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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...
(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,”...
(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...
(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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Virginia Beach – Marjorie Jane Berger, born September 11, 1946, passed away on February 3 at the age of 79. She is survived by her brothers,Dr. Jeff Berger and Dr. Keith Berger, nine nieces and nephews, and her beloved cat, Willow. Margie was a...