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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...
A view from Israel / First Person While we knew there was a chance a war might break out, our nephew and niece were having a baby, and we were meeting our sister and brother in Zichron Ya’akov to celebrate. Zichron, as the Israelis call it, is an idyllic, small...
(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...
Thursday, March 26, Westin Virginia Beach Town Center The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities will hold its 62nd annual Tidewater Humanitarian Awards event this month. These awards honor individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to...
The Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater hosted a moving community gathering in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27. Held on the Sandler Family Campus, the program brought people of all ages together to...
The recent Mizrach class and hands-on glass workshop offered by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Konikoff Center for Learning provided a journey from learning to creating. The experience began with a class led by Rabbi Ari Oliszewski, who explored...
Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day once again brought voices from across the Commonwealth to the State Capitol, underscoring a simple but powerful truth: showing up matters. Nearing the midpoint of the 2026 General Assembly session, Jewish community members...
Over the past few months, we have had the joy of leading the Israeli Youth Movement, Israeli Eagles, in Tidewater. Each month, kids from across the community gather to learn about Israel, build friendships, and grow as confident, curious, and caring young leaders....
While school was out on Monday, Feb. 16, campers spent Presidents’ Day getting active and inspired at Camp JCC’s School Days Out program. To celebrate American Heart Month, the day’s theme was all about heart health. Campers began the morning by...
Sunday, March 8, 6 PM A new initiative dedicated in memory of Shirley Farfel Berman a”h, Lev Sara Bikur Cholim is being created to extend a loving hand to individuals in the community—and beyond—who are in Norfolk for medical care. This evening is an opportunity...
When Courtney Krutoy took on the role of Eastern Region BBYO City Director - Tidewater last year, she noticed that BBYO’s digital presence on United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s website was both buried and outdated. Krutoy worked with Teresa Knecht, marketing...
Saturday, March 21,10:30 am, Sandler Family Campus Members of KBH synagogue are excited to unveil a brand-new Shabbat services format designed for children and families. Once a month, KBH, in partnership with Tidewater Shinshinim, will hold a special program...
Sunday, March 15, 2 pm, Chrysler Museum of Art Few works have transformed Holocaust storytelling as profoundly as the graphic novel Maus. When Art Spiegelman won the 1992 Pulitizer Prize, it was the first time a graphic novel earned that honor, signaling a cultural...
Monday, May 4 – Friday, May 8, Sandler Family Campus A PJ Library book swap families won’t want to miss is about to begin. Starting April 6, collection boxes located in the Sandler Family Campus lobby and at Strelitz International Academy will accept...
Saturday, March 21 5 - 9 pm, Sandler Family Campus Get ready to hit the court and experience the madness! Children, ages 4–12, are invited to the Ultimate Bracket Bash Kids Night Out. The evening kicks off with basketball relays where campers can showcase their...
April 6 - 10, 9 am – 4 pm Sandler Family Campus When school is out, Camp JCC is in. Children currently in K-5th grade can look forward to a week filled with energy, friendship, and fun with a jam-packed schedule that includes free swim sessions in the indoor...
Mondays, March 9 - April 13, 5:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus Planning a trip to Israel or just want to feel more comfortable getting around in Hebrew? If so, join the Shinshinim, Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan, for Session 3 of Conversational Hebrew: Around Town....
Tuesday, March 24, 7:30 pm Sandler Family Campus Israel’s renowned Dream Doctors Project—professional medical clowns who bring healing, dignity, and emotional support to patients and families in hospitals and humanitarian settings around the world – will visit...
Tuesday, March 17, 6 pm Sandler Family Campus Children and families are invited to join Shinshinim Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan for a delicious evening of games, crafts, and an ice cream social to celebrate Golda Meir, Israel’s first female Prime Minister. Kids...
Tuesday, March 17, 6 –7:15 pm, Sandler Family Campus The upcoming evening of Partners in Jewish Life will center around a conversation about The New Antisemitism: Roots and Responses, inviting participants to explore how antisemitism has evolved over time—and how...
Wednesday, March 11, 7:30 pm and Thursday, March 12, 12 pm, Sandler Family Campus The community has two options to experience Jewish learning through the voice of Miriam Anzovin, the creator behind the beloved #JewishLoreReactions series on TikTok and Instagram. Known...
Friday, March 27, 5 – 7 pmSandler Family Campus Jewish adults between ages 22 and 40, are invited to begin the weekend with “Shabbat mode” at a NextGen Happy Hour Shabbat. Leave the stress of the work week behind and unwind in a relaxed, friendly...
Sunday, March 29, 12:30 – 2:30 pm Pinboys, Virginia Beach A fun afternoon of bowling and beading is planned for middle school students this month. Participants have the choice to hit the bowling lanes with friends, spend time creating beaded crafts, or...