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Category: Israel

Not alone: How Pozez JCC turned a year of grief into action

Posted on by Dionna Dash

It has been over one year now since Hamas raided Southern Israel, murdering approximately 1,200 Israelis and capturing more than 200 people as hostages. Over one year since Jewish communities around the world began holding their breath amid death and destruction. Over one year since they began experiencing every emotion at once: from grief to frustration to anger and, despite it all, unrelenting hope. 

In the immediate wake of Oct. 7, and the months that followed, Pozez JCC has been stepping up to provide the NoVa community with comfort, education, and programming to process the massacre and its aftermath. Finding solidarity in community has been priority No. 1. 

People of all ages have come together again and again, turning their grief into action. And often, Dean Bagdadi has been the person guiding them. 

As Pozez JCC’s shaliach – Israeli emissary – Dean connects the NoVa Jewish community with Israel through conversations and experiences informed by his life in Israel and his service in the Israel Defense Forces.

When the war first broke out, he wasn’t only fearful for his community and his country, but for his loved ones who were being called up to serve. Despite the desire to return to Israel and fight alongside them, Dean knew the NoVa community needed a leader to help them work through this trauma.

“After we knew what was happening, our first thought was ‘What can we do? What does our community need us to do?’” he said.

Dean and the rest of the JCC staff coordinated with other Jewish organizations in the area to host a vigil only five days after the Oct. 7 massacre. With over 1,600 people physically and virtually in attendance, including elected officials and clergy from all denominations, the gathering was moving and meaningful, offering comfort to those in mourning.

“There was a sense of a strong, united community that came together to express solidarity,” noted former shaliach Shy Ashkenazi. “In a dark time of confusion and pain, where I, as an Israeli far from Israel, felt very much alone and scared, it offered an opportunity to show up and belong.”

Sigi Saadia, who teaches Hebrew classes at Pozez JCC and often works alongside Dean to educate the NoVa community about her home country of Israel, credited the JCC with helping her navigate the pain of being so far from her family.

“For a week, I couldn’t function at work or at home,” she said. “I felt the need to drop everything and go to Israel, but I couldn’t. Standing at the vigil and watching the amount of people that came and the unity between the organizations made me feel that I was not alone.”

In December, just a few months after the attack, more than 200 community members came together again to bear witness to these horrors at a panel discussion with four survivors of the Oct. 7 massacre. Organized by Pozez JCC, JCC Association of North America, Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs, and World Zionist Organization, this event empowered Yael Simon, Daniel Weiss, Orin Bokobza, and Sharon Ana Yakobi to share their harrowing stories. 

The discussion not only educated the NoVa Jewish community, but it helped the Israeli survivors navigate their trauma.

“It was deeply meaningful to make them feel welcomed,” explained Dean, who moderated the discussion. “The sheer lack of empathy we’ve seen since Oct. 7 is extremely painful. So to host them, feed them, give them a strong hug, and a warm embrace was equally important. And we made four Israelis, who’ve been through the worst thing a human being can go through, feel like they are not alone.”

Those welcoming hugs kept coming at the end of the panel discussion, when many attendees stayed afterwards to express their gratitude and support for the survivors.

Dean reflected, “We were amazed by their courage and resilience. We can only aspire to be as strong as they are.”

This aspiration led to the creation of virtual evening discussions and in-person group sessions at local synagogues, offering teenagers to adults a safe space in which to ask questions about Israel and connect both physically and spiritually with each other. 

“We’ve seen an increasing number of people looking for spaces to feel safe, and I think we did that,” Dean expressed. “We made people safe.”

Jeff Dannick, Pozez JCC’s executive director, had the opportunity to visit Israel in January, meeting with survivors and their families and seeing the horrific destruction firsthand. He expressed his gratitude to Dean for “bringing Israel to Northern Virginia” for those who weren’t able to go themselves.

“I can’t even begin to express how fortunate we are to have Dean Bagdadi as our Senior Shaliach,” he said. “He has been nothing short of extraordinary, shepherding our community through this tragic period while simultaneously dealing with the personal impact to him and his family and friends. I am so grateful to Dean, and his wife Rotem, for their dedication, commitment, and service to our community.”

Opportunities for solidarity and advocacy continued throughout the year, often led by Dean. Noa Argamani, one of the former hostages who was rescued by the IDF in June of 2024, was a friend from his hometown. Prior to her release, to ensure no one forgot her or the other hostages, Dean and his coworkers hung posters of their faces and organized an effort to cook some of their favorite recipes to keep them at the forefront of the community’s hearts and minds. 

In May 2024, as part of the JCC’s Yoms programming, which honors Israel’s Independence Day and Memorial Day, Pozez JCC brought in Israeli musician Jimbo Jay for a concert reflecting on life in the Gaza Envelope to commemorate Yom Ha’Atzmaut. And, as part of its Yom Hazikaron observance, the JCC worked in partnership with the Friends of the IDF to display photos of every Israeli soldier killed in action, honoring their memories and their legacies.

“Many of those names and faces I will always carry with me,” said Ryan Gardiner, a Pozez JCC board member. “Initiatives like that strengthened our resolve as a community and gave us purpose in supporting Israel in its war for survival.”

In June of 2024, Pozez JCC and other Jewish organizations continued to honor the victims of this war by co-hosting a screening of “Screams Before Silence,” a film featuring survivors’ firsthand accounts of Oct. 7 and highlighting the gender-based violence perpetrated by Hamas on and since that day.

Over 100 community members attended and participated in the accompanying panel discussion, led by Amanda Katz, the executive director of the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, and Rachel Graber, the vice president of government relations and advocacy at Jewish Women International. The conversation was meant to help people process their emotions, from outrage to sorrow to disgust.

