I joined the United States Navy in 1980 to protect the very freedoms that allowed me to live and pray as my Jewish ancestors did. Growing up with the heavy knowledge of the Holocaust, hearing on the news the persecution of Soviet Jews in the 1970s, and understanding the millennia of global antisemitism faced by the diaspora, I knew that we as Jews in America were profoundly privileged. I recognized how precious America’s liberties truly were, and I chose to devote 38 years of my life to defending this nation—to giving back through service for all the freedoms it had bestowed upon my family.

 I was determined to serve openly as a Jew. I wanted our country to recognize that American Jews stood up and contributed far beyond the realms of science, law, and academia; we were willing to put our lives on the line and pay the ultimate sacrifice in uniform. I never asked for personal recognition or gain. I only wanted to ensure that my service—and the morals and ethics of my Jewish faith that guided it—would be remembered as an undeniable thread in the fabric of our military and our nation.

 Realizing for the first time that so many who came before me served bravely but are no longer remembered accurately in their faith sends a chill through me. It leaves me deeply dispirited to think that any Jewish service member could be mistakenly buried under a Latin cross—that being forgotten remains a distinct possibility.

 In Judaism, honoring and remembering the dead is one of our most sacred obligations (Chesed shel Emet), yet history has shown it was no longer a certainty. Witnessing the sacred work of Operation Benjamin and its partner initiative, Operation Levi, has completely restored my faith. They ensure that the sacred memory of those who went before me will be faithfully preserved.

A hunch that restored history

History is not preserved by accident; it endures because individuals choose to investigate and set things right. The entire mission began with a simple, unsettling, and paradigm-shifting observation by Operation Benjamin’s co-founder, Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter. Like me, most Jews who visit the Normandy American Cemetery are deeply inspired by seeing the Stars of David scattered among the graves. Yet, looking across that vast sea of white marble, Rabbi Schacter instinctively did the math. Knowing the true demographics of World War II service members, he realized Jewish soldiers were profoundly underrepresented among the endless rows.

 He shared this hunch with his close friend Shalom Lamm—an entrepreneur, cantor, and knowledgeable military historian. Together, they hired a summer intern to comb through military databases and archives. They quickly realized these Jewish heroes were not missing; they were misidentified and buried under Latin crosses. While the exact reasons for each case are lost to time, it is highly likely that many of these World War II soldiers changed their religious designations out of a realistic fear of Nazi capture or hid their faith due to the prevailing antisemitism among their fellow soldiers. Others, despite having the Hebrew mark stamped on their dog tags, were simply misclassified in the frantic, overwhelming rush of battlefield burials.

 Their first breakthrough was Private Benjamin Garadetsky, a Jewish GI buried under a cross in Normandy. But Rabbi Schacter and Shalom Lamm quickly discovered that correcting history would not be easy. They had to navigate dense military records to prove definitively
that the soldier was Jewish. Furthermore, to legally change a headstone, the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), the federal agency tasked with overseeing and managing all of America’s foreign military cemeteries, requires the formal consent of the closest living relatives to correct the headstone. And they had to convince and overcome an initial reluctance of the ABMC who had complete authority over all American Cemeteries overseas and was not used to doing this. Schacter and Lamm convinced them that it was not only important to the Jewish community, but the right thing to do. This forced the team to launch extensive genealogical searches to track down living descendants for their signatures—a process that took more than a year and a half. Finally, with the family in attendance, they replaced the Latin cross with a Star of David in Normandy, and Operation Benjamin found its permanent name and its sacred calling. And in this process, they established a great partnership with the leadership of the ABMC and now can expedite the process to a matter of months.

The dead bring the living together

This past June 2, I was invited to take part in an Operation Benjamin ceremony at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Verdun, France—the site of some of World War I’s bloodiest conflicts. On the first day, we gathered to replace the Latin crosses with Stars of David for five Jewish American heroes: PVT Samuel Tamkin, PFC Barney Bardman, PVT Samuel Backer, PVT Hyman Aronoff, and PFC Maurice Akabas. One can only imagine the immense difficulty of conducting flawless genealogical research on soldiers who died more than a century ago, a testament to the tenacity, rigor, and devotion of Operation Benjamin.

 While we were there to honor these fallen soldiers, a profound truth became clear: they were there for us, too.

 Through this painstaking genealogical work, families who had no idea of their relation to these soldiers—or that other branches of their family even existed—were brought together, spanning from Israel to the far reaches of the United States.

 One such family member was Rabbi Wayne Franklin of Providence, Rhode Island, who received an unexpected, out-ofthe-blue call from Shalom Lamm. Fortunately, the surname Lamm carried historical weight for Rabbi Franklin due to a lineage of prominent rabbinic scholars, so he took the call. Shalom explained that they had discovered a Jewish soldier named Maurice Akabas buried under a Latin cross, and that research proved Rabbi Franklin was the soldier’s great-great-nephew.

