Jewish News Nov 24, 2025 Edition

UPFRONT

Following uproar, IDF cantor to perform

Shira

Li Bartov

(JTA) — The IDF’s chief cantor will be allowed to perform for Hanukkah in Amsterdam’s Royal Concert Hall — but not for everyone — after tensions over Israel ripped through one of the city’s most popular Jewish celebrations.

The Royal Concert Hall, or Concertgebouw, earlier this month canceled the performance to be hosted by the Chanukah Concert Foundation because it featured Shai Abramson, the “representative cantor of the State of Israel” and chief cantor of the Israeli army. The organization said it based this decision on “the IDF’s active involvement in a controversial war” and “Abramson’s visible representation of that institution.”

The Chanukah Concert Foundation responded by threatening a lawsuit over “restriction of religious freedom.” The conflict spread to protests, rifts in the Jewish community, and a war of words between the Israeli government and the mayor of Amsterdam. But on Wednesday, Nov. 12, the Concertgebouw and the Jewish foundation announced a compromise.

They settled on separate concerts on Dec. 14, the eve of Hanukkah. During the afternoon, the Concertgebouw will host a public, family-focused concert without Abramson. In the evening, as sundown falls and the first Hanukkah candle is lit, Abramson will sing at two private concerts in the same hall for guests who already bought tickets to see him.

Across the Netherlands, residents have grown increasingly critical of Israel and its two-year campaign in Gaza. A survey in September found that 58% of Dutch people wanted their government to take tougher actions against Israel, including boycotts, statements that Israel is committing genocide, and recognition of a Palestinian state.

Abramson’s cancellation prompted an outcry among some

prominent Dutch Jews and Jewish organizations.

Former lawyer Oscar Hammerstein called for a boycott of the Concertgebouw in the newspaper De Telegraaf. Leon de Winter, Jewish Dutch novelist and columnist for the paper, wrote that “Joseph Goebbels would happily give the Concertgebouw management a pat on the back.”

David Serphos, a board member and spokesperson of the Chanukah Concert Foundation, said the cancellation “caused a lot of pain” among many Dutch Jews who see the Concertgebouw as a special place. The building first hosted a Hanukkah concert in December 1914, according to Barry Mehler, the head of a separate Hanukkah concert for the Jewish Music Concerts Foundation. The tradition was interrupted by World War II and revived only in 2015.

An anti-Zionist Dutch Jewish group is planning to protest outside the Concertgebouw on Dec. 14, the day of the Hanukkah concerts, when they will also light a menorah. The group, Erev Rav, an anti-Zionist Jewish group, garnered over 2,200 signatures on a petition backing the Concertgebouw’s cancellation decision and said it was “deeply disappointed” by the compromise with the Chanukah Concert Foundation.

The Israeli government exerted its own pressure on the Concergebouw. Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli said in a letter to Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema on Nov. 4 that Abramson’s cancellation was “an act of moral cowardice and discrimination.”

Serphos said the Chanukah Concert Foundation was satisfied with their compromise and hoped to move on from the conflict.

“We want to continue working with the Concertgebouw,” he said. “We want to look ahead and not look back, and we’re happy that we managed to find common ground.”

Published 18 times a year by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.

Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 200 Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462-4370 voice 757-965-6100 • fax 757-965-6102 email news@ujft.org

Terri Denison, Editor

Stephanie Peck, Assistant Editor

Michael McMahon, Art Director

Sandy Goldberg, Ad Sales

Patty Malone, Circulation

Teresa Knecht, Digital Manager

Reba Karp, Editor Emeritus

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Mona Flax, President

Jason Hoffman, President elect

Robert Friedman, Secretary Alvin Wall, Treasurer

Betty Ann Levin, Executive Vice President JewishVA.org

The appearance of advertising in the Jewish News does not constitute a kashrut, political, product or service endorsement. The articles and letters appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of this newspaper.

©2025 Jewish News. All rights reserved.

Subscription: $18 per year For subscription or change of address, call 757-965-6128 or email pmalone@ujft.org Issue

Deadline December 15 Year-end Decisions November 28 January 19 Invest/Retire January 2 February 9 Foodie/Romance January 23 March 2 Mazel Tov February 13

About the cover: Jewish Family Service’s Kelly Burroughs and Julie Kievit at event to pack Thanksgiving bags. Photo by Terri Denison.

BRIEFS

Judge: Trump can’t levy antisemitism fines against the University of California

Afederal judge barred the Trump administration from leveling a fine more than $1 billion against the University of California system for failures in addressing campus antisemitism.

Calling the administration’s strong-arming of the UC system “coercive and retaliatory,” U.S. District Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco ruled that federal investigators had failed to follow standard protocol for Title VI civil rights investigations.

Lin’s preliminary injunction came as the UC system continues to negotiate a planned settlement with the administration related to antisemitism investigations.

Much of the Trump administration’s case against UC involves UCLA, which in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks became a hotbed of campus conflicts over Israel. Student protesters barred “Zionists” from entering certain sections of campus; brawls also broke out with pro-Israel counter-protesters. The university settled with a group of Jewish students, but Trump has continued to push aggressive fines over the objections of a contingent of its Jewish community.

A growing number of other universities, including University of Virginia, have also signed deals with Trump to preserve federal funding and end antisemitism investigations. UC leaders said the Trump-imposed fines are an existential threat to the school. A federal judge had previously ordered the reversal of Trump’s funding freeze to Harvard for similar stated reasoning around antisemitism.

University staffers and academic groups sued the administration, saying that Trump’s actions were already having a punishing effect on their First Amendment concerns.

“Rooting out antisemitism is undisputedly a laudable and important goal,” Lin wrote. “However, the unrebutted evidence shows that the Task Force Agencies and the Funding Agencies have gone well beyond that stated purpose.”

Lin continued, “The record shows that Defendants engaged in a concerted policy to use allegations of antisemitism to justify funding cancellations, when their intent is to coerce universities into purging disfavored ‘left’ and ‘woke’ viewpoints from their campuses and replace them with views that the Administration favors.”

In a New York Times story about staffers who recently resigned or were fired from the Justice Department, a former lawyer in the Civil Rights Division, Ejaz Baluch, said his colleagues found that pro-Israel professors at UCLA were harassed and the school’s complaint process was flawed. But Baluch felt the fine sought by the administration was disproportionate. “We thought, $1 billion? They are making that up out of thin air,” said Baluch. “There is no way the damages we found added up to anything like that amount.”

Lin’s ruling also came amid a growing antisemitism controversy on another UC campus. UC Berkeley protesters earlier this month chanted “Zionists out” and

“Free Palestine,” with some wearing keffiyehs, as part of a larger demonstration against an event staged by right-wing group Turning Point USA, the group founded by slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. At least four people were arrested during the protests. (JTA)

Graffiti during Mexican protests against Sheinbaum’s government calls out ‘Jewish whore’

Mexico’s Jewish community condemned antisemitic graffiti apparently directed toward the country’s Jewish president during an anti-government protest on Saturday, Nov. 15.

The graffiti painted on the door of the Supreme Court building said “puta judia” or “Jewish whore,” in what has been widely interpreted as a reference to Claudia Sheinbaum. It also included a crossed-out Star of David.

The graffiti was painted during a youth-led protest that responds to rising violence, crime and corruption, particularly by drug cartels. Dozens of people were reportedly arrested and injured in the protests.

“The Jewish Community of Mexico strongly condemns the antisemitic remarks and expressions” during the march, the community said in a statement. “Antisemitism is a form of discrimination according to our constitution and must be rejected clearly and unequivocally.”

Sheinbaum is Mexico’s first Jewish president. She has not made her Jewish identity a part of her public persona and is not a regular participant in the country’s tight-knit Jewish communities.

Some of Sheinbaum’s detractors have previously invoked her Jewish background, including former President Vicente Fox, who called her a “Bulgarian Jew” in an apparent attempt to minimize her candidacy. He apologized but made a similar comment after Sheinbaum briefly donned a rosary with a crucifix after being given one during a campaign stop.

“JEWISH AND FOREIGN AT THE SAME TIME,” Fox tweeted. Sheinbaum produced her birth certificate multiple times to dispel rumors that she was born in Bulgaria. (JTA)

Mamdani condemns antisemitism as Eric Adams, in Israel, warns of danger to Jews in NYC

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, staring down the end of his term, landed in Israel Nov. 15 for a visit to a country he has steadfastly supported — and is maligned by his successor, Zohran Mamdani.

Adams’ itinerary included a public event in Tel Aviv, a meeting with released hostages, and a visit to the Western Wall — an Israeli version of a victory lap for an unpopular mayor who trailed by so much in his reelection campaign that he dropped out of the race with weeks to go.

Adams repeated his longtime intention to retire in Israel. He also extended the warnings he issued during his campaign about the future of the city under Mamdani, tapping into deep anxiety among some Jews about

whether the city will remain safe for them with a vocal critic of Israel at the helm.

“If I were a Jewish New Yorker, I’d be concerned about my children,” Adams said at the Tel Aviv event.

The visit came as Mamdani seeks to demonstrate that his opposition to Israel as a Jewish state will not translate into dangers for Jewish New Yorkers. After graffiti reading “Fuck Jews” was spray-painted on a sidewalk in Brooklyn, Mamdani issued swift condemnation — as he did after a swastika was painted on a yeshiva on Election Night.

“Another horrific act of antisemitism on our streets. We cannot stand for this,” Mamdani tweeted. “Thank you to @LincolnRestler and @nycsanitation for your quick response.”

The post elicited a mix of appreciation and suspicion from Jewish New Yorkers. Mamdani’s condemnation of the Election Night graffiti also drew criticism from proPalestinian voices who said Mamdani was kowtowing to pressure from Jews to change his rhetoric.

Mamdani, a longtime supporter of the movement to boycott Israel, has said he would not visit as mayor, which would break a longstanding city tradition. He also has pledged to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if Netanyahu visits New York. Adams is reportedly planning to meet with Netanyahu during his visit. (JTA)

Pope Leo names Holocaust film Life Is Beautiful as one of his 4 favorites

Pope Leo XIV included the 1997 Holocaust movie Life Is Beautiful among his four favorite films of all time.

Life Is Beautiful, a melodrama by Italian filmmaker and comedian Robert Benigni, follows an Italian Jewish father and his son as they are sent to a Nazi concentration camp. There the father uses humor and misdirection to hide the truth of the camps from his son.

The film was a global box-office hit and received seven Oscar nominations, winning three. Another movie set during Nazi rule, the 1965 musical The Sound of Music, also made the pope’s list, which was rounded out by the Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life and Robert Redford’s stark family drama, Ordinary People.

Life Is Beautiful has long been a controversial film among Jews. While some embraced it as a fable of spiritual resistance, critics recoiled at the juxtaposition of broad humor with the Holocaust and said it distorted the experience of concentration camp victims and survivors. Among its critics is Mel Brooks, who also objected that Benigni was not Jewish and couldn’t fully understand the Holocaust. (The actor-director’s Catholic father reportedly was held prisoner in Bergen-Belsen during the war.)

The pope recently held an event marking the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the declaration that overturned centuries of Catholic doctrine by absolving Jews of killing Jesus. At the event, a member of the pope’s Swiss guard allegedly made a spitting gesture toward a Jewish woman guest; the Vatican announced an internal investigation into the matter. (JTA)

JEWISH TIDEWATER

Jewish News seeks a copywriter/editorial assistant. The paper is looking for a passionate storyteller who can craft clear and compelling copy for the newspaper.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Write clear and persuasive copy with an emphasis on writing articles

• Collaborate with the editorial and graphics team

• Proof, edit, and research as needed

• Understand Jewish culture, history, issues, and traditions

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Journalism, English, or Communications

• Stellar writing, editing, and proofreading skills

• Exceptional organizational, time management, and project management skills

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

• Detail-oriented self-starter with a high degree of creative initiative

• Appreciation for mission of Jewish News

• Grasp of current events, particularly as they affect American Jewry, the Jewish people, and Israel

Qualified candidates must provide writing samples or access to a portfolio of work. The duties outlined in this job description are meant to be representative, but not all inclusive, assigned to this job. These duties may be amended at the discretion of the Editor, Jewish News.

Submit cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to: resumes@ujft.org.

OOOPS!

In the article celebrating weddings in the Nov. 10, 2025 issue of Jewish News, Becca and Alec Gershen’s name was misspelled. We’re sorry for the error, and wish them, along with the other couples featured in the section, another Mazel Tov on their marriages!

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.

Something Needs to Change

You don’t have to do it alone. When staying at home is no longer the best option for your aging loved one, Commonwealth Senior Living can help you navigate the journey. Like an extension of your family, we o er expert guidance and heartfelt support every step of the way.

Our dedicated team will take the time to understand your loved one’s needs and preferences and create a personalized plan that helps them live their best life. rough compassionate care, engaging activities, and a welcoming community, we will help your family embrace this new chapter with con dence.

Schedule a visit with us this month and enjoy a complimentary dinner for two. PLUS: Move in by December 30th and enjoy 2025 rates! 757-347-1732

ISRAEL

Discover the power of personalized giving. Donor-advised funds allow you to recommend grants to organizations close to your heart.

Field-of-interest or community funds let you support causes you are passionate about.

