Charlotte rabbi: The antisemitic attacks are painful. The silence from our trusted partners is excruciating.
Rabbi Asher Knight (JTA) — My family has lived in Colorado for generations. I was in touch with my mother and cousins following the firebombing attack on people marching to call attention to the hostages held in Gaza. In my mind, I can visualize exactly where it happened.
In just the last 50 days: arson at the Pennsylvania governor’s residence; assaults on Jews in the streets; vandalism of schools, synagogues and businesses; two murdered outside a Jewish event in Washington, D.C., and a firebomb attack on a peaceful gathering in Boulder that injured 15, including a Holocaust survivor.
In several of these cases, attackers shouted, “Free Palestine.” Or they said it when they were caught. Or the graffiti they wrote said it. These are not political statements. These are acts of antisemitic terror.
But something else makes this moment even more painful.
The silence.
I serve as the senior rabbi of Temple Beth El, the largest synagogue in the Carolinas. For years, our clergy and community have shown up. We have marched for racial justice, stood for LGBTQ+ rights, defended reproductive freedom, and worked alongside churches, faith communities of every kind and community partners to build a more just Charlotte. We have worked steadfastly with public schools and stood arm in arm at vigils and rallies. We showed up, again and again, because our faith commands us to.
And now, as Jews are being attacked in the streets, harassed on campuses and set on fire, the silence from many of our trusted partners is devastating.
We have not heard from many of the clergy or political leaders who regularly speak out for compassion, equity, and peace.
We have not heard from those who have insisted repeatedly that anti-Zionism is not antisemitism.
When Jews are targeted, burned, and killed under banners of “Free Palestine,” those voices have now fallen all too silent.
That silence sends a deafening message: that Jewish safety is negotiable. That Jewish lives are less urgent. That the grief of Jews burned alive is not worthy of their compassion or outrage. It leaves us feeling alone. It forces us to wonder if our safety matters.
To our friends, our partners in justice, our fellow clergy, our neighbors in the work of healing the world: Where are you?
If you believe in peace, now is the time to say that violence is never acceptable.
If you believe in justice, now is the time to reject hatred in all its forms.
If you believe that all people are created in the image of God (the text you cite is Jewish, by the way), now is the time to say that Jewish people are also created in the image of God.
You can grieve for Gaza and innocent life and still say that burning Jews alive is wrong.
You can challenge Israeli policy and still know that Jews everywhere are not responsible for it.
If you care about justice, say something. Stand for what is right. Do not let hate go unanswered.
Why? Because there is no liberation in setting people on fire. There is no justice in chasing Jews from public spaces. And you should know that hatred that is allowed to grow never stays contained. It always spreads. It always finds new victims and the people peddling in it will always create new grievances to justify more violence.
Say something. Silence is not love. Silence feels like abandonment. We need you to speak up. We have stood together for justice. Please do not disappear. We are still here. We need to know that you are too.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media or of Jewish News.
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BRIEFS
Israel may head to elections as haredi Orthodox parties rebel over army conscription
Israel’s government may fall soon as one of its haredi Orthodox factions threatens to leave because of a dispute over the military draft.
Israel requires all its Jewish citizens to enlist in the military but has carved out an exception for haredi Orthodox men in a deal dating back to the state’s early days. The draft exemption, which is not anchored in law, has sparked protest for decades that has intensified during Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, as Israeli reservists have served repeated, months-long tours. Last year, the Israeli Supreme Court ordered the government to start drafting haredi men.
Haredi politicians have demanded that the exemption continue, but progress on a bill has stalled. Now one of the haredi parties, United Torah Judaism, has said it will pull out of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, which is a mix of right-wing and religious parties.
If the other haredi party, Shas, also withdraws, Netanyahu will lose his majority in parliament, which would force elections.
Netanyahu has faced crises over the haredi draft in the past and usually overcame them, though the issue has also stymied past coalitions of his.
Most Israelis, polls show, oppose his prosecution of the war in Gaza, and predict that if elections were held today, he would struggle to win another term. (JTA)
How many American Jews are there?
Global study offers new estimate
In its landmark study of American Jewry in 2020, the Pew Research Center reported that there were an estimated 7.5 million Jews of all ages in the United States.
Now, in a study released Monday, June 9, the center says the number is actually more like 5.7 million.
What happened to 1.8 million American Jews? For its latest report, on global religious change, Pew is counting only those who self-identify with Judaism as a religion rather than those who identify as Jewish due to “ethnicity, culture, or family background.”
The metric was used because the goal of the project was to “report which religion, if any, people around the world identify with,” according to Conrad Hackett, senior demographer and associate director of religion research at Pew. In order to generate a number that could be comparable to, say, the number of Presbyterians, researchers needed to use a metric that could apply across communities.
But the metric also means that 1.8 million Americans who identify as Jewish but do not say they are Jewish by religion are excluded from the tally. The tally also does not detect growth in that population — by Pew’s previous assessment, the fastest-growing segment of American Jews.
The analysis, focused on population change, found that
the population of Jews by religion in the United States grew by just 30,000 between 2010 and 2020. In contrast, it found that the Jewish population of Israel — as measured by the Israeli government — increased by 1 million, to 6.8 million, during that time.
In multiple other regions, Africa and Europe, the Jewish population fell substantially, largely reflecting widespread emigration. The European Jewish population fell by an estimated 8%; the Latin America-Caribbean region decreased by 12%; and the sub-Saharan African Jewish population dropped 37%, to just 50,000 in 2020, according to the report.
The overall growth in the world’s Jewish population did not increase their proportion of the world’s religious adherents because of the much faster growth in other populations. The study found that Muslims are the fastest growing religious group, up 21% since 2010 with a total population of 2 billion.
Various efforts to count the number of Jews in the world have yielded an array of tallies, all below the Jewish population alive before the Holocaust. The Pew report quotes one demographer focused on Jews, Sergio DellaPergola, as noting that Jewish population counts are “permanently provisional” because of both data quality issues and the fact that the question of who is a Jew does not have a fixed answer. (JTA)
French parliamentary committee unanimously votes to posthumously promote Alfred Dreyfus
AFrench parliamentary committee unanimously approved a bill to posthumously promote Alfred Dreyfus, more than 130 years after he was framed for treason in one of the defining antisemitic incidents of the 19th century.
In what became known as the Dreyfus affair, Dreyfus, a Jewish French army captain, was falsely accused of espionage and convicted of treason in 1894, decades after the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian war. The trial — playing out in a Western European republic purportedly committed to equal rights — became an international scandal and symbol of enduring antisemitism on the continent.
French writer Émile Zola published a famous open letter titled “J’accuse!” charging the government and army of “treason against humanity” by playing to the public’s antisemitism. The trial also reportedly persuaded Theodor Herzl, who covered it as a journalist, to turn to Zionism. He is now considered the chief ideological influence behind Israel’s establishment.
Dreyfus was eventually exonerated, returned to the military, and died in 1935, but the incident is seen as a stain on French history. Last month, more than a century later, the French parliament’s National Defence and Armed Forces Committee unanimously voted to promote him to the rank of brigadier general.
“Accused, humiliated and condemned because he was Jewish, Alfred Dreyfus was dismissed from the army, imprisoned and exiled to Devil’s Island,” wrote former
French prime minister Gabriel Attal, who has Jewish ancestry, in a post on X.
The French embassy in Israel also praised the vote in a statement on X.
“The French Nation is just and does not forget,” the statement said. “This rights an injustice, honors a warrior, and clarifies that antisemitism, from history to today, will never have a place in the Republic.”
This isn’t the first time in recent years that France has revisited the scandal. In 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated what is believed to be the world’s first museum about the Dreyfus affair in a Paris suburb. (JTA)
Paris synagogues and Holocaust memorial vandalized on Shabbat
Vandals covered three Jewish sites in Paris with green paint Friday, May 30, in an act that has unsettled French Jews.
The paint covered walls of the Agoudas Hakehilos synagogue and the Tournelles synagogue as well as the Shoah Memorial for French victims of the Holocaust. The three sites are located within several blocks of each other in Paris’ historic Jewish center.
Covering sites with red paint has come to be understood as a protest against Israel as it wages war in Gaza. The Paris vandal or vandals did not indicate a motive for the green paint.
“Whatever the perpetrators and their motivations, these acts do not only target walls: they violently stigmatize French Jews, their memory and their places of worship,” said the French Jewish group CRIF, which said a restaurant had also been vandalized. “These paint sprays are a stain on our republican values.”
“I am appalled by the attack on Jewish institutions in Paris over Shabbat — including the synagogue in the Marais neighborhood which was built by my greatgrandfather Rabbi Joel Herzog,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said, referring to Agoudas Hakehilos. He said he had spoken to French Jewish leaders and called on French authorities to investigate swiftly.
The mayor of Paris and other French authorities condemned the vandalism and vowed to apprehend and punish the perpetrators. (JTA)
Militias use new terminology to hide
Across the United States, militia groups are redefining how they identify themselves, signaling a broader effort to soften their image and manipulate public perception.
Research by the ADL Center on Extremism over the past year shows many new militia groups have avoided the traditional “militia” moniker, especially those with younger members. Instead, many are using names such as “mutual assistance group” or “contingency group,” which allows them to camouflage their extremist ideology, sidestep public scrutiny, and grow their networks both online and offline. (ADL)
ISRAEL
World Zionist Congress election results: Surge in US turnout, Reform slate wins most
Asaf Elia-Shalev (JTA) — More than 230,000 American Jews voted in the 2025 election for the World Zionist Congress, setting a new turnout record and nearly doubling participation compared to the last election five years ago, according to preliminary results released Thursday, June 5 by the American Zionist Movement.
The tally excludes nearly 20,000 votes that the body overseeing the election determined had been cast fraudulently and disqualified.
The results suggest heightened interest among American Jews in shaping Zionist priorities, as 152 delegates from the United States — nearly one-third of the 525-member Congress — prepare to travel to Jerusalem this October to help decide how more than $1 billion in annual funding will be allocated to Jewish and Israeli institutions.
The right-wing and Orthodox bloc repeated its strength from the last election, appearing to once again secure a majority of votes despite a surge in support for several leading liberal slates.
The top vote-getter was the Vote Reform slate, representing the Reform movement, U.S. Jewry’s largest denomination, with about 48,000 votes. The liberal-leaning slate won some 16,000 more votes than the last election, when it also placed first, but its vote share dropped from 26% to 21%. The slate said the result shows that the Reform movement is the leading voice of American Jewry.
“This is more than just a win for our slate — it is a resounding mandate for the values we champion,” Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, said.