 Flabbergasted and left speechless, Rabbi Franklin readily accepted Shalom’s invitation to join the delegation in Verdun. He knew he had distant relatives in Texas, where Akabas had enlisted, but his family had long since lost touch with them. Standing in that sacred space, looking upon his ancestor’s gravesite alongside long-lost relatives he was meeting for the very first time, the experience completely revived his family’s sense of strength. It reawakened a deep pride in both their country and their Judaism. Not only were the living giving value to the dead by restoring their Jewish identity, but the dead were giving value to the living by reuniting families and restoring pride.

Day Two: My participation in Operation Levi

On the second day in Verdun, June 3, I had the profound honor of participating in Operation Levi. Inspired by the achievements of Operation Benjamin, while working together to find a U.S. Jewish officer missing in action for 79 years, the Secretary General of the German War Graves Commission, retired German Brigadier General Dirk Backen, had his own “hunch” while visiting a World War I German cemetery and spotting a Latin cross marked with the name Levi.

 His investigation confirmed that Private Meyer Levi was indeed a Jewish German soldier who had been mistakenly buried under a Christian symbol. Recognizing that remembrance transcends nationality, General Backen contacted Shalom Lamm, inspiring a sister initiative named in Private Levi’s honor. The Operation Benjamin and Operation Levi genealogy and history teams now work hand in hand to find these soldiers and correct the history. It is an amazing collaboration.

 To witness this ceremony was deeply moving. As Jews, our memories of Germany are overwhelmingly dominated by the horrors of Nazism and the cataclysm of the Holocaust. Yet today, their modern war graves commission is doing breathtaking, sacred work to restore the identities of Jewish German servicemen of World War I—men whose heritage and headstones had been systematically targeted and erased by the Nazi regime during the occupation of France. By actively tracking down these forgotten graves and replacing the crosses with Stars of David, they are confronting their history with absolute moral clarity. It was a privilege to see Operation Benjamin recognize General Backen by presenting him with the first-ever Order of the Marble Star of David for his courageous leadership.

A final salute

Standing there over those two days, a rush of profound emotions filled my mind. I saw that the Meuse-Argonne cemetery is meticulously maintained to extend the ultimate respect to the fallen. Inscribed on its chapel wall are these remarkable words: “This chapel is erected by the United States of America as a sacred promise of a grateful people with its immortal dead.” This transforms a burial ground into a living legacy.

 During the ceremonies, Rabbi Schacter offered a blessing, the families spoke, and Kaddish was recited. Attendees watched with damp eyes as workers carefully removed the white marble crosses, wrapped them in white cloth, and replaced them with the symbol of Judaism. These crosses were not cast aside in anger; they had guarded these men with dignity for more than a century, and we bid them a respectful farewell.

 As the new Stars of David were unveiled, I added my own slow salute to each soldier. To stand there as a veteran, a Jew, in uniform, and a witness was an indescribable honor.

 How we bury our dead reflects how we value life. Thanks to the shared sacred work of Operation Benjamin and Operation Levi, heroes on both sides of a global conflict are finally memorialized accurately. In restoring their identity, they restored a piece of ourselves, proving that the bonds of family, faith, and country can never be broken.

Postlude

Joining us for the ceremonies was my friend Michael Oren—former Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Knesset member, acclaimed author, and historian. Michael’s own father fought bravely in World War II during the famous Battle of the Bulge, giving him a deep personal connection to this sacred ground. Together, we reflected on how much the 250th anniversary of America means to the world—a milestone mirrored in the diverse men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice and lie buried across Europe, as well as those still actively serving our nation today.

 We talked in awe of those early Jewish soldiers who took up arms not long after arriving on American shores, stepping forward despite the prominent domestic antisemitism of the era. They understood the vital importance of Jewish Americans fighting for national security. This enduring legacy of America’s global perception at 250 years is still critical to the State of Israel and the historical ties—both democratic and military—that have bound our two nations together through the centuries. It is a critical dialogue that must be heard and continued.

To learn more or support legislative efforts such as the Fallen Service members Religious Heritage Restoration Act, visit www.operationbenjamin.org.

 Participants experienced an evening of paddling and community connection, which was elevated by the insightful teachings of Rabbi Michael Panitz from Temple Israel and Rabbi Pinchas Zimmer from B’nai Israel. The rabbis shared words of Torah that beautifully connected Jewish wisdom with the surrounding nature and sunset. Their teachings provided all the spiritual light needed for a memorable night on the water.

To learn more about NextGen events and how to register, visit www.JewishVA.org/NextGen or email Hannah Yasemsky, engagement coordinator, at Hyasemsky@ujft.org.

Jewish Tidewater has much to applaud with its graduates – the awards, impressive degrees, and outstanding plans are all worthy of celebrations.

