Jewish News - December 11, 2023 Issue

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Southeastern Virginia | Vol. 62 No. 7 | 28 Kislev 5784 | December 11, 2023

Jewish Tidewater Year in Review 2023

– Page 12

3 Supporting Israel and Jewish communities

17 Annie Sandler assumes the helm at JDC

37 Grandparents Day at SIA

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

Shine Hanukkah’s lights on supporting Israel and Jewish communities at home and around the globe Betty Ann Levin With Jewish communities around the world, we are sharing our Hanukkah lightings with friends, family, and our community.

This Hanukkah, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater is again joining with myriad other Jewish and non-Jewish organizations to #ShineALight on antisemitism. There has perhaps never been a more important time to voice, individually and as a collective Jewish community, our unequivocal condemnation of antisemitism. I hope you have an opportunity to visit JewishVa.org/ CombatAntisemitism to gain new information and tools in this endeavor.

There has also never been a more important time to support Israel. October 7 will be a day we never forget as Israel experienced the unimaginable. Israel is at war and needs not only our financial support but also our advocacy. December 4-8, the American Jewish community joined together for a National Mobilization Week to advocate for Israel. Together, we aimed to generate thousands of calls to our members of Congress and urge our elected officials to stand with Israel as it fights to protect its people and eradicate Hamas. Our advocacy cannot stop after this important week. Please visit JewishVa.org/IsraelAtWar23 for more information on advocacy, resources, talking points, and so much more.

Israel needs our continued financial support. The needs are staggering. More than 1,200 Israelis were murdered, thousands more wounded, and as of this writing, more than 130 are still held hostage in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been displaced and entire communities devastated. The level of trauma is shocking, and the needs will be long term.

THANK YOU Tidewater Jewish community! In almost two

months, we have raised more than $4.5 million, which has gone quickly and directly to provide humanitarian services, emergency care, monetary support, necessary equipment and supplies, and more, to our partners on the ground, including, but not limited to, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the Jewish Agency for Israel’s (JAFI’s) Victims of Terror Fund, Israel Trauma Coalition, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Magan David Adom, United Hatzalah, children’s villages impacted by the attacks and the war, and more.

Our immediate and substantial response is making an impact in Israel every day. But Israel will continue to need our financial support, as will Ukraine and other Jewish communities around the world. We also cannot shrink from our responsibility of strengthening our own Jewish community. To do all of this and be the leader that Tidewater has been for generations, we must continue to build our Annual Community Campaign. A strong Annual Campaign at home enables us to react when a crisis arises. A strong Annual Campaign strengthens Jewish education in Tidewater, builds Jewish identity for our children and grandchildren, develops our future leaders, helps our vulnerable families, friends, and neighbors, secures our Jewish institutions, gives us the resources to counter antisemitism, and so much more.

So again, THANK YOU. As we feel the warmth of the Hanukkah candles, let’s find new ways together to dispel the darkness in the world.

Happy Hanukkah and Am Yisrael Chai,

A strong Annual Campaign at home enables us to react when a crisis arises.

Betty Ann Levin is executive vice president and CEO of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC.

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater David Leon, President Mona Flax, President-elect Alvin Wall, Treasurer Jason Hoffman, Secretary Betty Ann Levin, Executive Vice President JewishVA.org The appearance of advertising in the Jewish News does not constitute a kashrut, political, product or service endorsement.

The articles and letters appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of this newspaper.

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Providence and Power book review . . . . . . . 18

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Special Section: Year End. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

House passes resolution on antisemitism and anti-Zionism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Volunteer in Israel with Masa. . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Art Sandler informs his employees about conflict. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

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Pop up Shabbat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Shabbat at the Cavalier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Grandparents Day at SIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Chesapeake mayor delivers statement on antisemitism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

What’s Happening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Williamsburg festival cancels menorah lighting. 10

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

A look back at 2023 in Jewish Tidewater. . 12

Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Annie Sandler installed as JDC president . 16

Henry Kissinger’s legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

We can’t control personal prejudice, but our political leadership can establish what is right in civil society.

And your leadership is doing that tonight.

– page 9

Germaine Clair retires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

JewishNewsVA.org | December 11, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 3

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Five major Jewish groups team up to advocate for Israel and push for ‘accurate’ coverage of Israel-Hamas war

15 New York synagogues hit with false bomb threats

Despite bus driver boycott, thousands attend pro-Israel rally in Ottawa

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ive major Jewish organizations have teamed up to maintain American support for Israel and fill what they say is a gap in coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.

“The 10/7 Project,” named for the day Hamas launched the war with a deadly invasion from the Gaza Strip, has as backers the American Jewish Committee, which initiated the project; the American Israel Public Affairs Committee; the Jewish Federations of North America; the Anti-Defamation League; and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

“The 10/7 Project is designed to promote continued U.S. bipartisan support for Israel by working to ensure more complete and accurate information about the Israel-Hamas war in real time for policymakers and the American public,” the statement said.

The announcement was spurred, organizers said, by the mass turnout last month at a pro-Israel rally in Washington. Pro-Israel groups have been grappling with how to keep the atrocities Hamas terrorists committed on Oct. 7 in the spotlight while media attention turns to the devastation Israeli counterstrikes have since caused in Gaza, and as a growing number of Democrats are calling for a ceasefire.

“Since October 7, there has been a concerted and consistent effort from Israel’s enemies to draw a false and dangerous equivalence between Hamas’ deadly rampage to destroy the Jewish state and Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorists,” said Ted Deutch, the American Jewish Committee CEO and former Democratic congressman.

William Daroff, the Conference of Presidents CEO, said that it was worth keeping the atrocities front and center in part to confront a crop of people who have denied the magnitude or depravity of the attack.

“We must ensure that America and the entire world are told and retold the stories of the butchery of the October 7 massacre,” he said. “We must discredit and make outcasts of 10/7 deniers, who are Hamas sympathizers seeking to perpetuate false and misleading narratives by minimizing and rationalizing the most deadly day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.”

Daroff, whose group helped organize the mass rally along with JFNA, also said sustaining Jewish solidarity was key. All of the other groups partnering on the 10/7 Project are members of the Conference of Presidents, an umbrella body that supports Israel and advocates for other policies.

“We must work together, as one Jewish community, to successfully communicate to the American people the critical need to stand with Israel, as well as the importance of the US-Israel relationship to America and to Israel,” he said. (JTA)

4 | JEWISH NEWS | December 11, 2023 JewishNewsVA.org

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omb threats were made against 15 synagogues in New York State early Friday, Dec. 1.

Threats were made against five synagogues in Manhattan, two in Brooklyn, one on Long Island, two in Westchester County, and five in other parts of upstate New York, according to the Community Security Initiative, which coordinates security for Jewish institutions in the New York City area.

The threats were made as part of a campaign intended to interrupt synagogue operations by forcing law enforcement to go to a location. There did not appear to be any actual danger to the targets, said Mitch Silber, CSI director.

The Friday morning campaign, mostly sent through synagogue websites’ contact forms, appeared similar to dozens of bomb threats that have been made against Jewish institutions since the summer.

Many of those threats were sent via email and all were deemed not credible after investigation by law enforcement. In some cases, threats on synagogues have caused Shabbat services to be evacuated.

“There are multiple explosives inside the synagogue,” read one of the threats sent via email. “These explosives will go off in a few hours and I will make history. I will make sure you all die.”

The threats also come amid a spike in antisemitic hate crimes in New York City and across the United States following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza.

Jews are consistently targeted in hate crimes more than any other group in New York City, with over 230 antisemitic incidents reported to police so far this year.

Silber said law enforcement would investigate all threats and added that “there should be consequences.”

The New York Police Department said it had responded to threats against synagogues on the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side and in Washington Heights and Inwood. Officers swept the premises, deemed the locations safe, and congregations resumed operations.

Late last month, a bomb threat was made against Park Avenue Synagogue, a Conservative congregation on the Upper East Side. Police searched the premises and determined that the threat was not credible.

In September, the FBI charged a man with sending more than 150 bomb threats to synagogues and other buildings across five U.S. states that month. But the threats have continued, albeit at a slower pace, since the arrest of the suspect, a 33-year-old Peruvian national named Eddie Manuel Nunez Santos. (JTA)

A

foot of snow in Montreal and chartered buses that never showed up in Toronto, did not prevent thousands of Canadian Jews from assembling on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, Dec. 6 to voice solidarity with Israel and decry a rise in antisemitism.

The rally’s speakers included several prominent Canadian politicians, Jewish leaders, college students who feel unsafe on campus, and family members of Israelis taken hostage or killed by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Local Jewish leaders called the event, organized by Jewish federations across Canada and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, a historic gathering. But 17 of 70 chartered buses did not show up to pick up rally-goers in Toronto, just weeks after a similar incident in Washington, DC when people from Detroit were left at the airport before the massive pro-Israel rally by bus drivers who refused to drive the charted buses to the event.

Organizers called the no-show bus company antisemitic.

“Despite charging in full in advance and confirming its participation, the [unidentified] company did not send a single bus and has declined all communications while refusing to provide any explanations,” said Adam Minsky, president and CEO of United Jewish Appeal Federations in Toronto.

“We are driven to the view that this shameful decision is intended to disrupt our peaceful rally out of hatred toward Jews,” he added. “What happened today is sickening and outrageous. We will respond aggressively with every legal and public affairs tool at our disposal.”

Israel’s ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed, Liberal Party member of parliament Anthony Housefather, and deputy Conservative Party leader Melissa Lantsman all spoke.

“This is not 1943. I’m grateful that Israel exists and has an army to fight back against those who launched this pogrom,” said Housefather, who is Jewish and represents Montreal’s heavily Jewish Mount Royal district.

Raquel Look, whose son Alexandre was murdered at the music festival in southern Israel attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7, called on Canadian politicians to take more action against antisemitism. Hate crimes against Jews — including multiple incidents that have involved Molotov cocktails thrown at Montreal-area synagogues and Jewish centers — have spiked across Canada.

“Our sorrow is deep and immeasurable but today we want to channel this immense pain into a call for action,” Look said. “Please let us honor his memory by standing up against the forces that seek to destroy Jewish and Canadians values we hold so dear.” (JTA)

This is not 1943.

I’m grateful that Israel exists and has an army to fight back against those who launched this pogrom.

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Forever ANTISEMITISM Helping Others House passes resolution equating antisemitism with anti-Zionism

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Ron Kampeas WASHINGTON (JTA) — The U.S. House of Representatives approved a nonbinding resolution saying that anti-Zionism is antisemitism, with support from all but one Republican and a substantial minority of Democrats.

The resolution was introduced by the two Jewish Republicans in the House, Max Miller of Ohio and David Kustoff of Tennessee. It was notable for the number of Jewish Democrats who voted “present,” effectively abstaining, in part because they did not agree with the resolution’s contention that all forms of anti-Zionism were antisemitic.

The resolution passed 311 to 14, with 92 members voting “present,” among them eight of the 24 Jewish Democrats in the House. Democrats voting in favor numbered 95. Of the 14 who opposed, 13 were Democrats, most associated with the “Squad,” a small grouping of far-left progressives.

The other was Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie, a libertarian who opposes nonbinding resolutions and has previously said antisemitism-related legislation restricts free speech.

Miller and Kustoff introduced the resolution to affirm U.S. support for Jews in the wake of the spike in antisemitic rhetoric and actions spurred by the IsraelHamas war, which began when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

“Whereas, since the massacre of innocent Israelis by Hamas, an Iran-backed terrorist organization, on October 7, 2023, antisemitic incidents of harassment, vandalism, and assault in the United States have spiked 388 percent over the same period last year, according to reports from the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL)

6 | JEWISH NEWS | December 11, 2023 JewishNewsVA.org

Center on Extremism,” the resolution says.

The resolution comes in the wake of efforts by Jewish members, including Republicans and Democrats, to present a united front in the wake of the war, and a week after all but two members voted to approve a resolution affirming Israel’s right to exist. It also comes as Israel faces increasing criticism, including from members of Congress, over its handling of its war in Gaza.

