Jewish News - November 27, 2023 Issue

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Southeastern Virginia | Vol. 62 No. 6 | 14 Kislev 5784 | November 27, 2023

9 First Hostages released by Hamas

29 Hanukkah happenings in Tidewater

Jewish Tidewater attends March for Israel

32 A decade of the Shabbat Project

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33 JFS Food Pantry provides Thanksgiving meals

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UPFRONT

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Elon Musk, under fire for antisemitism on X, visits Israel and tours ravaged kibbutz with Benjamin Netanyahu Philissa Cramer (JTA) — Elon Musk, the tech titan who is under fire for his role in amplifying antisemitism on his social media platform X, visited Israel on Monday, Nov. 27 and toured the devastation at a kibbutz ravaged

by Hamas on Oct. 7 alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Musk toured the kibbutz, where dozens of people were killed and an estimated 17 were kidnapped. Afterward, Musk and Netanyahu spoke live on X, formerly known as Twitter, about Musk’s reaction to seeing Kfar Aza and a video that Israel compiled showing footage from the day of the massacre.

Musk said the experience was “jarring” and that he was struck by what appeared to be “joy” on the part of the terrorists in the video.

“The rebuttal is often made that well, you know, Israel has killed civilians also in Gaza,” he said. “But there’s an important difference here, which is that Israel tries to avoid killing civilians, doing everything it can to avoid killing civilians. And, you know, there’s not sort of joy expressed.”

Musk also said that “there’s no choice” but for Israel to destroy Hamas, but that Israel then needs to “help those that remain,” likening a future postwar scenario to the post-World War II U.S. occupation of Germany and Japan.

Musk’s visit comes as he faces continued criticism over his engagement with antisemites on X and over the platform’s role in fueling misinformation about Oct. 7. Multiple major advertisers dropped the platform after Musk called an endorsement of the antisemitic “Great Replacement” theory the “actual truth.” (After speaking with

CONTENTS

Musk, the Anti-Defamation League’s CEO praised Musk, who later tweeted that he would be donating X’s revenue associated with the war to hospitals in Israel and the Red Crescent in Gaza.)

A video released by Netanyahu’s office from Kfar Aza shows Musk, wearing a flak jacket, nodding somberly as he is shown a crib filled with spent bullets that has become a symbol of the kibbutz, walking through ruined homes, and viewing a video showing how Hamas terrorists breached the doors of families’ safe rooms. At several points, he raises his phone to take pictures.

Immediately after the tour, Musk tweeted, “Actions speak louder than words.” He then joined Netanyahu for the live chat, their second in recent months after a conversation focused on artificial intelligence and technology in California in September.

Their visit to Kfar Aza came a day after several hostages from the kibbutz returned to Israel as part of a temporary ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. The newly freed include Avigail Mor Idan, a toddler who was abducted alone after her parents were killed, and who turned 4 in captivity, and the mother and three children of the Goldstein-Almog family, whose father and oldest daughter were murdered on Oct. 7.

The kibbutz has been the repeat site of tours for foreign leaders.

Earlier this month, former British prime minister Boris Johnson and former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison visited and heard testimony from emergency responders. “It’s horrifying. People should not be mistaken about the savage attacks that occurred here,” Johnson said during his visit.

About the cover: March for Israel, Nov. 14, 2023

Up Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Briefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Jewish Tidewater marches for Israel . . . . . . . . 6 Historic pro-Israel rally in DC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Hostages begin to be released . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 TJF: Meet 2023 charitable goals. . . . . . . . . . . 11 Liz Dovrat: A view from Israel . . . . . . . . 12 Miyares joins coalition regarding student visas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 JFS helps local Jewish families in need . . . . . 15

Mazel Tov Special Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Hanukkah! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Remembrance Room at JFS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Shabbat Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 JFS: Food Pantry and military burial . . . . . . 33 What’s Happening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 BeAR needs mentors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Congregations join to help the homeless . . . 38

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BRIEFS ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Right-wing economist with a passion for Judaism, is elected president of Argentina

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ilei’s passionate love of Judaism and Israel has been one of the several unexpected qualities that Argentines and political analysts have become accustomed to during his rapid rise over the past year. Milei, 53, throughout his campaign blamed the outgoing government for soaring inflation and poverty rates. That government included Cristina Fernández de Kirchner — who has been accused of obstructing the investigation into the 1994 AMIA Jewish center bombing — as vice president.

“Today we will start the rebuilding of Argentina,” Milei said in his acceptance speech.

Milei, an economist and former TV and radio pundit, has promised to close several government ministries, including Argentina’s national bank, a move that would make the country’s currency the American dollar. He calls climate change a hoax and has earned comparisons to Donald Trump.

He also studies Torah regularly.

In an interview with Spain’s El Pais newspaper over the summer, Milei talked about his study with Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish, who heads ACILBA, an Argentine-Moroccan Jewish community based in Buenos Aires. Milei said he has considered converting to Judaism but worries about how Shabbat observance would clash with the duties of the presidency.

He demonstrates his passion for Judaism at rallies and public events, often walking out on stage to the sound of a shofar, the ram’s horn blown on Rosh Hashanah. At one rally in August, the shofar sound was accompanied on a screen by a photo of a man wearing a Jewish prayer shawl.

He is also an outspoken supporter of Israel, having stated before the start of Israel’s war on Oct. 7 that he would like to make an early diplomatic trip to Jerusalem and to move Argentina’s embassy to that city. In one of his final public appearances before the election, Milei was seen waving an Israeli flag among a large crowd in Rosario. (JTA) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Birthright cancels Israel trips for December

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irthright Israel has canceled its trips that had been scheduled for December due to safety concerns from the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, reportedly the first time in its history the group has pulled programs due to war in the region.

A Birthright spokesperson told Jewish Telegraphic Agency the group expects to resume trips soon. The nonprofit’s CEO Gidi Mark told eJewishPhilanthropy that the trips could resume before the end of the year if the situation in Israel becomes “more stable.”

Launched in 1999, the organization’s free trips to Israel for Jewish young adults have become a staple of

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many Jews’ college or post-college experiences. Funding for the organization has been jeopardized after losing some major donors in recent years. The only previous time the organization has canceled trips was at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During previous periods of violence in the region, Birthright continued trips as scheduled but altered them to avoid violent areas. That meant, in 2019, that trips briefly avoided visiting the same Gaza border communities that were massacred on Oct. 7 of this year.

Last month the organization had denied rumors of the December trips’ cancellations to JTA, saying that they were still on schedule.

Birthright typically schedules many winter tours to Israel for college students starting in mid-December.

In the meantime, Birthright is getting hands-on with the current conflict in other ways. The organization is now running a program to bring alumni to Israel to volunteer in agriculture and donation centers while the country’s workforce is being redirected to the war. Those joining in are part of a wave of volunteers looking to fill in the gaps in the country’s agriculture and other industries. Unlike its regular Israel trips, participants in this program are required to buy their own flights and travel insurance.

Though the organization normally bills itself as not political, Birthright also launched a social media campaign to encourage alumni to share positive posts about Israel to combat anti-Israel sentiment on social platforms in the wake of Oct. 7. Noa Bauer, a marketing executive for Birthright based in Israel, told JTA last month, “I think this is the time for Birthright to make sure that every alumni stands up for Israel.” (JTA) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

HIAS among groups that ask Biden administration to extend protected status to Israelis in US

H

IAS, the Jewish immigration advocacy group, and seven other Jewish groups asked the Biden Administration to extend protected status to Israelis in the United States who fear returning to a warzone.

The letter sent Nov. 17 asks President Joe Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to extend to Israelis deciding to wait out the war in the United States Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Enforced Departure. The statuses allow people holding them to work legally.

It notes reports that Palestinian non-citizens in the United States are under consideration to be eligible for those statuses because of the Israel-Hamas war launched by the terrorist group on Oct. 7.

“We recognize that TPS will provide protections to Palestinians in the U.S., ensuring that they do not have to return home to the midst of ongoing conflict,” said the letter. “Granting TPS to Palestinians is an essential

step, but it should also be accompanied by a similar announcement for Israelis.”

The other seven signatories are J Street, the liberal Jewish Middle East policy group; the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, a national public policy group; the Jewish Labor Committee; Jewish Women International; National Council of Jewish Women; the Rabbinical Assembly, the rabbinical arm of the Conservative movement; and T’ruah, a rabbinic human rights group.

Mark Hetfield, HIAS president, said the statement came about because of queries from Jewish Family Service offices from around the country that are assisting Israelis who have come here temporarily during the war.

Many Jewish day schools have accepted children who are in the country for an unknown amount of time.

“Israel is under fire every day, they have incoming missiles. There’s no flights to Israel, or very few flights,” he said, also noting that the State Department has put out travel warnings to Israel and the West Bank. “We have a lot of Israelis who want to delay their return home right now and are talking to Jewish Family Service agencies and whatnot around the country. So we think it’s only fair that they’d be included in the designation.” (JTA) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

‘Merry Ham-mas’: Australian Kmart removes Christmas ham bag from shelves

A

ham bag has been removed from Australia’s Kmart website after the Australian Jewish Association complained that its message, “Merry Ham-mas,” looked too similar to Hamas, the terror group that invaded Israel on Oct. 7.

The text is printed on the ham bag in festive red and green lettering, with a Christmas tree replacing the first “A.” The AJA wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter: “We’ve politely written to Wesfarmers corporate suggesting the product be pulled,” the group wrote, referring to Kmart’s parent company in Australia.

In an update posted about an hour after its first post, AJA wrote that the organization had been contacted by Kmart senior management and that the ham bag had been taken off store shelves and the Kmart website.

Ham bags, when lightly dampened with water and some vinegar, are used to keep meat fresh.

“We got it wrong on this occasion, and we apologise unreservedly,” a spokesperson for Wesfarmers told The West Australian. “When designing this product we clearly didn’t think through all the implications and the product has been removed from sale.”

David Adler, president of the Australian Jewish Association, said he wanted “to give credit to Kmart management as they acted very quickly.”

“It’s not normal times, there are people that will distort things and will harass the Jewish community. Of course, there are bigger issues to be addressed, dealing with the actual terrorism is important, but one of the other things we are dealing with is propaganda.” (JTA)

ANTISEMITISM

Regent University issues statement on antisemitism

R

egent University stands unwaveringly against the alarming rise of antisemitism on college campuses today. As expressed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” People cannot have liberty if their person or property is at risk and people cannot have liberty if they are unable to openly express their beliefs, honor their heritage, and gather with their community.

In standing against antisemitism, Regent University is guided by the words of Jesus to the Samaritan woman at the well: “salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22) As Christians, our understanding of law, justice, and redemption all come from the Torah and our understanding of the Messiah comes from the words of Moses: “God has become my salvation.”(Exodus 15:2) Our commitment to equality, freedom of religion, and freedom of conscience

is grounded in the teachings of Christ, who emphasized love, compassion, and the inherent worth of every individual. Our commitment to God is found in the Shema, the central affirmation of Judaism: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might,” (Deuteronomy 6:5) and our commitment to community is found in the instructions to Moses in Leviticus: “you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18) Regent University recognizes that antisemitism not only undermines the very principles upon which our faith is built; it also undermines our faith. The Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God. (Romans 3:2 NLT) In embracing liberty, we affirm the God-given right of

all individuals to express their faith and heritage without fear of persecution. Freedom of religion, a cornerstone of our democracy, requires safeguarding the rights of all, regardless of their beliefs and even if they have no beliefs at all.

Freedom of conscience is only upheld when we encourage open dialogue and respect for all perspectives.

Regent University stands as a beacon against the darkness of antisemitism, advocating for an atmosphere of understanding, tolerance, and respect. By championing these principles, we strive to create a campus community that exemplifies the teachings of Christ, and to foster an environment where all students feel valued, protected, and free to pursue their education.