Mazel Tov to all these graduates and their families! (See more graduates in next month’s edition.)

Madeline “Maddie” Elyse Acosta 

Kempsville High School

Graduating with Highest Honors, Varsity Field Hockey All Region honorable mention

Next: Christopher Newport University majoring in Biology/Health Science

Maddie is the daughter of Alison and Bernard Acoste and granddaughter of Bonnie and Bob Rothschild.

Hayden Caplan

Cape Henry Collegiate 

Peer leader to the Class of 2029 at CHC; BBYO Regional Board Gizbor

Next: University of Arizona,
Eller College of Business 

Hayden is the son of Stacie and L.T. Caplan.

Avi B. Cardon

Tidewater Collegiate Academy 

Earned Advanced Diploma, along with Virginia Wesleyan University dual enrollment.

Next: Avi is staying local, excited to dive into the intersecting worlds of business and the creative trades

Avi is the son of Elyse and David Cardon.

Bella Rose Cardon

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts   

Magna Cum Laude BFA 

Next: After some travel abroad, Bella will continue living in Richmond to expand her multi-disciplinary visual art practice while providing families lifestyle management support through expert home organization, personal assistance, and nannying

Bella is the daughter of Elyse and David Cardon. 

Brian Cohn

University of South Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with majors in Finance, Business Economics, Real Estate, and Risk Management – Insurance

University of South Carolina Outstanding Senior Award and graduated summa cum laude

Next: Brian will work as an advisor analyst at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Palm Beach, Florida

Brian is the son of Lisa and Joel Cohn.

Jordan Cubitt

Kempsville High School
ATC Advanced Technology Center

Honor Roll

Next: JMU for Engineering

Jordan is the son of Dennis and Rochelle Cubitt.

Joshua Darrow

Washington and Lee University 

Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Epsilon, Honors in Economics, Johnson Scholarship for Leadership and Integrity, Reynolds Scholarship in Business Journalism, John McKenzie Gunn Economics Scholarship

Next: Two-year Research Assistantship at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Joshua is the son of Beth and David Darrow.

Graham Eilberg

Ursinus College 

Bachelor of Arts in Finance

Next: Assistant Basketball Coach at Ursinus College

Gram is the son of Donna and Seth Eilberg and grandson of Susan and Jim Eilberg. 

Lindsey Foer

James Madison University

College of Business-Accounting with Honors

Next: Working at the accounting firm, Stewart & Company in Virginia Beach 

Lindsey is the daughter of Tammi and Jerry Foer.

Dr. Ari Goldman

Auburn University

Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering

Next: Seeking a position designing and testing rocket propulsion systems

Ari is the son of Dean and Dr. Ilene Goldman.

Lainey Goldman

First Colonial High School 

Honor graduate

Next: James Madison University

Lainey is the daughter of Stacey and Todd Goldman.

Ella Goodove

Cape Henry Collegiate

Cum Laude Society, Karl Tewes Award Winner, First team TCIS lacrosse recipient

Next: University of Georgia

Ella is the daughter of Amy and Scott Goodove.

Charlie Gross

Frank W. Cox High School

Next: Loyola University New Orleans
to study Entrepreneurship in the College of Business. He was selected as a MAGIS Scholar and awarded Loyola’s merit-based Cardoner Opportunity Grant

 Charlie is the son of Kim and Michael Gross.

Samantha “Sammi” Jankell

Oscar F. Smith High School

International Baccalaureate, National Honors Society, National Science Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta (National High School and Two-Year College Mathematics Honor Society), Section Leader for the Mighty Marching Tigers

Next: Virginia Tech Honors College on a Pamplin Leadership Scholarship

Sammi is the daughter of Shayna and Peter Jankell.

Brittany Johndrow

Baylor University-Doctorate of Pediatric Nursing

DNP project presented at
2024 NAPNAP Virtual Symposium

Next: Pursue position in pediatric primary care setting

Brittany is the daughter of Brian and Katherine McCann.

Carolena Johndrow

Western Branch High/Cosmetology at Chesapeake Career Center

Graduating with Honors

Next: University of Mary Washington-Biology major, Spanish minor

Carolena is the daughter of Steven and Brittany Johndrow. 

Ethan Kesser

Western Albemarle High School

Senior class president, member of National Honor Society, National English Honor Society officer, member of National Math Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, and National Social Studies Honor Society

Next: University of Virginia 

Ethan is the son of Bradley and Sonnia Kesser and grandson of Kay and Barry (of blessed memory) Kesser.

Martin Jackson Lemke

Frank W. Cox High School 

Next: University of Richmond as a D1 pitcher

Martin is the son of Shawn and Ashley Lemke.