The debate Monday, Dec. 4 on the House floor soon turned to the resolved section of the MillerKustoff resolution, and its determination that the House “clearly and firmly states that anti-Zionism is antisemitism.”

Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, the longest-serving Jew in the House, and a leader in advancing past denunciations of antisemitism, delivered a speech delineating instances in which anti-Zionism does not constitute antisemitism.

“The resolution suggests that all anti-Zionism is antisemitism,” said Nadler, who attended an Orthodox day school growing up. “That is either intellectually disingenuous or just factually wrong. And it unfairly implicates many of my Orthodox former constituents in Brooklyn, many of whose families rose from the ashes of the Holocaust.

“While most anti-Zionism is indeed antisemitic, the authors, if they were at all familiar with Jewish history and culture, should know about Jewish anti-Zionism that was, and is, expressly NOT antisemitic,” Nadler said. “This resolution ignores the fact that even today, certain orthodox Hasidic Jewish communities — the Satmars in New York and others

— as well as adherents of the pre-state Jewish labor movement have held views that are at odds with the modern Zionist conception.”

Nadler and his Jewish colleagues, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Dan Goldman of New York, introduced a separate resolution condemning antisemitism, tying it to the Biden administration’s antisemitism strategy, which the resolution approved on Tuesday, Dec. 5 does not mention.

The trio also were behind a letter in October supporting the Biden administration for its backing for Israel in its war with Hamas; all 24 Jewish Democrats signed onto that letter, but some have since broken away, calling on Biden to press for a ceasefire.

Kustoff in his floor speech linked anti-Israel and antisemitic biases, alluding to Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat who has used the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which some Jewish groups see as antisemitic.

“We have seen an explosion, an absolute explosion, of antisemitic incidents, attacks, and harassment, in Israel, here in our own nation, and across the world,” Kustoff said.

“More Jews were murdered on October 7th than on any other single day since the Holocaust. Let that sink in,” Kustoff said.

“We have even seen members of this very body repeat blatantly antisemitic rhetoric and spread lies about Israel and her right to exist.”

Nadler said Republicans were playing politics with the resolution. “I cannot help but note that, although this resolution strongly condemns and denounces antisemitism, its authors carefully avoided mentioning any of the obvious instances of antisemitism coming from their own leaders,” Nadler said, listing a number of instances in which Donald Trump, the former president and likely 2024 presidential nominee, has been accused of antisemitism.

JewishNewsVA.org | December 11, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 7

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Terri Denison The attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7 prompted many of the employees at LM Sandler & Sons to ask Art Sandler what they could do to help Israel and the Jewish community. They also asked questions about the war, Israel, and antisemitism.

Most of the 40 employees at LM Sandler & Sons are not Jewish.

Sensing the employees’ desire to learn, Sandler offered to give a talk last month so that people could better understand what the conflict was all about.

“We said if you want to find out what’s going on with Israel, come to this hour event.

We called it ‘Coffee and Chat with Art’,” says Tracie Beacham, LM Sandler & Son’s HR director. “Attendance was not mandatory, but about 60 people showed up – some spouses and children came because they also wanted to learn.”

“His talk was very informative – very fact-based,” says Beacham.

“Not being Jewish, everything he talked about was foreign to me. It was great information for us to understand the conflict and how it is impacting the people we live and work with,” she says, noting that if “you haven’t been discriminated against, it can be difficult to comprehend.”

Sandler says he received excellent feedback, and that those who attended were appreciative.

“Find a way to teach (not just tell) the facts,” Sandler offers as a suggestion to others who might want to conduct similar sessions. “Not opinions, keep to the facts.”

And he advises, make attendance voluntary.

ANTISEMITISM

Chesapeake’s Mayor West delivers statement against antisemitism

Stephanie Peck t Chesapeake’s City Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28, Mayor Rick West read a statement unequivocally condemning the recent rise in antisemitism and standing in solidarity with those affected by antisemitism.

Before his remarks, Mayor West noted that this statement is “by me, in my capacity as mayor of the city of Chesapeake.”

During citizen comments, Betty Ann Levin, executive vice president and CEO of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, thanked Mayor West and added that she hoped members of Chesapeake’s city council would “join the mayor in his moral clarity.”

Art Sandler followed with comments, saying that he’s not sure people understand what is going on in the world as it relates to Jews. He noted that there have been centuries of hatred Mayor Rick West reads his statement. toward Jews, where “the Jew is the Other.” Sandler quoted the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally, where participants chanted, “Jews will not replace us.” He shared that synagogues and Hebrew day schools hire armed guards, whereas non-Jewish institutions do not require this level of security.

Resolutions in Virginia have been created in support of Israel and condemning Hamas, but Mayor West’s statement is the first to address antisemitism. “We’ve asked the political and business leadership of Hampton Roads to speak up, to speak out, to combat this hate,” Sandler added.

With this statement, “You will be a model for other councils and city management and mayoral leadership, hopefully throughout the whole Commonwealth,” Sandler said in thanking Mayor West. “We can’t control personal prejudice, but our political leadership can establish what is right in civil society. And your leadership is doing that Betty Ann Levin at the Chesapeake City Council meeting. tonight.”

Mayor West had initially considered a resolution condemning all forms of hatred and racism, but, not until conversations with Sandler, did he understand the importance of highlighting antisemitism. West says he had recently read Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas, a story of a German, Christian theologian in the 1930’s who fought in the resistance and was jailed and killed for his plot to kill Hitler. This biography, and Sandler’s stories, helped West better understand the role of condemning antisemitism.

When asked about encouraging other mayors to follow his example, Mayor West says, “I don’t understand reluctance from anyone for doing it.”

A

JewishNewsVA.org | December 11, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 9

ANTISEMITISM

Williamsburg festival says it won’t hold a menorah lighting due to Israel-Hamas war Andrew Lapin (JTA) – When the director of the Chabad-Lubavitch center in Williamsburg, Virginia, pitched a local arts and culture festival last month on the idea of holding a public menorah lighting to celebrate Hanukkah, he thought it made sense.

“We look to bring people together with Jewish pride and unity,” Rabbi Mendy Heber, of Chabad of Williamsburg, says. Likewise, Second Sundays, a monthly cultural festival held in historic Colonial Williamsburg that features artisans and musical performances, also has a mission to bring about “peace for all humans everywhere.”

So, it seemed to Heber a natural fit to hold the menorah lighting as part of the Second Sunday, on Dec. 10, the fourth night of Hanukkah. In fact, Chabad of Williamsburg already had a months-long relationship with the festival, having sold challah as a vendor at prior installments.

And like the thousands of other Chabad outposts around the world, public menorah lightings are a big part of Heber’s mission; the Chabad Hasidic movement claimed to have staged 15,000 such events worldwide in 2021. When Heber proposed the lighting, he says, he and Second Sundays founder Susan Vermillion had a series of “positive communications” about the event.

Instead, the planned celebration turned into a debacle when Second Sundays leadership decided, on Nov. 16, not to hold the menorah lighting because they feared it would be seen as an endorsement of Israel during its war with Hamas in Gaza. Organizers then suggested that the lighting could go forward only if they could get an Islamic group to participate, or if they could hold it under a banner calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“This hurt,” Heber says. “It was a kick in the gut, not just for the Jewish community here, not just for Jews throughout the United States, but for all decent people who believe in the American dream.”

Since the war began nearly two months ago, a range of American institutions have seen cancellations, protests, and heightened rhetoric related to the debate over Israel and Hamas. But the Williamsburg incident is an example of how expressions of Judaism that are unrelated to 10 | JEWISH NEWS | December 11, 2023 JewishNewsVA.org

Israel — from synagogues to kosher restaurants and now, Hanukkah celebrations — are being implicated in the debate over the war.

Last month a Maine town removed a Star of David from its holiday lights display after a local resident complained it was taking sides in the war, though officials insisted to JTA that the complaint was unrelated to the removal.

And officials in the Canadian city of Moncton, behind closed doors, decided not to display a menorah outside of

City Hall this year; citing a separation of church and state, though the local Jewish communal group called it “an indicator of discrimination” given that the town will still display a Christmas tree and other Christmas lights. The decision was reversed at a city council meeting following outcry, and the mayor issued an apology “if our actions showed a lack of support toward any members of our community.”

Unlike in those two incidents, it is clear that Israel was a direct factor in organizers’ decision not to hold the menorah lighting in Williamsburg. Vermillion, a dental hygienist who founded and oversees Second Sundays through her nonprofit LoveLight Placemaking, told Heber directly that she and her board did not want to be perceived as taking sides in the conflict.

In a series of messages, portions of which were read to JTA and whose exact wording was confirmed by Heber and another local rabbi who received them, Vermillion wrote

that the event wouldn’t happen “unless we can get an Islamic group to participate at essentially the same time,” adding, “We don’t want to make it seem we’re choosing a side.”

Vermillion went on to state that she wanted to avoid “letting a specific church or religion seeming to be supported” by her organization, and that “timing isn’t good or appropriate at this time.”

Heber insisted the event would have nothing to do with Israel or Zionism (Chabad is not an explicitly Zionist movement, though many of its adherents are Zionist and many of its chapters host pro-Israel programming) and would consist only of a few prayers. Vermillion wrote back, “Our board members said they’d be OK with proceeding if you do it under a ceasefire banner.

Bombing and killing thousands of people isn’t spreading love and light, and we aren’t going to openly support any religious/cultural holidays/celebrations.”

“I’m really not sure why you guys are making it such a big deal,” Vermillion continued. “This is my event. My nonprofit. You guys are more than welcome to do whatever you want to do on your own.”

After Vermillion informed Heber that the menorah lighting would not move forward, the rabbi looped in the United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula, a local communal organization that provides services to around 2,000 Jews between the communities of Williamsburg, Newport News, and Hampton. (Williamsburg has only one Jewish congregation, apart from the Chabad and a Hillel at the College of William & Mary.)

Vermillion did not respond to subsequent attempts

by UJCVP to arrange a sit-down, leading the organization to make good on a threat that it would go public with the exchange on Sunday, Dec. 5. In a statement, UJCVP asserted that it “is shocked and alarmed” by LoveLight Placemaking’s decision.

“We should be very clear: it is antisemitic to hold Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s policies and actions, and to require a political litmus test for Jews’ participation in community events that have nothing to do with Israel,” the statement read.

ANTISEMITISM In text messages with JTA, Vermillion said, “It’s sad that the most inclusive organization and event in Williamsburg is being targeted for trying to stay neutral.”

In Vermillion’s telling, the menorah lighting “was proposed but was not consistent with the purpose of this non-religious, community art and music festival, and the proposal was denied.”

She continued, “It feels very wrong to label anyone associated with this as an antisemite when the rejection of this religious programming was entirely consistent with our decision to keep our gathering focused on music and art, rather than religious ceremonies.” She added that she has received “some threats” over the matter and would be reporting them to the local police.

Speaking to other media outlets, Vermillion seemed to reaffirm that she and the board viewed a menorah lighting as akin to making a political statement on Israel. In an interview with a local newspaper, Vermillion said that the event “seemed very inappropriate” given the situation in Gaza, and added, “The concern is of folks feeling like we are siding with a group over the other.”

Videos for the event, posted to the Second Sundays Facebook page, include montages of Christmas tree ornaments, wreaths, and other Christmas-related paraphernalia, and are set to the songs Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and Deck the Halls.

“It came across to me as ignorant, in the most literal sense of the word: just not understanding what this was about,” Rabbi David Katz, who leads Temple Beth El in Williamsburg, says.

Katz, whose unaffiliated congregation uses a Reconstructionist prayer book, was not involved in Heber’s efforts to hold the menorah lighting — and was out of town for a bar mitzvah as the weekend’s controversy was unfolding.

As a member of UJCVP, he read and relayed the text and email exchanges to JTA and says that, in a small community with few Jews, an incident like this can travel and is most likely born out of “a lack of knowing, of being connected to Jews.”

“This form of underlying antisemitism is in so many places where a lot of us wouldn’t expect,” Katz says. “If you

want to protest the IDF, that’s not the same thing as protesting Jews lighting the menorah.”

Heber, who has been in Williamsburg for two years, agrees. “Giving American Jews a political litmus test is just discriminatory, ugly, and un-American,” he said.

