In May 2013, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a speech to Brazilian and South American bankers. In this speech given to the bankers, Clinton expressed hope and dream for a time in the future when the whole hemisphere would have an open border, where commerce and people would move freely without any restrictions. She would later deny saying this at the presidential debates with Donald Trump. Instead she said it was Russian misinformation put out by Putin, who supposedly favored Trump.
In 2021, after Trump policyâs greatly curtailed illegal border crossings, President Bidenâs open borders policy seems to be fulfilling Clintonâs dreams.
For the few Jews in West Virginia, one of America s most struggling states, the pandemic has offered silver linings
Larry Luxner
Robert Judd started in April as the rabbi of B nai Sholom in Huntington, W.Va., but has yet to hold an in-person service because of the coronavirus pandemic.
WHEELING, W.Va. (JTA) - Surrounded by silver crucifixes and Christmas ornaments, Samuel Posin and Joan Berlow Smith sell vintage jewelry and myriad tchotchkes at their church-turned-boutique gift shop in this city.
This is not the kind of place you ll find many Jews. In this deeply rural state where just over half of all voters identify as Christian evangelicals, fewer than 1,200 Jews are thought to be scattered among West Virginia s 1.8 million residents.
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Temple Beth El, a small cinderblock building built in 1935, serves the few Jews left in Beckley, a former coal-mining town in southern West Virginia. (Larry Luxner/ JTA)
Gun shops like this one in Beckley are a common sight throughout West Virginia. (Larry Luxner/ JTA)
Robert Judd started in April as the rabbi of B’nai Sholom in Huntington, West Virginia, but has yet to hold an in-person service because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Larry Luxner/ JTA)
Rabbi Joshua Lief of Temple Shalom in Wheeling, which was West Virginia’s first state capital and home to its oldest Jewish community. (Larry Luxner/ JTA)
WHEELING, W.Va. (JTA) — Surrounded by silver crucifixes and Christmas ornaments, Samuel Posin and Joan Berlow Smith sell vintage jewelry and myriad tchotchkes at their church-turned-boutique gift shop in this
December 23, 2020 4:05 pm Rabbi Joshua Lief of Temple Shalom in Wheeling, which was West Virginia’s first state capital and home to its oldest Jewish community. (Larry Luxner)
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WHEELING, W.Va. (JTA) Surrounded by silver crucifixes and Christmas ornaments, Samuel Posin and Joan Berlow Smith sell vintage jewelry and myriad tchotchkes at their church-turned-boutique gift shop in this city.
This is not the kind of place you’ll find many Jews. In this deeply rural state where just over half of all voters identify as Christian evangelicals, one longtime rabbi estimates that fewer than 1,200 Jews are scattered among West Virginia’s 1.8 million residents.