In the wake of the violence and protests that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia on the weekend of August 11th, UJA sent a delegation of 22 New Yorkers down south on a Solidarity Shabbat Mission. UJA’s stewardship associate, Julia Tejeda, and development executive, Mark Labadorf, share a recap:
We started off Friday night at the Hillel at University of Virginia, where we were warmly welcomed by students and Rabbi Jake Rubin, director of UVA Hillel. In a packed, standing-room-only space full of a diverse array of students and some UVA Hillel board members, two young women — Jewish student leaders on “the grounds” (UVA students don’t use the word “campus”) — led a beautiful service.
Afterward, we stayed in the room briefly so that Brian Cohen — director of Columbia/Barnard Hillel and former UVA Hillel director — who also joined our delegation, could give us some background info on UVA and its Hillel, and contextualize what had happened.
Dinner was another incredibly packed room with approximately 250 people gathered around tables. Our group dispersed around the hall, so we had the chance to really feel part of the community. There were leaders and students from different organizations, Jews and non-Jews alike. At our table, there were two students who were attending Hillel for the first time, as were many others around the room. The student leader introduced UJA CEO Eric S. Goldstein, who spoke briefly about how our delegation was there to stand with UVA and the Charlottesville community against hate.
Eric Fingerhut, CEO and President of Hillel International and part of our delegation, led Kiddush, followed by a lively and vibrant dinner, including Rabbi Jake’s signature move — throwing chunks of challah at different tables.
Our group then went upstairs, where we were joined by 15 or so students and a UVA professor who researches the Jewish history of Charlottesville and is also a Congregation Beth Israel congregant. Each person went around the room and talked about why they were there. Our conversation really showed how the students are still grappling with the trauma that they experienced and the anti-Semitism that was brought to the surface. A fourth-year student talked about how this is the first year she won’t put up a mezuzah because she is frightened.
“Amen” to Community
On Saturday morning, we walked to Congregation Beth Israel, where congregants were waiting outside to greet us. Everyone hugged us and shook our hands warmly. Rabbi Tom Gutherz, senior rabbi of CBI, gave a meaningful sermon about the importance of the word “amen” and how it’s a message about affirming community and being there for one another, exactly the goal of our delegation.
Alan Zimmerman, president of CBI, who had written a widely shared article about the hateful incidents in Charlottesville, thanked our delegation profusely during the announcements and reiterated the message of gratitude that we heard from everyone in Charlottesville. One of the announcements was about the the formation of a new security committee for the shul. They are doing a complete overhaul of their systems and policies in the aftermath of the rally. Alan then introduced Eric Goldstein, who spoke so eloquently about how Alan’s piece moved UJA to come and stand in solidarity.
Ambassador Dani Dayan, consul general of Israel in New York, also spoke and emphasized that Israel exists to stand shoulder to shoulder with Jews and non-Jews everywhere against anti-Semitism, racism, and white supremacy.
We moved into the Kiddush luncheon, where we contributed New York bagels and lox (!), and got to know the congregants.
At Julia’s table, the vice president of the synagogue started to cry when she was talking about that weekend and how scared she was to have to wait on Friday night after services to go to her car. Mark spoke to several congregants about their wish to visit other Jewish communities around the country to share their experiences and let people know that this could happen anywhere.
Back on the grounds, we met up with a Hillel student who is a campus tour guide. She gave a nuanced and well-informed background for our tour about the conflicted history of UVA, and was honest about the legacy of exclusion that exists there. She clearly loves the school and her passion and energy were inspiring.
We saw the lawn where the Nazis/KKK members marched (students live with doors opening onto this space), gardens that housed slaves, and many students who were getting ready for the football game, including someone who recognized us from Hillel the night before and came over to greet us and thank us for coming to Charlottesville.
On Saturday evening, we did havdalah and said our goodbyes to the group. It was an intense and incredibly moving experience we won’t soon forget. We both feel so lucky and proud to have been a part of it and able to represent UJA and the New York Jewish community in Charlottesville.