Other News | Jewish News

Amidst myriad concerns, here’s one you can do something about

Terri Denison — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 19:21:54 +0000

At this very moment – late October 2026 – an overabundance of issues to concern Jewish Americans exists wherever we turn. A short list includes, not in any particular order, rampant antisemitism, the mid-term elections and their impact on topics important to Jewish communities, and the standing of Israel throughout the world, as well as the Oct. 27 election in Israel and how that might influence the global view of the country, and even its future.

Each of these matters merit the worry. So, what do we do? Stay informed by reading articles and books, listening to podcasts, and showing up for speakers to learn more so that we are fully aware and have a solid understanding of the facts. And, of course, cast our votes.

Another very tangible concern for just about every living human is one’s health – today and in the future. In partnership with JScreen, Jewish Family Service is presenting an opportunity for Jewish Tidewater to gain information that may help in making proactive health decisions, reproductive choices, and personalized healthcare. In other words, tools that have the potential to improve outcomes and quality of life. And it’s as easy as taking a quick swab.

“With one swab, you might be able to save your life,” says Kelly Burroughs, JFS CEO.

The swab Burroughs refers to can identify preventable inherited diseases and conditions, as well as potential cancer risks.

The event will focus on two primary types of testing. Hereditary Cancer Testing screens for BRCA1, BRCA2, and more than 60 other genes associated with inherited cancer risks. Reproductive Carrier Screening tests for Tay-Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, and more than 260 other conditions that could potentially be passed on to children.

One of the event’s speakers, a local community member says, “My grandmother died of breast cancer in her 40s, my aunt survived breast cancer in her 40s, and thanks to genetic testing, I was able to prevent getting breast cancer in my 40s!”

The education and screening event takes place on Thursday, October 29, at 6 pm at the Sandler Family Campus. For more information, to register, or to learn about financial assistance for testing, contact Julie Kievit, Jewish Community Relations manager at Jewish Family Service, at jkievit@jfshamptonroads.org or 757-321-2318.

While the swab might indicate a potential medical challenge, it might also indicate a healthy present and future. One less thing to worry about. Something to actually cheer in 2026!

A synagogue and Jewish-owned shops damaged in French riots

Jewish Telegraph Association — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 19:19:13 +0000

(JTA) —PARIS – Jewish-owned shops in Marseille were set ablaze and a synagogue in Paris was vandalized as part of widespread property damage caused by riots across France October 17 and 18, according to the Jewish Community Protection Service.

It is too early to assess the full extent of the riots protesting the rising cost of living and the damage they’ve caused, but various elements in the media have described them as civil unrest and chaos.

From Lille in the north to Marseille in the south and in the major cities in between, media estimate that nearly 800,000 people took to the streets and some 2,000 shops were vandalized or looted. Public buildings were set on fire, and hundreds of people or more were injured, including 150 police officers, with thousands arrested.

The riots followed a student uprising that blocked entrances to high schools across the country in recent weeks. Palestinian flags and keffiyas have been a recurring motif in most of the violent protests, acts of vandalism, and looting.

But according to SPCJ, known as the Service de Protection de la Communaute Juive in French, there was no evidence that Jewish institutions or businesses were deliberately targeted.

Vandals broke into the Ohalei Yaakov synagogue in Paris’ 19th district overnight between Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17 – 18. On Sunday morning, members of the Jewish community discovered that their temporary place of worship had been broken into. The permanent synagogue building is currently undergoing renovations.

Inside the sanctuary, prayer books, tefillin, and various objects — taken from boxes and cupboards — were found scattered on the floor. The rabbi’s office was also searched. Despite the mess, the Torah scrolls appeared to be unharmed.

According to a member of the synagogue committee, the incident primarily points to an attempted theft. The suspects may have been looking for money, but nothing was believed to be missing.

Photographs by Claude Lebranchu.

Community partnership brings safety and independence to local seniors through home repairs

Kelly Burroughs — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:00:33 +0000

In a powerful demonstration of community collaboration and the deeply rooted Jewish value of Kibbud Zekenim (honoring the elderly), Jewish Family Service and Beth Sholom Village Foundation have joined forces to protect and support local seniors.

A grant from Beth Sholom Village Foundation will allow JFS to fund vital home repairs and modifications for older adults. The initiative focuses on the critical importance of helping seniors “age in place,” allowing them to remain safely, comfortably, and independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

For many older adults, the desire to stay home is strong, but physical and environmental barriers can stand in the way. Without proper accommodations—such as shower grab bars, wheelchair ramps, or the elimination of everyday trip hazards—a beloved home can quickly become unsafe.

