have noticed a sharp increase in the number of young adults who want to buy their first homes. As a lender who specializes in home loans for millennials, it’s encouraging to see. And what’s more, I can tell my generation is focused, responsible and ready to sign on the dotted line. Let me tell you a bit more about Steven and Tesa, the 19-year-old couple. Steven moved from Ohio to join the Navy. He’s stationed on a ship in Norfolk and quickly realized it’s more cost-effective to buy a
home than continue to rent. During the loan process, Steven impressed me again and again. Whenever I needed information, he brought it right over. Each time he pushed out to sea for trainings, he told me when he expected to return and sent an email when he was back on land. Steven and Tesa asked smart questions, demonstrating that they understand the financial commitment of a home loan. For instance, Steven asked about funding fees and closing costs, two topics he researched on his own (millennials love Google) and then went to me for the answers. And then, at the closing table, I watched Steven sign the paperwork on his very own house in Chesapeake. It was a proud moment not just for the young couple, but
L’Abeille [la-bay] Noun 1. The bee 2. One who lives in rustic elegance
our local economy. We need millennials to buy homes here, and it’s important to educate them on the various loan programs so they’ll continue to do so. I always want the chance to sit down with young people and explain the process. Often, they’re closer to homeownership than they realize. “Millennials are typically first-time homebuyers and don’t have to sell a home to qualify for a new purchase,” says Emily Nied, a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Towne Realty. “They are in a better negotiating position than older buyers who may have a home to sell. Also, there are many loan programs with low down payment requirements, which often makes buying cheaper than renting.” In Tidewater, millennials come in all
Shikma Rubin stripes (and all ages) but maintain a common thread: they are determined to tear up the rent check and buy their first home. The next generation of homeowners has arrived. —Shikma Rubin is a loan officer at Tidewater Home Funding in Chesapeake, Va (NMLS #1114873). She specializes in lending for the millennial generation. Visit shikmarubin.com for a free copy of her ebook, 15 Things Millennials Want from the Home Buying Process. She can be reached at 757-490-4726 or srubin@tidewaterhomefunding.com.
Live • Love • Paper AN INVITATION AND STATIONERY STUDIO
Wedding Invitations • Bar & Bat Mitzvah Chanukah • Personalized Stationery
Elegant items that will transform your home and warm your heart. Ghent’s exclusive retailer of Maison Blanche Paint Company’s premium chalk based furniture paint and finishing products. Painting Classes Offered
757.201.3244
www.labeilleinghent.com
Located in the Palace Shops, next to the Baker’s Crust 336 W 21st Street • Norfolk, Virginia 23517
757.727.3490
www.livelovepaper.com
Jewishnewsva.org | At Home | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 25
HOME Save a fridge magnet for must-have Jewish calendar by Edmon J. Rodman
LOS ANGELES (JTA)—It’s no miracle that I knew the exact minute that Rosh Hashanah was coming; my trusty Jewish calendar hanging on the refrigerator told me. While it doesn’t actually speak to me like my friend Marcy’s Jewish calendar computer program, my old-fashioned paper version not only provides me the eve of when Rosh Hashanah began, Sept. 13, and the precise moment, 6:44 pm, but a lesson in klal Yisrael, literally “the whole of Israel.” And it’s all for free. Unlike the mezuzah, there is no Torah mandate saying you need a Jewish calendar in your home, but try living a Jewish existence without one. In addition to not knowing the date when someone texts you an invite to a party on the fifth night of Hanukkah (Dec. 20), how can you say “I love you” on Tu b’Av (kind of a Jewish Valentine’s Day celebrated in 2016, that is 5776, on Aug. 19, the 15th of the Hebrew month of Av) if you don’t know when it is? Besides, you probably have discovered that the “regular” Gregorian calendars sometimes get the Jewish holidays wrong or omit them. Sometimes Hanukkah is reduced to one day; do they think it’s Christmas? If you’ve ever wondered why Jews always seem out of time, it could be that our calendar is a little off. A 12-month strictly lunar calendar, to adjust to the length of the solar year, is about 11 days shorter. To compensate, the Jewish calendar uses the lunar calendar with a month added occasionally, standardized by Hillel II in the fourth century, in case anyone asks. To the English-speaking ear, the names of the month sound different, too. Nisan, the month of Passover, was also used by the Babylonians and not coined by a Japanese automaker. Iyar, the month of Israel Independence Day and Lag b’Omer, is not named for a character created by A.A. Milne and also is Babylonian. Tishrei is Babylonian, too (fortunately there isn’t a royalty), and is derived from an Acadian word meaning “beginning,” which makes sense since in that month is Rosh
26 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | At Home | jewishnewsva.org
Hashanah, which literally means “head of the year.” Yes, I know that Jewish calendars, especially the free ones you pick up in grocery stores and kosher markets in the weeks before Rosh Hashanah, can be kitschy, filled with dated photos of Israel, mothballed Judaica and my favorite, chicken recipes by the month. But the calendar that I picked up for free at a cemetery where I was attending a funeral, called “Communities Far & Wide,” provided me a trip round the Jewish world. Saving on airfare, I visited the Jewish community of Mauritius in November, Greece in December (off-season), Norway in March, and in September, the Namutumba Synagogue in Uganda, the home of the Abayudaya, the “people of Judah—a community practicing full Jewish observance for close to a century.” In Tidewater, Chabad of Tidewater’s annual Jewish Art Calendar is mailed directly to homes. If not placed on refrigerators, these chock-full of information calendars are stashed on bookshelves and used throughout the year as a resource for holiday details, candle lighting times and all sorts of other material such as blessings, recipes and explanations of rituals. Hebrew Academy of Tidewater/Strelitz Early Childhood Center produces a glossy, colorful calendar each year filled with students’ art, along with photographs of smiling students themselves. The calendar that my friend Marcy had in her home this year took her on a different journey. Titled “Seeing the Beauty in Every Day,” the calendar from Chai Lifeline was a connection to her daughter Daniela, who passed away a few years ago. Chai Lifeline is a national organization that helps families “struggling with pediatric illness or loss,” as its website says. Marcy’s family experienced its services firsthand when their daughter, suffering from familial dysautonomia, a progressive neurogenetic disorder to which almost exclusively Ashkenazi Jews are susceptible, attended Camp Simcha in the upstate New York hamlet of Glen Spey. Each summer, according to the organization, 400 seriously ill children “are treated to an unforgettable,
medically supervised overnight camp.” “She just loved the camp. It was the high point of her year,” Marcy said. The calendar, which Marcy receives, keeps her on top of the week’s Torah reading and candle-lighting times, and also shares a little wisdom about the difficulty of making hospital visits to children “in so much pain.” You “see the difference your visit makes, how you can make children smile and laugh again,” the text says. “We used to get five Jewish calendars in the mail. Now we’re down to one or two,” says Marcy, who attributes the decline to the growing popularity of Hebrew calendar programs like Hebcal, which she uses on her computer. For me, the handiest Jewish calendar is the one published every year here by the Chevra Kadisha Mortuary. Printed on both sides of a long piece of cardboard, it has no travel pictures—but nonetheless connects you with a journey of some depth. “Cemeteries-Monuments-Caskets. Pre-need arrangements available,” it says in bold type on the bottom. Yet it helps with arrangements for the living, too. Free, and available at many kosher establishments around town, I usually grab a stack to hand out to friends and family. I rest easy knowing in the New Year we will all be on the same page. —Edmon J. Rodman is a JTA columnist who writes on Jewish life from Los Angeles. Contact him at edmojace@gmail.com.
HOME Affairs to Remember cookbook helps make events memorable
W
e all know what it can be like hours, and especially moments before a dinner party at home begins. Even for the experienced, it is not unusual for hosts to be in panic mode. Founder of Food and Fond Memories, a popular food website, Sandy Axelrod, a former caterer, has produced numerous parties and events. In her first cookbook, Affairs to Remember, she shares insider tips and advice, along with some of her best recipes for good eating and easy entertaining. Axelrod’s tasty as well as compelling book can provide home cooks with everything needed to create a memorable party or dinner. The recipes in Affairs to Remember have been taste tested by literally thousands of guests at events that were catered by Axelrod’s company, Affairs to Remember Catering more than 18 years. Only those that received rave reviews were included in the book. The book has something for everyone for any occasion, with recipes such as:
Bubie’s Chicken Soup with Knaidlach Serves 12–15 My grandmother, Helen Abrams of blessed memory, or Bubie as she was known to me, was an amazing cook. And of course fabulously flavorful chicken soup was a routine part of her repertoire. As a toddler in our summer home in Ventnor, N. J. I was always by her side in the kitchen. For the soup: 2 whole chickens, quartered (preferably Kosher, Organic or Free Range) 3–4 small yellow onions, not peeled, scored 3–4 carrots, peeled, sliced on the diagonal 1 bunch celery with tops, cut up Soup greens 6–7 quarts water Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Place everything in a large stockpot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to simmer and cook covered for about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Knaidlach (Matzo Balls) Serves 12–15 6 eggs 6 ounces cold cold water 6 heaping tablespoons schmaltz (rendered chicken fat), solidified/cold, recipe follows, or buy pre-made) 1 teaspoon kosher salt pinch of white pepper 11 ⁄3 –1½ cups matzo meal Beat eggs lightly with cold water. Add the chicken fat and stir until the fat dissolves. Add salt and pinch or two of white pepper. Gradually beat in the matzo meal, a couple of tablespoons at a time, proceeding slowly as it thickens so you don’t add too much. The mixture should be about as thick as light mashed potatoes, and a little soft and spongy. Chill covered for 5 to 7 hours. Half an hour before serving time, make matzo balls. With wet hands shape the mixture into balls about 1-inch in diameter. Drop gently into boiling chicken soup. Cover the pot loosely and let boil at a moderately brisk pace for about 25 minutes.
Iced Beet Borscht Served in Bubble Wine Goblets Serves 10 I adore the color of this borscht. It is almost fuchsia and looks gorgeous in a bubble wine glass. The flavor is pretty gorgeous too, earthy, tangy and a little sweet all at once. 3 pounds red beets (about 12) 2 yellow onions, peeled and diced 2 carrots, peeled and grated 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons sugar 6 cups low sodium chicken broth 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 pint sour cream 1 English cucumber, diced, for garnish Preheat the oven to 350º F. Thoroughly wash the beets. Wrap in aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet. Roast in a 350º F oven for approximately 30 minutes until fork tender. When cool enough to handle peel and grate. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and carrots and sauté for about 10 minutes until soft but the onions should not be browned. Add the grated beets, sugar, and broth. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and purée in a food processor or blender until smooth. Stir in the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Chill. Place the sour cream in a large bowl and slowly whisk in the beet borscht until totally blended. Pour into bubble wine glasses and garnish with the diced cucumber.