Sam Levin

First Colonial High School

Next: Virginia Tech, majoring in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Management, Pamplin College of Business 

Sam is the son of Betty Ann and Scott Levin and grandson of Susan and Mayer Levy, Carol Levin, and Elaine and Herbert Levin (both of blessed memory).

Reese Longwater

Ocean Lakes High School

Math and Science Academy, Brock Center Environmental Studies Program, National Honor Society Publicity chair, and Bayfront Advisory Commission student member 

Next: Virginia Tech to study Agribusiness

Reese is the daughter of Karen and Adam Longwater. 

Kendall McKechnie

Bishop Montgomery High School, Torrance, California 

Next: University of Alabama  

Kendall is the daughter of Jim and Danielle McKechnie and granddaughter of Anne and Sandy Goldberg.

Anna Mirovski 

Touro College of Dental Medicine

Doctor of Dental Surgery

Next: Advanced Prosthodontics residency and Masters of Oral Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago

Anna is the daughter of Margaret Baumgarten and Max Mirovski. 

Sophia Mirovski

College of William and Mary

Bachelor of Arts in Psychological Sciences, Summa Cum Laude

Next: Master’s in counseling, University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development

Sophia is the daughter of Margaret Baumgarten and Max Mirovski.

Alyson Morrissey

Hebrew Union College

Executive Master of Arts in Jewish Education

Next: Continue serving as director of Lifelong Learning at Ohef Sholom Temple

Alyson is the daughter of Martha and David Javinsky. 

Elijah Morrissey

Granby High School

IB Graduate, Eagle Scout   

Next: Old Dominion University 

Elijah is the son of Alyson and Chris Morrissey.

Leia Morrissey

University of Virginia

Bachelor of Science in Architecture, minors in Architecture History and Global Sustainability, High Honors   

Next: Architectural Designer at Tymoff & Moss in Norfolk

Leia is the daughter of Alyson and Chris Morrissey.

Elijah Muhlendorf

The Hague School

International Baccalaureate diploma

Next: University of Virginia 

Elijah is the son of Alyssa and Jonathan Muhlendorf. 

Max Salomonsky

Cape Henry Collegiate 

National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Health and Medical Science Program Scholar, Senior Peer Leader, University of Maryland President’s Scholarship

Next: University of Maryland, majoring in Biology

Max is the son of Daniel and Jill Salomonsky. 

Helene Schulwolf

Tulane University

Major in Psychology and Linguistics, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Excellence in Linguistics Award, co-president of ACEing Autism, research assistant in lab, Dean’s List at eligible semesters

Next: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Master’s in Speech Language Pathology

Helene is the daughter of Lisa and Neal Schulwolf. 

Erin Wainger 

Norfolk Academy

Next: University of Maryland 

Erin is the daughter of Jill and Brian Wainger and granddaughter of Kathy and Jerry Kantor and Patti and Jules Wainger. 

Caroline Wainger 

Norfolk Academy

Next: Tulane University 

Erin is the daughter of Jill and Brian Wainger and granddaughter of Kathy and Jerry Kantor and Patti and Jules Wainger. 

Emily P. Weinberg

JMU Graduate Psychology Program, Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration

Master of Arts

Next: Board Certified Behavior Analyst for Augusta County Public Schools following the completion of her certification exam

Emily is the daughter of Lauren Lantz. 

Chloe Rose Zuckerman

First Colonial High School and Governor’s School for the Arts, Musical Theatre Department 

4-year Principal’s List graduate; GSA, Musical Theatre Department Graduation Speaker; numerous GSA and Virginia Musical Theatre productions

Next: Emerson College, BFA in Comedic Arts 

Chloe is the daughter of Megan and Steve Zuckerman and granddaughter of
Leslie and Larry Siegel and Phyllis and Bob Zuckerman. 

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Thank you!

 Following the meeting, attendees were treated to a private tour of Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina, led by Harry Graber, museum docent and former UJFT CEO. 

 Alicia London Friedman, Women’s Philanthropy chair, opened the program by welcoming the organization’s newest members: Rebecca Auerbach, Amy Gladstein, Ellen Rosenblum, Nicole Kushner, Allison Cooper, Laura Goldstein, Laura Wingett, and Nikki Shapiro Roth. “Mazel tov to all—we are so excited to have you with us,” she said.

 Friedman shared a Campaign update highlighting the strength of the community’s giving. “As of today,” she said, “The UJFT Campaign has reached $5.1 million from nearly 1,000 donors, with the Women’s Division contributing $1.5 million from 414 donors.” 

 “We could not do this without you,” she said. Thanking everyone for their dedication and generosity, Friedman emphasized the collective impact of the Women’s leadership, noting that this year has been meaningful and successful. “Women’s Philanthropy is strong and inspiring because of each of you—your leadership, generosity, and commitment.”