Gordon Robertson, Chancellor

jewishnewsva.org | November 27, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 5

Forever Helping Others

JEWISH TIDEWATER

Jewish Tidewater attends March for Israel filled with pride

Bill Goldback’s legacy lives on through the arts.

Bill, who died in 2007, left a donation in his will for the performing arts in Hampton Roads.

The William A. Goldback Fund continues to support arts groups and other causes in our community.

Find out how you can leave your mark.

Visit LeaveABequest.org

Nofar Trem nited Jewish Federation of Tidewater chartered two buses to drive community members to Washington, DC to show solidarity and support for Israel on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The group from Tidewater joined nearly 300,000 Jewish allies of Israel on the National Mall for the March for Israel.

“Joining with over 100 members of our Tidewater Jewish community and colleagues, friends, and David and Aaron Tessler allies from around North America, was extremely powerful, emotional, and meaningful,” says Betty Ann Levin, UJFT executive vice president and CEO. “It also allowed us to channel our emotions of the last month and a half

U

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the Jewish community made clear that it stood united.”

“It was an amazing and moving experience going to the march,” says David Leon, UJFT president. “We bonded on the bus to and from DC with everyone from Tidewater. There was such a positive vibe on the Mall and it felt like we were all one big family: many of us ran into people we knew and struck up conversations with strangers. It was Maya Ostrov, Nofar Trem, Naomi Friedland, Naty Horev, Leslie important to show Unger, and Tal Feldman-Sifen. our support for Israel to the U.S. and the world in such a “overwhelming sense of peace and pride powerful way and I'm glad that I was part felt in the sea of blue and white” provided a of this historic event,” sense of unity and “allowed Jewish people “Despite the chaos always circling from all over the world to feel they were not Israel, for the year I lived there and every alone,” he says. “During those few hours, and truly take action. It’s hard to remember a more important time, in my lifetime, for our Jewish community and American Jewry.”

For Shalom Markman, the rally’s

JEWISH TIDEWATER visit since, I was always overcome by a sense of peace. Being at the Israel rally in DC felt the same,” says Megan Zuckerman, Jewish Community Relations Council Israel education and advocacy committee chair.

“I was there, fully aware of the counter-protests happening in every corner of the earth and the hateful online rhetoric.

However, in those moments standing on the DC lawn with my friends and fellow community members, I felt l was a member of a tribe of hundreds Robin and Todd Copeland. of thousands that were pouring our energy and love into each other, into Israel, and especially towards the family members of the hostages who spoke so poignantly with heartbreaking urgency to bring their loved ones home,” says Zuckerman.

The morning of the March for Israel,

support that Israel had on November 14.

We ended by singing HaTikvah, the Israeli national anthem, The Hope.

“We must continue to be proud of being Jewish, advocate for Israel, and fight for the release of each and every hostage. It was important to be at the mall in Washington on November 14, and to be a part of this event. I felt proud being Jewish and proud of my people!

Am Israel Chai!”

“I am proud to be Jewish every waking moment of my life, and that day, at that rally, I did not take Laura Gross, Rachael Feigenbaum, Joel Palser, Rachel that part of my soul Abrams, Megan Zuckerman, and Mona Flax.

Julie Kievit, Rabbi Ari Oliszewski, and Ari Truman. that loves my culture, my homeland of Israel, and my fellow Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, agreethe Torah, blew the Shofar, and prayed Jewish family for granted,” says Zuckerman. ing with each other and saying that Israel for good things for our people and the ––––––––––––––––––––––––– should not agree to a cease-fire until all world,” he says.

To learn more about Israel, the ongoing conflict, hostages are back home in Israel.”

The rally was also a wakeup call for and how to get involved, visit JewishVA.og/ Israel needs to be able to defend itself, fighting the rise in antisemitism and IsraelatWar23 or contact Nofar Trem, Israel says Rabbi Koas, and “I think that it helps hatred, and fighting against critics of Israel Engagement manager, at NTrem@UJFT.org. for everybody around the world to see the who don’t believe in its right to exist, says a 6 am Rosh Chodesh service took place right outside the White House, which was attended by Aaron Tessler. “As the sun rose over the most powerful building in the land, hundreds of Jews from all over the country gathered to sing, pray, and dance together for peace. We read

Rabbi Ron Koas of Congregation Beth El. “It was interesting and encouraging to see the top leadership of both U.S. parties speaking at the event in front of the Capitol, including Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and the new Republican House

Marching again I

Isaac, Naomi, and Ilanit Sedek

Naomi Limor Sedek n 1987, when I was 12 years old, I hopped on a bus that was arranged by the local Federation that left from the JCC to march in Washington on Freedom Sunday for the Soviet Jews. That was 36 years ago and made such a vivid impression on me and shaped my life as a committed Jew. Then, I marched with more than 250,000 Jews from around the country united together as a people for religious freedom for our Jewish family, many of whom eventually settled in the U.S. and made it their home.

On Tuesday, Nov. 14, the descendants of those Jews from the FSU were free to march with us on Washington, together with my own children and almost 300,000 other Jews. We were calling for freedom once again. Freedom for the 240 hostages held in Gaza by Hamas for more than a month, freedom from the rise of antisemitism on college campuses and around the world, and freedom for Israel to defend her borders and root out Hamas.

But that was not all we were marching for

– as my children, one a senior at the University of Maryland and the other a second year law student at American University – shared with me on the Metro ride in….we hadn’t ever had the experience of achdus, unity, here in America that we always felt in Israel, before riding the Metro to the March.

I am proud that they chose to stand with their friends on the mall that day. I am proud that we stood up as one nation and they felt the protection and garnered strength from our gathering. This is a moment they will take with them and share from generation to generation. We stood together to support our college students, stand proud as Jews, and use our voices and our feet in support of Israel and worldwide Jewry.

As Hillel says, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?” Never Again is Now! When is Now! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Naomi Limor Sedek is president & CEO of Tidewater Jewish Foundation.

jewishnewsva.org | November 27, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 7

NATION

290,000 people show up for historic pro-Israel rally in DC, organizers say the steadiest ally and champion of our shared values,” she Ron Kampeas said. “We are grateful for his leadership.”

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Organizers of a pro-Israel rally The message thrilled the audience, but subtle differat the National Mall in Washington on Tuesday, Nov. ences in messaging also emerged 14, claim that 290,000 people showed up for the event, from the prominent Democrats and making it one of the largest gatherings of Jews in U.S. Republicans who spoke, and between history at a time when an ongoing war in Gaza has sharply the Biden administration and Israel. divided public opinion around the world.

Mike Johnson, the newly An additional 250,000 people watched the event installed Republican speaker of the through a live stream, organizers add. Other Jewish House, said the United States would marches that gathered more than 100,000 people include reject widespread calls for a ceasefire. one in 1987 in support of Soviet Jews and one in 2002 in “The calls for a ceasefire are outrasupport of Israel during the second intifada. geous,” he said to loud cheers.

In more than three hours of speeches, a range of Sen. Majority Leader Chuck politicians, actors, musicians, activists, and U.S. college Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, students presented a strong front in support of Israel and both New York Democrats, did not mention a ceasefire. spoke about the rise of antisemitism around the world The Biden administration opposes a ceasefire and backs since Hamas’ attacks on Oct. 7 and Israel’s subsequent war Israel’s ultimate goal of dismantling Hamas but differs in Gaza. Many speakers also demanded the safe release of with Israel on the degree to which there should be pauses the more than 200 hostages still being held by Hamas in in fighting to bring humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

Gaza.

Biden is under intense pressure from a number of conIn a live feed from Jerusalem, Israeli President Isaac gressional progressives as well as some staffers in the State Herzog said, “we will heal, we will rise again, and we will Department and elsewhere rebuild.” to force Israel to declare a The message from ceasefire. the main organizers, the Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Jewish Federations of North Jewish Democrat, and Sen. America, and Conference of Joni Ernst, a Republican, Presidents of Major American also spoke. It was not clear Jewish Organizations, was why Kentucky Sen. Mitch unity. It was a rare moment McConnell, the minority that brought together leaders leader, was unable to attend. of both political parties Beyond the politipassionately pushing a similar cians, celebrity speakers message. including Debra Messing, “We stand here in a Michael Rapaport, and Tova city often divided by parFeldshuh called for Jews to tisan lines, but not when it wear their identities with comes to Israel,” said Harriet pride.

Schleifer, the chairwoman of “My name is Tovah the Presidents’ Conference.

Feldshuh,” began the “Democrats and Republicans Broadway star, repudiating stand together — supporting decades of entertainment the Israeli people as they seek pressure on Jews to dispeace, justice and the safe A sea of blue and white on the National Mall. guise their identities. “My return of hostages.”

Hebrew name is Tovah Feldshuh. My stage name is Tovah Schleifer also praised President Joe Biden, who has Feldshuh.” The audience cheered. asked Congress to send more than $14 billion in emerMessing, who has been active in campaigning for gency assistance to Israel. “President Joe Biden has been

Democrats, alluded to the heartbreak many Jews on the left felt after failing to hear robust condemnations of Hamas by progressives after Oct. 7.

“I know you are alone, I know you are afraid, I know you feel abandoned by people you thought were friends,” she said. “Looking out today I know we are not alone, because we have each other.”

Three relatives of hostages being held in Gaza also spoke.

“We hostage families have lived the last 39 days in slow motion torment,” said Rachel Goldberg, mother of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin. “We all have third degree burns on our souls.”

An array of Jewish organizations across the political spectrum attended the event. The inclusion of some of the more right-wing speakers, including Johnson and Pastor John Hagee — the head of the influential Christians United for Israel group who is an opponent of LGBTQ rights — caused controversy before the rally. “A dangerous bigot like Hagee should not be welcomed anywhere in our community,” the liberal pro-Israel lobby J Street tweeted.

“There is no middle ground in this conflict — you’re either for the Jewish people or you’re not,” Hagee said in his speech.

But several speakers, including liberal CNN analyst Van Jones, called for the protection of Palestinian lives while emphasizing Israel’s right to defend itself, and that joint message was continually given a warm reception by the crowd.

“We must stand together to secure a just and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinian people,” Jones said to applause.

Dr. Rochelle Ford, the president of Dillard University in New Orleans, a historically Black university, said it was time to “stand with Israel, and to stand with the Palestinians who suffer under Hamas’ cruel rule in Gaza.”

The rally started and ended with cries of “Am yisrael chai”— “the people of Israel live.” William Daroff, head of the Conference of Presidents, said the tally was counted by magnetometers used by security at entrances.

“Do not cower, allow no one to make you afraid,” said Deborah Lipstadt, the Biden administration’s antisemitism monitor. “The message is built into the Jewish people’s most ancient history — Jews are strongest in their most broken places.”

Looking out today I know we are not alone, because we have each other.

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ISRAEL

First hostages released by Hamas Gabe Friedman, Ron Kampeas, Ben Sales (JTA) —In phases, Hamas released Israeli hostages into Egypt, a sign that the four-day ceasefire brokered between Israel and the terror group that runs Gaza would hold.

In the first release, 10 Thai nationals and one Filipino national were also released in a surprise additional deal that Egyptian officials said they had brokered. Thirtynine Palestinian prisoners were released from Israel as part of the agreement, and multiple tankers of humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip.

After being driven to Egypt by the International Committee of the Red Cross via the Rafah border crossing. The hostages immediately underwent medical and psychological evaluations at Hatzerim Air Base.

According to reports, at least some of the hostages are not aware that they had family members killed on Oct. 7.

The temporary truce looked like it could have hit a snag, as the Israeli Defense Forces shelled parts of Gaza into the early

hours of Friday, Nov. 24 and shot at Gazans day. Along the way, Israel will release three Palestinian prisoners for every released attempting to return to the northern part hostage. of the coastal enclave. But Israeli military As the first hostages were en route to and Hamas forces held off from fighting Israel, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said, at the agreed upon time on Friday, as did “Hamas will the Hezbollah pursue its terror group effort to halt on Israel’s the Israeli border with assault on Lebanon.

