Since the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks against Israel, the students and faculty at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have been focused on their continued mission of making the world a better place. Yishai Fraenkel, vice president and director general of the university says the campus communities of the 100-year-old institution are experiencing a range of psychological and emotional challenges. There are those who have lost friends or family members or have suffered physical injury themselves. Still, they strive for a sense of normalcy. “We are not stopping. We are not halting or looking for excus ..read more

Demonstrators gather outside of the Israeli Embassy to demand for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip in Washington D.C., March 2, 2024. (Photo credit: Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images via JTA.org) Police arrested the son of a prominent Washington D.C.-area rabbi after he allegedly got into an altercation with protesters outside the Israeli Embassy. Two witnesses quoted in a Secret Service police arrest sheet accused Ezra Weinblatt, a real estate agent and the son of Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt, who leads Congregation B’nai Tzedek in Potomac, Maryland, of pushing them on April 16 at around noon and ..read more

The members of the Maryland Delaware DC Press Association (MDDC) are deeply concerned about the potential consequences of HB1258 on local journalism. This bill, which is on the Governor’s desk now, would upend the longstanding practice of publishing public notices in local newspapers and their associated websites, threatening the vitality of Maryland’s communities and the essential role of the press in fostering civic engagement and accountability. We believe that HB 1258 will create a seismic change in the local media landscape that will decimate and potentially prompt the closure of loc ..read more

Josh Harris (Courtesy of the office of Josh Harris) For some people, being involved in professional sports is a dream come true. For Josh Harris, it’s a way for him to effectuate positive change and make other people’s dreams come true by transforming sports into “a shared community experience.” Harris is one of the most powerful people in professional sports. He became the managing partner of the Washington Commanders after leading a successful effort to buy the team for $6.05 billion in 2023. In addition, Harris is the managing partner of the Philadelphia 76ers and the co-managing partner of ..read more

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More than 60 organizations and thousands of volunteers took part in ‘Good Deeds Week’ in the Greater Washington, D.C., area from April 7-14. Courtesy of Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. The annual “Good Deeds Week,” a global event centered around volunteerism, saw Jewish organizations across the world and throughout the Greater Washington, D.C., area providing services and programs for people around the region both inside and outside the Jewish community. The weeklong event, which took place from April 7-14, was organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. The Federation’s ..read more

On April 10, Thomas Gary Peretzman of Ashburn, VA, passed away. Beloved husband of Annette Tworecke Peretzman. Devoted father of Joshua (Jean) and Seth (Jessica) Peretzman. Loving grandfather of Quinn, Fischer, Sadie and Evie Peretzman. Dear brother of Lynn (Tom) Meyer and Cari (Norman Brown) Peretzman. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org) or to StoneSprings Hospital Center (hcavirginia.com). The post Thomas Gary Peretzman appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more

Samantha Sisisky. Photo courtesy of Samantha Sisisky Samantha Sisisky, a Washington, D.C., resident, has spent her entire career working for Jewish organizations, with a special interest in philanthropic work, which includes roles at the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, BBYO, Capital Camps and now a new position as senior director of stewardship and communications at ImpactIsrael, an organization dedicated to helping at-risk youth in Israel. Sisisky’s career is the culmination of a very strong Jewish upbringing in Richmond, Virginia, where she was deeply involved in the tight-knit Jewi ..read more

Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church is producing religious leaders at an incredible rate, with over 10 people who either grew up at Rodef Shalom or have an affiliation with the synagogue currently going through various stages of ordination and preparing to become full-time clergy. This trend continues a longstanding pipeline from Rodef Shalom to religious careers, although this recent uptick is slightly unusual. The synagogue has two people who recently became ordained, one person who will be ordained in a few weeks, five people becoming ordained in the next two years and three people that hav ..read more

On April 9, Richard Gorman, Ph.D., of Potomac, MD, passed away. Devoted husband of Joan Fisk Gorman. Beloved father of Susan Gorman Maloney, M.D., and Elizabeth Gorman. Loving brother of Helen (Stephen) Dressner and Gail (Howard) Webber. Cherished grandfather of Michael and Lilly Maloney. Memorial contributions may be made to the Union of Concerned Scientists or Jews United for Democracy and Justice. The post Richard Gorman appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more