“And doing it with Hanukkah, which symbolizes liberty, is just ironic, especially during these times when Jews are facing tremendous amounts of antisemitism.”

Heber says he has been in communication with the Virginia Attorney General’s office and its antisemitism task force. This summer the state commissioned the task force, unique among state attorneys general offices, which includes representatives of groups including the Anti-Defamation League, regional Federations, and Hillel International. The task force’s establishment followed a lengthy report on antisemitism in the state commissioned by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin last year.

The attorney general’s office declined to comment. Youngkin condemned the festival’s actions on X, writing, “Singling out the Jewish community by canceling this Hanukkah celebration is absurd and antisemitic.”

Jewish Council for Public Affairs CEO Amy Spitalnick, who is working with UJCVP on its response to the incident, says it was “such a clear-cut example of antisemitism.”

“We were horrified by the festival’s decision to cancel the menorah lighting — so clearly seeking to collectively blame the Jewish people for Israel’s actions and create political litmus tests for events that have nothing to do with Israel,” she told JTA in a text message.

Another public menorah lighting still planned to take place, as the Chabad also planned to hold one Thursday, Dec. 7 on the William & Mary campus. Scheduled before the Second Sundays controversy and primarily intended for Jewish students, Heber says that lighting would become a much larger communal event.

He has also received words of sympathy from some non-Jews who have said will light menorahs in their own windows in solidarity.

“We’re going to make this Hanukkah bigger and brighter than ever,” he says.

“That is how we respond to darkness.”

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Stephanie Peck and Terri Denison ast year, the introduction to this section began “Jewish-related news made more mainstream headlines in 2022 than most of us could ever recall.” With Israel at war, the 400% uptick in antisemitism, comments

by Elon Musk, etc., 2023 has certainly topped last year with Jewish reference in national news outlets. In fact, lately when reading major publications, it’s often possible to forget we’re not reading the Forward or Jewish News, as articles on Israel, antisemitism, and Jewish-related topics are front and center.

In Jewish Tidewater, the year began with hope (the arrival of Temple Emanuel’s new rabbi), post COVID-19 feelings of normalcy (packed calendars, including a community mission to Israel), and excitement (celebrating Israel’s 75th anniversary). As everyone knows, despair hit hard on October 7, a date that will be etched in the psyches of Jews and Israelis as 9/11 is for all Americans.

While including global, national, and state-wide news, this review of 2023 primarily concentrates on the news of Jewish Tidewater, of which there was plenty to report.

Since this is only a sampling, to learn more, go to JewishNewsVa.org, click on the e-edition icon and re-read any paper or article you choose.

One thing for certain, this piece highlights the diversity of groups and events that comprise Jewish Tidewater, as well as the generosity and commitment of its members.

L

––––––––––––––––––––––––

January

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Rabbi Ari Olisewski joins Temple Emanuel, arriving from Brazil. He was hired after a year-long search, although his visa paperwork took another year to process. Rabbi Ari, his wife Pati, and their two children, who attend Strelitz International Academy, finally arrived in Virginia Beach.

Jewish faculty and staff of James Madison University boycott an event commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Without planning input from Jewish individuals, the program appeared wholly insensitive, considered more of an opportunity to celebrate rather than commemorate.

12 | JEWISH NEWS | December 11, 2023 JewishNewsVA.org

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed by United Jewish Federation’s Holocaust Commission with the publication of To Life: The Past is Present. Ninety-plus stories offer a window into Holocaust history, representing survivors, liberators, and rescuers from Tidewater.

Professionals from across Tidewater gather for group discussions of Jessica Nordell’s book, The End of Bias: The Beginning. Jonathan Zur, president and CEO of Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, moderates the lively engagements, which often elicite emotional responses from participants’ own painful experiences with bias and prejudice.

––––––––––––––––––––––––

February

Fifty people from Tidewater attend Virginia’s Annual Jewish Advocacy Day in Richmond. Divided into six groups, they meet with senators, delegates, and legislative staff from 22 offices to discuss four pieces of legislation of significant importance to the Jewish community.

Attorney General Jason Miyares announces the creation of a new task force to monitor and combat acts of antisemitism in Virginia.

The Virginia House and Senate pass two pieces of legislation important to the Jewish community: the statewide adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism and the designation of the month of May as Jewish American Heritage Month.

The 30th Annual Festival of Jewish Film celebrates with five films, including the documentary The Levys of Monticello.

Following the showing, members of the

YEAR IN REVIEW film’s creative team discuss the documentary and how the second owner of Monticello, Captain Uriah P. Levy, was the first Jewish commodore to serve in the U.S. Navy and lived with his family in Thomas Jefferson’s iconic home.

––––––––––––––––––––––––

March

Drew Goodove attends American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) Political Student Leadership Summit. The summit brings together a

nationwide mix of high school and college students who are eager to learn more about the U.S./Israeli relationship and advocate on its behalf.

In her third speech since becoming Congresswoman from Virginia’s second district, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans speaks about the importance of supporting Israel.

The 2023 UJFT Community Mission to Israel takes place Feb. 28 – March 9.

The group returns with a new appreciation for the work of Federation and its partners.

Temple Israel honors Rabbi Michael Panitz for his tenure of more than 30 years. Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander presents Rabbi Panitz with a Proclamation from the City of Norfolk.

Andrew Nusbaum receives the Humanitarian Award from the Virginia Center of Inclusive Communities.

United Federation of Tidewater hosts Yom Ha’Atzmaut. The Sandler Family campus fills with Israeli smells, tastes, and attractions to celebrate Israel @ 75.

The Janet Gordon Annual Mah Jongg Day and Luncheon, the largest annual fundraising event for Beth Sholom Village, reemerges post COVID-19.

––––––––––––––––––––––––

April

Virginia Beach School Board agenda includes potential changes to the library media centers in all school divisions, including a revised review process for digital and print items in each library.

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YEAR IN REVIEW their Bar/Bat Mitzvah 50th Anniversary party in the Marty Einhorn Pavilion at the Simon Family JCC.

Director’s Community Leadership Award for her service to the people of Hampton Roads.

The annual Yom Hashoah Commemoration features local survivor, Michel (Mike) Ashe, who shares his story of ordinary French people who protected him and his family.

––––––––––––––––––––––––

June

Jewish Federations of North America’s board chair, Julie Platt, speaks to leadership of UJFT’s Women’s Division.

Dr. Steven Warsof is honored by Inside Business as a recipient of the 2023 Healthcare Heroes Awards, awarded to “outstanding individuals or organizations that are making a noteworthy difference in healthcare across Hampton Roads.”

John Weber Williamson is the 16th recipient to be awarded the 2023 Stein Family College Scholarship of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation.

––––––––––––––––––––––––

May

A community Memorial Day observance on the Sandler Family campus is hosted by the Board of Rabbis and Cantors of Hampton Roads and the Jewish War Veterans (Post 158), with keynote speaker, Rabbi Mitchell Schranz.

Cantor Elihu Flax receives Beth El Men’s Club Blue Yarmulke Person-of-the-Year award.

Governor Glen Youngkin signs into law HB1606, which adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism.

Robin Mancoll, chief program officer and Jewish Community Relations Council director for the United Tidewater Jewish Federation, is presented with the FBI

The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience’s 2023 Middle School Essay Contest awards first place to Virginia Beach’s Leah Steerman.

David Leon is installed as president of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater at its 2023 Biennial Meeting.

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Avraham Ashkenazi receives the Technion Honorary Fellow Award in Israel.

A 1966 Technion graduate, Ashkenazi’s life-long connection and devotion to Israel and the Technion earned him the award, along with his many contributions as a Technion Guardian and alumnus in support of graduate fellowships and defense research.

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater sponsors a luncheon on the Sandler Family campus to honor Delegate Anne Tata for her leadership and efforts in passing the first piece of legislation in Virginia aimed at fighting antisemitism – adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism.

Beth Sholom Village sells its senior healthcare and housing campus on Auburn Dr. in Virginia Beach to Green Tree Healthcare.

YEAR IN REVIEW Descendants of Lewis Nusbaum, a leading member of Norfolk’s growing business community and Jewish community in the mid-1800’s, gather at Ohef Sholom Temple to view the restored portrait of their ancestor.

Tidewater Chavurah members celebrate its 25th anniversary at Vino’s Italian Bistro.

.Sam Sachs and his family celebrate life after cancer with a pool party at the Simon Family JCC.

Jewish Tidewater stands with Israel at the Solidarity for Israel rally on the Sandler Family campus on Oct. 10.

––––––––––––––––––––––––

November

Area college students reflect on campus atmosphere since Oct. 7, many voicing concerns about antisemitism.

Jewish Family Service honors veteran clients with a full military burial service in Quantico National Cemetery as part of the Missing in America Project.

The First Annual Strelitz International Academy Fall Festival kicks off in celebration of young families in Tidewater.

–––––––––––––––––––––––– The 30th Annual Golf Tournament at the Virginia Beach National Golf Club raises $150,000 for Strelitz International Academy.

Virginia Beach City Council passes a resolution in support of Israel.

National Library of Israel makes a presentation at the Sandler Family Campus and includes an exhibit in the Leon Family Gallery.

––––––––––––––––––––––––

September

The first hostages are released by Hamas.

United Jewish Federation’s “Today, Tomorrow, Always” Super Sunday campaign raises more than $250,000.

The Feldman Family Medical and Health Professions Student Scholarship of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation is awarded to Nophar Yarden, a third-year medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Hundreds turn-out to donate supplies and pack boxes to send overseas for the Israel Defense Forces soldiers and displaced families at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.

Shabbat Project celebrates its first decade.

––––––––––––––––––––––––

December

––––––––––––––––––––––––

August

Annie Sandler is installed as president of JDC in New York City. A long-time JDC board member, she is the first from Tidewater to hold the position.

B’nai Israel Congregation welcomes Rabbi Shlomo Eisenberg and his family to Tidewater.

Tidewater bids farewell to Aya Sever and Alma Ben Chorin of the ShinShinim program.

Jewish Museum and Culture Center in Portsmouth participates in the nationwide Daffodil Project, planting more than 3,000 bulbs.

Americans March for Israel, to free hostages, and against antisemitism on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Two buses travel from the Sandler Family Campus to join the nearly 300,000 advocates for Israel from around the nation.

Ten teen athletes from Tidewater participate in the Maccabi Games in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Jewish Family Service Biennial meeting marks 75 years of service to the community and the installation of board chair, Scott Flax.

The Stein family reunites, celebrating their expanded family with 100 members in attendance.

October

Hamas terrorists brutally attack and kill more than 1,200 people in Israel on Saturday, October 7.

Elena Barr Baum joins The March Down Freedom’s Road, a civil rights tour sponsored by Classrooms without Borders.

July

––––––––––––––––––––––––

Jeff Brooke is elected as chairman of the Norfolk Economic Development Authority.

Tidewater Supports Israel – 2023 Emergency Fund exceeds $4.5 million since the attacks of October 7. jewishnewsva.org JewishNewsVA.org | May |1,December 2023 | Israel 11, 2023 @ 75 | JEWISH NEWS | 15

YEAR IN REVIEW

Tidewater’s Annie Sandler is installed as JDC president Terri Denison nnie Sandler, who was installed as the new president of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) on December 5 in Manhattan, visited with Israeli President Herzog and his wife Michal on a JDC solidarity mission to the country in November.

Sandler is a veteran JDC leader who has been instrumental in carrying our JDC's global humanitarian mission, especially her work strengthening the Jewish community of Romania and Israel's social service sector.

More on this story in January issue of Jewish News.

A

FI R S T PER SO N

Germaine Clair, long-time Jewish News art director, retires Terri Denison fter 18 years, the April 3, 2023 issue was Germaine Clair’s last as art director for Jewish News.

Germaine served as art director for the final Renewal magazine published by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater in the fall of 2004. By 2005, she was designing the paper, completely changing its look, and standardizing its ad sizes. Along the way, she also found a new printer for the paper and even sold some ads.

The art director for Jewish News is also the entire production department, so Germaine made certain the Jewish News files reached the printer on time every single time.