This collaborative program does not provide full-house cosmetic makeovers. Instead, it targets essential, practical modifications that directly impact daily safety and preserve an individual’s dignity and independence. By addressing these environmental hazards, the initiative ensures that elders are not forced out of their homes prematurely due to preventable safety risks.

Caring for the community’s older generation is a foundational pillar of a compassionate society. JFS is concerned with a broad spectrum of care for seniors in the community – whether needing a ride to a doctor’s appointment, meals delivered, or a home repair – JFS is ready to assist. It all goes along with JFS’s motto: ‘You never know when you’ll need help, but you’ll always know where to find it.’

If you or someone you know could benefit from these home repair and modification services, contact Maryann Kettyle at Jewish Family Service at 757-459-4640 or mkettyle@jfshamptonroads.org to learn more or to apply for assistance.

60 Photographs byElise Melnick Simon on display

Haley Bartel — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:57:10 +0000

Elise Melnick Simon led a vibrant, creative life as a painter, photographer, performer, and educator. The mark she left on the local community was reflected in the group that gathered last month to celebrate the opening of 60 Photographs by Elise Melnick Simon, on display at the Leon Family Gallery through the end of October.

The exhibition features the original prints made for her 1989 exhibition at Eastern Virginia Medical School, wherein she examined the role symmetry plays in nature and in its interaction with the structures around it.

Attendees enjoyed refreshments, mingled and viewed the photographs before Britt Simon and Kim Simon Fink said a few words about their late mother’s work and legacy.

Alene Kaufman, Naomi Limor Sedek, Rabbi Israel Zoberman, and Ron Kaufman.

Kim Simon Fink speaks about her mom, standing between brothers Ben Simon and Britt Simon.

Norfolk Academy grad is building network for athletes to transition to careers post playing days

Haley Bartel — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:38:59 +0000

Every athlete eventually plays a last game, and Jack Gross, a Norfolk Academy graduate and senior at Tulane University, wants to make sure there’s a plan for what comes next.

Gross is a founder and the chief operating officer of Second Half Network, a free mentorship platform that connects college student-athletes with professionals who can help them move into careers.

Gross leads business development, including partnerships, mentor recruitment, and corporate relationships. The idea grew out of his own experience. He played baseball at Norfolk Academy, started college at Sewanee, then transferred to Tulane, where he now works as a bullpen catcher for the baseball program.

“When my own college baseball path changed, I started asking what comes next,” he says, and soon realized thousands of other athletes were asking the same question.

Gross met Scott Venancio, Second Half Network founder and chief executive officer, in an entrepreneurship class at Tulane’s A. B. Freeman School of Business, where Gross is studying legal studies in business with a minor in entrepreneurship.

“Looking back, it’s pretty cool that a classroom conversation has turned into a real company with a team, mentors, athletes, a corporate partner, and conversations with universities,” Gross says.

The platform is currently in beta. Athletes build profiles around their interests and career goals, then apply to mentors, who hold an introductory call before deciding whether to work together. Athletes pay nothing for the service – the company plans to rely on partnerships with universities and organizations to fund the platform.

Gross says the network has more than 125 mentors from industries including finance and sports administration, and its first cohort of student-athletes began working with mentors this fall. In September, CK1 LLC, an executive advisory and sports technology firm designed to help collegiate athletic departments and professional sports franchises navigate modern operational challenges, became the first participant in the Corporate Mentorship Program, which lets employees volunteer as mentors.

Two of the network’s mentors are from Virginia Beach, and Gross hopes to bring in more from the area. “Virginia Beach shaped how I build,” he says. “It’s a community where relationships matter, and I’ve seen how willing people are to help when you ask.”

Gross strongly encourages interested mentors, companies, former athletes, coaches, and universities to contact him. “You don’t need five hours a week,” he says. “A 20-minute conversation with the right person can change the direction of a young person’s career.”

Gross may be contacted at SecondHalfNetwork.com.

Israeli flags of Route 168: Inside the pro-Israel legacy at Powell’s Roadside Market

Hannah Yasemsky — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:28:52 +0000

A produce farm grabs the attention of many drivers traveling from Tidewater to the Outer Banks – and not because of its beautiful tomatoes or peppers. Lining the approach to the property, a striking row of Israeli flags wave proudly in the wind, catching the eye of thousands of passersby.

The roadside market was founded 47 years ago by William Powell. Today, he runs the farm alongside his wife of 35 years, Eddie-Jo Powell, a devout Christian who, like her late mother, is a proud supporter of Israel and the Jewish people.