Am Yisrael Chai came in second place with about 32,00 votes, or about 14% of the total. Positioned as a centrist and Orthodox voice, the slate proved successful in courting Jewish college students and young professionals with its focus on pro-Israel advocacy, Jewish pride, and promoting “love of Torah.”
Eretz Hakodesh, an Orthodox slate whose debut in the last election helped tip the balance of power at the World Zionist Congress in favor of the rightwing bloc for the first time, placed third with about 29,000 voters. Mercaz USA, representing Conservative Judaism, was fourth with 28,000 votes, and Orthodox Israel Coalition-Mizrachi, the political arm of Modern Orthodoxy, secured about 27,000 votes.
In all, 22 slates competed in the U.S. election, up from 14 in 2020 — a sign of growing political, religious and generational diversity among American Jews. The election, administered by the American Zionist Movement, took place from March 10 to May 4, with 224,237 valid votes cast online and an additional 6,020 by mail.
“American Jews have spoken — through their record-breaking turnout in the 2025 World Zionist Congress election, they have powerfully demonstrated that Zionism in the United States is not only alive and well but stronger than ever,” said AZM executive director Herbert Block.
“Thanks to this historic participation in the election, U.S. Jewry is poised to make an indelible mark when the World Zionist Congress gathers in October.”
The record turnout was marred by the discovery of what election officials described as “serious voting irregularities.” According to the AZM, an investigation
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uncovered schemes involving prepaid credit cards and anonymized emails used to fraudulently submit ballots on behalf of five slates. A sixth slate was found to have benefited from invalid paper registrations.
As a result, 18,948 ballots were disqualified and excluded from the vote totals. Officials have not named the slates involved and say further penalties may follow pending the results of continuing investigations and legal challenges.
The AZM said it would release the final delegate allocations after additional reviews and once pending cases before the AZM Tribunal and the Zionist Supreme
Court, the World Zionist Congress’s judicial authority in Jerusalem, are resolved.
The World Zionist Congress, established by Theodor Herzl in 1897, meets every five years and serves as the governing body of the World Zionist Organization. It influences leadership appointments and funding decisions across major Israeli and Jewish institutions, including the Jewish Agency, which is involved in immigration and the Jewish National Fund, which has power over land use across large swaths of the country.
The 39th Congress will convene in Jerusalem from Oct. 28 to 30.
FBI, DHS issue warning of ‘elevated threat’ to Jewish and Israeli communities
The FBI and DHS have released several similar announcements in recent years warning of potential attacks motivated by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Grace
Gilson
In the wake of two violent attacks on Jewish community events in recent weeks, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security have issued a public service announcement warning of an “elevated threat” to Jews and Israeli communities.
and hate crime perpetrators with similar grievances to conduct violence against Jewish and Israeli communities and their supporters,” the FBI and DHS wrote. (The agencies capitalize Hamas’ name in all communications.)
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In their announcement issued Thursday, June 5, the FBI and DHS cited the two recent attacks — the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., last month and the firebombing attack Sunday, June 1 on a march for Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado, that left 15 injured.
“The ongoing Israel-HAMAS conflict may motivate other violent extremists
“Foreign terrorist organizations also may try to exploit narratives related to the conflict to inspire attacks in the United States,” the announcement continued. Jewish institutions are working to shore up security in the wake of the incidents while seeking not to discourage participation in Jewish life and pro-Israel events.
“As indicated by the FBI and other Federal Law Enforcement agencies, the Jewish community in the United
States is currently living in one of the most complex and demanding threat environments we have ever seen,” says Michael Goldsmith, Regional Security Advisor-Tidewater, Secure Community Network. “That said, there are ways to fight this and keep our community safe.”
The PSA urged the public to “remain vigilant” and report any threats of violence to law enforcement.
Goldsmith agrees, emphasizing that everyone should “remain aware of our surroundings to enhance our ability to detect threats, have a plan of action should we encounter dangerous situations, and commit to action should we find ourselves under threat.”
If planning an event, he suggests
contacting a local security professional or the local police department to ensure that gatherings are conducted in as safe a manner as possible.
“We should also report any suspicious events or persons to the police and your security director. The point is to not live in fear but rather to take the necessary precautions so we can continue to celebrate Jewish life,” says Goldsmith.
Both the suspect in the Boulder attack, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, and the suspect in the D.C. shooting, Elias Rodriguez, appeared to be motivated by the ongoing conflict in Israel. As Rodriguez was arrested, he shouted, “free Palestine,” and Soliman reportedly made the same chant during his attack on demonstrators.
The latest warning comes as the Trump administration is citing the attack and antisemitism more broadly to justify a wide array of government actions, including an immigration crackdown, a travel ban, and funding cuts to universities.
But the warning is very much in line with others that the departments have released in the past, including during the Biden administration.
Three days after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, the FBI and DHS issued
an alert regarding the “ongoing issue of potential public safety concern consequent to the Hamas attacks in Israel.”
“Some violent extremists have used times of heightened tensions to incite violence against religious minorities, targeting both Jewish and Muslim Americans,” the warning read.
Later that month, the FBI and DHS warned that the escalating war would likely “heighten the threat of lone actor violence targeting large public gatherings.”
Another warning followed in December 2023.
And ahead of the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack, another PSA warned that the anniversary may be a “motivating factor for violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators.”
The PSA was released by the Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, which is a division of the FBI. IC3 routinely releases PSA’s multiple times a month, with the majority targeting internet-related crimes including fraud, hacking, and scams. In January, the FBI and DHS released a PSA warning the public of potential copycat attacks following the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, Louisiana in which a man drove his truck through a crowded street, injuring dozens of people.
Jewish News staff contributed to this article.
See something wrong? Report it!
Report an antisemitic incident at www.Federation.JewishVA.org/IncidentReporting
In an emergency, always call 9-1-1 first. If online reporting is not practical, contact local law enforcement and/or the relevant suspicious activity reporting authority.
Also contact Mike Goldsmith, Tidewater’s SCN Regional Security Advisor, at MGoldsmith@ujft.org or 844-SCN-DESK.
TRUMP’S NEW TRAVEL BAN WILL BLOCK
‘THOSE IN NEED OF REAL REFUGE,’ AMERICAN JEWISH
COMMITTEE SAYS
Andrew Lapin (JTA) — The American Jewish Committee has come out against President Donald Trump’s new executive order banning travel to the United States from 12 countries, which Trump says is needed because of incidents such as this month’s attack on a rally for the release of Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado.
The stance by one of the world’s largest Jewish organizations comes as some Jewish groups have signaled a growing unease with Trump’s policies, which the White House frequently justifies by citing concerns about antisemitism. The AJC and other major Jewish groups have also criticized his decision to cut funding and otherwise penalize universities where there were proPalestinian protests.
“While we are deeply distressed by the rise in violent antisemitic attacks in the United States, and while we appreciate that the administration is trying to mobilize as many levers as it can to counter it, we are concerned that the broad Proclamation issued June 4 seeks to address this alarming issue in a way that lacks a clear connection to the underlying problem and will have an adverse impact on other longstanding immigration and refugee policies,” the group said in a statement.
The group added that the restrictive order “will prevent those in need of real refuge from entering the United States in line with the longstanding American tradition of welcoming those forced to leave their countries to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.”
Other Jewish groups weighed in against the ban as well. HIAS, the Jewish refugee and immigrant aid organization, said it was “appalled” by the new ban. “To suggest that banning individuals from entering the United States, simply
based on their country of origin, will somehow keep us safer is absurd,” Naomi Steinberg, the group’s vice president of U.S. policy and advocacy, said in a statement.
The CEO of the Jewish Council on Public Affairs, Amy Spitalnick, who is an outspoken critic of the Trump administration, issued a statement excoriating the ban soon after Trump announced it.
“The Jewish community’s legitimate fears and concerns should not be exploited to undermine core democratic norms, or otherwise advance discriminatory & unconstitutional policies,” she said. “Doing so only makes Jews — and all communities — less safe.”
Some major Jewish groups did not immediately weigh in on the ban.
The Anti-Defamation League, whose CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, spoke at a vigil for the victims in Boulder, at press time had not commented on Trump’s order; the group opposed a similar travel ban Trump instituted during his first administration, which was widely interpreted to target Muslims. At the time, Greenblatt called it “a clear example of anti-Muslim bigotry.”
Trump’s order includes an outright ban on travel from 12 countries, largely majority-Muslim — Afghanistan, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen — and severely restricts travel from seven others (Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela).
The suspect in the Boulder attack, in which 15 people were injured, was an Egyptian national who originally entered the United States on a tourist visa, which had subsequently expired. He had reportedly lived extensively in Kuwait. Egypt and Kuwait are not represented on Trump’s new travel ban, and some of the countries that are — including Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba — are home to modest Jewish communities. There are 700 Iranian Jews who were approved to come to the United States as refugees whose immigration is on hold.
We appreciate that the administration is trying to counter it (antisemitism).
The umbrella group Jewish Federations of North America, which in the immediate aftermath of the shooting at a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., issued a list of policy priorities its CEO, Eric Fingerhut, says must be taken up — including increased federal funding for security at Jewish institutions — also did not immediately comment on the new travel ban.
Trump cited the Boulder attack as his rationale, saying in a video, “The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas.”
The AJC’s statement noted that the group supports some aspects of Trump’s stance, including “that entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted and those who overstay visas can pose national security threats.”
Head of RFK Jr. support group believes the Protocols of the Elders of Zion
Andrew Lapin
(JTA) — The director of a new organization founded to advance the priorities of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has extensively promoted the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a famous antisemitic forgery.
Leland Lehrman, who last month was named executive director of the MAHA Institute, also believes Israel may have been behind the 9/11 terror attacks, and has inveighed against “high-level Jewish Illuminists, or Lucifer worshipers.”
That’s according to a new report from the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, a social justice watchdog group founded by an acclaimed Jewish researcher on white nationalism, detailing Lehrman’s views and writing.
MAHA, short for Make America Healthy Again, is a slogan adopted by Kennedy and his supporters since the anti-vaccine activist dropped his independent presidential bid and endorsed Donald Trump. The institute bearing its name says it is committed to “rebuilding America’s health policy and infrastructure.” Opposition to most vaccines is a key MAHA plank — one that runs directly counter to scientific consensus.
Lehrman’s beliefs about Jews — despite having a Jewish father himself, the conservative politician and investment banker Lewis E. Lehrman, the grandson of the founder of Rite Aid — reflect classical antisemitic tropes and conspiratorial thinking.