Germaine learned which images go with which holiday, as well as what not to include. She knew the candle lighting times and the Hebrew dates.

Germaine Clair in Roma.

Germaine read most articles and caught typos. Plus, she kept great files. . . both digital and hard copies of every issue. She was a terrific partner.

An artist, Germaine and her photography-loving husband are avid travelers who manage to attend the latest exhibitions at museums around the world. Prior to her retirement, the trips were made between issues. Now, those trips are being made when they want to go and for multiple weeks at a time.

Admittedly, I tried to ignore Germaine’s message when she spoke about retiring. But the day came, and she booked her tickets for Italy.

Jewish News owes Germaine much appreciation for her devotion to the paper and excellent, detailed, and creative work on its behalf. Deadlines are now in her rearview mirror and she’s smiling big as she looks forward. Mazel Tov, Germaine!

Mike McMahon assumed the role of art director with the April 24 issue and is making his own mark on the paper and aptly managing those deadlines.

A

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First Jewish university in South America to open in Buenos Aires next year Juan Melamed BUENOS AIRES (JTA) — South America is getting its first Jewish university next year.

The Latin American Rabbinical Seminary in Buenos Aires — which is affiliated with the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, the Conservative movement’s flagship — obtained legal approval last month to establish the Isaac Abarbanel Jewish University Institute. The school will confer diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in subjects ranging from Jewish and religious studies to ethics to ancient manuscripts.

“This makes Argentina better by allowing it to

enrich its diversity and, at the same time, expand the scope of its academic proposal to other regions of the world,” says Jaime Perczyk, Argentina’s education minister. Rabbi Ariel Stofenmacher, the rector of the rabbinical seminary, says the university will be “a lighthouse beacon for Latin America.”

One other Jewish university exists in the rest of Latin America: the Hebrew University of Mexico, which is located in Mexico City and run by an Argentine rabbi, Daniel Fainstein. The Latin American Rabbinical Seminary has had a continuing education institute under the Abarbanel name since 1978, but it has not conferred degrees titles.

The new university will include a center for the study of Hebrew manuscripts, including some from between the 9th and 15th centuries that are located at the Vatican Library. The digitized collection includes Torah scrolls, rabbinic literature, Jewish philosophy, liturgical books, poetry, and kabbalistic texts.

The seminary is named after American rabbi Marshall Meyer, a New York native who worked to revitalize the Conservative movement in Buenos Aires from 1958 to 1984. In 1962, he created the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary, which ordains rabbis in Argentina and throughout Latin America. It has ordained approximately 110 Conservative rabbis since 1972. jewishnewsva.org JewishNewsVA.org | May |1,December 2023 | Israel 11, 2023 @ 75 | JEWISH NEWS | 17

BOOK REVIEW

Suggested required reading for politicians Providence and Power – Ten Portraits in Jewish Statesmanship Meir Y. Soloveichik Encounter Books, 2023 202 pp Reviewed by Skip Sacks e are all familiar with remarkable individuals who seem to step into history just when their special skills, intelligence, and wisdom are most needed. George Washington modestly molded the American Presidency and then walked away from political life, thereby encouraging our fledgling democracy. Abraham Lincoln had the vision, fortitude, and intellect needed to keep our nation whole. Winston Churchill was arguably the single most important and effective statesman when the world was threatened by fascism.

Do these individuals appear in

W

times of tribulation by sheer luck? By coincidence… perhaps pure happenstance?

In Providence and Power – Ten Portraits in Jewish Statesmanship, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik argues that, while great Jewish leaders and statesmen have always shared certain identifiable qualities, their timely contributions to Jewish survival can only be fully explained by “divine providence.”

Rabbi Soloveichik, who comes from a long line of esteemed rabbis, provides the reader with brief sketches of Jewish leaders from ancient times through the

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founding of modern Israel and uses their stories to draw lessons in successful leadership. The author devotes individual chapters to ancient royalty – King David, Queen Esther, and Queen Shlomtsion; major diaspora figures – Yohannan ben Zakkai, Don Isaac Abravenel, and Menasseh ben Israel; and modern Jewish notables – Benjamin Disraeli, Theodor Herzl, Louis D. Brandeis, David Ben-Gurion, and Menachem Begin (Yes – that’s actually 11 as Ben-Gurion and Begin share a final chapter). From these profiles, Rabbi Soloveichik seeks to distill the essence of great leadership.

Each chapter is a mini course in Jewish history. We are reminded, for example, of Queen Esther’s clever strategy to turn King Ahasuerus against Haman, the evil grand vizier. We learn that Queen Schlomtsion, the Hasmonean Queen, created the ketubah establishing legal protections for wives, and issued royal decrees that lead to universal education. With each biographical sketch, Rabbi Soloveichik emphasizes the need for leaders to remain close to those they govern. He cites as an example the well-known tale of King Solomon’s judgment to “split the baby” when faced with a maternity dispute between two prostitutes. As we all know, his clever ruling led the true mother to withdraw her claim and save the baby.

But consider how remarkable it is that a nation’s king even bothered himself with a dispute between two ordinary prostitutes.

The reader will surmise that humility

is perhaps the most consistent personal characteristic of good statesmanship, whether it manifests as leaders’ personal identification with their subjects or in their humble relationships with God. Even the most assertive Jewish leaders such as King David drew confidence from their recognition that their power was itself derived from a higher power.

When young David offered to be the Jews’ champion and face Goliath in battle, he argued that “The God that saved me from the lion and the bear will save me from the Philistine.” Then when David confronted Goliath on the field of battle, David warned the huge Philistine that, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.”

The author acknowledges that “genius is certainly part of it.” He insists, however, that “political instinct is essential, but something remains that cannot be chalked up to choices made by leaders.”

According to Rabbi Soloveichik, that “something” responsible for Jewish success and Jewish endurance is nothing less than divine providence.

Providence and Power provides the reader with accessible and lively vignettes of skilled Jewish leaders who managed to lead authoritatively without losing touch with their public and who embodied the rare combination of confidence and humility.

One might be forgiven for wishing that, in these days of performative politics, this insightful book would be required reading for all who aspire to higher office.

–––––––––––––––––––––––– Skip Sacks is a native of Norfolk and is Virginia State Counsel for Stewart Title Guaranty Company. Sacks has served as an adjunct professor at ODU and occasionally reviews books to honor the memory of his father, Hal Sacks, who wrote hundreds of book reviews for this publication.

Year End jewishnewsva.org JewishNewsVA.org | May |1,December 2023 | Israel 11, 2023 @ 75 | JEWISH NEWS | 19

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Year End Dear Readers, Dear Readers,

Hanukkah will soon be over, making the wax-covered hanukkiahs, spinning dreidels, and oil-scented kitchens just memories as we head into those last weeks of December. With most shopping, theoretically out of the way, the next challenge is determining how to spend the final weeks of the year – which can be as filled with panic as often as excitement.

What to do?

For one thing, it is customary to pay those last bills and make as many contributions as possible prior to the end of the tax year. But what else should be considered when it comes to personal finances and legal documents? And, where best to make those contributions?

Many of us are fortunate to have bonus downtime at year’s end. Should this time be filled with organizing, shopping, travelling, getting healthy, applying to schools, getting ahead with homework, or just relaxing with a good book, movie, or show?

We’ve asked local experts all these questions. Their responses begin on page 26.

Another alternative for spending 2023’s last weeks is to take a few hours to learn what each of us can do to help combat antisemitism. Its rapid rise since Oct. 7 has shocked the global Jewish community, but knowing how to react to situations is empowering. Taking the time to gain a fuller grasp of the war in Israel – learning the complicated history of Gaza, the various leaders and groups who have controlled the area, and Israel’s role in the region, will also be empowering. United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Jewish Community Relations Council has compiled an expansive list of verified, reliable sources to assist you in these endeavors. The lists include articles, experts, and online events. Go to JewishVa.org/IsraelatWar23 or jewishva.org/ combatantisemitism.

However you occupy these coming days, all of us at Jewish News wish you a peaceful, safe, healthy, and happy entrance to 2024!

Terri Denison Editor

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Have your cake and eat it too: A dual approach to charitable giving A Naomi Limor Sedek t Tidewater Jewish Foundation, a number of fund holders and donors enthusiastically embrace strategies for lifetime gifts and bequests.

These champions of the “do it now” approach to charitable giving and their longstanding commitment to estate giving have been a part of the culture of philanthropy in Tidewater for decades.

How can an individual act now to ensure experiencing the joy of seeing the difference they're making firsthand and knowing that they're leaving a legacy to further the community priorities they've supported their entire life? A donoradvised fund with a bequest provision, established at TJF, is an excellent solution for many donors.

A donor-advised fund is easy to start and use. Donor-advised funds are popular tools to help organize giving and support favorite causes. TJF has extensive knowledge about the community’s needs and the organizations that are addressing critical issues, which makes a donor-advised fund a useful vehicle. Donor-advised funds’ tax benefits allow for eligibility for a tax deduction in the year of the gift. TJF can help donors use the funds to support their favorite 501(c)(3) organizations over the long term.

With TJF, donors can include provisions in the donor-advised fund document to name children or other family members as successor advisors to make recommendations; and specific organizations or causes to receive a portion of the grants each year can also be provided. In this way, a donoradvised fund is a convenient giving vehicle during one’s lifetime and is flexible enough to accommodate a donor’s wishes for leaving a legacy.

Bequests to TJF help serve the community for generations to come and respond to the most critical needs at any given time – needs that are impossible to predict. With TJF’s help, donors can give publicly or anonymously, fulfilling giving instincts as a secure, knowledgeable, and trustworthy facilitator.

For current fund holders at TJF, the staff is ready to assist in including bequest provisions in existing donoradvised fund documents. For those who are not yet fund holders, TJF is ready to help new donors achieve goals of lifetime giving and leaving a legacy.

–––––––––––––––––––––––– Naomi Limor Sedek is president and CEO of Tidewater Jewish Foundation. She may be reached at 757-965-6109 or nsedek@tjfva.org.

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JewishNewsVA.org | December 11, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 23

Year End

Forever Helping Mixed end to the year for a Jewish dad Others afraid to light a menorah this Hanukkah

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.

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Jacob Gurvis (JTA) — When Adam Kulbersh’s 6-yearold son Jack asked when they would be putting up their Hanukkah decorations this year, Kulbersh wasn’t sure if it was such a good idea.

With reports of antisemitism on the rise — exacerbated by the war between Israel and Hamas — Kulbersh, an actor and single father who lives in Los Angeles, says he was afraid to publicly identify his family as Jewish. In the past few months alone, multiple antisemitic incidents have rattled the L.A. Jewish community — including a home invasion in which locals believe the house was targeted because of the mezuzah signifying that Jews live there.

When Kulbersh relayed his concerns to his friend Jennifer Marshall, who is not Jewish, he recalls that her response was immediate: “She said, ‘We’re not Jewish, but we’ll put a menorah in our window for you as a show of solidarity, and in the hopes that it gives you whatever you might need in order to put one in yours,” Kulbersh says.

The gesture moved Kulbersh — so much so that it inspired him to launch an online campaign he’s calling “Project Menorah,” which encourages non-Jews to display menorahs, or photographs of them, in their windows during Hanukkah and to share photographs online to show solidarity. The campaign began ahead of the holiday, which began Thursday, Dec. 7. It quickly spread on social media, where people are tagging Project Menorah in pictures of their holiday displays featuring newly added menorahs.

“I think right now people want to help but they don’t know what to say,” Kulbersh says. “People are afraid of saying the wrong thing, being canceled, of not knowing what they should say or how to say it. But what this friend did, out of love, a simple gesture, meant so much to me.”

For Marshall, a longtime friend of Kulbersh who lives nearby, it was an easy decision.

24 | JEWISH NEWS | December 11, 2023 JewishNewsVA.org

“I was just sad that Jack and Adam couldn’t celebrate Hanukkah the way that they wanted to,” Marshall says. “Part of me felt like there wasn’t really much I could do. And I thought, I’m going to get a menorah, and I’m going to put it in my window and I’m going to take a picture of it and I’m going to send it to Jack. It was actually very simple. I just wanted Jack to know — and Adam, but Jack, this young boy — that his celebration of Hanukkah was important.”