 The private tour engaged participants with the work of Nevelson and Slobodkina – two Jewish women artists – which deepened a shared sense of pride and community.

 This year’s JAHM programming in Tidewater, presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and community partners, brings together film, history, art, sports, music, and family‑friendly events, inviting participants of all backgrounds to engage thoughtfully with the Jewish American story.

Moses Ezekiel: Portrait of a Lost Artist 

Monday, May 4, 1 pm, Sandler Family Campus

The month opens with a focused exploration of Moses Jacob Ezekiel, one of the most complex figures in American Jewish art history. UJFT will present the documentary Moses Ezekiel: Portrait of a Lost Artist, which examines Ezekiel’s international acclaim alongside his support of the Confederacy and the legacy of the memorials he created. 

Guided walk‑and‑talk tours 

Tuesday, May 5, and Tuesday, May 12, 10 am, Norfolk Botanical Garden

The conversation about Ezekiel continues with guided walk‑and‑talk tours at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, where participants will explore the Moses Ezekiel Statuary Vista Garden and view Carrara marble sculptures he created in Rome between 1879 and 1884.

Jewish American Heritage Month Night at the Tides game

Wednesday, May 6, Harbor Park, 6:35 pm, Harbor Park

JAHM also creates space for celebration and shared experience when the community is invited to Harbor Park for a Norfolk Tides game, honoring Jewish contributions to America’s favorite pastime. Tidewater native and award‑winning Jewish country artist Troy Breslow will sing the National Anthem. Tickets are $19.99.

Architects of Being

Tuesday, May 12 and Sunday May 17, 2 pm, Chrysler Museum

Visual art is highlighted through a continued partnership between UJFT and the Chrysler Museum of Art, with guided tours focusing on the exhibition Architects of Being, which features the work of Jewish‑American immigrants Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina.

Jason Schachter McKinney 

• Thursday, May 28, 6 pm, Jewish Museum and Cultural Center 

• Friday, May 29, 10:30 am, Central Library, Virginia Beach

• Friday, May 29, 6:30 pm, Ohef Sholom Temple

• Saturday, May 30, 10 am, KBH 

• Sunday, May 31,10 am, Second Presbyterian Church, Norfolk

• Sunday, May 31, 11 am, Moses Myers House

A defining focus of this year’s JAHM programming is the residency of musician and author Jason Schachter McKinney. 

McKinney will perform at UJFT’s Konikoff Center for Learning’s third‑annual Celebration of Lifelong Learning at the Jewish Museum and Cultural Center in Portsmouth, bringing together learners from preschool age through nonagenarians for an evening of music, reflection, and shared learning.

Families are invited to a story time at the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library in Virginia Beach featuring Jason Belongs, his autobiographical children’s book that explores identity, belonging, and what it means to be both Black and Jewish. 

 His residency continues through participation in Shabbat services at Ohef Sholom Temple and at Kehillat Beit Hamidrash (Kempsville Conservative Synagogue), in partnership with Temple Israel and Temple Emanuel. McKinney will also take part in a conversation about faith and music and an interfaith service at Second Presbyterian Church in Norfolk alongside Pastor Craig Wansink and Rabbi Michael Panitz. That conversation will be followed by services at 11am, which are open to all.

 Later that day, Rabbi Panitz will conclude the month at the historic Myers House by exploring the life of Moses Myers, one of Norfolk’s first permanent Jewish residents, and what his story reveals about early American Jewish ideas of citizenship and belonging.

Advance registration or tickets are required for all events. For more information, visit JewishVA.org/JAHM, or contact UJFT’s programs department at Programs@UJFT.org.

 Following the film, Roth was joined by the film’s executive producer and her daughter, Melanie Roth Gorelick, along with Laura Gross, for a conversation reflecting on the values, relationships, and questions that have shaped her photography. Together they explored how art can serve as a form of witness, inviting audiences to look closely and consider whose stories are seen and remembered.

 In conjunction with the program, a companion exhibition of Roth’s photography was on view in the Simon Family JCC’s Leon Family Gallery, featuring images of Jewish women from around the world. 

 Presented by Arts and Ideas at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, the evening offered an opportunity for reflection, dialogue, and connection through art.

While we knew there was a chance a war might break out, our nephew and niece were having a baby, and we were meeting our sister and brother in Zichron Ya’akov to celebrate.  Zichron, as the Israelis call it, is an idyllic, small hill town 30 minutes south of Haifa with great ice cream.

 Just before our arrival, our great nephew was born after two girls. We were to be there for the Bris. Then things started to change.

• Israeli airspace closed.

• Our sister and brother’s flight was diverted to Athens two hours outside Tel Aviv.

• We were thrown into Israeli wartime life.