Gaza” and On “complete Tuesday, Nov. the prisoner 21, Israel and exchange.”

Hamas agreed President to a temporary Joe Biden ceasefire that called involved, over a press the course Avigail Idan, now an orphan, is reunited with her aunt Liron, her uncle Zuli and grandparents Shlomit and Eitan at Schneider children’s hospital on conference of four days, November 27, 2023. (Schneider Hospital) to address the release the hostage release, noting that he was of around 50 of the more than 200 Israelis very involved in conversations with Israeli, who have been captured in Gaza since Oct. Qatari, and Egyptian officials in the 7. Afterward, Hamas can extend the truce lead-up to Friday. He also called on the by releasing an additional 10 hostages a

Israeli military to work to avoid further Palestinian casualties in Gaza and emphasized his continued push for a two-state solution.

“My expectation and hope is that as we move forward, the rest of the Arab world and the region is also putting pressure on all sides to slow this down, to bring this to an end as quickly as we can,” Biden said.

On Saturday, Nov. 25, Hamas released another 13 Israeli hostages after delays that resulted from Israel and Hamas accusing each other of bad faith and that put a temporary ceasefire at risk.

As part of the deal, Israel pledged to release a total of 150 Palestinian women and minors held in Israeli prison on security offenses.

Hamas scheduled the Saturday release for the afternoon and then delayed it, accusing Israel of delaying the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which was part of the deal, and of failing to release the longest-serving Palestinian prisoners.

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jewishnewsva.org | November 27, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 9

ISRAEL Israeli officials said the aid trucks had reached the Gaza Strip but were delayed by roads devastated by weeks of Israeli strikes. Israel said there was no formal agreement to release the longest-serving prisoners first.

Last-minute interventions by the governments of Egypt, the United States and Qatar, which has acted as an intermediary for Hamas, salvaged the transfer. President Joe Biden made calls to Egyptian and Qatari leaders to ensure that the release occurred.

The Red Cross picked up the hostages around 11 pm local time on Saturday and crossed the border into Egypt just before

a midnight deadline that would have triggered the end of the ceasefire. Israeli media and the families of the hostages identified some of those released as they watched video of them getting out of ambulances in Egypt. They were transferred to Israeli territory within 30 minutes.

Many of the released hostages are from Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the communities hardest hit by Hamas’ massacre.

Survivors of the attack on Be’eri crowded around TVs at a Dead Sea hotel where the Israeli government has housed them since Oct. 7, cheering when they

The truce was extended for two additional days on Nov. 27.

recognized friends on the live feed from Egypt.

Upon the delivery of the hostages, Be’eri officials also accused Hamas of bad faith, noting that it had promised to keep families united and noting that Hila Rotem Shoshani’s mother remains captive.

On Sunday, Nov. 26, Hamas released 17 more hostages — 14 Israelis, including

one U.S. citizen, and three foreign nationals — to the Red Cross as part of its agreement with Israel to pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip.

In total, the terror group has released (at press time) 40 Israeli hostages, nearly all of them women and children, to Israel.

Hamas had released a total of 18 foreign hostages, nearly all Thai, under a separate agreement reached by the Thai

Local Relationships Matter MEET: Karen Joyner As the Chief Executive Officer at the Peninsula Foodbank, she believes the Foodbank not only distributes food but is also the spokesperson for those who otherwise don’t have a voice.

We Stand in Solidarity With Israel

“There are so many low income individuals who haven’t received any benefit from the recovering economy and those who because of their life circumstances need help every now and then. We are there to help ensure their voices are heard.”

“

“Since 2004, when I started with the Foodbank and got to know Payday Payroll, I have always felt that Payday has been involved and helped to build it’s business through positive support for others in the community, both non-profits and start up businesses. I particularly appreciate the generosity that Payday has shown to the nonprofits in our community.”

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TIDEWATER JEWISH FOUNDATION

Meeting 2023 charitable goals does not have to be stressful I

Naomi Limor Sedek n Tidewater and across the country, giving season is in full gear.

The end of the year is a well-documented season of anxiety for many people, but meeting 2023 charitable goals does not have to be stressful. Tidewater Jewish Foundation is prepared to help donors get even more connected to the causes that are important to them, while maximizing tax benefits, without stress.

Working through the list of organizations important to a donor is a helpful and positive start. The TJF’s team can help individuals and families accomplish charitable giving objectives efficiently, effectively, and joyfully, including tapping into tax benefits.

Key considerations for year-end tax planning: • Use appreciated assets to make a charitable gift in 2023. As in previous years, gifts of long-term appreciated assets (stock) remain a best practice. Such gifts

not only provide a deduction to the donor but also avoid the capital gains tax. Conversely, built-in loss assets generally should be sold (generating a tax loss) with the resulting cash proceeds donated, if desired.

• Consider donating to a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) for maximum flexibility.

DAFs facilitate a significant donation to charity over time and can provide a charitable income tax deduction today. Consider adding funds to an existing DAF or opening a new DAF. • Look into an IRA charitable rollover. The IRA charitable rollover, also known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution or QCD, is an attractive option because it can help satisfy the minimum distribution requirement without incurring income tax, even for those who don’t itemize deductions.

As with any significant tax and charitable planning, it is always advisable to carefully consider potential changes in the context of a complete financial profile and to consult a professional tax advisor.

As the year ends, make a difference in Tidewater and the world at large. Whether starting a new fund or contributing to an existing one, TJF is committed to helping donors achieve their charitable goals, with the understanding that one’s generosity has the ability to enrich lives and strengthen the fabric of Tidewater’s Jewish community.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For more information on how to optimize year-end giving and to learn why waiting until the end of the year to complete giving has a silver lining, contact Naomi Limor Sedek, president and CEO, Tidewater Jewish Foundation, at 757-9656109 or nsedek@tjfva.org.

jewishnewsva.org | November 27, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 11

God Bless America

ISRAEL FI R S T PER SO N

A view from Israel: A new (emergency) normal Liz Dovrat recently joined a Zoom meeting run by the dean of the humanities and social sciences faculty at my college, Tel Hai in Kiryat Shmona. The dean commenced the meeting by praising the multitudes of faculty and student initiatives started during the immediate aftermath of October 7th to support the victims of the “Black Shabbat,” the people evacuated from the northern borders, and our soldiers. Then she explained that she saw us – as individuals, a college, a community, a country – in a slow transition period from an emergency situation to an emergency normal/routine.

This phrase, “emergency normal”

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– despite the slightly awkward English phrasing – encapsules my family’s experience of the last two weeks.

Overall, for a family evacuated from our home due to war with no end in sight, we are extremely lucky. As my mom says, I always seem to land on my feet. Within two and a half weeks of being evacuated, my husband and I have managed to rebuild a new life in our host city, Hod Hasharon. After a week of living at my mother-in-law’s apartment, we found a three bedroom, centrally located AirBnB apartment to rent for the foreseeable future. There are two amazing playgrounds within walking distance – a godsend to any family with active kids.

Through the generosity of the Hod Hasharon municipality, we received donations of toys (including a huge stuffed cow now named MooMoo), books, clothes, and kitchen supplies.

We took advantage of free programing for the kids. We also registered our kids to preschool and school, with the Hod Hasharon educational department going above and beyond to help our family. Within 24 hours of making the initial phone call, my children were not only enrolled into schools, but warmly embraced by the wider school communities with offers of help and friendship.

At this point, my kids have been attending their new schools for almost three weeks and have adjusted well.

While there have been difficult days, it is nothing out of the normal when adjusting to a new school. They all have afterschool activities (dance and judo), which they love, coming home happy but exhausted (making bath time a little tricky…)

As an adult who moved several times during childhood, immigrated to a new country, and moved around within the new country several times, I recognize these steps of establishing a new life in a new place.

Yet…yet this isn’t the normal ups

ISRAEL and downs of moving or raising three happy, healthy, active, yet emotional kids. Every day there is at least one reminder of the impact this war is having on my kids, myself, or my husband – besides the endless news cycle.

For instance, I cried hysterically right before I registered my children to schools – it was the heartbreaking acceptance that we were not going home anytime soon.

I now tuck my son into bed by telling his “zoo” (five stuffed animals, three of which were donated) to keep him safe. My girls, who have been falling asleep on their own since they were babies, now insist on holding my hand to go to sleep because all their fears come rushing into their minds at the end of the day.

Every night at least one child calls out because they are scared.

We walk around the city on errands and my kids insist on reading the names of the kidnapped Israelis on the posters plastered everywhere.

Then I need to explain yet again the devasting reality that yes, Hamas took babies and children, too. I find myself having to explain why there are so many soldiers or men with guns at the playground or why there are so many vehicles with police lights driving around the city (patrols for protection). My daughter tells me she fears Arabic-speaking men with dark skin and black clothes and me not knowing exactly how to answer since my leftist inclination wants to explain the problems with racial profiling while the horrors of Oct. 7 justify her fear. We constantly discuss the difference between Hamas and the Palestine civilians in Gaza. I attempt to explain how our heart can be in two places at once (with our friends from our kibbutz and with our family and new friends in Hod Hasharon). My kids ask, “Will we

be home by Hanukkah?” and I must answer the sad truth, “I don’t think so, hopefully by Purim.”

As for work, my husband is a P.E. teacher and I’m an English as a Foreign Language teacher in an academic college. We both still have jobs, yet our educational institutions are in the evacuated area, with many students and teachers evacuated themselves. While most of the schools in the country have returned to in-person teaching, at least partially, my husband’s school is trying to find solutions for all students through temporary physical locations and Zoom lessons. My academic semester, which was supposed to start on Oct.16, has been delayed at least till Dec. 3, like other universities. We will face a similar challenge to my husband’s high school – how to teach when there is no access to the physical campus – which is at the heart of what makes my college unique.

Yes, we will teach on Zoom, but we will need to consider how to support our evacuated students and those serving in the military.

We are okay and lucky. We miss home and want to return when it is safe. We want the country to continue to pull together and support each other.

We want our kidnapped citizens back.

We want our soldiers home. We want our borders to be safe again. We want our children to return to their carefree childhood, where the worst thing to happen is a fight with a friend. When all this will be and how and at what cost – this is the uncertainty we live with every day.

–––––––––––––––––––––––– Liz Dovrat is the daughter of Barbara Dudley, Jewish Community Relations Council chair. She occasionally writes for Jewish News on life in Israel with her family. She wrote this on Nov. 9, 2023.

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jewishnewsva.org | November 27, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 13

VIRGINIA

Attorney General Miyares joins coalition calling for removal of student visa holders who provide support to terror groups Richmond, Va. — Attorney General Jason Miyares joined a coalition of 20 state attorneys general in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas calling for the prompt removal of foreign student visa holders who are found to have endorsed terror activity or provided material support to foreign terrorist organizations.

“The terrorist attack on Israel cannot be justified or rationalized. Supporting or endorsing the terrorist organizations who committed the acts is not only immoral, but un-American and peddles dangerous misinformation. Foreign student visa holders endorsing or supporting terrorist organizations do not deserve the privilege and opportunity provided to them,” says Attorney General Miyares.

In part, the letter stated:

The Surge of Antisemitic Threats on University Campuses

At Norfolk Academy, students discover their voices as explorers and inventors, as athletes and artists, as changemakers and leaders. Guided by trusted teacher-coaches, our students give voice to their dreams and learn that they can achieve every goal they set.

Conclusion In light of the recent, disturbing surge of antisemitic activity and threats of violence, we ask that you vigorously renew vetting of foreign student visa holders and promptly remove any who are found to have endorsed or espoused terrorist activity or provided material support to foreign terrorist organizations.

