I’ve long been a serious Chris Van Hollen fan. In my professional capacity, I assisted an independent expenditure campaign that helped him win his Senate primary. I even wrote a blurb for a book about Van Hollen where I labeled him a “visionary politician” who “put people, passion, and principle back at the center of our politics.” Not long ago, Sen. Van Hollen was a proud supporter of the U.S.-Israel relationship and even now regularly condemns Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, recognizes Israel’s right to exist and affirms its duty to defend itself. Though these are indeed vital principles, agreement wi ..read more

The Washington Jewish Week’s April 4 editorial regarding U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and his relationship to Israel was mean in spirit and off base factually. I write as a Maryland resident — represented over the years by Sen. Van Hollen first in Congress and now in the Senate — and as the president of J Street, a pro-Israel advocacy organization. For decades, the senator has been rightly viewed by large swaths of Jewish Maryland as a friend of our community and of the state of Israel. He has voted for tens of billions of dollars in aid to Israel, money which has gone to missile defense, milita ..read more

An operating room at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel. (wikicommons / deror_avi) With the war continuing to rage in the Gaza Strip and some of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas being returned several months ago, trauma care medicine has taken on an increased importance in Israel, and one Israeli doctor who is native to the DMV area is in the middle of it all. Dr. Adam Goldstein was born in Washington, D.C., and immigrated to Israel after high school, eventually becoming a trauma surgeon and the head of trauma surgery at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel, where he was one of the f ..read more

Members of Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation at the Night of Lights event in December 2023. (Courtesy of Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation) Taylor Medoff was recently hired to serve as the temple administrator at Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation in Ashburn, Virginia, a move that brings Medoff’s history of growing up with the synagogue full circle, as she and her family joined and were active in the synagogue soon after its formation, when Medoff was seven years old. Having been at the perfect age to remember the early years of the synagogue as a child, Medoff offers a look into many of the ch ..read more

On April 15, I. Austin Heyman, of Bethesda, MD, passed away. Son of the late Irving A. Heyman and Madeleine Strauss Heyman Sliosberg. Beloved husband of the late Barbara (LeVine) Heyman. Devoted father of Stephen M. (Susan Steinman) and David F. (Victoria White) Heyman. Dedicated grandfather of Madeline, Henry and Miles Heyman. Dear brother of the late Marilyn Heilprin. Austin was born in 1931 in New York, NY. He graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School, and earned a Certificate from the Academy of International Law at the Hague and a Master’s Degree in International Public Policy ..read more

Mary Giammatteo passed away on February 12. Born to Joseph and Audrey Giammatteo of Glen Echo, MD, Mary is survived by her partner, Jack Donohoe; her brother Ralph A. Giammatteo; many sisters and brothers-in law, and loving nieces, nephews, friends and students. Mary received a B.S. with High Honors from the University of Maryland and embarked on an award-winning artistic career. A renowned potter, Mary’s life will be commemorated at the Langley Park Community Center, where she taught for many decades. The post Mary Giammatteo appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more

Jeffrey Michael Deane, 77, of Annapolis, MD, and Sarasota, FL, passed away on April 4 at the Hospice of Chesapeake Rebecca Fortney Inpatient Care Center in Pasadena, MD, after a fierce three-year battle with metastatic prostate bone cancer. Jeff graduated from Memphis State University and has left behind many close friends and relatives, who will forever mourn and remember some of his favorite sayings, including “ching-a-ling” and “who loves you, baby.” Jeff was a partner with Friedman, Billings, and Ramsey, Inc. in Washington, D.C., retiring in 2011. Following his retirement, he lived part-ti ..read more

Elsa Berenstein, beloved mother of Nadia and Ariel Berenstein, adored grandmother of Nona Berenstein Lee, retired NIH scientist, and loving wife of the late Professor Carlos Berenstein, passed away peacefully at home on April 17 after a long illness. The post Elsa Berenstein appeared first on Washington Jewish Week ..read more

Courtesy of Sheldon Lehner Sure, it’s about the hoops, but it’s even more about the kids. So says Sheldon Lehner, who was recently honored for 50 years of refereeing kids’ basketball games at a ceremony at the Jelleff Boys and Girls Club in Washington, D.C. “For 50 years, I’ve tried to reach kids through basketball, and my efforts were recognized. It was very satisfying,” he said of the ceremony. His love of basketball and lack of height propelled him into officiating. “I was a good player in high school, but realized that at 5 feet 5 inches, refereeing would give me a better chance of staying ..read more

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