War in Zichron Ya’akov

We were staying at the beautiful ELMA Luxury Art Hotel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel has three shelters. One in the underground parking lot (-4); one in a more comfortable building but without internet; a safe room in the gym.  To get to -4 was a 15-minute walk. We got it down to 6 minutes. BUT if it’s a rocket you only have 90 seconds to get there safely.  So, after many trips to -4, we opted for the gym, which was under 90 seconds from our room and more comfortable, if not quite as safe, but this was Zichron.

 If you look at the Home Front Command app warning map, which is new for each missile/rocket launched, Zichron is among the safest places in Israel as it is out of the range of the Hezbollah rockets and not a place of interest for Iran with few people and no strategic sites. Still, people are vigilant and take all this seriously.

Each night we had dinner at our nephew and niece’s home with their three children.  Our nephew made delicious meals as we gathered around their table.

 The Bris became a private event for 30 as public gatherings were not allowed.  It was still marvelous with a joyous welcome to our newest family member, Noam Avraham Levin. The maternal Safta grew up in Egypt in the Karaite community, so we experienced his rich traditions for a Brit melah where the ceremony parallels a Jewish wedding…heartfelt and meaningful.

 Accompanied by music, the baby was escorted in by the mother carrying him on a pillow and flanked by the maternal and paternal grandmothers. He was presented to the mother’s uncle who walked back and forth seven times.  The baby was then placed on the father’s lap on the pillow.

 With 35 years of experience, the most amazing mohel performed the circumcision in the blink of an eye with nary a peep from the baby.

 Both grandfathers delivered beautiful tributes to the baby and family. Neill and I were honored to be stand in grandparents for our diverted sister and brother.

 Since it was Purim, our nephew had arranged a chanting of the Megillah. With 13 grandchildren, parents, and grandparents, the groggers sounded loud each time Haman’s name was mentioned. Kids and some adults were in costume, many with face paint. 

 Midway through the Megillah reading we got an email from our hotel that they were closing the next day after breakfast. We would deal with that later. It was a gorgeous day, so we decided to walk the mile and a quarter back to our hotel.

Visitors to Zichron 

Our first visitor of the afternoon was a close friend we call “Mr. Israel”. During his drive to Zichron from Tel Aviv, he had to stop under an overpass as a siren sounded. He showed us a video of the Iron Dome intercepting a missile right next to where he was. Incredible! He counseled us to move to Tel Aviv, and we set a plan to help us exit the country in time for my upcoming scans and next chemo infusion.

 Our second visitor was a friend who now lives in Caesaria, 10 kilometers south of Zichron.  We had a heartfelt catch up and were all grateful for the time together. He came despite his daughter’s concern.  His Sabra wife understood.

 The next morning our beloved driver, Moti, picked us up to drive to Tel Aviv. Thankfully, it was uneventful.

Tel Aviv – a horse of a different color

Within our first five hours in Tel Aviv, we were in the shelters more times than we were in five days in Zichron.  By now, Hezbollah had entered the war. The northern Galilee towns were once again evacuated. As the Upper Galilee is the San Francisco Bay Area Federation’s sister community, we were all too familiar with what that meant. Both Neill and I served on the San Francisco Jewish Federation’s Overseas Committee (me as chair), and we have visited Israel more than 40 times.

 A member of our hotel’s security team educated us on the difference between a missile from Iran which takes 9 to 10 minutes to arrive in Israel, and a rocket from Southern Lebanon fired by Hezbollah, which arrives in 90 seconds.  While the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and other interceptor systems are amazing, they are not perfect so one MUST do exactly as prescribed to remain safe.

 Our new hotel in Tel Aviv had a mamad-like shelter on each floor.  These are inside the building; the rooms have no windows and a special door that protects from the bombs should they hit where you are. It’s what most people have in their homes. Then there is a -4 underground parking shelter, which is the safest, but takes longer to get there, and a Safe Room at -2.  We were in all of them for one siren or another. Staff was wonderful making sure everyone got into the shelter and the door was properly closed. Everyone goes into the shelter, and anyone outside who wants to come in is included. People talk to each other and exchange stories. It’s instant camaraderie. 

 Tel Aviv is a top place of interest for Iran so many missiles came our way, and we experienced many days of in and out of the shelters. On Shabbat they particularly wanted to disrupt our special day; seven times in the shelter from Shabbat dinner until 5 am the following morning. We were having Shabbat dinner with our cousin and her family when the first alarm sounded just as we were finishing our soup. Down we went to the shelter where the many children instantly started to play.

 Like 10 million Israelis, we trusted the IDF to protect us and to let us know exactly when we needed to head to a shelter. Two apps guide you.

Life goes on.

