H eadlines
Roanoke, Blue Ridge Mountains Worth a Visit
T RAV EL
JEFF AND GINNY ORENSTEIN |
JE FEATURE
Note: The venues mentioned are
open, some by appointment, but
check before you go.

IF YOU ENJOY scenic valley, a
mild temperate climate, beautiful
mountains, abundant outdoor
recreation opportunities, art
and/or trains, you should put
Roanoke, Virginia, and vicinity
on your must-see list.

This appealing city of about
100,000 (about 325,000 in the
region), set against the backdrop
of the Blue Ridge Mountains,
has all of that and more.

Located just west of the
mountains on the Roanoke
River, the geography that made
the town a natural trade center
has shaped its history. It became
a significant railroad town in
the 1880s, and today it has
evolved as a major freight rail
center that also celebrates its
rail history with two excellent
museums and an informative
rail walk downtown. Roanoke
also has a lot of urban appeal
due to its emergence as western
Virginia’s epicenter for business,
education, tourism and health.

Virginia’s Blue Ridge is
now open in Phase Three of
the commonwealth’s Forward
Virginia Recovery Plan in
response to COVID-19. Most
businesses are open, but
occupancy is limited to 50% of
capacity, or 1,000 patrons.

Before You Go:
Check these websites:
• visitroanokeva.com/
• facebook.com/
RoanokeValley • virginia.org/cities/
Roanoke/ • downtownroanoke.org/
Airport (ROA), six miles from
the city center, is served by four
airlines. • By train, there is Amtrak
service to Roanoke. It is part
of the Northeast Regional
Route, making it easy to
reach destinations like
Lynchburg, Charlottesville
and Washington, D.C. where
connections to frequent East
Coast trains can be made.

• By car, Roanoke is on
Interstate 81. It is 56 miles
from Lynchburg, 100 miles
from Greensboro, North
Carolina, and 189 miles
away from Richmond.

When You Are There for a
Short Trip
• Explore the historic Roanoke
City Market open daily.

• Learn about Roanoke and
railroads (and see some trains)
along the 1/3-mile downtown
David R. and Susan S.

Goode Railwalk’s interpre-
tive displays (temporarily
located at the nearby Virginia
Transportation Museum due
to construction.)
If You Only Have Two or
Three Days:
Must-sees for a short stay:
• Visit the O. Winston Link
Museum for some truly
spectacular black-and-
white rail photography by
a master photographer from
the steam era.

• Tour the Virginia Museum
of Transportation, home of
restored steam locomotive N
& W #611 and many other
historical locomotives built at
the Roanoke Shops. (vmt.org)
• Visit to the Taubman
Museum of Art.

If You Have Several Days:
• Kayak on the Upper James
River Water Trail.

Getting There:
• Take a drive on the Blue
Roanoke can be easily
Ridge Parkway.

reached by highway, air or • Hike a section of the
train. Appalachian Trail or other
• Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional
Blue Ridge trails.

12 MAY 27, 2021
The Blue Ridge Parkway offers
spectacular views of striking
mountain vistas in the vicinity of
Roanoke. Courtesy of Visit Roanoke
• Visit Black Dog Salvage
(as seen on the DIY
Network), a 40,000-square-
foot warehouse filled with
antiques and commercial
salvage items.

• Participate in a Roanoke food
tour (roanokefoodtours.

com), once the temporary
suspension is lifted.

• Visit Natural Bridge Park.

The Historic City Market is a downtown gathering place and offers an
array of shops and restaurants near many major city attractions.

Courtesy of Dominion Images - Roanoke Valley CVB
Ginny O’s Tips for Dressing
the Simply Smart Travel Way:
Since Roanoke is a regional
business center with nice
hotels, museums and some
fine restaurants, the appro-
priate in-town dress should be
a bit more formal than resort
casual. Business casual that is
appropriate for the weather is
always in order.

For recreation in the
The striking architecture of the Taubman Museum of Art is an
Courtesy of Taubman
surrounding Blue Ridge, important part of Roanoke’s walkable downtown.
though, typical activewear is
the norm.

Spring is gorgeous, summer the airport.

Senior advantage: There are
is pleasant and fall color is
This Destination at a Glance: incredible. Winters are cold museums and a great hotel.

