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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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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,...
Earlier this year, Hampton Roads Community Foundation celebrated its 75th anniversary with an event at the Chesapeake Conference Center.“Now more than ever, America’s non-profit sector is an absolutely critical component in the democratic and economic framework that...
As we complete another incredibly successful year at Tidewater Jewish Foundation, I am heartened by the faith, trust, and confidence that is placed in us to safeguard personal heritage ideals.This past year, we grew our assets under management by 17%; 2% better than...
Written and illustrated by “Bub,” Eight Fairy Nights is crafted to nurture a meaningful and fun Hanukkah experience.The story captures the magic of Hanukkah and illuminates the importance of “standing up for what we believe.”The book engages children intellectually...
When I wrote my first piece about Nobody Wants This in Jewish News (December 2024), I analyzed its first season through the lens of the Argentine film Transmitzvah. In that essay, I highlighted how the film treated Judaism with humanity — characters who make mistakes,...
A collector of Judaica and a lifelong Norfolk resident, Clay Barr has launched an initiative with Chrysler Museum of Art to cultivate a permanent Judaica collection at the museum.When asked why a Judaica collection is important to the Chrysler Museum at this moment,...
Twelve Beth El congregants, led by Rabbi Yoni Warren, Rabbi Jacob Herber USCG, and Admiral Herm Shelanski, Ret., were treated to a special morning minyon aboard the USS Harry S. Truman on Thursday, Oct. 30.Some may recall when the Truman was commissioned in 1998. Now,...
Just in time for Thanksgiving, the BeAR Literacy Project partnered with Southern Packing Corporation to donate 16 turkeys to the Norfolk Federation of Teachers. The turkeys were set aside for retired school employees, including teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria...
Eighteen teens from Tidewater BBYO attended Eastern Region’s annual L’Dor V’Dor Convention outside Asheville, North Carolina. The convention, which took place in mid-November, was Eastern Region BBYO’s largest gathering since the start of COVID, with more than 180...
New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth R. Hyman was a featured speaker of the Lee and Benard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival on Thursday, Nov. 6 at the Sandler Family Campus.Hyman shared the story behind her new book, The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto,...
This Thanksgiving season, Jewish Family Service of Tidewater extends heartfelt gratitude to the many volunteers who stepped forward to ensure that individuals and families in the community did not go without a holiday meal. Thanks to the generosity and dedication of...
Nearly 250 members of Jewish Tidewater gathered at the Simon Family JCC for this year’s Community Impact Day on Sunday, Nov. 23. Students from Congregation Beth El, Ohef Sholom Temple, and Temple Emanuel attended Religious School at the event instead of their usual...
The opening of the 2026 legislative session in the Virginia General Assembly takes place in January. In anticipation, the Jewish Community Relations Council is preparing for one of its most impactful annual gatherings: Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day on Tuesday, February...
Wednesday, January 21,12 pm Sandler Family Campus JCC Seniors Club is for adults who are at least 55 years old who are interested in education, culture, and connections to others and the Jewish community.Join active seniors to learn what’s going on in the community...
Saturday, January 31, 2026 • 6 – 8:30 pm After last year’s Taste of the Town drew a wonderful crowd and received glowing feedback, Ohef Sholom Temple is “bringing it back – bigger, brighter, and even more delicious!”This year’s celebration will feature a festive...
Tuesdays, Jan. 20 – Feb. 24 • 4 – 5 pm • Sandler Family Campus Harness heat energy, explore the properties of light and color, and put your sense of smell to the test. Students in grades 1 and 2 will examine curious optical illusions and create amazing sound...
On Black Friday, November 28, registration for Camp JCC Summer 2026 opened.Opening camp registration on Black Friday is not an accident. Through the Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and New Year’s seasons, families travel to be together and often have their own traditions of...
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 7 - 11 pm, Temple Emanuel Giddy up and mark calendars for another fun night at the annual Temple Emanuel Casino Night. The event is riding into town with its Wild West theme – decorations, food, and attire.Cowboys and cowgals of all ages...
VIRGINIA BEACH - Kathleen Patricia Bronstein, 78, died November 23, 2025.Born on July 19, 1947, in Long Beach, California, she was the daughter of the late John Francis Adams and Kathleen Patricia Adams. Kathleen graduated from Granby High School and DePaul Nursing...
VIRGINIA BEACH - After 13 courageous years of fighting Scleroderma, Helene Berger Frost, 78, peacefully passed away on November 26, 2025, surrounded by her adoring family.Through unwavering perseverance, she defied the conventions of medical expectations with her...
Chesapeake - Matthew Arthur Krakower, age 88 and ¾, passed away on November 20, 2025.He was the best husband, father, and Papa his family could ever have hoped for, and he loved us all with unwavering devotion.Born in the Bronx, N.Y., Matthew was the beloved son of...