Gal Gadot wins Genesis Prize for her ‘defense of Israel’ as Gaza war divides Hollywood

Shira Li Bartov

(JTA) — Actor Gal Gadot has won the Genesis Prize, sometimes called the “Jewish Nobel,” for supporting Israel even as backlash against the country’s actions in Gaza rocked Hollywood.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Gadot has been an outspoken advocate for Israelis taken captive by Hamas. Calling herself “a proud Jew and a proud Israeli,” she said in a statement that she would dedicate the $1 million award to “organizations who will help Israel heal.”

yourself why that is.” The post sparked outrage from some Israelis over her comparison of Palestinian and Israeli deaths.

Gadot deleted the story and apologized. Since then, she has not used the words “Palestinians” or “Gaza” on social media.

Gadot also helped organize a screening of graphic Oct. 7 footage in Los Angeles in November 2023, prompting a demonstration by pro-Palestinian activists who said the film was “Gal Gadot military propaganda” used to justify Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.

Contact us to explore your options for year-end giving:

(757) 622-7951 or HamptonRoadsCF.org/ giving-your-way/waysto-give

Recipients of the prize, first awarded in 2014, customarily donate it to causes they choose, which have included advancing women’s equality, racial and economic justice, and combating antisemitism and “efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel,” according to a release from the Genesis Prize Foundation, which is based in Israel.

Stan Polovets, the co-founder and CEO of The Genesis Prize Foundation, praised Gadot’s “moral clarity” in a statement.

“The award recognizes her bravery and moral courage — her steadfast defense of Israel at great personal and professional risk, her advocacy for the hostages, her compassion for victims of terror, and her empathy for all innocent victims of this terrible war unleashed by Hamas,” he said.

Gadot, who served two years in the IDF as part of Israel’s compulsory service before being cast in the title role in the 2017 superhero film Wonder Woman, has repeatedly used her platform to campaign for the release of Israeli hostages. On Oct. 12, 2023, she was among 700 celebrities and entertainment leaders, including Jerry Seinfeld, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Chris Pine, who signed a letter condemning Hamas for “evil” and “barbaric acts of terrorism.”

That same day, Gadot posted an Instagram story that said, “Killing innocent Palestinians is horrific. Killing innocent Israelis is horrific. If you don’t feel the same, I think you should ask

Though Israel garnered sympathy in some parts of Hollywood after Oct. 7, its devastating war in Gaza over the next two years has roiled the entertainment industry. Israel and Hamas agreed to a fragile ceasefire last month.

More than 3,000 celebrities, including Emma Stone, Bowen Yang, and Jewish creatives such as Jonathan Glazer, Andrew Garfield, and Hannah Einbinder, signed onto a boycott of Israeli film institutions in September. Another letter from celebrities opposing the boycott amassed 1,200 signatures.

The Genesis Prize was most recently awarded to Argentina’s president Javier Milei for “his steadfast commitment to the State of Israel during one of the most difficult years in the history of the Jewish state,” according to the prize committee. Milei went to Jerusalem in June to accept the prize

The Israeli-American actor Natalie Portman was awarded the Genesis Prize in 2018, but she declined to attend the Jerusalem ceremony because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to speak there. At the time, Israeli forces had killed dozens of Palestinians in response to protests on the Gaza border.

Gadot, who recently starred as the Evil Queen in a live-action adaptation of Snow White, is set to play a Holocaust survivor in an upcoming film, Ruin

Trump defends Tucker Carlson, whose interview with antisemite Nick Fuentes split Republicans

Andrew Lapin (JTA) — President Donald Trump defended Tucker Carlson’s recent interview with avowed antisemite Nick Fuentes, weighing in on a debate over antisemitism that has roiled the Republican party.

“I’ve found him to be good. He’s said good things about me over the years,” Trump told a reporter who asked about Carlson’s interview. “You can’t tell him who to interview. If he wants to interview Nick Fuentes, I don’t know much about him, but if he wants to do it, get the word out.”

The president’s comments were his first on a growing divide within the Republican party over Carlson giving a platform on his top-rated podcast to Fuentes and over the growth of the antisemitic Fuentes-led “groyper” movement on the right.

Jews without acknowledging the question’s antisemitic underpinnings.

The debate over Carlson was stoked when the president of the right-wing Heritage Foundation defended Carlson. A growing number of Heritage Foundation staffers and associates, both Jewish and not, have since distanced themselves from the think tank.

Jewish conservatives and some of their allies have expressed alarm at explicit antisemitism within the movement.

Jewish conservatives and some of their allies have expressed alarm at explicit antisemitism within the movement. Conservative writer Rod Dreher recently estimated that as many as 40 percent of young GOP staffers in Washington, D.C. are followers of the 27-year-old Fuentes, who complained to Carlson that “organized Jewry” undermines American unity.

Yet neither Trump nor Vice President J.D. Vance have joined the chorus of condemnation for Fuentes’ brand of white supremacy. Vance, who employs Carlson’s son Buckley on his staff, in recent days defended Buckley from a right-wing Jewish activist’s accusations of antisemitism without directly addressing the Fuentes controversy. The vice president was also criticized for responding to a college student’s question about Israel and

Legal fellow Adam Mossoff, who is Jewish, and former board member Robert George, a Princeton University professor and prominent public intellectual, recently left Heritage, citing its handling of Carlson. And in the cultural sphere, the actress and podcaster Dasha Nekrasova was also dropped by her agent over a weeks-old interview with Fuentes that she and her co-host conducted on the podcast Red Scare. “Nekrasova had a recurring role on HBO’s Succession, and Red Scare was initially a thought leader on the young left before lurching hard to the right in recent years.

Carlson campaigned with Trump for his 2024 reelection and has significant influence within his administration, while Trump dined with Fuentes and the antisemitic rapper Ye in Mar-a-Lago in 2022, an incident that prompted criticism from staunch Jewish Republican allies. Trump has since claimed he didn’t know who Fuentes was at the time.

Meanwhile, Paul Ingrassia, a Trump administration staffer who attended a Fuentes rally last year and recently withdrew his nomination from a Cabinetlevel post over the revelation of texts in which he said he had a “Nazi streak,” remains in the administration. Instead Ingrassia found a new position as deputy

general counsel of the General Services Administration.

Carlson, for his part, has doubled down, even as some sponsors have quietly exited his show. This month he disparaged Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the antiNazi pastor who was executed in 1945 for his involvement in the German resistance movement. Carlson also compared the Israel Defense Forces to Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann.

The GOP’s fault lines over Fuentes and antisemitism aren’t breaking as cleanly as those over other issues. Even a newly minted Trump adversary on the right, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, declined to condemn Carlson or Fuentes in a recent CNN interview.

“I defend every single person’s free

speech rights. I think that’s incredibly important. So, I don’t apologize for that. And I don’t believe in cancelling people. And I think it’s important for people like Tucker Carlson and yourself to interview everyone,” Greene told Dana Bash.

On CNN Greene noted that she had spoken at a Fuentes-led conference in 2022, but claimed, “I don’t know Nick Fuentes. He’s someone I’ve never exchanged text messages with or phone calls.”

Asked specifically about Fuentes’s past antisemitic comments, Greene continued, “You should have Nick Fuentes on your show, and you can ask him questions about that. I myself am not antisemitic. I have never criticized the Jewish people or said anything about them in particular. I am critical of the government of Israel.”

INTERNATIONAL

Groundbreaking analysis of Hitler’s DNA shows no Jewish ancestry — but finds a genetic disorder

Philissa Cramer

(JTA) — Adolf Hitler had a sexual disorder that made it more likely for him to have a micro-penis, according to the first-ever analysis of his DNA. He also did not have the Jewish ancestors that some have claimed he had.

The analysis is being revealed in detail in Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator, a new documentary that premiered this month in the United Kingdom. The documentary looks at the researchers who decided to tackle the genetic makeup of one of history’s greatest villains, as well as what they learned — and cannot learn — from his DNA.

They found that he had Kallmann syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by incomplete puberty, according to an exclusive report published in the Times of London. They also found that he had genes making him more likely to have autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, though they cautioned that the DNA

alone is not sufficient to deliver a diagnosis.

Among those quoted in the documentary is the prominent British Jewish psychologist Simon BaronCohen (father of actor Sacha). “Behavior is never 100% genetic,” he said in the Times report. “Associating Hitler’s extreme cruelty with people with these diagnoses risks stigmatizing them, especially when the vast majority of people with these diagnoses are neither violent nor cruel, and many are the opposite.”

The analysis, conducted by a team led by a prominent British geneticist, is more definitive on the subject of Hitler’s possible Jewish ancestry. Rumors about such a background were prevalent during Hitler’s rise: In one notable example, in 1933, a newspaper aligned with Austria’s anti-Nazi chancellor challenged German authorities to disprove his Jewish ties.

And the rumors have endured: In 2022, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, repeated the claim that

Hitler had Jewish ancestry. Lavrov was attempting to justify Russia’s stated reason for invading Ukraine — to “denazify” the country — an effort that was complicated by the fact that Ukraine’s president is Jewish. (He also said: “Jewish wise people said already a long time ago that the biggest antisemites are Jewish themselves.”)

But while previous analyses of the DNA of Hitler’s relatives suggested that he may have had some genetic links to groups that he sought to destroy — including Jews — the new analysis, on Hitler’s own DNA, shows only Austrian German ancestry.

The analysis is based on a swatch of fabric stained with blood that a U.S. soldier cut from the couch upon which Hitler shot himself. The researchers were able to confirm without a doubt that the blood came from Hitler by comparing the DNA found in it to DNA previously confirmed to have come from one of his relatives.

VIRGINIA

AG Miyares: Resolution reached for Jewish children allegedly subjected to antisemitic harassment

The Nysmith School for Gifted Children entered into a settlement agreement with a Jewish family who alleged their children were wrongfully expelled after they complained to the school about their 11-year-old daughter being harassed based on her Jewish religion and ethnic origin.

Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the settlement on Tuesday, Nov. 18. The agreed resolution stems from a complaint that the family filed with the Attorney General’s Office of Civil Rights and requires the school to provide both monetary and equitable relief.

Nysmith is a private school located in Fairfax County in northern Virginia.

“Combating antisemitism is a top priority for my office. Every child deserves to learn in an environment free from hate, intimidation, or fear,” says Attorney General Miyares. “As Attorney General, it is my duty to protect the civil rights of every student and ensure no one faces retaliation when speaking out against discrimination. No child should feel unsafe or unwelcome in a classroom in Virginia, and no parent should

fear retaliation for defending their child.”

The Attorney General recognized Nysmith’s willingness to resolve the matter by implementing a robust process of review. “I am glad the parties could come to an amicable resolution,” he says.

The family filed its complaint with the Office of Civil Rights stating that their children had experienced antisemitism at the school. The Office of Civil Rights issued a charge of discrimination against the school on July 29, 2025 alleging that peers derided the student for being “Israeli,” called Jews “baby killers” while looking at her, and taunted her about the death of her

uncle, saying that they were glad he died in the October 7 attack, even though he had died years earlier. According to the Charge, the parents reported the antisemitic harassment to the headmaster and within two days, they received an email expelling all three of their children.

Under the terms of the agreement, in addition to monetary relief and implementing new policies and procedures, the school will issue a non-discrimination statement and establish a committee to evaluate, review, investigate, and recommend appropriate dispositions of discrimination complaints. In applying

these policies, the school adopted and will use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (“IHRA”) definition of antisemitism including its contemporary examples. The school will engage an independent monitor to review the committee’s work and will provide staff annual antisemitism training and provide students annual age-appropriate education on antisemitism and the Holocaust, for the duration of the five-year term.

The Attorney General is authorized to act in this matter under the Virginia Human Rights Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

JACK SCHLOSSBERG, JFK’S ‘100% HALF JEWISH’ GRANDSON, IS RUNNING FOR JERRY NADLER’S SEAT IN CONGRESS

Joseph Strauss (JTA) — Jack Schlossberg, the Kennedy family scion whose father’s side of the family is Jewish, is officially running for Congress in one of the most Jewish districts in the United States.

He entered the race on Tuesday, Nov. 11 after months of speculation and an initial dismissive reaction from the seat’s current occupant, Jerry Nadler.

Schlossberg, the 32-year-old grandson of President John F. Kennedy who has risen to prominence recently as a progressive social media darling, posted an announcement that focused on Donald Trump and the cost of living.

“We deserve better, and we can do better, and it starts with the Democratic Party winning back control of the House of Representatives,” Schlossberg said.

Schlossberg is running to represent New York’s 12th Congressional District, which covers the Upper West and East Sides and all of Midtown Manhattan, where he said he was “born and raised, where I took the bus to school every single day from one side of the district to the other.”

His mother is the author and former U.S. ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy; Schlossberg’s father is Jewish artist Edwin Schlossberg. His paternal grandfather, Alfred Schlossberg, worked in what he told the New York Times was the “shmatte business,” making men’s dress shirts.

The younger Schlossberg was raised with some Jewish traditions at home, such as incorporating Hanukkah traditions into their holiday parties.

“I feel I’m at least 100% half Jewish ;),” he told Hey Alma last year, as he broke out as a social media star.

Schlossberg was born in 1993 — one year after Nadler was first elected. Nadler, Congress’ most senior Jewish member, announced in September that he would not be running for reelection to make way for the next generation. Nadler’s retirement opened up an already-crowded race to represent a “crown jewel” of New York politics, with a number of others rumored to be exploring their own candidacies.