VA L U E D V O I C E S

In 1790 the Hebrew congregation at Newport, Rhode Island, wrote to President George Washington to express gratitude for the newfound “Blessings of civil and religious liberty” that the Jewish inhabitants enjoyed in the United States.

Sadly, times have changed, and the States of Arkansas, Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa,

Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia are concerned about the alarming rise of antisemitic threats in the United States. According to just-released FBI statistics, anti-Jewish crimes in the United States have risen sharply in the past year to the second-highest level on record.

Growing antisemitic activity was a concern at universities in the United States before Hamas’s October 7 terror attack. But campuses have now become a glowing hotbed of antisemitic

activity and threats of violence against Jewish people.

For example, the national chapter of a group calling itself Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) described Hamas’s attack as “a historic win for the Palestinian resistance.” SJP issued a “call to action” asking its college chapters to demonstrate, and more than 20 chapters responded, spearheading anti-Israel activity on campuses across the country. That group is linked to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The U.S. Department of State has designated those two organizations, as well as related groups including the Palestine Liberation Front and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, as “foreign terrorist organizations.”

Come visit! Applications for the 2024-25 school year due December 15. Need-based financial aid available.

Norfolk Academy  Grades 1 - 12  757-455-5582  norfolkacademy.org 14 | JEWISH NEWS | November 27, 2023 | jewishnewsva.org

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JFS filled gift bags and delivered them to area seniors for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These bags included challah rolls, apples, honey, and a Jewish calendar.

Each bag also included beautiful handmade cards and decorated honey jars by Strelitz International Academy’s Mitzvah Club and Simon Family JCC’s PJ Library participants. Local synagogues and community partners held food drives for the JFS Food Pantry, stocking the shelves for the High Holidays, and in preparation for the influx of need at Thanksgiving, enabling the Pantry to make certain that at least 60 families received a turkey and all the trimmings for a Thanksgiving meal.

With Hanukkah just around the corner, there is still time to donate gifts for the Annual Chanukah Gift Project. For the last 31 years, JFS has collected donations of gifts, gift cards, and cash that support area teens and children with gifts during the holiday. Donate in honor of Hanukkah and JFS will do the shopping! All donations are needed by Tuesday, Nov. 28.

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jewishnewsva.org jewishnewsva.org | May| 1, November 2023 | Israel 27, 2023 @ 75 | JEWISH NEWS | 15

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$80,000 STEIN FAMILY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Eligibility Need money for college? The Stein Family College Scholarship is now offering up to $20,000 a year for four years! The largest scholarship in Jewish Tidewater, this annual college scholarship is awarded to Hampton Roads Jewish students entering college. Applicants are evaluated on financial need, Jewish/community engagement, and academic potential. Scholarship applicants must: • • • •

Identify as Jewish Maintain residency in the Tidewater region Demonstrate academic ability Demonstrate a history of service and engagement in their academic, Jewish, and broader communities through extracurricular and volunteer activities

Applications are accepted December 1, 2023 – March 1, 2024.

For more information and to apply, visit:

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16 | JEWISH NEWS | November 27, 2023 | jewishnewsva.org

The Stein Family College Scholarship is dedicated in loving memory of Arlene Shea Stein who was unable to finish college due to financial hardship.

Mazel •Tov jewishnewsva.org jewishnewsva.org | May| 1, November 2023 | Israel 27, 2023 @ 75 | JEWISH NEWS | 17

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jewishnewsva.org jewishnewsva.org | May| 1, November 2023 | Israel 27, 2023 @ 75 | JEWISH NEWS | 19

Mazel Tov Milestone Mazel Tovs

Stephanie Peck From a paper-themed first anniversary to diamonds for a celebration of 60 years, wedding anniversaries acknowledge that a married couple has persevered through another 365 days of togetherness.

In 2023, these four couples celebrated special anniversaries. Jewish News asks how they met, how they make it work, and what the future might hold for them. Mazel Tov!

Melissa and Aaron Kass

15 years

Jewish News: When and where did you meet?

Melissa and Aaron Kass: We met in November 2006, chaperoning a USY (United Synagogue Youth) convention for over 200 teenagers, at the Wyndham on 57th Street at the Oceanfront here in Virginia Beach.

JN: What was most memorable about your wedding?

M&A: The most memorable part of our wedding was seeing friends and family from all different parts of our lives all together in the same place, in South Florida no less! It was wonderful.

Linda and Ron Spindel

55 years

JN: What advice would you give yourselves of 15 years ago?

M&A: Life is fullest when we’re busy – don't shy away from being involved, traveling, and having children all at the same time – and constantly supporting one another is the secret sauce.

Jewish News: When and where did you meet?

Linda and Ron Spindel: We met at a restaurant in Virginia Beach when we were 14 or 15, while Linda was attending a “beach weekend” with her Iota sorority sisters.

JN: What was most memorable about your wedding?

L&R: We got married on May 5, 1968 at Ohef Sholom. Our wedding was so special because everyone we loved was there.

JN: What has been your secret to staying together?

M&A: Our secret to staying together is that while we have a lot of things we like to do together, we support each other when we have separate interests so that each of us can be fulfilled both as a couple and individually.

JN: What are you looking forward to?

M&A: We’re looking forward to our oldest son Jonah's Bar Mitzvah in the beginning of December!

JN: What advice would you give yourselves of 55 years ago?

L&R: When times are tough, being together will give us much more than double the strength to help face anything life may hold for us.

JN: What has been your secret to staying together?

L&R: We were friends first, and just as our friendship grew, so did the love and respect we feel for each other. Oh, and a good sense of humor is a valuable coping mechanism!

JN: What are you looking forward to?

L&R: Growing old together and watching our grandchildren flourish.

JN: Anything else you’d like to add?

L&R: The second-best gift we’ve ever been given is being together. The first is the love and support of our family and friends. We’ve also had the benefit of watching our Aunt Jane and Uncle Lenny Frieden demonstrate what a long and happy life together looks like.

20 | JEWISH NEWS | November 27, 2023 | jewishnewsva.org

Mazel Tov Ellen and Y aron Anitai

flowers and carried us around the Moshev, welcoming us as a couple into the agricultural life.

50 years

JN: What advice would you give yourselves of 50 years ago?

Jewish News: When and where did you meet?

E&Y: To remain patient through challenging times. Also, when possible, not to take it all so seriously.

My folks, Ruth and Morris Berloff, Za’al, (from Akron, Ohio) taught me, ‘you are not the center of the universe!’

It’s never difficult when things are easy and all runs smooth. Unfortunately, unless one is extremely fortunate, challenges and difficulties do present themselves. Differing opinions and agreeing to disagree, discuss, and remaining open to negotiate and consider the other’s wishes or opinions are paramount. Remaining patient and trying to work it out can work wonders.

Ellen and Yaron Anitia: Following high school, in 1978, I (Ellen) volunteered for a year-long service in Israel ‘Sherut La’am. My group, from the U.S. and Canada, was sent to northern Kibbutz Gadot at the foot of the Golan Heights.

Mid-year, the IDF recruited me via the Jewish agency to serve in ‘Machal,’ volunteers to IDF from outside Israel. At the end of my exciting, two-year stint, serving in an area that helped stabilize the Israeli border with its Syrian neighbor, the IDF transferred me back to Kibbutz Bet HaEmek near Nahariya.

During that kibbutz period, my friendly roommate, Orita, met a local young man, Udi, on a bus ride to Tel Aviv; he was from nearby Moshav Shavei Zion (a collective farming village). She invited him to come visit for coffee. Udi did come visit, bringing along his friend – a tall, very cute, curly-haired blonde young man named Yaron. Later, Yaron continued to return for coffee, visiting my roommate, and barely glancing in my direction! That continued for a few weeks. One evening, Orita was away when he visited. We sat in the moadone (rec center) and talked a long while. He asked me to go see a movie in nearby Nahariya that evening. I was not sure I trusted him driving through the dark, farm fields, so I hid a deadly weapon: a dull challah knife (!) under my coat for self-protection! Thankfully, I did not use it!

JN: What was the most memorable about your wedding?

E&Y: We were married on Yaron’s Moshev Shavei Zion. It was a warm, clear, and lovely evening outdoors, under the stars. My parents were with us for their first and only trip to Israel – a dream fulfilled for them. At the conclusion of the orthodox ceremony, a fully decorated tractor, with a bench on its large forklift, appeared. It was covered in white linens with eucalyptus branches and colorful

JN: What has been your secret to staying together?

E&Y: Number one, we remain in love, but stronger than in the beginning. We each take pride in the area in which the other excels and their accomplishments.

Remembering to be respectful and not take for granted. Plus, to make time and be there for the other always.

JN: What are you looking forward to?

E&Y: In a macro scale: peace in this combative world wherever needed. And on a personal micro scale: continuing to wake up next to each other every morning and remaining together in good health. Plus, watching our grandchildren grow mesmerizes us. It’s so much fun spending time with our kids and their kids, m’doar l’doar!

Allison and Jeff Cooper

15 years

Jewish News: When and where did you meet?

Allison and Jeff: We met on JDate!

JN: What was most memorable about your wedding?

A&J: It was just very “us”: a jazz band, a Croquembouche wedding cake, at a historic home in the heart of DC. JN: What advice would you give yourselves of 15 years ago?

A&J: Life will constantly evolve in big and small ways, so keep communicating through the inevitable changes.

JN: What has been your secret to staying together?

A&J: We always say “opposites attract but similarities stick.” We think it's our shared values, tastes and goals that make it work.

JN: What are you looking forward to?

A&J: We’ve loved every stage of our relationship, from “younger” adults in DC to married and family life in Norfolk. No matter the future, we know we'll enjoy it together. jewishnewsva.org | November 27, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 21

Mazel Tov Abbey Pachter’s A Monarch in Winter launches to rave reviews Terri Denison Monarch in Winter, Abbey Pachter’s “Biography of a Butterfly” was celebrated at a book launch earlier this month.

The book details the life of a male monarch butterfly, which Pachter rescued from freezing when it was a caterpillar. Over the span of a few months, Pachter, who holds a PhD in professional nursing, finds a new routine, a new purpose, and a new friend through caring for the special new addition to her home.

Throughout the book’s 140 pages, Pachter weaves scientific insights and her perspective as a healthcare professional with what’s taking place in her own life (such as streaming Ohef Sholom Temple services), during the second winter of COVID-19, when she spotted the caterpillar outside in the cold.

Achieving a most unusual feat, A Monarch in Winter debuted on Amazon as #1 in nine categories. It is available for purchase on Amazon and at Ohef Sholom Temple’s gift shop.

Abbey Pachter, PhD, lives in Virginia Beach.

A

Happy Hanukkah!

Abbey Pachter signs books at the launch of A Monarch in Winter.

22 | JEWISH NEWS | November 27, 2023 | jewishnewsva.org

Mazel Tov

Israelis are going forward with their weddings despite war and loss in their own families Deborah Danan TEL AVIV (JTA) — Yonatan Perez was 10 days out from getting married when his world was torn apart.

Perez was shot in a battle with Hamas terrorists on Octcber 7 when they invaded near the kibbutz where he was stationed as a soldier. His brother Daniel Perez went missing in action, his tankmates all dead or abducted. Their country was plunged into despair.

And yet he stood with his bride Galya Landau under the chuppah as planned on the date set months prior, despite the pain felt by everyone who stood with them.

“We couldn’t really think about [the wedding] for the first few days, and with Yonatan injured, we didn’t quite know what to do,” Doron Perez, Yonatan’s father, says.

But five days after the attack, when Daniel was officially declared missing and it became clear that Yonatan would recover enough to return to his unit, the path forward became clear. Yonatan and Landau, whose family had been evacuated from their own kibbutz, wed at Yad Binyamin, where the Perez family lives, on Oct. 17.