Jewishnewsva.org | At Home | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 27
HOME Pumpkin Challah Cinnamon Rolls by Shannon Sarna
(The Nosher via JTA)—This recipe needs very little introduction because it is just so decadent and delicious. Pumpkin challah. Cinnamon rolls. Sweet glaze. This is the autumn comfort food of your dreams. Or at least mine. You can use this method to make cinnamon rolls using any flavor or recipe of challah you like. Just roll out your dough, schmear it with softened butter (or margarine) and cinnamon sugar, then roll it up to bake. It’s gooey, spicy and the pumpkin flavor is delightful but not overwhelming. If you are looking for a brighter orange color, you could actually replace the pumpkin puree with sweet potato puree. The taste and consistency will be almost identical. I recommend serving these sweet rolls with a nice cup of tea or coffee, a big comfy chair and relaxing dose of foliage watching. —Shannon Sarna is the editor of the Nosher. 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.
VIETRI
I R R E S I S T I B L Y
I T A L I A N
Located next to Baker’s Crust with Wells & Company Fine Jewelers
1628 Laskin Road|Virginia Beach|(757) 422-3313
28 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | At Home | jewishnewsva.org
Ingredients For the dough: 1½ tablespoons yeast 1 teaspoon sugar 1¼ cup lukewarm water 4½–5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (I prefer King Arthur brand) ¾ cup sugar ¼ cup vegetable oil ½ cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) ½ tablespoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground ginger ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 large eggs
For filling: 1½ cups brown sugar 1½ tablespoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cloves ¼ teaspoon salt ¾ cup (1½ sticks) butter, room temperature For glaze: 2 cups powdered sugar ¼–1 ⁄3 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla Pinch salt
Directions In a small bowl place yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar and lukewarm water. Allow to sit around 5–10 minutes, until it becomes foamy on top. In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, mix together 1½ cups flour, salt, sugar and spices. After the water-yeast mixture has become foamy, add to flour mixture along with oil, vanilla and pumpkin puree. Mix thoroughly. Add another cup of flour and eggs until smooth. Switch to the dough hook attachment if you are using a stand mixer. Add another 1–1½ cups flour and then remove from bowl and place on a floured surface. Knead remaining flour into dough, continuing to knead for around 5 minutes. Don’t add more flour then the dough needs—the less flour, the lighter the dough. Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with damp towel. Allow to rise 3–4 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt for filling. Grease two 9-by-13 Pyrex dishes. You could also use round cake pans. Split dough evenly into 2 balls. I like using a kitchen scale to be as precise as possible, though it isn’t necessary. Roll out each ball of dough into a large rectangle about ½-inch thick. Spread half the softened butter all over. Top with half the brown sugar mixture. Roll up on the longer side, working quickly. Pinch dough together and pinch ends. Cut dough into roughly 2-inch pieces. Place in greased baking dish. Repeat with other half of dough. Allow the cinnamon rolls to rise another 30 minutes. Place a damp towel over rolls while rising. Bake around 20–23 minutes, or until rolls appear puffy and no longer raw or too doughy in the middle. While rolls are baking, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and pinch of salt in a small bowl. If glaze seems too thick or too thin, add milk or powdered sugar until desired consistency. Drizzle on top of challah rolls using a spoon while rolls are still warm, so glaze melts slightly.
Do good deeds in your community, with your community.
2nd annual Mitzvah Day
10.25.15 • 1:30-4:30pm
reba & sam sandler Family Campus • 5000 Corporate woods Drive
5 mitzvah projects
Project 1* Blankets for the Homeless Provide warmth and comfort to hundreds of local homeless residents with no-sew fleece blankets you’ll hand make for them. Blankets for the Homeless will distribute these immediately, along with any donations of food or thermal clothing you can bring.
Free • All Ages • Open to Everyone Project 2* Thank Israeli Soldiers
Express your gratitude and show support to young Men & Women risking their lives in defense of Israel. Bring in items from the donations list, help pack them for overseas shipment, and create heartfelt cards with uplifting words and images to send in care packages.
Project 3 Havdalah at Home Do a mitzvah and learn a mitzvah as you make a braided candle and fill a spice bag to take home and use in your Havdalah (end of Shabbat) service. Discover why Havdalah is a mitzvah, more about the ceremony, and learn special blessings. (Limited space. Sign up early!)
Project 4* A Gift of Music Find the clarinet/guitar/kazoos you haven’t played in years and donate them to impoverished Israeli youths. You’ll help pack the instruments to ship to children in Pardes Katz, who love music and will treasure these gifts. Sheet music is welcome, too!
Project 5 Children’s Art Project Children of all ages will create one-of-a-kind artistic placemats for residents and patients at Beth Sholom Village. The finished masterpieces will brighten tables, trays, and countless lives.
*Supplies & donations are needed and can be dropped off at the Simon Family JCC Customer Service Desk in advance or on Oct. 25th. (List posted on website)
No experience necessary! • Get Community Service Hours • Live music by Allegro • Kosher food available for purchase
For more information and to sign up, visit www.JewishVA.org/mitzvah-day email apomerantz@ujft.org or call 757-965-6136. jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 29
HAT Golf Tournament—Swinging for the kids by Dee Dee Becker
M
onths of planning unfolded beautifully on Tuesday, Sept. 1 into another well-executed and successful fund raiser. The 27th Annual Hebrew Academy of Tidewater Konikoff Center of Learning Golf Tournament—or Bob Josephberg Classic, as it is often called— had old and new friends swinging for the kids again. Ninety-three golfers enjoyed a stunning course and excellent service from Bayville Golf Club and delicious food from the Cardo Café. More than 35 volunteers made the day run smoothly. “Working with some of the school’s most revered champions, Bob Josephberg, Angela Jenkins, tournament co-chairs Nathan and Ilana Benson, and Nathan’s assistant Linda Todd was such a blessing and a joy,” says Patti Seeman, HAT director of development. “Together with the planning committee they made it happen, achieving 15% above our fund raising goal from 120 generous tournament sponsors.” “A heartfelt thanks goes out to all of the HAT and Campus staff, HAT Trustees, and
parents,” adds Seeman, “who assisted with obtaining sponsorships and prizes, planning menus, making the golfers’ goodie bags, working the tournament, taking photos, and setting and cleaning up. From the months of advanced planning to the day of the event, you are the reason the tournament is the continued success it is.” Mark calendars for Tuesday, August 30, 2016, to share in the fun again at Bayville. For more information, contact Patti Seeman, HAT director of development, at 424-4327, or email pseeman@hebrewacademy.net. Hebrew Academy of Tidewater is a constituent agency of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
Angela Jenkins and Bob Josephberg.
Rachel Abrams, Heather Moore, Deb Segaloff, Elyse Cardon, Megan Zuckerman and Deborah Moye.
Rad Davenport, Victor Pickett, Alan Nordlinger and Frank Cowling.
Rabbi Jeff Arnowitz, Shawn Lemke, Greg Zittrain, Dave King and Miles Clarkson.
Adam White, Peter Abraham, John Strelitz and Ryan Henry.
Chaytor Midgett, Brian Miller, Ed Stein and Jay Rickles.
Chuck Pearson, Doug Reid, Bill West and Reid Killen.
Heather Alexander and Nancy Oliver.
Bill Miller, Jerry Miller, Frank Wagner and Eric Miller.
Sheila Josephberg, Ilana Benson, Joan Joffe and Annie Sandler.
Nathan Benson and Ilana Benson.
30 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
Thanks to all of our wonderful supporters and volunteers who helped HAT exceed our tournament fund raising goal. Your sense of community makes a substantial difference for our kids. We could not do it without you. SPONSORS ($5000) Alan & Susan Nordlinger Arnold Leon & Family in honor of Bob & Sheila Josephberg Celia K. Krichman Charitable Trust Copeland—Klebanoff Family Deb & Peter Segaloff Dr. Albert & Wendy Konikoff Dr. David & Sofia Konikoff Dr. Stephen & Ronnie-Jane Konikoff Fairlead Integrated Josephberg Family L.M. Sandler & Sons Oak Grove Capital Tavia, Randi & Steven Gordon Will, June, Alex, Austin, Cindy & Ron Kramer HOSTS ($3000) Brenda & Abbey Horwitz Claire & Marvin Friedberg John & Renee Strelitz & Family S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. The Tax Credit Group TowneBank Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer UNDERWRITERS ($2000) Brad Moses/Towne Insurance Heritage Bank & Trust Ilana & Nathan Benson Miles & Sandra Leon Monster Tool Company Nathan Drory/Charles Barker Automotive EAGLES ($1000) Barbara & Allen Gordon Beth Sholom Home Caffes-Steele, Inc. Cape Construction— David & Charlene Cohen Club Forest Partners/ Steingold Family Daniel Gordon & Family Fidelity National Title Insurance Co.—Doug Atkins Hilton Garden Inn & Lagerheads Virginia Beach Oceanfront Jennifer & Jim Nocito Jewish Family Service KPMG LoanCare National Disaster Solutions Patricia & Avraham Ashkenazi Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse Virginia Wealth Management Group
The Armond & Rose Caplan Foundation BIRDIES ($500) Arielle, Noah, and Ben Klebanoff Babbi & Brad Bangel Bay Disposal Beth & Nathan Jaffe Cheryl & John Finguerra Denise, Jason, Summer & Logan Hoffman Eric Joffe Construction Corp.— Mike Simon/Eric Joffe Equity Title Company, LLC Faggert & Frieden, P.C. Givens Group Harbor Group International Hercules Fence Ivor Kaplan Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Jormandy, LLC Karen & Matt Fine Lisa & David Leon Lombart Instruments Mid-Atlantic Dermatology Monarch Properties No Frill Bar & Grill Palms Associates Partners in Construction, Andrew Auerbach Randy Shapiro Sunsations The Foleck Center for Cosmetic Implant & General Dentistry The Nusbaum Family The Spindel Agency—TFA Benefits HOLES ($300) Altmeyer Funeral Home Ashley & Greg Zittrain Beach Eye Care, Mark A. Lipton, OD Beach Groundworks Inc. Belgard Hardscapes Betsy & Ed Karotkin Boston Capital CB Richard Ellis Copy Fax Digital Office Solutions Dr. Felix Portnoy & Mrs. Erinn Portnoy Dr. Lonnie Slone (Slone Chiropractic Clinic) Drs. Shivar, Peluso & Andersen, P.C. Orthodontics for Children & Adults Easley, McCaleb & Associates, Inc. Eileen, Stewart, Andrew, Steven & Laura Kahn Ellyn & Bob Salter Elyse & David Cardon
Thank you Bob Josephberg! From Farideh and Norman Goldin Frankie Edmondson, Portsmouth Commissioner of the Revenue Gilbert Eyecare H.D. Oliver Funeral Home Haynes Furniture—Joyce Strelitz Heather & Doug Moore Jennifer & David Adut Jennifer Rush & Jason Alper KMG Prestige, Inc. Land Planning Solutions Larry Siegel Larrymore Foundation Laura & Fred Gross Lynnhaven Fish House NewLine Hardscapes— Live Outside Payday Payroll Services Rabbi Arnowitz on behalf of Congregation Beth El Rashkind Family Remedy Intelligent Staffing Robin, Burle, Arielle, Rachael & Sam Stromberg Siska Aurand Landscape Architects S.L. Nusbaum Insurance Company Stein Investment Group Stephanie Calliott & Don London Susan & Jon Becker Tami Arnowitz & Jeremy Krupnick —Tidewater Mortgage Services, Inc. Terri & Lonny Sarfan The Abrams Family The Jason Family The Jenkins Family in honor of HAT Teachers The Seeman Family Yorktown Materials Zena Herod RAFFLE PRIZE DONATIONS Aldo’s Ristorante Anonymous Anthony & Company Hair Design Bahama Shop Beecroft & Bull Be-Jeweled Birdland Records Bite Restaurant and Catering Bloom Busch Gardens Cardo Cafe Changes Hairstyling City Spa ChesBay Distributing LLC Commodore Theatre CopyFax and Toshiba Cypress Point Country Club Dairy Queen Decorum Duck Donuts