Eddie-Jo, whose professional background is education, views the flags more than a personal statement, but as an opportunity to educate the public. Whenever curious drivers pull over to ask, “Why do you fly the Israeli flag?” or “What does that flag mean?”, she embraces the conversation, using every encounter as a teachable moment to share Israel’s history and defend the nation’s right to exist.

Eddie Jo’s mother, Betty Dudley St. Pierre, also a devout Christian, fell in love with the land during her first trip to Israel in 1978. Driven by a special connection to the birthplace of her Christian faith, she made Aliyah in the late 1980s, moving into an apartment overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Inspired by their mother, her daughters developed their own spiritual connection to Israel. For Eddie-Jo, this meant frequent travels to visit her mother and explore the country. Meanwhile, her sister, Patty Morris, spent two years living in Jerusalem.

St. Pierre’s devotion extended far beyond spiritual admiration; she harbored a fierce love for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). “My mom had a heart for the soldiers,” Eddie-Jo says. At 50 years old, she volunteered for the IDF, with one of her fondest memories being the time she spent delivering candy and sweets to soldiers stationed in the Golan Heights. Even as she lived through the volatile years of the Intifadas, St. Pierre was not afraid. When tensions flared, she would sit and pray with Israeli soldiers inside bomb shelters. Facing danger with unwavering resolve, she would tell her daughters, “Where is my faith if I am afraid?” It is an ideology of courage that her daughters carry in their hearts.

Upon St. Pierre’s passing, her family honored her wishes by scattering her ashes across her favorite waters in the Sea of Galilee. In a touching moment of poetic alignment, Eddie-Jo noticed that the boat they had chartered for her memorial was named Faith—the very virtue her mother had carried in her heart throughout her life.

Today, Eddie-Jo is passing that same lesson of unshakeable faith to her 27-year-old-son, Paxtin, who sometimes feels overwhelmed by the hostility and hate that some drivers bring to the farm in response to the Israeli flags display. Yet Eddie-Jo anchors their family business in love, prayer, and scripture, turning potential conflict into a bridge for understanding.

Following the atrocities of October 7, Eddie-Jo transformed Powell’s Market into a space for education and dialogue, taking time to teach customers and student workers about the 250 hostages. As an educator, Eddie-Jo actively encourages conversations that challenge perpetual, one-sided narratives.

She teaches her staff and patrons that it is possible to hold space and sadness for both Israelis and Palestinians, refusing to view human suffering as an either-or dynamic. By offering scripture to counter hatred, sharing her and her family’s personal experiences in Israel, and greeting travelers with open arms and shared prayers, Eddie-Jo models how curiosity, empathy, and deep-seated values can foster true understanding in unexpected places.

Ultimately, through her unwavering dedication as a Christian Zionist, she has transformed her roadside stand into a sanctuary of hope and faith—proving that when rooted in prayer, light will always break through the darkness.

Next door to Powell’s is Blue 42’s Brewing Barn, a café operated by Paxtin. The café serves as a living tribute to St. Pierre’s memory. The blue and white decor is a reflection of Eddie-Jo’s love for Israel, while the centerpiece of the café—their coffee maker—is affectionately named “Bubbie” in honor of the family matriarch.

A stop at Powell’s Roadside Market and Blue 42’s Brewing Barn is a heartwarming reminder of how community, culture, and deep-rooted Zionist values can bloom in the most unexpected places.

White Rose Project connectsarea students with books

Elka Mednick — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:24:07 +0000

For nearly 30 years, the Holocaust Commission’s White Rose Project has helped connect students with stories that educate, inspire, and encourage reflection. Each fall, the project donates Holocaust-related books to every middle and high school library throughout Tidewater, reaching public, independent, secular, and religious schools.

This year’s selections include The Little Liar by Mitch Albom and The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal for high school libraries and Hidden on the High Wire by Kathy Kacer and The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield for middle schools.

School libraries play an important role in helping students discover new perspectives, ask thoughtful questions, and engage with history beyond the classroom. By placing these books directly into the hands of students and educators, the White Rose Project helps ensure that stories of courage, loss, resilience, and moral responsibility remain accessible to future generations.

This longstanding community effort is made possible through the generosity of supporters of the White Rose Campaign. Their commitment to Holocaust education helps keep these important stories alive and strengthens a shared responsibility to remember, learn, and pass lessons forward.

To learn more about the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the White Rose Project, visit HolocaustCommission.org or contact Elka Mednick at EMednick@ujft.org.

