Jewish News

2027 Super Sunday brings Jewish Tidewater together to learn, play, act, and give

Amy Zelenka — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:01:35 +0000

Sunday, October 11, 12 – 3 pm, Sandler Family Campus

Tidewater’s Jewish community will gather for a very special Super Sunday this month. 2027 Super Sunday is a day dedicated to learning, family fun, volunteerism, and giving, while connecting with local and global organizations.

Learn about the impact of giving
Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to stroll displays in the Copeland Cardo and meet community partners whose work is made possible in part through United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s support. Each agency will share stories highlighting the impact of their services on Jewish communities from Tidewater to Tel Aviv. This is an opportunity for participants to see firsthand how their individual and collective tzedakah supports local and overseas programs, nurtures Jewish pride, and safeguards the Jewish community’s shared future.

A Sunday Funday for families
Noon – 4 pm, Sandler Family Campus
Families are invited to bring their children to Sunday Funday where the kids can bounce, create, and play while parents and other family members take part in the day’s activities. Parents volunteering for Super Sunday who are making calls in support of the Campaign may also drop-off children ages 4 and older during their calling shift. Childcare spots are limited, and drop-off is available only during parents’ calling shifts. Families can register for Sunday Funday when registering for Super Sunday.

Taking action together
Super Sunday is Tidewater’s largest day of Jewish community action, with volunteers playing a central role in making the campaign successful. During the event, volunteer callers will reach out to fellow-community members to request pledges of support for the 2027 Community Campaign. Super Sunday shows that every gift matters, and every connection matters, whether it comes through a phone call, text message, or personal conversation. Community members interested in volunteering are encouraged to sign up for a calling shift. Calling will take place in the Fleder Multipurpose Room.

Giving back to the community
Super Sunday also brings with it the simple invitation to give. Donations to United Jewish Federation of Tidewater help strengthen the local community while supporting Jewish life beyond the region.

This year’s Super Sunday offers something for everyone — and an opportunity to learn about the work UJFT does every single day.

For more information and to register, go to jewishva.org/supersunday.

Amy Zelenka is chief development officer for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.

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Jewish News VA — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:58:27 +0000

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Hundreds rally at UN to urge world leaders to address antisemitism

Jackie Hajdenberg — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:55:01 +0000

(New York Jewish Week) —Hundreds of members of New York’s Jewish community competed against stand-still traffic, security details and dozens of black SUVs on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 23 to reach Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza near the United Nations.

Their plea? For world leaders at the global body’s annual General Assembly to take antisemitic violence seriously.

“This week world leaders are gathered in our city, right down the street at the United Nations, to discuss global challenges,” Eric Goldstein, CEO of the UJA-Federation of New York, said in his opening remarks. “But we know that they are not addressing the rampant proliferation of antisemitism across the world.”

Organized by UJA and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, the evening rally featured a number of interfaith speakers, as well as survivors of various antisemitic hate crimes around the world from Nova to Bondi Beach.

Devorah Halberstam, whose son Ari was murdered on the Brooklyn Bridge in 1994 in a terror attack, gave an impassioned speech, imploring world leaders to “tell your people: Take this message back to your countries. Antisemitism must stop. Not tomorrow. Not when it becomes politically expedient. Right now.”

A number of speakers criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, questioning whether he could truly be a mayor to New York City’s Jews who fundamentally disagree with him on Israel. Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called out a more general “deliberate passivity in the face of antisemitism,” likening it to complicity.

Also speaking at the event was George Zamot, a UPS driver who intervened in July’s stabbing attack on the Upper West Side, in which a Jewish man and an Asian man were injured.

While some speakers focused on the dangers of antisemitism, a few addressed moments of community that resulted from such terrible events.
In a display of unity, Nova music festival survivor Shalev Biton gave remarks while also translating the remarks of Younes Alkarnawi, the Bedouin man who saved his life.

The rally’s audience dwindled as the evening wore on, and a small group of counterprotestors from the anti-Zionist group Neturei Karta became increasingly loud.

The demonstration follows recent public gatherings addressing antisemitism in New York City, including a prayer vigil held last month by two Orthodox Jewish day schools outside Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s official residence.