Fink’s Jewelers Fleet Feet Sports Freemason Abbey Restaurant G Patton Gail and Norman Miller Wine Gary Allen Hair & Skin Care Golf Galaxy Groomingdale’s Hi-Ho Silver Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hot House Yoga IHOP Il Giardino Imagine Hair Design Inlet Fitness Janet Molofsky Jody G. Jody’s Gourmet Popcorn Long Jewelers Lynnhaven Fish House Mary’s Nail-tique Massage LuXe Mizuno Mr. Schwarma Naro Expanded Cinema Nauticus Norfolk Karate Academy Norfolk Tides NYFO O’s Donuts Quality Shop Risa Rinehart/Brock and Company Roger Brown’s Restaurant and Bar Ruth’s Chris Steak House S. Ray Barrett Dry Cleaner Salad Works Savor the Olives Simon Family JCC Simply Selmas Steinhilbers Studio Bamboo Terrapin The Custom Cake Shoppe The Fresh Market The Full Cup The Globe The Kitchen Koop The Lemon Cabana The New Leaf The Norfolk Admirals The Royal Chocolate The Sandler Center The Skin Ranch and Trade Company The Spa and Laser Center Tini’s Trader Joe’s Virginia Aquarium Virginia Beach Resort Hotel Virginia Stage Company
Virginia Zoo Windsor Antiques Yorgo’s Your Pie VOLUNTEERS Rachel Abrams Jennifer Adut Heather Alexander Tami Arnowitz Leslie Auerbach Babbi Bangel Ilana Benson Nathan Benson Billy Bernstein Lenny Brooke David Cardon Elyse Cardon Leora Drory Nathan Drory Randi Gordon Zena Herod Angela Jenkins Joan Joffe Bob Josephberg Bunny Kaplan Erica Kaplan Jodi Klebanoff Cindy Kramer Ashley Lemke Shawn Lemke Lisa Leon Laura Miller Emily Nied Nancy Oliver Felix Portnoy Jenna Aiken-Ritzmann Deb Segaloff Stephanie Steerman Burle Stromberg Monique Werby Ashley Zittrain Greg Zittrain Megan Zuckerman SPECIAL THANKS Bob Josephberg Angela Jenkins Bayville Golf Club Cardo Café Cars & Hole in One Insurance provided by Nathan Drory/ Charles Barker Automotive Hole in One Insurance provided by Brad Moses/Towne Insurance Signs by Tomorrow Signs, Plaques & More Vegas Hole sponsored by Payday Payroll Services
jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 31
New breast cancer stats: What’s an Ashkenazi woman to do? By Erica Brody
(JTA)—It’s been a busy couple of weeks for breast cancer. Of course, breast cancer is always busy, exerting its sneaky destruction through abnormal cell growth. But now it’s October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the scary fact is everywhere again: One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. This time around, the talk about breast cancer feels more urgent, more ubiquitous and definitely more confusing. Recent headlines have screamed “What If Everything Your Doctor Told You About Breast Cancer was Wrong,” in Mother Jones, and “Why Doctors Are Rethinking Breast-Cancer Treatment,” in a Time magazine cover story. When even the White House is awash in pink, it’s extremely tempting to put blinders on—especially for Jewish women like me. Ashkenazi Jews face a 1 in 40 chance of having a BRCA mutation, which increases their lifetime risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer up to 84 percent. (Overall, one in 400 women are BRCA-positive.) These searing facts were published recently in Elizabeth Wurtzel’s gut-wrenching New York Times Op-Ed, “The Breast Cancer Gene and Me.” Wurtzel tackled her own bilateral mastectomy and relentless chemo regime with the same visceral directness that the author of Bitch Rules and Prozac Nation built her reputation on. But it was the writer’s conclusion that, for me, was a wake-up call: “All Ashkenazi Jewish women should have the BRCA test,” she wrote. In the Times’ print edition, that sentence was pulled out with the words “It’s simple.” In reality, what to do about BRCA screenings is far from black and white. Confused and concerned—Should I get the BRCA test? Is prophylactic surgery going to be on the table?—I spent much of the past week talking to scientists, doctors and geneticists about the BRCA mutation, why it’s controversial and what Jewish women should consider when thinking about genetic testing. The recent controversy kicked in last December at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, where Dr. Mary-Claire King— the geneticist who discovered the BRCA1 gene—told her professional community that all women 30 and over should be
tested for BRCA mutation. “To identify a woman as a carrier only after she develops cancer is a failure of cancer prevention,” said King, a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Saying all women should be tested—not just those considered at high risk—was a big deviation from current medical practice. And it comes at a time when BRCA testing is far more feasible for more women for two reasons. First, the Affordable Care Act changed the equation: It mandates coverage for mammograms and other prevention measures (including genetic testing and counseling) for many more women. Second, a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling helped make the test far more affordable— since then, the price has dropped from about $4,000 to about $250. Still, most of the doctors I spoke with don’t think women should go out and buy a DIY test, just because they can. In December 2013, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force—an independent panel of experts appointed by the Department of Health and Human Services—issued this recommendation: For women with family medical history of certain cancers, “talk with a health care professional to learn if their history might put them at risk for carrying a BRCA mutation. Women who screen positive should receive genetic counseling and, if indicated after counseling, BRCA testing.” For other women, it warned against testing: “For the vast majority of American women (90 percent) who do not have a family history associated with an increased risk for the inherited mutations, the Task Force continues to recommend against genetic counseling and testing.” Considering King’s recent advice, however, I asked her: What should Jewish women bear in mind? “Inheriting a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 drastically increases a woman’s chances of developing breast or ovarian cancer, and ignoring these mutations does not make them go away,” the doctor told me. “BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are inherited from fathers as often as from mothers, and if inherited from fathers may not be accompanied by any family history of cancer.” The good news, she adds, is that
32 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
“breast and ovarian cancer risk can be reduced from very high to very low for young women with mutations.” While “the interventions [like preventative surgery] are not pretty…they work.” (For women who have the mutation, a preventative double mastectomy decreases the risk of breast cancer by 95 percent.) King sings the praises of genetic counseling, especially for young women with a family history of BRCA mutations. Elana Silber, the executive director of Sharsheret, the national Jewish breast cancer organization, described genetic counseling this way: It “provides a personalized risk assessment and discussion of both medical and psychosocial implications of genetic testing.” A trained professional can guide you through the process, she added, and walk you through risk and prevention techniques. The value of genetic counseling is one thing that all the experts seem to agree on, including Dr. Tamar Peretz, director of Hadassah Medical Organization’s Sharett Institute of Oncology in Jerusalem. She describes herself as having a “unique vantage point of probably treating more Ashkenazi Jewish patients than any other physician in the world.” But when it comes to universal testing for BRCA mutations, Peretz “strongly disagrees” with testing all women; she also opposes testing all Ashkenazi women. Why? “Testing must be part of good genetic counseling in which the question of the consequences to the woman and her family are taken into consideration,” she said. “Unlike a disease that belongs to a woman alone, the discovery that a woman is a BRCA gene carrier means there is a 50 percent chance that her first-degree relatives are carriers, too.” Peretz is concerned that “informed decisions about the impact of testing” are too often overlooked. When a woman discovers that she is BRCA-positive, for example, “she has to make the difficult decision of whether to tell her family [and her potential partner],” often an “additional burden” on top of a new cancer diagnosis. But Dr. Marisa Weiss, the president and founder of Breastcancer.org, thinks “all Jewish women should seriously consider genetic testing.” “Genetic information used to be scary,” Weiss, a breast cancer survivor who is
Jewish, says. “Now it can be powerful in helping you take steps to have a full life. We are learning that all conditions, as well as diseases, may have some genetic bases to them.” In her opinion, knowing if you are BRCA positive “sooner rather than later gives you powerful steps for prevention and could help you save your life.” Indeed, in the United States, the odds for surviving breast cancer have greatly improved. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer has jumped from 75.2 percent in 1975 to 91 percent in 2007 in part because of new tools to detect and treat cancer. And surgical options have improved, too. Today’s mastectomies are generally “nipplesparing and we do the reconstruction at the same time,” says Dr. Alison Estabrook, chief of the Comprehensive Breast Center at Mount Sinai-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. Plus, young BRCA-positive women who want children, she added, should “go ahead and have children. We recommend screening starting at age 25 with MRIs—then they go on with their lives, get married, then around age 40, we recommend having their ovaries out if they’ve had children.” Estabrook said that King’s recommendation for universal testing is important because of the attention she is bringing to family histories—something especially significant as many “Ashkenazi women do not have complete family histories.” Her concern is that if only people who are considered high-risk get tested, women who don’t know their family histories— including on their fathers’ sides—won’t know if they are high-risk and may fall through the cracks of current screening practices. Healthy habits are crucial, too. “Only up to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are due to a genetic mutation; 90 percent are due to how you lead your life,” Weiss says. That means “exercising three to four times a week, eating well, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol use, not smoking, getting a good night’s sleep.” I’m also paying attention to the conversations around mammograms. Right now, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends that women 40 and continued on page 33
first person
Now in its 23rd year, Jewish Family Services’ annual Chanukah Gift Program provides holiday gifts to local Jewish children and teens in financially struggling families. JFS asks the local community to continue its tradition of helping this year. Although JFS knows that Chanukah may or may not be a time where gifts are exchanged in every family, they hope that everyone will want to support this important gift drive and reach out to those Jewish families in need in the community. Many gifts are used by these children during Chanukah and throughout the year. JFS expects to serve more than 75 different local Jewish children and teens in 2015. For donors, this is an opportunity to do a mitzvah for children who have no choice in their families’ financial situation. For young donors, this is a personal way to learn and practice tzedakah, giving to others, as they shop with parents for gifts for other children, knowing that the gifts will make a significant impact.
continued from page 32
older get regular mammograms. But in new draft recommendations, the task force suggests upping the age to 50. Dr. Michael LeFevre, a task force member and immediate past chair, told me that “the decision to screen for women in their 40s should be an individual one and made in consultation between women and their doctors.” While concerns abound about the overuse of mammography, not everyone is pleased by the new recommendations. One concern is that they will lead to decreased access to screenings, including insurance coverage for women in their 40s. Among them is U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., who, in April wrote an Op-Ed in the Washington Post urging others to join her in opposing this change to the guidelines.
