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A dozen young Jewish Adults from United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s YAD division got together last month for an evening of food, drinks, and… axe throwing!Josh Leibowitz, YAD chair, distinguished himself as the most improved thrower (while still guarding his...
Tidewater BBYO had an active agenda last month. The teens volunteered, socialized, and celebrated Shabbat as part of their March calendar.During Operation Hamantaschen for PJ Library at the Simon Family JCC, the teens set up the event, baked, and delivered the...
An excellent community turnout greeted Operation Hamantaschen’s return to the Simon Family JCC on Sunday, March 9.The JCC was abuzz with cookie-making and engagement for people of all ages. BBYO volunteers jumped to the challenge of setting up for the event, running...
Two generations of young Jewish men combined forces on Sunday, March 30 to revitalize the garden at Strelitz International Academy.Nadiv, the young professional men’s fundraising group for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, worked with Old Dominion AZA, the boys’...
Thursday, May 1, 7 pm • Sandler Family Campus Celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut—Israel’s Independence Day —with an extraordinary evening of flavor, heritage, and storytelling at the second annual Israeli Chef’s Table Experience, presented by Avraham and Karen Ashkenazi.This...
Sunday, May 4, 12 - 3 pm Sandler Family Campus Get ready for a joyful afternoon of culture, connection, and celebration at the Yom Ha’Atzmaut Community Celebration.Presented by Avraham and Karen Ashkenazi, this free, family-friendly celebration honors Israel’s 77th...
BeAR Appreciation Luncheon • Friday, May 9, 11 am – 1 pm As the 2024-2025 school year draws to a close, the Be A Reader (BeAR) Literacy Project is celebrating another extraordinary season of reading, mentorship, and making a meaningful impact on the lives of its young...
NORFOLK - Dana Cohen, 92, passed away peacefully in her home on April 6, 2025.She was born in Lwow, Poland, the daughter of the late Mauricy Sygal and the late Frederycka Sygal.A survivor of the Holocaust, Dana was a dedicated member of the United Jewish Federation of...
PORTSMOUTH - Paul Andrew Moore, 72, passed away, March 24, 2025.He is survived by his wife Debbie, daughter Angela Woody (Chris), sons Daniel and Jeremy (Sarah), brother Marvin Moore (Donna), sister Connie Moore (Sam), brother-in-laws Ken Lubar (Suzi) and Steven Lubar...
NORFOLK - With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Benn Lewis Richels, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and cherished friend, on March 20, 2025, at the age of 82.For over 20 years, he led BMR (Berlin, Miles, Richels) as its dedicated...
VIRGINIA BEACH - Jon Franklin Sedel passed away March 29, 2025, from cancer.He grew up in Birdneck Point, son of the late Dr. Norman Sedel and Reitha Sedel.Jon graduated from First Colonial High School in 1969 and Virginia Commonwealth University in 1973 with a degree...
PORTSMOUTH - After 85 years, Steven Jay Spindel, a plumber and a drummer, left this earth on March 24, 2025.As a master plumber, he worked with his father and two brothers at I. Spindel & Sons Plumbing & Heating until 1976. He retired from Norfolk Naval...
Off to an exciting start, the Great Jewish Bookshelf is engaging readers throughout Tidewater with powerful stories and new ideas. Even though the year is already underway, there’s still time to register for the subscription program. Late registrants can also select...
Students who seek loans for higher education may now apply to JELF – Jewish Education Loan Fund. The deadline is April 30, 2025.JELF offers 0% interest loans for full-time students from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia (excluding metro...
Nadiv, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s young Jewish men’s fundraising division, is planning two fun community events this spring.All proceeds support scholarships for Camp JCC in summer 2025. The group’s goal is to raise $25,000 between both events. March...
The Jewish New Year of the Trees, Tu B’Shevat starts on Wednesday, Feb. 12. In the 17th century, Kabbalists created a ritual for the holiday that is similar to a Passover seder. Several options to participate in a modern version of the Tu B’Shevat seder are listed...