Other candidates officially running include Alex Bores and Micah Lasher, both members of the state Assembly, as well as 26-year-old non-profit founder Liam Elkind.

Schlossberg has worked as a political correspondent for Vogue and endorsed Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention. He has never held public office — a fact that Jerry Nadler himself hammered home in an interview with CNN following his retirement announcement, when Schlossberg was considering running.

“Well, there’s nothing particularly good or bad

NEW YORK NEEDS TO BE A SAFE PLACE FOR JEWISH PEOPLE. I’M VERY SENSITIVE

about a Kennedy holding my seat. But the Kennedy, unlike Schlossberg, should be somebody with a record of public service, a record of public accomplishment, and he doesn’t have one,” Nadler said. “And so, I don’t think he’s going to be a candidate in the end, and he certainly is not going to be a major candidate. There will be major candidates,” Nadler continued, pointing to Lasher as one example. “I’m sure there’ll be other candidates.”

Schlossberg took Nadler’s criticism in stride, writing on Instagram, “Honestly no offense taken whatsoever! As a New Yorker, a progressive and an American, I have nothing but thanks and respects to offer Rep Nadler.”

Schlossberg endorsed Zohran Mamdani ahead of the Democratic mayoral primary, and said on Instagram that he didn’t “give a f–k” that he would “piss off” former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, his cousin by marriage. In an Instagram post responding to people who ask why he supports Mamdani as a Jew, Schlossberg said, “If you think that Zohran doesn’t like Jews, you’re f–king brainwashed.”

He added, “We cannot have this thing where if you disagree with Israeli policy, you hate Jews. That’s not good and that’s not fighting antisemitism. That’s horses–t and that’s a cop-out.”

In an interview with the New York Times the day after Mamdani’s election, he said he thought Mamdani’s victory — including his wide margin among young voters — was a positive omen for his own campaign.

Schlossberg defended Mamdani against allegations of antisemitism in that interview. “New York needs to be a safe place for Jewish people,” Schlossberg said. “I’m very sensitive to the Jewish community’s concerns, because I feel them, too. It bothers me.”

While a supporter of Mamdani, he disagreed with the mayor-elect’s pledge to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he sets foot in New York, and, unlike Mamdani, chose not to describe the conflict in Gaza as a “genocide.”

“I think it’s painfully clear that Israel’s committing atrocities in Gaza,” Schlossberg said.

In an interview days before Schlossberg entered the race, Democratic strategist Trip Yang said the 12th district race is “wide open.”

“Jerry Nadler is an icon, trailblazer. Nadler is one of the most popular figures in Manhattan history,” Yang said.

“This is one of the most important congressional districts — a lot of wealth, a lot of power in this district. But it’s an open seat,” Yang said. “So, you can have a lot of big names enter right now. It is wide open.”

Jerry Nadler.

MAZEL TOV

Rabbi Gershon Litt receives Birthright Israel award

Birthright Israel and Birthright Israel Foundation named Rabbi Gershon Litt the recipient of the 2025 Jeffrey R. Solomon Prize. The prestigious annual award recognizes an exceptional Jewish communal professional who has made a profound and lasting impact on the Jewish journeys of young adults, both as a madrich(a) (trip staff) on the classic 10-day Birthright Israel trips and through their professional work.

Director of William & Mary Hillel at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Rabbi Litt is being honored for his nearly two decades of transformative work in Jewish and Israel education, having staffed more than 40 Birthright Israel trips.

According to Birthright Israel, the organization believes that the most effective Jewish educators are those who inspire others through their actions. The Jeffrey R. Solomon Prize is an expression of Birthright’s appreciation for individuals who are strengthening Jewish continuity and perpetuating Jewish Peoplehood.

Jewish future through extraordinary encounters with the Land and People of Israel. We are immensely proud to recognize his invaluable contribution.”

“It is such an honor to receive this award,” says Rabbi Litt. “I firmly believe that Taglit Birthright Israel is the most powerful educational tool we have today to connect our young, Jewish adults to Israel and their heritage.

“Through TBI, almost one million Jewish adults 18 - 26 years old have participated in an Israel educational experience. I know the impact that the trip has on my students,” he says.

“Rabbi Litt is a truly exceptional Jewish communal professional and a fitting recipient of this award,” says Elias Saratovsky, president and CEO of Birthright Israel Foundation.

The award was presented at the Taglit Birthright Israel Education Committee meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the TBI office in New York City. Rabbi Litt is a member of that committee.

Gidi Mark, International CEO of Birthright Israel, praises Rabbi Litt's influence: “The Jeffrey R. Solomon Prize celebrates the finest educators in our field, and Rabbi Litt is a shining example. As a veteran madrich, he has consistently helped young Jews transform the Israel experience into a profound moment of identity-building. His commitment to creating meaningful connections embodies the founding vision of Birthright Israel: ensuring a strong

“He models the exact standards of leader ship and mentorship that our dear friend, Dr. Jeffrey R. Solomon, has always championed. Rabbi Litt’s work, both on our trips and in his daily role as a Hillel director, reinforces the idea that a positive Jewish role model can inspire a lifetime of engagement. He doesn't just teach values; he lives them, securing a vibrant future for the next generation of Jewish leaders.”

The core of Rabbi Litt’s success lies in turning a 10-day trip into an enduring, personal journey for participants-a process he sustains through his Hillel work. Rachel Dornfest, a Birthright Israel alumna and former student at the College of William & Mary, says, “Before Birthright, I had never felt a personal connection to Israel; it was just a distant country. But Rabbi Litt fused my Jewish identity with the land. He didn't just teach the history; he showed us how the Kotel is a living avenue of

connection and Tzfat is a place of unimaginable spirituality. That experience, combined with his ongoing mentorship afterward, fundamentally changed the kind of Jew I aspired to become.”

“The gift of Birthright Israel is lasting and powerful,” says Rabbi Litt. “That is why I continue to lead trips twice a year and why it is a vital component of my campus work. I encourage every Jewish young adult to go as soon as they can and,

if they are in the Tidewater area, they should give me a call. I would love to take them with me.”

The prize, named in tribute to Dr. Jeffrey R. Solomon, a lifelong Jewish communal professional and one of Birthright Israel’s earliest and most consistent champions, includes a $5,000 award and up to $1,800 toward professional development.

Sara and Rabbi Gershon Litt.

Jeffrey R. Solomon with Rabbi Gershon Litt.

Is dining-hall matzah ‘DEI’? The answer isn’t clear to UVA’s pushed-out ex-president.

Andrew Lapin (JTA) — Months after being forced out as president of the University of Virginia, Jim Ryan is still pondering Passover food.

More specifically, Ryan, who was pushed out of the role over the summer amid mounting GOP pressure on the public university, cited the topic as an example of why he was confused about the “DEI ban” imposed earlier this year by the public school’s board. The ban had been drafted by the office of the state’s Republican governor.

“It’s not clear even today what it means to kill DEI,” Ryan wrote in a letter Friday, Nov. 14 to the UVA faculty senate telling his side of the story.

He went on: “For example, did it mean that we could no longer try to

recruit qualified first-generation students from rural parts of Virginia, or offer financial aid, or even serve matzah in the dining halls during Passover, because each of those efforts would be advancing diversity, equity, and/or inclusion?”

The candid look behind the curtain was a reflection of broader struggles on campuses to satisfy conservative demands on both antisemitism and DEI. As the Trump administration has taken up the mantle of campus antisemitism after the Oct. 7 attacks, it has strong-armed universities to make substantial changes to preserve their federal funding — not just to its dealings with Jewish students, but also to other conservative hobbyhorses like DEI initiatives.

The first public university to strike

a deal with Trump to end an antisemitism investigation, UVA was also quick to fall in behind a “DEI ban.” The school is now becoming a flashpoint as Glenn Youngkin, the outgoing Republican governor who pushed the DEI ban, and Democratic Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger, elected as part of a broader “blue wave” opposing Trump, are warring over who gets to appoint Ryan’s replacement.

Ryan, who remains an emeritus professor at the school, wrote that he felt compelled to revisit his resignation because Youngkin’s assertions about the state of affairs at UVA needed to be corrected.

antisemitism” in his letter but said that investigators’ interest in antisemitism seemed to be “part of a pattern” of the DOJ throwing more and more allegations against the school. He also speculated that the investigators were simply using such allegations as a leverage tactic against the school.

“I think it is time to set the record straight, which will hopefully enable UVA to make all necessary changes in order to end this chapter and begin a fresh, new chapter in the history of a remarkable university,” Ryan wrote.

The DEI ban was only part of UVA’s turmoil this summer. A subsequent Justice Department investigation into the school’s student admissions and hiring practices, Ryan wrote, soon expanded without warning into an antisemitism investigation.

“We assembled voluminous information related to admissions for one or more of our twelve schools, and a few days before the deadline for submission, we would receive another DOJ inquiry asking about another school,” he wrote. “They also sent a letter asking about antisemitism and one alleged incident of antisemitism in particular. Each time the scope of the DOJ inquiry expanded, our lawyers asked for and received extensions for submission of material.”

Ryan did not elaborate on the specifics of the “one alleged incident of

“It is impossible for me to know, but the timing of the DOJ letters, the ever-expanding scope of their inquiries, and their willingness to give us extension after extension made me wonder more than once if the DOJ was not actually interested in our response,” he wrote. He came to conclude that the government wouldn’t drop its investigations, including on antisemitism, unless he stepped down. Ryan did so this June, after which UVA reached a settlement with the government to drop its antisemitism investigation and others. Unlike other university deals with Trump, this one did not require UVA to pay a fine. Instead, the school agreed to abide by Justice Department guidelines on other issues not related to antisemitism, including the school’s existing general ban on DEI.

As for matzah in the dining hall, no school has yet been criticized as excessively inclusive for offering kosher food. In fact, several universities facing allegations of antisemitism tied to their handling of anti-Israel protests have expanded their kosher dining-hall offerings as part of their overtures to

Power of mentoring: How BeAR volunteers are changing young lives

In the Be A Reader (BeAR) Literacy Project, mentors do far more than help children improve their reading skills, they help them see what’s possible. Each week, these caring volunteers meet with second graders in under-resourced schools, opening books, sharing laughter, and building confidence one story at a time.

Among BeAR’s many devoted volunteers are men whose presence brings something especially powerful to the program. For some children, particularly those who don’t often have men in their daily lives, a male mentor’s steady encouragement can leave a lasting impression.

When men take the time to mentor, they model what it means to listen, to care, and to show up—values every child deserves to experience. They remind students that reading isn’t just about words on a page; it’s about connection, confidence, and the belief that someone is in their corner.

BeAR mentors, both men and women, are changing lives every week. Together, they create a community of support that helps young readers dream bigger, reach higher, and know they matter.

To learn how to volunteer with the Be A Reader Literacy Project, contact Robin Ford at 757-321-2304 or rford@ujft.org.

Robin Ford

Dr. Ed Karotkin is engrossed in the story his student is reading.

Charlie Firestone discusses Pete the Cat with his BeAR student.

Larry Stein reads alongside his student at Thalia Elementary.

JEWISH TIDEWATER

Building a stronger community together: Apply for a TJF Community Impact Grant

TJF Staff

Every day, Tidewater’s Jewish agencies, synagogues, and schools dream up new ways to educate, inspire, and connect the community. Tidewater Jewish Foundation helps make those visions real through its Community Impact Grant Program — funding catalytic projects that strengthen Jewish life across the region.

Awarded semiannually, the grant application period opened on November 15. These grants prioritize programs that deepen engagement, expand learning, and build lasting connections; investments that help institutions adapt and thrive amid changing needs.

“This program is about more than dollars,” says Ann Swindell, TJF’s grants

manager. “It’s a springboard for ideas that bring people together, build capacity, and move our community forward.”

In the past year, Community Impact Grants have fueled a wide range of successful projects, including the following examples of B’nai Israel, Strelitz International Academy, William & Mary’s Hillel, and United Jewish Federation of Tidewater:

• B’nai Israel hosted a Maccabeats concert that drew hundreds and strengthened bonds across generations and denominations.

• Strelitz International Academy launched its Future Proofing Initiative, enhancing board leadership and planning, and later built a student recording studio that allows children to explore media, storytelling, and Jewish values.

• Hillel at William & Mary expanded its Israel Fellow Program, engaging more than 250 students through education and cultural programming.

—Andrew H. Hook President of Hook Law Center

• United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Multigenerational Giving Project brought donor families together to discuss legacy and the future of Jewish philanthropy.

As chair of the Grants Committee, Richard Saunders says he sees firsthand how these projects strengthen the community’s foundation. “The strongest proposals are the ones where organizations create programs that are truly needed and genuinely helpful,” Saunders says. “Brick-and-mortar needs matter, but it’s the programming that attracts current and future community members and that’s where these grants can be transformative.”

TJF invites all Jewish agencies, organizations, and synagogues in Tidewater to apply for the next round of Community Impact Grants. Whether envisioning a new educational program, community event, or strategic initiative, this funding opportunity can help bring ideas to life.

To learn more or apply, visit foundation. jewishva.org/community-impact-grants.

Ann Swindell.

Richard Saunders.