How to help
Message from a JFS client: “You brought joy to my children’s faces”
About the JFS Chanukah Gift Program
I
am someone from the local Jewish community—in fact you may even know my family and not realize we have been going through rough times. It was (and still is) very hard to admit that we need help. Thankfully Jewish Family Service—and the donors who support their work—have been there to help me and my family. Why do we need help? I got sick and needed to have surgery. I was unable to return to work for several months afterward and lost my job. Suddenly, we went from a very comfortable living situation to one where we weren’t sure we’d even have a place to live. I called JFS in the spring and they immediately gave me food for my family and helped with rent and medical bills. As Thanksgiving grew closer, JFS surprised me with a frozen turkey, fresh potatoes, vegetables, and stuffing. The next help came through the JFS Chanukah Gift Program. I had heard of this program for local Jewish families with children and even contributed to it in years past. This
past year, my three children were showered with so many wonderful gifts and items we needed for our home: new bed comforters and matching sheets, lots of great clothes in their sizes and favorite colors, sports stuff (tennis balls and footballs), family games, books, a music stand for my child who was taking lessons, new winter gloves and jackets for all three children, and even gift cards for movies and ice cream. Plus, we received Chanukah gift wrapping paper, chocolate gelt, and holiday decorations. We will use the Chanukah-themed placemats and new menorah for many years to come. My family would not have had any gifts during last Chanukah or other new things for the rest of the year. I was proud to be able to give them so much as a result of coming to JFS. My family enjoyed a brighter holiday and year. Each night of gifts for Chanukah brought joy to my children’s faces. Whenever you wonder if your gifts, foods, or money helps people, please remember my story and know that it helped my family so very much.
“As a breast cancer survivor and an Ashkenazi Jewish woman who has a significantly higher genetic risk of breast cancer,” she told me, “there is no more personal issue for me.” The congresswoman was 41 when she discovered a lump in her breast. Her fear is the new recommendations, if finalized, “would jeopardize mammogram coverage for those who need it.” I’m someone who loves asking questions, so I find it reassuring that the smartest thing women can do is to seek answers: Talk to our families (crucially, on both sides) about their medical histories, ask ourselves if there are lifestyle changes we need to make and talk to our doctors about breast cancer risks. As for me, I’ll be stepping up the self-care. It’s been more than five years since I’ve had a cigarette, but that’s not
enough. I’m changing the way I think about exercise, for one. As the parent of a young child, exercise can feel like a luxury—a tertiary concern after work, family and everything else. But it’s not; it’s one way to help ensure we stay healthy, along with being disciplined enough to get a full night’s sleep. And yes, I’ve talked to my doctor about my personal medical history, and she and I agreed that I would start having mammograms in my late 30s. Since I started this article, I dug up the referral she gave me—it had expired. So I got a new one, and now I have an appointment. And I made a doctor’s appointment, too, during which I’ll inquire about seeing a genetic counselor. I’d rather be a previvor than a survivor. And a survivor in any form then not live to see my daughter grow up.
• P urchase new, unwrapped gifts, both fun and practical for specific children and teens in need. Donors may call JFS at 757-459-4640 for children’s wish lists starting Monday, Nov. 2. • Go shopping with your family and buy some extra items for those in need. • Send JFS gift cards from local department stores, electronics stores, music stores, and grocery stores, so that families can go shopping themselves. • Send JFS a tax deductible cash donation, and JFS will do the shopping. All Chanukah donations must be received by Nov. 18, 2015. Checks should be made payable to Jewish Family Service and sent to JFS, Attention: Maryann Kettyle, 260 Grayson Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. Jewish Family Service assists local Jewish families in need at all times of the year and will keep any surplus donations for use throughout 2015-2016. For more information, contact Maryann Kettyle, Special Needs Case Manager, at JFS: (757) 459-4640 or MKettyle@jfshamptonroads.org.
Visit us on the web jewishnewsva.org Follow us on Facebook JewishNewsVA
jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 33
first person
Reunion of liberators and survivors filled with reverence and appreciation by Elena Barr Baum
T
he banquet room on the other side of the thin partition shook the walls with loud music. The relentless beat, the repeated, “sssslide to the left! [BOOM, BOOM]” practically drowned out the soft accented voice at the all but useless microphone. But the droning drumbeat could not drown out the swelling feeling of pure goodness and humanity of the room I was honored to share with veterans of Patton’s 71st Infantry Division, and several survivors of Gunskirchen Lager, the Nazi death camp they liberated on May 4, 1945. Let me back up a little bit. You may have read in this paper about Bill Jucksch, the Virginia Beach member of this group featured in the film Six Million and One, which played during the Jewish Film Festival in 2013. His sparkling crystal blue eyes and gentle demeanor belie the horrors he witnessed as a 19-year-old Army private when, while scouting for a position in the Austrian forest, he stumbled upon the gates of hell. Jucksch’s unit had discovered Gunskirchen Lager, a satellite camp of the infamous Mauthausen, where in the waning days of the war, captives of the Nazis were left to die. But the soldiers of the 71st saved them. And while to their dismay they could not save them all, some of those they liberated made their way to the United States, and led extraordinary, “ordinary” lives. The 71st Division stopped its active service in 1956, and thus its alumni pool is aging rapidly. But each year since 1986, the 71st Alumni Association has gathered together in one of the various hometowns of a (now) octogenarian host member, to remember the time that together they made history. Jucksch hosted this event in 2008, but when no one else stepped up, he volunteered to host in Virginia Beach again this year. The weekend of the Oceana Air Show was the perfect time to showcase the respect and value this area places upon the military. However, this was no ordinary veterans’ reunion.
Knowing it was going to be a fairly large gathering, I contacted the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, which is racing against time to collect oral histories of veterans. They sent Tommy Lofton, historian and curator, to Virginia Beach for a couple of days to try to get as many stories as possible, as well as contact information for those he would be unable to film in a short time. In his six years at the museum, he has visited almost 50 states and a dozen countries to collect testimony. I had one question for him: did he know of any other military alumni groups that welcomed and counted as full members of their associations the Holocaust survivors whom they had liberated, as the men of the 71st do? He had no knowledge of any other. When Jucksch told me he was hosting this reunion, my first thought was that it would be too much for him to handle. My second thought was that I would finally get to meet some more of these people he has been telling me stories about for years. I’d had the chance to meet his jeep-mate from that fateful day 70 years ago, Pete Carnabucci, when we invited him here for the film festival and panel discussion. I had been lucky enough to accompany Bill and his wife Terry to the 20th Anniversary ceremonies of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in April 2013, where they introduced me to Gunskirchen survivor Simon Braitman and his wife Josephine. But the stories Jucksch told me made me want to meet more of these amazing people. Now I would have that chance. There is no way to describe the feeling in that banquet room for the final event of the 2015 reunion. As has become their custom, many of the veterans and survivors had brought children and even grandchildren with them. While looking at the assembled dapper, grandfatherly gentlemen, it may be hard to believe that 70 years ago they literally saved more than 10,000 lives. (The exact number can’t be known, because at this point in the war, the usually meticulous Germans had given up record-keeping to flee for their own lives.) Even in wheelchairs and with some stooped backs, though, the heroes of the
34 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
71st Division stood taller than most people you will ever meet. The love, reverence, and appreciation in the room were palpable as the night progressed. The feeling was that everyone in the room was “family.” To open the evening, an honor guard from Ft. Eustis presented the colors, including the flag of the 71st Infantry Division that matches the one that resides at the US Holocaust Chaplain Jim Fedor, Bill Jucksch and Earl Flanagan. Memorial Museum. The value of children. Nothing is more After dinner, Virginia Beach Councilman Jim Wood read a proclamation from Mayor important than the moral and intellectual Will Sessoms declaring September 19, education of our future generations. The value of humor. I take humor 2015, 71st Infantry Day in the city. I was pleased to thank the 71st on behalf of the seriously. The value of suffering. Suffering Holocaust Commission of the UJFT for their sacrifices and gift of preserving our has made me appreciate how precious life is. Hardship has made every minute, freedoms. Shortly thereafter, the soft spoken every slice of bread, more enjoyable and accented voice I mentioned earlier, Dr. meaningful. The value of remaining humane even Robert Fisch, took to the microphone. A survivor not only of Gunskirchen but in inhumane circumstances. Fisch has encapsulated the mission also the Hungarian Communist regime, an award winning pediatrician, artist, and statement of the Holocaust Commission author of five books, Fisch was moved to in his values. It was an honor to meet share the six values that guide his life with these men and their families, to share a the group. Though they were hard to hear moment with them 70 years, four months, that night over the noise next door, he later and fifteen days after fate first brought the shared them with me in writing, noting soldiers and survivors together. Though each has led his life down that they can be found on the first page of different paths, this night they derived his fourth illustrated book. The value of compassion. From my their strength from each other and their Holocaust experience, I ask what those common bond. Fisch said of the group silent, slaughtered millions would ask of us gathered in the room, “We are like threads now? Hatred and revenge—the very qual- in a carpet. The threads have no meaning ities that led to their demise? Not likely. I without the carpet, and the carpet has no believe they would want us to have under- meaning without the threads.” A pretty profound observation from a man who was standing, compassion, and love. The value of equal treatment. A double once a teenager left for dead by the Nazis. standard is the biggest threat to civilization.
Give Your Home a Facelift
Book Reviews A dismal ride The Sea Beach Line Ben Nadler Fig Tree Books, 2015 224 pages, $15.95
A
uthor Ben Nadler has created a novel steeped in Judaica, yet a mystery. Izzy Edel, not quite wasted on drugs, deter- Hal Sacks mines to search for his father, reported deceased, but possibly alive. What follows is almost picaresque, and might be tallied in the style of Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union. But, alas, such is not the case. For all its setting on the dark side of New York, Coney Island, and Brighton Beach, involving the street merchants, the underworld, and the Hassidic community, The Sea Beach Line fails. It is like an endless train ride, going nowhere, exceedingly dull and takes forever to go nowhere.