Marshall, who runs an advertising agency and has helped out Kulbersh with his son since Jack was young, says emulating the Jewish custom of placing menorahs in the window — in public view — was “the most natural thing to do to say, ‘I stand with you.’”

She also views it as an important conversation starter.

“It’s an opportunity for the people who walk by my house or come to my house to have a conversation,” Marshall says. “I wanted it to be something private for Jack, and at the same time, I wanted it to be something public for every Jewish person.”

Kulbersh says the response to his campaign, including from rabbis, has been overwhelmingly positive. He’s seen posts from dozens of U.S. states — he says he stopped counting after 22 — as well as from Australia, Germany, Italy, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

In one representative Facebook post, an orthodontist in Dallas shared the project and offered to buy menorahs for any of his non-Jewish friends who wanted to participate.

“We’re in a time of awful antisemitism, historic levels,” Kulbersh says. “I think the idea of inviting our non-Jewish allies to add their light to ours in a time of darkness has really moved people.”

Kulbersh’s campaign is the latest instance of non-Jews using Jewish symbols to express solidarity.

In a famous example from Billings, Montana, in 1993, thousands of people displayed menorahs in their windows after

a brick was thrown through the bedroom window of a 5-year-old Jewish boy who had a menorah displayed. The episode inspired the award-winning documentary “Not In Our Town” along with campaigns preaching tolerance.

And just last month in Los Angeles, non-Jews offered to put mezuzahs up on their doorposts to show solidarity with their Jewish neighbors after the antisemitic break-in rattled the community.

“What I love about the story of Billings is it proves the point that in every era, the bigots find a reason to hate us,” he says.

“And in every era, the Jewish people find the courage to stand up to it. And in every era, there are allies who find the compassion to stand with us.”

For some, the initiative is raising uncomfortable questions, including about whether relying on non-Jews to create real or perceived security is healthy for Jews, and whether it is appropriate to give non-Jews license to use Jewish symbols.

“I believe relying on camouflaging your Jewish identity and plausibly denying your Jewishness, or in this case having our non-Jewish neighbors light menorahs to help us do so, to survive, is spiritually damaging,” wrote one man in Austin, Texas, on Facebook after the Jewish communal organization there, Shalom Austin, promoted Project Menorah.

“This is an act of solidarity in a time of historic antisemitic violence. We are not asking anyone to perform a religious ritual,” Kulbersh says. “We’re asking people to take an easily recognizable symbol of a Jewish holiday and put it in their window to show their friends and neighbors that they’re safe.”

Kulbersh says he welcomes the dialogue about whether non-Jews should display menorahs. “I love that about Judaism — we debate, we discuss,” he says.

But ultimately, Kulbersh adds, he wasn’t looking to start a movement. In fact, he says his hope is that “there is no future for Project Menorah, because there will be no need for it again.”

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Year End

Year-End decisions, choices, and preferences Stephanie Peck ecember 31 is just weeks away, a date when many people cheer and celebrate, while others scurry to complete year-end tasks and commitments.

Whether taking time off to DECEMBER relax, travel, shop, get organized, or to scramble to meet annual deadlines, there are countless ways to spend the last days and hours of 2023. Here are a few areas to consider – complete with some advice, personal stories, and perhaps even a bit of inspiration.

D

31

Health and Fitness Health and Fitness

“Today’s the day,” according to Tom Purcell, Wellness Director at the Simon Family JCC. Purcell does not believe in New Year’s resolutions nor waiting to improve on wellness. He suggests implementing fitness into your current schedule right now – even without going to the gym if you have time constraints. Body weight exercises, for example, can be done anytime and anywhere. And, according to Purcell, they will pay dividends if you are consistent. Subtle changes, like climbing the steps instead of using the elevator, or parking farther away from your destination, will add to the quality of your life going forward, he says.

Judy Mitnick, registered dietician with Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios, recommends avoiding the “all or nothing” attitude in eating, especially during the holidays. Remain mindful and selective, and choose indulgences that are special – not just shrugging your shoulders and saying “it’s the holidays.”

“Treats are welcomed and expected, but YOU can still be in charge,” says Mitnick.

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Year End

High School Students High School Students

“Over the holidays I advise my students (who are AP and honors students) to relax and spend quality time with their friends and family. Students do not have a choice where they go over the holidays, and when tasked with extra work, major projects, or lengthy reading over the break, the holidays are stressful for everyone,” says Debra Yarow, a dual curriculum College Composition instructor at Western Branch High School.

“I want them to experience some fun, good food, time with extended family, and time to travel; I expect them to come back, however, refreshed and prepared to work hard in January.”

Wendy Livingston, associate director of College Counseling at Norfolk Academy, thinks the winter break can serve as a great time for high school juniors to think

introspectively about their strengths, values, and aspirations and how those will shape their life after high school. For those who plan to attend college, students could have initial conversations with their parents about visiting colleges, about college costs, and about what characteristics of post-secondary institutions they’ve identified as possible indicators of fit.

For high school seniors, it’s a time to finalize and submit Regular Decision applications and to ensure their list reflects a sound strategy related to the selectivity spectrum.

Like Yarow, Livingston adds that all students should take time to relax, to breathe, to recharge, and to enjoy these moments with family and friends. “It can help you approach the weeks and months ahead with renewed energy and spirit.”

Wealth Management Wealth Management

Jeff Chernitzer of Buckingham Strategic Wealth focuses on two hot topics at the end of the year.

He advises clients to consider if a ROTH conversion makes sense, either partial or full. This conversion will help manage taxes in retirement related to the required minimum distributions. While these discussions can occur all year, the ROTH conversion should be considered during year-end tax planning.

Chernitzer also notes that the current estate tax exemption of $13 million could be cut in half if Congress does not take action by January 1, 2026. In light of this possibility, he suggests individuals in this economic bracket consider transferring some of their wealth to their heirs.

At Summit Group of Virginia, Managing Partner Jeff Silverman considers all aspects of tax planning at the year’s end. Are clients planning on gifting money? Will any charitable gifting lower their tax bracket or allow them to take credit in this calendar year (instead of waiting a whole year by doing it in January)? If investments need to be liquidated, is it more advantageous, tax wise, to take money at the end of this year or defer the withdrawal to January?

As an employer, have they made sure all calendar year retirement plan withholdings from their employees are credited for the calendar year?

“It’s also a great time to make sure your insurance and investments are aligned with your goals, which change constantly,” Silverman adds.

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Shira Itzhak incorporated a trip to Israel as 2023 comes to a close. “I couldn’t imagine a better way for me to end this year than by spending precious time in Israel, watching hostages get released, volunteering while others serve in the army, and being supportive of our extended family during this challenging time.”

In early 2024, she and her husband, Shmuel, will prepare to move to Israel full-time.

JewishNewsVA.org | December 11, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 27

Year End

Estate Planning Estate Planning

Principal Attorney Scott Alperin advises clients to consider five areas as the year comes to an end, starting with reviewing and updating their estate plan.

“Life circumstances change, and it’s crucial to ensure that your estate plan reflects your current wishes. If there have been any major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth, or death in the family, it’s essential to update your will, trust, or beneficiary designations accordingly,” he says.

Alperin notes that gifting assets can reduce the overall value of your estate, potentially reducing future estate taxes. The annual federal gift tax exclusion allows you to gift a certain amount to individuals tax-free; in 2023, this amount is $17,000 per individual or $34,000 per individual for married couples.

Contributing the maximum amount allowable to your retirement accounts can reduce your taxable income for the year while helping to secure your financial future. Take advantage of available retirement plans such as IRAs, 401(k)s, or other qualified plans.

Donating to charitable organizations not only supports causes you care about but can also provide tax benefits.

If you have a trust, ensure that all assets are properly titled and funded into the trust. “This step is often overlooked but is crucial to ensure the assets avoid probate and are distributed according to your wishes,” Alperin adds.

Lastly, keep abreast of any changes in tax laws that might impact your estate planning. Consult with a tax professional to understand how these changes could affect your specific situation.

Shopping Shopping

Since 1975, Kitchen Barn has been supplying Tidewater homes with every kitchen tool necessary to perform any cooking or baking challenge.

“We sell useful, practical items from around the world,” says founder and owner Joel Feldman. “Crazy busy” at this time of year, Kitchen Barn is a great gift location all year long, Feldman says, though “the fourth quarter is giant for us.”

As he starts his 50th year in business, Feldman still gets chill bumps when he enters the store. “As long as I can get out of bed, and eat my two eggs and bagel with lox, cream cheese and tomato, I will keep the doors open!”

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Declutter Declutter

“If you haven’t worn it in two years, let it go!” instructs Ellen Hundley of Ellen’s Organizing and Planning.

When she is working with people who are moving or downsizing, she creates three categories for their personal belongings: keep, donate, not salvageable.

As a professional, Hundley goes “room by room, cabinet by cabinet, drawer by drawer.” She encourages people, however, to start small in their own attempt to declutter. “Start with the smallest project and have success – see results,” she recommends. As an example, Hundley addresses the kitchen pantry.

First, go through and look at expiration dates, making a list to replenish whatever has expired.

Next, organize by category, such as grouping all the baking ingredients together. Finally, purchase small containers to keep food items fresh, like placing flour and sugar in glass jars.

Hundley recognizes that this process can be painful for some folks. “I have a natural eye for this,” she explains, helping clients to part with items that are outdated or even rusted. She also advises that where you donate should be purposeful. Hundley is partial to synagogues, who host soup kitchens, or the Samaritan House, a non-profit supporting battered women and victims of human trafficking, including children.

In their effort to purge, she urges clients to ask themselves, “do I need all of this?”

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Year End

Doubling impact – Matching gifts from employers M Todd Holcomb ore companies are prioritizing Corporate Social Responsibility than ever before. With this focus, employee matching gifts are becoming more common, and are one of the simplest and most efficient ways a donor can increase the impact of their philanthropy.

Each year, $2 - $3 billion are donated through matching gift programs. However, it is estimated that a staggering $4 -7 billion in matching gift funds goes unclaimed per year. This is a direct result of the fact that many donors don’t Todd Holcomb

know their donations are eligible for a match through their employer, and nonprofits don’t have an efficient method of determining their eligibility. United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s development department aims to change this.

An initiative is being launched to help donors of UJFT and Simon Family JCC determine if their employer has a matching gift program or a corporate volunteer grant program where donations are made based on hours of employee volunteer service. Some employers also offer matches to part-time

their employer—the employees, retired majority of applications employees, or spouses of With matching gift are fully online. employees. programs through With matchTo learn if a specific ing gift programs employer offers one of prominent Hampton through prominent these programs, visit Roads employers, UJFT/ Hampton Roads JewishVA.org/GiftMatch employers such as and use the built-in Simon Family JCC asks that Sentara, TowneBank, search tool provided by Double the Donation. donors help to significantly Dominion Energy, and others, UJFT/Simon Alternatively, it is increase the community’s Family JCC asks that possible to search for donors help to signifian employer whenever philanthropic impact. cantly increase the making an online donacommunity’s philanthropic impact. tion to UJFT or Simon Family JCC. ––––––––––––––––––––––––– This program is also aimed at streamTo learn more about this matching gift prolining the process for donors when gram, visit JewishVA.org/GiftMatch or contact applying for a matching donation. After Todd Holcomb, UJFT director of development, successfully searching for an employer, at 757-965-6105 or THolcomb @ujft.org. donors are provided with information on how to submit and complete the request to

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ue to the high demand for volunteer work in Israel, Masa has created Masa Volunteers, a new six-week volunteer program in Israel, turning compassion into action. This program, priced at just $350, offers various dates throughout December, January, and February, making it a flexible choice for anyone looking to make a significant impact.

Volunteers may choose working in Tel Aviv, Haifa, or Eilat in these focus areas: • Education • International Humanitarian Work • Teaching • Social Action/Volunteering

• Kibbutz • Coexistence • Agriculture, and more The program includes housing, insurance, 24-hour staff, educational activities, social events, public transportation, networking opportunities, and more.

Participants must be between 18 and 40 years old, have basic English proficiency, and a valid passport.

