Danny Rubin | Jewish News

KBH to kick off creative Shabbat services for families

Danny Rubin — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:37:42 +0000

Saturday, March 21,10:30 am, Sandler Family Campus

Members of KBH synagogue are excited to unveil a brand-new Shabbat services format designed for children and families.

Once a month, KBH, in partnership with Tidewater Shinshinim, will hold a special program designed to make services fun and incorporate its new home – the Sandler Family Campus – in a fresh way.

The first Shinshinim Kids Shabbat is called Escaping Egypt: Escape Room. Led by the Shinshinim, Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan, participants will solve puzzles, look for clues, and “find their way” out of Egypt over the course of an hour. The children will then return to Shabbat services for concluding prayers and a Kiddush lunch with all congregants.

“We are thrilled to begin the next chapter of our synagogue on the Sandler Family Campus with a dynamic set of Shabbat services,” says Rona Proser, KBH co-president. “The Campus gives us opportunities to draw on the entire building to foster Jewish learning and make every Shabbat memorable. We hope young families will join us!”

Future dates for Shinshinim Kids Shabbat are April 18, May 16, June 27, and July 18.

KBH membership is not required to attend the Shinshinim Kids Shabbat, and there is no participation cost. For more information and to register, visit JewishVA.org/Shinshinim or contact KBH Synagogue at KBHsynagogue@gmail.com. Be sure to register, so KBH has a headcount.

Nadiv visits Camp JCC, celebrates record fundraising total

Danny Rubin — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 18:35:19 +0000

The men of Nadiv visited Camp JCC on Friday, July 25 to spend the afternoon with campers and see firsthand the impact of the group’s fundraising efforts.

Nadiv, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s young men’s fundraising group, donated more than $25,000 to assist with Camp JCC camper scholarships for the 2025 summer. Nadiv raised the money by hosting two signature events, March Madness NCAA basketball bracket challenge and the first-ever Nadiv Poker Night.

At Camp JCC on July 25, Nadiv members assisted with a tie-dye shirt activity and participated in Shabbat festivities as camp concluded for the week.

Dave Flagler, Camp JCC director, orchestrated the visit, which was a perfect ending to a record-breaking year for Nadiv. The group boasts 45 members, all of whom contribute to the UJFT annual campaign (the suggested ask of Nadiv members is $365 or greater).

Nadiv is open to men ages 22 to 50 in Tidewater’s Jewish community. To join, contact Amy Zelenka, UJFT’s chief development officer, at AZelenka@ujft.org.

Members of Nadiv spend time at Camp JCC: Danny Rubin, Sam Rachelson, Klaus Gaba, Adam Walker, Sam Molofsky, Yoel Lev and Seth Lubaton.

Nadiv Chair Sam Molofsky (right) and Nadiv member Klaus Gaba (left) do a tie-dye activity with campers at Camp JCC

Israel trip reconnects us with Shinshinim, strengthens purpose for Nadiv

Danny Rubin — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 17:50:34 +0000

In late May, my wife, Shikma, our two boys, and I visited Israel with the primary goal to see Shikma’s family: her grandma, sister, nieces, aunt, uncle, and cousins.

We spent several days in apartments in Ra’anana and Hod HaSharon eating great meals and catching up on lost time. We also participated in a Shavuot celebration at the home of Shikma’s cousin in Be’er Tuvia, a moshav (cooperative agricultural community) about 45 minutes south of Tel Aviv.

Shavuot on a moshav is a big deal with a celebration involving synchronized tractor “dances,” wheelbarrow races, the presentation of new babies born in the past year, and singing and dancing until the sun sets.

Alongside the family reunion, we had a secondary mission for the visit to Israel: reunite with the Shinshinim who lived in our Jewish community. Shinshinim are young Israeli high school graduates who serve as emissaries in Jewish communities around the world for a year, deferring their mandatory military service.

Many will remember Aya Sever, Naomi Friedland, and Maya Ostrov. Aya was one of our community’s first Shinshin in 2023. Naomi and Maya followed the next year. Shikma, our boys, and I felt such joy reconnecting with all three young women who now serve in various capacities in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

We even met the parents of a current Shinshin in Tidewater, Danielle Hartman. Karen and Yaniv Hartman joined us for an impromptu birthday party for our son, Niv, who turned 10 while we were in Israel.

On one trip, we spent time with family as well as friends who feel like family. What could be better?

Well, there is something more.

For two of our nine days in Israel, we explored the country with a terrific young tour guide, Yishai Damelin. One of our stops was The Nadiv Farm in the Zichron Yaacov region of the country. As many know, “Nadiv” is the name of the young professional men’s fundraising division of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.

I was intrigued. Why name a farm “Nadiv,” which means “generous” in Hebrew?

Yishai explained that in the 1880s, an anonymous philanthropist (known as “HaNadiv” or “The Great Benefactor”) began to fund the earliest agricultural and infrastructure projects in what would later become the State of Israel.

The man was later revealed to be Baron Edmond de Rothschild, the renowned French banker.

Rothschild supported projects such as the start of the wine industry in Israel. He also built factories, drained swamps to combat malaria, and established clinics to provide medical care.

In Zichron Yaacov, along the coast between Tel Aviv and Haifa, the word Nadiv is found in several places. We took a Jeep ride through vineyards at The Nadiv Farm and ate lunch in Zichron at a restaurant called The Nadiv. There is also a famous garden in Israel called Ramat HaNadiv where Edmond and his wife are buried.

Even more, there is a philanthropic organization in Israel today called Yad HaNadiv, rooted in Rothschild’s mission, that supports efforts in education, the environment, and early childhood. (yadhanadiv.org.il)

When I chose “Nadiv” as our group’s name in 2016, I didn’t know about the legacy of Baron Edmond de Rothschild. I only learned the information during our recent trip to Israel. But now, the connection only strengthens our group’s purpose since “HaNadiv” was crucial to the founding of Israel. I am proud that Nadiv here in Tidewater continues that legacy.

Every trip to Israel is special in its own way. This one is no exception.

Shai Rubin (bottom right) participates in a wheelbarrow race as part of a Shavuot celebration on a moshav in Be’er Tuvia. Shikma Rubin’s uncle, Dror Barlev, pushes the wheelbarrow while Shai’s cousin, Tomer Vine, is along for the ride.

Danny Rubin and his boys, Niv and Shai, dine at The Nadiv restaurant in Zichron Yaacov. The Zichron region is influenced by the philanthropic efforts in the late 19th century of Baron Edmond de Rothschild, also known as “HaNadiv” or “The Great Benefactor.”

Naomi Friedland, a former Shinshinim participant in Tidewater, with Niv and Shai Rubin.

Dylan Cohen (Danny Rubin’s first cousin and a freshman at VCU, who was in Israel at the same time on his Birthright trip), Aya Sever (former Jewish Tidewater Shinshin), with Niv, Shikma, Shai, and Danny Rubin.

Nadiv men’s group wraps up successful year, aims for 25K in 2025

Danny Rubin — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 17:47:50 +0000

Nadiv capped off another terrific year of Jewish philanthropy, social action, and networking during a social at the Virginia Beach home of Bonnie and David Brand on Tuesday, May 14.

This past programming year (which ran from August 2023 to May 2024), Nadiv raised $8,795 through a combination of 36 member contributions and a community-wide March Madness bracket challenge. Since the group began in 2017 (and despite a two-year hiatus during COVID), Nadiv has raised more than $30,000 for local Jewish causes.

Open to Jewish men in the community between the ages of 22 and 49, Nadiv elected to spread this year’s funds across four Hillels at state colleges – UVA, Virginia Tech, William & Mary, and Old Dominion.

“Nadiv members like that they can choose where our funds go,” says Tim Thornton, outgoing Nadiv chair. “We had a meaning- ful conversation in the spring about where to donate and we all felt that Jewish students at Virginia colleges need support right now in light of anti-Israel efforts on campus.”

Big changes await Nadiv for the 2024-2025 year. The group’s new chair is Sam Molofsky, a longtime member of Tidewater’s Jewish community. Plus, the minimum gift to the Federation to be in Nadiv is now $365, up from $180 in previous years.

In addition, the group has moved from a program within the Young Adult Division (YAD) of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater to now fall under the Federation’s Men’s Division. The group extends sincere thanks to Elana McGovern, YAD director – and previous YAD directors –for the financial and programmatic support as Nadiv has grown since its creation.

Finally, Nadiv hopes to stage a Jewish community-wide poker tournament in spring 2025. Combined with its popular March Madness bracket challenge, Nadiv has a goal to raise $25,000 in a single year.

Jewish men in the community between the ages of 22 and 49 who are interested in joining Nadiv should contact Amy Zelenka, UJFT chief development officer at azelenka@ujft.org.

Nadiv members Rabbi Avi Farkas, Mark Gamsey, Mike Yaary, and Ben Rubinstein.