JEWISH TIDEWATER

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS HUNGRY PEOPLE IN TIDEWATER

JFS staff

While many people are making plans for gathering with family and friends for Thanksgiving, not everyone is anticipating the holiday with excitement. Others are anxious, concerned about the increasing cost of food and cuts to programs that help feed their families.

Jewish Tidewater heard about the needs and responded with generosity. Local synagogues and other Jewish service programs collected donations from food drives totaling nearly $9,000 and financial contributions totaling nearly $30,000.

In November, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (aka SNAP) benefits were suspended. According to the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, families with children comprise 67% of Virginia’s SNAP recipients as of 2024, and more than 80% of the families who receive SNAP have been employed in the past year.

“Even before the SNAP cuts, we were concerned about the increased utilization of our food pantry,” says Kelly Burroughs, Jewish Family Service CEO. Earlier in the year, funding to Food Banks nationwide was massively cut. “These cuts have already led to fewer resources for food banks whose empty shelves bear witness to the greater

need for their services.”

In addition to the funding cuts, the price of food increased by 2.9% from July 2024 to July 2025, according to USDA. Smaller pantries could not afford to keep their shelves stocked or their doors open. Many of them closed, which led to an increased number of people using the pantry at JFS each week. In fact, this Thanksgiving, JFS has more

than 300 people signed up to receive meals—nearly twice as many as last year. Each family averages four to five people, meaning that almost 1,500 people this year will benefit from the generosity of Tidewater’s Jewish community’s support.

JFS often relies on monetary contributions to purchase supplemental items that are not available through the food bank, such as toilet paper and other hygiene products. “We are so grateful for the monetary donations and food drives that benefit JFS’ clients every day and even more considering the cuts to funding at Thanksgiving time,” says Brooke Rush, JFS director of development.

In addition to the food pantry, JFS also delivers meals through its partnership with Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia and Meals on Wheels of Chesapeake. “There is a myth that there is no hunger in Jewish households. But the truth is, one in four people who receive home delivered meals by JFS is Jewish,” says Rush.

“The community coming together to support one another is an incredible testament of tzedakah. No one should go hungry, and no one should be ashamed of need. That is why we exist,” Burroughs adds. “I think people underestimate how quickly we can be those people in line that we serve.”

Stacks of food and plenty of volunteers prepared Thanksgiving bags for families.

Dolphins QB wants to play in Jerusalem

Joseph Strauss (JTA) — The phrase “Next year in Jerusalem” is customarily spoken at the end of the Passover seder. But this month its sentiment was conveyed at the end of a different kind of gathering: a low-scoring NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders.

“Shoot, it’d be pretty cool to go play in Jerusalem,” Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said postgame.

The game — which the Dolphins won 16-13 in overtime — was the NFL’s first in

Spain, as part of a growing international series that’s seen contests played in England, Germany, Brazil, Ireland, and Mexico.

Tagovailoa, a Christian, was asked where else he’d like to play after experiencing Madrid and previously Frankfurt, Germany.

And his answer caught the eye of a highranking diplomat: Mike Huckabee, the United States Ambassador to Israel.

“Tua is right,” Huckabee wrote on X.

“Bringing an NFL game to Israel is a great idea. Next year in Jerusalem…I like the sound of that.”

Tagovailoa’s comments on playing in Israel did not mark the first time speaking about the country during a postgame.

Following a home game on Oct. 15, 2023, Tagovailoa paused the press conference to talk about Hamas’ attack on Israel.

“I didn’t really realize how bad things were in Israel,” Tagovailoa said.

There has been no indication from the NFL about a potential game in Israel, though Robert Kraft — the American billionaire owner of the New England Patriots, who is Jewish and founded

the Blue Square Alliance against Hate, formerly called the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism — sponsored the construction of the Kraft Family Sports Campus in Jerusalem, which includes an American football field. The adjacent park, Gan Sacher, is routinely home to informal football and flag football games.

Meanwhile, the capacity of Jerusalem’s largest stadium, Teddy Stadium, is just 31,000. Attendance at the NFL’s international games have ranged from upwards of 86,000 to, at their lowest, 47,000.

Now Accepting Community Impact Grant Applications!

Funding Opportunities that Strengthen Jewish Tidewater

APPLICATION OPENS Nov. 15, 2025

Tidewater Jewish Foundation is now accepting applications for Community Impact Grants dedicated funding for new and innovative programs that make a difference

These grants support projects and initiatives of local Jewish organizations that embody the spirit of tikkun olam — “repairing the world” by promoting growth, engagement, and cultural vibrancy across Jewish Tidewater.

If your organization is ready to enrich, educate, or uplift our Jewish community, we invite you to apply.

Questions? Contact Ann Swindell at aswindell@tjfva.org prior to submitting an application regarding eligibility and/or potential grant requests

Scan the QR code, learn more and apply now!

Happy Hanukkah

Perfect Gift

Occasion!

Dear Readers,

The Festival of Lights starts on the evening of Sunday, December 14. . . not overlapping this year with Thanksgiving or Christmas. So, for 2025, at least, Hanukkah gets to be the center of attention for all eight nights!

Much symbolism is poured into Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees defeated the Greek-Syrian army. The holiday also celebrates the miracle of the oil, which, according to the story, was only enough to light the Temple’s menorah for one day but somehow burned for eight. The holiday manages to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, religious freedom, and the perseverance of the Jewish people. That’s a lot to pack in.

From these events, Hanukkah celebrations feature latkes and Sufganiyot (donuts), dreidels and gelt, and presents and parties. And, of course, the lighting of candles each night, blessings, and songs.

When I was as a child, Hanukkah was observed. . . not so much celebrated. We lit the candles, recited the blessings, ate latkes one night, and maybe received some gifts. . . primarily gelt from the grandparents. My family had one menorah (we didn’t call it a hanukkiah then) and we took turns lighting it. The holiday was not a big deal.

Today, times are different, and like its holiday neighbor, Christmas, the commercialization of Hanukkah is practically everywhere. Most families now have multiple hanukkiah and everything from Hanukkah-themed platters for latkes to whimsical Hanukkah sweaters and pjs. The article on the next page about some local families who lean into the fun and modern merchandise is silly and uplifting.

Among the other articles in the section is one with tips on how, when frying latkes or donuts, to prevent the oily smell from taking over. (Page 23). My husband adheres to Tip #5. He uses an electric skillet on the porch. Smart guy.

There’s more, including a listing of Hanukkah events that are open to the community (page 22).

All of us at Jewish News wish you, your family, and friends, a Happy Hanukkah!

Chag Sameach,

Terri Denison Editor

Happy Hanukkah A bit of whimsy and kitsch to celebrate Hanukkah

A bit of whimsy and kitsch to celebrate Hanukkah

Move over Purim. . . Hanukkah is staking its own claim on fun as a Jewish holiday that embraces a bit of silliness and play.

From a banana shaped menorah – a Banorah – to Dinokkah the Hanukkah inflatable lighted dinosaur – which stands at six feet tall and comes with a15v blower motor inflation system – (both for purchase on moderntribe.com) Jews can delight in the celebration of these eight days and nights with a playfulness that few other Jewish holidays deem appropriate.

In addition to parties with latkes, games with dreidels and gelt, and of course the lighting of the candles, a plethora of products are now available to make Hanukkah more fun and at times, silly. And the merchandise is available for purchase at local Judaica shops, online, and in all sorts of department stores.

If kitschy pajamas, for example, are a preferred style for the Festival of Lights, kveller.com offers a range of Hanukkah-themed sleepwear from household names such as Anthropologie, Hanna Andersson, and Old Navy. The

entire family can even illuminate at night, wearing the Hanukkah Glow in the Dark pajamas from Children’s Place.

Irina Komarovsky surprises her son, Palmer, with Hanukkah-themed pjs each year, ever since he was a baby. “It’s usually on the first night that he gets them,” she says. On the second night, mother and son wear them during dinner with Komarovsky’s parents, Palmer’s babushka and dedushka.

Since moving to Virginia Beach, Rabbi Ari Oliszewski and his family have discovered fun holiday-themed merchandise for many celebrations.

Stephanie Peck

Rabbi Ari, Ben, Lia, and Pati Oliszewsky.

Happy Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah

Bringing their own traditions from Argentina and Brazil, they’ve happily added this new custom to family life. Since they light the Hanukkiah each night, what could be better than wearing festive pajamas for the occasion? For eight nights straight, they say they wear their sleepwear with “joy and celebration.”

“Being able to live and embrace everything that Judaism offers us is truly a blessing that fills our hearts and souls,” says Rabbi Ari.

Amy Metzger “won” her banana hanukkiah at an annual Hanukkah “white elephant” gift exchange with family. “We gladly accepted the banana –yet the candles do not stand well without a little finagling!” she says. Metzger acquired her headband of dreidels from Ohef Sholom Temple’s Sisterhood’s Judaica Shop where she has been the buyer for more than nine years.

Save on what you need for a joyous holiday.

“Beginning from Rosh Chodesh Kislev, I love setting the tone for Hanukkah with whimsical, slightly wacky holiday items and traditions that create lasting memories for my family. Of course, we enjoy the classics—Hanukkah cookie decorating, donut decorating, and latkes—but every year I try to add something new and delightfully quirky to our repertoire,” says Liba Eisenberg, wife of Rabbi Shlomo Eisenberg of B’nai Israel Congregation.

One of their family favorites is a Hanukkah-themed Trouble game, a gift from grandparents in Rochester, New York. With children ages 4 - 11, the Eisenbergs play the board game on the long, dark winter afternoons, and it has become one of those signature ‘Hanukkah is coming!’ items in their home.

Rabbi Ari, Ben, Lia, and Pati Oliszewsky.

Palmer Washburn and Irina Komarovsky.

Amy Metzger.

Happy Hanukkah

The Eisenbergs also own oversized Hanukkah pop-it sensory toys that they fill with melted chocolate and turn into edible treats. Their kids top them with everything from pretzels and popcorn to sprinkles, berries, marshmallows, even pickles and chips— whatever is in the pantry. “It’s hilarious and delicious!” After hardening, the chocolate treats pop out and are enjoyed throughout Hanukkah.

One year, Eisenberg and her family made a menorah out of Fruit Loops and Mike & Ikes. Last year, in honor of the holiday of light, she surprised the family with a laser tag set from Amazon, and they spent one night of Hanukkah playing laser tag outside in the dark. “It was just as fun for the adults as the kids!

“These playful and unexpected items have turned into incredible experiences and memories we will cherish forever,” says Eisenberg. If the Hanukkah bin at home is lacking whimsical decorations, Target can supply endless kitsch. Kveller.com has again assembled a list of tchotchkes that will be the envy of every home on the block. Not to be outdone by Christmas celebrants, the Hallmark six-pair holiday earring set should be a conversation starter in line at Harris Teeter. Even the dog can get in on the Hanukkah action with a brushed fleece dog bandana. Tzvi, Esther, Binyamin, Aaron, and Zehava Eisenberg.

Happy Hanukkah

Hanukkah in Tidewater

Tidewater’s Jewish community offers plenty of waysto observe and celebrate Hanukkah in 2025. In fact, opportunities for children, teens, young adults, older adults, and families to celebrate throughout the eight nights abound in Tidewater. Get a hanukkiah ready, along with the 44 candles to illuminate this holiday of lights.

Brith Sholom

Hanukkah Brunch

Experience the warmth of Hanukkah with a brunch event full of food, piano music, and celebration.

Sunday, December 14

10 am – 3 pm

Contact LeeAnn Mallory, brith.sholom1@gmail.com.

Chabad Lubavitch of Tidewater

C Teen Latke Wars

Sunday, December 7

5 – 7 pm

$10

RSVP: chabadoftidewater.com/cteenrsvp

Chanukah Extravaganza - Community

GIANT Menorah Lighting

Sunday, December 14

4:30 – 6 pm

Mt. Trashmore

Contact Rashi Brashevitzky, rashibrashi@me.com.

Grand Menorah Car Parade

Tuesday, December 16

5:30-6:30 pm

Congregation Beth El

First Night of Hanukkah Family Celebration

Enjoy a festive dinner including latkes and sufganiyot, with Hannukah related activities for children.

Sunday, December 14

5 – 7 pm

$8/adult, $5/child, $20/family

RSVP: Ada@bethelnorfolk.com

Ohef Sholom Temple

Wiggles & Giggles Chanukah Celebration

A playful Hanukkah celebration just for the littlest learners (ages 0–4) and their grown-ups. Enjoy music, movement, story time, sensory play, and simple Hanukkah crafts designed for curious hands and wiggly bodies. A perfect way to introduce the joy of the holiday through song, light, and fun community time.

Sunday, December 7

10 am

RSVP: https://mailchi.mp/ohefsholom/ wigglesgiggles.

Chanukah Shabbat B’Yachad

Celebrate Hanukkah with a joyful Shabbat evening and a community dinner. Enjoy a buffet meal, live music, bingo, dreidel games, cookie decorating, and table trivia throughout the night. All ages are welcome. Bring family, friends, and a Hanukkiah for group candle lighting.

Friday, December 19

5:30 pm Preneg

6 pm Shabbat Service

6:45 pm Chanukah dinner and party $30/person ages 13+, $18/person ages 8-12, $10/person ages 3-7, free ages 0-2

RSVP: https://mailchi.mp/ohefsholom/ shabbatbyachad

Happy Hanukkah

5 ways to get the latke-frying smell out of your house

This article first appeared on The Nosher. Shannon Sarna

Everyone loves eating latkes; some people don’t even mind frying the latkes; but almost everyone loathes that post-frying, oil-laden smell that permeates the house after the frying fest of Hanukkah. Here are five ways to help get the smell out.