Special travel
inter- Mobility level: Low for in but not severe.

town strolling and shopping,
Where to stay: The classy ests: Mountain exploration,
moderate to high for Blue Hotel Roanoke downtown, or railroads and rail history l
Ridge explorations on foot, MainStay Suites Airport is also
boat or mountain bike.

a good choice for proximity Jeff and Ginny Orenstein are travel
When to go: Anytime. to restaurants, a mall and writers from Sarasota, Florida.

JEWISH EXPONENT
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



H eadlines
Jewish Roanoke
The O. Winston Link Museum along the Roanoke Railwalk downtown
displays amazing photographs of people and their lives at the end of the
steam engine era in the 1950s along the Norfolk and Western Railroad.

Courtesy of Visit Roanoke
Three giant steam locomotives, all built in Roanoke, reside in the
Virginia Museum of Transportation. The one in the center, named
the Spirit of Roanoke, still pulls trains for excursions. The fascinating
museum was a perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon and absorb what
made the city great. 
Photo by Jeff Orenstein
While Roanoke might not be a major Jewish center, the city is more Jewish than many small
to mid-sized cities in this region.

The 2010 U.S. Religious Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study published
by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies indicated Roanoke had two
of the nation’s 3,464 Jewish congregations — Beth Israel (Conservative) and Temple Emanuel
(Reform). It also is home to a Jewish Community Council of Richmond branch and a Jewish
Community Preschool, a joint effort of both congregations.

As the town grew in the 1880s, the first Jews arrived and soon created Beth Jacob congre-
gation. Like many early congregations in the U.S., an influx of both western and eastern
European immigrants eventually led to a split. In 1906, more traditional members left to start
a new Conservative congregation, soon known as Beth Israel and the remaining members
changed their name to Temple Emanuel.

During the boom years following World War II, Jews continued to settle in Roanoke. By
1960, there were 800 in town, although they were excluded from most social clubs and some
other Roanoke organizations. The community dealt with typical antisemitism and exclusion
prevalent in the U.S. at the time even though the civil rights era erased legal Jewish exclusion.

By the last fifth of the 20th century, Jews had become generally well-accepted — and
active — in Roanoke’s social and civic milieu. There has been some evidence of antisemitism
in Roanoke since an isolated act in 1988 and during the last few years, especially after the
Charlottesville incident.

Today, the Jewish population of Roanoke is just over 1,000, and both Jewish congregations
remain vibrant and active and are coping with the pandemic, When Temple Emanuel under-
went major renovation, Beth Israel allowed the congregation to use its space for services. The
temple maintains an active sisterhood, brotherhood, and youth group.

In 2013, Beth Israel had about 160 families. The synagogue’s sisterhood, men’s club and
youth group host a number of different social and charitable events throughout the city. In
2005, the two congregations established the Jewish Community Preschool, which is open to
all children in Roanoke. This communal effort is the latest in a long history of joint activities
between the two congregations.

The Taubmans are a prominent Roanoke Jewish family and Advance Auto Parts, founded
by Arthur Taubman in 1932, is Roanoke’s lone Fortune 500 company. Nick Taubman served
as U.S. ambassador to Romania from 2005-’08. The family has been influential in Roanoke’s
arts community and, in 2008, it made a large donation to what is now known as the Taubman
Museum of Art in downtown Roanoke.

— Jeff and Ginny Orenstein
A CALL FOR HELP
Jonathan Newman is in dire need of a new kidney – and he and his family are
praying he will find an altruistic donor to save his life.

Newman, who is 39, has polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disorder that
took the lives of his grandmother and great-grandmother. Fortunately his mother
and maternal uncle found donors and have gone on to lead healthy lives.

Since this is a genetic problem, and not due to an illness (e.g. diabetes), a do-
nated kidney will not be attacked, and is expected to last many years, if not the
patient’s full life time. It is expected that once Jonathan receives a new kidney,
he will be able to lead a normal life – and enjoy every moment with his wife as
they raise their young son.

Jonathan is currently listed for transplant at University of
Pennsylvania and two other institutions.

For further information, please contact Jonathan Newman’s father, Edward
Newman at enewman591@aol.com or (201) 265-2939.

PA I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM JEWISH EXPONENT
MAY 27, 2021
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