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A lively BBQ on B’nai Israel Congregation’s patio took place on Sunday, May 3 for families who have joined the Norfolk Jewish community over the past two to three years. Rabbi Shlomo and Liba Eisenberg, whose leadership of the shul began in July 2023, hosted the...
Monday, June 22, 12 pm • Fred Huette Garden, 1000 Botetourt Gardens, Norfolk Jewish Family Service of Tidewater will hold its 67th Biennial Meeting at a luncheon that will welcome new board members, install Steve Brown as incoming board president, and recognize...
Wednesday, May 27, 9 am – 12 pm • Sandler Family Campus The Simon Family JCC invites seniors to celebrate National Senior Health & Fitness Day – a free event that promotes “Stay Active at Any Age!” with fun activities for health and community...
Thursday, May 21, 8:30 am Jewish War Veterans Memorial Sandler Family Campus Memorial Day began in the wake of the Civil War when a grieving nation came together to honor the fallen. What started as springtime tributes at newly established national cemeteries has...
Virginia Beach – We are deeply saddened to share that Erica Unger passed away on April 11, 2026, just three days before her 95th birthday.Born in Vienna, she was a Holocaust survivor who went on to live a rich and vibrant life marked by travel, meaningful...
Norfolk – Lawrence Harold “Larry” Kirstein, 76, of Norfolk, Virginia, died Jan. 15, 2026.Mr. Kirstein is survived by his sisters and brother-in-law, Robert Grosinger, Rita and Dr. Pedro Paragas, and Ina Kirstein; nephews and nieces, Eric and Amy Grosinger, Jason and...
Ron Kampeas(JTA) — Abraham Foxman, the longtime leader of the Anti-Defamation League who for decades was the last word in post-Holocaust Jewish fury and forgiveness, died at 86 on Sunday, May 10.Foxman, a child survivor of the Holocaust, could be scathing and...
Friday, May 29 – Sunday, May 31 Congregation Beth El A dynamic and thought-provoking Visiting Scholar weekend planned and presented by Congregation Beth El, will feature Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, one of the most widely read and influential voices in contemporary Jewish...
Sunday, May 17, 4 – 7 pm • TIDE by B’nai Israel Step out of the sanctuary and onto the porch. Join NextGen 757 for a high-energy journey through Ghent to prep for Shavuot.NextGen 757 joins TIDE by B’nai Israel to bring bite-sized learning, sweet treats, and great...
Saturday, May 30, 7 pm • Temple Israel Don’t miss this intentional gathering hosted by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s NextGen757 in partnership with Temple Israel. Capture the “lingering magic” of Shavuot with a light dinner, guided discussions on modern...
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...
Long before leadership titles and community recognition, Aiden Vonegloffstein was learning what it meant to serve in the most ordinary moments. As a child, his mother taught him to notice when someone needed help, to carry groceries for a neighbor, to lend a...
Virginia Beach – Gerald Maury Hankin, better known as “Jerry,” a man of unwavering determination and boundless generosity, passed away peacefully on February 21, 2026, at the age of 80, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Born on December 30, 1945, in Camden, New...
Virgina Beach – Born in Brooklyn in 1946, Arnie Unterbach died on Mach 9, 2026. Arnie was the son of Louis Unterbach and Hilda Saltzman, both of whom immigrated from Warsaw Poland in 1927. Arnie’s first career was as a jazz bass player and toured with the USO...
(JTA) — Rabbi Andrea Weiss, a former provost of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion who made history as the first woman to ordain rabbis in the Reform movement, has died. Weiss died on Tuesday, March 3 surrounded by family at her home in Lower...
MODIIN, Israel — To get a sense of what life is like in Israel these days, consider the circumstances in which air raid sirens have caught me over the last several days: Reading the Purim megillah in a school bomb shelter near my synagogue. We closed the door when the...
(JTA) — Speaking from Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Feb. 19, the president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, Eric Fingerhut, laid out his assessment of the state of Jewish life in America. “The state of the Jewish union in America is strong,...
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...
After 35 years of service on the Norfolk Police Department fighting crime as a police officer, advancing through the ranks to become Norfolk’s Chief of Police, then on to a second career as an Assistant City Manager for Norfolk, Mike Goldsmith was more than entitled...
(JTA) —During the recent Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations’ mission to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that Jews around the world stand strong and unified in support of Israel and against antisemitism. “Fight, fight, fight,” he...
And with stroke of a few pens, it was over! The closing documents were signed, the checks issued, and Kehillat Bet Hamidrash/Kempsville Conservative Synagogue (KBH) was officially a congregation without a building – yet with a new endowment fund. After...
The State of the Union. The State of the City. Most people have heard of or attended gatherings like these, where leaders reflect on the present and make projections about the future. Last month, Tidewater Jewish Foundation did just that. Board members gathered...
(JTA) — Jewish hockey star Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal Sunday, Feb. 21 to clinch a gold medal for the U.S. men’s hockey team, its first since 1980. The New Jersey Devils star center, who had scored twice in Team USA’s semifinal win, sent the puck...
Applications for the 2026-2027 Academic Year accepted through April 30 In 2025, JELF (Jewish Educational Loan Fund) loaned $2.3 million in 0% interest loans to almost 500 students, allowing Jewish students to pursue higher education without the burden of...
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 Jewish...
His story could be a novel. . . and a page-turner, at that. This past December, Josef Patar added a chapter he’s been trying to write for a while. . . he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. With several supporters, including a couple of friends from Ohef...
A wedding anniversary of any number is reason to celebrate, yet milestone anniversaries traditionally get special attention. Reaching a milestone is no easy feat and so Jewish News asked three of area couples about their secrets to the foundation of their...
Family and friends gathered on a Saturday evening in January to celebrate an extraordinary milestone as Erica Reisner Ausch turned 90 years young. Her daughters – Jodie Woodward, Linda Ausch, and Bonnie Laibstain — brought together those who know her best and love her...
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater recently established the position of NextGen Engagement coordinator, a re-imagined role designed to strengthen connection and community among Jewish young adults in Tidewater. Hannah Yasemsky is the first person to assume the...
The Hugo A. Owens Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Award was presented to Jonathan C. Zur at Old Dominion University’s 41st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance in January. Zur is president and CEO of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. Robin Mancoll,...
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...