“It wasn’t a difficult decision, but it was difficult to go through the experience of the decision,” says Doron Perez, a rabbi and executive chairman of the Mizrachi World Movement. The wedding itself, he says, was “a happy event” despite the circumstances.

“It just felt holy,” he says. “It felt like we’re living in a special time of big things happening … and even though the price has already been so difficult, the overriding feeling was one of happiness, one of just celebration.”

The family’s experience was an extreme version of what many couples in Israel are going through, as they decide whether and how to follow through with their weddings despite the pain and upheaval instigated by Hamas’ attack on Israel.

Some are downsizing their celebrations because family and friends from abroad are unable to come. Many also want to ensure that guests can get to bomb shelters if needed. Others are seeing the guest list grow as bringing joy to brides and grooms has joined the tasks for which Israelis are volunteering in droves.

Some couples are rushing their nuptials in advance of grooms heading to the reserves. And a few have gotten married on the front lines, their parents and fellow soldiers the only guests at ceremonies in the shadow of war.

Reuven Lebetkin, 25, and Shirel Tayeb, 23, were supposed to get married with many of their family members in attendance from overseas. Both moved to Israel with their families as children, Lebetkin from Miami, and Tayeb from France. Instead, they had an intimate wedding

at Israel’s northern border, where threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon loomed.

“That’s the date that we decided beforehand. We don’t believe that it’s good luck to push it off,” Lebetkin says.

“Also, if we do it means that we give into the terrorism.”

The couple had chosen a song by Israeli musician Noam Banai to play during the veiling ceremony, called a bedeken.

They were shocked to see Banai himself at the wedding, in a surprise organized by his friends.

Banai ended up playing for the entire ceremony.

Other prominent Israeli musicians have made appearances at wartime weddings.

The religious pop star Ishay Ribo played at a backyard wedding where the groom was on a 24-hour leave, according to a report in the Times of Israel, and Ivri Lider sang his hit, I was Fortunate to Love at a wedding that was downsized from a 400person hall to an apartment balcony. (Lider also sang the song at the funeral of a soldier who had planned to have it played at his wedding on Oct. 20.)

Hanan Ben Ari surprised another couple, Nadav and Noam, at their ceremony on a military base. Eden Hasson sang for a couple after encountering their wedding while visiting a military base to cheer up soldiers. And the singer Ariel Zilber posted a video of himself performing at a different wedding in the north, a red carpet laid down next to a military truck, the bride wearing military attire along with a veil and flowers.

The weddings frequently go viral on social media, in an indication of how deeply the traumatized nation is craving signs of joy and hope.

For the Perez family, just being able to hold the wedding at all was a triumph. It was Yonatan who had alerted his father that Daniel’s tank was missing from their base near Kibbutz Nahal Oz — a fact they found reassuring. “It was a good sign,” Doron Perez says, pointing to the tank’s indestructibility.

But Yonatan, who was shot in the leg during a five-hour gun battle in the Gaza envelope, painted a dire picture of the base, which was overrun by terrorists. “There was death and destruction all around. RPGs everywhere. Every army vehicle had been destroyed,” Perez says, citing Yonatan.

One of the soldiers from Daniel’s tank, Tomer Liebowitz, was found dead. Another, Itay Chen, was confirmed captured. Chen’s father, Ruby, also celebrated a lifecycle event — a bar mitzvah — in the absence of his older son, telling JTA that his youngest son “deserved to have a happy bar mitzvah.” Then he flew to the United States to lobby at the United Nations and in Washington, D.C., on behalf of his son and the more than 220 other Israelis taken hostage.

Daniel’s absence was palpable at Yonatan and Galya’s wedding. “When the rabbi mentioned him, it was very, very hard and I broke down,” Doron Perez says. “I had my son holding me up, instead of me holding him up.”

His daughter, meanwhile, says the hardest part of the wedding was being pictured with all her siblings — minus one. “It was a moment that was hard, and we acknowledged that and validated it.”

But, Perez continues, even though Daniel’s “presence, or lack thereof, permeated the whole wedding, it didn’t set the tone.”

Jewish weddings have a built-in acknowledgment of catastrophe amid joy, in the breaking of the glass that takes place at the end of the ceremony. Jewish tradition also holds that weddings should go on as planned whenever possible, no matter the circumstances.

Perez says he had gained a new appreciation for those ideas, in an acutely personal way.

“Unfortunately, I’ve had to learn that it somehow is possible to live with such conflicting, contradictory feelings as deep pain, worry, dread, fear… and at the same time to marry off a son,” he says. “I have learned that it’s possible to do both. To sort of compartmentalize, and I think I did that at the wedding.”

He says he knows his family isn’t the first to forge forward in moments of crisis.

“I’ve also drawn a lot of strength that throughout the most challenging times, Jewish people got married and had families,” he says, citing the Holocaust as an example.

“We are part of a people that sanctifies life. It’ll be a new dawn and a much better time for the Jewish people going forward.” jewishnewsva.org | November 27, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 23

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HANUKKAH

The Hanukkah merch market has exploded.

But are Jews feeling more represented?

Philissa Cramer (JTA) — Last November, Nicholas Wymer-Santiago walked into his local Target in Austin, Texas, and realized it was beginning to feel a lot like Hanukkah.

Instead of an endcap with a limited array of Hanukkah basics, as he had seen in past years, there stretched out a whole aisle of holiday products: pillows, dreidel-shaped pet toys, window decals, menorahs in the shape of lions, corgis, and whales, and so much more. Even the $5-and-under impulse-buys section filled with seasonal products had a supply of Hanukkah goods, including a Star of David-shaped bowl and a set of dishes labeled “sour cream” and “applesauce.”

“In a good way, it was overwhelming at first, because there’s so much and I kind of want to buy it all,” WymerSantiago recalls feeling as he stood in the holiday section, looking up at a large photograph of a Hanukkah celebration alongside others showcasing Christmas.

The higher education administrator at the University of Texas decided to limit himself, at first taking home just a tea towel and a matching mug printed with a Hanukkah motif.

“And then I came back twice, maybe three times and each time I bought more and more items that I know I probably don’t need,” he says. “I think I’ve just had so much excitement about the novelty of it all, and having the ability to purchase these items, many of which I’ve never seen before.”

Wymer-Santiago is hardly alone in loading his cart with Hanukkah merchandise. Across the United States, big-box stores appear to be stocking more Hanukkah products than ever — and while off-color items such as Hanukkah gnomes and “Oy to the World” dish towels have raised eyebrows, the real story might be that American retailers have decked their

shelves with menorahs, tableware, and other items that are appropriate, affordable, and often downright tasteful.

For many American Jews, the result is a sense of inclusion at a time of unease — although some are wrestling with what it means to have access to a fast-fashion form of Judaica.

“It is very exciting to go into Target or Michaels or a Walmart and to see Hanukkah merchandise,” says Ariel Stein, an influencer who shares crafting and holiday content for Jewish families on Instagram, where she has more than 20,000 followers.

“The feeling is almost like pride and like we’re being seen and represented,” Stein adds. “In a Target website sea of Christmas … it feels really great, even if it’s a much smaller representation, that the Jewish holiday is there also, and the Jewish community is being acknowledged and represented.”

The idea that retailers have stocked up on Hanukkah goods to make Jews feel represented is tempting, but it’s probably not the only reason for a shift in the market, according to Russell Winer, deputy chair of the marketing department at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He says that while an endcap — the small set of shelves at the end of an aisle — might sometimes be given over for symbolic purposes, the devotion of an entire aisle

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at the busiest time of the year is purely a business decision.

“These stores are very sophisticated in what they put in them,” Winer says. “They’re not going to put stuff on the shelves, especially at the holidays, if they don’t think they’re going to sell.”

There are signs that the Hanukkah market might be much wider than the proportion of Americans who identify as Jewish, 2.5%, would suggest. Numerator, a respected consumer trends polling firm, found in a survey of 11,000 consumers conducted in January 2022 that 14% of respondents said they were “definitely” or “probably” celebrating Hanukkah this year, compared to 96% for Christmas. More than half of the Hanukkah celebrants said they expected to spend more than $50 on the holiday — suggesting that retailers can expect hundreds of millions of dollars in Hanukkah spending this year.

Part of that marketplace is the growing number of families in which Hanukkah is celebrated alongside other holidays, usually Christmas. Most American Jews who have married in the last decade have done so to people who are not Jewish, according to the 2020 Pew study of American Jews; most of them say they are raising their children exclusively or partly as Jews. They may want to have products that

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HANUKKAH

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allow Hanukkah to share the stage equitably with the other celebrations in their family.

Stein offers another theory to explain the uptick in interest in Hanukkah products: the fact that social media and Zoom meetings have made home lives more transparent than ever.

“The communal sharing of lives, whether you’re an influencer or even my friends on Facebook showing what their display is this year or taking a picture of a recipe they were really proud of, making latkes from scratch — there’s just more visibility than there has been in the past,” she says. “And that’s probably a factor.”

Whatever the reasons, shoppers are noticing. Like Stein and countless other Jewish influencers, Rabbi Yael Buechler, a devoted observer of Jewish consumer trends, has offered tours of Hanukkah merchandise to her social media followers. Wearing Hanukkah pajamas that she designed and sells, Buechler has posted videos to TikTok showcasing the Hanukkah collections of national retailers and assigns each store a “yay” or “nay” based on several metrics, including whether items display accurate Hebrew or appear to be generic blue-and-white items being passed off as made for the holiday. The videos, which have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, have given her a broad view of what’s available to 26 | JEWISH NEWS | November 27, 2023 | jewishnewsva.org

the Hanukkah consumer.

“I see a lot more products this year than any other year,” says Buechler, who works at a Jewish school outside New York City. “I see a lot of new prints. I see more creativity in the market. I see more humor in the market.”

Like Wymer-Santiago, Buechler says Target, which has 2,000 locations across the United States, stood out as offering the widest array of products and the lowest proportion of “fails,” or products that miss the mark religiously, culturally, or aesthetically.

Target, which has a track record of using inclusive imagery in its advertisements and in-store promotions, declined to answer questions about its offerings, including how much bigger its Hanukkah collection is this year than in the past and how widely the products for Jewish buyers have been distributed. But a spokesperson says the feeling Wymer-Santiago and Stein describe after visiting their local stores is exactly what the company is trying to cultivate.

“Target is committed to creating an inclusive guest experience in which all guests feel represented,” the spokesperson says. The spokesperson notes that Target’s Hanukkah assortment “was developed in collaboration with Jewish team members and input from our Jewish employee resource group” and crosses several of the retailer’s in-house brands.

One of those lines, Opalhouse by Jungalow, was created by a Jewish artist, Justina Blakeney. Last year, Blakeney’s first Hanukkah collection included plates and pillows, as well as a gold menorah shaped like a dove. This year, Blakeney added new pillow designs and a clay menorah.

“If I could go back in time and tell elementary-school-aged Justina (or ‘Tina’ as I was called back then) that I would have a chance to design a Hanukkah collection for Target, I would have lost my mind,” she wrote in an October blog post revealing the collection.

Hanukkah goods have always been widely available through Jewish merchandisers and at synagogue bazaars — but those products have been available only to people who already engaged in Jewish communities. Amazon and other online retailers have increased access, but only for people who are hunting for Hanukkah supplies. A Hanukkah aisle at Target, in contrast, reaches the many Jews who may not already have robust holiday traditions.

Stein, who says she particularly regretted not snapping up a marble dreidel sculpture that quickly sold out at Target, says she saw only benefits in promoting major retailers’ Hanukkah offerings, even if doing so has made her something of an unpaid advertiser at times.

“Right now, especially with the rise of antisemitism, if there are ways that we can spur Jewish joy — and for me, that’s by sharing and inspiring people with different kinds of Hanukkah merch and home decor and jewelry — I think that’s great,” she says.

