Southeastern Virginia: Chesapeake • Norfolk • Portsmouth • Suffolk • Virginia Beach
Archives
(JTA) – President Donald Trump on Tuesday, Nov. 3 said that the United States would halt billions of dollars in annual aid to Israel by the end of 2026, potentially ending decades of military funding for one of America’s closest allies in the Middle East.“We were...
“We’re all Jews here. They just do Jewish different, but we’re all Jews.”It was a simple observation, shared by one child with another during the inaugural Tidewater Community Shabbaton. But those words captured the spirit of a weekend when differences took a back...
(JTA) —The sheer size and geographic scope of the Republican wipeout Nov. 3 makes it hard to read anything definitive into the results beyond a nationwide repudiation of President Donald Trump (and his candidate selections). The fallout will have a range of...
At 65 and 73, William Dority and Margaret Babonis represent seniors, the fastest growing cohort of people experiencing homelessness in the United States. And it’s why the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center in Virginia Beach was able to secure a grant from Beth Sholom...
A little less than a month ago, I received an unexpected message from someone who got my name from the Simon Family JCC. She was looking for information about Israeli folk dancing.At first, I assumed she might be interested in joining our weekly rikudim classes, which...
The Brody Jewish Center (Hillel at the University of Virginia) announced a new strategic plan for 2026-2029, which will support the nearly 1,000 students who engaged in educational programs at the Center last year, more than 90 students in leadership development...
Anniversaries are measured in years, but these couples say the real story is in the small things: a question about basketball, a slice of cheesecake, a paper on Herbert Marcuse. Married from five to 50 years, these four area couples share how they met, what they have...
The Fine Family of Academy Educators held a ceremony in September to honor its latest inductees, including Eric J. Werner, MD.Established in 2019 by the Fine family and community supporters, the Fine Family Academy of Educators is part of the Macon and Joan Brock...
After more than three decades of visionary leadership, unwavering advocacy, and profound dedication, Dorothy Salomonsky is retiring from Jewish Family Service of Tidewater. Her departure marks the conclusion of a monumental career that not only built the foundation of...
Major Metzger, a student at Virginia Beach Middle School, was with family and friends at Wintergreen Ski Resort in January 2025, when he committed an act of bravery that saved another child from a 16-foot fall and earned him the Carnegie Medal for Heroism.“All I could...
Shari Dozoretz Friedman will receive the Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Hampton Roads Chapter at its National Philanthropy Day Awards Presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 10.“One of the biggest honors of my life is...
When Virginia Beach opened applications for its first-ever Individual Artists Support Grant, Rachel “RJ” Jaffe knew it was meant for artists like her.“It was designed for people like me that are actively working and sharing their art and have these grand projects but...
On October 20, Jesse Shepperd celebrated her 105th birthday surrounded by family, friends, and the people who are lucky enough to know her.Her birthday brought together generations of family, including her son and daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren,...
A Virginia Beach Lost Tribe riding member, Mike Jaffe participated in this past summer’s JMA Ride to Remember to Cleveland.This was Jaffe’s “10th or 11th Ride to Remember,” he says.The 250 members of the Jewish Motorcyclist Alliance who participated in the ride to...
When I first proposed the idea of a dementia café to our community, people asked various questions. Mainly, “What is this?”Dementia Cafés began in the Netherlands in 1997 when Dr. Bere Miesen, a clinical psychologist, opened the first one at Leiden University. He...
The Jewish community came together to help residents of Aviva Pembroke enjoy the Jewish New Year and Sukkot.Jewish Family Service delivered 38 Rosh Hashanah bags filled with apples, honey, a fresh calendar, and a challah donated by Ohef Sholom Temple. Rabbi Ari...
Commentators across the political spectrum have expended countless words to describe and explain the current moment in Israel and the state of the U.S.-Israel relationship.In Tidewater last month, Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States (2009-2013),...