It also marks a pivot toward more community advocacy within the scope of UJA’s work. (70 Faces Media, the parent company of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and New York Jewish Week, receives UJA funding.)

In an interview earlier last month with eJewishPhilanthropy, UJA’s executive vice president for community strategy and external relations Hindy Poupko called the Sept. 23 evening rally “an attempt to ensure that our narrative doesn’t get drowned out during this U.N. week.”

$2 million endowment for new Curator of Photography at Chrysler Museum honors Germaine Clair, former Jewish News art director

Jewish News VA — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:53:26 +0000

A transformative $2 million gift from longtime Chrysler Museum supporter and former curator Brooks Johnson will establish an endowed Curator of Photography position at the Chrysler Museum of Art. The newly created Germaine Clair and Brooks Johnson Curator of Photography will ensure the continued growth, care, and visibility of the Museum’s photography collection.

The endowment honors Johnson’s late wife, Germaine Clair, who was an active member of Hampton Roads’ creative community known for her warmth, generosity, elegance, and spirited advocacy for the arts. Clair served as art director for Jewish News for 18 years, where she used her design talent and production expertise to produce the paper and its accompanying materials – meeting deadline after deadline. A highly accomplished graphic designer, Clair also produced numerous books and exhibition catalogues for the Chrysler Museum of Art, as well as W.W. Norton & Company, Bulfinch Press, Aperture, and Takarajima Books. In addition, she taught design as adjunct faculty at Tidewater Community College. Clair’s legacy lives on through her lasting impact on the region’s cultural landscape and the many institutions she supported.

Johnson began his career at the Chrysler Museum in 1977 as the museum photographer, and in 1980 became the first Curator of Photography, before departing in 2008 to begin a second career at Harmony Investments, Inc., in Virginia Beach. During his 31-year tenure, Johnson brought more than 4,500 objects, spanning the history of photography, into the collection, while organizing more than 100 exhibitions and more than two dozen publications. In June 2019, he was awarded the title of Founding Curator of Photography by the Chrysler Museum.

“Germaine and I conceived the Chrysler Museum’s photography program as an integrated program of collections, exhibitions, and publications, and with generous support from donors, that vision became an enduring reality,” says Johnson. “Germaine’s encouragement and deep belief in photography shaped the program in countless ways, and this endowment carries our shared vision forward by ensuring the program continues to grow and serve the museum and its community for generations to come. There could be no more meaningful way to honor Germaine, the life we shared, and the love, partnership, and inspiration she brought to my life.”

“We are deeply appreciative of Brooks and Germaine, and the impact they’ve had on our community,” says Erik H. Neil, Macon and Joan Brock Director of the Chrysler Museum of Art. “This remarkable gift allows us to build on decades of success and reinforces our commitment to photography as a vital artistic and educational medium.”

The Chrysler Museum of Art’s world-class photography collection includes more than 5,000 works – from iconic works by recognized masters to innovative pieces that reflect the medium’s diversity and breadth.

Brooks Johnson and Eric Neil at the museum.

Megan Dombroski (Germaine Clair’s daughter) and Brooks Johnson. (Photograph by Lynn Marsden-Atlass.)

Sixteen elections later, voting still matters

Robin Mancoll — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:48:24 +0000

This election season marks my 16th election with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Jewish Community Relations Council.

Over those 16 election cycles, I’ve watched elections energize the community, spark debate, shape public policy, and help determine the direction of local, state, and national government. I’ve also heard countless people say the same thing: “My vote won’t make a difference.”

History tells us otherwise.

One of the most compelling examples happened just across the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. Those who follow elections likely remember the 2017 race between David Yancey and Shelly Simonds for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. After Election Day, a recount, and legal challenges, the race ended in an exact tie and was ultimately decided by a random drawing under Virginia law.

At a time when concerns about antisemitism, support for Israel, and the safety of Jewish communities are top of mind throughout the Jewish community, voting is one of the most direct ways to make your voice heard.

But making your voice heard requires more than simply showing up on Election Day. It means becoming an informed voter by learning about the candidates, understanding the issues, reviewing the ballot, and planning how and when to vote.