Speaking about his own feelings, Jeff shared, “For me, the personal stories of those who survived the Oct. 7 attack, or those whose loved ones were killed or taken hostage, have been the most powerful and painful. As we approach the one-year commemoration of Oct. 7th, I am grateful to all of the organizations and individuals who have helped our community learn, mourn, and heal.”

To commemorate one year since the Oct. 7 attacks, Pozez JCC is hosting or partnering on five community-wide events alongside other local Jewish institutions. Here are upcoming programs:

Cards and Clothes for a Cause

Clothing Drive: This High Holiday season, join Pozez JCC in supporting those in Israel by donating new children’s clothing (with tags intact), for any season, to be sent to those in need. The clothes collected will be sorted and packed at the Cards and Clothes for a Cause events on Oct. 21 at Pozez JCC and Shaare Shalom. Please drop off clothing donations in the JCC lobby. All of the clothing will be sent to Israel from Yad Leah, an organization that supports those in need in Israel.

Cards and Clothes for a Cause | Oct. 21

Join Pozez JCC for a meaningful and impactful event as the community comes together to support Israeli families in need as Israel continues to feel the ongoing impacts of the trauma of Oct. 7.

For young families: 5:30 p.m. | Pozez JCC: Register here
For teens and adults: 7 p.m. | Pozez JCC: Register here
For all ages: 7 p.m. | Congregation Shaare Shalom, Leesburg: Register here


Resilience and Hope: An evening of art and storytelling: Oct. 27, 5 p.m. | Pozez JCC

Oct. 7, 2023 as marked on the Jewish calendar is commemorated two days after Sukkot. This year, that falls on the 27th day of Tishrei. The evening is designed to encourage conversations about resilience and hope through an artistic lens. The program will explore Israel’s post Oct. 7 reality through varied art forms, helping to examine the consciousness of Oct. 7 in a different way. Participants will be invited to experience several creative spaces to listen to the personal stories of the artists and take a closer look at how life in Israel has changed over the year. Register here

We hope that you were able to attend these events that have already taken place:

A screening of the SuperNova documentary film on Sunday, September 29th, hosted by JCRC, screened at Pozez JCC: Filmed just a few days after Oct. 7, this film recounts the stories of survivors, first responders, and parents. Using materials meticulously collected from dozens of sources, including Hamas’ own cameramen and GoPros, survivors’ mobile phones, CCTV footage, dash cams, and first responders on site, this film provides unprecedented insight into the massacre.  

Commemorating October 7th: A shared service with local institutions, Oct. 6th at Temple Rodef Shalom: The NoVa Jewish community joined in prayer to mark one year since the horrors of Oct. 7. 

Marking October 7th Together: An evening of remembrance: Oct. 7, 7 p.m. | The Anthem
Nearly 6,000 people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities gathered at The Anthem and online to mark one year since October 7th. We joined hands and hearts to mourn, to stand resilient, and to hope. We began in tears – and we concluded with song, dance, and the pride and joy of being Jewish. Thank you to all who made this evening of remembrance, resilience, and hope a reality. Watch the livestream recording

This past year was one of immense grief and devastation, one which could have easily rendered the NoVa Jewish community paralyzed with pain. Instead, with the guidance of Pozez JCC, this community channeled its grief into action and advocacy, helping not only themselves but the Israeli community as well.

Now, as a new Jewish year begins, ushering in renewed hope and continued mourning, Pozez JCC will keep convening the community, providing safe spaces in which to work through these emotions and ensuring that no one is ever alone. 

“We have more work to do,” Jeff declared. “War is still raging. Hostages remain in captivity. Entire communities have been and remain evacuated. Innocent people are being injured and killed, and peace continues to be an elusive dream. So we, as a community and a people, must persevere b’yachad – together.”

How a Camp Created a Community

Posted on by Shirley Waxman

As with many beginnings, it all started over a cup of coffee. Well, two cups of coffee to be exact. Fifty-five years ago, in 1969, three Northern Virginia suburban moms got together one morning for coffee. But the one who served as host of the event then walked out of the room.

Judy Frank had invited Adele Greenspon and Shirley Waxman over to meet. They barely knew each other. When they arrived, they found the table set only with two coffee cups. Upon seeing their puzzled looks, Judy explained the premise of the meeting: “I am so sick of listening to the two of you complain because there is no Jewish day camp in Northern Virginia for your kids. If anyone can create a camp, it’s the two of you. Adele, you handle the business end; Shirley you do the programming! Make a camp for your kids and mine too. I’m leaving.” And so she did!

At that time, there were four synagogues in Northern Virginia but not a cohesive community center. How to begin to create something from nothing? Fortunately, Judy had chosen the right two people to ignite this idea. Adele was a whiz at organizing and had a real head for business management. Shirley had an extensive background in youth movement and camping. She had grown up attending the JCC camp in Hamilton, Ontario. She had worked there as a counselor and also had been totally immersed in Hashomer Hatzair, the vibrant Zionist youth movement. Her summers at their Camp Shomria in the Canadian wilderness were steeped in Israeli folk dance, culture and leadership training.

Without hesitation, Adele and Shirley decided to accept Judy’s challenge and they immediately got to work.

The first necessary piece of this new endeavor was a location. Agudas Achim Congregation in Alexandria gave them the use of their building and there were 70 excited campers that first summer. Over time, the camp moved to Beth El Congregation also in Alexandria, Temple Rodeph Shalom in Falls Church and finally Congregation Olam Tikvah in Fairfax, before finding their “forever home” at what would later become the Pozez JCC.

They next turned their attention to personnel matters. They persuaded Shirley Grossman, an accomplished composer and creator of musicals, to join them. They knew art was a must and they hired a very talented artist, Alice Neukirk, who created the camp logo.