1. Vinegar

Vinegar is like a miracle drug, er, ingredient. Use it to make a salad dressing, clean the oven, poach an egg, and help remove the smell of fried latkes, too. Leave a bowl of vinegar on the counter while frying to help prevent the smell of oil taking over the kitchen. Or boil a pot of water with 1 cup of vinegar after frying. Or even take it a step further by adding favorite scents such as orange peel, cinnamon sticks, rosemary sprigs, etc.

2. Get Some Air

Of course, December in many parts of the world may not be ideal for leaving the windows open for long periods of time. But if windows are open just a little before getting

started on frying, and the kitchen fan is on, it should lessen the smell of fried oil.

3. Isolate the Frying

Close the doors to the kitchen to isolate the frying space so that the oil smell doesn’t travel through the entire house. And make sure to close doors to other rooms, too, so that the smell of fried latkes and donuts doesn’t creep into clothes and closets. Unless, of course, eau de fried potato is a preferred scent.

4. Light Some Candles

Find that scented candle gift from last Hanukkah and light it up. An essential oil diffuser or incense will also work. Open the windows, light some candles, and even try some Febreeze on couches or carpet to help neutralize the odor.

5. Get Outside! Literally.

OK, this tip is less about frying indoors, and more just to take the frying outside. Is there a burner on the grill? If so, just take the pan outside and fry those latkes without

fear of that oily smell. Don’t have a grill (or a burner on the grill)? Find an electric skillet, plug it in outside, and fry away.

NORFOLK: THE PALACE SHOPS VIRGINIA BEACH: HILLTOP EAST

Happy Hanukkah

Hallmark’s 2025 Hanukkah Movie Is Oy(TotheWorld)

Though we hate the pun, we’re willing to give this interfaith enemies-to-lovers romance a chance.

Lior Zaltzman

In the past three years, it seemed like the Hallmark Channel had gotten on board with the Hanukkah program, giving us some quality, adorable, and wonderfully predictable Jewish romances.

In 2022, we got a romance about rivaling Jewish delis inspired by a Jewish family and starring Yael Grobglas ( Jane the Virgin) and musical theater icon Jeremy Jordan. In 2023, there was the best Hanukkah time loop movie we’ve ever seen, starring the oh-so-dreamy Bryan Greenberg (The Mindy Project, How to Make It In America). Last year, a movie that threatened to be just another Jewish girl

with Christmas envy offered surprisingly warm Jewish representation, and the unlikely star of a bar with a Hanukkah pop-up was Nickelodeon’s Marc Summers.

This year, though, their offering has me going oy. Or, more exactly, Oy to the World! Because, yes, that’s the title of the film. It premieres on Dec. 14, the first evening of Hanukkah, and stars Brooke D’Orsay and Jake Epstein. The title may be my least favorite oft-embroideredon-pillows “Hanukkah” pun of all time (because, let’s be real, it’s a Christmas pun) but this movie is an interfaith romance about a church and a synagogue sharing space, so perhaps the title does make sense.

HANUKKAH

May you be filled with peace and happiness

And while I do just want to give into the urge to kvetch about this movie (I mean, they put “oy” in the title! It’s like they’re asking us to complain!!), I will say, I’m not angry about the premise here.

choirs. And while I love an interfaith romance, I’m a bit sad that this seems to be Hallmark’s only Hanukkah film of the year, and we won’t get another lovely film about Jewish love.

It’s an enemies-to-lovers story, a classic trope that is just so supremely enjoyable when done well. D’Orsay plays Nikki Roberts, the youth choir director of St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, while Epstein plays Jake Cohen (not that Jake Cohen), the substitute choir director of the synagogue across the street, Temple Beth Am. The two are former high school rivals, but when a water line breaks at the temple around Hanukkah time, St. Joseph’s opens its doors for an interfaith Hanukkah and Christmas Eve service (Hanukkah, in this film, falls on the same time as Christmas Eve, a rare occasion). And so, Nikki and Jake must collaborate on a joint music program.

And yet, I am genuinely excited for the chance for a Hallmark movie to finally feature some good Hanukkah songs. I wonder if they’ll go for classics like Sevivon Sov Sov Sov, Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages), Hanukkah O Hanukkah and I Have a Little Dreidel or branch out with some Ladino Ocho Kandelikas, or Matishyahu’s Miracle. (I would pay good money to have a Hallmark movie feature Adam Sandler’s The Chanukah Song, but I’m not sure if Hallmark would pay money for those rights!)

As the logline reads: “To lead a successful fundraising effort for the temple, Nikki and Jake have to put aside their differences and learn how to work together. In doing so, they discover teamwork can move mountains and open hearts, including their own. On their big night, Nikki and Jake find a way to unite people through the power of song and prove that coming together is the best way for everyone to celebrate the holiday season.”

It’s just so cheesy — and I love it.

I will say, once again in the spirit of oy, that Hanukkah isn’t usually as big a deal at synagogues as Christmas is in churches, and synagogue youth choirs are not quite as ubiquitous as church

Like all Hallmark films, the movie was filmed in Canada and even shot some scenes at Okanagan Jewish Community Centre/Beth Shalom Synagogue in Kelowna, BC with extras from the local Jewish community. Newly released stills from the movie feature some interfaith Hanukkah candle lighting with what appears to be a very good-looking salt-andpepper-bearded rabbi (we are in the Hot Rabbi Golden Age, after all).

So yes, even if I am apprehensive, I am also hopeful that this movie will bring more joy than oy — is that too corny, or just corny enough for a Hallmark movie?

Oy to the World premieres on the Hallmark Channel on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 8 pm ET.

Lior Zaltzman is the deputy managing editor of Kveller, where this article first appeared.

LIGHT PEACE LOVE

FALL FUN AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT SHINE AT THE 3RD ANNUAL SIA FALL FESTIVAL

Carin Simon

At Strelitz International Academy, the fall season is filled with excitement and meaning as students celebrate the holidays from Rosh Hashanah through Simchat Torah. The spirit of the holidays continues to shine at SIA as the community eagerly anticipates the SIA Fall Festival.

Now in its third year, the Fall Festival has become a beloved school tradition. Open to the entire community, the campus transforms into a festive autumn wonderland filled with hay bales, pumpkins, colorful leaves, and laughter. Families enjoyed pony rides, hayrides, inflatables, crafts, and games—all while celebrating the warmth of Jewish

community and connection.

This year’s event was truly a community effort, as parents, faculty, and SIA alumni worked to make the day a success. With the help of generous sponsors, the Fall Festival served not only as a joyful family gathering but also as an important fundraiser supporting SIA’s mission of providing outstanding Jewish and International Baccalaureate education.

As SIA proudly celebrates its 70th year of inspiring generations of young learners, the Fall Festival has become a meaningful new tradition—one that highlights the values of family, community, and joyful learning.

Mark calendars for next year’s

Strelitz Fall Festival on Sunday, October 25, 2026.

Carin Simon is director of advancement at Strelitz International Academy.

SIA Thanks Fall Festival Sponsors: Festival Sponsor

• Sheila & Bob Josephberg Pony Ride Sponsors

• Beth Sholom Village

• Southern Bank

• Ellen and Bill Wagner Petting Zoo Sponsors

• Embrace Counseling Program

• Alan and Esther Fleder Foundation

• Jewish Family Service

• Heather and Doug Moore

• Sara Jo and Joel Rubin

• Elyssa Brinn, in Honor of Early Years Faculty

• The Stockpot

• Amy and Eliot Weinstein

• WoogWorks Carnival Game Sponsors

• Jennifer Waldholtz and Greg Antonucci

• Randall Decker Buntin

• Allison and Bill Carden

• Nicole and Aaron Glassman

• Eleanore and Michael Goldstein

• HOTWORX Virginia Beach - Red Mill

• Dawn and Jack Kaye

• Mike Simon Construction Corp.

• Sharkey's Cuts for Kids

• Vandelay Industries

Harvest Sponsors

• Donita Lozada

• The Seeman Family

Isla Cornelius and Scarlett St. Pierre ride the barrel train.

Amelia Estes and Alex Friedman.

Cora Beasly with the visiting animals.

Levi Foleck building with giant blocks.

Madeline Cohen and Rosangela Morales. Willow Gordon rides the pony.

Lion–Tikva–Chai Luncheon 2025 celebrates Women donors

Linda Ausch

The annual United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2026 Lion–Tikva–Chai Luncheon is an opportunity to thank and celebrate the leading donors and volunteers of the Federation’s Women’s Division. This year’s lunch welcomed more than 70 women and featured an amazing rabbi.

The Fleder Multipurpose Room at the Sandler Family Campus was transformed into a magical fall garden of pumpkins, gourds, and colorful leaves, as Alicia London Friedman, UJFT Women’s Philanthropy chair, opened the

program. In welcoming all, Friedman also thanked the luncheon’s sponsor, Maimonides Health Center of Virginia Beach, represented by Tasha Salyers, MHC’s head of sales and business development. A special shout-out went to Jodi Klebanoff and Shelley Simon, the luncheon’s co-chairs.

An encouraging campaign report followed, and Friedman thanked the women for giving so generously, as well as for inviting others to join in giving and in getting involved.

Recently back from an emotional trip to Israel,

Klebanoff shared stories and images of what she had experienced and what a meaningful time it was to be in the country. “At one point,” she said, “our driver pulled off the road – literally lined with people – to allow a procession to pass through which included a returned survivor, finally heading home from his post-release stay in hospital.”

Klebanoff encouraged everyone to stay connected and engaged and to understand the challenges that Israel now faces (a collective sadness, trauma, and pain unlike any experienced since the Holocaust). “And” she added: “if we’re

Ellen Wagner and Carol Brum.

Jodi Klenanoff, Alicia London Friedman, Maimonides Health Center of Virginia Beach Tasha Salyers, and Shelly Simon.

Beth Scharlop, Ellen Rostov Hundley, Sandra Porter Leon, and Betsy Karotkin.

Laura Gross and Rabbi Shira Stutman.

Anne Abraham and Stephanie Calliott.

Alicia London Friedman, Rachel Abrams, and Rachael Fiegenbaum.

Lisa Roesen and Sharon Goldner.

Beth Jaffe, Sandra Porter Leon, and Bonnie Brand.

Laura Wingett and Elyse Cardon.

Laura Gross and Jodi Klebanoff.

Annie Sandler and Dylan Sandler.

IT’S A WRAP

fortunate enough to put together an Israel Mission in the coming year, I encourage you all to participate.”

Pivoting to a different mission, Klebanoff mentioned the March 2026 Women’s Mission to Argentina, “where together we’ll celebrate Purim with the Buenos Aires Jewish community. Led by Annie Sandler and myself, this mission will be our first to Argentina in over 10 years… and our first group mission anywhere since October of 2023. If you are interested in this women’s-only mission, please contact Amy Zelenka (azelenka@ujft.org). She can send updates as trip details unfold.”

In recognizing the newest milestone donors in the UJFT Women’s Division, Klebanoff announced the following: Since last year’s Lion–Tikva–Chai Luncheon, the Women’s Campaign has welcomed: One new Amethyst Lion ($36,000+); One new Sapphire Lion ($18,000+); Two new Ruby Lions ($10,000+); Three new Israel@75 Lions ($7,500+); Six brand new Lions of Judah ($5,000); and eight New Chai Society Members ($1,800+)

The community also welcomed four new Endowed Lions of Judah (LOJEs) — women whose generosity and vision ensure a strong Jewish future for generations to come. Tidewater’s newest LOJE’s are Roslyn Barney, Joan London, Alicia London Friedman, and Susan Alper.

No Lion-Tikva-Chai Lunch would be complete without recalling the Endowed Lions of blessed memory. Each year, as their names are recited, these women are remembered– each one a true Eshet Chayil (woman of valor). And each year, inspiration is drawn from their enduring generosity, leadership, and love for Jewish Tidewater.

As the agenda turned to the speaker portion of the afternoon, Laura Gross, past UJFT president, introduced the guest speaker, Rabbi Shira Stutman. In a series of moderated questions and answers, Rabbi Shira, senior rabbi at the Aspen Jewish Congregation (after serving for many years at the historic 6th & I Synagogue in Washington, DC), discussed her debut book and kept the crowd engaged with

humorous stories and anecdotes – some from the book and others from the life she’s led so far.

Stutman’s book – divided into 10 chapters – speaks to the sometimes “very Jewish,” and other times “completely universal” aspects of life: from love and sex… to mourning and money. Her wisdom applies to Jewish and non-Jewish readers, alike. Rabbi Stutman came to Tidewater courtesy of the national Jewish Book Council and was also a featured author in the Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival.

In closing the event, Friedman said, “Thank you all for coming out today. Thank you for caring so much about the Jewish people and the Jewish community. And thank you for doing what needs to be done. Am Yisroel Chai.”

For more information about UJFT Women’s Campaign or to become a milestone giver in the Women’s Division, contact Linda Ausch, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Development director, at Lausch@ujft.org.

Renee Strelitz, Marilyn Buxbaum, Betty Berklee, and Kim Gross.

Sara Jo Rubin with Shinshinim, Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan.

