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For more than two years since October 7, the Jewish world has continued to grapple with grief, anger, fear, and deep internal division. Conversations about Israel and the Palestinians have strained relationships, fractured communities, and tested leadership at every...
Supporters of Jewish News help keep local Jewish journalism alive at a time when it feels as if it is disappearing almost everywhere else. Jewish News appreciates all who support the newspaper with generous contributions – whether in honor of or in memory...
This month holds many holidays for Israel and the Jewish people. The biggest and most important being Pesach, our redemption from Egypt, Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, and Yom Ha'Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, commemorating the founding of the State of...
1936 - 2026 Reba Karp held the distinction of sitting in the editor’s chair at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, editing this, and other publications, longer than anyone else. Reba passed away on March 17 after providing this community with more than three...
It was just a day after the twin horrors of March 12 – the attack on Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Mich. and the murder of an ROTC professor in class at Old Dominion University here in Norfolk – when I attended Friday night services in the Sinai Chapel...
I will begin this article with a disclaimer: I am not a writer. And I’ll go one step further and admit that I have no idea how to start this article or how to title it. But despite all that, here I go – jumping in with both feet! In early March, I joined 17...
As this article goes to press, the 2026 United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Community Campaign is very near $5.1 million and on track to hit a record goal of $5.2 million. In a time that continues to see rising antisemitism and threats to Jewish...
Probate is the court-supervised legal process of validating a deceased person’s will, settling their debts, and distributing their assets to beneficiaries. It can be, but not necessarily, a confusing procedure, and therefore something to consider when making estate...
Jay Kossman doesn’t think about legacy as something distant or abstract. For him, it’s a daily practice shaped by intention, experience, and a deep sense of responsibility to others. Growing up in Norfolk’s West Ghent neighborhood, Kossman’s early connection to Jewish...
From themed weeks to unforgettable traditions, Camp JCC aims to keep the energy high throughout the summer. Favorite camp events include the Color Run and Apache Relay, Lip Sync Showcase, Camp JCC Gala, and Carnival Colossal. Daily fun happens with spirit...
Wednesday, April 22, 2 - 3 pm, online Summer camp season is around the corner, and the Secure Community Network (SCN) is launching its first-ever Camp Security Initiative Webinar Series, designed for camp administrators, counselors, parents, and campers. This program...
Ask any adult to reflect on their schooling, and they are unlikely to remember a worksheet or a video. They will, however, remember the teacher who sparked curiosity, who believed in them when they struggled, and the teacher who noticed when something was wrong. Many...
The Ultimate Bracket Bash was a slam dunk success, bringing a high-energy mix of play and creativity to the Sandler Family Campus. The evening kicked off in the gym with plenty of laughter as the kids engaged in lively games with balloons and took turns shooting...
Miriam Anzovin’s two-day residency with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Konikoff Center for Learning highlighted the impact of authentic storytelling on shaping Jewish identity. Anzovin’s approach moves beyond flat narratives, instead using personal experience...
Kids headed home with flour-dusted aprons, neon-colored fingertips, and the kind of ear-to-ear grins that only come from a day of pure discovery, are good indications that Kyra Jones and Reagan Goode are back in action with their interactive classes. These once-a-week...
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Tidewater Jewish community gathered at the Sandler Family Campus on Thursday, March 19 for a screening and conversation with internationally acclaimed photographer Joan Roth. The evening featured A Feminist Lens: The Art and...
For the second year in a row, a Strelitz International Academy fifth grader won the prestigious IBMA Student Excellence Award, with Ari Mulligan’s selection as this year’s Primary Years Program Recipient. The IBMA (International Baccalaureate Mid-Atlantic) is a...
Tidewater BBYO recently welcomed Anya Dippold to Simcha BBG’s Advisory Committee. BBYO advisors serve as positive role models, working in partnership with staff members to supervise and guide AZA and BBG chapters. Advisors empower each BBYO member to do...
Tuesday, May 12, 6 pm: dinner; 7 pm: game play, Sandler Family Campus The Nadiv Young Professional Men’s Campaign Division of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater will hold its second annual Texas Hold’em Fundraising event next month. Last year’s inaugural event sold...
Sunday, May 3, 8 am, 24th Street Park, Virginia Beach Jewish Family Service’s Run, Roll & Stroll returns to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront next month. The 5K race and 1-mile fun run will begin at 24th Street Park. “We are thrilled to return oceanside and once...
Sunday, April 26, 12 - 3 pm, Sandler Family Campus Celebrate Israel’s 78th Independence Day, Yom Ha’Atzmaut, while connecting with friends, embracing Israeli culture, and strengthen community ties – bringing together families, friends, and organizations in Tidewater....
Englewood, Ohio – Irene Bressler of Englewood, passed away on March 23, 2026, shortly before what would have been her 88th birthday. She was pre-deceased by her husband of over 61 years, Ronald Bressler, in 2018, her parents, Arthur and Louise Halsband, and her...
Virginia Beach – Reba Karp passed away peacefully on March 17, 2026, at the age of 92. Reba was truly one of a kind. She began working as editor of the Southeastern Virginia Jewish News in May 1978 and was also instrumental in the creation of...
Charlotte, N. C. – Anna Lee Rapport Langman passed on March 9, 2026, at the age of 86. She was a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina. A funeral service was held at The Hebrew Cemetery, Chapel, in Charlotte. Interment followed in the Hebrew Cemetery. McEwen Funeral...
Norfolk – Longtime Norfolk resident, Jordan S. Levitin, better known as “Buddy,” 92, passed away on April 10, 2026. He is survived by his wife, Carol, 88, and children Michael (Caryn), Samuel (Susan), son-in-law Bob Mastorakis, and grandchildren Brenna,...
Virginia Beach – Howard Miller passed away peacefully on March 19, 2026; he was 74 years old. He will be remembered as a devoted father, a cherished family member, an accomplished Bridge and basketball player, and a respected legal advocate whose...
Phoenixville, Pa. – Shirley E. (Cohen) Neumann, 96, wife of the late Leonard J. Neumann of Phoenixville, passed away on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Born on December 30, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Julius and Beatrice (Abramson)...
Norfolk – Stephen (Steve) Howard Pitler, age 81, passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Steve was born in Norfolk on March 20, 1945. The son of Julia and Albert Pitler, Steve attended Granby Elementary and Granby High School. He graduated from Temple...
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...
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...
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...
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...