Next they needed a name. Shirley turned to her youth group friend and Hebrew University professor for inspiration. Dr. Ted Friedgut told her: “You are creating a community of friendship and brotherhood. Call it Camp Achva.” And so it became.

Their founding philosophy was to instill a love of Jewish culture in each child. Everything revolved around that. Each place, object, program or activity would have a Hebrew name and signs were posted everywhere. Shirley drew strongly upon her camping days to create a Jewish environment in the Northern Virginia suburbs.

They created a central meeting site where each morning, the campers raised the flag and sang Hatikvah, and ended each day with Taps sung in Hebrew. There was a campsite for each group with a Hebrew name. The campers decorated it to make it their own and illustrate that name. Sports were certainly not overlooked. Gaga, the Israeli game of Dodge Ball, was played everywhere. There was to be total immersion in Hebrew and Judaism. 

 Friday, of course, was the most special day of the week. The day would begin with a flurry of cleaning, decorating and rehearsing. Then, everyone changed into their Shabbat white clothes and the magic began. Adele and Shirley would begin the procession to each camp site collecting the kids and singing Shabbat songs along the way. It was such a thrill to watch and be a part of this. Everyone would gather in a circle on the social hall floor, light Shabbat candles and welcome Shabbat with song and much joy.

Each week had a theme and each group prepared a skit or some sort of presentation to be presented for the Shabbat program. Following the skits, Shirley would lead the entire camp in Israeli folk dance. There was total participation with never a bystander.

About the third summer, Adele and Shirley, the camp directors, hired the Tsofim Friendship Caravan, a group of Israeli musicians to perform at camp.  That was when they met Amnon Shiloh, a veritable Israeli pied piper, and a very special person who sang and played the accordion. Everyone was mesmerized by him and he was promptly hired for every summer after that.  He taught Hebrew songs and instilled the joy and spirit of Israel in everyone.

Everyday each group would have a session with Shirley Grossman, learning their part for the original musical that would be the end of year program, and meet with Shirley Waxman to learn Israeli folk dance. And there was always a special session with Amnon.

All the parents were invited to the final program of the camp season. It featured the campers in the big musical performance, an art show, along with much song and dance. It was the highlight of the summer. And of course, there were tears – tears of joy and sadness – upon leaving this special “Brigadoon-like” Jewish community.

Looking back with much nostalgia, the founders set out to create a camp and ended up laying the foundation for a strong and vibrant Jewish community. Camp Achva paved the way for what later became the Pozez JCC. And in so doing, created a new generation of young people steeped in Jewish song, dance and Jewish values. It is a testament to that founding vision that these values continue at Camp Achva to this very day.

Shirley Waxman, July 2024

Families with young children engage, find community through Pozez JCC’s Growing Jewish Families

Posted on by Shana Medel

Looking to connect with the NoVA Jewish community? Pozez JCC’s Growing Jewish Families helps parents and their little ones feel right at home. Quickly and easily.

The program, created in 2008 and made possible through the generous support of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, connects young families who share interests and most importantly, are navigating a similar stage of life, raising children under the age of 8. From playground playdates to campfires to game nights to Jewish holiday fun — there’s something for everyone.

“Being connected to other moms in my area, who have a shared culture and background, is so important to me,” said Marissa Newberry, a mother of two girls, Maeve, 4, and Maudette, 1. “This program gave my entire family an in-person community.”

Growing Jewish Families is meant to be a low-pressure entry point to Jewish engagement, said Amy Lummer, who heads the program through her role as Family Engagement Director at Pozez JCC. Having been a participant herself, along with her two children, Lummer said the program meets families where they are to create friendship and fun, all through a Jewish lens.

“All of our programming connects to Judaism, whether through a holiday, a value, a mitzvah, or culture,” Lummer said. “We’re here for every family, wherever they may be on their Jewish journey.”

Because Growing Jewish Families creates an open space, where all kinds of practice and identity are welcome, people come as they are. There are self-described “High Holiday Jews” and regular shul-goers. Jews of color, Russian-speaking Jews, and LGBTQ+ Jews. Interfaith couples and single parents who represent different cultures and speak multiple languages, including Hebrew, Spanish, and German.

By coming together, families also grow together, said Maya Thiellen, who has two children, Mackenzie, 5, and Noah, 3.

“Our family has been given opportunities to connect with other Jewish families who have kids the same age as ours,” Thiellen said. “And as we connect, our kids are introduced to Jewish customs and stories in an age-appropriate way,”

Each program is hands-on and accessible, designed to create community for the whole family, and sometimes, just for parents.

There are also a number of adult-only programs. Readers can be a part of Pages and Perspectives, a book club that recently read and discussed “The Amen Effect,” a national bestseller by Rabbi Sharon Brous. The monthly Divas and Diners program for women usually centers around food and games. And dads have their own get togethers, Guys’ Night. The most recent gathering, “In a Pickle” (which sold out), creatively combined pickling and pickleball for a fun night out.

Participant Rachel Birns said these outings, as well as ones geared for parents and their children, have helped her and her son Jack, 3, make new friends through doing.

“There are many different kinds of activities where my son and myself are able to connect with other young families in the area and wider community,” Birns said. “And because of that, we feel more connected to the NoVa Jewish community.”

Finding and engaging new faces usually goes something like this: Pozez JCC connects with families through PJ LibraryÂŽ, Jewish events or programs, a quick email, the newsletter, an online form for new parents, or on a playground with their own children. From there, J-Family Ambassadors, who welcome newcomers and schedule family-fun events, reach out to set up a coffee talk.

There are six ambassadors, all of whom are moms and have participated in Growing Jewish Families themselves. Each serves a different area of NoVa, from Arlington to Aldie.