To help make that easier, the JCRC created a 2026 Election Toolkit – a one-stop resource for Virginia voters. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater must remain nonpartisan. The toolkit is designed to encourage informed and engaged participation in the democratic process.

Sixteen elections later, the message remains the same:
Get educated. Show up. Vote.
Because your vote matters.
Every vote matters.

Visit JewishVA.org/Election26 to make your plan to vote and access the toolkit.

Robin Mancoll, is senior director, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Jewish Community Relations Council.

Tidewater Ruby Lions celebrate philanthropy, legacy, and sisterhood

Linda Ausch — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:38:55 +0000

On a beautiful September afternoon, just days before Rosh Hashanah, Tidewater’s Ruby Lions gathered at Jodi Klebanoff’s home for a luncheon celebrating friendship, philanthropy, and the impact of women’s leadership.

Alicia London Friedman, Women’s Philanthropy chair, welcomed the guests and thanked Jodi Klebanoff for hosting. She then shared the exciting news that Tidewater already has eight new Ruby Lions so far this year—and the campaign year is just beginning. This growing number of Rubies reflects not just the generosity and commitment of these women, but also their dedication to strengthening Jewish life locally, nationally, and around the world.

Friedman reminded the women that being a Ruby Lion ($10,000+ Federation giver) is much more than a giving level. It represents leadership and a belief in the future of Tidewater’s Jewish community. She reflected on the legacy “we leave for our daughters, grandchildren, and generations we may never know—the values we model and the traditions we pass down.”

“The women who came before us helped build the community we have today,” she shared. “We are now the link between those generations and the ones who will come after us.”

Ellen Rostov Hundley, Women’s Philanthropy vice chair, introduced the luncheon’s guest speaker, Sheila Katz, who recently joined the senior professional leadership at Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) after years of service elsewhere in the Jewish world (most recently at National Council of Jewish Women and before that at Hillel International). In describing her vision for her new role, – Chief Jewish Life Officer – Katz described the immense opportunities being created for Jewish communities across the country. She spoke with particular enthusiasm about a transformative new source of funding for Jewish education, Jewish institutions, and Jewish families, which is set to become available next year.

Jewish educational organizations are joining forces to help communities take full advantage of this opportunity, and if participation reaches the scale that organizers envision, thousands of tax-credit contributions could translate into substantial new funding for Jewish education nationwide, making it more accessible for families across the country.

Katz spoke about the importance of Jewish communities coming together, sharing resources, and thinking creatively – especially in the area of next generation engagement. Her message resonated with the Ruby Lions, whose philanthropy reflects a deep commitment to addressing many of these same issues in Jewish Tidewater.

As the luncheon drew to a close, Klebanoff thanked all for coming and recognized those who work behind the scenes to make these programs and initiatives possible, including the members of the Federation’s professional

team. In looking around the room at the various generations and multi-generations (moms and daughters) present, Klebanoff spoke about creating a lasting legacy. She turned toward her mother, Ann Copeland, and in that quiet moment, the meaning of her words became especially personal. Mother and daughter shared an emotional glance – both visibly moved. It was a beautiful, living example of L’Dor V’Dor and the passing of Jewish values, traditions, generosity, and commitment from one generation to the next.

In Tidewater’s remarkable Jewish community, a special bond of sisterhood – women who celebrate one another, support one another, and stand together in support of the community they love – clearly exists. Each woman brings her own story and legacy to this sisterhood, and together they are creating something even greater.

Leslie Siegel and Shaye Arluk.

Ellen Rostov Hundley, vice chair.

Annie Sandler pins Lion of Judah pin on her daughter, Dylan Sandler.

Sheila Katz (guest speaker), Betty Ann Levin (UJFT executive vice president/CEO), and Kristy Foleck.

Bonnie Brand and Ann Copeland.

Alicia London Friedman (Chair), Lynn Schoenbaum, Beth Jaffe, Laura Gross, and Jodi Klebanoff.

Women enjoy lunch on Jodi Klebanoff’s terrace.

Renee Strelitz, Shari Friedman, Judy Rosenblatt, and Shelly Simon.

Mona Flax, Alicia London Friedman, Kristy Foleck, Ellen Rostov Hundley, and Janet Mercadante.