Rachel Abrams, Denise Hoffman, and Megan Zuckerman.

Marsha Chenman, Emmy Lou Kreger, and Susan Eilberg. Martha Glasser and Rabbi Shira Stutman.

Mona Flax and Leora Drory.

Megan Zuckerman, Leslie Siegel, and Shaye Arluk.

Valerie White, Anne Abraham, and Leora Drory.

Rabbi Shira Stutman, Robin Mancoll, Betty Ann Levin, Ellen Wagner, and Carin Simon.

Terri Sarfan and Linda Ausch, UJFT Development DirectorCommunity Campaign.

Stacie Caplan and Dylan Sandler.

Nikki Shapiro Roth and Jerri Jo Halprin.

IT’S A WRAP

JFS, Nadiv team up to create Thanksgiving meal baskets

Seth Lubaton

The Cardo at the Sandler Family Camps was a whir of activity during the afternoon of Sunday, November 9.

Roughly 40 volunteers – adults and children alike – busily prepared Thanksgiving meal kits for 350 families in need this holiday season. Jewish Family Service of Tidewater and Nadiv, the young men’s fundraising division of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, partnered to make the event possible.

us kick off the start of our Thanksgiving bag stuffing,’ says Brooke Rush, director of development for Jewish Family Service. “We couldn’t have done it without your hard work and energy.” Rabbi Pinchas Zimmer of the Norfolk Kollel provided food from Charlie’s Middle Eastern and brought in Rabbi Bentzi Epstein from Dallas for a talk on the Jewish meaning of Thanksgiving.

FIRST PERSON

A night of laughter and inspiration at the Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival

Ally St. Pierre

Volunteers as young as three years old sorted canned goods and other non-perishable items while others put the food in bags ready for families to pick up the week of Thanksgiving.

‘Thank you to Nadiv and all the volunteers for helping

All Nadiv members give at least $365 to UJFT’s Annual Campaign. The group is open to men ages 2250 and falls under UJFT’s Men's Division.

To be involved in Nadiv, contact Amy Zelenka, UJFT’s chief development officer, at azelenka@ujft.org.

On Tuesday, October 28, alongside Aaron Shames, I had the pleasure of moderating an event for the Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival showcasing the book Tiny Pep Talks. It was such a fun and uplifting experience! The evening was filled with laughter, thoughtful insights, and meaningful moments as the authors (and very funny comedians), Paula Skaggs and Josh Linden, shared their unique blend of humor and heartfelt advice.

One of the evening’s highlights was the audience’s participation; everyone got involved, cheering each other on and joining in the spirit of positivity that the book embodies. It truly felt like a room full of encouragement and connection.

Tiny Pep Talks is a refreshing reminder to celebrate life’s small victories and find joy in the everyday. I highly recommend this book as it’s both hilarious and deeply motivating. I’m already looking forward to the next release, the Tiny Pep Talks: For Teachers, which promises even more inspiration tailored to educators.

Nadiv members: Josh Lepchitz, Jordan Moger, Mark Gamsey, Danny Rubin, Rabbi Pinchas Zimmer, Nadiv Chair Seth Lubaton, Klaus Gaba, Ben Rubinstein, and Adam Fox.

Seth Lubaton and Julie Kievit, JFS Jewish Community Services manager.

Children make “Happy Thanksgiving” cards to include in food baskets.

NADIV member Josh Lepchitz gets boxes of stuffing mix ready for placing in bags.

Seth Lubaton “shops” in the JFS Food Pantry for Thanksgiving-themed food items to include in bags.

Josh Linden, Paula Skaggs, Aaron Shames, and Ally St. Pierre.

From Soup to Nuts, the UJFT NADIV members and community volunteers help make Thanksgiving a little brighter for local area families.

Creating community, one pumpkin at a time, with PJ Library in Tidewater

Blake Sisler

Families gathered at Red Wing Park for a PJ Library Pumpkin Pop-Up on Sunday, Nov. 2. Parents and children spent the afternoon enjoying each other’s company and connecting with families who live nearby. Designed with local families in mind, the pop-up offered an accessible way for neighbors to enjoy pumpkin painting while strengthening relationships within Tidewater’s Jewish community.

PJ Library in Tidewater is committed to making programming accessible to families. By hosting events in a variety of locations, families can participate in engaging activities close to home – limiting the need to travel far. These neighborhood pop-ups provide opportunities for families to meet neighbors and help form a welcoming, close-knit Jewish community.

PJ Library in Tidewater plans to offer more pop-ups in future months and encourages families to share their ideas for convenient locations. Contact Blake Sisler at Bsisler@ujft.org with suggestions. Every recommendation helps PJ Library bring programming closer to families, creating more opportunities for connection within the larger community.

To learn more about PJ Library in Tidewater, visit JewishVA.org/PJLibrary or contact Blake Sisler, UJFT’s coordinator of youth and family engagement at Bsisler@ujft.org.

Ohef

Sholom collects food for JFS Thanksgiving

food drive

The Mitzvah committee at Ohef Sholom Temple completed its annual Thanksgiving Drive to benefit Jewish Family Service’s clients on Sunday, November 16.

The temple’s Religious School classes, along with other congregant’s generosity, made it possible to fill 30 bags with 12 different non-perishable items for those in the community who are in need.

Ellie Goldstein, Lindsey Aftel, Ellen Hundley (Mitzvah committee co-chair), Ellen Coley (Mitzvah committee co-chair), Carol Brum, and Lauren Epstein assisted in organizing and securing specific items for the collection.

Lily Serbin and Blake Sisler share a smile as Lily paints her pumpkin.

Theo Trem, Alex Kievit, and Henry Trem get creative while painting their own pumpkins.

Ellie Goldstein, Lindsey Aftel, Ellen Hundley, Ellen Coley, and Lauren Epstein.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Tanya Wisoker

“When we are gone, who will tell our stories?”

That’s a compelling question that the survivors of the Holocaust ask, as do the liberators and the Righteous Among the Nations of WWII. Now their children, the second generation, and even the grandchildren ask, “Who will tell Papa’s story? Who will remember what Mother experienced?”

The answer: “We will.”

and Liberation in the Holocaust: A program of remembrance and inspiration connecting to the past through the power of storytelling

Teach the Shoah, along with those reading this article, will tell the stories. Teach the Shoah trains people of all ages, generations, and backgrounds to share testimony-based stories and lessons of the Holocaust. Its programs challenge ignorance and hate by building personal connections across generations, faiths, and identities.

The organization trains storytellers to do this important work, not to become professionals, but to share these stories: at synagogues, local schools, at family gatherings. Together, voice can be given to people who cannot speak today. Interested individuals can do this work with Teach the Shoah.

This 90-minute program interweaves powerful firsthand accounts with historical context, bringing to life moments of resistance in the ghettos and the camps, and the moment of liberation. Three authentic stories anchor the evening: two stories of Jewish resistance and the courage of the underground, and the moving story of local American liberator William John “Bill” Jucksch. Historical framing between each story deepens understanding and connects the personal to the larger history.

The evening concludes with space for reflection and conversation.

Workshop

Sunday, December 7, 9:30-11:30 am Exploring Their Stories: Transforming Testimony into Story

How is Holocaust testimony transformed into meaningful, memorable stories?

In this two-hour program, participants will learn about Teach the Shoah’s unique method for shaping testimony into story. The program begins with an example story and ends with an open discussion. Along the way, participants will discover tools for listening deeply, giving and receiving appreciation, and finding the story within testimony. This is an interactive experience for anyone who believes memory must be carried forward.

All programs are free and open to the public, but registration is required. Contact the Temple Israel office: 757-489-4550 or templeisraelva1954@gmail.com.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Warm Winter fun with Camp JCC

December 22, 2025January 2, 2026

Sandler Family Campus

Dave Flagler and Kate-Lynn Cipolla

Although the chill is here and summer may seem far away, Camp JCC fun is right around the corner with the return of Camp JCC Winter Camp.

Taking place over the winter break for local school districts, Camp JCC Winter Camp offers a safe, engaging, and fun experience for children currently in kindergarten through 5th grade. New and prospective campers, along with alumni from previous winters, springs, and summers are invited to join and enjoy engaging indoor adventures.

This winter, Camp JCC transforms into an inviting “Winter Lodge,” offering a cozy and warm indoor sanctuary for fun and adventure with old and new friends.

“ “ Local Relationships Matter

As a family-owned business since 1954, we have strong roots in the Hampton Roads community. We pride ourselves on being more than your average garden center and providing a truly unique experience for our customers. Generations have grown with us and visit our locations to enjoy our homegrown plants, boutique clothing, one of a kind gift, and the scratch made food in our restaurant–Sage Kitchen. It’s been our pleasure to serve this area for 70 years.

I truly appreciate having Payday Payroll as part of my team. This is the fourth payroll company we’ve used and far and away the best. They have given me the freedom to stay focused on my business and feel confident that the experts are handling my payroll. They are always available and capable to answer any questions I have. With Payday Payroll I feel certain my payroll needs are in the most capable hands!

This theme blends the cozy atmosphere of a cabin retreat with engaging activities focused on exploration, creation, and building community. Campers can expect to enjoy classic Camp JCC staple activities such as free swim indoors, gaga, crafts, games, Israeli culture with Tidewater’s Shinshinim, “Camper’s Choice” and more. Beyond that, campers can also look forward to seasonal twists on STEM activities and projects to make the “Camp JCC Winter Lodge” a destination. Winter Camp also provides the chance for previous summer campers to reunite with some favorite and all-star counselors. There is nothing like seeing the excited expressions on both the campers’ and counselors’ faces as they make eye

Our client relationships are anything but transactional. We are long-term partners, dedicated to the success of our clients, and most importantly, their people.

contact for the first time in months. It is a Camp JCC family reunion with lots of smiles and laughs.

Camp JCC Winter Camp will take place December 22, 2025 through January 2, 2026 (excluding December 25 and January 1). Families may select from a variety of registration options. Registration options for Camp JCC School Days Out include enrolling for any individual day, a 5-day bundle, or 10-day package. Winter Camp hours are 9 am – 4 pm; extended care is available 8 am – 6 pm. All 5-day and

10-day bundles include extended care at no extra cost. Additional information, pricing details, and registration can be found at www.campjcc.org. Registration is now open.

To learn more about Kids Night Out, School Days Out, children’s classes and more, contact Kate-Lynn Cipolla, Camp JCC assistant director, at klcipolla@ujft.org or 757-3212306. To learn more about Camp JCC, or to hear about year-round opportunities for teens in the community, contact Dave Flagler, director of Camp and Teen Engagement, at DFlagler@UJFT.org or 757-452-3182.

MEET: Jason Blanchette

Campers participate in a STEM activity called “Freeing the Frozen Toys”: Ann Ning and Jolie Wilson.

Campers enjoy a silly moment with their counselors: Izzy Ford, Madysen Cubitt (counselor), Danial Watts (counselor), Ella Gladstein, Simon Fine, Leon Shall, Ari Smith, and Killian Bickerton.

Moral Courage Award Recipient, MAJ John W. Spencer, USA (Ret.) speaks

hard truths in difficult times with Jay Klebanoff

Israel in Focus: Hamas’ War – Truth and Consequences Modern Warfare and the Fight

for Truth in the Age of Misinformation

Wednesday, December 3, 7:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus, Free

MAJ John W. Spencer, USA (Ret.), is not only one of the world’s leading experts on urban warfare but also a widely lauded moral voice in today’s fight for accurate information.

In 2025, MAJ Spencer received the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Moral Courage Award, recognizing his unwavering commitment to speaking truth to power and highlighting the human stakes behind conflict. He was also named one of The Algemeiner’s Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life (2024), reflecting his impact as one of the most vocal and articulate defenders of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Since October 7, Spencer has challenged defamatory claims of war crimes and “genocide,” noting that

A

Israel has set a “remarkable, historic new standard” in conducting an urban warfare campaign designed to minimize civilian harm.

With global battlefields shifting into cities and information as much a weapon as any missile, John Spencer will cut through the fog of war and the haze of misinformation. Moderated by Jay Klebanoff, former United Jewish Federation of Tidewater president, the evening promises a dynamic discussion on both the strategic and moral dimensions of modern conflict.

Engage directly. Submit questions in advance to have them addressed live during the event. RSVP by December 1 to secure a place and ensure your question is included. Open to all, free of charge — bring a

friend, neighbor, or colleague. Be part of the dialogue. Be present. Be heard. Additional security measures will be in place. Please have ID ready and allow extra time for check-in.

Israel in Focus is a Jewish Federations of North America partnership with AJC, the Conference of Presidents, ADL, and AIPAC. This program is presented by the Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and community partners as part of the 15th Annual Israel Today Forum.

Pre-registration: Required by Monday, December 1 at JewishVA.org/Spencer.

Master storyteller Corey Rosen returns to Tidewater

Story for Everything: An Evening of Stories, Laughter, and Inspiration

Thursday, December 11, 7:30 pm,

What makes a moment memorable? What turns an ordinary experience into something that connects, teaches, or inspires? This December, host of San Francisco’s Moth StorySLAM and author Corey Rosen returns to Tidewater to help the community discover those answers.

Presented by the Konikoff Center for Learning of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Rosen will spend a week immersed in Tidewater, leading workshops with teens, educators, nonprofit leaders, boards, and legacy teams. His warm, humorous approach shows people how to uncover the heart of a

story and share it with clarity and confidence.