Somewhat of a neighborhood concierge, the ambassadors provide families with information on preschools and synagogues, introduce them to Pozez JCC and other community programming, connect them with other families, and get to know their interests.

One of those ambassadors is Faith Plavchan, a mom of three with more than 15 years of experience in early childhood education. She recently connected two new moms, one in Arlington and one in Alexandria, who registered their children for the only Jewish infant program in the area, run by Pozez JCC.

“This is what we do, we make those connections to make an impact,” Plavchan said. “By bringing more families together in our Jewish community, we go beyond the boundaries of our JCC building.”

More than 900 families have been engaged this past year through 12 or so programs per month, along with individual coffee talks between ambassadors and families.

To meet people where they are — geographically and Jewishly — a majority of the programs exist outside of the walls of the Pozez JCC. And this month, many will be happening outdoors.

Throughout the summer, Brie Ribner, ambassador for Prince William County, has been organizing two recurring programs: Trail Tuesdays and Water Wednesdays.

Families gather on Tuesday mornings, before temperatures climb too high for comfort, to hike one of the many trails snaking through Northern Virginia. On Wednesday afternoons, parents are taking their children to cool off and splash about at a creek or water park. The location of these events and others are never listed online, ensuring the safety of all participants.

“There’s a real hunger for a sense of belonging, and we create that belonging in a secure environment,” Ribner said. “Once families are here, they keep coming back.”

Among those who keep coming back are NoVa resident Heather and her daughter, her only child. One of their favorite programs was Pajamuary Planetarium Havdalah, where they experienced outer space, up close and personal.

Just before Havdalah, an astronomer welcomed attendees into a large, inflatable planetarium, a dome-like structure. Once inside, he projected and explained a video of our entire solar system. Heather and her daughter sat in darkness and watched planets spin across the ceiling of the planetarium.

“This sparked our interest in astronomy, and soon after, our family visited the George Mason University telescope for the first time,” Heather said. “We’re thankful for Growing Jewish Families for their hard work and attention to details and our J-Family Ambassador for building outgoing, caring, and positive connections.”

Danielle Arthur, an ambassador in Alexandria, said Growing Jewish Families is creating a Jewish engagement pipeline, with the first touchpoint rooted in early childhood. Every parent is seeking something different, and no matter what that something is, there are friendly faces ready to point them in the right direction.

“We are a resource for raising Jewish children,” Arthur said. “This is a flexible program, where people get out of it what they want to get out of it.”

At programs, she gauges success by the number of families who connect themselves, without her prompting. When she notices parents trading phone numbers and then sees them post photos from their playdates, those are wins.

Arthur was in their shoes just a few years ago. A former program participant, she and her daughter Norah met some of their closest friends through Growing Jewish Families.

Now, Norah goes to elementary school with some of them, including one boy who she says she’s going to marry, often telling her mom, “I can’t believe I met the boy I’m going to marry in preschool.”

“These connections we make between families are so important,” Arthur said. “Oftentimes, they’re life-changing.”  

A living bridge to Israel: Being a shaliach after Oct. 7

Posted on by Shana Medel

Shlichim — Hebrew for “emissaries” — have long served as faces and voices of Israel. Stationed in Jewish communities worldwide, they play the role of cultural ambassador, helping people connect with Israel through conversations and experiences.

Oct. 7 upended their lives and their jobs. 

With Israel still dominating the headlines nearly eight months later, shlichim have been thrust into a new, emotionally charged role: helping their communities grieve as they process their own grief and standing strong as emotions run high as the war rages on.

Dean Bagdadi, who is in his second of a three-year commitment as the senior shaliach at Pozez JCC in Northern Virginia, said people need to hear from an Israeli who is “hurting but still going.”

“Collectively, as a Jewish community, we’re processing grief and anxiety,” Bagdadi said. “And when you’re experiencing these emotions, everything is valid. Anger. Resentment. Frustration. Denial. Everything goes.”

Among the 360-some shlichim in America, every single one of them knows someone who was murdered, kidnapped, or injured by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. Bagdadi is friends with one of the hostages, Noa Argamani, who is from his hometown of Be’er Sheva in Southern Israel. 

To ensure Noa and the other hostages are not forgotten, he and his coworkers have displayed a large poster with their pictures in the lobby of Pozez JCC. Another initiative is to share and cook favorite recipes of the hostages so that when those dishes are being enjoyed, thoughts are reflected on the hostage and their family to keep them present.

“We can’t forget that families are missing their loved ones, who are alive but not safe,” Bagdadi said. “This is an open wound”.

To provide support, Bagdadi has helped Pozez JCC organize meaningful gatherings, including a vigil following the terrorist attack with 1,600 locals in attendance. He has also moderated a panel discussion with four survivors of Oct. 7, drawing a crowd of roughly 340 people.

Michelle Pearlstein, who serves as Development Director of Pozez JCC, said this high level of engagement has impacted a broad spectrum of people, who have found Bagdadi to be a calm, knowledgeable voice on Israel.

“Dean has been a source of strength, comfort, and a trusted resource for so many people, including those who are already connected but were in search of a little piece of Israel right in our community,” Pearlstein said.

Bagdadi has also been creating informal, safe spaces where people can just ask questions, addressing a communal ache to understand the complexities of Israel. The 28-year-old has met with adult groups at every synagogue in the area and led a one-hour Israel crash course for teens, among other engagement efforts. 

“What do we do now? How do we show up for Israel? How do we support our Jewish community here in Northern Virginia? How do we combat antisemitism? There are so many questions to be answered, and people need and deserve spaces where they can safely ask those questions,” Bagdadi said.

And he is well equipped to answer them. Bagdadi has been leaning heavily on his degree in political science from Ben-Gurion University, political nonprofit experience, and his personal Israel story.