In 2005, Lehrman penned an article entitled ADL, Zionist Policies Causing Rise in Anti-Jewish Sentiment for a website run by Jeff Rense, whom the Anti-Defamation League has deemed an antisemitic conspiracy theorist. In the piece, Lehrman repeatedly praised the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a 19th-century Russian forgery purporting to outline a secret Jewish leadership conspiracy for world domination.
Lehrman wrote that the Protocols were “most likely authentic, and therefore represent the most thorough indictment
of Jewish Supremacism known to man.”
He also asserted that the document would “virtually guarantee a political and historical awakening which will unavoidably lead to an understanding of the continuing problem of Jewish racism and supremacism,” and said Jews were responsible for bringing about “the New World Order.”
He also said Jews are disloyal to the United States. “I am an American citizen of Jewish heritage concerned about the methods and doctrines that the criminal leadership of the Jewish and Zionist hierarchy have promoted worldwide,” he wrote. “I feel that Jewish Americans need to affirm loyalty to the Constitution of the United States of America as well as the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule, rather than the racist attitudes of the Talmud and other Jewish scriptures.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Lehrman attended but did not graduate from Yale University, his father’s alma mater, in the 1990s.
His endorsement of the Protocols appears to have emerged as a product of his journey into the 9/11 Truther movement, which predated his anti-vaccine advocacy, and which led to him proclaiming that the Mossad, Israel’s intelligence operation, was “a leading candidate for architect of the 9/11 attacks.”
Since shifting his focus to vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lehrman became a vocal booster of Kennedy’s presidential campaign. On LinkedIn, he claims that he started as a volunteer before he “was hired to do research and provide ideas for Bobby and the campaign on policy issues, news briefs, and tweets.”
Kennedy himself has dabbled in antisemitic commentary, comparing COVID vaccines to Nazi-era policies on the campaign trail and suggesting that the pandemic was “ethnically targeted” to avoid Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people. This month he continued transforming his anti-vaccine activism into official policy, dismissing all members of a COVID vaccine advisory panel.
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FIRST PERSON
Israel trip reconnects us with Shinshinim, strengthens purpose for Nadiv
Danny Rubin
In late May, my wife, Shikma, our two boys, and I visited Israel with the primary goal to see Shikma’s family: her grandma, sister, nieces, aunt, uncle, and cousins.
We spent several days in apartments in Ra’anana and Hod HaSharon eating great meals and catching up on lost time. We also participated in a Shavuot celebration at the home of Shikma’s cousin in Be’er Tuvia, a moshav (cooperative agricultural community) about 45 minutes south of Tel Aviv.
Shavuot on a moshav is a big deal with a celebration involving synchronized tractor “dances,” wheelbarrow races, the presentation of new babies born in the past year, and singing and dancing until the sun sets.
Alongside the family reunion, we had a secondary mission for the visit to Israel: reunite with the Shinshinim who lived in our Jewish community. Shinshinim are young Israeli high school graduates who serve as emissaries in Jewish communities around the world for a year, deferring their mandatory military service.
Many will remember Aya Sever, Naomi Friedland, and Maya Ostrov. Aya was one of our community’s first Shinshin in 2023. Naomi and Maya followed the next year. Shikma, our boys, and I felt such joy reconnecting with all three young women who now serve in various capacities in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
We even met the parents of a current Shinshin in Tidewater, Danielle Hartman. Karen and Yaniv Hartman joined us for an impromptu birthday party for our son, Niv, who turned 10 while we were in Israel.
stops was The Nadiv Farm in the Zichron Yaacov region of the country. As many know, “Nadiv” is the name of the young professional men’s fundraising division of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. I was intrigued. Why name a farm “Nadiv,” which means “generous” in Hebrew?
Yishai explained that in the 1880s, an anonymous philanthropist (known as “HaNadiv” or “The Great Benefactor”) began to fund the earliest agricultural and infrastructure projects in what would later become the State of Israel.
clinics to provide medical care.
In Zichron Yaacov, along the coast between Tel Aviv and Haifa, the word Nadiv is found in several places. We took a Jeep ride through vineyards at The Nadiv Farm and ate lunch in Zichron at a restaurant called The Nadiv. There is also a famous garden in Israel called Ramat HaNadiv where Edmond and his wife are buried.
Even more, there is a philanthropic organization in Israel today called Yad HaNadiv, rooted in Rothschild’s mission, that supports efforts in education, the environment, and early childhood. (yadhanadiv.org.il)
When I chose “Nadiv” as our group’s name in 2016, I didn’t know about the legacy of Baron Edmond de Rothschild. I only learned the information during our recent trip to Israel. But now, the connection only strengthens our group’s purpose since “HaNadiv” was crucial to the founding of Israel. I am proud that Nadiv here in Tidewater continues that legacy.
Every trip to Israel is special in its own way. This one is no exception.
On one trip, we spent time with family as well as friends who feel like family. What could be better?
Well, there is something more.
For two of our nine days in Israel, we explored the country with a terrific young tour guide, Yishai Damelin. One of our
The man was later revealed to be Baron Edmond de Rothschild, the renowned French banker.
Rothschild supported projects such as the start of the wine industry in Israel. He also built factories, drained swamps to combat malaria, and established
Danny Rubin and his boys, Niv and Shai, dine at The Nadiv restaurant in Zichron Yaacov. The Zichron region is influenced by the philanthropic efforts in the late 19th century of Baron Edmond de Rothschild, also known as “HaNadiv” or “The Great Benefactor.”
Naomi Friedland, a former Shinshinim participant in Tidewater, with Niv and Shai Rubin.
Dylan Cohen (Danny Rubin's first cousin and a freshman at VCU, who was in Israel at the same time on his Birthright trip), Aya Sever (former Jewish Tidewater Shinshin), with Niv, Shikma, Shai, and Danny Rubin.
Shai Rubin (bottom right) participates in a wheelbarrow race as part of a Shavuot celebration on a moshav in Be’er Tuvia. Shikma Rubin’s uncle, Dror Barlev, pushes the wheelbarrow while Shai’s cousin, Tomer Vine, is along for the ride.
JEWISH TIDEWATER
Steps on the Jewish Journey: The Hoffman family and One Happy Camper
TJF staff
When Summer Hoffman was 15 years old, she received a One Happy Camper grant that allowed her to attend a three-week residential camp, BBYO International Kallah. For her interfaith family—half Jewish, half Christian—it was more than just a summer getaway. It became a turning point.
“BBYO Kallah gave Summer the space to explore what being Jewish means to her,” says her father, Jason Hoffman. “It helped her connect with our community and ultimately led to her decision to embrace her Jewish heritage.”
That journey culminated in a deeply meaningful moment: Summer chose to become a bat mitzvah at camp. Surrounded by peers and mentors in a supportive Jewish environment, she made the commitment to step fully into her Jewish identity—right there in the place that helped her discover it.
Now 19, Summer reflects on that camp experience as one of the most formative in her life. It offered more than songs around a campfire or color war games. It offered independence, confidence, and the comfort of a shared heritage.
Her younger brother, Logan, 17, is preparing for his first summer at a BBYO overnight camp, also with the support of a One Happy Camper grant. Inspired by his
sister’s experience, he’s ready to begin his own chapter of Jewish exploration at BBYO Kallah 2025.
Locally administered by Tidewater Jewish Foundation, the One Happy Camper program provides grants for first-time campers to attend Jewish overnight camps. While many might assume such grants are based on financial need, the program is open to all—regardless of income.
“There’s no financial qualifier,” Hoffman notes. “This program is about encouraging Jewish growth, period. If camp can be the spark that inspires a stronger connection to Jewish heritage, that’s a win for the whole community.”
TJF views the grant as a gateway to something more lasting. Camp can be the first step on “The Journey”—a lifelong path of Jewish learning, leadership, and giving. For families such as the Hoffmans, it offers a way to plant seeds of identity that grow over time—seeds that foster a deeper connection to Jewish life and values, ensuring that future generations continue to carry forward the community’s stories, traditions, and sense of belonging.
To learn more about the One Happy Camper grant and how a child can begin their journey, contact Tidewater Jewish Foundation at foundation@jewishva.org.
If your child has trouble seeing far away, there’s a treatment that can correct, and help protect their blurry vision from getting worse as they grow.
Trey Kelleter represents and advises defendants, witnesses, and victims in federal and state criminal investigations. Put his decades of experience as a trial lawyer and skilled negotiator to work for you.
JEWISH TIDEWATER
Turn taxes into a tool for building the future of Jewish Tidewater
What if a donation today could help shape a stronger Jewish community—and reduce a future tax burden?
Thanks to the Tidewater Jewish Foundation and Virginia’s Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits (EISTC) program, individuals and businesses who believe in the power of Jewish education can make a meaningful contribution that supports students and provides a significant return at tax time.
Through the program, donors receive a 65% Virginia state tax credit after making their gift—plus additional federal and state tax deductions—making the real cost of a $10,000 donation less than $2,500.
These funds go directly toward scholarships for students attending Toras Chaim, Strelitz International Academy, and BINA High School, supporting a wide range of families committed to Jewish education.
“Education is where we plant the seeds of our future,” says Naomi Limor Sedek, TJF president and CEO. “By investing in our children’s learning—especially at the earliest stages—we’re shaping the future of Jewish Tidewater. And you can do that while receiving a significant tax benefit.”
These scholarships not only ease the financial burden on families but also ensure that the next generation is grounded in Jewish values, identity, and learning. A welleducated Jewish child becomes a connected Jewish adult, contributing to a resilient and vibrant community for decades to come.
There’s no cap on business contributions, and individual donors can give as little as $500 or as much as $125,000 per tax year. Gifts can be made by check or appreciated stock. TJF guides donors through the required preauthorization process. While donations for credits are accepted throughout the year, the deadline to qualify for a tax credit to support the 2024–2025 school year is June 25, 2025.
Children are Jewish Tidewater’s future. Investing at the ground level—through early education—builds the Jewish leaders, thinkers, and advocates of tomorrow.
To learn more or begin the process, contact Randy Parrish, TJF vice president and CFO at rparrish@tjfva.org or 757-965-6100.
Can weight-loss drugs help in cancer treatment? This Jewish organization is on the case
Larry Luxner
(JTA) — Jamie Mafdali of South Florida was hit with a cancer doublewhammy three years ago.
Shortly after her mother began treatment for breast cancer and learned it had metastasized, Mafdali herself was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in her left breast.
Given her family history, Mafdali, now 45, decided to get a bilateral mastectomy. Although she initially prepared for implants, she later learned of a natural reconstructive procedure known as DIEP flap surgery that she preferred. But it required her to lose at least 20 pounds before her surgeon could even consider the option.