Jodi Klebanoff and guest speaker Sheila Katz.

Ann Copeland, Marcia Moss, and Joan London.

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.

Honoring one’s father and mother

Haley Bartel — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:19:48 +0000

“Honor your father and your mother” is one of the most recognizable of the Ten Commandments – simple enough for a child to memorize, yet its sentiment sticks with many Jews far more into adulthood.

Kibud av v’em, the Jewish obligation to honor one’s parents, doesn’t end when childhood does. It follows families as they make some of life’s most difficult decisions: how to care for a parent who is aging.

Rabbi Jacob Herber of Congregation Beth El expands on what honoring a parent requires, per Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16. Feeding them, providing for them, and helping them get around are all core examples.

“As Jews, we now face many situations that the Torah and Talmud never anticipated,” Herber says – dementia, nursing facilities, life support, a parent who can no longer communicate. “We should always try to provide our parents with dignity and care. But each situation should be taken into consideration.”

Herber is careful to note that kibud av v’em plays only a small role in actual life-or-death medical decisions. The more central Jewish values at play, he says, are the obligation to save lives, to prevent suffering, and to honor a parent’s own wishes. When congregants come to him wrestling with these decisions, he starts by listening.

“I like to remind my congregants to ask themselves: What would my mother or father want? What is the doctor saying they will gain from this treatment? Will this allow my parent to live comfortably and have quality of life? What can my family do to take care of my parent?”

Elder law attorney Scott Alperin equates honoring one’s parent to respecting them. “It involves both a spiritual obligation to dignify them because they are responsible for giving you life, but also reflects a responsibility to respect them because your parents play an essential role in guiding you to achieve your lot in life.”

At his practice, Alperin Law, he works with families navigating long-term care and end-of-life planning on a regular basis, and the principle of honoring one’s parents shows up in nearly every case that crosses his desk. The hardest conversations often involve a parent who wants to stay independent even as it becomes less safe to do so.

“Mom and dad may wish to remain in the residence they have called home for several decades for as long as possible,” he says, “but there are complicating considerations as the parents decline and confront mobility limitations, cognitive impairment, or the need for assistance with their activities of daily living.”

One of the most difficult scenarios he sees is a parent who is no longer safe to drive but refuses to give up their license. “We all take for granted our freedom of movement and the ability to drive where we need to go, and that is one of the most heartbreaking conversations to have with a parent who is faced with permanently losing their independence.”

This is why Alperin encourages families to plan ahead – executing a general durable power of attorney and a healthcare power of attorney while a parent is still able to, so that a trusted agent can step in without the expense and emotional toll of a guardianship proceeding. That said, even with the right documents in place, families still have to reckon with a deeper question.

“The biggest misconception is the recognition that what the child perceives as being in the best interest of the parent does not always equate to what the parent desires,” Alperin says. “Many children erroneously assume that because their parents are old and frail, what the children want is best for their parents. Often that is not the case.”

Rabbi Levi Brashevitzky of Chabad stresses that the obligation doesn’t end when a parent can no longer reciprocate. “Not only does kibud av v’em apply then,” he says, “Torah teaches that it applies after their passing too.”

His advice to families navigating the hardest calls is less about legal mechanics and more about posture. “Always approach with pledging the fifth of the Ten Commandments,” he says. “Reflect on the partnership they have with God in your creation. Remember your children learn most by what you do and how you handle situations, more than what you tell them and or demand of them.”

Through the legal framework and religious grounding, a common thread emerges: honoring a parent isn’t about doing everything they ask or protecting them from every risk. It’s about taking their wishes seriously while maintaining a mindset that values both practical and the spiritual perspectives of the law. Most importantly, it’s knowing that how a family navigates these moments matters just as much as what they decide.

A partner in planning: How TJF helps advisors help their clients

Tidewater Jewish Foundation Staff — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:13:50 +0000

Attorneys, financial advisors, and other professional advisors often begin some of their most important conversations with clients with a simple question: What matters to you?

For clients who are charitably inclined, that question can open the door to planning that extends beyond assets and beneficiaries to the impact they hope to make during their lifetime and for generations to come.