While his efforts are making an impact in Northern Virginia, he carries the weight of being an ocean away from home. 

As Israel was plunged into war, Bagdadi was called to serve as a reservist commander, having formerly served as a logistics officer in the Israel Defense Forces. He was also called by the Jewish Agency for Israel, which runs the shlichim program, to support Northern Virginia, home of the largest Jewish population in the Washington, D.C. region.

Bagdadi had to make a choice: go or stay.

“Where would I be more valuable? Israel or Northern Virginia? All the pressure was on me to make that decision. And on a daily basis, I’m continuing to make the decision to stay,” Bagdadi said. “Right now, I feel like I’m more valuable here because I’m connecting people in Northern Virginia to Israel during a complicated and complex time.”

Former Pozez JCC President Scott Brown said there has never been a stronger need for an Israeli person, program, and presence. Northern Virginians need a shaliach like Bagdadi, who can help them know, wrestle with, and love Israel.

“Dean Bagdadi has been an enormous community resource,” Brown said. “He has stepped up and in, like the soldier he is. He has done it with amazing professionalism, sensitivity, and strength.” 

Pozez JCC Board Member Ryan Gardiner said Bagdadi has galvanized the community, and he is continuing to do so.

“Dean understands the importance of keeping our community not just engaged but informed, active, and connected to Israel, “ Gardiner said. “His advocacy work and engagement with us at both the individual and group level remains vital to maintaining Israel’s centrality to our community in Northern Virginia.”

Bagdadi continues to build community around Israel engagement. The goal to connect with others remains the same, even though the “how” has changed.

“Before Oct. 7, we were building community. After Oct. 7, we are still building community,” Bagdadi said. “So much has changed, but strengthening our community and making sure that Israel is a big, valuable part of it remains the same.”

The Yoms

Posted on by Dean Bagdadi

Seven months ago, our world shattered. No one knew which direction we were going to go, or what we should do next. Anger. Sorrow. Fear. Pain. Not much room for Optimism, or Hope. With broken hearts, we had to keep moving, to start from a defensive point. In Israel, it started with regaining control of the invaded areas by Hamas. Here, it was protecting our Jewish communities, and fellow congregants, supporting those who needed it. Then, we moved to offense, in Israel, the war initiated bringing back the hostages and restoring security. Here, it was to start condemning all those who forgot who we are. It’s a difficult battle, with multiple fronts.

Who would have thought that seven months later, we’d still be knee deep in these troubling times? With ongoing war and public statements that smell like Europe of 1930. When I started thinking about how we’re going to commemorate Israel this year, I had a hard time. I couldn’t even plan a week ahead, nonetheless months. I questioned how can we celebrate Israel this year, with all this pain, all this sorrow — not even starting to mention the 133 hostages.

It comes with a price. I tend to break more often. Some songs move me to tears, and I am not always positive. A few days after the October 7th attack, we held a community vigil and I said that even when it’s dark, we have to keep walking. That is still true. We pray that our children will never have to go to the army, but they will. We pray that they will never hear another missile alarm siren again, but they will. We pray our families will be safe. They’re not. But we have to keep walking, to believe that things can get better, and they will, eventually.

With broken legs, we get back up. With tear-soaked eyes, we look ahead. With a heavy heart, we start walking. And we move forward, one step at a time. Like with grief, we embrace the pain, understand that we lost people we love, and we need to continue to live.

For Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) it’s the same. We remember those we lost, and we are grateful for their sacrifice. We’ll celebrate the fact that we are here, alive, with our country and our freedom, and also the price we pay for that.

Gam Ve’Gam (this and that). This year we’ll say, “They are trying to get rid of us. Many have tried before. They will not succeed. Yom Ha’Atzmaut is officially a Jewish holiday.”

Am Israel Chai

My Solidarity Trip to Israel: An Experience Unlike Any Others

Posted on by Helen Taubman

Hello and Shalom, my name is Helen Taubman. I was practically born at the JCC, having been in the first 3 year old preschool class when the doors opened in 1989.  I am now an early childhood educator in Pozez JCC’s Early Childhood Learning Center for the past seven years. Recently, my family and I took an inspiring trip to Israel to lend our support. Although we have been to Israel many times before, this was an experience unlike any others. It is important to me to share our story.

The week-long solidarity trip was organized by the Chabad Jewish Learning Institute (JLI). We traveled with a group of 170 people from all over the US and Canada. This was the largest solidarity mission to Israel since the dark days of October 7th. We went to strengthen those in Israel in this time of war… they strengthened us even more. Israel needs our full-throated support now more than ever, economically, spiritually and emotionally, and we were proud to oblige. 

For us, this trip represented both the highs and the lows of the current wartime situation.

It was with difficulty that we: 

  • Heard from hostage families and families of those who were brutally and cruelly murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7th, as well as from heroic soldiers and first responders who helped save hundreds of lives on that horrible day and for days immediately afterwards.
  • Went to the Nova Festival site and K’far Aza to witness what remains of a modern-day pogrom that few civilized people could imagine.
  • Traveled twice to Har Herzl (Israel’s equivalent of Arlington National Cemetery) to pay tribute to recently fallen soldiers and those from past wars, and we attended the solemn funeral of Sgt. Illai Tzair, a 20-year-old soldier who lost his life in Gaza protecting Israel and its people.
  • Paid a shiva call on the widow of Yossi Herskovitz, a 44-year-old school principal and father of five who insisted on going into harm’s way in the army even though he was exempt based on his age and parental status.  He gave the ultimate sacrifice for the Jewish people, and we honor him.
  • Visited Hostage Square in Tel Aviv to see what grieving families have created as they wait and pray for their loved ones to return. More than 130 hostages are still enslaved in tunnels by Hamas, from babies to grandparents, with no word to their families or reports on their condition.
  • Visited the Shura army base, which was turned into a morgue on those dark October days, a place where volunteers performed tahara and ensured decent Jewish burials for hundreds of soldiers and civilians.
  • Visited brave wounded soldiers at the Sheba Tel Hashomer rehab hospital and gave them gifts and wishes for a complete healing.

