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Amidst myriad concerns, here’s one you can do something about
At this very moment – late October 2026 – an overabundance of issues to concern Jewish Americans exists wherever we turn. A short list includes, not in any particular order, rampant antisemitism, the mid-term elections and their impact on topics important to Jewish...
A synagogue and Jewish-owned shops damaged in French riots
(JTA) —PARIS – Jewish-owned shops in Marseille were set ablaze and a synagogue in Paris was vandalized as part of widespread property damage caused by riots across France October 17 and 18, according to the Jewish Community Protection Service.It is too early to assess...
Legacy cannot be built from the sidelines
On a Saturday evening in Tel Aviv, I found myself dancing along the boardwalk. Nearby, a couple in their 80s danced to the music, seemingly without a care in the world. Families strolled along the waterfront. Friends gathered. Children played. It was ordinary. It was...
Feldman Family Scholarship invests in three future healthcare professionals
For 33 years, Dr. William Feldman cared for children and families throughout Hampton Roads. But his commitment to improving lives extended well beyond his medical practice. With his wife, Mary, Feldman believed that one of the most meaningful ways to strengthen the...
Tidewater BBYO’s annual kickoff started with Havdalah, ended with games
Tidewater BBYO held its annual fall kickoff event on Saturday, Sept. 19. Launching what will be an incredible year, the program started with a Havdalah on the beach where everyone took the time to begin the year as a community. Next, at Beachside Social, teens spent...
Tidewater BBYO creates foundation for the programming at LTI
Virginia Council came together for an amazing LTI (Leadership Training Institute), bringing together teens from Tidewater and Richmond to prepare for the year ahead. The event was held in Richmond on August 30. Chapter leadership boards from Tidewater’s Simcha BBG and...
Hunger in Virginia: Caring for neighbors this Thanksgiving
Hunger does not always look how one might imagine. It may be a senior trying to stretch a fixed income, a parent choosing between groceries and a utility bill, or a working family facing unexpected expenses.According to the 2026 Virginia Hunger Study, 42% of Virginia...
JFS honors Debbie Mayer’s legacy and welcomes Michelle Fenley to new leadership role at Embrace Counseling
After 33 years of devoted service as clinical director, Debbie Mayer is “retired-ish” from Jewish Family Service, marking a meaningful transition for the agency and the many children, families, and community members whose lives she has touched.Mayer will continue to...
Community partnership brings safety and independence to local seniors through home repairs
In a powerful demonstration of community collaboration and the deeply rooted Jewish value of Kibbud Zekenim (honoring the elderly), Jewish Family Service and Beth Sholom Village Foundation have joined forces to protect and support local seniors.A grant from Beth...
60 Photographs byElise Melnick Simon on display
Elise Melnick Simon led a vibrant, creative life as a painter, photographer, performer, and educator. The mark she left on the local community was reflected in the group that gathered last month to celebrate the opening of 60 Photographs by Elise Melnick Simon, on...
Beth Sholom Village volunteers roll up their sleeves to construct a ramp for a disabled Portsmouth manNew BSV Fund paid for the aluminum ramp
When a Virginia Beach based foundation funds a Norfolk non-profit to improve a house for a disabled man in Portsmouth, that’s regionalism. And a great story.Beth Sholom Village took the earnings from selling its skilled care nursing home and assisted living facility...
Passing the torch: Succession in family businesses
In Prime Video’s hidden-camera comedy Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat, which began streaming in March, the founder of a family-owned hot sauce company, Doug, announces his retirement and subsequent handing over of the business to his astonishingly unprepared son,...
Norfolk Academy grad is building network for athletes to transition to careers post playing days
Every athlete eventually plays a last game, and Jack Gross, a Norfolk Academy graduate and senior at Tulane University, wants to make sure there’s a plan for what comes next.Gross is a founder and the chief operating officer of Second Half Network, a free mentorship...
Israeli flags of Route 168: Inside the pro-Israel legacy at Powell’s Roadside Market
A produce farm grabs the attention of many drivers traveling from Tidewater to the Outer Banks – and not because of its beautiful tomatoes or peppers. Lining the approach to the property, a striking row of Israeli flags wave proudly in the wind, catching the eye of...
White Rose Project connectsarea students with books
For nearly 30 years, the Holocaust Commission’s White Rose Project has helped connect students with stories that educate, inspire, and encourage reflection. Each fall, the project donates Holocaust-related books to every middle and high school library throughout...
