Norfolk – Richard Taylor, 86, passed away on April 2, 2026. Richard was born on May 10, 1939, in Norfolk, Va. Of blessed memory are his mother, Dorothy, his father, Hyman, and his brother, Martin H. Taylor. Richard is survived by his...
Month: January 2013
Archives
Red noses, real healing:The power of laughter in Tidewater
For one remarkable week in March, Tidewater experienced a different kind of medicine—one delivered with red noses, improvisation, and deep compassion. Representatives from the Dream Doctors Project, an Israeli nonprofit that integrates professional medical clowns into...
America’s 250th Birthday Quilt may include blocks from two Hampton Roads Jewish residents
Darva Gruber and Sharon Grossman share something besides their long membership at Temple Israel. They both love crafting. So, when Gruber became aware that Visit Williamsburg, as part of the nation’s 250th Commemoration, intended to create The Great American Birthday...
Stay vigilant – our community depends on you
This month’s attack at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan is a stark reminder that antisemitic threats are real. The attack on the same day at Old Dominion University, though not targeting the Jewish community directly, hit close to home and underscores the...
Unless you’ve walked in their moccasins or slept in their beds. . .Visiting Israel during this latest Iran war. February 25-March 8, 2026
A view from Israel / First Person While we knew there was a chance a war might break out, our nephew and niece were having a baby, and we were meeting our sister and brother in Zichron Ya’akov to celebrate. Zichron, as the Israelis call it, is an idyllic, small...
Trump’s counterterrorism director resigns over Iran, blasting ‘war manufactured by Israel
(JTA) — The director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center resigned on Tuesday, March 17, citing his objection to the Iran war and claiming that Israel tricked the United States into entering. “I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,”...
A gunman rammed a Michigan synagogue. Its security preparations may have saved lives.
(JTA) — Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a U.S. citizen who immigrated from Lebanon 15 years ago, armed with rifles and smoke bombs, who rammed into Temple Israel on Thursday, March 12 encountered a synagogue that was well prepared for just such an attack. He hit and...
Security funding that Jewish groups call crucial is being held up by DHS
(JTA) — A shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security since Feb. 14 is halting the review of millions of dollars in security funding for nonprofits, leaving Jewish institutions and other vulnerable groups in limbo at a moment of heightened concern about...
Tidewater to celebrate Israel at 78
Israeli Chef’s Table - Wednesday, April 22, 7 pm Sandler Family Campus Yom Ha’Atzmaut - Sunday, April 26, 12 – 3 pm Sandler Family Campus As Israel continues to face a difficult moment, the bond between the nation and Jewish communities around the worldfeels...
In honor of Yom HaShoah: Charlotte’s story
How will the history of the Holocaust be told when the last witness, the last child or grandchild of a survivor has passed away? The records of the Holocaust are preserved in archives throughout the world. And sometimes archives are able to take an active role in...
Seder plates, oranges, and memories
A beautiful, high-end fancy seder plate might be the perfect centerpiece at the table. Other times though, the attraction might radiate from the memories of a beat-up, or a child-made, or an artistic piece that when placed on the table, manages to bring loved...
Passover seders around Tidewater
Compiled by Konikoff Center for Learning Looking for a Passover seder to attend this year? Check out these options and make a decision soon to secure a spot, as Passover begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 1. B’nai Israel Congregation Anyone who would like home...
Helen Cohen Laibstain
Norfolk – After a brief illness, Helen Laibstain, 96 years old, died Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at her home. Born March 3, 1929, Helen was the daughter of Julius and Celia Shulman Cohen. Seventy-two years ago, Helen married the love of her...
Sylvia Bernstein Wagner
Omaha, Nebraska – Sylvia Bernstein Wagner, a pioneering civic leader, accomplished actress, and champion of social progress in Omaha, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2026, at the age of 100. Her life was defined by principled...
Gilda Weber
Virginia Beach – Gilda Weber, aged 99, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2026, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Born on June 5, 1926, she lived a long life devoted to her family. Gilda was born in the Bronx, N.Y., and graduated from Beth Israel...
JFS volunteer honored as Food Bank Superhero of the Month
Laura Goldstein, a volunteer for Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, was recently honored by the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore as their Superhero of the Month. Goldstein was nominated and recognized for her dedication, compassion, and...
Sandler Family Campus hires new facilities director
Joseph Alex Frissora joined the Sandler Family Campus late last year as Facilities Director, working with Glenn Saucier until his retirement in December. Prior to joining the Sandler Family Campus, Frissora spent 14 years with the United States Coast Guard, where, in...