These were often somber visits, but they renewed and strengthened my bond with the Jewish people and the land and people of Israel. Especially after we returned and Passover arrived, I was able to see the deeper meaning of so much of our liturgy and traditions, including the much quoted verse from the Hagadah “Vehi Sheamda … Not in one generation but in every generation they rise up to destroy us.”  As a result of this visit, I am more determined than ever to support and defend our collective homeland, the State of Israel.  

The trip also provided moments of joy and pride as our group:

  • Packed lunches for soldiers and wrote notes of thanks and encouragement that went into each lunch bag.
  • Celebrated in Hebron with the Jewish community and baked challahs for the soldiers who protect us.
  • Happily witnessed a bar mitzvah at the Kotel of a boy whose family had to flee the north of Israel due to Hezbollah/Iranian rocket attacks. We enjoyed a dinner celebrating his bar mitzvah in the evening, along with celebrating the bat mitzvah of a girl whose father, a police officer, was murdered on October 7 defending Sderot.
  • Visited the new Magen David Adom National Blood Bank. This high-tech building is a modern miracle of Israeli ingenuity funded in large part by American philanthropists Bernie Marcus and Sheldon Adelson.
  • Got our hands dirty picking kolrabi (a root vegetable) with Leket, an organization that runs food banks and provides meals to those in Israel who are in need.
  • Hung mezuzot at an army base two miles from Gaza, and sponsored and cooked a barbeque for hundreds of combat soldiers, complete with live music. We gave those soldiers the cards and notes that ECLC children and Pozez JCC community members had written. (Thank you to those who wrote cards, as every soldier appreciated them and smiled.)
     

We are so blessed to have been able to go to Israel and to do so many mitzvot, to give and receive strength and encouragement. It was wonderful to see Israelis of all stripes volunteering and working together, even in tragic times like these, to care for one another and to ensure victory over cruel adversaries. 

Am Yisrael Chai. עם ישראל חי!

May: Celebrating JAHM & Commemorating The Yoms

Posted on by Shari Berman

When I turn the calendar page to May, I typically think of beautiful flowers, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day. For Jews, the month of May holds added significance. First, it is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), and second, it often contains several important days on the Jewish calendar – what we refer to as The Yoms.  

This May, three “Yoms” take place within ten days of each other…Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day),Yom HaZikron (Israel Memorial Day), and Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day) — between May 5th and May 14th. They are even more relevant and poignant this year because of the attack on October 7thwhich left devasting death, injury, and destruction, a horrific hostage situation, and led to war between Israel and Hamas. Going into its 7th month, the war has led to growing antisemitism in the U.S. and around the world.

Focusing on Yom HaShoah, which began at sundown today (Sunday, May 5th) and will continue through sundown on Monday, we take a moment to recognize the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust by the Nazis and their collaborators, as well as the Jewish resistance that took place in that period. The first official Yom HaShoah commemorations took place in 1951, and the observance of the day was anchored in a law passed by the Israeli Knesset in 1959.

This solemn holiday is marked with observances where names of those who perished in the Holocaust are read, testimonies of Holocaust Survivors are shared, memorial prayers are spoken and special memorial candles – usually yellow candles – are lit. Locally, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington holds an Annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration Program virtually on Zoom. This year’s observance, held this afternoon, was in memory of those lost, in honor of those who survived and their families, andto provide a forum for the community to come together to reflect and strengthen our resolve at a difficult time of unprecedented antisemitism on college campuses. No doubt, it was a meaningful event for many, and reminds us to never forget.

The Adult Department of the Pozez JCC is presenting a virtual educational program in conjunction with Yom HaShoah on Monday, May 6 at 2pm. The program, “Battles Over the Holocaust: Polish-Jewish Memory Wars,” features Dr. Zachary Mazur, Senior Historian at the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw. Join us for this complimentary program to learn more about how Jews and Poles have very different recollections of the events that occurred in Poland during WWII. Click here for more details including registration: https://thej.org/event/battles-over-the-holocaust-polish-jewish-memory-wars-featuring-dr-zachary-mazur/

In addition, the J is offering a very special program made possible by a Federation grant:  Zikaron BaSalon (Memories in the Living Room). Families in Northern Virginia are invited to host a meaningful discussion in their homes any weekend during the month of May. Each Zikaron BaSalon gathering will be unique – reflecting diverse perspectives and personal reflections on the Holocaust and its lessons. It is an excellent opportunity to educate family, friends, and neighbors on the Holocaust. For more information, click here.

Judaism teaches us to constantly learn and question, as well as to live an ethical life that is led by our shared values (middot). One value that comes to my mind daily is gratitude (Hakarat HaTov). As I was thinking of a positive way to end this somewhat somber blog, I came across an email from Chai Mitzvah, an organization that promotes Jewish community and learning. Their newsletter, Chai-lites, reminded me that expressing the middah of gratitude does not mean ignoring that there is pain and hardship in the world. It means working hard and making a daily effort to see that along with the difficulty there is good in life and in history that is worth appreciating. So, during Jewish American Heritage Month, let’s celebrate the many accomplishments of Jews in the US and say, “L’Chayim” – to life!

