Editors Note | Jewish News

Letter from the Editor

Terri Denison — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 17:06:19 +0000

Dear Readers,

The High Holidays are doing it again. . . they’re arriving early! Unlike the guest who rings the doorbell 15 minutes early without warning, the holidays don’t really sneak up on us. The first day of the Hebrew month Tishrei is where it always is on the Jewish calendar and this year it falls on Saturday, Sept. 12.

With the news a near constant barrage of disturbing reports of antisemitism – much of it occurring in places once considered safe – it feels even more important to pause, to turn it all off, and to observe and celebrate the Jewish New Year.

In Tidewater, we’re fortunate to have multiple options for worship, with a style or type of observance for nearly everyone. In fact, many congregations are advertising within these pages, welcoming old and new members to their services. The rabbis, cantors, musicians, administrative staffs, and volunteers at these congregations all put in enormous amounts of time and effort to assure their services are meaningful, inspiring, and safe. If you haven’t already, now might be the moment to join or re-join.

For me, the approach of the season is packed with fond memories of family gatherings and traditions, along with the awareness that it is important to be open to creating new ones. My hope for you, our Jewish News readers, is that this Rosh Hashanah is filled with good health, peace, and the makings of memories to cherish for years to come.

L’Shanah Tovah,

Click to view our Rosh Hashanah special section!

All Good News

Terri Denison — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:37:01 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, Art Sandler casually, but enthusiastically, said, “We should publish a paper with all good news!”

My response was something like, “Yeah. Right. Nothing about security or antisemitism or Israel or wars or . . .”

“We’ve got so much good going on in the area!” he broke in.

I nodded and kept on walking.

Afterall, the paper’s mission statement, I mused, is to inform our readers, not gloss over realities. But today, reporting on current world events, especially where Jews and Israel are concerned, scores high on most anyone’s depression meter. Plus, the abundance of negative stories is off the charts and seem to be everywhere and in every segment of life – media, arts, education, politics, even retail. It feels endless.

Later, though, thinking about Art’s idea, I recalled Some Good News, a series created and hosted by actor and filmmaker John Krasinski on YouTube during the early days of the COVID-19 shutdown. For those who missed it, the show was 100% upbeat (something totally lacking and therefore greatly appreciated during those dismal news days of 2020). Perhaps, I thought, Art’s idea isn’t so silly. . . and is potentially possible. A challenge!

So, this is the first (of perhaps more, but we’ll see) GOOD NEWS issue of Jewish News.

With that goal in mind, we’ve found and written articles that reflect positivity throughout the Jewish world.

Who knew, for example, that there’s a kosher restaurant with a Michelin star? Or that Pope Leo now has a White Sox kippah? Even the Briefs on page 4 lean pleasant.

Closer to home, the paper features articles about the Sandler Family Campus’ new playground, new fitness equipment, and the summer opening of its outdoor pool.

Articles about United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s largest ever Community Campaign, the new Shinshinim coming to town, and an art exhibit taking place in the Leon Family Gallery are just some of the paper’s features.

The issue’s Healthcare section is packed with news of the important efforts and breakthroughs Jewish physicians are making around the world.
And, the truth is, these pieces only scratch the surface of all the wonderfully positive, meaningful, and fun activities taking place in Jewish Tidewater and beyond.

Don’t worry, the next issue of Jewish News will surely feature more of the not-so-bright-and-cheery news we’ve all grown accustomed to. For now, though, enjoy this issue of all good news!

Thanks for reading,

Terri Denison
Editor

Steering through the currents of discord in the Jewish community

Jewish News VA — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:40:21 +0000

In sanctuaries across the nation, in fact, across the globe, rabbis and cantors spent much of the recent High Holidays speaking about the rifts – the competing views – that exist within their congregations concerning Israel, Gaza, and the political divides in the United States.

Their messages were about listening to each other, managing anger, the struggles on determining which paths to pursue, and attempting to ease the acrimony, all while offering a particle of hope during these profoundly challenging times for the Jewish community.

Navigating fractures within the Jewish community is nothing new. The late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks noted, “Jews are a fractious, fissile people, always given to divisions and disunity.” He went on to say that Judaism is the “only religion, the only culture in the world whose cannons are anthologies of arguments.” If Jews argue, he pondered, “how, then, do we stay as one?” His response: “By the sheer force of the argument itself. We stay, we converse, we disagree, but we never split apart.” Rabbi Sacks suggested that “never leaving the table but engaged in the collaborative pursuit of truth is what holds the Jewish people together. Unity without uniformity.”

While Rabbi Sacks did not experience today’s tumultuous times, his message could serve as a model for traversing the current waves of discord – Jewish community survives with argument, or a gentler way to put it, discussion, debate.

Like the rabbis and leaders within the Jewish communities around the world, Jewish News is acutely aware of diverse opinions and factions within our readership. As the paper’s editor, I’ve received calls accusing the publication of being too conservative, as well as calls accusing the paper of being too liberal. The fact that both sides feel that the paper doesn’t necessarily coincide with their beliefs indicates to me that perhaps we’re doing something right.

Jewish News aims to alert our readers to the news of the Jewish world (of which currently there is an overwhelming amount to choose from), mainly via our news partner, JTA. We’re dedicated to providing the facts to our readers – whether or not they align with one’s particular view of the world. Sometimes, the facts are not pleasant. Still, there is the hope that printing accurate nonpartisan information might stimulate conversation and opportunities to even learn from one another or perhaps motivate readers into activism.

Never could I imagine that writing about Israel would be deemed political. But that’s where we are, and these are the crazy, and quite inflammatory times we are attempting to navigate without alienating any of our readers – all of whom we cherish.

As Rabbi Sacks suggested, we don’t have to be uniform to be united.

Thank you for reading.

Terri Denison
Editor