As the U.S. and Israel weakened Iran and Hezbollah, restrictions in Israel began to loosen. Our most amazing highlight was a remarkable visit to the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem. We were privileged to have more than two hours with the chair of the board and CEO of NLI. We left with a deep understanding of this most remarkable institution by, for, and of the people of Israel and the Jewish Diaspora. If you have not been able to visit, put it at the top of your list. If you can’t visit, sign up for free and explore their website (nli.org.il) to your heart’s content. We promise it is like no other library you will have ever visited. If you think we are exaggerating, ask my childhood friend, Art Sandler, who serves on the NLI U.S.A. board.

 We enjoyed a bonus visit with our family in Jerusalem before heading back to Tel Aviv.  The next day we had more visits with family and friends, including another childhood friend from Norfolk, Joyce Bigio, who lives in Tel Aviv.

 Tel Aviv also claims one of the most beautiful waterfront promenades, and we took advantage of getting some fresh air and watching everything from yoga to volleyball to beach paddle ball, fitness training, joggers, and dog walkers all enjoying Shabbat in their own way. 

 The two weeks passed so quickly and despite our unique circumstances of war, we chose to make lemonade out of lemons with every step. Although we were diligent, we were never afraid. Israelis are strong and brave and grasp life like no one else. We tried to follow in their footsteps. 

 Am Yisrael Chai.

A Norfolk native, Linda Snyder Brownstein and her husband, Neill, live in Deer Valley, Utah 

 By coincidence, mohn sounds like Haman (Hamohn in Hebrew), the supervillain of the Purim story who plotted to annihilate the Jews of Persia. German Jews, writes Marks, “renamed this Teutonic cookie as hamantasch ..meaning ‘Haman’s pocket.’” It was common, in Jewish communities all around the world, to prepare foods for Purim that somehow alluded to Haman, his body, the clothes he wore, or to other characters in the Purim story. In eating those pastries, writes Marks, a person “symbolically erases Haman’s name.”

 Following the Black Plague in the 14th century, many German Jews fled their homes and migrated eastward, bringing their poppy seed stuffed pastries with them. 

 Shmil Holland, a restaurateur, expert on Eastern European Jewish food, and author of the cookbook, Schmaltz, says that over time, this “haman’s pocket” cookie became associated with Purim in Eastern Europe, and poppy seed became the “ultimate Purim filling.” But other fillings gained popularity, too.

 The choices were limited by the time of year and what was available in the markets and the cellars of Eastern Europe. Since Purim falls at the end of winter, the abundant fresh fruits and berries, like cherries, strawberries, and raspberries found in the woods and orchards of that region in the warm weather were not an option. Winter fare such as dried fruits, nuts, poppy seeds, honey, or kasha (buckwheat) was.

 In Poland, says Holland, hamantaschen were sometimes stuffed with “dried pears that were soaked in water or alcohol, then chopped and mixed with walnuts.” Jews in Bukovina (an area that is divided today between Ukraine and Romania), Serbia and Moldova filled their holiday cookies with a walnut paste combined with honey.

 Following a Purim-like story of their own, the Jews in Bohemia and Czechoslovakia (today’s Czech Republic and Slovakia) embraced a special hamantaschen filling called povidl (known as lekvar in the United States) which is a thick spread made from slow cooking the dark purple Damson plums that are harvested in Eastern Europe at the very end of summer. After the fruit and its peel are cooked for 48 hours on a low flame, says Holland, they become a sweet paste. It lasts for months when kept cool in the basement, and it was used in kugels, strudels, cakes, and blintzes in central and Eastern Europe. Those same plums are used, too, to make slivovitz, the fiery, high proof plum brandy.

 According to Holland, about 300 years ago a Jewish shopkeeper named David Brandeis was accused of selling poisoned povidl to a Christian family. After eating Brandeis’ povidl, the Christian customers fell ill — one of them died — and Brandeis and his caramel-like confection were blamed. Brandeis was imprisoned. 

 An investigation uncovered, however, that the person who died met his end from the flu, and not from anything purchased from Brandeis. So, just as the Jews in Persia were saved from Haman’s evil plot at the last moment, so, too, were David Brandeis and the Bohemian Jewish community in Brandeis’ town. As fate would have it, Brandeis was released from jail four days before Purim. To commemorate that miracle, the Jews of that region forever after filled their hamantaschen with the thick, sweet plum spread.

 While most Purim baked goods are sweet, symbolic of a sweet future, there were savory options, too. In Poland, says Holland, kasha, a widely available grain, was prepared with fried onions, seasoned with salt and black pepper, stuffed into the triangle-shaped pastry, and then topped with whole poppy seeds. 

 In Israel today, stores begin filling up with this Eastern European pastry weeks before Purim. You can still get the classic poppy seed filling, but the choices today spread across the culinary spectrum. “Every year,” says Holland, “fillings get more creative. You can get hamantaschen filled with pastry cream and chocolate.” Of course, here in the United States we also have an expansive list of flavors that become part of the always-changing Jewish food landscape. It all started with one humble poppy seed pastry. 