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 4:30 - 6:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus Families are invited to celebrate Hanukkah at PJs Around the Menorah with PJ Library and Tidewater’s ShinShinim for an evening that brings families together through holiday traditions, hands-on activities, and...
Pack: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 5:30 – 7 pm, Sandler Family CampusDistribute: Friday, Nov. 20, 10 am – 12 pm, Sandler Family Campus This Thanksgiving, Jewish Family Service is providing holiday grocery bags to 300 local families in need. Each family will receive a frozen...
Thursday, Nov. 12, 6 - 8 pm • Simon Family JCC Calling all NextGen women (ages 22–45ish) for Mizrahi in Motion & Flower Crowns. Jackie Dratch will lead a vibrant Mizrahi dance lesson (no experience needed, just come ready to move).In addition to the dance, women...
Donations accepted through: Monday, Nov. 16Packing bags: Tuesday, Nov. 17Thanksgiving Food Giveaway: Friday, Nov. 20 As the holiday season approaches, Jewish Family Service is preparing for one of its largest annual community outreach efforts: the Thanksgiving Food...
Next Senior Shabbat Initiative: Friday November 27, Ohef Sholom Temple In August, Ohef Sholom Temple hosted its first Senior Shabbat Initiative made possible by a generous grant from Beth Sholom Village. This was the first in a series of programs designed to enable...
Join the Tidewater Shinshinim for weekly conversational Hebrew classes designed to help participants build confidence in speaking and understanding modern Hebrew. Through interactive activities, games, real-life scenarios, and cultural discussions, participants will...
This winter, while their siblings compete in the Simon Family JCC Youth Basketball League, children can take part in Siblings on the Sidelines with the Tidewater Shinshinim in The Zone on the Sandler Family Campus. Through lively Israeli games and creative activities,...
Virginia Beach – Keith Harrison Bangel, born March 23, 1952, in Portsmouth, Virginia, passed away on October 24, 2026, at the age of 74.He was the son of the late Stanley Jerome Bangel and Frances Dorf Bangel.Keith graduated from Norfolk Academy and Brown University...
Virginia Beach – Jerome L. Cohen 83, of Virginia Beach, died October 18, 2026.Born in Bronx, New York, he was the son of the late Leonard Cohen and Beulah Rosen Cohen.Jerome was educated at Granby High School and Old Dominion University, both in Norfolk. He was a past...
Boca Raton, Fla. – Adele Cutler passed away peacefully in her home on September 23, 2026.As a young girl, she lived in the Ogontz section of Philadelphia, and later in Elkins Park.With her husband, Milt, she moved to Wyncote, Blue Bell, and then Florida.Del loved to...
Virginia Beach – Ida Rebeca “Becky” Levin, born on April 9, 1962, in Cuba, passed away on October 23, 2026, in Virginia Beach at the age of 64.Becky was a devoted retail associate and sous chef who brought kindness and dedication to her work. She was deeply passionate...
Norfolk – Sandra Sukoff Nesson, 92, of Norfolk, passed away on November 1, 2026.Sandra lived an extraordinary life and is now reunited in heaven with her beloved late husband, Yale; her daughter, Melissa; her brother, Fred; and her great-grandson, Owen.Born in New...
Virginia Beach – It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved Ari Jaron Simon on October 23, 2026, at the age of 16.Ari was a beautiful soul with a kind heart, a deep spirit, and a genuine love for those around him....
Monday, Nov. 23, 12 - 7 pm Tuesday, Nov. 24, 8 am - 2 pmSandler Family Campus ESEK, an initiative connecting Israeli artists and small businesses with communities around the world, returns to Tidewater bringing a collection of Israeli-made products to the community...
(JTA) —PARIS – Jewish-owned shops in Marseille were set ablaze and a synagogue in Paris was vandalized as part of widespread property damage caused by riots across France October 17 and 18, according to the Jewish Community Protection Service.It is too early to assess...