I just took a stroll down memory lane on Jewish News’ website. Although I only looked back one year, it was startling to note the difference between then and now. What a difference 12 months can make.
The cover for the Jewish News Dec. 23, 2019 edition featured images of happy faces at the countless events the community hosted that year, as well as of smiling area newsmakers. We might have done something similar for this issue, except most photos would be of Zoom screenshots.
In December 2019, we were looking forward to the Community’s 2020 Vision Campaign. Now, I’m rather confident that most of us are looking forward to 2020 Hindsight. This has been one of the most talked about and difficult years in most of our lifetimes.
Still, there’s much to be grateful for that took place in 2020, including the tech people who developed the digital platforms and taught us how to use them so that we could be connected. Those connections kept us learning, meeting, praying, and visiting. And, they kept us entertained.
At least for the first months of 2021, we’ll probably do more of the same—meeting over Zoom and Google. Still, we have plenty to be positive about and to look forward to throughout Jewish Tidewater for the coming year, including great entertainment, engaging speakers, and in-person activities, such as Camp JCC. Not to mention, of course, the vaccines!
And, so, as we say a hearty goodbye to 2020 (as my grandfather would’ve said, ‘Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?!?’)—on behalf of all of us at Jewish News, I hope your Hanukkah continues to be happy and filled with plenty of light and that you have a very safe, healthy, and happy New Year!
Terri Denison
Editor