“You can count on me. I’ll be there.” It was a simple text message, but one that meant a great deal to me.In the last year, I have watched a relationship blossom between ODU Hillel and the Institute for Jewish Life and Interfaith Understanding and Regent University’s...
Six-week course begins Tuesday March 18, 6:45 pm, online In moments of collective astonishment about the state of the world, there’s an underlying awareness that much of what is taking place is not new. Antisemitism has resurfaced with alarming intensity, taking on...
KYRIAT YAM, ISRAEL - Alexander Portnoy passed away on January 6, 2025, in Israel.Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Tatiana Portnoy; sister, Maya (Portnoy) Beglatzi; son, Felix Portnoy (Erinn), daughter, Natalie Kalman (Yossi); and grandchildren, Amelia and...
FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA – Mary Martin Shroyer, 91, died on January 22, 2025. Mary was predeceased by her husband, Norman C. Shroyer.She was born November 25, 1933, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Clynt Allen Martin and Anna Stoner Martin, and lived over 54 years in Franklin,...
VIRGINIA BEACH - Alan Stein, also known as “Famous Uncle Al,” passed away on January 11, 2025.Alan was born in New York on February 7, 1937, and lived a long and storied life. He was the son of the late Sam and Irene Stein. He was a veteran of the US Army. While...
CORDOVA, ALABAMA - Born October 12, 1937, to Evelyn Jean and Floyd Summers, Ara Sue Summers passed away peacefully on January 17, 2025.She is survived by her four children: Elizabeth Leeor, Richard Riccio, Hope Riccio, and Laura Devine. Ara was also a proud...
VIRGINIA BEACH - Dr. Jesse Charles Zedd, age 77, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2025. He was best known for his personality, generosity, and sense of humor.Jesse received his undergraduate degree from Campbell University, his master’s degree in guidance and...
(JTA) — One of the flight attendants killed in the recent plane crash in Washington, D.C., was an alumnus of a Jewish youth group with a passion for travel and a talent for comedy.Ian Epstein, one of the four flight attendants on American Eagle Flight 5342, was an...
One of the best ways to remember or recognize loved ones is to send a card. Whether to celebrate someone’s birthday or bar or bat mitzvah or to honor someone who has passed, one option is to pay tribute to them with a card benefitting JFS’s programs.To purchase a card...
The Jewish New Year of the Trees, Tu B’Shevat starts on Wednesday, Feb. 12 Rabbi Wolf Zitomirer was an innkeeper in a village. A Jewish wagon driver entered and asked for a glass of wine. When he was about to drink it without saying a blessing, the rabbi stopped him...
(JTA) — Hamas released four hostages on Saturday, January 25 in a choreographed ceremony in Gaza, making them the second group of captives to go free in the ceasefire that began earlier this week. The four hostages released on Saturday are Daniela Gilboa, Liri Albag,...
(JTA) — Israel and Hamas have reportedly agreed to a deal that will cease more than a year of fighting in Gaza and Israel, bring dozens of Israeli hostages home and free hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners.The agreement was reportedly confirmed by multiple...
It’s certainly been a chaotic start to 2025.We were barely finished singing Auld Lang Syne when we heard the news about the deadly attack in New Orleans by a man displaying an ISIS flag. (page 4) The threat of Lone Wolves, we’re told, is one of the many reasons to...
At the funeral service for Dr. Bernard Einhorn, Rabbi Michael Panitz noted that “Barry had the unusual gift of positively intersecting” with countless people. The nearly full Temple Israel sanctuary was proof of his remark.Personally, I know Rabbi Panitz’s words to be...
Wednesday, January 16, 2025 President Joe BidenToday, after many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal. This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed...
(JTA) — Daniel Sher’s voice broke as he related the latest to members of his Pacific Palisades synagogue. Kehillat Israel had just sent a message saying that its building had so far survived the devastating Palisades Fire, but, the associate rabbi noted, so much had...