Programs begin December 18, 19, and 28; January 2 and 15; and February 2 and 5.

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IT’S A WRAP

YAD’s Pop-Up Shabbat brings young adults together for Israel Elana McGovern ince October 7, young adults have rallied in support of each other and Israel, culminating in a heartwarming Pop-Up Shabbat experience on November 17.

To strengthen ties and contribute to the Tidewater Supports Israel 2023 Emergency Campaign, members of the Young Adult Division gathered on Monday, Oct. 23 to discuss strategies for backing Israel. National Young Leadership Cabinet members, local leaders, and United Federation of Tidewater’s past-president, Laura Gross attended the meeting. The evening continued with the Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival’s visiting author, Rabbi Diana Fersko.

The momentum continued Friday, Nov. 17 in Virginia Beach, when a diverse group of young adults embraced Unity with Israel Shabbat, hosted through the Pop-Up Shabbat Program (a program designed to bring local young Jewish adults, ages 22-45, together for Shabbat). The event was hosted by Elana and Luke McGovern.

Reflecting on recent events, including the evening with Rabbi Fersko, participants expressed the desire to Elana McGovern and Robin and Paul Weiner. share a space with fellow Jewish young adults amid the challenges of the times. Despite the hardships of the recent weeks, there was solace in laughter, strengthened bonds, and discussions about future Shabbat gatherings. Throughout the evening, attendees discovered common ties, which often happens at these Shabbat dinners. One revelation was the connection between a couple planning their out-of-state wedding and another person who fondly recalled attending bar mitzvahs at the same location. These shared backgrounds added an extra layer of meaning to the gathering, reinforcing the sense of community among the attendees.

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IT’S A WRAP

FOR LEASE

Shabbat at the Cavalier combines joy, support for Israel, and comraderie Bob Lehman desire to be with each other and the greater Jewish community in solidarity for the State of Israel brought 140 people to the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club on Friday, Nov. 17.

The evening was nothing short of magical. While the attendees were mostly Jewish, many people of other faiths joined the evening in support of Israel and disparaging antisemitism. Occurring three Bob Lehman and Bonnie Brand. days after the March for Israel was held in Washington, DC on the National Mall, the Shabbat dinner’s organizers – Bob Lehman and Bonnie Brand –envisioned bringing the joy and happiness that was so evident in DC back to Tidewater. Two previous Shabbat dinners had taken place at the Cavalier, but this Shabbat dinner focused on Israel and the Israeli people exclusively.

After a moving Ha’Tikvah sung by all in attendance, Avraham Ashkenazi lead the Prayer for Peace for Israel. Tidewater’s two Israeli Shinshinim, Naomi Friedland and Maya Ostrow, lead the Prayer for the Israel Defense Forces.

An empty seat at the table was draped with the Israeli flag, commemorating the missing hostages. A very emotional speech was delivered by David Brand, Caroline and Louis Snyder with Bob Lehman. who pointed out the empty seat and acknowledged that the 200+ hostages would not be at their own family’s Shabbat table. Brand had just returned from Israel the previous day, having met with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as with multiple hostage families. Brand had helped lead a delegation with Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares to Israel to witness the atrocities of the rapes, murders, and kidnappings of innocent Israelis. Because of Brand’s representation of Tidewater and Virginia to Israel, he led the Prayer for the Hostages Return.

Shabbat prayers were given by Nathan Drory, Bonnie Brand, and Bob Lehman.

The dinner, which was quintessentially Israeli, included a variety of savory Israelithemed offerings.

People stayed until 9:30 pm, underscoring that as Jews and supporters of Israel, a communal event such this was needed to share love and discuss A ‘full tent’ at the Cavalier. the situation in the Jewish homeland.

Thousands of hugs, kisses, and camaraderie were evident from the first minute until the end.

This event is believed to be the biggest Shabbat gathering outside of a synagogue in Tidewater, ever.

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The largest scholarshipininJewish JewishTidewater, Tidewater,this thisannual annual college college scholarship The largest scholarship scholarshipisis awarded HamptonRoads RoadsJewish Jewishstudents studentsentering entering college. college. Applicants awarded to to Hampton Applicantsare are evaluated on financial need, Jewish/community engagement, and academic evaluated on financial need, Jewish/community engagement, and academic potential. Applicants must: potential. Applicants must: • Identify as Jewish • Identify as Jewish • Maintain residency in the Tidewater region • Maintain residency in the Tidewater region • Demonstrate academic ability • Demonstrate academic ability • Demonstrate a history of service and engagement in their academic, Jewish, • Demonstrate a history of service and engagement in their academic, Jewish, and broader communities through extracurricular and volunteer activities and broader communities through extracurricular and volunteer activities

Applications are accepted December 1, 2023 – March 1, 2024 Applications are accepted December 1, 2023 – March 1, 2024 For more information and to apply, visit: For more information and to apply, visit:

bit.ly/tjf-stein bit.ly/tjf-stein

Tidewater Jewish Foundation | foundation@tjfva.org | 757-965-6111 | foundation.jewishva.org

Tidewater Jewish Foundation | foundation@tjfva.org | 757-965-6111 | foundation.jewishva.org

36 | JEWISH NEWS | December 11, 2023 JewishNewsVA.org

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

IT’S A WRAP

Grandparents Day at the Strelitz International Academy Carin Simon ach year, the day before Thanksgiving is devoted to Grandparents Day at Strelitz International Academy. Important in the lives of SIA’s students, many grandparents support the school throughout the year by giving to the Annual Donor Fund, Annual Golf Tournament, and Fall Festival, or by attending events such as Family Shabbat celebrations and Evening of the Arts.

Their involvement and support make a big difference in the lives of their grandchildren and in the success of the school.

This year, Grandparents Day included a special program with a student performance of This is The Hope, written by Jewish singer Rick Recht. Students sang with spirit and ruach while waving Israeli Flags to Lena Aftel and her grandmothers, Rona Adler and Rosalie Aftel. honor Israel.

The program was followed by engaging activities in the classrooms and the Jaffe Gymnasium that grandparents and students could participate in together. The joyous revelry forged unforgettable memories for all.

For the second consecutive year, SIA was honored by the generous sponsorship of Beth Sholom Village, a testament to the school’s unwavering commitment to the community and intergenerational bonds. Jason Hoffman, representing BSV’s board of trustees, says he was in awe of the turnout of 250 grandparents and special guests, filling the Fleder Multi-Purpose Room to the brim.

Grandparents Day Sponsors included Beth Sholom Village, Sharon and Michael Grossman, and Sharon and Michael Wasserberg.

Noah Bernstein with his grandparents, Michael and Sharon Wasserberg.

As the torch of knowledge and love passes from one generation to the next, Strelitz International Academy cherishes the magic of l'dor v'dor, from generation to generation.

–––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––– For more information on Strelitz International Academy, contact Carin Simon, director of advancement at csimon@strelitzacademy.org or www.strelitzacademy.org.

God Bless America

E

We stand with Israel and wish Happy Holidays to everyone Dora Lee Taylor

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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.

38 | JEWISH NEWS | December 11, 2023 JewishNewsVA.org

From Good to Great. . . a Ladies’ brunch with Yocheved Davidowitz Sunday, Jan. 14, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, B’nai Israel Congregation

A

licensed counselor, writer, and educator, Yocheved Davidowitz, LPC, works with women struggling with relationships, anxiety, and depression, as well as with couples in her private practice. She currently hosts Wake up Words with the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation and runs a daily Shmiras Halashon chat for hundreds of women worldwide. Davidowitz is the author of I’ll Start Tomorrow and hosts A Deeper Conversation, the Podcast for Jewish Women.

Davidowitz is the featured speaker at a Ladies’ Brunch at B’nai Israel.

––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––– RSVP to office@bnaiisrael.org. $14 per person. Sponsorships available for $180 or $250.

G Marie Luxuries opens in Marina Shore Shoppes Stephanie Peck Tidewater native, Gale Higgs grew up in Florida. At age 17, she moved back to the area, where she lived on her family’s Malbon hog farm. “I went from a kid running around Miami to a kid on a hog farm,” laughs Higgs, before discussing her new endeavor, G Marie Luxuries, which opened in September in Marina Shore Shoppes.

As founder of Kane Marie Fine Arts Gallery, a Virginia Beach business which closed in 2007, Higgs knows a thing or two about fine arts and luxury goods. She partnered with her late husband, David Levine, in real estate, including construction of Marina Shore Apartments and Marina Shore Shoppes. In 2008, the commercial real estate industry took a big hit, including properties owned by Higgs; not until 2021 did she see a rebound.

Around this time, she considered going back into art forms – not just jewelry, but also art, paintings, and sculpture.

“The best times of my life have been working with clients and artists,” Higgs says.

During a visit to Couture in Las Vegas, a high-end jewelry event for designers and retailers, Higgs was enthralled. She describes seeing “one-of-a-kind pieces that resonate with the people who touch them.”

It was fortuitous, then, that Higgs received a text during Couture from Carla Carter, her long-time manager of Kane Marie Fine Arts Gallery, who left the area in 2007 to travel with her husband. Once Higgs explained her vision for the new concept, Carter texted that she’s coming back. “So much had changed (in business). Websites, point of sale, social media, security…Carla knew all of it!”

G Marie Luxuries carries investment pieces, designs with rubies, emeralds, and diamonds, as well as fun, idiosyncratic items. The store is not intended to be elitist – prices start at $300. Higgs believes her market is world-wide; since its opening, 20% of G Marie Luxuries’ sales have been online. She adds, however, that “the only way the store works is if the community embraces it.”

To add to her expertise and credibility, Higgs helped design a suite of jewelry, including a necklace, bracelet, and ring, all created from a wave of blue sapphires and garnets, white diamonds, and yellow diamonds. All three pieces won the 2023 American Trade Gem Association’s Spectrum Award. According to its website, Spectrum “winners set the standard for beauty and innovation, launch trends and earn world-wide recognition.”

A

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Saturdays at Seven at The Jewish Museum and Cultural Center Ivanhoe:

Saturday, Jan. 6, 7 pm Crossfire: Saturday, Jan. 13, 7 pm Walk on Water: Saturday, Jan. 20, 7 pm The Fabelman’s: Saturday, Jan. 27, 7 pm Karen Plotnick anuary is right around the corner, and The Jewish Museum and Cultural Center in Portsmouth is ready to host its annual Saturdays at Seven movie series.

The first movie, on Saturday, Jan. 6, is Ivanhoe. Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, and Joan Fontaine star in this 1952 British American film.

Crossfire (1947) will be shown Saturday, Jan. 13. This is a rare film for its time, as it highlights antisemitism through the story of three World War II soldiers who become suspects in the murder of a Jewish hotel guest. The cast includes Robert Mitchum, Catherine Graham, and Robert Young.

Walk on Water (2004) will be featured Saturday, Jan. 20. The movie’s plot revolves around Eyal, an Israeli Mossad agent, whose mission is to track down and kill the elderly, presumably alive, ex-Nazi officer Alfred Himmelman.

The series concludes Saturday, Jan. 27 with the coming-of-age drama, The Fabelman’s. The movie takes place in Arizona where an aspiring adolescent filmmaker discovers a shattering family secret, using the power of film to explore the truth.

Rabbi Michael Panitz will host the films.

––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––– All films are shown at The Jewish Museum and Cultural Center located at 607 Effingham Street in Portsmouth. There is no charge, but donations are always appreciated.

J

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JewishNewsVA.org | December 11, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 39

WHAT’S HAPPENING

SIMON FAMILY PASSPORT TO ISRAEL

Simon Family Passport to Israel: Applications open January 1, 2024 The Tidewater Jewish Foundation is pleased to offer the Simon Family Passport to Israel Fund, which provides grants for Israel trips. This unique program offers grants that help Jewish students (ages 13–22) participate in an Israel trip experience.

Guidelines: • Qualifying Trips include educational; peer group of young people traveling together; organized by a non-profit organization, educational institution, or religious institution; staffed by qualified personnel; or structured with a predetermined itinerary.

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

• Trips may be funded up to 30% of the eligible expenses with a maximum of $6,000 per student.