To lose weight, Mafdali’s endocrinologist suggested GLP-1 receptor agonists: a then new, and now enormously popular class of injectable weightloss drugs known as semaglutides. They’re sold under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy.
Over the next year, Mafdali—who’d struggled with weight issues in the past—shed
more than 20 pounds.
“I feel satiated with less food and don’t think about food all day now,” she says. “I thought taking a GLP-1 would help me lose the weight needed for surgery, and I’m excited for my next steps along this journey.”
Mafdali spoke at a webinar organized by Sharsheret, the Jewish breast cancer and ovarian cancer organization. Sharsheret works to improve the lives of Jewish women and families living with, or at increased genetic risk for, breast or ovarian cancer through personalized support and educational outreach.
Weight-related issues can be a significant complication in cancer treatment, particularly for patients who are diabetic or at risk for diabetes due to obesity.
“People who have diabetes may have an increased risk of complications from breast cancer treatment and possibly also have an increased risk of recurrence,” Dr. Ruth Oratz, an oncologist
Expert Physicians. Exceptional Cancer Care.
At Virginia Oncology Associates, we recognize all of our patients as individuals with a need for caring, personalized treatment. We are dedicated to finding new and better ways to treat cancer through ongoing research and clinical trials. Our team of specialized physicians and sta work together and collaborate to create a plan that will help navigate each person’s journey.
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at NYU Langone Health who sits on Sharsheret’s medical advisory board, said during the webinar. “The treatments we give are often very, very harsh. Chemotherapy can cause a lot of disorders in terms of what you’re eating and how you’re exercising.”
The new GLP-1 drugs are enabling cancer patients to address weight issues more quickly and effectively, helping along their cancer treatments.
The drugs are also thought to be able to help with lymphedema— swelling caused by an accumulation of fluid from the body’s lymphatic system that can affect arms, legs, and other body parts.
Obesity is one of the biggest risk factors for breast cancer.
Wegovy users saw a 20% drop in heart attacks, strokes, or death from heart-related events. In another trial of weight-loss drugs known as tirzepatides—marketed under brand names including Mounjaro and Zepbound— patients with obesity as well as a risk for heart disease showed a 38% reduction in hospitalizations for heart failure. Those on the highest dose of tirzepatide saw a 62% clearing of fatty liver compared to those treated with a placebo.
“Lymphedema is not only related to body weight but is also, we feel, sort of an immunologic disease characterized by stasis or stagnation of the lymphatic fluid in the arm after surgery and perhaps radiation therapy,” Oratz said.
Because the GLP-1 drugs may also have anti-inflammatory properties, Oratz said, they may counteract the slowing down of lymphatic fluid that causes the swelling and inflammation.
“It’s a very exciting time for all these medications,” Dr. Barrie Weinstein, an endocrinologist and the medical director of Well by Messer, a New York City metabolic and wellness center specializing in weight loss, said on the Sharsheret webinar.
More than 800 viewers logged in to watch the webinar, which was facilitated by Melissa Rosen, Sharsheret’s director of training and education, and supported by Pfizer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and program partners NYU Langone Health, Well by Messer, and the American Jewish Medical Association.
In a recent drug trial, patients who used Wegovy obtained a mean weight loss of 15%, with 36% of patients losing 20% or more of their body weight after two years of treatment.
Weight loss isn’t the only benefit, Weinstein said. In one recent trial,
Another study has shown that Ozempic reduces the risk of kidney failure and death in adults with diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Still other trials indicate that GLP-1 drugs may also slow the degenerative effects of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
“Patients on these drugs feel better and are healthier overall,” Oratz said. “They’ve already shown a benefit in reducing the incidence and risk of recurrence of other kinds of cancers.”
The vast majority of women who develop breast cancer are postmenopausal. Yet Medicare does not cover these drugs to reduce cancer risk. Patients must either have diabetes or metabolic syndrome—or be significantly overweight—to get a prescription.
Common side effects of the drugs include nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and acid reflux.
Women currently receiving chemotherapy or those with a family history of medullary thyroid cancer should avoid GLP-1 drugs, according to Oratz, and women trying to get pregnant should be off the drugs for at least eight weeks.
Oratz said that GLP-1s are safe for patients with BRCA-related mutations as well as metastatic breast cancer.
“They’re doing very well, and this has contributed significantly to the stability of their disease by losing weight and correcting the metabolic syndrome,” she said. “There’s no reason why someone
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who’d otherwise benefit from the drug and has a history of triple negative breast cancer couldn’t take it.”
Sharsheret CEO Elana Silber says part of her organization’s mission is to provide reliable information to the community about new procedures, cancer treatments, and “hot topics” like GLP-1 drugs.
“We know that obesity is one of the biggest risk factors for breast cancer. At the same time, so much of our Jewish culture, holidays, and rituals revolves around food,” Silber says. “If there is a safe and effective option for women to manage weight loss and cancer to improve their
quality of life, we want them to know about it from the experts.”
Anyone considering GLP-1 weightloss drugs as part of a breast cancer treatment plan should speak with their healthcare team to understand the benefits and risks. For personalized support and more information, contact Sharsheret at 866-474-2774 or info@sharsheret.org.
This article was sponsored by and produced in partnership with Sharsheret, the national Jewish breast cancer and ovarian cancer organization. This article was produced by JTA’s native content team.
HEALTHCARE
Medical Directives versus Medical Orders
Stephanie Peck
An 84-year-old woman in the intensive care unit asked if the facility had a copy of her advance medical directive to support her healthcare wishes. The doctor explained that, in the hospital, this legal document did not serve the purpose she intended and instead detailed the importance of a POLST, or portable medical orders for life-sustaining treatment. The state of Virginia adopted this document in 2023, modeled after the Oregon POLST form which has been in use for more than 20 years.
While advanced directives and portable medical orders appear similar, the differences between the two are consequential when considering a patient’s healthcare at the end of their life.
David Kamer, an attorney with Kaufman & Canoles, outlines the importance of having an advance directive, which is comprised of two elements: a health care power of attorney and health care instructions. In an advance directive, an individual names one or more agents who are given the power to make health care decisions on the individual’s behalf if this person is unable to make an informed decision. The individual can decide what types of powers the agent can have. Examples include whether the agent should have the power to admit this person to a mental health care facility or whether the agent should have the power to decide on a specific treatment even if this person objects.
David Kamer.
“An advance directive is also an opportunity to provide specific instructions about care after a person is no longer able to make decisions. It provides instructions about endof-life care – meaning, whether to provide life-prolonging procedures, such as tube feeding, IV fluids, or use of a ventilator. But it might also be instructions about things such as who is permitted to visit, types of music to play, specific physicians to use, or specific types of treatment to use or not use. In addition, an advance directive can be used to provide instructions about organ donation,” Kamer says.
In contrast, a POLST is a physician-signed order form which communicates and puts into action treatment preferences, such
as cardiopulmonary resuscitation orders when a patient is near the end of their life. The Virginia POLST website recommends this form for those with a terminal illness, or those dealing with a chronic progressive illness, such as advanced heart or lung disease or cancer that has spread. Medical orders like POLSTs can be consulted in an emergency, such as in an ambulance or by an emergency medical professional.
Dr. Rosie Newman, a retired geriatric and inpatient palliative care physician, completed a POLST form four to six times per day during the last five plus years of her medical career.
“This (the POLST) spells out the desire to avoid interventions focused on life support and rather focused on comfort and a natural death,’ she says.
“This is care that aims to remain out of hospital except when comfort cannot be provided in another setting.”
The current standard of care during an emergency is to do everything possible to save someone’s life unless there is a medical order to the contrary. A POLST is based on the ethical principle of respect and patient autonomy and the legal principle of patient self-determination. According to its website, all competent adults have the right to make their own healthcare decisions. A POLST is designed to help healthcare professionals know and honor the treatment wishes of their patients.
Dr. Marissa Galicia-Castillo, director of the Glennan Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, also serves as the director of the Brock Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (which she was instrumental in establishing) and serves on the board of Dozoretz Hospice House of Hampton Roads. She outlines that an advanced care plan provides guidelines for medical care, but it is not an order like a POLST. (Other acronyms for similar orders include POST, MOST and MOLST, and Virginia will accept these documents from other states, as well).
The POLST form simply asks how the individual wants to be treated at the end of life: comfort measures only, selective treatments, or full treatment including artificial nutrition and hydration. “We try to fill-out POLSTS as often as we can, but
Dr. Marissa Galicia-Castillo.
people don’t want to talk about it,” Dr. Galicia-Castillo says. Since a serious illness often results in palliative care, she recommends having this conversation when the patient is as well as possible and not in distress.
Kamer recommends that everyone also have an advance directive. “The Virginia Code sets out an ordering of who serves as agent to make health care decisions in the absence of an advance directive, but that agent might be someone who would not have otherwise been chosen,” he says. Without an advance directive, a person’s wishes about end-of-life care or other types of health care might not be carried out, as they will be unknown to the agent and the health care providers.
An advance directive can be created online, and Kamer recommends using the form available on the Virginia State Bar website or forms made available by hospitals. However, a lawyer can be helpful in explaining the concepts contained in an advance directive. A POLST, on the other hand, should be obtained from, and completed with, a health care professional. It should not be provided to patients or individuals to complete on their own.
Connect Virginia is a state registry for advance directives where Virginia residents can securely store their completed documents. Health care providers and
HEALTHCARE
designated persons can have access to the account. Kamer adds, “To ensure that all relevant parties know about someone’s advance directive, aside from registering it, I recommend giving a copy to one’s physicians and named agents. If the person is comfortable with it, I would also suggest giving a copy to family members and close friends or letting them know where to find a copy.”
While 30+ states recognize the National POLST form, there is no national registry. In Virginia, the form can be uploaded to Sentara’s EPIC system, free of charge, while other hospital systems charge a fee for the upload. “It’s a chunky system, not consistent,” Galicia-Castillo says. She also recommends the U.S. Advanced Care Plan Registry, a secure, online database to store advanced directives, including DNRs (do not resuscitate) and POLSTS. Through its mobile app, emergency responders can search a document by address, allowing personnel to review a DNR or POLST before
arriving at the scene.
Newman adds, “Sadly it was not unusual to have this document missing between the hospital and the rehab site – making my job one of calling to be sure the staff saw the POLST and that a copy was now on file in this new setting. Which is why we say transitions of health care locations are the weakest link in healthcare where things can go wrong despite all the best efforts at both sides.”
Both Kamer and Galicia-Castillo stress that a person is never too young to prepare these documents. “It should become a normal part of becoming an adult,” says Galicia-Castillo.
