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(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,...
Thursday, February 19, 6 pm Sandler Family Campus Ready for the experience of a lifetime? Attend this meeting to learn about this summer’s JCC Maccabi Games and Access, happening August 2–7 in Toronto, Canada. The Games are open to Jewish teens, ages 13–17; Access...
Tuesday, March 24, 7:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus A rare opportunity to encounter Israel through one of its most human, inspiring lenses will take place when United Jewish Federation of Tidewater hosts members of Israel’s renowned Dream Doctors Project. Professional...
Galloway, N.J. – Howard J. Bernstein, 93, passed away on January 22, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was predeceased by his parents, Ida and Benjamin Bernstein, and his sister, Selma Shefferman. Howard is survived by his loving wife, Shirley, his high...
Virginia Beach – Robert “Bob” Buckman, passed away peacefully at his home on January 13, 2026. Bob was a loving husband, father, grandpa, and friend. His greatest legacy was the love he had for his preceded in death wife, Ittie (Edye) Buckman; children,...
Chesapeake – Barbara Carlson, a remarkable soul who dedicated her life to the pursuit of truth and beauty, passed away peacefully on the morning of January 11, 2026, in Chesapeake, at the age of 91. Born on April 9, 1934, and raised in New York, Barbara’s...
Norfolk –Thelma Laderberg passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026, at Harbor’s Edge in Norfolk, Virginia, at the age of 100. She lived a long, full, and deeply meaningful life—one defined by creativity, independence, devotion to family, and enduring...
Norfolk – Marvin Joel Merkle, 79, passed away peacefully, Thursday, January 22, 2026. He was born in Richmond, Virginia, the son of the late Harold Hyman and Eva Merkle. He is survived by his two daughters, Jenefer Dayle Snyder and husband...
Virginia Beach – Toby Flex Pekarsky, age 85, passed away on January 11, 2026. She was born in Portsmouth, Virginia to the late Fred and Belle Levin Flex. She was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Robert Jay Pekarsky, her sister Sally Flex Weinraub, her...
Norfolk – Gerald “Jerry” Martin Sandler, 88, of Norfolk, Virginia, passed away peacefully at his home on January 20, 2026. He was born in Norfolk on June 28, 1937, to the late Lou “Lovey” and Anna Rose Sandler. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife...
Washington, D.C. – Samuel Leon Shapiro, a long-time Norfolk resident, died on January 17, 2026, in Washington, D.C. at the age of 86. He will always be remembered as a loving and beloved husband, father, and grandfather with a remarkable intellect, a gentle...
Virginia Beach – Dr. Albert “Al” P. Solomon, a devoted husband, father, and veteran, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025, in Virginia Beach at the age of 81. Born on July 31, 1944, Al lived a life marked by dedication to both his profession and his...
Virginia Beach – Gary Tabakin, 70, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, left us peacefully on January 27. Born in Norfolk, he was the son of the late Burnley and Bobbi Tabakin. He was predeceased by his baby brother Matthew. A lifelong resident of Norfolk...
Virginia Beach – Spencer Zahn, 87, passed away in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on January 25, 2026. Born in Princess Anne County in 1938, he resided in Chesapeake, Virginia for over 50 years. Spencer retired from Civil Service as an auditor 32 years ago and...
Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, was set on fire predawn on Saturday, Jan. 10. Thankfully, no congregants or staff were injured, and the building was unoccupied at the time. The synagogue did have a security camera system, a fact which assisted in the...
Thanks to an emergency security matching grant from The Tepper Foundation, which is distributed through Jewish Federations of North America, and with the addition of contributions from community members, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater is able to make...
Over the past two months, an all too familiar scam has reared its ugly head again. In this case, it involves someone spoofing a local sheriff’s or police department’s office phone number to call a potential victim. The caller usually tells the recipient that they have...
(JTA) — The suspect arrested for allegedly setting fire to a Mississippi synagogue on Saturday, Jan. 10 confessed to the FBI that he had targeted the congregation due to its “Jewish ties.” Stephen Spencer Pittman was charged on Monday, Jan. 12 with maliciously...
In a letter sent earlier this month to all Virginia K–12 school superintendents and school boards, Attorney General Jason Miyares urged them to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into their codes of conduct and...
“Electrifying,” is how Annie Sandler, JDC president, enthusiastically describes Buenos Aires and other parts of Argentina. One of her first trips as president of JDC, the leading global Jewish humanitarian organization, was to travel to this South...
Community advocacy strengthens security, combats antisemitism, and builds lasting relationships. Tuesday, Feb. 10, Richmond As the 2026 legislative session of the Virginia General Assembly gets underway this month, one message is clear: showing up matters. That’s why...