Learn more and apply online starting January 1, 2024: bit.ly/tjf-simonfamilypassport

For more information, contact: Ann Swindell aswindell@tjfva.org 757-965-6106 foundation.jewishva.org

40 | JEWISH NEWS | December 11, 2023 JewishNewsVA.org

Building community through a new partnership: Ohef Sholom Temple presents Melton’s Love, Loss, and Wisdom Course Thursdays, starting February 1 7 pm, online Staff report hef Sholom Temple has a robust adult education program led by Alyson Morrissey, director of Lifelong Learning. The programming includes speakers, artists, films, Torah study, Hebrew, field trips, and more. Hundreds of members are engaged in its diverse learning experiences.

“OST also enjoys participating in communitywide education opportunities, so when the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Barb Gelb. offered the opportunity to partner with them to offer a Melton course, we were excited,” says Morrissey. “We are looking forward to engaging more members in the Melton program and are particularly excited to offer the course, Love, Loss and Wisdom.”

Melton's six-week Love, Loss, and Wisdom course allows learners of all levels of Jewish knowledge to discover the Jewish responses and rituals of mourning that culminate with arriving at a place of healing. When death inevitably appears, Jewish wisdom and ritual can help cope with heartbreak and loss, the anguish of why suffering exists. The class will also seek to understand the big questions of what Judaism says about life after death and its understanding of messianic times.

With a broader lens, participants will gain a context with which to better understand those moments of anguish as individuals and as a community.

The course will be taught by Barb Gelb, Ohef Sholom’s vice president and adult education chair. “I am so excited to teach this course. I trained as a Melton

O

instructor, and the teaching approach is phenomenal. Learners are engaged in conversation with each other as well as the texts. I will learn so much by teaching it.”

Melton courses use a pluralistic approach that builds community and introduces people to original sources as well as new ideas.

Gelb is a lifelong learner who continually seeks opportunities for learning and growth. “I'm always taking classes and trying to grow – and I like to study diverse topics. For example, I got certified as a health coach in 2016 to learn more about nutrition. I recently completed a course in emotional agility with Dr. Susan David to learn more about how our emotions can help us thrive. I am currently taking courses in human resources and yoga teaching,” she says.

“My parents and five siblings have been studying Torah together every Sunday evening for about eight years now, so learning is ingrained in who I am,” says Gelb.

The new six-week Melton course will be conducted online. As a part of this collaboration, UJFT’s Konikoff Center for Learning is subsidizing the course cost for all students. Using the code TW60 during checkout reduces the cost from $179 to $119. Additional scholarships are available upon request.

––––––––––––––––––––––––

For more information or to register for this course, visit JewishVA.org/Melton or contact Sierra Lautman, senior director of Jewish Innovation at UJFT, at SLautman@UJFT.org or Alyson Morrissey at Alyson@ohefsholom.org.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Navigating the new reality Three-part series aims to empower Jewish communities in the face of rising antisemitism

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 7:30 pm Zoom Sunday, Jan. 7, 2 pm Sandler Family Campus Wednesday, Jan. 17, 7:30 pm Zoom Samantha Wetzler and Megan Zuckerman he distressing events unfolding in Israel has gripped the Jewish community’s collective consciousness.

For many, Israel is not just a nation; it’s a cultural and historical anchor, a place that resonates deeply with one’s Jewish identity. The recent conflicts, however, have shattered the illusion of distance, forcing the confrontation of the harsh reality that Jewish homes, communities, and children are not immune to the impact of these distant battles.

The safety of children on high school and college campuses, the rise of antisemitic rhetoric, and the emotional toll of navigating a world marred by hatred and aggression weigh heavily on parents’ minds.

How can children be prepared to face the challenges of campus life, armed with the right responses, words, and the confidence to counteract hateful ideologies? Does openly supporting Israel make one a target?

Can Jewish symbols be proudly worn without fear?

To address these pressing questions and concerns, Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Simon Family JCC, and Community Partners’ 13th Annual Israel Today is presenting a threepart series. The series’ goal is to equip parents, high school and college students, grandparents, and concerned citizens with the knowledge and tools needed to

T

navigate the current climate.

–––––––––––––––––––––––– Part 1: Confronting campus antisemitism Tuesday, Dec. 19, 7:30 pm, Zoom Mark Rotenberg, Hillel International’s vice president for University Initiatives and General Counsel, will lead an online discussion about the current state of university campuses, Hillel’s initiatives to support students and administrators, and what the future may hold. This event will highlight insights into the challenges Jewish students face on campuses today.

–––––––––––––––––––––––– Part 2: BeAware - Situational awareness on campus and beyond Sunday, Jan. 7, 2 pm Sandler Family Campus Mike Goldsmith, Tidewater’s Secure Community Network (SCN) Regional Security Advisor, will share details of SCN’s work in collaboration with Hillel International to enhance campus safety and security programs and provide a comprehensive training program designed to prepare participants to improve their situational awareness and increase their safety on campus and beyond. This in-person event will include round table discussions for teens and young adults, as well as separate discussions for parents,

Invites the community to the

Biennial Meeting & Board Installation Join us as we celebrate OUTGOING CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

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grandparents, and concerned community members.

–––––––––––––––––––––––– Part 3: Israel – A quick historical refresher Wednesday, Jan. 17, 7:30 pm Zoom Ambassador Brad Gordon, recently retired from AIPAC after 25 years as a member of its

senior staff, will provide a fast-paced history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Understanding this history is crucial for comprehending the current geopolitical landscape. This event will offer valuable historical context to empower individuals in their response to antisemitism and anti-Israel bias.

–––––––––––––––––––––––– Register for the complete series or individual sessions.

For more information and to register, visit JewishVA.org/EmpoweringStudents or contact Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

JewishNewsVA.org | December 11, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 41

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Virginia Festival of Jewish Film: The Levys of Monticello now streaming Jacob Gurvis (JTA) — As an early champion of religious freedom in the United States, Thomas Jefferson’s regard for and relationship with Jews has been well-documented.

But the Jewish history of Jefferson’s famous Monticello home is less known.

Enter the documentary The Levys of Monticello, which hit streaming platforms Friday, Nov. 24 and tells the story of the Jewish family that owned the estate for 89 years — longer than Jefferson did himself.

From Menemsha Films, the documentary chronicles Uriah Phillips Levy and his nephew, Jefferson Monroe Levy, descendants of Sephardic Jews who fled Portugal during the Inquisition. The elder Levy served in the Navy and was the first Jew to achieve the rank of commodore when he fought in the War of 1812.

In 1834, Levy bought Monticello for $2,700 and, along

with 20 slaves, worked to repair the house and maintain the grounds. After Levy’s death and a legal dispute with the U.S.

government, Jefferson Monroe Levy took over. The younger Levy, who would later serve in Congress, became the target

Oy! The Yiddish Club is back Second and fourth Tuesdays 1 pm, Sandler Family Campus Simon Family JCC’s Yiddish Club is meeting again. This gathering is always a joyous occasion where attendees reconnect with old friends and make new ones who share a love for Yiddishkeit.

The Yiddish Club is a vibrant hub for preserving and promoting the Yiddish language and its rich heritage, making it an essential part of the community. Free and open to the community, the club meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For more information and to RSVP, visit JewishVA.org/YiddishClub or contact Mia Klein at MKlein@ujft.org or 757-452-3184.

Jewish Museum and Cultural Center: Transfer of presidency Norman David Soroko is completing his four-year term as president of the Jewish Museum and Cultural Center in Portsmouth. His run as president concludes on December 31, 2023.

Soroko has been active with the museum for almost 10 years and will remain active as a board member.

In May 2024, Soroko will be installed as president of Temple Israel.

Soroko will pass the presidency of JMCC to Karen Plotnick.

42 | JEWISH NEWS | December 11, 2023 JewishNewsVA.org

of an antisemitic campaign by Maude Littleton, the wife of a congressman who objected to his ownership.

The film, which was screened at the 30th Annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film in February at Norfolk Academy, premiered at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival in February 2022, where it won a jury prize, and has won awards at other Jewish film festivals in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. The director, Steven Pressman, is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker whose first two films focused on the Holocaust.

“As I was working on the film, when I would tell people about the Levys, a lot of them said, ‘You gotta be kidding,’” Pressman told J. The Jewish News of Northern California. “I enjoy telling Jewish stories that are new to audiences.”

The film is available for streaming on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video, plus the Jewish streaming site ChaiFlicks and a number of cable providers.

But why bump off barnaby?

A Mystery Farce

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January 12-28 Fri-Sat at 8pm, Sun at 2:30pm Join us for laughs... and murder

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CALENDAR THROUGH DECEMBER 31 Camp JCC Summer 2024 Early Bird Special. Registration for Camp JCC Summer 2024 is open.

Register during this early bird window to receive a discount on 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 18, MONDAY JCC Book Club. The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Murray. This club is open to the community to join in person or via Zoom. 1:30 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information and registration: Sherry Lieberman at joeann124@aol.com.

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 when 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.

DECEMBER 19, TUESDAY

Support the Arts

Become a Patron for the 2024 Season Virginia Festival of Jewish Film presented by Alma & Howard Laderberg Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival • Leon Family Gallery Yom Ha’Atzmaut presented by Avraham & Karen Ashkenazi

JEWISHVA.ORG/PATRON

Confronting Antisemitism on Campus. For high school students and 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 is the first in a three-part Israel Today series designed to empower students on high school and college campuses. 7:30 pm on Zoom. Free. Information and to registration: JewishVA.org/ EmpoweringStudents or contact Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

For more information contact Todd Holcomb, Director of Development THolcomb@UJFT.org or 757.965.6105

DECEMBER 20, WEDNESDAY Seniors Club Holiday Luncheon. Seniors Club, Bridge, Bunco, Mah Jongg, and Mexican Train players are invited to the annual holiday luncheon. Optional $10 white-elephant gift exchange. 12 pm.

Vino Italian Bistro, 5200 Fairfield Shopping Center. Information and to register: Patsi Walton at Nimpooh1@aol.com, 757-424-7258 or 757-650-5492.

DECEMBER 21, THURSDAY Monthly Moon Circle. UJFT’s Konikoff Center for Learning presents a tradition that spans thousands of years: a monthly holiday known as Rosh Chodesh, meaning "head of the month." 6:45 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information and registration: JewishVA.org/KCL or contact Sierra Lautman at SLautman@UJFT.org.

DID YOU KNOW?

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 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. Information and to register: JewishVA.org/EmpoweringStudents or contact Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

JANUARY 16, TUESDAY Beth Sholom Village Annual meeting. RSVP: 757-961-9027 or vpolk@bethsholomvillage.com Beyond Borders: The History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Part 1. A 10-Week Melton course offered by UJFT’s Konikoff Center for Learning. Dr. Amy K. Milligan, the Batten Endowed Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and Women's Studies and the director of the Institute of Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding, will study the roots of the conflict between Jews and Arabs over the modern State of Israel. 6:45 pm. Zoom. Early Registration $235 before January 6 using code EARLYBIRD at checkout. Standard registration $295. Information and registration: JewishVA.org/ Melton or contact Sierra Lautman at slautman@ujft.org or 757-965-6107.

JANUARY 17, WEDNESDAY Israel 101. High schoolers, college students, and 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. Part of an Israel Today series that aims to empower students on high school and college campuses. 7:30 pm on Zoom. Free. Information and registration: JewishVA.org/EmpoweringStudents or contact Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

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JewishNewsVA.org | December 11, 2023 | JEWISH NEWS | 43

OBITUARIES Stanley Robert Horne NORFOLK - Stanley Robert Horne died peacefully at his residence, Leigh Hall, on Saturday, December 2.

Stanley grew up in Norfolk, Va., first on Holt Street, then Ainsworth Street, and finally on Maury, where he grew up with Eleanor, Steven, Marianne, his mother Ruth, and his father, Ellis, better known as the “Double EE”.

He raised his own family in Colony

Point with his wife, Jo-Ann Lila, until 1972.

Colony Point was a “little Israel,” with so many relatives and the so-called extended family who watched Stanley’s children. He was blessed that his children would be so influenced by a rich Jewish heritage, because most of his relatives were practicing Jews.