Not everyone is thrilled by the shift in the marketplace. The sweeping Hanukkah displays are drawing criticism from those who have long lamented that the American primacy of Christmas has caused Jews to focus too much on a minor holiday, while leaving holidays with more religious significance relatively uncelebrated.

“I think: What would it feel like to see a giant Shavuot display?” Wymer-Santiago says.

The fast-fashion aspect of the big-box retailers’ offerings, many of which are imported from China, also raises concerns about whether easy access to trendy Judaica comes at environmental and cultural costs.

“How about we don’t extract fossil fuels to make crap that no one needs and that makes Jewish communities less distinctive?” asks Dan Friedman, a writer and longtime climate activist, though he emphasizes that systemic change, rather than tweaks to purchasing decisions by Jewish consumers, is needed to avert climate catastrophe.

For Buechler and others, the benefits of a mass-market Hanukkah merchandise boom outweigh any possible drawbacks.

“As a rabbi, I am all for anything that will make Hanukkah celebrations more engaging and potentially lengthen a family celebration,” says Buechler. One of her favorite purchases was of a Hanukkah sweater for lizards that she bought for a friend’s guinea pig.

“I really do believe that owning different kinds of Hanukkah merch, whether apparel or otherwise, will increase the likelihood that a family will celebrate with friends, and with family for more nights than they would have last year,” she adds.

HANUKKAH

Japanese-style latkes for Hanukkah Sonya Sanford This recipe was first published on The Nosher. he Japanese word “okonomiyaki” is derived from two words: okonomi (how you like it) and yaki (grill).

Okonomiyaki is a customizable Japanese savory vegetable pancake. Like a latke, it gets cooked in oil in a fritter formation. Unlike a latke, it’s usually made into a large plate-sized pancake comprising mainly of cabbage.

Food historians have linked the rise in popularity of okonomiyaki in Japan to World War II, when rice was scarcer and this recipe offered a filling meal or snack with a wheat-based starch. Throughout Japan there are regional differences and countless variations of okonomiyaki, but the most common form of the dish involves a batter made of flour, a variety of mountain yam, eggs, shredded cabbage, green onion, dashi, and often the addition of pork belly.

It gets topped with its own tangy sweet sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, and bonito flakes (katsuobushi).

I first fell in love with okonomiyaki on a trip to Japan. You can find it there in restaurants that specialize in the dish, but it’s also something that is prepared in home kitchens.

The cabbage gets slightly crisp, tender, and sweet when seared in oil on a flattop or skillet, and then it gets generously slathered with

T

an umami-rich sauce, along with a welcome drizzle of creamy mayo. The richness, sweetness, and tanginess of these components all work perfectly together.

A few months after I got back from Japan, I ended up eating at Brooklyn’s Japanese Jewish restaurant, Shalom Japan.

I didn’t hesitate to order their Jewishinfluenced spin on okonomiyaki. They’re known to top it with pastrami or corned lamb tongue and sauerkraut. It became clear there that okonomiyaki, with its base of humble cabbage and onion, is a perfect fit on a Jewish table. The fried pancake part of it all called out “Hanukkah.”

I am a fan of all pancakes and fritters, and I set out to modify the classic Japanese version for a recipe that didn’t require access to a specialty food store, and that could be made with kosher ingredients.

I’ve also included a recipe for homemade traditional okonomiyaki sauce that can be made simply with easy-to-find ingredients, but you can also buy a premade bottled sauce. You can make these pancakes large-sized and cut into wedges like the Japanese do, or slightly smaller à la a large latke. I wouldn’t go too small with this, as the vegetables tend to hold together better en masse. This recipe doesn’t need to be too exact, and it works as a blank

canvas for additional vegetables like kale, mushrooms and/or daikon.

In the spirit of Hanukkah, this okonomiyaki gets cooked in oil, but they’re not heavily fried. The oil used to fry the okonomiyaki gives a loving nod to the miracle of the oil glowing in the Temple for eight days instead of one, but the heap of vegetables and addictive sauce make this a nutritious and satisfying addition to any Hanukkah meal.

Ingredients For the pancakes: ¾ cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free all purpose mix ¼ cup potato starch or cornstarch 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp kosher salt 2 large eggs ½-¾ cup water ½ shredded green cabbage, about 4 ½ packed cups 3 green onions, sliced thin, plus more for garnish if desired 1 carrot, peeled and shredded 4-5 inches daikon, peeled and shredded (optional) oil, as needed (sunflower, canola or peanut) sesame seeds, for topping (optional) mayonnaise, for topping (optional) For the

okonomiyaki sauce: ½ cup ketchup ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce 2 Tbsp soy sauce 2 Tbsp honey or agave syrup, or to taste

Instructions Start by making the batter. Whisk together the flour, starch, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Add the eggs and ½ cup of water to the flour mixture. Whisk until smooth. You want a thin, crepe batter-like consistency. If you find it too thick, add another ¼ cup of water. Try not to over-mix; you do not want to overdevelop the gluten. Allow the batter to rest in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour.

While the batter is resting, prepare the vegetables. Remove the thick core from the cabbage half, then cut the halved cabbage in two. Thinly slice or shred the cabbage. Thinly slice the green onions. Grate the carrot and daikon if using.

Make the okonomiyaki sauce: Combine the ketchup, Worcestershire, soy sauce and honey/agave in a bowl. Taste and adjust to your liking. The sauce should be tangy, savory and a little sweet.

Combine the batter with the vegetable mixture.

Heat a cast-iron skillet or a nonstick skillet with about 3 Tbsp oil over high heat.

Once the oil is glistening and hot, lower the heat to medium low and add some of the cabbage mixture to the pan, gently nudging it into a circle shape. I like to make each pancake with about 2 cups of the mixture.

For me, that makes an ideal-sized pancake that isn’t too hard to flip, and one that will hold together. Cover the skillet with a lid for 3-4 minutes. Carefully flip over the pancake, and cover it with a lid for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until browned on both sides and cooked through. Make sure not to cook on too high of a heat or the pancake might burn on the outside while remaining raw in the center.

Serve hot topped with a generous spread of the okonomiyaki sauce, mayo if desired, sliced green onions, and sesame seeds. Slice and serve!

jewishnewsva.org | November 27, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 27

HANUKKAH FI R S T PER SO N

Norfolk’s Grand Illumination Parade includes Hanukkah balloon Amy Milligan cried in Norfolk’s Grand Illumination parade on Saturday evening, Nov. 18 when 14 of us chose Jewish joy and marched with a giant Hanukkah balloon– despite some of us feeling afraid.

It wasn’t lost on us that we were the only group that had multiple uniformed police officers as escorts. We drove through protesters holding antisemitic signs to get to our balloon, not knowing what the parade would hold. I brought up the end of our group, and as we turned the corner onto the official parade route, I watched us smile, wave, and walk into the unknown, and I prayed.

When voices from the crowd called out “Happy Hanukkah,” the feeling of being overwhelmed hit me. I have been berated so often lately that I had feared the worst, but despite some negative jeers, the boisterous warm greetings outweighed them. And then I looked at my beloved and brave friends and our ridiculous balloon, and I cried tears of relief, joy, and pride.

This is how I want us to be. I want us to be kind, to be proud, to be bold, to be brave, to be joyful.

And this is what I will continue to fight for every single day because this is what we deserve.

Thank you, strangers—we wanted to put light into the darkness, and you magnified it and made it even brighter.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Amy Milligan is Old Dominion University’s Batten Endowed Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and Women’s Studies and the director of the Institute of Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding.

I

28 | JEWISH NEWS | November 27, 2023 | jewishnewsva.org

HANUKKAH

Hanukkah 2023 in Jewish Tidewater

W

ith the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle taking place on Thursday, December 7, ample opportunities exist to celebrate the festival of lights with community in Tidewater. Be sure to confirm or RSVP to the events if requested. Happy Hanukkah!

Chabad of Tidewater

Norfolk Kollel

Chabad’s Annual Chanukah Extravaganza Menorah Lighting Music, latkes, donuts, crafts, and free gifts Sunday, December 10, 4:30 pm Mount Trashmore parking lot of the YMCA Free and open to the public RSVP: chabadoftidewater/ligh

Tenth Annual Family Chanukah Celebration Exciting activities and crafts for kids, delicious food, enlightening Torah Thoughts Tuesday, December 12, 6 pm B'nai Israel Open to the community

Grand Menorah Parade Wednesday, December 13, 5:45 pm Starts at 1920 Colley Avenue Light dinner-to-go provided First 30 cars to RSVP will be outfitted with a rooftop menorah RSVP: chabadoftidewater.com/ menorahparade

Congregation Beth El Hanukkah Shabbat dinner with services featuring Avraham and Patricia Sarah Ashkenazi Religious School students Friday, December 8 Services: 5:45 pm; Dinner with a fun Hanukkah program: 6:30 pm $10/adult, $5/child 12 and younger, or $30/family RSVP: 757-625-7821 or noelle@bethelnorfolk.com Beth El Judaica and Gift Shop Sunday: During religious school 9:30 am – 12 pm Wednesdays: 11:30 am – 2 pm, during Lunch and Learn By appointment, call 757-635-7821

KBH KBH Annual Outdoor Chanukiyah Lighting and Celebration Thursday, December 14, 5:00 pm

Ohef Sholom Temple Chanukah Storytime with Cantor Jen and Alyson Morrisey Tuesday, December 5, 5:30 -6:30 pm Pretlow Library Chanukah Shabbat B’Yachad Friday, December 8 Pre-neg and registration: 5:30 pm; Mulitgenerational Shabbat service: 6 pm; Shabbat/Chanukah dinner: 6:45 pm RSVP: 757-625-4295 or ohefsholom.org Design Your Own Mezuzah Event OST Judaica Shop Sunday, December 10, 10-11:30 am RSVP: 757-625-4295 or ohefsholom.org OST Chanukah Shop Wednesday: 10 am -12 pm Sunday: During religious school, 9:30 am – 12 pm Friday: After Shabbat services, 7:30 pm

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Old Dominion University Menorah lighting Thursday, December 7, 4:30 pm Batten Arts and Letters Building.

Temple Emanuel, Temple Israel, KBH, Beth Chaverim, Congregation Beth El Light Up Your Life: A Chanukah Celebration for All Ages Friday, December 8, 2 - 4 pm Temple Emanuel Open to the entire Jewish community

Coming soon in Jewish News

January 22, 2024 – Invest/Retire (Deadline: Jan. 5) February 12 – Foodie/Romance (Deadline: Jan. 26) March 4 – Mazel Tov (Deadline: Feb. 16) March 18 – Camp/20 Years (Deadline: March) To advertise, call 757-965-6100 or email sgoldberg@ujft.org. jewishnewsva.org | November 27, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 29

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IT’S A WRAP

JFS’s care for PAM clients continues even after life Kelly Burroughs Jewish Family Service is often tasked with medical and end of life decisions for its Personal Affairs Management (PAM) clients. After-life decisions are also fulfilled, regardless of the deceased’s religious affiliation.

For indigent clients who are Jewish, JFS works closely with Altmeyer Funeral Home to ensure they have a proper burial. In fact, JFS has been bequeathed several plots in the Jewish section of Forest Lawn Cemetery.

For non-Jewish clients, JFS fulfills after death wishes when these preferences are known. Ideally, family members take over this responsibility. For those clients who remain unclaimed, however, their cremains are respectfully stored in JFS’s newly dedicated Remembrance Room. JFS is currently the custodian of cremains for more than 100 clients.

JFS held its annual Memorial Service on Thursday, Oct. 26 to honor all of the PAM clients who died in the past year. Funding for this annual event is through the generosity of the Ronald N. Hyman Fund of the Jewish Family Service Foundation. Originally established in

1994, the fund was designated as an “everlasting memorial” to Ronald N. Hyman, who lost his life to cancer in October 1994. In 2000, the Hyman family broadened the outreach of the funds toward the area of healing. As part of that effort, it provides annual support to the JFS Memorial Service.

To better understand many complex issues related to health care and end-of-life decisions, some JFS staff members are taking the current Melton class on ethics. Program Director Dorothy Salomonsky, Clinical Director Lloyd Clemments, and Hospital Liaison Manager Nickole Gerhardt attend weekly class to explore past and current ethics important to these topics. JFS also has a multi-disciplinary panel of community members who offer guidance and advice in these very complicated matters.

To support JFS’ remarkable work, call Kelly Burroughs 757-321-2244 or Brooke Rush at 757-321-2253.

Memorial cards are also available through donations in honor of a loved one. Contact Janet Brown at 757321-2271 for more information.

jewishnewsva.org | November 27, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 31

IT’S A WRAP

A decade of the Shabbat Project

Sholom Markman joins the Traveling Chassidim for Havdalah

Craig Schranz idewater celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Shabbat Project, Nov. 3 – 4, with an abundance of opportunities for unity and inspiration.

The Shabbat Project was conceived

by Warren Goldstein, chief rabbi of South Africa, who envisioned Jews across the globe celebrating one Shabbat together. Today, the effort has spread to 1,500 cities across 100 countries. This year’s Shabbat Project, with the theme of “One People, One Community, One Shabbat,” saw record participation with sold-out crowds and amazing reviews by participants.

T

Rabbi Yisroel Stein, Michal Stein, and Shloim Stein

Lots of fun at the Great Big Challah Bake.

included brief periods of dancing around The weekend in Tidewater began the bima as the congregation welcomed with the Great Tidewater Challah Bake in Shabbat. Following the service, 280 with Darcy Bloch as its long-standing people from across Tidewater enjoyed organizer. More than 100 women had a catered dinner the opportunity with inspirational to make challah remarks by Rabbi and learn about Eisenberg who the underlying discussed the meaning of this immeasurable universal tradition value of Shabbat. with Rebetzin Liba Saturday Eisenberg, wife of got started with the new rabbi of morning services B’nai Israel, Rabbi that had a distinct Shlomo Eisenberg.

Chassidic flair, Friday night a community began with some kiddush, and special guests, group lunches the Traveling in congregants’ Chasidum. They homes. Ladies are part of a larger got together for group of friendly a Q&A with and talented Rebbetzin Mandel Chasidum who Rabbi Koas of Congregation Beth El and Rabbi Royde of from the Traveling travel the country the Traveling Chassidim.

Chassidum to with their families understand more about Chassidic culture to bring the joy of Judaism through and customs. Meanwhile, the men song, dance, and inspirational prayer. gathered for Shalosh Seudos, the special Local families hosted five Chassidic afternoon meal designed for joyful families throughout the weekend. The singing and words of inspiration.

Chassidum led prayer services beginning With the conclusion of Shabbat, with a melodic Kabbalat Shabbat service a Havdalah concert took place at the for a packed sanctuary at B’nai Israel Sandler Family Campus. The Havdalah Congregation. The uplifting service

32 | JEWISH NEWS | November 27, 2023 | jewishnewsva.org

ceremony was preceded by Ben Warsaw, an acclaimed pianist from Savannah, who played a selection of Jewish composers in support of Israel. The Traveling Chassidum then energized the crowd with song and dance – lifting the audience both physically and spiritually.

A Shabbat of community unity, inspiration, and joy was experienced by all who participated in any aspect of the weekend.

Organizers of the Shabbat Project hope to continue the energy with further events throughout the year. To learn more, go to www.tidewatershabbatproject.com.

Dancing at the Havdalah concert

IT’S A WRAP

JFS Food Pantry provides Thanksgiving meals Stephanie Peck n anticipation of its Thanksgiving meal distribution, Jewish Family Service’s food pantry planned to open at 10 am on Tuesday, Nov. 21. By 8:30 am, however, cars lined up outside the Sandler Family Campus. By the scheduled opening time, 25 cars had already been packed and on their way.

Recyclable bags, containing boxes of stuffing, cans of green beans, packages of pecan pie, and other Thanksgiving fare, occupied one table; produce, such as kale and onions, lined another. Through private donations and a grant from the Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia, 75 turkeys were on-hand, along with chickens and turkey breasts.

Jody Laibstain, director of volunteer services at JFS, stresses the increasing need for food pantries this year. “Lines for food have been crazy. Shelves are empty now due to the demand.”

With the expected rain, this year’s distribution was held outside for the first time as a drive-through service. Volunteers packed 67 car trunks with the holiday meal.

Each driver was asked how many they planned Jewish Family Service volunteers distribute food for Thanksgiving meals. to serve at Thanksgiving – the responses amounted to 266 individuals. According to Laibstain, this year’s effort will serve 25% more people than year’s count.

I

JFS participates in military burial for 24 clients Staff report Jewish Family Service, in conjunction with the Missing in America Project, performed a full military burial service at the National Cemetery in Quantico, Va. for the cremains of 22 non-Jewish veterans and two non-Jewish veteran spouses on October 27.

The two nonprofits worked closely to provide this military burial.

JFS, through its Personal Affairs Management, accepts responsibility for end of life and after life decisions for its clients, regardless of affiliation. The Missing in America Project’s mission it is “to locate, identify, and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of American veterans.”

Along with more than 100 veteran escorts who joined by motorcycle from Tidewater, Williamsburg, and points north of Quantico, representatives from both organizations travelled to Quantico “to provide honor and respect to those who have served this country by securing a final resting place for these JFS’ Lloyd Clements, a veteran, accepts the flag on behalf of JFS. forgotten heroes.”

Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Simon Family JCC, & Community Partners’s

Israel today

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Informed · Equipped · Prepared

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Confronting Antisemitism on Campus December 19, 7:30pm • Zoom

BeAware: Situational Awareness on Campus and Beyond

January 7, 2:00pm • Reba & Sam Sandler Family Campus

Israel: A Quick Historical Refresher January 17, 7:30pm • Zoom

JewishVA.org/EmpoweringStudents jewishnewsva.org | November 27, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 33

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Rock Shabbat with area musicians Menorah lighting at ODU Friday, December 15, 5:45 pm Thursday, December 7, 4:30 pm Sandler Family Campus Batten Arts and Letters Building In celebration of Hanukkah, Old Dominion University’s Institute for Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding will host a menorah lighting on the first evening of the holiday.

The lighting will take place on the campus of Old Dominion University, in the front lobby of the Batten Arts and Letters Building.

For more information, email ijui@odu.edu or visit @odujewishstudies.

Megan Zuckerman The Hebrew word, ruach, implies joy – not just happiness, but true, otherworldly joy, coming from a divineness and a connection to the spirited world.

Attending a Rock Shabbat event evokes this feeling of ruach. As everyone dances to the music with smiles stretching from ear to ear, it is apparent from listening to this local group that the feeling is shared. The Rock Shabbat band, featuring David Cardon, Elyse Cardon, Dave Flagler, Ron Gladstone, and Eliot Weinstein, elevates Shabbat every time they play. The experience is enhanced when this talented band plays outdoors, as the sun sets, welcoming in Shabbat.

This event is sponsored by Congregation Beth El, KBH, Temple Emanuel, and Temple Israel, in partnership with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. In the spirit of Hanukkah, latkes will be served.

In times of great distress, which Jewish people face at this very moment, these types of celebrations bring people together in spirit and joy, making it possible to collectively send love across the world to family and friends in Israel.

Free and open to the community.

REGISTRATION OPEN!

June 17 - August 9 Kindergarten Through Teens register by the week!

CampJCC.org 34 | JEWISH NEWS | November 27, 2023 | jewishnewsva.org

CALENDAR NOVEMBER 29, WEDNESDAY A Celebration of the National Library of Israel with Adina Kanefield and David Makovsky. A discussion of the important work of the National Library of Israel and an exploration of some of its most valued treasures, shared in the newly published book, 101 Treasures from the National Library of Israel. 7:30 pm. Free. Sandler Family Campus. JewishVA.org/BookFest or hthomas@ujft.org. Off-the-record briefing on Israel, 6:45 pm.

THROUGH DECEMBER 31 Camp JCC Summer 2024 Early Bird Special. Registration for Camp JCC Summer 2024 is now open. Register during this early bird window to receive a discount on all Camp JCC Summer Camp sessions. (Last Blast is not eligible for early bird pricing). Simon Family JCC. Information and registration: www.campjcc.org or contact Dave Flagler at Dflagler@ujft.org..

DECEMBER 3, SUNDAY Brith Sholom Center. Board and general meetings followed by deluxe brunch. Member Valerie Yanku will present ways to restore and preserve old photos, videos, and files, and other memorabilia into permanent digital format. Board meeting at 10 am; general meeting at 11 am. $5 in advance or $10 at the door.

DECEMBER 15, FRIDAY Rock Shabbat Service. Congregation Beth El, KBH, Temple Emanuel, and Temple Israel, in partnership with United Federation of Tidewater, present a community event. Latkes, donuts, and live music. 5:45 pm. Free. Sandler Family Campus. RSVP noelle@bethelnorfolk.com or 757-625-7821.

DECEMBER 18 – 29 Camp JCC School Days Out: Winter Camp. For children in K - fifth grades. Camp JCC takes place during winter break or other times that school is not in session. Select any single day or pick and choose days with a 5- or 10-day bundle. Simon Family JCC. Information and registration: www.campjcc.org or contact Dave Flagler at Dflagler@ujft.org.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

JFS Open House for Embrace Counseling Tuesday, Nov. 28, 9 am – 12 pm 260 Grayson Road, Virginia Beach

Kelly Burroughs As Jewish Family Service continues to evaluate needs in the community, the evident lack of access to quality mental health services is more and more apparent. As part of the agency’s strategic plan, a significant focus has been on expanding the availability of counseling services. In June, the counseling program, now called Embrace Counseling, moved to its new location at 260 Grayson Road. The agency also hired an additional full-time therapist and has plans for continued expansion into 2024.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– The new location is in full-swing and invites the community to an Open House to learn about the array of counseling services available and see the new offices.

Create a Jewish legacy for the community you love through planned charitable giving . . .ask us how

DECEMBER 19, TUESDAY Confronting Antisemitism on Campus. For high school students and their families. Mark Rotenberg, Hillel’s vice president for University Initiatives and General Counsel, will host a virtual panel discussion on the current landscape and experiences for Jewish students on college campuses and the resources and places, both virtual and physical, where Jewish students can feel supported. This event is the first in a three-part Israel Today series which aims to empower students on high school and college campuses. 7:30 pm on Zoom. Free and open to the community. Information and to registration: JewishVA.org/EmpoweringStudents or contact Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

JANUARY 7, SUNDAY Staying Safe on Campus. High schoolers, college students, and their parents are invited to join Mike Goldsmith, regional security advisor at Secure Community Network, for training on situational awareness followed by roundtable discussions. This event is the second in a three-part Israel Today series that aims to empower students on high school and college campuses. 2 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Free and open to the community. Information and to registration: JewishVA.org/ EmpoweringStudents or contact Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

JANUARY 16, TUESDAY

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JANUARY 17, WEDNESDAY Israel 101. High schoolers, college students, and their parents are invited to join Brad Gordon, former director of the Policy and Government Affairs Department at AIPAC, for a fast-paced briefing on the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This event is the third in a three-part Israel Today series that aims to empower students on high school and college campuses. 7:30 pm on Zoom. Free and open to the community. Information and registration: JewishVA.org/EmpoweringStudents or contact Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

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OBITUARIES Carole Diane Schub Bernstein VIRGINIA BEACH- Carole Diane Schub Bernstein, 83, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on November 18. She was born on September 30, 1940, in Waterbury, Connecticut to Tybell and David Schub.