ODU professor on oil and security Myths of the Oil Boom Steve A. Yetiv Oxford University Press, 2015 251 pages, $29.95 ISBN 978-0-19-021269-8
D
oes anyone remember (only yesterday?) when “unleaded regular” gasoline approached $4 a gallon? Just this summer, people were grumbling that prices were creeping up from just over $2 a gallon to $2.50. How quickly we have adapted ourselves to the concept of cheap fuel forever; full size Ford pick-up trucks actually lead the market in sales. But will cheaper fuel really last, and what factors weigh on its future? In The Petroleum Triangle (2011), Steve Yetiv, professor of Political Science and International Studies at Old Dominion University, demonstrated the degree to which the threat of transnational terrorism has been influenced by Middle East oil and the accelerated globalization of the last three decades. Yetiv’s Myths of the Oil
Boom, just published, explores and illuminates the series of connections between oil and security. He defines and then examines three aspects of “oil security;” first, in terms of reasonable oil prices; second, in terms of avoiding disruptions in oil supplies due to global events; and third, in terms of the negative effects of oil consumption as it relates to pollution, international relations and terrorism. Clearly, the oil boom results in some improvement in the United States’ balance of trade, promotes our GDP, and generates federal, state, and local tax revenues. On the diplomatic front, the Saudis are concerned that the somewhat reduced oil dependence of America will allow it to decrease its commitment to the Persian Gulf in particular and the Middle East in general. However, there is a clear pendulum effect as lower oil prices contribute to higher economic growth, which in turn increases demand for oil and pushes prices higher. What are the risks of an environmental backlash against hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”)? If oil prices remain low for the foreseeable future will the pumping of shale oil be unprofitable? Yetiv asserts that although the oil boom is a game changer there is a tendency to overestimate what long-term influence it can have on American and global oil security. A more synergistic strategy that includes a serious effort to reduce oil consumption is required. And what of the longer term? Contrary to popular assumptions, the United States, still the largest consumer of oil, gets most of its imported oil from South America. China, on the other hand, currently gets little from that region. The withdrawal of the British “East of Suez” has left the United States with the role of protecting the Middle East oil routes since 1979. Why, despite the fact that our continued presence in the region serves to incite young radical Muslims, must we continue our role of guarantor? Young drivers, man your hybrids, electrics and hydrogen steeds. Long term, think rising oil prices as most experts agree that the current boom in American oil will likely decline by 2025. The growing thirst of China for oil will spark competition for access to the region that
has the most “spare capacity.” And that region, of course, is the Middle East; another reason why reducing our consumption of oil is so important. Realistically, it may be difficult to seriously diminish our role in the Middle East. However, taking advantage of the present oil boom by an American and global decrease in consumption might make some diminution of our presence possible. “While the boom has enhanced oil security, it should not distract us from the pursuit of more sustainable energy practices,” Yetiv concludes. His research team gives the reader several excellent graphs and charts to support his main arguments and there are extensive footnotes. —Hal Sacks is a retired Jewish communal worker who has reviewed books for Jewish News for more than 30 years.
AT Home Interiors
Consultations: Select paint colors, furniture floor plans, solutions for problem areas, window treatments. Room Redesign: Let me transform what you have into a unique new look!
Alicia Thomasson
Interior Decorator your “Decorating Therapist”
CALL NOW! 761-4419 www.athomeint.com Now accepting Visa, M/C, Discover
HOME OR OFFICE “ Security In Every Job.”
757 321-6700 www.herculesfence.com Norfolk
Yorktown
Richmond
Manassas
College Park
Raleigh
jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 35
it’s a wrap BERS, the Religious School of Congregation Beth El Norfolk by Sharon Wasserberg, Beth El director of education
F
irst days back at school have a particular excitement and Sunday, Sept. 20 was no different at Congregation Beth El in Norfolk. BERS (Beth El Religious School) kicked-off the 5776 school year with a PACT-ivity (Parents and children together) focused on the topic “Shira Chadasha” (a new song). Families gathered in Myers Hall for a bagel breakfast that was followed by a special presentation on the theme of the session by Beth El’s new chazzan, Cantor Wendi Fried, and Rabbi Jeff Arnowitz. The kindergarten and first graders explored the mitzvah of “hidur mitzvah” (the beautification of the mitzvah) by
creating small decorations for the synagogue sukkah. Second and third graders learned about inviting people to celebrate Sukkot by making life-size ushpizin for the sukkah. The fourth and fifth graders began construction of a mini-Western Wall so students might be able to write petitions to HaShem on small pieces of paper, which mimics the time-honored custom of pilgrims to Jerusalem. Sixth and seventh graders learned the why and how to tie tzitzit as they embark on the final steps of preparing to be b’nai mitzvah and be allowed to wear a tallit for tefillah. The ‘senior’ students, eighth and ninth graders, began their exploration of ethics with a vibrant and in-depth conversation of what constitutes ethical behavior.
Strelitz Early Childhood Education Center
Katie Ritzmann and Abe Flax show off the Sukkah they helped build in their Pre K class.
AUTHENTIC MENSWEAR. FOR WORK. FOR WEEKENDS.
Visit us on the web jewishnewsva.org Hilltop East•Virginia Beach 1544 Laskin Rd., Ste. 216•428-8615
The Palace Shops•Norfolk 306 W. 21st St.•627-6073
TheQualityShops.com 36 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
Follow us on Facebook JewishNewsVA
it’s a wrap The Hope, offering hope for Israel’s future by Gabriella Grune
I
t was a day of endless pouring rain, flooded streets, powerful winds, and stormy skies. The perfect conditions for a night at the movies with the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and The Christian Broadcasting Network as they offered a screening of CBN’s newest full length documentary, The Hope: The Rebirth of Israel. The film’s title rang true that Wednesday night as the Tidewater community remained strong and hopeful that the event would go on as planned. Hurricane Joaquin’s eminent approach to the coastline was no match for the resiliency of the patrons that were offered shelter from the storm and a fun night out. People of all faiths, ages, and backgrounds converged
Laura Gross and Miles and Sandra Leon.
Sandra Haas Radin and Marcie Waranch.
to view the Reba and Sam Sandler Family campus to participate in an educationally enriching extravaganza celebrating the fascinating history behind the founding of the State of Israel. The film is divided into eight parts covering a range of events and historical figures involved in the founding of Israel: Theodor Herzl, buying the holy land, Chaim Weizmann, David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Independence Day, Eliezer ben Yehuda, and Winston Churchill. A segment towards the end of the film was the highlight for some viewers depicting the bond between President Truman and Chaim Weizmann. “It seemed that President
Tallwood High School’s Global Studies and World Languages students and Israeli Culture and Hebrew Club advisor Greg Falls.
David and Bonnie Brand, Katharyn and Gordon Robertson, and Joyce Strelitz and Irv Hodes.
Erin Zimmerman and Rachel Gross.
Jay Klebanoff and Danny Rubin.
Truman and Chaim Weizmann had a good friendship…. I thought it was very funny that the President still called him ‘Cham,’” Danit Drory said holding back her laughter commenting on the former president’s funny mispronunciation of Chaim. The screening included an exciting Q & A segment led by Danny Rubin, with the writer/
director Erin Zimmerman and executive producer Gordon Robertson. A reception followed and DVDs were gifted by CBN to attendees. Rachel Gross, excited to receive her DVD, said, “The Hope will become the new ‘Netflix and chill,’” for her and her fellow millennial friends back in Israel.
Rhonda and Joel Palser, Karen and Rick Lombart, and Lea and Mitch Land.
jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 37
what’s happening
Projects with a purpose planned for Tidewater’s 2nd Annual Mitzvah Day Sunday, Oct. 25, 1:30–4:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus
All ages. Free and open to the community. Register at www.JewishVA.org/mitzvah-day.
V
olunteers who participate in the community-wide 2nd Annual Mitzvah Day will be changing lives, not just in Tidewater, but in small Army outposts in Israeli villages. And not just this year, but for years to come. The afternoon event requires no special expertise—only the desire to do good deeds. Mitzvah Day includes live music from the band Allegro and provides community service hours for students. Kosher food will be available to purchase. All of the projects designed by the 28-member Mitzvah Day committee have components in which everyone, from preschoolers to seniors, can participate. In blogs posted on www.JewishVA.org/ blog, and in posts on www.facebook/ UJFTidewater, Mitzvah Day committee chairs share their passion for these projects, and how the mitzvot (good deeds, or commandments) will make life better for others. Excerpts from those posts include: Blankets for the Homeless: Repeated by request after its inclusion at last year’s Mitzvah Day. Volunteers make no-sew blankets by tying together large panels of fleece fabric, as well as lunches for the homeless. Participants will have the chance to learn more about the Blankets for the Homeless organization and meet its 21-year-old founder. Blankets and meals will be distributed offsite. “We chose to make blankets for the homeless because helping people in dire need is at the heart of what Torah is trying to teach
us. To recognize that everyone is made in the divine image is to realize that everyone deserves to live in dignity. If there are people who need help it is our obligation to answer.” —Jennifer Adut Thank Israeli Soldiers: Volunteers will gather donated items—listed on the JewishVA Mitzvah Day webpage—to send to Israel, where they will be distributed in care packages to young men and women serving in the military. Cardmaking stations to create notes of gratitude and support to accompany the care packages will be available. Participants can learn more about the organization whose mission is to help soldiers during and after their service. “Thank Israel Soldiers is an organization that was founded not only to educate soldiers, but to let them know how much they are appreciated by Jews throughout the world. It’s with great joy that we have included them as a recipient of our donations and efforts on our community Mitzvah Day.” —Amy Lefcoe
38 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
Havdalah at Home: Observing the end of Shabbat and the beginning of a new week through the ceremony known as Havdalah, is itself a mitzvah, and finding out more about it is part of this project. Participants will learn prayers and make and take home items used in the service: a braided candle and a small bag filled with spices. “My introduction to the real meaning of havdalah came during my JWRP ( Jewish Women’s Renaissance Program) trip to Israel in the summer of 2014. Hundreds of women from around the world gathered at the Kotel (the Western Wall) to experience this inspiring ritual. The havdalah candle was lit. Blessings were said over wine, over fragrant spices and over the flame that glowed in our hands. Then as quickly as the final blessing was said, the flame was extinguished, and “shavuah tov” (a good week) rang out. I hope it can enlighten others’ lives in the same way mine was.” —Brenda Kozak A Gift of Music: Donations of unused instruments, such as guitars, keyboards, or clarinets will be packed and sent to disadvantaged children living in Pardes Katz,
Israel. Participants can write a quick note or song to the Israeli children at a decorating station. “I have seen the positive impact music has on people’s lives when they are given the opportunity to create their own music and play their own instrument. It is my hope that our community can donate lots of different kinds of playable instruments and sheet music, and/or money to put towards buying these things for the children at Pardes Katz, and that we ship them over quickly for them to begin using! The opportunities and materials provided for the children are things that these families don’t have access to otherwise.” —Marilyn Johns Children’s Art Project: Children of all ages will craft placemats for residents and patients at Beth Sholom Village. The useable artwork will brighten meals and rooms at the assisted living and skilled nursing facility. “Being able to involve children in the opportunity to do a Mitzvah is important for all of us. It allows them to make a difference along with their parents. Their art work will bring a little bit of joy to others” —Melissa Kass For more information about Mitzvah Day, to register as a volunteer, and to see lists of items needed, visit www.JewishVA.org, email apomerantz@ujft.org, or call 757-965-6136.