Stanley always stressed family first.

When he was home early for dinner, his family was expected to be at the table.

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Stanley and Diane Amdurski traveled often to Atlantic City, took in shows, and were enriched with the local arts in Norfolk.

Diane completed the family for 27 years. She made Stanley very happy until pancreatic cancer took her.

Stanley was a very simple man and did not need much to be happy. A good cigar, his newspaper, a good cup of coffee, the remote for watching all football, basketball, etc., and his two kids; he was extremely proud of his children.

Stanley spent his last 16 months at Leigh Hall in Norfolk. He had a best friend there, Mr. Gerry Jacobs, with whom he ate, played cards daily, and often shared the computer. Stanley had the knack and gift of gab; he loved people, and he loved helping people plan their homes with décor.

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Stanley started working for Haynes Furniture before the birth of his children.

In the early 80s, he went to work for Herman and Adie Adler.

A graveside funeral took place at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

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www.altmeyerfuneralandcremation.com 44 | JEWISH NEWS | November 27, | |jewishnewsva.org September11, December 18,2023 2023JewishNewsVA.org jewishnewsva.org

––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Kenneth “Ken” Schonfeld

CUMMING, GA. - Kenneth Schonfeld, age 82, passed away on Friday, November 10.

Ken was born on July 22, 1941, in the Bronx, New York, to Joseph and Bertha (Birdie) Schonfeld. Ken graduated from Newport News High School in 1959 and attended University of Richmond before starting a career in furniture sales. His career culminated with owning Carolina Furniture Outlet in Hampton, Va., from 1984 to 1995.

In his younger years, Ken was an avid golfer and bowler. Over the years, he

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

––––––––––––––––––––––––––

• Family owned and operated since 1917

Edge Foundation/A.T. Mayo, Jr. Memorial Fund, which was established to recognize the exemplary care of The Skilled Nursing Unit at Harbor’s Edge.

NORFOLK - Hugh Janes passed away peacefully at Harbor’s Edge on December 1.

Hugh was born in Grand Rapids, Mich. to C. Lester Janes and Genevieve K. Janes on December 26, 1932.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn, his daughters, Susan (Alex) of Spring, Texas and Karen (Matthew) Fine of Norfolk; his grandchildren Isabel, Max, Lydia, and Hugh Cosculluela and Zach, Nate, and Miles Fine. Hugh is also survived by one great-grandchild, Clara Fine.

Hugh attended Western Michigan University (bachelor’s degree in Business 1955) and University of Michigan (M.B.A. in 1957). He served in the Army Reserve in Detroit, Mich. for 10 years. Hugh worked for 37 years in the pharmaceutical industry at Parke-Davis, Warner-Lambert, and Pfizer, in corporate taxes.

A private burial will take place in Fremont, Mich.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to The Harbor’s

did volunteer work as often as possible, including volunteering with Lee’s Friends – transporting cancer patients to and from their treatments. Ken was also a well-respected and active member of his synagogue community, first at Congregation Beth El in Norfolk, and later at Congregation Gesher L’Torah in Cumming, Ga. He was well known for his ability to make friends wherever he went. Ken loved spending time with his family, traveling, and learning new trivia.

He is loved and will be missed by many.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joan Schonfeld; their son, Brian Schonfeld and his wife, Stephanie White; their daughter, Stacey Brustein and Stacey’s significant other, Nathan Bunn; and his grandchildren, Jacob Brustein, Corinne Brustein, Jayden Brustein, and Owen White-Schonfeld.

The funeral was a graveside service at Hebrew Cemetery, in Hampton, Va. The family requests donations in Ken’s honor to either The American Lung Association or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Eric M. Tylman

NORFOLK - Eric M. Tylman passed away on Sunday, October 15 at the age of 70. He was the owner of Superior Tires in Norfolk.

Burial was held at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

OBITUARIES

Henry Kissinger, influential first Jewish secretary of state.

Ben Harris (JTA) — Henry Kissinger, the first Jewish secretary of state and the controversial mastermind of American foreign policy in the 1970s — orchestrating the U.S. opening to China, negotiating the end of the conflict in Vietnam and helping ease tensions with the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War — died Wednesday, Nov. 29.

Kissinger died at his home in Connecticut. He celebrated his 100th birthday in June with a party at the New York Public Library featuring luminaries from throughout his long career in politics and public affairs, including his current successor, Jewish Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Regarded as a brilliant diplomatic strategist, Kissinger was one of the most influential Jewish figures of the 20th century, leaving an enduring imprint on global politics as secretary of state and national security advisor to two U.S. presidents and as an informal advisor to several others.

With his rumbling German accent, iconic black glasses, and legendary charm, he was also a socialite and an unlikely 70s-era sex symbol, dating a string of movie stars and famously quipping that power is “the ultimate aphrodisiac.”

Despite fleeing his native Germany as the Nazis rose to power in the 1930s and losing several members of his family in the Holocaust, Kissinger evinced

little sentimental attachment to Jewish interests, telling a friend in the 1970s that Judaism “has no significance for me,” according to Walter Isaacson’s 1992 biography.

The negation of Kissinger’s Jewish identification may have been necessary for a man who rose higher in the executive branch than any Jew before him, and did so under a president, Richard Nixon, known to harbor deep anti-Jewish animus. Others saw it as emblematic of Kissinger’s Machiavellian streak and embrace of realpolitik, the hard-nosed approach to diplomacy that eschews moral concerns in favor of raw assessments of national interests.

After Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir pressed Nixon in 1973 to address the plight of Soviet Jews, Kissinger issued a blunt dismissal.

“The emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union is not an objective of American foreign policy,” Kissinger said, according to Oval Office recordings. “And if they put Jews into gas chambers in the Soviet Union, it is not an American concern. Maybe a humanitarian concern.”

After the recordings were released in 2010, Kissinger apologized for the gas chamber remark in a Washington Post op-ed but maintained his critics were taking it out of context. Kissinger went on to claim credit for the 100,000 Soviet Jews who emigrated thanks to Nixon’s “quiet diplomacy.”

Other elements of Kissinger’s record similarly suggest a more nuanced verdict on his approach to Jewish concerns.

At the height of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Nixon ordered an emergency airlift of resupplies to a struggling Israeli military, and memos from the period show Kissinger pushing back against the Pentagon’s reluctance to carry it out.

Later, Kissinger’s efforts to end the war gave birth to the term “shuttle diplomacy.”

Two years later, as Kissinger grew increasingly frustrated with Israeli intransigence in withdrawing from areas of the Sinai conquered in the

1967 war, he pushed Ford to conduct a “reassessment” of relations with Israel.

That precipitated a deep crisis between the White House and the Israeli government, but it ultimately yielded an Israeli-Egyptian agreement to resolve outstanding disputes peacefully, which in turned paved the way for the peace treaty that followed four years later.

“There’s no way you could tell the story of Camp David and the EgyptianIsraeli peace treaty without mentioning Kissinger and the 1973 shuttle diplomacy,” says historian Gil Troy. “If you want to buy into the tough love rather than the love-love approach to U.S.-Israeli

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OBITUARIES relations, the best example would be the March 1975 reassessment.”

Troy also records a less glowing incident about Kissinger in his 2013 book, Moynihan’s Moment. As the U.S. Ambassador Daniel Patrick Moynihan waged a very public battle against the “Zionism is racism” resolution at the United Nations, Kissinger pushed back hard, fearing it would undermine his efforts to ease tensions with the Soviet Union, at one point grumbling, “We are conducting foreign policy. . . This is not a synagogue.”

Nixon loved to rib Kissinger about his Jewish origins and his accent. The president later recalled that he told Meir they both had Jewish foreign ministers, referring to Kissinger and Abba Eban. “Yes, but mine speaks English,” Meir rejoined, to Nixon’s great amusement.

After leaving office, Kissinger appeared to shed some of his reluctance to be perceived as Israel’s champion, stating in a 1977 speech that, “The security of Israel is a moral imperative for all free peoples.”

In the decades that followed, he publicly defended Israeli interests, arguing that the absence of Mideast peace was the product of Arab intransigence and expressing skepticism of efforts to conclude a nuclear deal with Iran.

That in turn helped secure his embrace by the Jewish mainstream. In 2012, he received Israel’s highest civilian honor from President Shimon Peres for his “significant contribution to the State of Israel and to humanity.” In 2014, he received the Theodor Herzl Award from the World Jewish Congress. At the award presentation, WJC President Ronald Lauder recalled Kissinger telling Meir that he was an American first, secretary of state second, and a Jew third. According to Lauder, Meir responded that was fine since Israelis read from right to left.

“He was very insecure,” says Troy.

“The trauma of being a survivor, and the trauma of being an immigrant, of being an outsider. The 1970s was not a very Jewish decade. It was strange to have

46 | JEWISH NEWS | December 11, 2023 | JewishNewsVA.org

Jews in power, and strange to have Jews in Republican circles of power. Given his own ambivalence, and given the hostile environment that he was in, it’s not surprising that he would be pretty screwy on the Jewish question.”

Kissinger’s legacy remained deeply polarizing decades after he left public office. Despite winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for his work ending the Vietnam War — a deeply controversial choice at the time — many regard Kissinger as a war criminal, responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in the U.S. bombing of Cambodia and myriad other human rights violations in Argentina, East Timor and elsewhere. His role in directing the controversial war in Vietnam dogged him for decades.

After he left office in 1977, hundreds of students and faculty opposed Columbia University’s decision to offer Kissinger an endowed chair, with one student demonstrator likening it to asking Charles Manson to teach religion.

Kissinger tried mightily to shape the public narrative of his years in office, penning multiple memoirs totaling thousands of pages. But even into his 90s, he could barely appear in public without inviting protests.

In 2015, protestors disrupted a Senate hearing where Kissinger was testifying with chants that he should be arrested.

And in 2016, Kissinger’s address to the Nobel Institute’s Peace Forum in Oslo was met with protests and a petition with 7,000 signatures demanding his arrest for violations of the Geneva Conventions.

Heinz Alfred Kissinger was born in Bavaria, Germany in 1923. His father Louis was a schoolteacher and his mother Paula a homemaker. In 1938, the family fled the Nazis for London and later New York, where they settled in a German-Jewish immigrant community in Washington Heights. Kissinger studied accounting at City College before being drafted into the army in 1943, serving as an intelligence officer and seeing combat in the Battle of the Bulge.

After the army, Kissinger enrolled at Harvard University, where he earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in political science. As a faculty member in the university’s government department,

Kissinger served as an advisor to multiple government agencies.

In 1969, Kissinger was sworn in as Nixon’s national security advisor. He became secretary of state in 1973 and continued to hold both positions following Nixon’s resignation and Gerald Ford’s assumption of the presidency.

As the chief architect of U.S. foreign policy during the period, Kissinger pioneered the policy of detente, helping to defuse tensions with the Soviet Union and paving the way for Nixon’s groundbreaking 1972 summit with Chinese leader Mao Zedong. That led to the resumption of relations between the two nations, eventually leading to the full normalization of ties in 1979.

In Vietnam, Kissinger and Nixon attempted to wind down the conflict by withdrawing American troops and supporting the South Vietnamese Army in its efforts to repel Communist forces.

In support of that effort, Kissinger helped orchestrate a secret bombing campaign in Cambodia against Vietnamese Communist forces based there, killing tens of thousands.

Kissinger left office with Jimmy Carter’s election in 1976 but scarcely faded from view. He remained a fixture of the Washington scene, teaching at Georgetown, consulting for New York financial firms and delivering high-priced corporate lectures.

In 1982, he founded Kissinger Associates, a secretive New York consulting firm that has advised major multinational corporations. Kissinger backed out of his appointment by President George W. Bush as chairman of the commission investigating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks after Congress requested that he disclose his client list.

Kissinger was a recipient of the 1977 Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1980, he won a National Book Award for the first volume of his memoirs, The White House Years. In 1995, he received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth. He was also the first person to be named an honorary member of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team.

Kissinger is survived by his wife, Nancy Maginnes; two children from his first marriage to Ann Fleischer, whom he divorced in 1964; and five grandchildren.

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