Kamer agrees, “It can be difficult and uncomfortable to think through these serious issues, particularly for young adults, but life is unpredictable. It’s better to get through it and put the subject out of mind than to never deal with it.”
Dr. Rosie Newman.
Parents gift therapy practice to daughter
Stephanie Peck
Dr. Michael S. Weissman and his wife, Brina, opened Churchland Psychological Center in 1981, serving Hampton Roads for nearly 45 years.
As clinical director, Weissman offers individual adult psychotherapy, family and marital counseling, and psychological testing, while Brina Weissman serves behind the scenes in payroll, tax, and accounts payable. Together, they have gifted the practice to their daughter, Sara Litt, a licensed clinical social worker with degrees from University of Virginia and Columbia. Litt joined the practice more than 20 years ago.
Succession was not part of the original plan, until Weissman saw an article in The Virginian-Pilot about a family carrying on a business to the next generation. “My wife and I just gave the practice to my daughter. She’s my boss now,” he laughs. Weissman says he plans to continue seeing patients
as long as he can function. With Brina Weissman retiring this month, after teaching Litt the ropes, Weissman says he is thrilled to be young enough to see his daughter blossom in her new role. “She took over like a champ,” he kvells.
“Working with Sara is the highest form of nachas, seeing your child follow in your footsteps,” he adds. Weissman describes his daughter as an extraordinary therapist with a gift to understand others.
Litt says that her career path was partly influenced by her father. As a child, she would overhear him dictating his patient sessions. Originally pursing a life in theater, Litt did not have confidence in her talent but loved the character development and moral dilemmas that were presented on the stage. This idea of character study led her to become a therapist.
Both father and daughter remark at the overwhelming anxiety that they
currently see in their patients. Weissman attributes this escalation to the divisive political climate and the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. While he still counsels for marital
like for their children.
problems and depression, he notices a sense of personal insecurity that is overlaid onto these more common difficulties; he also hears concerns about climate change and parents wondering what the world will be
“There is a general angst about world events and politics,” Litt agrees. Families can’t get over the fact that someone voted otherwise. She worries about internet addiction and the next generation missing basic life skills, such as picking up the phone and calling someone. Litt observes that parents are so busy with their phones that they don’t look at their kids, and, therefore, these children are not getting the attachments they need.
As an observant Jew, wearing a yarmulke and lapel pin with U.S. and Israeli flags, Weissman explains how Torah infuses his work. While he does not often quote the source, he shares Jewish wisdom even with his non-Jewish patients. He says he is not proselytizing; he is merely imparting wisdom that is more than 1,000 years old. “Don’t discipline your child when you’re angry,” he offers as an example; instead, he suggests, buy time and think before responding.
Litt, too, follows Torah in her practice, though she cites a very different example from her father. Her mother abided by the commandment that “one must pay one’s worker on the day that he completes his work,” and therefore always paid employees on the first of the month. When the holiday of Shavous started on June 1, Litt recognized a dilemma and was grateful when staff came in the Sunday before to run payroll. “My parents created the company with a viable, supportive, and warm work environment. My intention is to keep that.”
As a mother of five boys, ranging in age from 11 to 24 years old, Litt is grateful to control her own schedule and tailor it to her family’s needs. She and her son, Ari Litt, revised the center’s website and upgraded the technology.
A graduate student at Hofstra University, Ari Litt is studying psychotherapy and specializing in clients with special needs. Who knows – perhaps there will be a third generation to this family business.
Sara Litt, LCSW and Dr. Michael Weissman.
HEALTHCARE
Newsweek ranks Hadassah
Medical Organization one of the world’s best hospitals –
for the first time ever
For the first time since Newsweek launched its annual rankings, the magazine named Israel’s Hadassah Medical Organization one of the best hospitals in the world. The Jerusalem-based nonprofit hospital system was founded and is owned by Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America.
The rankings appear in World’s Best Hospitals 2025, Newsweek’s annual assessment of hospitals worldwide. The 2025 report, which rates 2,400 hospitals in 30 countries, puts Hadassah in the company of such renowned American institutions as the Mayo Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic, and The Johns Hopkins Hospital and such leading overseas institutions as Sweden’s Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset and Switzerland’s Universitätsspital Basel.
In the most recent World’s Best Specialized Hospitals and World’s Best Smart Hospitals, Hadassah once again earned a spot among Israel’s top hospitals for cardiology (fifth year), oncology (fourth year) and the use of
• Family owned and operated since 1917
• Affordable services to fit any budget
• Advance funeral planning
• Professional, experienced, caring staff
• Flexible burial options
smart technology (fourth year).
In a joint statement, Dalia Itzik, chairwoman of the Hadassah Medical Organization’s board of directors, and Yoram Weiss, MD, its director general, said, “At Hadassah’s hospitals, the true reward for our work lies in the thousands of patients whom we help to reclaim or enhance their lives each year. Our dedicated faculty and staff are aided by our use of cutting-edge technologies across every medical specialty and our partnerships with leading international science and healthcare companies.”
The World’s Best Hospitals 2025 was produced in collaboration with the global data firm Statista. The report is based on an online survey of medical experts; hospital quality metrics, which measure such things as healthcare processes and systems; and surveys of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), which document patients’ perceptions of their quality of life and ability to function after hospitalization.
For more than a century, the Hadassah Medical Organization, the
• Flexible payment options
Approved by all area Rabbis and Chevrah Kadisha
Celebrating life’s treasured memories.
Jerusalem-based hospital system founded and owned by Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, has set the standard for excellence in medical treatment and research in Israel. The experience and ingenuity of Hadassah’s doctors and scientists have led to new tools and treatments in all areas of medicine, including therapeutics, diagnostic medical devices, and digital health.
Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With nearly 300,000 members, donors and supporters,
Hadassah brings women together to effect change on such critical issues as ensuring Israel’s security, combating antisemitism and promoting women’s health care. Through its Jerusalem-based hospital system, the Hadassah Medical Organization, Hadassah helps support exemplary care for more than 1 million people every year as well as worldrenowned medical research. Hadassah’s hospitals serve without regard to race, religion, or nationality and in 2005 earned a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for building bridges to peace through medicine.
Chris Sisler, Vice President, Member of Ohef Sholom Temple, Board member of the Berger-Goldrich Home at Beth Sholom Village, James E. Altmeyer, Jr., President, James E. Altmeyer, Sr., Owner
Dr. Louise Lubin inspires JFS staff with message of self-compassion and resilience HEALTHCARE
Amid the demands of social services work, the staff at Jewish Family Service of Tidewater recently gained valuable insights and inspiration during a seminar led by Dr. Louise B. Lubin, a distinguished clinical psychologist with 40 years of experience.
With a focus on self-love, compassion, and burnout, Dr. Lubin offered a deeply empathetic perspective drawn from her career in adult, marital, and family therapy. The session took place on Thursday, May 1.
to sort out how I am going to accept what is, rather than focusing on what should be. Staying stuck in blame toward others or myself keeps me from living more fully with an open heart and compassion.”
Drawing from her book, Many Paths to Healing, she shared a poignant passage that resonated with many in the room:
“Life is not fair. People do not always get what they deserve. Bad things happen to good people. It is up to me
The quote encapsulates the core of Lubin’s message: the path to healing begins with acceptance and is sustained by kindness— especially toward oneself.
During the seminar, Lubin introduced the concept of “warming up” self-talk, a simple yet profound shift in how individuals can nurture themselves mentally and emotionally. She encouraged participants to ask: What would I say to a dear friend? What would I like to hear that would allow me to rest and relax? What do I need?
These questions, Lubin explained, help redirect the often-critical internal dialogue toward one that is affirming
and restorative.
Lubin is a retired faculty member of Eastern Virginia Medical School and a lifetime member of leading national psychology organizations. Her “Many Paths to Healing” programs have helped patients build emotional resilience across hospitals and medical practices, offering patients vital tools for emotional resilience in the face of chronic or lifethreatening illness.
Reflecting on the significance of Lubin’s visit, Kelly Burroughs, CEO of JFS, says, “Dr. Lubin reminded us that in order to heal others, we have to care for ourselves. It was great for our staff to hear about self-care from such an experienced professional.”
At JFS, where the mission is to promote quality of life through services rooted in the tradition of Judaism, Dr. Lubin’s message served as a vital reminder: compassion must begin at home, within ourselves.
To learn more, visit Dr. Lousie Lubin's website at manypathstohealing.com.
Brooke Rush
Dr. Louise Lubin.
The Triumph of Life (A Narrative Theology of Judaism) Rabbi Irving Greenberg
An acclaimed modern Orthodox rabbi and author, Rabbi Irving Greenberg has touched and transformed practically every facet of American Jewish life and beyond – including as a congregational rabbi, scholar, theologian, activist, interfaith leader, president of the JJ Greenberg Institute for the advancement of Jewish Life, and senior scholar in residence at New York’s Hadar Institute.
His latest book, The Triumph of Life, is Greenberg’s own triumphant accomplishment offering both Jews and non-Jews a scholarly, yet accessible work of theological art that is bound to rank high as a pioneering beacon of light, learning, and enlightenment in our postmodern new age. It offers revolutionary promise, as well as colossal dark threats to human life, and the very survival of all life on our planet.
Greenberg attributes the impetus to writing this inspirational, uplifting, and instructive guide – which aims to reassure its readers from all backgrounds and persuasions that covenantal life of the spirit is worth laboring and fighting for – to his shaking experience in Israel in 1961 while attending Tel Aviv University as a Fulbright scholar and encountering the enormity of the Holocaust for the first time.
The famous Adolf Eichmann trial of the notorious SS officer was taking place in Jerusalem at the time. A son of Polish Holocaust survivors, I vividly recall as a teenager living then in Israel and the shock of the horrific events described by shaken witnesses.
The author offers a touching confessional of a crisis of faith of an Orthodox-raised Jew, challenging his basic
Philadelphia:
Reviewed by Rabbi Israel Zoberman
assumptions about God, covenant and life’s meaning. “My loving wife (Blu is a distinguished feminist Orthodox Jew and author) and family saved me from nihilism and despair by showing me the incredible tenacity and unspent power of embracing life. The emergent State of Israel suggested to me that the Divine was still operating in the world and testified to the human capacity to take power for reestablishing life and reasserting its value.”
Greenberg’s open and loving embrace of all humans, given that they are all created in God’s sacred image and represent the divine in a rich and full rainbow, is reinforced by his courageous call for those particularly in the traditional Jewish camp to overcome centuries-old biases that historically have fenced in Judaism and its threatened adherences. While the author unequivocally calls for Jews to respect and appreciate Christianity and other religions, he confronts antisemitism head on as making possible the devastating Holocaust.
