On February 10, a record-breaking 280 engaged Jewish advocates from across the Commonwealth gathered for Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day.

Nearly one-third of those assembled were Hadassah members demonstrating the strength and commitment of our local leadership.

Richmond Hadassah members

This year’s Central Virginia Volunteer Chair was Gail Shookoff-Moskowitz, who also serves as a liaison to Hadassah National Advocacy Team. Her leadership helped mobilize a coordinated presence at the General Assembly.

(From Left) Martha Woody (Danville), Ann Eisenberg, Sharon Goretsky (Tidewater), Gail Moskowitz

Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day is a collaborative effort of the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Jewish Peninsula (Newport News) and  the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, which supports Northern Virginia. Hadassah proudly co-sponsors this initiative in both Richmond and Northern Virginia.

The day began at 8 a.m. at historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, across from the Virginia State Capitol. There, teams organized by each Federation reviewed talking points and prepared for a full day of meetings.

Gail Moskowitz, also a Team Leader, reviews talking points with her group.

Advocates fanned out across Capitol Square, meeting with more than 60 legislative offices. Conversations opened with sobering statistics about the rise in antisemitic incidents nationally and in Virginia, along with personal stories that brought urgency to the issue. Participants then addressed key legislation impacting our community, including:

• Supporting improved use of Title VI processes in public K–12 and higher education to better address discrimination and harassment.
• Opposing unfunded and burdensome testing requirements for students in private K–12 schools participating in scholarship tax credit programs.
• Opposing the addition of Islamophobia as a separately named category within hate crime statutes when existing law already protects all classes.
• Opposing legislation removing universities’ ability to regulate student speech in outdoor campus spaces, particularly in light of recent encampments that limited access and created intimidating environments for Jewish students.

Hadassah member Janet Meyers with her team led by David Galpern (far left)

Each meeting concluded with a Hadassah volunteer thanking legislators for positive votes on women’s health and sharing the impact of Hadassah’s work.

Volunteers highlighted Hadassah’s two world-renowned hospitals in Israel, which provide exceptional medical care to people of all backgrounds while serving as centers of research, innovation, and coexistence. Legislators were invited to visit for a private tour to see this lifesaving and bridge-building work firsthand.

Participants commemorated their visits with photos and presented legislators with a copy of Hostage by Eli Sharabi, recounting his 491 days in captivity in Gaza. See photo below of  student holding the book to be given out..

The day concluded back at St. Paul’s with inspiring remarks from Governor Abigail Spanberger, Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi, and Attorney General Jay Jones, reinforcing the importance of civic engagement and partnership with the Jewish community.

Three Hadassah members captured the spirit of the day:

“Advocacy is about moving from concern to action. Whether it’s fighting antisemitism or championing women’s wellbeing, Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day is our chance to be heard.” — Ann Eisenberg

“Hadassah Richmond was thrilled to take a strong role in Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day, highlighting the Jewish perspective on women’s health.” — Miriam Davidow

“It is always an honor to represent Hadassah and speak on behalf of women’s health care rights.” — Linda Griff

Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day 2026 was more than a day at the Capitol—it was a powerful demonstration of unity, purpose, and the enduring impact of showing up.

The Richmond group - one of the largest in many years - gathered for a photo to conclude the day.

For more Va. Jewish Advocacy Day photos, visit the Photo Gallery section of  this site or visit the Federation's Facebook Page.