From Virginia to Israel: A Volunteer's Journey of Resilience and Connection

Below is a reflection shared by Virginia Peninsula communy member Rachel Smith on her transformative volunteer experience in Israel:  

In the words of Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”

I recently had the privilege …

UJCVP Shabbat Message: The Power of a Voice

This weekend we honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and remembered the power of his voice against racism and for civil rights.  

Martin Luther King Jr. was a voice from the mountaintop that changed the world. He understood that words have immeasurable power and could transport…

UJCVP Shabbat Message: Building the Future in the New Year

As we welcomed the first Shabbat of 2024, I want to start the new year by taking a quick moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for strengthening our community. This past year has been filled with a lot of pain and uncertainty, but I have found great inspiration and hope by the comm…

David Ellenson, a Newport News native and leading Rabbi, dies at 76

Rabbi David Ellenson, who served for 12 years as president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and mentored a generation of rabbis and scholars as a historian, adviser and confidant, died December 7 at his home in Manhattan.

A renowned scholar in his own right — whose int…

UJCVP Shabbat Message: One Family

On Tuesday, I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with 300,000 fellow Jews, allies, and supporters at the March for Israel in Washington, D.C., including many from our Virginia Peninsula community. We came together in record numbers – united, proud, and strong – to demand the freedom of all hosta…