The Day I Started Wearing My Mogen David

Posted on by Dean Bagdadi

Until now, I’ve never worn a Jewish symbol in public. I don’t wear a Kippah, I don’t have a necklace with my name in Hebrew, not even a Star of David jewelry. I never felt like I needed it. Or more broadly, never felt the need the express my Jewish identity physically. Before I came here, I thought a lot about what to wear. What should I do, that will send a clear message about all the different identities I am holding. Mizrachi, Ashkenazi, Israeli, my love for books and mythologies, my taste in music, my heritage. I am always thinking about what first impression people will have of me. None of those involved Jewishness.  

In Israel, the Jewish is the public space. I believed that if you do put on a Jewish symbol, it reflects your level of faith. How strong are your beliefs. And I am not a religious person, quite the opposite. And like me, so are many other Israelis. We feel like Judaism is for religious people, and we have other worlds. But since I joined the Shlichut, I started a journey. Changing the way I view Judaism, changing the place Judaism holds in me.  

And then October happened. And then Antisemitism rose. At first, I felt attacked. My Israeli identity was being attacked; my Jewish identity was attacked. I heard suggestions not to show any Jewish signs, not to provoke, not to stand out. I didn’t follow. I saw many others showing proudly their Jewish and Israeli identity, each one in its own way. I felt more than just Israeli, I felt Jewish. And I wanted to make sure no one was missing that piece. Davka, out of spite. Just because. 

And then a thought came to mind. I felt more complete. Not because I believe there’s a higher power, that’s a different conversation. I felt like I was looking back and seeing 3000 thousand years of history, each one growing through a different challenge. Gam Ze Ya’avor, this too shall pass. From one to another, each one of us is facing our own trauma. And that collective wisdom, of how to act better as a community, to act better as individuals, is making us stronger, more resilient.  

I didn’t believe in phrases like “Am Israel Chai,” now it brings me to tears. I didn’t used to wear a Mogen David, now I wear it wherever I go. Things are changing, or maybe it’s because I am getting closer to 30 and introspective. Who knows. It is a question I will think about for a long time to come. 

 In the meantime, let’s focus on another Jewish holiday where somebody tried to get rid of the Jewish people and didn’t succeed, and celebrate it the only way we know… with food, wine, and company.  And pray that all the hostages, and everybody else, are safe and back in their homes.  

Chag Purim Sameach! 

Not Just Another Trip to Israel

Posted on by Jeff Dannick

“How was your trip?” Such a simple question, but as I have discovered since returning from Israel, almost impossible for me to answer. This was my Bar Mitzvah trip, my thirteenth time visiting Israel, and my first time in more than seven years. I had been yearning to return since my last planned trip was Covid-cancelled in 2020, but life always seemed to get in the way. After October 7th, I felt a stronger pull to visit than I had ever felt before, and at the same time, for the first time, I also felt trepidation. Would it feel different? Would it be different?

More than the place, I missed the people. Two people in particular, who I’ve known for twenty years, but who I think of as family, my “brother” Shaul Zohar and my “son” Yonathan Hefetz. For me, no trip to Israel is complete without spending time with these two special men, so when JCCA put together its extraordinary Leadership Solidarity Mission to Israel, I knew that I would be going, and extending my visit.

Shaul and his wife Karin live in the north of Israel in Kiryat Shemona (KS). Shaul’s parents moved to Israel from Iran in 1959, so Shaul has lived in KS his entire life. Karin is originally from Holland, and moved to Israel without knowing a word of Hebrew. They have four children, three of whom I have known their entire lives: Chen (23), Shi (19), Shir (17) and Or (15). In other words, a typical Israeli family.

My usual “home away from home” in Israel is the “zimmer” at Shaul’s house. Not this trip. This time, I stayed with Shaul and Karin in Club Hotel Tiberias, the formerly closed hotel which was hastily refurbished and reopened to accommodate more than 800 evacuees from KS. While many evacuees have since found alternative places to stay, there were still more than 300 at the Club Hotel when I arrived on Friday afternoon. Shaul and Karin share a two-room suite with Or, two of their cats, and their bird. Chen and Shir share another suite with their other two cats and their rabbit, and Shi is deployed at a base in the Golan Heights. We welcomed Shabbat in their room, with wine, a roll, and song, and then headed to dinner in a dining hall filled with evacuees: children, elders, and everyone in between. I have spent so many Shabbat evenings with the Zohar family, but this was like no other.

Shabbat morning we toured the north, enjoying the lush beauty of the Golan Heights and Hula Valley. We picked up Shi at the base and took her out for lunch – it was so strange to see her in uniform. We drove close to KS, but as I promised my wife Marcia, we did not venture into the evacuated area. After three months in Tiberias, the family is bracing for many more. After Havdalah back in the hotel room, we headed to the dining hall for another communal dinner, and then Shaul and I took a long walk together. We talked well into the night, and ended the long day with a long hug.

Sunday morning Shaul drove me to Tel Aviv, and after more hugs, we said l’hitraot and I checked into the beautiful David Kempinski Hotel. More and more hugs as friends and colleagues arrived at the hotel to begin an emotional roller coaster ride together. I began to think of this trip as a solidarity mission sandwich. Nestled between brief visits with my dear friends was an itinerary like no other I have ever experienced or imagined. I know that the details are readily available, so I will confine my writing to highlights, takeaways, and reflections. The mission was overwhelming, exhausting, and inspiring. The source of inspiration was the Israeli people that we met, their resilience, determination and perhaps most extraordinarily, their hope for the future. It was clear from everything that we did and saw that October 7th was a game changer, a pivotal moment in history, and that Israel, the Jewish people and the world would never be the same.