The admirable Orthodox rabbi who found his way back to faith and his own belief structure, following a most challenging crisis impacted by the shattering Holocaust, was able to reach beyond the confines of his own faith’s traditions and give credit where it’s due, while most other Orthodox rabbis would have hesitated to go as far.
Greenberg describes his arousing revelation in a visit to Sri Lanka when he witnessed Christians who left their comforts of affluent homes in Norway to attend to the needs of brain injured children abandoned
by their families. He credits the altruistic and steadfast devotion of these remarkable humans to the grounding grandeur of their Christian affiliation.
The prosecution of the Gaza War has both united and divided Israelis with a backlash of antisemitism in the United States and Europe. It is evident that events in Israel affect the Jewish Diaspora, even as the author emphasizes the debt of the latter to the Israeli partner. It is clear though that influential American Jewry is the glue to the essential relationship between Israel and the United States. Greenberg hails
the creation in 1948 of the State of Israel as the redemptive divine act of reassuring that God’s covenant with a Jewish people continues in spite of the Holocaust’s heavy toll. The world’s only Jewish state’s robust democracy, with multiple accomplishments benefitting humanity, has served as a source of pride and unity to world Jewry even though challenges to Israel’s existence and character persist from within and without.
Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman is founder of Temple Lev Tikvah and Honorary Senior Rabbi Scholar at Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal
BAGELS & BALANCE
THURSDAYS beginning July 24
8:30am, breakfast & coffee 9:00am, class discussion
With a focus on positivity, long-term goals, and self-reflection, this minicourse will be the perfect pairing for your morning breakfast as we discuss how to develop strong, healthy, and enduring relationships with our children.
Led by Rabbi Aryeh Kravetz
Strelitz International Academy’s Carin Simon attends Life & Legacy conference
Carin Simon, director of advancement at Strelitz International Academy, joined Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s Naomi Limor Sedek and Amy Weinstein at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s Life & Legacy Leadership Conference last month.
“I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend the Life and Legacy conference,” says Simon. “The conference gave me the opportunity to learn more about the transformative opportunities that come with having a strong Legacy giving program and enabled me to make valuable connections with other development professionals.”
To learn more about Life and Legacy, contact Amy Weinstein at aweinstein@tjfva.org.
From pantry to advocacy: JFS of Tidewater speaks to VB Council about compassionate service
Brooke Rush and Julie Kievit Jewish Family Service of Tidewater presented at the formal session of the Virginia Beach City Council on Tuesday, May 27. JFS was nominated by Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer, Councilmen Michael Berlucchi of District 3, and Joash Schulman of District 9 in recognition of its impactful service across the city and throughout Hampton Roads.
Councilman Michael Berlucchi commended JFS for its unwavering dedication, stating, “Jewish Family Service has been a beacon of hope for many in our community. Their programs transcend cultural and religious boundaries, truly embodying the spirit of service.”
Councilman Joash Schulman echoed those sentiments, adding, “The impact of JFS is felt across Virginia Beach. Their commitment to enhancing lives is evident in every program they offer.”
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Brooke Rush, director of development, spoke about key service areas including food security, mental health counseling, senior support, and refugee resettlement. The JFS Food Pantry, for example, provides food for nearly 1,000 clients annually, with a focus on dignity and choice for every client. Embrace Counseling is comprised of licensed trauma counselors specializing in grief and life’s transitions.
Dorothy Salomonsky, director of the Personal Affairs Management (PAM) program,
reflected on its evolution, noting how she and JFS helped develop the agency’s guardianship model and established oversight through an advisory board. This model is now adopted throughout the state. “We work every day to meet the needs of our clients. We serve our clients throughout their lives, ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect—even after death,” she said.
“As a long-time practitioner of physical therapy, I have used your services and resources and it was magnificent and really valuable, especially for my home bound clients,” Mayor Bobby Dyer said emphasizing the reach of JFS’ impact.
Jewish Family Service’s presence at City Council served as both recognition and reaffirmation of its mission. With continued support from public officials, community donors, and volunteers, JFS is poised to expand its reach and deepen its impact in the years to come.
As JFS continues to evolve, it remains a vital pillar of compassion, dignity, and resilience in Virginia Beach and throughout Tidewater. From its food pantry shelves to its therapy rooms, and from its guardianship program to its home delivered meal efforts, JFS is actively repairing the world—one person, one family, one community at a time.
For more information or to support JFS, visit www.jfshamptonroads.org.
Mayor Bobby Dyer, Councilman Michael Berlucchi, Brooke Rush, Dorothy Salomonsky, Julie Kievit, and Councilman Joash Schulman.
Carin Simon, Amy Weinstein, and Naomi Limor Sedek at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s Life and Legacy Leadership Conference 2025.
FIRST PERSON
HISTORY AND RITUAL CONVERGE AT AVIVA ARK DEDICATION AND SERVICE
A Shabbat was clearly the right time to dedicate the new ark at Aviva Pembroke, the senior housing community now open at Pembroke Square in Virginia Beach.
Naval Officer and woodcrafter David Small was our Noah, creating the home for the same Torah that was in the chapel at Beth Sholom Home/Village for more than 40 years. Now it resides at Aviva, along with a growing number of Jewish men and women including Harold Smith who told
“We have always taken care of the needs of Jewish seniors including their desire to practice their faith,” said Larry Siegel, a past board chair who was instrumental in establishing a partnership with Pembroke Square Associates to create Aviva and its 153 apartments – mostly independent living units, but several also dedicated for assisted living and memory support residents.
“We will continue to do so here,” said current chair Jay Kossman, who with my wife Sara Jo, oversaw the construction of the ark with David Small. For that mitzvah, l gave those two the honor of the first ark opening.
me the service was “one of the best I’ve attended, very meaningful.”
Harold was among several in the community room on a recent Saturday morning as Cantor Elihu Flax, my son Danny (a newly minted Beth Sholom Village board nominee), his sons Niv and Shai, and yours truly led prayers and an interactive conversation about the 40 plus year journey that produced Aviva.
During our impromptu dialogue, Larry, Jay, former chair Neil Friedman, and Cantor Flax, who managed religious affairs at Beth Sholom in College Park for 18 years and is now chaplain at Aviva, spoke about the respect that Aviva has for all faiths. In fact, Flax meets with residents twice a week and organizes programs and services with volunteers like my family and friends, including Ben Kozak, here this day, as he was many Shabbats at Beth Sholom.
“This was very ‘haimish’,” said Abby Friedman, “a very moving event for families, board members, residents, and the entire community.”
Most in attendance, including incoming chair Fay Silverman, either did aliyot or ark openings.
“I was thrilled that my brother Steve Berlin, who was in town from Charlotte, had one, too,” said active resident Arlene Owens.
We will continue having monthly Friday evening or Saturday morning services and invite anyone seeking a relaxing space with an ark, siddurs, tallitot, keepot, and a friendly
“congregation” in the heart of Virginia Beach to join us. While there, see what Aviva has to offer or visit online at www. avivapembroke.com.
Joel Rubin
Sara Jo Rubin and David Small open the ark.
Joel Rubin leads services.
Cantor Elihu Flax, Joel Rubin, Charlie and Fay Silverman, and Larry Seigel.
HAPPENING
FIRST PERSON
Mahj Mondays at the J Begins
Monday, June 23,
Sandler Family Campus
Stephanie Calliott
There’s something in the air. Mah Jongg Mondays (or “Mahj” to insiders, which you may already be or are about to become) are coming to the Sandler Family Campus. If you already play or have always wanted to, Mahj Mondays are for you. Did you grow up watching your mom play (and occasionally help yourselves to the snacks)? Did you once play? Do you play weekly now? Then, you’re a Monday Mahjer.
Beginning Monday, June 23, Mah Jongg will be available two ways: lessons and open play.
Amy Levy has wanted to kick this off for some time. Now, that idea is becoming a reality. “I’ve seen other communities host open play games successfully, and I thought we needed to bring that concept here,” she says. “Whether you are part of a group or someone looking for a game, we see Monday Mah Jongg as a destination for everyone. For me, it’s more than just a game. It is a social activity that fosters sisterhood and creates wonderful friendships.”
If you’ve always wanted to learn or haven’t played in years and need a refresher, join us for three complimentary lessons. You’ll learn the tiles, the game (National Mah Jongg League card), and what all those bams, cracks, and dots mean. If it seems like a secret language, you’re right. And you’ll have fun learning it.
LEARN: Lessons: June 23, June 30, and July 14; 11 am - 12:30 pm.
Learners are encouraged to attend all three sessions, but if that’s not possible, all are still welcome.
PLAY: 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Mondays of each month (except holidays); 1 - 4 pm (or for as long as your schedule allows).
Bring your group or come solo. It’s a fun way to play.
Excited by the news, Laura Gross says, “Although I grew up playing cards with my grandmother (Rummy, Gin Rummy, Spades, Go Fish), I have not had the opportunity, as an adult, to learn the games my friends are playing. Now, with the “R” word in my not-too-distant future, I am thrilled to learn Mah Jongg from friends and then play with friends at the Simon Family JCC.”
Lessons and general play are open to the community; JCC membership is not required. Walk-ins are welcome, but an RSVP will help to set the room and let others know there will be players. Everyone is welcome — all ages, all affiliations, all backgrounds, and all levels of experience (you’ll play with others at your level).
“I think it’s great the JCC is doing this because it’s really nice for community engagement. I have friends who have open play where they live, and I’ve always thought it would be fun here — so count me in,” says Babbi Bangel. Megan Zuckerman is also on board. “I’m looking forward to joining the Monday Mah Jongg group,” says Zuckerman, “because I’m always up for a new challenge. I love when our community offers new and interesting opportunities for us to play and learn together.”
Viewing the calendar and RSVPing online are easy with the free TeamReach app. It’s not required, but if you use a mobile phone, give it a try. It’s easy and information is right at your fingertips:
1) Download the free TeamReach app (it’s a red square with a T in the center).
2) Enter the group code “BamCrack2025” and click “join.”
3) Click on the “JCC Mahj Group” to open the page and you’re in.
4) Click the “settings” icon in the top right corner (looks like a spiked wheel) and enter your experience level in the “role/also known as” section: Seasoned, intermediate, beginner.
5) Then, click the “calendar” icon to select the lessons and games you’re interested in. RSVP (yes, no, maybe) when you’re available. You may change your response at any time. You may also view the other participants by clicking on the “people” icon. And that’s it!
While walk-ins are always welcome and invited, those who sign up will be given priority seating (if the room fills up). Fun is heading your way.