This article first appeared in The Nosher.

(JTA) One of the main advantages for Jewish kids in a Christian world is that — thanks to Purim — they get two “Halloweens.” And for parents, it’s nice to get double use out of that overpriced probably-toxic-plastic monstrosity you rush-ordered from Amazon on October 28. More broadly, Purim celebrations are probably the most accessible entry point for getting the littles to associate Judaism with “fun.” Passover strains mightily to do this, and sometimes succeeds. Hanukkah succeeds, but at the price of sometimes becoming a sad Christmas knockoff. 

 Purim is just unlimited sweets, grown-ups making fools of themselves, and kids getting to be loud. Game over.

 But for anyone who actually reads the original “whole Megillah,” there’s a lot going on in there that’s very far from fun. And extremely far from “family-friendly.” Raging alcoholism. Domestic strife. Female exploitation. Genocidal antisemitism. Slaughter in the tens of 1,000s. Literal asphyxiation, 11 times over. 

 So how did that dark, telenovela-like book become the only Jewish holiday when we’d even think of having a “Carnival?”

 One reason is, Megillat Esther, or the Book of Esther, is famously the only book of the Bible where God is never mentioned. In a way, this frees up a spirit of irreverence, bordering on blasphemy. Purim stands apart from other, more theologically formulaic Jewish narrative holidays with its wild roller coaster narrative. And this briefly gives the religion of rules a refreshing “anything goes” vibe.

 Purim has also served some historical functions that give it a different flavor. For some, it’s a sly way to knock back down to earth the high and mighty. And/or a cathartic storyline to insert whatever villain is currently threatening the Jewish people. And finally, with its only halachic orders involving how to celebrate, Purim has been a great avenue for much-needed escapism.   

  But to get back to the story: How can it be so readily boiled down and leeched of its naughty adult parts? Perhaps because the basic tale is very simply hero and villain: an unlikely underdog girl gets to be royalty and fight and defeat a two-dimensionally cartoonish villain. It almost comes across as a Disney movie.

 All of which was apropos for me recently, because I’m a professional screenwriter who was actually hired to adapt the Purim story into a family-friendly film. I read the previous drafts — one where they adapted it so literally it would have been rated X, the next where they went to the other extreme and made it about Esther and her wacky talking animal friends. 

 I was the Goldberglocks asked to find the balance, and it was an interesting challenge. I had to find ways to make some of its barbarities more palatable — for example, reducing King Ahasuerus into an innocent, gullible dupe of Haman so he could be an actual love interest for Esther that we like, rather than what he actually was like. And I tried to bring a little silliness to Haman, so that his actual terrifying plans could be felt to be more ridiculous and unlikely.

 It didn’t hurt that I’d been producing and sometimes appearing in Purim spiels (staged, often riotously comedic re-stagings of the Book of Esther) for more than 20 years. I knew the story had so many unlikely twists and turns, hidden identities, incredible coincidences, it was an endless mine of possibility. 

 And I think, in a way, this is why it’s actually a good thing that Megillat Esther has been popularly boiled down to a kiddie-version. Because the main theme of the story, and holiday, “v’nahafoch hu” (Hebrew for “and it all got turned upside down”), is an extremely powerful Jewish idea that shines through it. Ever since the Golden Calf, we Jews have been trying to get the world to not take human-made institutions too seriously and reminding everyone that everything can change in a flash. As well as the idea that we live behind masks that hide our true selves.

 Kids may come to Purim celebrations dressed as everything from princesses to Pokemons, and not understand a word of that ancient thing being sung up on the bimah. But they see the big authority figures in their lives not taking themselves too seriously, the hallowed halls of their synagogue briefly turned into a free-for-all where hierarchy is temporarily abandoned. And, even when they know or intuit that Big Sad Adult Things Are Happening in the world, they feel powerfully how the Jewish people respond to, and survive, them: through unfettered joy and celebration of what we have, and our continued peoplehood.

 And that’s an even better value for that costume than getting to use it twice a year. 

Rob Kutner is an Emmy-winning comedy writer and author who has written for The Daily Show, CONAN, and Marvel. His comedic book of Jewish history The Jews: 5,000 Years and Counting (HINT: a perfect bar/bat mitzvah gift!) arrived last year just in time for Purim!

This article first appeared on Kveller.

Purim 2026

The festival of Purim begins this year on the evening of Monday, March 2 and runs through Tuesday, March 3.

Recounted in the Book of Esther, the holiday commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation at the hands of Haman. Purim is generally celebrated with joy, fun, and downright silliness. Carnivals, costumes, Purim spiels (skits or plays), Hamantaschen cookies, and for some, alcohol, all contribute to the holiday’s festivities.

Other Purim traditions include sending food gifts (mishloach manot) to friends and neighbors and giving to the poor (matanot l’evyonim).