For me, Tuesday was by far the most difficult day, as we traveled to the Gaza Envelope. On the bus, we were joined by Middle East strategic intelligence analyst, Avi Melamed. Avi provided what was for me an illuminating and terrifying tutorial on Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iranian proxies, describing what he called “Iran’s Hegemonic Vision,” and the implications for Israel and the Jewish people, the entire Middle East, and beyond. We then saw first-hand the manifestation of that vision as we visited Sderot, Ofakim, Kibbutz Nir Oz, and the site of the NOVA Festival which was transformed into a killing field. It is hard to describe the feeling I had as we walked through the makeshift memorial to those who were beaten, raped, killed, or taken hostage that day. I have only felt that way once before in my life, and that was when visiting Auschwitz.

So where does the hope come from? We finished the day sharing BBQ with an IDF unit. We visited with the soldiers, heard about their lives and experiences, shared a few laughs, handshakes and even some hugs. We are, after all, family. At this moment, I understood the idea of Jewish Peoplehood on a very different level than ever before. It wasn’t an intellectual understanding; it was deeper and more personal. We were thanking them, and they we thanking us. That’s right – They were thanking us! They understood why we were there, and it meant something to them. It gave them strength. I don’t know if Israeli and Diaspora Jews have been this close, and mutually dependent, since 1948.

As we wrapped up our mission over dinner in Jerusalem, we all reflected on our experiences together. We are so fortunate to be part of the JCC movement. This group of dedicated, insightful, and inspiring leaders shared their most intimate thoughts, and once again brought light to what could have been a very dark trip. As we headed towards our buses, one heading to the airport and the other back to the hotel in Tel Aviv, everyone was hugging. Some of us were already close to others in the group, but after our shared experience, we were truly bonded. I climbed onto the hotel bound bus, ready to begin the final phase of my trip.

Upon arrival at the hotel, I was welcomed with a bear hug from my dear friend Yonathan. We went into the hotel for a drink and a quick catch-up before he took me to my new hotel, the Brown Brun Hotel in Tel Aviv. Once again, I was the rare tourist among a hotel full of refugees, this time from Kibbutz Erez. It seemed like the perfect bookend of hotel experiences during this surreal visit to Israel.

Two days with Yonathan and his wife Chen was just what I needed after the intensity of the solidarity mission. We had Shabbat dinner with Yonathan’s parents, played tennis (Yonathan was the Israeli junior champion when he was 17), went to amazing restaurants and walked through Tel Aviv markets, neighborhoods and along the beach. Other than a visit to Hostage Square, my time with Yonathan and Chen seemed almost normal. We talked about life, family, jobs, and yes, war and politics. How do Israelis do this? Live their lives in the midst of war? Rabbi Doron Perez speaks of “Gam v. Gam,” but that is a discussion for another time.

After an extraordinary dinner at Claro (Yonathan’s lifelong friend is the chef), I was off to the airport for my flight home. When Yonathan dropped me off, and we shared one last hug, I knew that my relationship to Israel had changed. I will never again let seven years pass between visits. This is my homeland. These are my people. I want to dig deeper into my Israeli roots, meet family who I have never met, but I know are there. I yearn for a peaceful future for Israel, even as I understand that we have a long, challenging, and dangerous road ahead. 

Nobody gives better hugs than Israelis. For this, and many other reasons, I am hopeful.

Am Yisrael Chai!

This Moment in Time

Posted on by Laura Adler

Dear family, friends, community here in Northern Virginia, around the US, and throughout the world. I’ve been reposting and sharing messages of desperation, anger, solidarity, and hope on social media from friends and organizations because I wasn’t ready to put into the ether, my own thoughts about this moment in time. Perhaps I’m still not ready, but can’t stay silent any more.

In the early months of the pandemic, I recall feeling that the word “unprecedented” had evolved into white noise as it was written and spoken in every communication referring to what was taking place around the world. Yet, in the beginning, that was the perfect word to describe the impact of Covid on people, hospitals, communities, and economies the world over.

Like many of you, the lens from which I view the world forever changed on Saturday, October 7, 2023. And now, I’m asking myself, will the words “horrific,” “terrifying,” and  “unimaginable horrors” also become white noise? As the images coming out of Israel are viewed on digital screens, whether handheld or larger, will the world become desensitized to the atrocities on display? Will it seem like it is just another Arab-Israeli conflict that’s “over there” and “not my problem”? Is human decency not our problem?

This moment is not about Pro-Israel or Pro-Palestine, there will be time for that. This is about Pro-Humanity. Anti-Terror. This moment is about supporting those who are willing to risk their lives to fight in the name of peace, security and acceptance.

My father, Al Fuchsman (z”l) passed away two weeks ago. In our community, he was well respected and is being remembered for his lifelong commitments to three pillars: Family, Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World), and Justice for All. What would he say now when all three are so deeply impacted in this moment? I find myself wondering if his untimely passing was actually timely so he can lend a helping hand from above. Perhaps he was meant for greater work than he could accomplish here on Earth. I’d like to believe that.

Many Jews and Israelis are being asked if they are okay. Likely, they are not. I am not. But, as a people, we are resilient and are individually, and as groups, finding ways to feel that we are doing something, anything, to help change the trajectory that we are on. The Pozez JCC is a place for belonging – where people of all backgrounds, identities, religious beliefs, and political affiliations can gather in harmony. On Thursday, October 12, more than 1,600 community members came together in solidarity for Israel and for each other. It was a moving evening and the feeling of connection and Peoplehood was palpable. The J will continue to provide and to share opportunities for healing and action over the coming days, months, and years as we lean deeply into our role as a community connector. (I invite you to see this page for what can be done now to Stand with Israel and click here to view the vigil).

I hope that however you are impacted by this historic moment in which we find ourselves, that you have the support and sense of commUNITY needed to move from darkness to light and hope you join me in praying for our friends and family in Israel and for a time of peace, security, and acceptance for all.

B’shalom, Laura