“I see Mahj Mondays at the J as a wonderful way to bring women together. You may win or lose, get lucky with jokers or not, but I know you’ll walk away having had a great time, great conversation, and hopefully even made a few new friends,” says Levy.
Mahj is a game of tiles and strategy but it’s also a gift. I’ve been playing for close to 40 years and the best hand I ever won was the Tuesday Mahj night my son was born. That beat all jokers. Then and now. So come join us.
For additional information, contact Amy Levy at momofjnsb@ cox.net; Stephanie Calliott at sacinva@aol.com; or Mia Klein at 757-452-3184.
Save the date for SIA’s golf tournament
Wednesday, September 10 Virginia Beach National Golf Club
Plans for the 36th Annual Strelitz International Golf Tournament, proudly known as the “Bob Josephberg Classic,” co-chaired by David Leon and Tim Thornton, are now in full swing.
Each year, the event raises close to $150,000 to support the students and families of the Strelitz International Academy. An excited golf committee with some new faces are already getting involved.
Celebrating 70 years strong in 2025, the school has much to celebrate. Serving students from infancy through fifth grade, SIA lays a solid foundation for future leaders, deeply rooted in the values and support of the Tidewater Jewish community. Enrollment is growing, the facility is top notch, and the faculty continues to be the best in town.
The Annual Golf Tournament presents the opportunity for businesses and individuals to show their support of the school’s
70th anniversary and make a significant impact in helping to support student scholarships, faculty development, and quality programming.
Sponsorship opportunities range from $400 to $10,500, catering to a variety of giving levels. The event is open to all golf enthusiasts and volunteers, promising a day packed with excitement, including a silent auction with unique items and trips and a fun awards reception featuring a kosher dinner and great networking opportunities.
Participation is more than just a game; it’s an investment in the future of Tidewater’s children and the strength of the community. Join for a day of camaraderie, competition, and community spirit.
For more information, to sponsor, or participate in the tournament, contact Carin Simon, director of advancement, at 757-424-4327 or
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Tidewater Jewish Foundation is awarding grants to support innovative programs that strengthen our community—from education and culture to safety, wellness, and inclusion.
Application Deadline: July 10, 2025 Recipients Notified: August 2025
Dr. Gary Moss Dr. Greg Pendell Dr. Craig Koenig Dr. Marguerite Lengkeek
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Americans and the Holocaust: A Traveling Exhibition for Libraries
TCC/City Joint-Use Library
1700 College Crescent, Virginia Beach
Through Saturday, June 28
This 1,100-square-foot exhibition explores how American society— including the government, military, refugee aid organizations, media, and the public—responded to Nazism, war, and the Holocaust during the 1930s and 1940s. The Virginia Beach Public Library is hosting a series of related programs in partnership with the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. All programs are open to the public and designed for both teens and adults. https://libraries.virginiabeach.gov/ programs-events/aath.
Tzofim Friendship Caravan returns to Tidewater
A celebration of Israeli culture and community
Thursday, July 17, 5:30 pm, Sandler
Family Campus
A vibrant group of Israeli teens who bring the spirit of Israel to life through music, dance, and storytelling, the Tzofim Friendship Caravan returns to Tidewater for a community concert next month.
The Tzofim Friendship Caravan’s performances are joyful celebrations of Israeli culture, unity, and the enduring connection between Israel and Tidewater’s Jewish community. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Israeli Scouts presenting excitement, energy, and friendship to communities across North America.
Looking to enhance the experience? Become a host family! United Jewish Federation of Tidewater seeks local individuals or families to host the scouts for two nights during their stay. This is an unforgettable opportunity to share in their journey and gain deeper insight into life in Israel.
This event is part of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Simon Family JCC, and Community Partners’ 15th Annual Israel Today series.
For more information, to register for the event, and learn about hosting opportunities, visit JewishVA.org/Friendship or contact Nofar Trem, UJFT’s Israel engagement manager, at NTrem@UJFT.org.
Visiting Israeli Scouts.
Leaders of the troop, Ron and Shirin.
JUNE 16, MONDAY
JCC Book Club discusses Sara Glass’s book Kissing Girls on Shabbat . Sara Glass visits Tidewater on June 25 to discuss her book with the community. Book Club meets the third Monday of each month. In person or via Zoom. 1:30 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information: Mia Klein at Mklein@ujft.org.
BEGINNING JUNE 17, TUESDAYS
Understanding Zionism: The Return to the Jewish Homeland. This 6-week online Melton course, taught by Sierra Lautman, explores Zionism’s religious, cultural, and political roots, and its relevance today. 6:45 pm. Online. Registration: JewishVA.org/Melton with code ZION50 for $129 off.
JUNE 18, WEDNESDAY
JCC Seniors Club goes to the Portsmouth Jewish Museum & Cultural Center. The bus leaves at 11:45 am for a tour and a new understanding of the history of the building and its projects. Club meets the third Wednesday of each month and is for adults who are 55+. Membership fee is $15 per year. Lunch served at 11 am. Sandler Family Campus. Information: Mia Klein at MKlein@UJFT.org.
JUNE 19, THURSDAY
YAD Happy Hour. The perfect chance to unwind, connect, and build community with other Jewish young adults (ages 22–45ish). First round of appetizers provided by YAD. 6:30 – 8 pm. Free. Location provided at registration, which is required. Contact Amy Zelenka at 757-965-6139 or azelenka@ujft.org.
STARTING
Beth El's Sisterhood Garage Sale. community and Jewish charities, and Sunday School and Beth El special requests. 10 am –4 pm. Information: Nany Kanter at 757-323-4563 or elkandnlk@yahoo.com.
JUNE 25,
An evening with Dr. Sara Glass, at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Ohef Sholom Temple, and Hampton Roads Pride for a conversation with Dr. Sara Glass in recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month. 7 pm. Location provided upon registration at JewishVA.org/Glass or by contacting Hunter Thomas at HThomas@UJFT.org.
JUNE 30,
Mah Jongg Mondays. and open play. 11 am – 4 pm, every Monday until July 14, 2025. Sandler Family Campus. Information: Mia Klein at 757-452-3184 or MKlein@UJFT.org. See page 24.
JULY 1, Yiddish Club poetry, and literature. 1 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information and registration: www.Jewishva.org/YiddishClub or contact Mia Klein at MKlein@UJFT.org.
JULY 3, RoundTable Conversation:
The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC invite members to discuss timely topics. 1 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information or to RSVP: www.Jewishva.org/ RoundTable or contact Mia Klein at MKlein@UJFT.org.
JULY 7,
The Art of Marc Chagall: Jewish artist. Presented by Jewish Art Education’s Joanna Homrighausen, a professor of Religious Studies at the College of William & Mary. $9/person. 7 pm. Online. Registration: https://www.jarted.org/event-details/the-art-of-marc-chagall-the-early-years-16 or info@ jarted.org.
Mah Jongg Mondays
+
Join the fun at the Simon Family JCC whether you're a seasoned pro or brand new to the game! �� Beginner Lessons: June 23, June 30, & July 14 11:00 am – 12:3
at the sandler family campus ALL SKILL LEVELS WELCOME! BRING A FRIEND OR JOIN A TABLE!
�� Open Play: Every 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Monday 4:00 pm
Reg istration on the TeamReach app Use code BamCrack2025
jewishva.org/mm for reg istration instructions
Contact Mia Klein at 757-452-3184 or MKlein@UJFT.org for addi tional information
Welcoming Tidewater's new Shinshinim, Noga and Yarden!
FRIDAY AUGUST 22 5:00PM
REBA & SAM SANDLER FAMILY CAMPUS Shabbat blessings and dinner at 6:00pm
Bernice Peters Jacobs
VIRGINIA BEACH - Bernice Peters Jacobs, “Nici,” age 97, passed away on May 28, 2025. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and proud great-grandmother.
Bernice was born in Richmond, Virginia, to parents, Robert S. Peters and Ida Coplan Peters. Bernice was preceded in death by her husband of more than 60 years, Alvin Jacobs.
She and Alvin raised their family in Petersburg, Va., and later retired to Virginia Beach. She was also preceded in death by her three siblings, Ruth Peters Jacobson, Freda Peters Mollen, and Herbert Peters.
She turned her lifelong passion of antiques into a successful career, working up until her early 90s, most recently at Barrett Street Antiques in Virginia Beach.
She is survived by her loving daughters, Amy Lynn Jacobs, of Virginia Beach, and Ann Jacobs Bocock and her husband, James Bocock, of Boca Raton, Fla.; her
granddaughter, Blair Bocock DeMinico and her husband, Thomas DeMinico; and great-granddaughter, Coralie DeMinico, of Fort Myers, Fla.
To honor her memory and her love of children, the family asks that donations be made to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters.
To honor her wishes, there will be no service. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com.
Suzanne Snyder Jacobson
VIRGINIA BEACH - Suzanne Snyder Jacobson, 89, passed away peacefully at home on June 1, 2025.
Suzanne was predeceased by her devoted husband of 64 years, Jack Burt Jacobson, of blessed memory. Suzanne is survived by her four daughters, Maryann Jacobson (Angela), Carol Diamonstein (Jamie), Janie Craig (Jim), Betty Martin (Jesse) and two granddaughters, Claire Weinberg (Michael) and Alyson Diamonstein, each of whom brought her immense pride and joy.
Suzanne was born December 16,1935 in Norfolk, Va., to the late Elizabeth and Milton Snyder, of blessed memory. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth, Va. in 1953, and Marjorie Webster Junior College in Washington, D.C. in 1955. Suzanne later earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Wesleyan College in 1977, a testament to her lifelong love of learning and personal growth.
Suzanne had a remarkable entrepreneurial spirit. Alongside her sister, Barbara Lyle, she purchased The Ragged Robin, transforming it from a modest lending library into a beloved gift shop specializing in Godiva chocolates, Crane stationery, and Herend china. Her passion for Crane stationery and social traditions later inspired her to open Suzanne Jacobson’s Gallery of Fine Papers where she was a trusted expert in wedding invitations and social correspondence.
Never one to stop evolving, Suzanne took up photography with a special focus on capturing the vitality of the active elderly. Her keen eye and compassionate
presence culminated in the publication of her book, Too Busy to Count the Years, which celebrated the wisdom and beauty of aging with purpose.
Suzanne was the beautiful and glamorous matriarch of the family. She embraced her Jewish faith with joy and reverence, welcoming her family and friends for the Sabbath and all religious holidays. Her oceanfront home was a haven of warmth filled with friends, family, and celebrations.
Always humble and generous, Suzanne was constantly thinking of ways to support those less fortunate. She found deep fulfillment in caring for others, a devotion that was especially evident in the tender way she cared for her husband in his final years. But it was her children and her two granddaughters who held the largest place in her heart. She gave to them tirelessly, living by the principle of L’dor Vador, from generation to generation.