David Kamer, an attorney with Kaufman & Canoles, PC., believes advisors have an important role in starting that conversation.

Kamer is a member of Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s board of directors and chair of its Professional Advisory Committee. At Kaufman & Canoles, he focuses on estate planning, tax-exempt organizations, and complex tax matters for high-net-worth individuals, families, and charitable organizations.

“Clients may come into a planning conversation focused primarily on their children and grandchildren, but that doesn’t mean charitable giving isn’t important to them,” Kamer says. “Sometimes the advisor simply needs to ask the question and give them an opportunity to think about what they want their legacy to include.”

That is where TJF can become a valuable partner to both the client and the advisor.

TJF works alongside fundholders, families and their professional advisors to help translate philanthropic goals into a plan. Through donor-advised funds, endowments, designated and restricted funds, charitable trusts, and other giving strategies, TJF can help clients build an approach that reflects their values while complementing their broader financial and estate planning.

The partnership can be particularly useful when a client knows the causes they care about but has not identified specific organizations. TJF brings knowledge of the charitable landscape and can help structure giving around those interests.

“TJF gives advisors another resource to bring to the table,” Kamer says. “The staff is knowledgeable and experienced, and they can help clients create a flexible plan that carries their charitable intentions forward. For an advisor, that means you don’t have to have every philanthropic answer yourself, you have a partner who can help.”

For professional advisors, partnering with TJF can begin with a conversation. Contact Russ Cronin, COO at Tidewater Jewish Foundation, to explore how TJF can serve as a philanthropic resource – either personally or for a client – at rcronin@tjfva.org or 757-965-6131.

Synagogues face the challenge to be safe, secure, welcoming, and legal

Haley Bartel — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:12:14 +0000

In 2018, a gunman killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history.
In the years since, some Jewish writers have argued that congregants should be able to protect themselves. Rabbi Stuart Halpern and Tevi Troy wrote in City Journal in 2022 that many Jews concluded the only ones who can defend them are themselves.

Laws barring licensed carriers from houses of worship, they argued, leave would-be victims disarmed while attackers stay armed. “A siddur, alas, is a poor substitute for a gun in a firefight,” they wrote.

Still, Virginia law makes it a misdemeanor to carry a gun into a place of worship during a religious meeting without “good and sufficient reason,” a phrase the statute doesn’t define. Lawmakers have attempted to loosen the law. A 2019 bill to allow weapons in places of worship passed the state Senate 21-19, but died in the House Rules Committee.

Ohef Sholom Temple is one of the congregations that has chosen the stricter approach. The synagogue has armed security on site, but congregants – or anyone entering the building – are not allowed to carry their own firearms.

“The issue of security is a basic in synagogue life,” says Jennifer Levin-Tavares, the temple’s executive director. She has spent more than 25 years in synagogue management, and several of those years put her close to some of the nation’s worst tragedies, including the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, one mile from the synagogue she served in Parkland, Florida.

Throughout her career, balancing security with the air of warmth that worshippers crave from a synagogue has never been easy. “It is a tricky balance,” she says, “one that constantly evolves.”

Security consultant Joe Bouchard started working with Ohef Sholom in 2017 to help overhaul its security policies and procedures. Levin-Tavares is in regular contact with Bouchard, as well as with Mike Goldsmith, Secure Community Network regional advisor, and the Norfolk Police.

The Secure Community Network, which advises Jewish institutions on security, recommends a layered approach that includes hiring off-duty police officers for armed security, says Goldsmith. Synagogues that choose to use armed volunteers should have strict policies, vetting, and rigorous training, he says, and should distinguish between a formal security team and an individual allowed to carry concealed.

Coordination with police is essential, he says, because in the event of an emergency “first responders will not know who is on your security team.”
The temple has hosted full-scale exercises for Hampton Roads law enforcement, most recently through Goldsmith’s coordination. Protocols are re-evaluated after significant antisemitic or security incidents and before major events, and congregants are told about changes, such as those around the High Holidays.

“We don’t want Ohef Sholom to feel like a fortress,” Levin-Tavares says. Access control and layered security are key, but “the warmth largely comes from the people, how we treat each other, and being strategic in approach.”