what’s happening Community-building at the heart of the Week of Extraordinary Deeds
T
he goals of the United Jewish Federation’s 2015 Week of Extraordinary Deeds are threefold: engagement, action, and tikkun olam, or repairing the world. Achieving these goals means event organizers are tackling one of the larger challenges facing world Jewry today: how to positively connect Jews to their communities, and each other. To build a stronger Tidewater Jewish community, a variety of events are planned, including Countdown to Mitzvah Day, a social media campaign on the UJFTidewater Facebook page, the Great Big Challah Bake on Thursday, Oct. 22, and the 2nd Annual Mitzvah Day on Sunday, Oct. 25. Less visible, but equally as important, are conversations that kick off “The Week,” now in its third year. Whether in homes, offices, or area restaurants, these one-on-one meetings will take place among community members
about issues of concern in Tidewater, in the United States, in Israel, and in Jewish communities around the world. The discussions are an opportunity for Federation volunteer ambassadors, leadership, and staff to meet with Annual Campaign donors and potential donors, talk about the impact that donations have on people in Tidewater and beyond, and listen to community members about Jewish issues that concern them. “Face-to-face conversations are very important to us at the Federation,” says Harry Graber, UJFT executive vice president. “We’ve found that meeting with members of the community and having honest and very personal discussions with them brings us together in working toward a stronger Jewish Tidewater, lets us all become familiar with concerns and issues, which means our agencies and our organizations are better able to meet the challenges facing
us, and, most importantly, helping Jews everywhere live better lives.” Graber sites a story he heard recently on NPR, in which Sherry Turkle, author of Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age, says: “Face-to-face conversation is the most human—and humanizing—thing we do.… It’s where we develop the capacity for empathy. It’s where we experience the joy of being heard, of being understood.” Graber invites community members to call and set up discussions over breakfast,
lunch, or coffee with volunteer ambassadors and Federation leadership, and join in the efforts to continue building a strong Tidewater Jewish community for this generation, and generations to come. The face-to-face conversations will continue throughout the 2016 Annual Campaign, which ends in June. Visit www.JewishVA.org to see all of the events during the Week of Extraordinary deeds, and participate in tikkun olam. Call 757-965-6124 to make a date for a one-on-one conversation.
Visit us on the web jewishnewsva.org Follow us on Facebook JewishNewsVA TICKETS START AT JUST $19! TRIO SUBSCRIPTIONS START AS LOW AS $56!
li
a c y gh t m
November 2015
Would
yo u
ndle
?
featuring:
February 2016
April 2016
NOVEMBER 6, 8 & 10, 2015 HARRISON OPERA HOUSE | NORFOLK
FEATURING THE VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
TICKETS START AT JUST $19! | 866.673.7282 | VAOPERA.ORG
866.673.7282 VAOPERA.ORG Connect with us
for special offers and exclusive content
JOIN THE CONVERSATION #VAOPERA
jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 39
what’s happening Temple Israel’s Military Appreciation Shabbat Saturday, Nov. 7 by Rabbi Michael Panitz
W
hile in many ways, we in the Hampton Roads Jewish community are representative of American Jews in general; there are some areas in which our distinctive profile is evident. We are in a small minority of American Jewish communities that are highly involved in the U.S. Armed Forces. This little-paralleled local experience gives us the opportunity to rethink a topic about which, I am sorry to admit, the majority of American Jews—at least those of a certain generation—harbor some unworthy anti-military attitudes. Many of the senior leaders of Jewish communities around the country came of age during the era of anti-Vietnam War agitation. Unlike their own parents, veterans of World War II, when 550,000 Jews served, some lying about their age so
that they could be accepted into the army, this generation tried to avoid military service. Again, unlike our Israeli cousins, for whom military service is an expectation, a duty embraced, and a badge of honor, very few American Jewish parents expect their children to put on the uniform of service to our country. The result is that a Jew in active duty can be a very lonely man, religiously. Moreover, for quite a few years now, the amount of Jewish military chaplains serving in the various branches of the Armed Forces has been well under the recommended number. The repute of the military has ascended since the Vietnam Era, among American Jews as well as among Americans in general. Even in the 1970’s, some American Jews recognized that one could disagree with the American involvement in that war, while nonetheless respecting the men and women who served. But since the First Gulf
War and especially since 9-11, it is far more typical for civilians, Jewish and Gentile, to walk up to those in the military and to thank them for their service. I am confident that the other congregational rabbis of Tidewater would agree that: As rabbi of an area congregation (Temple Israel), it has been my privilege to serve in a part of the country where many Jewish soldiers in our land, sea and air services are stationed. Some are away from home for the first time, and suddenly realize what they are missing, including the Jewish environment that nurtured them. Often, these service personnel have been overseas for years, and hunger for contact with the Jewish community. Whether enlisted ranks or officers, a good percentage of the Jews whose service brings them to Norfolk find their way to our congregation, and it is truly an honor to be their Jewish home away from home. I have had the personal honor of being the civilian rabbi to three of our Jewish navy chaplains, Rabbis Moe Kaprow, Seth Phillips and Karen Soria during their Tidewater assignments. They have enriched our congregation. To cite only one example for each of the many that come to mind, Rabbi Kaprow filled in for me during my period of mourning for my mother, officiating on short notice at a bat mitzvah; Rabbi Phillips spoke powerfully from the pulpit after his return from six months in the Mediterranean as the DESRON 2 chaplain, and Rabbi Soria enriched our services both with her beautiful voice and keen theological creativity. Even rabbis need a rabbi, and when those three rabbis needed a rabbi, it was my good fortune to be able to serve. “How goodly is my portion!” I am not the first Rabbi Panitz to have served in Tidewater— a half decade before
my arrival in town, my brother Jonathan was the base chaplain at the Commodore Levy Chapel at Norfolk Naval Station. One of the high points of my career in Norfolk was sharing the pulpit at the Levy Chapel with Jonathan, who had returned to participate in the rededication of the Commodore Levy chapel, in memory of Chaplain Sobel. Jonathan enchanted the congregation with “Jewish sea stories.” For more than a decade, our congregation has partnered with Cantor Aaron Sachnoff and the Jewish chapel for the Second Day of Rosh Hashanah. An entire generation of Temple Israelites smiles and starts humming on hearing the opening phrase of the Cantor Sachnoff’s rendition of the holiday prayer “hayom t’amtzenu.” In 2013, our congregation inaugurated a Military Appreciation Shabbat. Our first speaker was Rep. Scott Rigell, and we were treated to an inspiring message. Last year, we moved the service to the Shabbat just prior to Veteran’s Day, and went in-house for our speaker with Nathan Brauner, recently retired as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, who discussed his mission in Iraq, training the post-Saddam Hussein Iraqi Air Force pilots. We agreed that, however nice it was to host dignitaries and elected officials, we would henceforth spotlight our own members who were serving or had served in the military. This year we are turning to a military spouse, Miriam Blake, to offer her unique perspective on life as a Jew in a military family. I won’t “steal her thunder” by describing her talk, but I can promise that it is not to be missed. Remember to reach out to members of the military whenever you see them and thank them for their service. They are there for you. Be there for them, too.
Remember
to reach out
to members of the
military whenever you see them and thank them for their service.
40 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
Has Israel solved California’s drought? Sunday, Nov. 1, 6:30 pm
L
earn how Israel’s solutions to water challenges can impact the United States and beyond from Seth M. Siegel, this year’s Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival keynote speaker. (See page 16) The U.S. government predicts that 40 of the 50 states—and 60% of the earth’s land surface—will soon face alarming gaps between the supply and growing demand for water. But in remarkable defiance of
this water emergency stands Israel—a nation that is not only avoiding a water crisis, but maintaining a water surplus. Siegel’s book, Let There Be Water, is the first and only book on Israel’s growing influence as a water superpower. It details the techniques Israel has employed to achieve the best and most efficient water system in existence, and how California and the rest of the world can learn from its example and keep the looming global water crisis at bay. The book’s message is even more topical as Israeli water technology is spreading around the world. The Israeli desalination firm IDE is running the Carlsbad Desalination Project in the San Diego area in coordination with the San Diego County Water Authority and Poseidon, the World Bank and Israel recently signed a deal in which Israel will share its water expertise with developing countries. In addition, Britain’s new Ambassador to Israel has announced
plans for three collaborative science programs with Israel, primarily focusing on water research. Siegel is a businessman, activist, writer, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has spoken to audiences at the United Nations, AIPAC, the Aspen Ideas Festival, and the Council on Foreign Relations. He has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times and has been interviewed by The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News as well as major print media. He graduated from Cornell University and Cornell Law School. “If you are worried about global water shortages—and you should be—read this book,” says Michael Bloomberg. “Seth Siegel brings an urgent message of how the world can save itself using remarkable techniques and technology developed in Israel.” * of blessed memory
CRC and community partners kick off 5th annual Israel Today series Wednesday, Nov. 18, 7:30 pm, Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus
Josh Kram.
T
he Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and community partners’ fifth annual Israel Today series includes three visiting experts under the age of 40, beginning with Josh Kram and followed by
Olga Meshoe, founder and CEO of Defend Embrace Invest Support Israel and then Matti Friedman, former Jerusalem Bureau reporter for the Associate Press. The director for Turkey and Middle East Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Kram is responsible for developing and executing programs and policy initiatives related to U.S. trade and investment in the region. He also serves as executive director of the Middle East Commercial Center (MECC), a newly established, private sector-led alliance of business leaders working to advance intraregional business and address economic impediments. In addition, Kram directs the Chamber’s U.S.-Israel Business Initiative, the premiere organization advancing commercial relations between the United States and Israel. Before joining the Chamber, Kram founded Foxhall Strategies Consulting, LLC, a boutique strategic advisory firm that provides corporations, NGOs, and associations with international government affairs, public affairs, regulatory, and
HAMPTON ARTS 2015/16
what’s happening
strategic advice and support. Previously, Kram was the Washington director for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, where he led the government affairs program and advocated on key public policy and international issues before Congress, the administration, and foreign governments. He also served as deputy political director and Middle East adviser to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and later worked for Obama for America. Kram began his career with the America Israel Public Affairs Committee. Building strong commercial relations between the U.S. and Israel is an ongoing effort, but does it really matter? Kram says yes. He’ll explain why in a conversation with moderator Danny Rubin. RSVP today for this free and open to the community event by calling 757-965-6107 or emailing crc@ujft.org. For more information on the CRC’s Israel Today series, visit www. JewishVa.org/CRCIsraelToday.