Carole was a dedicated teacher and later a stockbroker. She also worked as a diet instructor for years. Carole's

commitment to education and helping others extended beyond her work, as she volunteered as a docent at the Chrysler Museum for over 20 years and also dedicated her time to MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art).

Carole was a member of Ohef Sholom Temple and served as president of the Brandeis Women's Local Chapter. In addition, she held volunteer roles throughout

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the community. She was also a talented artist and an avid reader.

Carole was preceded in death by her loving husband of 58 years, William (Billy) Bernstein, and her brother, Dr. Philip Schub. Carole is survived by her daughters, Sharon Cohen (Larry) and Deborah Segaloff (Peter), as well as her grandchildren, Talia and Aaron Cohen, Sabine (Kieran), and Emma Segaloff. Carole's memory will forever be a blessing.

A funeral service was held at Ohef Sholom. Following the service, Carole was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Carole Diane Schub Bernstein leaves behind a legacy of love and kindness. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. A contribution may be made to the charity of one's choice.

embarked upon a career in real estate in her 50's. Betty also enjoyed playing golf, was an avid bridge player, a voracious reader, and enjoyed watching sports. She was especially fond of baseball and football, often cheering for her home team, the Dallas Cowboys.

Betty Bloom is survived by her son, the Honorable Stephen D. Bloom, his wife and beloved daughter-in-law, Valerie, her daughter, Diane Bloom McCabe, five granddaughters, Stephanie, Whitney, and Victoria Bloom, Lauren (McCabe) Miller and Jessica McCabe, and four great-grandchildren.

A graveside service was held at Greensville Memorial Cemetery. Donations may be made to a local foodbank or the charity of one’s choice.

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May the Source of Peace send peace to all who mourn, and comfort to all who are bereaved.

Betty Rose Davis Bloom

Leona Fine

EMPORIA - Betty Rose Davis Bloom passed away on October 12. She was born in Dallas, Texas on April 2, 1924 and remained loyal to her Texas roots throughout her 99 1/2 years.

Betty moved to Emporia, Virginia after World War II, when her husband of 58 years, Eugene Harold Bloom, returned home from serving his country.

After settling into life in Emporia, Betty joined her husband in many community activities and civic organizations, including The Riparian Women's Club, Little League and Pony League baseball, volunteering in the local schools and with the Greensville Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Betty's tireless dedication to the hospital auxiliary culminated in her becoming president of the local chapter, as well as the statewide organization.

She received several awards for her many years of service to the hospital auxiliary. Betty was also a devoted member of Temple Emanu-El in Weldon, North Carolina.

Always one for new adventures, Betty

HERNDON, VA - Leona Pearl Fine passed away on November 13 at the age of 93.

A graveside service took place at George Washington Cemetery in Adelphi, Md. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Paula Goodman

NORFOLK - Paula Goodman passed away peacefully at her home in Ghent on November 9, 2023, having lived a full life.

She was 89.

Paula was born in Baltimore, Md. on March 25, 1934, the youngest of three daughters of Max Field and Helen Rockman Field. She was very close to her sisters, Beverly and Hilda, aunts, uncles, and extended family, known as The Rockman Cousins Club.

She married Melvin Friedman and moved to Norfolk in 1955 before starting a family and joining Temple Israel, where she was active in the Sisterhood and fundraising plays such as How to Succeed in Kashruth Without Really Frying. Proud of her strong Orthodox roots, she enrolled her sons, Jonathan and Steven, in Hebrew Academy of Tidewater.

OBITUARIES In 1994, she married Stanley Goodman, the love of her live, and joined him at Congregation Beth El. Together, they blossomed, kept a Jewish home, and enjoyed getting together with friends and family, Lenny and Ginny, and vacationing with Paula’s sister, Hilda.

Paula was an avid reader and enjoyed her book club, the daily crosswords, and cryptoquips. She was smart and had a gentle spirit about her, with never a negative thing to say about anyone.

This held her in good stead in her jobs at Hebrew Academy and, more recently, at Goodman Segar Hogan Hoffler, where she was a secretary and valuable assistant supporting the young agents, before shining in the job of

receptionist and switchboard operator.

Paula is survived by her sons, Jonathan Friedman and Steven Friedman; her stepsons, Scott, Wayne, and Lance Goodman; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A graveside service was held at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

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Marilyn Joy Schwartz

VIRGINIA BEACH – Marilyn Joy Schwartz was born on June 14, 1926, Flag Day, and passed away on September 24, 2023, at the age of 97.

She was predeceased by her parents Richard and Beatrice Rosendahl and her beloved husband of 70 years, Henry K. Schwartz. Marilyn leaves behind her devoted daughters Ellen (David

Feldman), and Mindy Katz (Jeffrey), her much-loved granddaughters Carly Katz (Gregory Hellman), Jana Katz, and Rachel Feldman, and adored great-grandson Henry Hellman.

Marilyn married her teenage sweetheart Henry Schwartz in Manhattan, N.Y., where Ellen was born. Mindy was born eight years later following their move to Far Rockaway, N.Y. They later moved to Jericho, N.Y. Marilyn was smart as a whip with a phenomenal memory. She used her facility with numbers in her career as a bookkeeper, working her way up to Payroll Supervisor at Long Island Jewish Hospital.

Alongside this work, she helped Henry in his store on weekends.

She loved nothing more than being

surrounded by dear friends and family, often hosting and preparing delicious meals. Marilyn made entertaining look easy. She was always a “do-er.”

When Marilyn finally retired in her 70’s, she and Henry moved to Florida where they became involved in community activities, playing golf, canasta, and bridge, being in a book group, enjoying the warm weather, and socializing with new and old friends.

Marilyn’s final chapter began in 2022 when she sold her home in Florida, leaving her cherished caregiver Astride Dulieipre, and moved to Virginia Beach to be closer to family.

Donations can be made to Deborah Hospital https://www.deborahfoundation. org/donate/ or the charity of one’s choice.

Phillip Ratner, sculptor whose work tells immigrants’ stories at NYC landmarks

Andrew Silow-Carroll Washington-area artist Phillip Ratner, whose bronze sculptures of immigrants and other historical figures are fixtures at exhibits at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis

Island, died Thursday, Nov. 9 at his home in Bethesda, Maryland. He was 86.

Ahead of Lady Liberty’s centennial in the 1980s, the National Park Service commissioned Ratner to create statues representing immigrants who entered the country through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954, as well as figures central to the history of the Statue of Liberty, including the Jewish poet, Emma Lazarus.

Ratner had to raise the funds for the sculptures himself, a task he gladly took on.

“Telling the story of my grandparents coming to this country and making it their home — a story that connects many Americans — is a passion of mine,” Ratner said in 2017, when he donated models for 10 of those works to the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia.

Ratner and his cousin Dennis Ratner were also the founders, in 1985, of the Israel Bible Museum in Safed, Israel, a collection of sculpture, painting, and graphics related to the Bible. It later relocated to Beersheva.

Born in Washington, Ratner studied art at the Pratt Institute in New York and American University in Washington, and taught art — including at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, Maryland — before devoting himself fulltime to his artwork.

His survivors include his wife, the former Ellen Miles, and four children

from his first marriage to Miriam Lavine: Hal Ratner of Chicago, Marni Ratner of Olney, Maryland and Sari Ratner Judge

and Jennifer Ratner-Rosenhagen, both of Madison, Wisconsin, and nine grandchildren. (JTA)

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JEWISH TIDEWATER

Striving for Tikkun Olam Patti Wainger prayer vigil in support of Israel was held at Congregation Beth El on Sunday, Oct. 29.

Reverend Tim Giddens, director of Norfolk’s Ghent Area Ministry, (GAM), New Life Church’s Pastor, David McBride, and Congregation Beth El’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Ron Koas, organized the service. GAM’s participation served as the catalyst for the event, as GAM’s mission is to collaborate with faith communities serving marginalized residents of Norfolk. Participants from area churches and synagogues joined together for discussion and prayer.

At the conclusion of this meaningful event, Pastor Giddens asked, “What’s next?”

In response to that question, members of area faith communities have answered the call for “tikkun olam,” the need to do something that will not only fix any damage but also will improve upon it. The plight of the homeless and those in need of support in Norfolk is dire, particularly as the weather turns cold.

Rachel Cropper, vice president of community engagement for Norfolk’s Urban Renewal Center, shares that to address this issue, several options are available. The Norfolk Community Service Board currently provides food and shelter for about 100 homeless adults at the Norfolk shelter on Tidewater Drive, and family resources are available through ForKids and the Union Mission.

In spite of these options, a large number in Norfolk still needs overnight services. This year, Cropper says, the faith community of Norfolk is coming together to support unhoused neighbors through Winter Sheltering, held from December 17 to March 3. Six local churches, First Presbyterian, St. Mary’s, St. Andrew’s, Crossroads, Trinity Presbyterian and New Life Church Ghent, have committed to hosting overnight shelters for one to two weeks. This model is similar to the Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team (NEST) programs in the past, a collaborative effort where everyone’s participation was essential to the overall success of the effort.

The immediate need this year is to provide meals (dinner and breakfast/grab bags for 50-70 people) and supplies, such as clothing, personal hygiene items, blankets, etc.

The Jewish community has rallied in support of the Winter Sheltering program. For many years, Ohef Sholom Temple has provided monthly soup kitchens and will expand its support this year by preparing meals to be delivered to the participating churches.

Congregation Beth El will join the cooking brigade; its sisterhood will prepare dinners and take-away grab bags to contribute to its neighboring host churches. Additionally, through its homeless funds, Beth El will provide blankets, coats, hygiene products, etc., to GAM for those in need. Temple Israel’s winter mitzvah project for December, January, and February, will honor the commandment of repairing the earth. Temple Israel will be accepting donations of needed coats and supplies for Norfolk’s homeless. A list will be provided and orders from an Amazon Wish link will be sent directly to Temple Israel.

Cropper says, “The Urban Renewal Center will be assisting in the organization of volunteers and resources and is able to receive donations on behalf of the effort to ensure that needs are met directly. We are grateful to be part of surrounding those in our community with love and care through these difficult winter months. We ask that any who are interested in participating reach out to Rachel at Rachel@theurcnorfolk.com or to Jenny Wernly at jenny.wernly@trinitynorfolk.com.”

In the spirit of “tikkun olam,” it’s time to unite and show commitment and concern in support of the area’s homeless friends through Norfolk’s Winter Sheltering program.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Donations can be made to GAM by contacting Tim Giddens, tim@gamnorfolk.org, 757-622-0438, or through one’s synagogue’s homeless fund.

Contact Dorianne Villani, dvillani@cox.net or 757-617-8624 with questions or offers to volunteer with the meal prep, delivery or serving.

Contact Patti Wainger, pattiwainger@gmail.com to lend support to Beth El’s projects.

Contact Nancy Tucker at Temple Israel, templeisraelva1954@gmail.com for additional information.

A BeAR’s success requires more mentors Robin Ford he Be A Reader Literacy Project has roared back into Norfolk and Virginia Beach Title One schools, ready to ignite a passion for reading and enhance literacy skills for area second grade students.

With its community-driven approach, the project aims to make a lasting impact on underserved students fostering a love for learning that goes beyond the classroom.

The joint effort of volunteers and educators assures that the BeAR Literacy project is a beacon of empowerment and opportunity for young minds as they embrace a year filled with stories, growth, and an appreciation of the joy of reading.

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Jewish Community Relations Council’s BeAR Literacy Project encourages and welcomes new mentors. Consider becoming a BeAR mentor to be a part of this initiative that empowers young minds through the magic of books. Just one hour a week could be the key to unlocking a brighter future for local Norfolk and Virginia Beach students.

Join BeAR and help write a story of success, one page at a time. Contact Robin Ford at 757-321-2304 or rford@ujft.org.

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38 | JEWISH NEWS | November 27, 2023 | jewishnewsva.org

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