Sandler Family Campus

Rosen is the author of Your Story Well Told and the upcoming A Story for Everything, a book about how the stories everyone carries shape “who we are.” During his residency, he’ll guide groups in using storytelling to build connection, strengthen identity, inspire giving, and communicate purpose.

The week will culminate in A Story for

Everything: An Evening of Stories, Laughter, and Inspiration on Thursday, December 11, where Rosen will host a community story slam featuring local voices and true stories that are funny, meaningful, and deeply human.

For more information, or to register, visit JewishVA.org/ KCL or contact Sierra Lautman at SLautman@ujft.org or 757-965-6107.

Sierra Lautman

MAJ John W. Spencer

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Siblings on the Sidelines: Fun and Israeli spirit off the court Begins Wednesday,

December

10 during most JCC basketball games

Children can join Siblings on the Sidelines — a fun new program led by Tidewater’s Shinshinim, Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan — while their siblings compete in the Simon Family JCC Youth Basketball League. Through engaging in Israeli games and creative activities, participants will play, learn, and connect in a warm, welcoming environment.

The program runs during most JCC basketball games throughout the season and requires no RSVP — kids can join anytime they’re at the JCC. It’s a great way for younger children to enjoy Israeli culture, make friends, and stay active while cheering on their siblings.

For more information about the JCC Basketball League or the Shinshinim program in Tidewater, visit JewishVA.org or contact NTrem@UJFT.org.

Elizabeth Murphy to discuss her book, The Faithful Harlot: During the Collapse of the Bronze Age

Thursday, December 4, 6 pm, Prince Books

How and why did a beautiful “harlot” help Joshua conquer the idol-worshipping, walled Canaanite city of Jericho soon after the formerly enslaved Hebrews crossed the River Jordan? Surely a guardian angel must have been at her side.

Elizabeth Murphy’s The Faithful Harlot: During the Collapse of the Bronze Age, 1251 BCE to 1240 BCE, is based on the Hebrew Bible, various religions’ oral and written traditions, and the latest works of historians, archeologists, and theologians. The book follows the Canaanites on their Exodus from paganism to belief in a loving, singular Creator God.

Murphy will discuss the book with Dorianne Villani, who will serve as the moderator, answer questions, and sign books.

Prince Books is located at 109 E. Main Street in Norfolk.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Holocaust Commission’s writing and arts competitions now accepting submissions

Elka Mednick

The 29th Annual Elie Wiesel Writing and Visual Arts Competition, which invites students in grades 6 - 12 to reflect on the lessons of the Holocaust and explore how they might be able to rid the world of antisemitism, bigotry, and hatred, is now open. The Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater sponsors the competition.

Named in honor of Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, the competition challenges students to engage with Holocaust history not only as an academic exercise, but as a personal and creative journey. Through essays, poetry, visual arts, and videos, students are encouraged to examine the moral and ethical questions raised by the Holocaust and consider how its lessons apply to contemporary issues such as injustice and disinformation.

Open to all middle and high school students, the competition serves as a powerful educational tool for teachers seeking to inspire critical thinking and creativity in their classrooms. While many students participate through classroom assignments, entries are welcomed from students who wish to submit independently. The competition provides a meaningful opportunity for students to express what they’ve learned in ways that resonate with their own experiences and perspectives.

Entries are judged blindly by professionals in the fields of education, writing, and the arts, ensuring an impartial and thoughtful evaluation process. Winners in each category receive cash prizes and a copy of To Life: The Past is Present.

The winners will be honored at the community’s annual Yom Hashoah commemoration, which will take place on April 13, 2026.

All information necessary to enter the competition, including detailed guidelines, background information, and submission instructions, can be found at JewishVA.org/Wiesel.

To learn more about the Holocaust Commission, go to HolocaustCommission.org or contact Elka Mednick, director of the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater at EMednick@ujft.org.

Moses Ezekiel’s Botanical Garden artist statues

Sunday, December 14, at 2 pm

Chrysler Museum of Art

Samantha Baskind, PhD., distinguished professor of Art History at Cleveland State University, will speak on The Remarkable Journey of Moses Ezekiel's Norfolk Botanical Garden Artist Statues.

Sir Moses Jacob Ezekiel was a prolific, yet controversial 19th century Jewish sculptor from Richmond, Virginia.

A reception will follow this lecture. Tickets are $18. For more information and to purchase tickets go to www.jewishmuseumportsmouth.org or call 757-391-9266.

CALENDAR

NOVEMBER 24, MONDAY

JCC Annual Blood Drive. Donating blood is a simple, powerful way to connect with the community and make a lasting difference. 11 am – 3:45 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information: Teresa Knecht at tknecht@ujft.org.

NOVEMBER 24 - MAY 25, MONDAYS

Conversational Hebrew Classes at the JCC. Join Tidewater’s Shinshinim for weekly Conversational Hebrew classes. Open to learners of all levels and ages, each six-week session focuses on topics ranging from everyday Hebrew and personal description and expression to learning about Israel and navigating the country. Free/members and children 13 and under. $36/potential members. 5:30 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information and registration: JewishVA.org/Shinshinim or Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

NOVEMBER 25 -DECEMBER 31, TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY

Camp JCC Summer 2025 Early Bird Special. Register during this window to receive a discount on all Camp JCC Summer Camp sessions. (Last Blast not eligible for early bird pricing). Information and registration: www.campjcc.org or Dave Flagler at Dflagler@ujft.org.

DECEMBER 2, TUESDAY

Yiddish Club. Embrace Yiddish culture, language, and history through music, film, poetry, and literature. Meets the first Tuesday of each month. 1 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information: www.jewishva.org/Adults or Hunter Thomas at HThomas@UJFT.org.

JCC Youth Basketball League Registration Deadline. Open to boys and girls of all faiths in grades K–2 and 3–5. League emphasizes skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship. All players must attend Draft Day on Wednesday, December 3. Wednesday practices begin December 10. Sunday games start January 4. Championship Day on March 8, 2026. Players receive a league jersey. All registered league participants may attend pre-season clinics for free. Registration: JewishVA.org/YOUTHBASKETBALL or Tom Edwards at 757-321-2308 or tedwards@simonfamilyjcc.org.

DECEMBER 3, WEDNESDAY

Israel in Focus: Hamas’ War – truth and consequences featuring MAJ John W. Spencer, USA (Ret.). One of the world’s foremost experts on urban warfare, MAJ Spencer will lead a discussion on the Israel-Hamas war, examining the tactical, moral, and humanitarian challenges of modern conflict, including lessons from Ukraine and other global hotspots. Israel in Focus is a Jewish Federations of North America partnership with AJC, the Conference of Presidents, ADL, and AIPAC. This program is presented by UJFT’s Jewish Community Relations Council and community partners as part of the 15th Annual Israel Today Forum. 7:30 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Registration: JewishVA.org/Spencer. See page 32.

DECEMBER 4, THURSDAY

From Wards Corner to The NorVa: One Jewish Kid’s Soundtrack to Rebellion with NorVa co-founder Rick Mersel, author of All Revved Up and Ready to Go: My Life in Concert .Mersel presents a loud, raw, and wildly funny journey through Norfolk’s back alleys, bar mitzvah dance floors, and beer-soaked music venues. Presented as part of the Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival. $10/JCC members, $18/potential members. Includes dessert reception. 7:30 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Registration: visit JewishVA.org/BookFest.

Roundtable Conversation. Join conversations involving current events, politics, and much more. Meets the first and third Thursday of the month. 1 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information: www.jewishva.org/Adults or Hunter Thomas at HThomas@UJFT.org.

DECEMBER 5, FRIDAY

Shabbat Shenanigans at Temple Israel. A monthly event for children 12 and younger and their families. Kid-friendly kosher dinner and activities, 6 - 6:30 pm, followed by a family-focused service, 6:30 - 7 pm. Free. Registration: Temple Israel 757-489-4550 or templeisraelva1954@gmail.com, or complete online RSVP form at https://forms.gle/AVBwWsFBZmp64Kox9.

DECEMBER 7, SUNDAY

Shinshinim-led Israeli Youth Group. Tidewater’s ShinShinim have started Israeli Eagles- a brand-new youth group in Tidewater inspired by the spirit and excitement of the Israeli Scouts (Tzofim). Once a month through May, meet to play games, build teamwork and leadership skills, explore Israeli culture, and make new friends. $60/JCC members, $75/potential members. 1 - 3 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information and registration: JewishVA.org/Shinshinim or Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

DECEMBER

9, TUESDAY

Storytelling in the Classroom and Beyond: an educators’ workshop with expert storyteller Corey Rosen, author of A Story for Everything: Mastering Diverse Storytelling for Any Occasion. Explore how stories can deepen learning, strengthen community, and empower both teachers and students to express themselves authentically. Free educator happy hour 5:30 pm. Dinner 6 pm. Sandler Family Campus. First 10 educators registered receive a free copy of Rosen’s book. Registration: JewishVA.org/RosenWorkshop.

DECEMBER 11, THURSDAY

My Proud Jewish Story: A teen workshop with expert storyteller Corey Rosen, author of A Story for Everything: Mastering Diverse Storytelling for Any Occasion. Rosen will help teens explore what being Jewish means to them and how to express it in their own authentic voices. Teens will gain confidence in sharing their stories, strengthen public speaking and communication skills, and discover how storytelling can connect, empower, and entertain. Free. 5 pm. Includes dinner. Sandler Family Campus. Registration: JewishVA.org/TeenWorkshop.

A Story for Everything: an evening of stories, laughter, and inspiration with expert storyteller Corey Rosen, author of A Story for Everything: Mastering Diverse Storytelling for Any Occasion. Rosen guides the audience through the art of telling their own true stories, teaching the craft of storytelling along the way. Presented as part of the Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with the Konikoff Center for Learning of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. 7:30 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information and registration: JewishVA.org/Rosen or Sierra Lautman at SLautman@UJFT.org.

DECEMBER 14, SUNDAY

Samantha Baskind will speak on Virginia Sculptor Moses Ezekiel. Baskind, distinguished Professor of Art History at Cleveland State University and author of Moses Jacob Ezekiel: Jewish Confederate, Expatriate Sculptor speaks on the journey of 12 statues by Moses Ezekiel now residing at Norfolk Botanical Garden. Sponsored by The Jewish Museum and Cultural Center, UJFT, and Chrysler Museum of Art. $18 includes reception following lecture. 2 - 4 pm. Chrysler Museum of Art. Registration: www.jewishmuseumportsmouth.org, 757-391-9266, jmccportsmouth@gmail.com.

Chanukah Extravaganza -Community Giant Menorah Lighting. 4:30 - 6 pm. Mt. Trashmore. Information: Rashi Brashevitzky at rashibrashi@me.com.

DECEMBER 15, MONDAY

Book Club will read A Light in the Northern Sea by Tim Brady, who will join via Zoom. Book Club meets the third Monday of the month. 1:30 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information: Jewishva.org/Adults or Hunter Thomas at HThomas@UJFT.org.

OBITUARIES

David Bruce Jorgenson

NORFOLK - David Bruce Jorgenson, age 83, departed this world on October 31, 2025.

David lived a life full of love. Just before he was born, his parents – Minnesota transplants to Los Angeles – rode a train back to rural Minnesota to be surrounded by his first and second generation Norwegian American family.

Ties with his immediate and extended family stayed very strong throughout his life. He grew up in Hawthorne, California with his parents, Ernest and Nona, and two sisters, Ramona and Lynda, in a house where he could watch planes land at the Los Angeles Airport from his rooftop. He graduated from Hawthorne High School alongside the Wilsons and Al Jardine of the Beach Boys.

David met the love of his life, Karen, at

UCLA, where he graduated college. Their adventurous spirits led them to opportunities wherever they appeared, completing his PhD field work in Oregon, taking his first job as a geologist at a New Mexican mine, a professorship at Central Michigan University, and working in environmental remediation in Nevada and Ohio. They retired in rural Pierce County, Washington to be near extended family in 2001, and moved to Norfolk, Virginia to be with family after downsizing in 2022.

Although quiet of demeanor, the twinkle in David’s eye and dimple in his smile invited people to speak to him one-on-one and enjoy great conversations. He was a lifelong learner, often reading three or four books at once, and always listening to NPR while driving. After retiring as a geologist, he acquired and repaired broken antique radios from the 1930s and later purchased a Furniture Medic franchise and taught himself how to repair old furniture.

He general contracted and created the woodwork details in the home they

built to enjoy retirement. In Michigan and Washington, David and Karen had small hobby farms with a barn where David could tinker; they raised goats, chickens, dogs, and cats, and enjoyed tending large vegetable gardens.

For as long as his body would allow, David was a runner. A special moment in his life was when he and his oldest daughter Kirsten trained for and ran the San Diego Rock and Roll marathon together in 2000.

The impact David had on his family, friends, and community is immeasurable. He and Karen celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in April 2025. Their love only grew as they navigated life in true partnership. As a parent, he was emotionally present, kind, fun, and enjoyed spending time with his family. His last words to his family were of his love and the pride he took in them. Friends and family say his wit, sense of humor, and kindness will be how he is remembered.