Katie Deal in Today, Tomorrow & Forever A TRIBUTE TO PATSY CLINE
SAT. NOV. 21 | 8PM
THE A M E R I C A N T H E AT R E 1 2 5 E . M E L L E N S T. H A M P T O N
VIEW THE SEASON SCHEDULE AT H A M P T O N A R T S . N E T
757-722-2787
jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 41
Calendar
Eric Kline Business Development Danny Kline President
OCTOBER 21, WEDNESDAY J.C.C. Seniors Club board meeting at 10:30 am; lunch at 12 noon; general meeting, 12:45 pm. Guest speaker is Mary Lovell Swetnam, a reference librarian at MEO Central Library, who enjoys doing genealogical research and organizing anything. She will speak about geneology. For further information, Call 757-497-0229.
Andy Kline CEO
October 22, Thursday Great Big Challah Bake. Join area women to mix, knead and braid the traditional Shabbat bread. Each participant will leave with two challahs ready to bake for Friday night’s dinner. Sandler Family Campus. Free. 7–9 pm. For more information and to reserve a spot, go to www.JewishVa.org/challah-bake.
All Services. All Local. Payroll, Taxes and W-2s • Web Based Time and Attendance NCS Background Checks • Employee Loans Pay As You Go Workers Comp Insurance • HR Support Center Employee Self Service Online • Merchant Services • VISA Debit Payday Cards
Contact us today at 757-523-0605 or www.paydaypayroll.com PD-ad-JewishNews-QtrColor-110614.indd 1
11/6/14 7:39 PM
Bill’s will said a lot about him. What does your will say about you? Norfolk businessman Bill Goldback valued good health and good music.
Before he died in 2007, Bill arranged for a bequest to the Hampton Roads Community Foundation to provide grants for arts and medicine in Hampton Roads. Goldback grants have helped the Virginia Symphony and The Free Foundation, which provides wheelchairs for lowincome citizens. Thanks to Bill’s generosity he will forever bring music and health to 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. Call 757-622-7951 or visit leaveabequest.org.
•
www.leaveabequest.org. (757) 622-7951
42 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
Goldback Ad 2014 – Jewish News: 4.875” x 5.375”
October 23, Friday–October 24, Saturday The Shabbat Project in Ghent. A global grassroots movement that brings Jews together to keep one full halachic Shabbat. For more information and to participate, email tidewatershabbatproject@gmail.com.
October 24, Saturday Performing Arts at the J presents Cutting Edge Dueling Pianos. Whatever songs the audience wants to hear, the players are sure to know—whether it’s classic rock, current songs, rap or country. Cash bar available. 8 pm at the Simon Family JCC. Detailed information at SimonFamilyJCC.org or contact Michele Goldberg at 757-321-2341. $20 or $10 for JCC members.
October 25, Sunday Community-wide 2nd Annual Mitzvah Day at Sandler Family Campus. 1:30–4:30 pm. Free and open to the community. Register at www.JewishVA.org/mitzvah-day or call 757-965-6136. See page 38. Youth Volleyball Clinic for boys and girls ages 7–14 at Simon Family JCC. Participants will be divided into two age groups: 7–10 and 11–14, and taught basic and fundamental aspects of the game (serves, hits, bumps, sets, rules, and sportsmanship) through drills, coaching and games. 1–4 pm. $60 / $40 JCC members. To register, visit the JCC or call 757-321-2338. Call 757-321-2308 with questions.
November 1, Sunday—November 15, Sunday Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival. See page 16 for details.
November 18, Wednesday J.C.C. Seniors Club board meeting at 10:30 am; lunch at 12 noon, general meeting at 12:45 pm. A paramedic from EMS, Barry Kirschner will teach how to perform the new way of CPR. Kirschner is a volunteer for the Emergency Medical Service for Virginia Beach and the son of Marilyn and Bob Kirschner, who are members of the J.C.C. Seniors Club. CRC presents Josh Kram. Building strong commercial relations between the U.S. and Israel is an ongoing effort, but does it really matter? Josh Kram, who directs the premiere organization advancing U.S.- Israel programs and relation-building initiatives, says yes. He kicks off the CRC’s 5th annual Israel Today series. 7:30 pm. Join the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and community partners for this free and open to the community event by calling 757-965-6107 or emailing crc@ujft.org. For more information on the CRC’s Israel Today series, visit www.JewishVa.org/CRCIsraelToday. See page 41 for details.
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.
Who Knew? New microbrew made from Boston river water —with Israeli tech by Penny Schwartz
BOSTON (JTA)—An Israeli-founded water purification company has teamed up with Boston-based Harpoon Brewery to channel the once-famously polluted Charles River into a new beer. Desalitech, which started in Israel seven years ago and then moved to Boston, is using its patented technology to provide water for Harpoon’s Charles River Pale Ale. The limited-edition beer was on tap earlier this month at Boston’s HUBweek, a weeklong science and art festival. Desalitech president Nadav Efraty said helping to produce the beer is part of his company’s mission to better the environment. “Water scarcity is a global challenge that affects millions across the world—we are proud to be a Massachusetts company that is providing solutions and making an impact here in the U.S. and beyond,” he said. Desalitech uses a closed-circuit reverse osmosis system developed over decades in Israel by Efraty’s American-born father, Avi. A chemist who moved his family to Israel in the mid-1970s, the elder Efraty serves as the company’s chief technical officer. In 2013, Desalitech established its world headquarters in Greater Boston, attracted to the region by former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who led several high-profile trade missions to Israel. Once heavily polluted, the 80-milelong Charles River achieved fame thanks to the 1960s rock hit “Dirty Water” by the Standells. The song, a favorite of Boston sports teams, has been recorded and performed by everyone from Bruce Springsteen to the Dropkick Murphys. Over the decades, the river, which separates Boston from Cambridge, has been cleaned up considerably, with some of its previously most polluted portions now open to swimming. Desalitech approached Harpoon in September about a collaboration. The idea appealed to Harpoon president Charlie
Mazel Tov to Storey, who said in interviews that he remembers growing up in Boston hearing that if he ever fell into the Charles River, he’d need to get to an emergency room. “Harpoon is proud to call Boston our home and to do our part to build a stronger, more sustainable environment and community,” Storey said. Harpoon, an employee-owned company established in 1986, is now the 15th largest microbrewery in the United States.
James Franco has bar mitzvah at 37 Actor James Franco became a bar mitzvah at the age of 37. The Oct. 3 ceremony included the actor wearing a tallit, or prayer shawl, and chanting from the Torah. Franco, whose mother is Jewish, posted a photo on Instagram with a message: “I am now a MAN! Got Bar Mitzvahed tonight!!! Finally!” A Jewish boy typically has his bar mitzvah at 13. Franco’s message included an invitation to the Hilarity for Charity variety show at the Hollywood Palladium on Oct. 17 to raise awareness and money for Alzheimer’s disease. The show was sponsored by actor Seth Rogen and his wife, Lauren Miller Rogen. Seth Rogen announced Franco’s bar mitzvah for the charity event in July, but Rogen told the culture website Vulture, “The Rabbi wouldn’t do it on the actual event, so he did it last night at our friend’s house and we filmed it and we’ll show it at our fundraiser.” ( JTA)
Jerry Seinfeld to make stand-up debut in Israel Jerry Seinfeld will bring his stand-up routine to Israel for the first time. Seinfeld, who is Jewish and lives in New York, will perform in Tel Aviv on Dec. 19, The Jerusalem Post reported. The comedian, who starred in the eponymous hit TV show in the 1990s, last visited Israel in 2007 when he was promoting The Bee Movie. Tickets range from $65 to $234. Seinfeld was licensed recently to Hulu for $160 million. (JTA)
Bon Jovi at Tel Aviv concert promises return to Israel Jon Bon Jovi said at his first-ever concert in Israel that “I’ll come here any time you want.” In an apparent swipe at the BDS movement, Bon Jovi made the vow at the end of his performance on Saturday, Oct. 3 in Tel Aviv before tens of thousands of fans. “We’re finally here. It took me long enough,” the American rock star said during the concert. He dedicated a new song, We Don’t Run, released during the summer, to Israelis. The concert opened less than an hour after a stabbing attack in Jerusalem left two Jewish-Israeli men dead. Bon Jovi came under pressure from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, most notably from Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters, to cancel the concert. (JTA)
Achievement Mona S. Flax of the law firm of MONA SCHAPIRO FLAX, P.C., who has been included in the 2015 Legal Elite by Virginia Business magazine. In partnership with the Virginia Bar Association, Virginia Business magazine asked lawyers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia to nominate the best in their profession in various practice categories. Winners will be listed in the December issue of the publication. 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.
Consider the Reverse Mortgage Standby Line of Credit as a Retirement Tool.
Did you know? A Reverse Mortgage line of credit has a guaranteed growth rate and no payments.
Call today for details. Chris Fanney
Reverse Division Regional Manager
NMLS 144509 Mobile 757-581-8067 Ofce 757-217-3309 cfanney@southerntrust.com Southern Trust Mortgage, LLC is proud to be an Equal Housing Lender - NMLS 2921. This ad is not provided or approved by HUD, FHA or other government agencies.
jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 43
obituaries Abraham Harry Mandel Norfolk—Abraham Mandel, 96, passed away on Oct. 3, 2015. He was the son of the late Rae and Joseph Mandel. Abraham moved with his family to Norfolk, Va. in 1938 where he met and married his wife of 73 years, Sylvia Levinson. He was preceded in death by his wife and only child, Marilyn M. Cohn. He is survived by his sister, Irene Blum of Virginia Beach and several nieces and nephews. A graveside service was held in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.altmeyerfh.com. Rubie Puritz Thousand Oaks, Calif.—Rubie Puritz, 82, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2015 in Thousand Oaks, Calif. with her daughters by her side. She was born October 28, 1932 in Brooklyn, N. Y. to Faye and Martin Meyers of blessed memory.