Be A Reader mentors gather at annual kickoff luncheon
Books are packed, supplies are ready, and excitement is in the air because BeAR is heading back to school.The annual Be A Reader Literacy Project’s kickoff luncheon was a wonderful success, bringing together familiar faces, brand new mentors, lots of laughter and, of...
Art talks with the Center for Active Living
Members of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Center for Active Living, a group for older adults offering fitness, lifelong learning, and cultural programming, spent the morning of Tuesday, October 13 at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Attendees enjoyed a...
Beth Chaverim’s Beach Sisterhood – a house of (women) friends – reading books together
Book clubs are everywhere these days. Beth Chaverim’s Beach Sisterhood Book Club is comprised of a cordial group of Jewish women who meet monthly to discuss a selected book.The Sisterhood Book Club meetings take place at a local home with everyone contributing to a...
From Capitol Hill to community: TJF’s new development strategist, Lauren Sucher
From the corridors of Capitol Hill to military deployments in Afghanistan and Poland, Lauren Sucher has built a career where every word matters, relationships are critical, and the stakes are high. Now, she’s bringing that experience closer to home: strengthening...
Disconnect to reconnect: The Tidewater Shabbat Project returns
Friday, Oct. 30 – Saturday, Oct. 31 Step away from the business of everyday life and join thousands of Jews around the globe for the annual Tidewater Shabbat Project. Last year, a record breaking 300 people from around Tidewater came together for a lively and...
Together we rise: Challah Bake set for next month
Wednesday, November 4, 7 pm, B’nai Israel Congregation B’nai Israel Congregation, in partnership with the Konikoff Center for Learning of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, invites Jewish women of all ages, stages, and backgrounds to Together We Rise, a...
Conversational Hebrewwith the Shinshinim
October 19 - May 24, Mondays, 5 pm Sandler Family Campus, Free Join Tidewater’s Shinshinim for weekly conversational Hebrew classes designed to help participants build confidence in speaking and understanding modern Hebrew. Through interactive activities, games,...
Make the most of School Days Out at Camp JCC this Veteran’s Day
Wednesday, November 11, 9 am-4 pm, Simon Family JCC Need a fun, reliable plan for kids when school is out? Camp JCC has the answer for students in grades K–5: An action-packed day of crafts, gym games, free swim, and plenty of fun. It’s the perfect opportunity for...
Baby & Me: Building community, one playdate at a time
Thursday, November 5, 9 am, Free, Sandler Family Campus Looking for a fun way to connect with other parents and caregivers while little ones explore and play? Consider Baby & Me, a welcoming monthly gathering for babies up to 24 months and their caregivers.Enjoy...
ESEK: Made-in-Israel Pop-Up Market
November 23 - 24, Monday and Tuesday Sandler Family Campus Israel’s story is often told through innovation, resilience, and entrepreneurship. Behind that story are artists, makers, and entrepreneurs whose creativity transforms ideas into products that reach global...
Israel on Trial with Judge Roy Altman
Thursday, December 10, 7 pm, Sandler Family Campus, Free What happens when a federal judge applies the standards of the courtroom to the claims, headlines, and narratives surrounding Israel?Through the lens of his book, Israel on Trial, Judge Roy Altman examines one...
HINENU: Israel at Ten Million
Thursday, November 5, 7 pm, Sandler Family Campus, Free When Israel reached 10 million citizens, photographer and author David Shlachter set out to capture the country’s story through the faces, voices, and experiences of 100 people. In Hinenu: Israel at Ten Million,...
2027 Super Sunday brings Jewish Tidewater together to learn, play, act, and give
Sunday, October 11, 12 - 3 pm, Sandler Family Campus Tidewater’s Jewish community will gather for a very special Super Sunday this month. 2027 Super Sunday is a day dedicated to learning, family fun, volunteerism, and giving, while connecting with local and global...
Thank you to our supporters who recently donated to Jewish News!
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 of friends or...
$2 million endowment for new Curator of Photography at Chrysler Museum honors Germaine Clair, former Jewish News art director
A transformative $2 million gift from longtime Chrysler Museum supporter and former curator Brooks Johnson will establish an endowed Curator of Photography position at the Chrysler Museum of Art. The newly created Germaine Clair and Brooks Johnson Curator of...