We are not defined by what others do to us, but by what we do for ourselves and the world around us.

In response to the increase of hate crimes and bigotry across the country, Hands United Building Bridges (HUBB), CRC UJFT , and many other organizations (will be added) are hosting a Summit Against Hate on Monday, January 14 at 6:30 PM at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus in Virginia Beach.

“It is important that after the terrible events of the fall—the attack at Tree of Life synagogue, the hate-murders in a Kroger’s in Kentucky and more, that we continue to come together to stand for tolerance, understanding, and freedom,” says Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz of Congregation Beth El and co-founder of HUBB.

The gathering will present an opportunity to talk, pray, and sing together in a moment of solidarity and unity against the forces that seek to tear communities apart and in support of understanding and fellowship.

This gathering is FREE and open to the public.

Speakers include:

Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz, Congregation Beth El, Norfolk and HUBB co-founder and co-chair
Rev. Dr. Sharon S. Riley, Pastor, Faith Deliverance Christian Center, Norfolk and HUBB Leadership Council
Cantor Wendi Portman Fried, Congregation Beth El, Norfolk and HUBB Leadership Council
Doron Ezickson, Washington Regional Director, ADL - Anti-Defamation League
Donald Luzzatto, Vice President for Civic Engagement, Hampton Roads Community Foundation
Dr. Aaron Spence, Superintendent, VBSchools
Dr. Chris Garran, Head of School and President of the Cape Henry Collegiate Board of Trustees
The Rev. John Rohrs, Rector, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Norfolk, VA and HUBB Leadership Council
Martin Culberth, Special Agent in Charge, Norfolk Division, FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Norfolk Citizens Academy Alumni Association
William T. Dean, Deputy Chief of Police, Virginia Beach Police Department
Saher Mirza, Community Activist
Teens With a Purpose
Cynthia Hudson, Commonwealth of Virginia's Attorney General Mark Herring's Chief Deputy Attorney General
Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg, Ohef Sholom Temple and HUBB Leadership Council
Dr. Antipas L. Harris, founding dean of The Urban Renewal Center, Norfolk and HUBB co-founder and co-chair

Building Leadership for a More Peaceful Community: 22 organizations participating, including:

Advocates for Racial Justice
Center for the Study of Religious Freedom at VWU, Virginia Wesleyan University
Children for Change
Hampton Roads Pride
Interspiritual Empowerment Project
Just Faith Ministries
Muslim Community of Tidewater
NAMI Virginia Beach
Norfolk Catholic Worker
Norfolk Juvenile Detention Center
Park Place School
PFLAG Norfolk/Hampton Roads
Samaritan House
Season for Nonviolence
Teens With a Purpose
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Tidewater Sowers of Justice
Virginia Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival
Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission
Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities
Your Neighbor's Hood Podcast

Join HUBB, CRC UJFT, Simon Family JCC, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater: UJFT, and the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film for Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 21 at 6:00pm at TCC Roper Performing Arts Center for An Act of Defiance - Virginia Festival of Jewish Film's screening and discussion with WHRO's Another View's Barbara Hamm Lee, Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz, Dr. Sharon Riley, and VCIC's Paula Bazemore. FREE and open to the public, RSVP (required) here: https://federation.jewishva.org/arts-ideas/film-festival