After graduating high school, Rubie worked for Chubb Insurance before marrying Sheldon Puritz. They moved to Lakewood, N.J. in 1958 where she raised her daughters and was actively involved in Temple Beth Am Shalom, volunteering in many capacities. She will be remembered for her sense of fashion, her devotion to her wide circle of friends and her love for her grandchildren. Rubie is predeceased by her parents, Martin and Faye Meyers, her sisters Gertrude Nathanson and Pearl Klugerman and her beloved husband Sheldon whom she was married to for 53 years. She is survived by her daughters, Dr. Holly Puritz (Dr. Stephen Wohlgemuth) and Leslie Kneller ( Jack Kneller), her grandchildren, Zachary Wohlgemuth (Allie), Leah Wohlgemuth, Ben Kneller (Emily), Jake Kneller and great granddaughter Lily Kneller. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews with whom she was very close. A service celebrating her life was held at
Temple Beth Am Shalom in Lakewood, N. J. Burial and a meal of remembrance followed at the temple. Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Beth Am Shalom. Elias Willard Rafal Watkinsville, Ga.—Eli Rafal, 91, of Watkinsville, died Wednesday, September 30, 2015. Born in Norfolk, Va., he was the proud son of the late Solomon Rafal and Bertha Fine Rafal. During World War II, Mr. Rafal was in the service of the U.S. Army for 36 months, with almost 24 months in the most forward areas of the South West Pacific, mainly New Guinea. Before shipping north to New Guinea he served at the headquarters of the Supreme Allied Command, General Douglas MacArthur commanding. A few months later Mr. Rafal volunteered with 49 other MP’s to go north to the front to meet the “enemy.” He was one of 10 motorcycle couriers who relayed messages back and forth between the U.S. forward base
“A Sensitive Alternative®”
100% Service Appreciation, Commitment Guarantee Courtesy After Hours Drop Off Room and Private Pet Viewing Available Specialty Urns Available to Preserve Your Pet’s Memory Equine and Large Pet Services Now offering gentle and environmentally friendly Alkaline Hydrolysis! “Water-based Cremation”
Owner, A. Neal Kellum
Pet Cremation Services of Tidewater
757-340-0016
105 Happy St. | Virginia Beach, VA 23452 | Corner of Bonney Rd. & Happy St. Read our customer testimonials at www.petcremation.com
The Woodlands
at Princess Anne Memorial Park Virginia Beaches’ Premiere Jewish Garden Planning your final arrangements in advance makes emotional and financial sense and protects your loved ones from the burden of planning services for you. Pre-planning is about protecting the ones you love. 1110 North Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23454 · 757-481-1097 www.princessannememorialpark.com
44 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
and the Australian forward base after the Japanese had broken the U.S. code. Riding a Harley Davidson 42WLA motorcycle through the sandy jungle roads of “No Man’s Land,” he delivered critical messages. He was one of three survivors. Immediately after returning to the states, Mr. Rafal contracted malaria and was treated at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Va. After the war he came home and married Sadie Ellen Manning, to whom he remained devoted for 56 years. He remained by her side, heroically caring for her through her battle with Alzheimer’s. During his life he worked as a pharmaceutical salesman, McDonald’s manager, and small business owner. In “retirement,” he worked his favorite job as a field representative for Gallo wines. He was a proud father, father-in-law, and grandfather. He is survived by his three children, Diane Rafal Gresham and her husband, Ed, of Bozeman, Montana; Ron Rafal and his wife, Elena, of Superior, Colorado; Sam Rafal and his wife, Sandi, of Athens, Georgia, as well as his five grandchildren Noah, Levi, Asa, Aaron, and Stacey. A graveside service for the family took place at the National Cemetery in Canton, Ga. Contributions may be made in his honor to the Disabled Veterans of America at www.dav.org/ or the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. at http://www.ushmm.org/. Condolences may be offered at www.bridgesfuneral.com. Louis Stadlin VIRGINIA BEACH—After a valiant fight with aging, Lou Stadlin passed from natural causes on Friday, October 9, 2015 at his home in First Colonial Inn. Lou was born on July 11, 1928 in Brooklyn, N. Y. He met his wife, Frances Stadlin while serving in the Navy in Norfolk, Va. He and Fran (who predeceased him in 1989) made their home in Hampton, Va. Together, they owned a marine electronics business serving the commercial shipping, fishing, and military fleets located or traveling through Hampton Roads and other ports in the Mid-Atlantic region. They raised four children and their life together was focused on family. Lou is survived by his children, Debi Stadlin, Greg Stadlin, Kenny Stadlin (Kary),
obituaries and David Stadlin (Patti). Lou is also survived by six grandchildren, Steven Epstein (Beth), Joe, Sarah, Cameron, Frances, and Kelly Stadlin and one great grandchild, Marlana Epstein. A memorial service was held at Virginia Beach Friends Meeting. Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Chesapeake Bay Defense Foundation, http://www.chesapeakebaydefensefoundation.com or to the Virginia Beach Friends School, http:// www.friends-school.org. Nancy Y. Weill Virginia Beach—Nancy Yagoda Weill passed away on Friday, October 2, 2015 at the age of 75. Nancy was a devoted and beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother and friend. She is survived by her beloved husband, Alan of 51 years, her brother Ronald, her children Karen (Larry) Shagrin, Michael Weill, Andrew (Trisha) Weill, and grandchildren Zack and Lily Firtel, Sarah and Matthew Weill, Sofia Weill, Lindsay,
Rebecca, and Eric Shagrin. Nancy grew up in Maplewood, N.J. and graduated from Columbia High School and attended Boston University. She lived in Livingston N.J. with her loving family and spent her summers in Virginia Beach. She enjoyed playing tennis, golf and bridge and the friendships that she formed she treasured. Funeral services were held at Temple B’nai Jeshurun, Short Hills, N.J. Donations to a charity of one’s choice in memory of Nancy Weill.
Rabbi Jacob Pressman, community and civil rights leader LOS ANGELES ( JTA)—Rabbi Jacob Pressman, a religious, community and civil rights leader, died in his Los Angeles home on Oct. 1. He was 95. He served as spiritual leader of the city’s Temple Beth Am for 35 years and founded the Conservative congregation’s school system. He was also a founder
of such Los Angeles institutions as the University of Judaism, now called the American Jewish University. On a national level, he helped launch the Save Soviet Jewry movement in the 1960s and five years later joined nearly 300 fellow Southern Californians who walked with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Montgomery, Ala. Known for his brilliant oratory, wit and musical voice, Pressman gave reign to his sense of showmanship at charity events and consistently led his congregation in the country’s largest Israel Bonds drive. In 1995, he was voted “Funniest Rabbi in Los Angeles” at a standup comedy contest at a Camp Ramah fundraiser. He had helped found Camp Ramah in Los Angeles, as well as the Brandeis-Bardin Institute, Los Angeles Hebrew High School, Akiba Academy and Sinai Academy. “There is no Jewish Los Angeles as we know it…without the brave vision, indefatigable commitment and inspiring integrity
and substance of Rabbi Pressman,” said Rabbi Adam Kligfeld, now the senior rabbi of Temple Beth Am. Pressman, a Philadelphia native, began his professional career as a student rabbi in Woodbridge, N. J., and as rabbi of the Forest Hills Jewish Center in New York City.
Two adjacent plots available. David’s Garden Forest Lawn Cemetery $3,000 FOR BOTH (SAVINGS
OF
$600)
757-495-3644
SouthSide Chapel 5792 Greenwich Rd. Virginia Beach 757 422-4000
www.hollomon-brown.com
Family owned and operated since 1917 BAYSIDE CHAPEL (757) 464-6221
GREAT NECK CHAPEL (757) 496-9727
TIDEWATER CHAPEL (757) 583-0177
LYNNHAVEN CHAPEL (757) 463-0150
GREAT BRIDGE CHAPEL
KEMPSVILLE CHAPEL (757) 495-7727
M aeStaS Chapel 1801 Baltic Ave. Virginia Beach 757 428-1112
INDIAN RIVER CHAPEL (757) 420-2350
(757) 547-9511
“We look forward to caring for those we serve in the future.” Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home & Crematory is a family owned, locally operated funeral home that has been serving the Hampton Roads community since 1912 with continuous, distinctive and compassionate service. Our reputation for honesty and fairness and a true concern for those we serve has been a hallmark of Hollomon-Brown. Our staff prides themselves in offering the highest level of professionalism to all that we serve. We offer an array of choices to our families, whether it is ground burial, entombment, or cremation services as well as a selection of financing options.
A PPROVED B Y L OCAL C HEVRA K ADISHA
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 | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 45
Designs by
Francine
Genzyme launches ‘Gaucher On The Map’ to raise awareness of Gaucher Disease during Gaucher Awareness Month
Specializing in home transformations for over 30 years, I embrace any project, large or small, with the vision to provide the WOW factor.
Visit GaucherOntheMap.com to express support for people affected by Gaucher disease
I
Furniture • Window Treatments Wallcoverings • Carpet & Rugs Lighting • Accesories Francine Morgan (757) 621-0795
n support of Gaucher Awareness Month in October, Genzyme Corporation, a Sanofi Company, is sponsoring a new national program called “Gaucher on the Map” to raise awareness of Gaucher disease, an inherited genetic disorder that affects one in 40,00–60,000 people worldwide. By visiting GaucherOntheMap.com, participants can “light up” their state on a special interactive map and share information about Gaucher disease with family and friends using social media. Participation is free. “Because Gaucher disease is such a rare
disorder and the community of people impacted is spread so thin across the United States, we often find that efforts to improve awareness and understanding of the condition are fragmented,” says Jarrod Trainque, senior product manager, Gaucher disease at Genzyme. “Our goal with the ‘Gaucher on the Map’ program is to unite the Gaucher community, acknowledging the unique challenges individuals face in their own state while demonstrating the incredible impact this community can have when we come together.” Gaucher disease is the most common
condition in a family of rare diseases known as lysosomal storage disorders. It is an inherited disorder caused by a deficiency in a particular enzyme, which leads to lipid accumulation in organs. Occurrence is highest among the Ashkenazi Jewish population where approximately one in 850 people may be affected. Symptoms ranging from bone pain and fatigue to life-threatening complications can appear at any time from infancy to adulthood. For more information, visit http:// www.gaucherdisease.org.
By appointment only • Complimentary Initial Consultation
with Virginia Symphony Orchestra
the story comes to life “In my dream version of America, every state has at least one Nutcracker this good.” — Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times
DECEMBER 4-6
chrysler hall
norfolk, va
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! Tickets start at $20. Available at Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 800-982-2787. Additional generous support from Norfolk Southern Foundation and The Whitfield Foundation.
presented by
Richmond Ballet, The State Ballet of Virginia, is supported, in part, by a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Richmond Ballet is a proud partner of Virginia is for Lovers™.
Richmond Nutcracker Ad 46 | Jewish News Ballet | OctoberNorfolk 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org
for Jewish News 10 x 5.375” RUN DATE: 10/19, 11/9/15 and 11/23/15
jewishnewsva.org | October 19, 2015 | Jewish News | 47
front living at its finest!
This bay and beachfront home was custom built in 1987 and boasts amazing beach and water views as well as private beach access. Sit out on the expansive deck by the pool and enjoy your own private oasis buffered by sand dunes and sea grass. This truly is an exceptional community, the only single family community on the Chesapeake Bay. It’s so much fun to watch the assorted ships sailing out to sea or back to port and the tide and waves are so much calmer and family friendly than on the ocean.
A TRULY EXTRAORDINARY HOME! Priced at $2,500,000
Visit FOXHOMELINK.COM For More Photos, a Virtual Tour and a Detailed Description.
SOLD BY LINDA FOX-JARVIS & TEAM
Broad Bay Point Greens - $700,000
Chelsea - $599,000
CRS • BROKER/OWNER STEPHANIE CASKILL • REALTOR “A Realtor You Can Trust”
Bishopsgate - $775,000
(O) 757.490.1254 (C) 757.335.1200 LFOXJARVIS@MINDSPRING.COM FOXHOMELINK.COM
ASK US ABOUT OUR SPECIAL MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR
FINE HOMES & LUXURY PROPERTIES 48 | Jewish News | October 19, 2015 | jewishnewsva.org