The family extends profound gratitude to Cynthia Payne, whose unwavering devotion over 45 years was a true blessing in Suzanne’s life. A special thanks is also owed to Suzanne’s beloved sister, Barbara Lyle, who lived alongside her, offering love, protection, and companionship until the end.
Suzanne Jacobson was laid to rest in a private burial. Memorial contributions may be made to the Suzanne and Jack Jacobson Family Fund at the Tidewater Jewish Federation.
Kocen Linas
Richmond – Bea Rueben Linas, 104, of Richmond, passed away peacefully on May 28, 2025.
Born on April 2, 1921, Bea was known for her sharp sense of humor and her love of
OBITUARIES
fashion. She was never without her meticulously curated jewelry or her signature lipstick. She was a formidable Mahjong player, and she valued the friendships she built around the game. She was always up for a lunch date and a shopping trip. Most of all, she loved being Booboo to her grandchildren, whom she adored.
Bea was preceded in death by her beloved first husband, Neil Rueben, and by her second husband of 34 years, Sidney Linas.
She is survived by her son, Bruce Rueben (Kim Hostetler); her grandchildren, Cantor Jennifer Rueben, Ashley Rueben, Julia Rueben, and Jonathan Rueben; her great-granddaughter, Braya Denise; and her stepsons, Howard Linas (Jane), Keith Linas (Maura), Ian Linas, and Philip Linas (Norma), and their families. She also leaves behind many devoted nieces, nephews, and friends.
A graveside funeral was held at Richmond Beth-El Cemetery at Forest Lawn, officiated by her granddaughter, Cantor Jennifer Rueben.
David Blaine Sears
PORTSMOUTH - David Blaine Sears was born on March 19, 1963, and departed this life May 22, 2025. He was the son of Ronald Sears and Diane (Sears) Ruben.
David was born in Portsmouth, Va.,
and left with his parents to Norfolk, Va., where he attended Hebrew Academy and Norfolk Public Schools. David was a bright, friendly child who grew close to his uncle Etzik Beck, an observant Jew who delighted in taking him to Cheyra Thilim Synagogue as his first introduction to Judaism.
As a member of Ohef Sholom Temple, David attended religious school and celebrated Bar Mitzvah. He returned to Portsmouth to finish school at Woodrow Wilson; then he renewed his relationship with Uncle Arthur Lerman and Cousin Stewart Schoenhut, where they became very close. David later returned to Fredericksburg, where he spent most of his adult life.
David, a generous, giving, and gentle soul, touched the lives of many with his charm and gracious respect. He fought his illness, aggressive leukemia, with courage and dignity before passing gently with his mother by his side.
A graveside service was held at Gomley Chesed Cemetery in Portsmouth. Rabbi Lawrence Forman, rabbi emeritus of Ohef Sholom Temple, led the service. Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.sturtevantfuneralhome.com.
Helena Weinrauch, Holocaust survivor and ‘dancing angel’
Jackie Hajdenberg (New York Jewish Week) — New Yorker Helena Weinstock Weinrauch, a Holocaust survivor known for taking up ballroom dancing in her late 80s, died at her home on the Upper West Side on Sunday, May 25. She was just one week shy of her 101st birthday.
The cause was likely congestive heart failure, her niece Judy Paskind said.
“She loved being made up and dressed up,” Paskind, a retired accountant, recalled. “And a lot of people [at the funeral] yesterday were saying how elegant she was, and she was! She
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always looked put together. Until she got sick in the last year, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen her without makeup.”
Weinrauch’s incredible story of survival — and how she discovered, at 88, the joy of ballroom dancing — was the subject of a 2015 documentary, Fascination: Helena’s Story.
Weinrauch was also known for wearing the same hand-knit blue sweater during the first Passover seder every year for more than 75 years. The sweater — with fluffy angora sleeves, a metallic blue bodice and a scalloped V-neck — had been made by
Weinrauch’s friend Ann Rothman, who stayed alive during the Holocaust by knitting for the wives of Nazi officials while a prisoner in the Łód Ghetto.
“She became known in the ghetto,” Weinrauch told the New York Jewish Week in 2022. “She was so good at knitting that she knitted coats for the wife of the German people and it became known that Ann can knit skirts, a blouse — anything you want, she can knit it.”
Weinrauch was born in Dusseldorf in 1924 to a family of German-speaking Jews. Her mother, Gisela, was a concert pianist; her father, Maximilian, was a
Viennese engineer who owned oil wells. She had a sister, Erna, who was six years older. The family soon moved to Drohobycz, Poland (today’s Ukraine) for her father’s work, and Weinrauch was 9 years old when the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933. In 1939, following a brief Nazi occupation and later, the Russians, the family’s house and oil wells were seized. Weinrauch’s parents and sister were forced into hiding under the Soviets, but due to her age, young Helena was able to attend school while also working part-time in an office. At her job, Weinrauch was given a
Chris Sisler, Vice President, Member of Ohef Sholom Temple, Board member of the Berger-Goldrich Home at Beth Sholom Village, James E. Altmeyer, Jr., President, James E. Altmeyer, Sr., Owner
Chesapeake
OBITUARIES
false identity by her boss, which allowed her to continue living somewhat in the open. A year later, the family was reunited, but only briefly: The Nazis returned and, as conditions worsened for Jews, Helena’s parents and sister were rounded up. She never saw any of them again.
Weinrauch’s identity was eventually discovered when she was reported to the Gestapo by a former classmate who recognized her. Weinrauch was deported to Plaszow and then Auschwitz, where she survived a 500-mile death march to Bergen-Belsen and was liberated by the British Army on April 15, 1945.
Helena recuperated in Sweden, where she met Rothman, also an Auschwitz survivor, in the hospital.
Two years later, Weinrauch immigrated to New York, where she learned English by listening to the radio and reading the dictionary. To make ends meet, she worked as a dental assistant, a receptionist, a baby nurse and, for 30
years, as a medical paper writer to a professor of cardiology and nephrology in Manhattan. In 1951, she married Joseph Weinrauch, who was employed in the fur business. Their daughter, Arlene, was born in 1953.
Arlene, whom Weinrauch called “a very bright, intelligent, gifted girl” in her book, died from breast cancer in the 1990s.
“I have to say, of all the horrific things that happened to me — losing my parents and sister, being interned in Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen, spending a year in a hospital and rehab facility — nothing can compare to losing a child,” Weinrauch told Lilith Magazine in 2016.
In 2006, after 55 years of marriage, Joe Weinrauch died.
“After my uncle died, she started a whole new life with the ballroom dancing and creating a whole new group of friends through that and people in her building,” Paskind said.
Weinrauch would dance at the Manhattan Ballroom Society on the Upper East Side, where dance leader Steve Dane called Weinrauch the group’s “dancing angel.” She became very close with her dance partner, Slavi Baylov, who is more than 50 years her junior and was at her bedside when she died.
“When I dance, I forget what happened to me and it makes me feel for a few minutes or hours that I am happy,” she told The New York Times in 2018.
In 2023, one-woman play, A Will to Live, based on Weinrauch’s unpublished memoir, premiered at New York’s Chain Theater. “My story is not fiction,” Weinrauch wrote in a statement at the time. “Unfortunately, this is my true story.”
It was also later in life that Weinrauch became comfortable speaking publicly about her harrowing experiences during the Holocaust, which she began doing through the Meta and John
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to $10,000/year for Virginia-Based Jewish Students entering a qualifying Health Care Degree Program
Spiegler Holocaust Education Fund, an endowment for Holocaust education aimed at middle school children in Corning, New York, established by Judy Paskind’s parents. (Paskind’s mother was Joe Weinrauch’s sister.)
“The kids wrote her thank you notes,” Paskind said. “She got notes like, ‘we’ll adopt you.’ She was very touched by that. She kept that in an album and looked at it often.”
Weinrauch was also a well-known Upper West Side fixture, recognized by the staff at Barney Greengrass and Zabar’s, where she was practically treated like a celebrity — something she loved, Paskind said.
“I would FaceTime with her every week,” Paskind said. “And this morning, I was getting dressed and thinking, ‘I’ve got to call Helen.’” She added: “She was a larger-thanlife person.”
Leadership elected for Tidewater’s BBYO
Elections for Tidewater BBYO chapters took place on Saturday, May 10. The positions of president; vice president, programming; and vice president, membership are elected for a school-year term, while the other three positions are elected for fall and spring terms. These teens will assume their new roles in the fall.
Kate-Lynn Cipolla has joined United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC’s full-time professional staff as assistant camp director at Camp JCC.
Cipolla is a familiar face on the Sandler Family Campus, having spent more than eight years serving in a variety of part-time roles. Throughout her tenure, Cipolla has developed a strong rapport with children and families and built a deep understanding and connection to the values of the Tidewater Jewish community.
Cipolla is enthusiastic about expanding her new role. “Camp JCC has always felt like home to me,” she says. “Being able to grow up within this welcoming community has shaped me into the person I am today. I hope to continue fostering relationships within the organization.”
In her new position, Cipolla will support the year-round planning and implementation of youth engagement programs through Camp JCC. Working under the supervision of Dave Flagler, director of camp and teen engagement, she will play a vital role in summer camp, seasonal camps, and school-year enrichment programs such as School Days Out, Kids Night Out, and after-school activities. With a strong focus on community engagement, Cipolla will also help build relationships with families and local partners to foster year-round participation.
Kiddish is a Jewish News column celebrating little people – their first introductions, milestones, simchas, and accomplishments. Sharing these special moments and achievements with Jewish Tidewater creates a collective kvell!
Born January 9, 2025
Daughter of Jackie and Ben Dratch of Virginia Beach.
Sister of Ari Zvi Dratch Granddaughter of Peter and Kathy Dratch
Born April 14, 2025
Daughter of Amy Nusbaum and Philip DeLage of New Orleans.
Sister of Josephine DeLage Granddaughter of Nancy and Charlie Nusbaum
Born April 25, 2025
Noa Hanna Dratch
Louisa Jane DeLage
Taylan Shustak
Son of Ashley and Adam Shustak of Virginia Beach.
Old Dominion AZA board: Noam Haas, Logan Hoffman, Sam Levin, Jonah Kass, and Ascher Zittrain. Not in the photograph: Ryan Kalfus.
Simcha BBG board: Hattie Friedman, Amelia Portnoy, Skylar Caplan, Chloe Zuckerman, and Lainey Goldman. Not in the photograph: Leah Steerman and Sammi Jankel.