America’s Black-Jewish story gets an update on new PBS series featuring Henry Louis Gates, Michael Twitty and more
(JTA) — Passover may still be months away, but PBS is seating a diverse set of Jews down for a seder this month — casting the communal storytelling meal as an ideal entry point for exploring the complicated history of Black-Jewish relations in the United States....
HIAS shuts Vienna office that aided generations of refugees after Trump pulls funding
(JTA) — Since the end of World War II, Vienna has functioned as an Ellis Island for Jewish refugees from Europe and the Middle East, a place where survivors, dissidents and religious minorities arrived with little more than documents and hope, and departed toward new...
How Hamantaschen became a Purim staple
Today we think of hamantaschen, the triangle-shaped stuffed cookie, as the pastry of the Jewish holiday of Purim. But the original hamantaschen had no Jewish connection at all. According to Gil Marks in his landmark book, Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, the hamantaschen...
How did the most adult book in the Bible turn into a kids holiday?
The story of Purim is decidedly not family-friendly, yet it offers little ones unique access into a holiday where everything is upside-down. (JTA) One of the main advantages for Jewish kids in a Christian world is that — thanks to Purim — they get two “Halloweens.”...
Deni Avdija becomes first Israeli to be selected as an NBA All-Star
(JTA) — Portland Trail Blazers star Deni Avdija’s meteoric rise has officially reached a new stratosphere, as the 25-year-old forward has become the NBA’s first-ever Israeli All-Star. Avdija was named an All-Star reserve for the Western Conference on...
Steven Spielberg wins Grammy, becoming 9th Jew in elite EGOT ranks
(JTA) — The legendary director Steven Spielberg has become the ninth Jew to secure “EGOT” status after winning a Grammy for producing a documentary about the music of John Williams. Spielberg was awarded the Grammy for producing Music by John Williams, which won...
Turning the Page: 2026 JAHM books announced for Tidewater schools
One of the annual initiatives of Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), which takes place in May, is the distribution of books to local schools. Through this program, thousands of students encounter Jewish stories, many for the very first time. The 2026 JAHM...
Beth Sholom Village launches new grant program to support seniors
Aging with dignity is a cornerstone of a strong community. Increasingly, that dignity is defined not only by care, but by connection, purpose, and opportunity. Through the newly launched Beth Sholom Village Grant Program, Beth Sholom Village is investing in innovative...
Accommodations for open participation at Sandler Family Campus
Providing accommodations for everyone who visits the Sandler Family Campus is an ongoing commitment for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Simon Family JCC. The campus facilities continue to be at the forefront of making certain all may visit and take...
Virginia Beach City Council honors UJFT’s Jewish Community Relations Council and Holocaust Commission for International Holocaust Remembrance Day
In a strong demonstration of civic partnership and solidarity with the Jewish community, the Virginia Beach City Council issued an official resolution on January 20 proclaiming January 27, 2026 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in the City of Virginia Beach....
Engagement stories filled with romance and surprise
When it’s time to propose, the days of going it alone and private are a thing of the past. It used to be that all that was necessary to become engaged was a couple in love and a ring. Family, friends, and photographers to capture the moment, are all part of today’s...
Jody’s Popcorn opens new retail store
A small factory retail store recently opened at Jody’s Gourmet Popcorn’s Norfolk manufacturing facility – making in-person purchasing of the artisan popcorn again doable for Tidewater residents. While it’s always possible to purchase the popcorn from the...
Legacy conversations begin around the table
The table was already cluttered. Half-empty glasses, a bowl of pasta passed one more time, someone reaching for the last challah crumbs. It wasn’t a planned conversation. No agenda. Just a familiar meal, shared with people who knew one another well enough to speak...
Celebrating a Living Legacy: Honoring Hebrew Ladies Charity Society
The legacy of Hebrew Ladies Charity Society was celebrated during a warm and meaningful afternoon luncheon on Sunday, January 11 at Ohef Sholom Temple. The event honored more than a century of compassion, generosity, and hands-on service. Stephanie Peck, JFS...
When dialogue unites: One table, three rabbis, and a shared hope.
I experienced one of those moments that reaffirms why sincere dialogue remains one of the most powerful tools we have as a society, on Wednesday, Dec. 17. Around a shared table sat three rabbis—Rabbi Shlomo Eisenberg of Congregation B’nai Israel,...