Some of David’s greatest personal achievements came from his and Karen’s choices to

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

OBITUARIES

open their hearts and homes to others. In the late 1970s they forged a lifelong bond with a multigenerational family, the Huynhs, whom their church sponsored to settle in Michigan from a refugee camp in Thailand after the Vietnam War. It was one of David’s great joys to see their family’s many successes.

David and Karen were foster and adoptive parents. They provided homes for 4 exchange students from Scandinavian countries. As parents of a child with disabilities, they used their knowledge to be Parent Advocates in their local school system to help other parents navigate school for their children with learning differences.

Throughout his life, in all the communities he lived in, he did large and small acts of community service.

David is survived by his sister Lynda; wife Karen, daughters Kirsten (Mark), Alyssa (Jonathan), Lindsay, and Tabor (Richard); grandchildren Mariah (Steven), Joanna, Elijah, and Nyla; and great grandson Julian David. The family requests that you invest in your community as David did. Donate on

his behalf to fight food insecurity with Food Backpacks 4 Kids or a charity of choice.

Richard Siff

PORTSMOUTH - Richard Siff, devoted husband and father, passed away on November 11, 2025.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, he was the only child of Leon and Doris Siff.

Richard cultivated an early interest in electronics through amateur radio, which led to a distinguished 30-year career at the Naval Aviation Depot. He began as an aircraft electrician apprentice and advanced to Quality Assurance Specialist, establishing enduring professional relationships throughout his tenure.

He was a life-long lover of the radio waves and community connections, better known as W4BUE. He embodied the true spirit of amateur radio, especially the camaraderie. The world was a lot kinder when Richard’s voice was on the airwaves. Fellow operators remember him as a great friend. He may be a silent key but not forgotten.

His life commitment to volunteerism was evident in his work with LifeNet following his heart transplant, as well as his involvement with the transplant support group to ensure no one went without medications. His long-term commitment was to Ohef Sholom Temple’s soup kitchen, where he proudly served as the original greeter. In addition, his mentorship of local high school students in the electronic field.

He is survived by his wife, Harriet Siff, and his daughter, Dr. Melody Siff.

A graveside service was held at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Mr. Siff’s name may be directed to the local Humane Society, ARRL scholarship.

David Louis Taetle

MCLEAN, VIRGINIA - David Louis Taetle, 75, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on November 15, 2025.

Born in Washington, D.C., Mr. Taetle attended Bryant University before embarking on a long and successful career as a financial consultant to automobile dealerships

throughout the U.S., Canada, and Australia. He was widely respected in his field for his integrity, deep knowledge of the industry, and his steady, practical guidance.

A devoted fan of Washington’s sports teams, Mr. Taetle rarely missed an opportunity to cheer on his hometown favorites — especially baseball, hockey, and football. His enthusiasm for D.C. sports was exceeded only by his loyalty to the people he loved.

Known for his warmth, humor, and generosity, he was a steadfast friend whose presence made any gathering brighter.

Mr. Taetle is survived by his wife, Marcia Taetle; his daughters, Julie George and Jodi Pietrzyk; two granddaughters; his sisters, Dorothy Spitalney and Shirley Taetle; and his brother-in-law, Ronnie Spitalney.

Friends and family were received for a funeral service at Jefferson Funeral Chapel in Alexandria, Va. A graveside service followed at King David Memorial Gardens in Falls Church, Va. Memorial contributions may be made to Donate Life America https:// donatelife.net.

Rabbi Alvin Kass, longest-serving NYPD chaplain famed for 9/11 response

Philissa Cramer

(JTA) — Less than a week after rushing to Ground Zero as a police chaplain on 9/11, Rabbi Alvin Kass led Rosh Hashanah services — not only for his Brooklyn congregation but at a makeshift synagogue at LaGuardia Airport for emergency responders who had flooded into New York City after the terrorist attacks.

“It was,” he would later say, “the most meaningful religious service in my career.”

Kass died last month at 89 as the longest-serving chaplain in the New York Police Department, with a career that included responses to global terrorism, local violence, and the intimate needs of police officers — as well as a hostage crisis that he famously resolved with a non-kosher pastrami sandwich.

He worked until weeks before his death and, days earlier, had tuned in from his hospital room to a ceremony honoring him for 60 years of service within the NYPD.

“As our longtime spiritual director, he anchored Shomrim in Torah values and service, guiding us through milestones, line-of-duty tragedies, and everyday decisions alike,” the Shomrim Society, a fraternal organization for Jewish police officers, said in a statement.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Kass attended Camp Ramah before enrolling at Columbia University in 1953. After graduating from college, he earned both a doctorate from New York University and ordination as a Conservative rabbi from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America

before joining the U.S. Air Force as a chaplain. Returning stateside, he took a pulpit in Queens before being urged to join the city’s police department as a chaplain.

At the time, he was only the third Jewish chaplain to work for the NYPD. He would become its longest-serving and the first three-star chaplain, working under eight mayors and 21 police chiefs.

At the same time, Kass spent decades in congregations, helming the East Midwood Jewish Center, a Conservative synagogue in Brooklyn, for 36 years until his retirement in 2014.

NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who is Jewish, mourned Kass in a statement, noting that he was the youngest chaplain in the department’s history when he came on at age 30. “Nearly six decades later, he remained its spiritual heart — a source of strength, guidance, and faith for generations of police officers and their families,” Tisch said.

Within the NYPD, Kass was responsible for the spiritual care of all officers but especially the thousands who are Jewish. Kass successfully advocated for the right of Jewish police officers not to work on Shabbat and major Jewish holidays while also serving as the primary Jewish figure for Jewish officers who were otherwise unaffiliated with Jewish communities.

After the terrorist attacks in Lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, Kass reported to Ground Zero, where he encountered a police officer he described as “crying like a baby” as well as the families of officers who were unaccounted for. Later, he attended the funerals of every

police officer who was killed that day, including two who were Jewish.

One of Kass’s more famous escapades came in 1981 when he was called in to negotiate with a Jewish man who had taken a woman hostage.

“I talked to him all night to give up his gun,” Kass recalled in a 2012 interview with the Wall Street Journal. “I was an utter failure. But by morning he was hungry.”

The hostage team ordered pastrami sandwiches from the (non-kosher) Carnegie Deli for the hostage-taker and for Kass. Kass traded one overstuffed sandwich for the man’s gun — but it turned out he had another. Kass, who ate only kosher meat, had not touched his sandwich and persuaded the man to accept it in exchange for the other gun. The police swooped in and ended the crisis.

The NYPD commissioner noted the incident when promoting Kass to three-star chief in 2016, saying, “In a feat that has become legendary, you were able to trade two pastrami sandwiches for the man’s two guns.”

But for Kass, whose small stature added to a widespread impression of modesty, the real feat came not in his ability to disarm the hostage-taker but in the man’s appetite.

“Have you seen the sandwiches from the Carnegie Deli?” he recalled. “They’re huge.”

Kass is survived by his three children and three grandchildren. He was married for 54 years to Miryom Kass, an educator, until her death in 2017.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Jewish Artists of the Past Legacy 2025 L’ Dor V’Dor – From Generation to Generation

Grand opening: Saturday, December 6, 6:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus

Harry Graber

Henri Matisse, Ben Shan, and Jacques Lipchitz were the names mentioned by Mia Laufer, PhD, the Irene Leach curator of European Art for the Chrysler Museum. She did so in her presentation at the Jewish Museum and Cultural Center as she referenced artistic inspirations and stylistic comparisons featured in the works of 20 outstanding Hampton Roads Jewish artists soon

to be on exhibition at the Sandler Family Campus.

This first of a kind exhibition entitled, Legacy 2025, Jewish Artists of the Past, features art of more than 20 Hampton Roads Jewish artists who are no longer living. Three pieces of art by each individual will be displayed. Family members or someone familiar with each artist will speak on each artist’s behalf. The featured artists will include

many award-winning Jewish communityrespected and recognizable names. These artists produced painted and sculptural works using the mediums of oil, acrylic, watercolor multimedia, metal, and glass works.

Special tours led by Chrysler Museum docents will take place on Sundays, December 7, 21, 28, 2025 and January 4, 2026, at 2-3 pm. Arrangements for group tours will be handled by Hunter Thomas, director, Arts and Ideas. Contact him at 757-965-6100.

This long overdue and posthumous exhibition is sponsored by Jewish Museum and Cultural Center of Portsmouth, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, and Chrysler Museum of Art.

Opening night tickets are $36. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.jewishmuseumportsmouth.org or call 757-391-9266.

Season Premiere Sponsor

Elise Simon.

Arlene Kesser.

ARGENTINA

FIRST PERSON From darkness to light: The unforgettable Jai Mitzvah in Buenos Aires

Rabbi Ari Oliszewski

After experiencing vibrant and deeply moving Chaguim at Temple Emanuel, Pati, Lia, Ben, and I traveled to Buenos Aires, my hometown, to celebrate two very special occasions with our family there — my niece Martina’s Bat Mitzvah and my mother’s 75th birthday.

We were filled with joy and excitement — looking forward to family reunions, reconnecting with friends, and of course, enjoying an authentic Argentinian asado.

But it wasn’t just these celebrations that made this trip so meaningful.

Having grown up in Buenos Aires, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many wonderful people, being part of different Jewish communities, and attending countless communal events. However, I had never experienced a ceremony as powerful, emotional, and profound as the one I witnessed at Comunidad Dor Jadash – Max Nordau Synagogue in Villa Crespo, a neighborhood known for its strong Jewish roots.

On Thursday, October 30, the community celebrated a very special Bar-t Mitzvah, or as they called it, “Jai Mitzvah” — a ceremony that gave eight survivors of the Shoah (Holocaust) the opportunity to finally celebrate their Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

Eight survivors of one of humanity’s darkest chapters gathered in the synagogue to remind us that it is never too late to celebrate life and to keep the flame of Judaism burning bright. They stood as living testimony that even under the cruelest oppression, Am Israel Chai — the people of Israel live — and nothing and no one can destroy this eternal nation.

Ruth (94), Ilse (96), Alba (86), Berta (87), Marisha (87), Pedro (89), Elizabeth (88), and Anita (100) each put on a Tallit and Tefillin for the first time in their lives. Surrounded by family, friends, and numerous community and government representatives, they were called to the Torah as Bnei Mitzvah for the very first time.

Even though many decades have passed since the traditional age of 12 or 13, this ceremony proved that it is never too late to fulfill this sacred

Jewish milestone.

These eight survivors share stories of suffering, survival, loss, and remarkable rebuilding. Born in Romania, Croatia, Poland, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Austria, they were victims of Nazi horror — when practicing Judaism or even staying alive was nearly impossible. Some hid for years in unimaginably small spaces; others were separated from their parents and siblings; many escaped, while some never reunited with their families.

Argentina became their refuge — a country that offered them safety and a chance to rebuild their lives, create new families, and embody true resilience, courage, and hope.

This ceremony proved that it is never too late to fulfill this sacred Jewish milestone.

The emotion felt during this ceremony was beyond words. Having the privilege to witness it was a brachah (blessing) that touched and continues to nourish my soul. Seeing these survivors pray together – filled with joy and gratitude after everything they endured – was a lesson in faith, strength, and the power of the human spirit.

Their faces radiated happiness and hope — it was a true blessing, a reminder that we can always rise again. That life is about choosing to LIVE, in every sense of the word. These eight remarkable people taught us that living means standing up, moving forward, and never giving in to despair.

This extraordinary event was made possible thanks to Comunidad Dor Jadash, led by my dear friend Rabbi Marcelo Bater, and the Tzedaká Foundation — an organization founded in 1991 within the Jewish community of Argentina, which continues to transform the lives of thousands of Argentinians

in vulnerable situations through its unique, integrated social model.

Everyone who knows me knows how proud I am to be part of this ancient and enduring people.

After witnessing the Jai Mitzvah, that pride has grown beyond measure.

If there’s one thing that this experience reaffirmed for me, it’s that being Jewish is a privilege we must never take for granted.

No matter who tries to bring us down, we always rise.

We are never alone.

We are one united people.

And wherever we go — be it Argentina, the U.S., Brazil, Israel, or anywhere in the world — we will always find a Jewish community that welcomes us, inspires us, and reminds us that we are all part of it.

Thank you, Ruth, Ilse, Alba, Berta, Marisha, Pedro, Elizabeth, and Anita, for showing us that anything is possible, and that keeping Judaism alive is truly in our hands.

Am Israel Chai VeKayam — The people of Israel live and endure.

Rabbi Ari Oliszewski is the rabbi at Temple Emanuel in Virginia Beach.

Jai Mitzvah participants.

IN WAR

TRUTH IS THE FIRST CASUALTY

-Aeschylus

From false claims of genocide to manipulated casualty figures and the cynical misuse of humanitarian law, nearly every accusation leveled against Israel and the IDF distorts reality, ignores the law, and inverts morality. We owe it to ourselves to know the truth behind the headlines.

Join MAJ John W. Spencer, USA (Ret.), one of the world’s leading experts on urban warfare, for a rare and unflinching look at the harsh realities Israel faces after October 7. Drawing on decades of military experience and extensive global research, Spencer is widely recognized for his candid analysis in outlets such as The Jerusalem Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and many others.

Israel in Focus: Hamas’ War – Truth and Consequences

WEDNESDAY, DEC.3 • 7:30 PM • REBA AND SAM SANDLER FAMILY CAMPUS