Art talks with the Center for Active Living

Haley Bartel — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:11:05 +0000

Members of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Center for Active Living, a group for older adults offering fitness, lifelong learning, and cultural programming, spent the morning of Tuesday, October 13 at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Attendees enjoyed a conversation on faith and community through the lens of Baroque art, paired with a guided tour of the museum’s Ilse Bing exhibit.

The morning began with Civic Salon: Faith, part of a museum series that uses works from its collection to prompt discussion about civic life. In a conversation moderated by Drew Lusher, Rabbi Michael Panitz and Father Noah Van Niel connected four biblical paintings to four themes that show up in secular community life.

The panel first addressed the topic of narratives – personal stories told and history – by looking at Jacopo Palma’s The Finding of Moses. Next was Bonifazio de’ Pitati’s Lot and His Daughters, which prompts the question of norms with its taboo subject matter. Then, the panel discussed habits through the lens of The Virgin and Child with Angels Appearing to Saints Anthony Abott and Paul, the Hermit by Paolo Veronese. The talk wrapped up with an exploration of rituals in the context of Giovan Filippo Criscuolo’s Adoration of the Magi, comparing rituals of the day to those practiced now.

Participants then toured Ilse Bing: Between Paris and New York led by Harry Graber, former UJFT executive vice president, who is a docent at the Chrysler Museum. The exhibit, which closed on Sunday, October 18, followed the German-born Jewish photographer, who began taking pictures as an art history student in Frankfurt and went on to work in Paris and New York with a handheld Leica. Graber guided the group through the exhibit, providing insight into her location throughout history and artists she worked with throughout her lifetime.

For more information about future events with the Center for Active Living, visit jewishva.org/Adults or contact Sarah Cooper at SCooper@UJFT.org.

Father Noah Van Niel, Rabbi Michael Panitz and Drew Lusher during the panel discussion.

Docent Harry Graber explains the context of one of Ilse Bing’s photographs.

Beth Chaverim’s Beach Sisterhood – a house of (women) friends – reading books together

Sheryl-Lynn Caroff — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:55:19 +0000

Book clubs are everywhere these days. Beth Chaverim’s Beach Sisterhood Book Club is comprised of a cordial group of Jewish women who meet monthly to discuss a selected book.

The Sisterhood Book Club meetings take place at a local home with everyone contributing to a potluck meal. Newcomers immediately feel welcome and included in the informal, relaxed atmosphere.

The Book Club’s most recent gathering, which took place on September 29, met in a backyard sukkah. Enjoying the beautiful weather, the women (plus an added toddler and gentleman) discussed the latest book read, Scythe, by Neal Schusterman, tackling some of the heavier themes within. Some of the books have Jewish themes or Jewish authors (such as this one) but there’s a wide variety throughout the year.

Not only is this a book club that welcomes participants, but it is also a special Jewish community.

Beach Sisterhood is a part of Congregation Beth Chaverim, a Reform congregation in Virginia Beach operating since 1982. The Sisterhood provides an inclusive group for Jewish women to participate in social and community building activities in order to bond and develop friendships.

Interested in joining the fun? Visit https://www.bethchaverim.com/sisterhood or contact sisterhoodvb@gmail.com. Beach Sisterhood is open to any women in the Jewish community. More friends are always welcome.

Be A Reader is back to school

Robin Ford — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:21:08 +0000

The High Holy Days just offered a time to pause, reflect, and think about the year ahead – how to do better, how to give more, and, hopefully, how to make a difference.

Now it’s time to get busy!

This is one of Be A Reader (BeAR) Literacy Project’s favorite times of the year. These early fall days are when mentors are matched with schools, teachers choose their second graders, books and supplies are being gathered, and mentors prepare to head back into classrooms across Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

For 27 years, BeAR mentors have spent one hour a week reading one-on-one with second-grade students in local Title I schools. Mentors don’t need to be a teacher or a reading expert – they just need a little patience, a love for kids, and a willingness to show up.

To a child, having someone walk through that school door every week just for them says, “You matter! I believe in you! I’m excited to see you!” That’s a pretty big message packed into one little hour.

The High Holy Days may be over, but the things reflected on don’t have to be. Now, they can be carried into the new year and put into action.
It might not be possible to change the entire world, but it certainly is possible to change someone’s little corner of it.

For one second grader, one hour a week is a wonderful place to start.

To learn more about BeAR, contact Robin Ford at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater at 757-321-2304 or rford@ujft.org.