1936 – 2026
Reba Karp held the distinction of sitting in the editor’s chair at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, editing this, and other publications, longer than anyone else. Reba passed away on March 17 after providing this community with more than three decades worth of newspapers – an enduring archive of life in Jewish Tidewater – until her retirement in 2004.
Reba was as creative and talented as she was driven and determined to do more – producing Renewal, a quarterly magazine and To Life, a book featuring testimonials of area Holocaust survivors, all while publishing paper after paper. She also found time to write her own books – novels and historical volumes.
Working for the Jewish community was personal for Reba. She travelled to Israel several times and took various other trips to Jewish sites throughout the world. While not religious, she was committed to Israel, to calling out antisemitism, and to preserving the messages of the Holocaust and its survivors, especially those in Tidewater.
“Her leadership made sure that antisemitism was fought and the diverse aspects of Judaism were heightened and celebrated,” recalls Harry Graber, former executive vice president of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
“Reba was a robust and gifted professional whose leadership while editor was creative, visionary, and diligent,” he says.
Reba annually entered and won Press competitions, both with Virginia Press Women and the American Jewish Press Association.
“Reba was one of a kind,” muses her old colleague and long-time friend Betsy Karotkin.
To call Reba, “one of a kind” is a lovely understatement. Until just a couple of years ago, Reba drove a Corvette, with her VET GAL license plate moving to each new model she purchased. At the same time, she wore flowy dresses, and jewelry made from crystals and geodes. She spoke about her dreams and their meanings and predictions, along with the teachings of Edgar Caysee, the clairvoyant.
When I began my turn in Reba’s chair, she offered up lots of advice. Lots. And lots. In fact, she called with more just several months ago. Her suggestions usually made good sense, and plenty of them I follow to this day.
Along with her advice, Reba also ranted – as she did in our last call. She was funny, feisty, intelligent, foul-mouthed, and absolute in her convictions. The combination made for a fun conversation or interesting lunch. . .though she was very particular about choosing a restaurant.
I’m still sitting in Reba’s chair, and the desk drawers still house her things. Some may call me crazy for not replacing the chair or not tossing her notes, but it’s really been out of respect for the extraordinary editor, and for the past 21 years, editor emeritus, that Reba was.
At her retirement, the late Hal Sacks, who was the paper’s book review editor and long-time friend of Reba’s wrote:
Ode to the Queen
Here’s to Reba whose heavenly muse
Gave us three decades of the Jewish News;
Deadlines would beckon, arrive with a whoosh,
Reba delivered with a little shmoosh;
As we from this fair eve in September
Your great works will ere remember.
Reba made certain Jewish Tidewater will always remember.