Southeastern Virginia: Chesapeake • Norfolk • Portsmouth • Suffolk • Virginia Beach
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Each Passover, families gather around the seder table to retell the story of the transformation of a people moving from oppression to freedom and into a renewed sense of responsibility to one another. That spirit of renewal is guiding a meaningful partnership between...
The Simon Family JCC welcomed families for Operation Hamantaschen on Sunday, March 1 – transforming the building into a vibrant hub of Purim celebration and connection. As families arrived, long rows of tables with rolling pins, flour, and an assortment of...
For 10 days in February, audiences across Tidewater gathered in theaters not just to watch films, but to experience them together. The 33rd Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Simon Family JCC, transformed...
In its 26th year of serving students in Norfolk and Virginia Beach Title I schools, BeAR has experienced meaningful change. This year, the program said goodbye to several devoted mentors whose steady presence shaped young readers in lasting ways. Their absence is...
The Sandler Family Campus was glowing with energy on Saturday, Feb. 21 for Neon Eras Kids Night Out. To set the mood, children were encouraged to arrive decked out in their brightest neon attire. Whether it was head-to-toe 80s fluorescent, 90s electric grunge, or...
This Purim, the Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater took the joy and spirit of the holiday outside the Jewish community through its Purim Boxes, or mishloach manot, initiative. Rooted in the Purim tradition of sending gifts...
Sunday, May 3, 1 pm, Temple Israel A magical afternoon is planned for Temple Israel’s Annual Gala, an event that includes a deluxe luncheon and entertainment from Philadelphia magician Mike Miller. Miller, a past president of the Society of American Magicians,...
Jewish Family Service of Tidewater always looks forward to celebrating Purim, but this year felt especially meaningful. In addition to celebrating, the community made sure seniors living in assisted living facilities knew they were not forgotten. Purim is a...
April 6 – 10 9 am - 4 pm, Sandler Family Campus The countdown to Spring Break is officially on, with Camp JCC ready to transform a week away from the classroom into a memorable adventure. Designed specifically for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, the...
Monday, April 6, 7:30 pmCongregation Beth El Congregation Beth El recently launched a partnership with the 92nd Street Y (92NY) in New York City, one of the world’s most respected cultural and intellectual institutions. Through this collaboration, Beth El will host...
Through May 31, 2026 A groundbreaking exhibition showcasing works by two pioneering female artists, Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina, is on view through May 31 at Chrysler Museum of Art. Organized by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts...
Monday, April 13, 6:45 pm, Congregation Beth El This year’s Yom HaShoah commemoration, presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission, features Dr. Milton Zweig as the keynote speaker. Yom HaShoah is a day of commemoration for the six...
An enriching day trip for Beth El congregants and friends took place last month when the group travelled to the North Carolina Museum of Art to experience the exhibit, The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt. The exhibition, which was widely acclaimed in New York,...
Sunday, March 22, 3 pm First Presbyterian Church, Norfolk Active threat situations are unpredictable and can unfold quickly—often ending within three to five minutes. Recognizing warning signs and knowing how to respond can save lives. In collaboration with...
Halfway through the school year may not feel like the moment to start something new, but for BeAR, it is one of the most critical times to step in. The Be A Reader (BeAR) Literacy Project needs additional mentors for Willard Model Elementary (Norfolk) and...
Monday, February 16, 9 am – 4 pm, Sandler Family Campus Looking for the perfect plan for Presidents’ Day? When school is out, Camp JCC is in with School Days Out. Children currently in K-5th grade can look forward to a day filled with energy, friendship,...
Thursday, March 19, 7:30 pm Sandler Family Campus Internationally acclaimed photographer Joan Roth will visit Tidewater for an evening that pairs film and conversation with a gallery exhibition spotlighting five decades of her art and activism. Originally scheduled...
Saturday, Feb. 21, 5 – 9 pm Sandler Family Campus As the community gathers for the Big Saturday Night celebration of Jewish Film, parents no longer must choose between cultural enrichment and childcare. Camp JCC will present a vibrant alternative for the younger...
Sunday, Feb. 15, 2:30 pm, Virginia Wesleyan University Michael Aloni, the Israeli actor and director best known in the United States for his roles in Shtisel, The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem, and We Were The Lucky Ones, will speak at the Virginia Festival of Jewish...
Saturday, March 7, 7:30 pm, CNU’s Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News Sunday, March 8, 3 pm, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach For its opening weekend celebration, Virginia Arts Festival will present Joshua Bell and Academy of St. Martin in...
Saturday, February 21, 7 – 9 Campers who have attended Sababa Beachaway, possible new Sababa Beachaway campers, and their families, are all invited to attend a Sababa Beach Camps Bowling Experience. The evening includes two hours of bowling, soft drinks,...
Friday, February 20 and Friday, March 27 10 am – 3 pm, Sandler Family Campus United Jewish Federation of Tidewater invites community members to “roll up your sleeves” and be part of its monthly Volunteer Days – a welcoming, hands-on opportunity to connect with others...
Saturday, March 7, 7 pm Sandler Family Campus It’s kind of funny (pun intended) how many people are surprised to learn that for the past 10 plus years, I have been performing improv and sketch comedy. It’s been a wonderful journey that’s also given me the opportunity...
Thursday, February 19, 6 pm Sandler Family Campus Ready for the experience of a lifetime? Attend this meeting to learn about this summer’s JCC Maccabi Games and Access, happening August 2–7 in Toronto, Canada. The Games are open to Jewish teens, ages 13–17; Access...
Tuesday, March 24, 7:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus A rare opportunity to encounter Israel through one of its most human, inspiring lenses will take place when United Jewish Federation of Tidewater hosts members of Israel’s renowned Dream Doctors Project. Professional...
Galloway, N.J. – Howard J. Bernstein, 93, passed away on January 22, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was predeceased by his parents, Ida and Benjamin Bernstein, and his sister, Selma Shefferman. Howard is survived by his loving wife, Shirley, his high...
Virginia Beach – Robert “Bob” Buckman, passed away peacefully at his home on January 13, 2026. Bob was a loving husband, father, grandpa, and friend. His greatest legacy was the love he had for his preceded in death wife, Ittie (Edye) Buckman; children,...
Chesapeake – Barbara Carlson, a remarkable soul who dedicated her life to the pursuit of truth and beauty, passed away peacefully on the morning of January 11, 2026, in Chesapeake, at the age of 91. Born on April 9, 1934, and raised in New York, Barbara’s...
Norfolk –Thelma Laderberg passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026, at Harbor’s Edge in Norfolk, Virginia, at the age of 100. She lived a long, full, and deeply meaningful life—one defined by creativity, independence, devotion to family, and enduring...
Norfolk – Marvin Joel Merkle, 79, passed away peacefully, Thursday, January 22, 2026. He was born in Richmond, Virginia, the son of the late Harold Hyman and Eva Merkle. He is survived by his two daughters, Jenefer Dayle Snyder and husband...
Virginia Beach – Toby Flex Pekarsky, age 85, passed away on January 11, 2026. She was born in Portsmouth, Virginia to the late Fred and Belle Levin Flex. She was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Robert Jay Pekarsky, her sister Sally Flex Weinraub, her...
Norfolk – Gerald “Jerry” Martin Sandler, 88, of Norfolk, Virginia, passed away peacefully at his home on January 20, 2026. He was born in Norfolk on June 28, 1937, to the late Lou “Lovey” and Anna Rose Sandler. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife...