As one of the longest‑running Jewish film festivals in the country, the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film continues its mission of engaging Jewish and non‑Jewish audiences through world‑class cinema inspired by Jewish history, culture, and values. This year’s festival featured six films screened at various venues, including Virginia Wesleyan University, Cinema Café Kemps River, Naro Expanded Cinema, Cape Henry Collegiate, and Cinema Café Pembroke Meadows. 

 Two Israeli films anchored the festival in real‑world history and urgency. 

 The Stronghold, a historical narrative set during the Yom Kippur War, followed an Israeli army company trapped in the Sinai Desert, forcing viewers to confront the human cost of war and the moral dilemmas faced under siege. Actor Michael Aloni, known for his roles on the Netflix series Shtisel and We Were the Lucky Ones attended and was interviewed following the film by Mark Robbins, festival screening committee chair.

 The following Sunday, audiences watched The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, a documentary chronicling a harrowing, real‑life rescue mission following the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel, preceded by a message from the film’s director and producer, who helped set the stage for the screening.

 The festival’s signature event, the Big Saturday Night Celebration of Jewish Film, featured Tatami, a political sports thriller centered on an Iranian judo champion and her coach facing an impossible choice during an international competition. The screening, followed by a dessert reception, embodied what has become a hallmark of the festival: films that spark conversation long after the credits roll.

 This film, while featuring no explicitly Jewish content and only a short scene featuring an Israeli character, was chosen by the film screening committee because of its relevance to today’s world. It is the first film to be directed by Israeli and Iranian co-directors, and highlights the strict pressures placed on Iranian citizens by the oppressive regime. It proved especially meaningful given the real-world events that quickly followed.

 Both the Road Between Us and Tatami were attended by special guests from the Embassy of Israel. Michal Ofek, director of Cultural Affairs, was joined by Efrat Hochstetler, Counselor for Public Diplomacy, who spoke before each film about how meaningful it is to see Israeli art shared in the U.S. during such a tumultuous time, and about the universality of art.

 The festival’s narrative features offered a wide emotional and geographic range. The Ring explored the lingering echoes of the Holocaust through a father and daughter’s journey to uncover their family’s past, while For the Love of a Woman wove together romance and historical mystery across decades in Israel. In The Blond Boy from the Casbah, audiences were transported to Algiers, where memories of a vibrant Jewish community unfolded through the eyes of a filmmaker reconnecting with his childhood roots. 

 Beyond the films themselves, what set the 33rd festival apart was the collective experience of watching together. In an era when films are often consumed alone on small screens, the festival reaffirmed the power of shared storytelling and the importance of gathering in community. 

 “Thank you to our wonderful community for your enthusiastic support,” says Beth Scharlop, festival co-chair. “It’s not a festival without your attendance, conversation, and feedback. It motivates us to continually improve our programming.”

Virginia Festival of Jewish Film is presented by the Alma & Howard Laderberg Virginia Festival of Jewish Film Restricted Fund of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation and funded in part by the citizens of Virginia Beach and Norfolk through grants from the City of Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission and the Norfolk Arts Commission.

For information about the festival, contact Hunter Thomas, director of Arts + Ideas at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater: HThomas@UJFT.org or 757-965-6137.

Internationally acclaimed photographer Joan Roth will visit Tidewater for an evening that pairs film and conversation with a gallery exhibition spotlighting five decades of her art and activism. Originally scheduled for February 3 before winter weather complicated plans, the evening has been rescheduled for March, coinciding with Women’s History Month.

 The program will begin with a screening of A Feminist Lens: The Art & Activism of Photographer Joan Roth, followed by a live conversation featuring Laura Gross, Joan Roth, and the film’s executive producer/writer Melanie Roth Gorelick. The event is free and open to the community; registration is required at JewishVA.org/Roth.

 Directed by Pamela French, the documentary offers an intimate portrait of Roth, tracing how she has used her camera to advocate for homeless women in New York City, document leaders in the U.S. Women’s Movement from the 1970s to today, and illuminate the diverse lives of Jewish women around the world.

 Complementing the film program, a companion exhibition of Joan Roth’s photography is on view in the Simon Family JCC’s Leon Family Gallery through March 27.

 Roth’s body of work, spanning portraits, reportage, and long-form projects, has helped shape public understanding of Jewish women’s lives in the U.S. and around the globe, while also amplifying voices at the margins. 

For more information, contact Hunter Thomas at HThomas@UJFT.org or 757‑965‑6137.

Michael Aloni, the Israeli actor and director best known in the United States for his roles in Shtisel, The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem, and We Were The Lucky Ones, will speak at the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film. Aloni is one of the stars of The Stronghold, the 2024 Israeli war drama about a group of IDF soldiers stranded in the Sinai Desert during the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

 The festival will present The Stronghold as its kickoff film at Virginia Wesleyan University. Aloni is expected to introduce the film and take part in a moderated conversation following the film. Audience members will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

 “We are thrilled to welcome Michael to our festival,” says Beth Scharlop, co-chair of the festival. “Inviting special guests to these films is what separates a film festival from just going to the movies and creating an experience. Michael is so well known in the U.S. compared to other Israeli actors, so it’s really a big deal.”

 The festivalbegins with The Stronghold, but it doesn’t end there. Additional film screenings include:

The Ring 

Thursday, February 19, 2:30 and 7:30 pm Cinema Cafe Kemps River 

A devout Israeli journeys to Budapest with his estranged daughter, searching for a ring that once saved his life during the Holocaust and may hold the key to his family’s past.

Tatami and the Big Saturday Night Celebration of Jewish Film

Saturday, February 21, 7:30 pm

Cape Henry Collegiate

 An Iranian judo champion and her coach face a life-altering ultimatum at the world championships, forced to choose between family safety and defying an authoritarian regime. Followed by a dessert reception.

The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue

Sunday, February 22, 2:30 pm

Cape Henry Collegiate

On October 7, 2023, retired Israeli general Noam Tibon races across a country under siege to rescue his family from a terrorist attack, relying on instinct and courage in a relentless journey.

The Blond Boy From the Casbah

Monday, February 23, 7:15 pm

Naro Expanded Cinema

Antoine returns to his childhood neighborhood in Algiers, reconnecting with memories of family, faith, and the vibrant, multicultural world that shaped him.

For the Love of a Woman

Wednesday, February 23, 2:30 & 7:30 pm Cinema Cafe Pembroke Meadows

 A woman’s journey through 1970s Israel unearths a love story and a gripping mystery, linking her life to secrets buried in the 1930s.

Tickets to the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film can be purchased at www.JewishVA.org/FilmFest. Tickets are $45 for the BIG Saturday Night Celebration of Jewish Film and $15 for all other films. Kids Night Out babysitting is available at the Simon Family JCC for the BIG Saturday Night Celebration of Jewish Film. Registration is required in advance. Space is limited. Register at www.JewishVA.org/KNO. 

The Virginia Festival of Jewish Film is presented by the Alma & Howard Laderberg Virginia Festival of Jewish Film Restricted Fund of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation and funded in part by the citizens of Virginia Beach and Norfolk through grants from the City of Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission and the Norfolk Arts Commission.

For more information about the festival, contact Hunter Thomas, director of Arts + Ideas at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, at HThomas@UJFT.org or 757-965-6137.

Internationally acclaimed photographer Joan Roth will visit Tidewater for an evening that pairs film and conversation with
a new gallery exhibition spotlighting five decades of her art and activism. The program will begin with a screening of A Feminist Lens: The Art & Activism of Photographer Joan Roth, followed by a conversation featuring Roth and executive producer/writer Melanie Roth Gorelick. 

 Directed by Pamela French, the documentary offers an intimate portrait of Roth, tracing how she has used her camera to advocate for homeless women in New York City, document leaders in the U.S. Women’s Movement from the 1970s to today, and illuminate the diverse lives of Jewish women around the world.

 Complementing the film program, an exhibition of Roth’s photography will be on view in the Simon Family JCC’s Leon Family Gallery, January 26 through March 27, inviting visitors to engage more deeply with her images and the stories they tell.

 Roth’s body of work, spanning portraits, reportage, and long-form projects, has helped shape public understanding of Jewish women’s lives in the U.S. and around the globe, while also amplifying voices at the margins. Her photographs remind audiences that art can catalyze change: revealing dignity, resilience, and communal memory through a feminist lens.

The program is free, with registration, which is required, at: JewishVA.org/Roth. For more information, contact Hunter Thomas at HThomas@UJFT.org or 757‑965‑6137.

Today, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC are part of the JBC Network, a group of roughly 130 Jewish organizations across North America that give more than 250 authors a platform to promote their work each year. Tidewater has embraced the JBC’s mission to celebrate Jewish content and support Jewish authors. JCCs remain cultural hubs of Jewish life, a role reinforced when the JBC partnered with the National Jewish Welfare Board (later the Jewish Community Centers Association) in 1945.

More than 40 years since what is now known as the Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival began, UJFT and Simon Family JCC continue to steward the community’s reputation as “the people of the book.”

Here are some ways to celebrate Jewish Book Month this year, a century after its founding, November 13 – December 13, 2025:

Attend an event of the Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival

UJFT’s annual Book Festival offers something for everyone. On Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 1 pm, UJFT is partnering with JBC and its other network sites for a Community One Read event: a conversation between Rabbi Angela Buchdahl and Abigail Pogrebin. Rabbi Buchdahl, the first Asian-American to be ordained as a rabbi; and author, journalist, and former Book Festival speaker Abigail Pogrebin will speak to an online audience across North America about Buchdahl’s memoir, The Heart of a Stranger, a spiritual guide for everyday living.

In-person events will take place with Rachel Simons (founder of Chelsea Market’s Seed + Mill on Thursday, Nov. 20), Rick Mersel (local author and co-founder of the NorVa, on Thursday, Dec. 4), and expert storyteller Corey Rosen (on Thursday, Dec. 11). Learn more at JewishVA.org/BookFest.

Register for Tidewater’s Great Jewish Bookshelf

The Great Jewish Bookshelf is a gateway to a richer connection to Jewish heritage, culture, and contemporary thought. Designed for Jewish adults, or adults of other faiths interested in learning more about the Jewish experience, this unique subscription program delivers handpicked Jewish literature directly to the subscriber’s doorstep every two months. Register at JewishVA.org/GJB. Interested in joining the GJB selection committee? Contact Sierra Lautman, senior director of Jewish Innovation, at SLautman@UJFT.org or 757-965-6107.

Make sure children, grandchildren, or any Jewish child is signed up for PJ Library

PJ Library mails free, high-quality Jewish children’s literature and music to families with children from birth through age 12 across North America. PJ Library in Tidewater at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater partners in these efforts and offers high-quality programming in the area with the goal of connecting Jewish families. To register kids, contact Blake Sisler, coordinator of Youth and Family Engagement, at BSisler@UJFT.org or 757-965-6127.

Volunteer or contribute to help guide UJFT’s work promoting Jewish literature

Beyond these programs, UJFT has several initiatives devoted to getting Jewish books in the hands of Jewish students and community members.

UJFT’s Konikoff Center for Learning’s Jewish American Heritage Month Book Project supplements school libraries with books featuring Jewish characters to ensure Jewish students feel represented, and to teach other students about Jewish culture. The program provides three titles to more than 300 public and independent schools, amounting to more than 1,000 books distributed annually. Contact Sierra Lautman, senior director of Jewish Innovation, at SLautman@UJFT.org or 757-965-6107 to join the project’s selection committee.

The White Rose Project of UJFT’s Holocaust Commission sends books designed to deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust to dozens of middle and high schools throughout Tidewater each year. To contribute to the program, contact commission director Elka Mednick at EMednick@UJFT.org or 757-965-6112

The Book Festival’s visiting authors, as well as many titles for the programs mentioned above, are selected through the JBC Network, which convenes annually for a conference via Zoom in May. During the conference, attendees listen to more than 250 authors give two-minute pitches of their books, in what can only be described as author speed dating. Attend the conference and help select which authors will present at next year’s festival. Contact Hunter Thomas, director of Arts + Ideas, at HThomas@UJFT.org or 757-965-6137 for more information.

Contributing to UJFT’s annual campaign is a great way to support all these programs. Visit JewishVA.org/Campaign or contact Amy Zelenka, chief development officer, at AZelenka@UJFT.org or 757-965-6139.

And more!

• Read a Jewish book. (Visit JewishBookCouncil.org/Books for book suggestions).

• Buy a book by a Jewish author. (Support the UJFT’s Book Festival by buying books at JewishVA.org/BookShop).

• Join or start a book club. (Learn about Simon Family’s JCC book club at JewishVA.org/BookClub)

• Read a Jewish book to children. (And volunteer to Be a Reader. UJFT’s BeAR literacy program places volunteer mentors with students in eight Title I elementary schools in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Learn more and sign up to be a reader at JewishVA.org/Bear)

• Ask local libraries and bookstores to stock Jewish books.

• Follow your favorite authors on social media (especially Goodreads) and comment on their feeds with positive reviews.

Finally

UJFT wants to see how YOU celebrate Jewish books and authors. Snap a photo of you and your favorite Jewish book or of your bookshelf and post it online with the hashtags #JewishBookMonth, #JewishBookMonth100, and #CelebrateACenturyOfJewishBooks. Make sure to tag @UJFTidewater, @SimonFamilyJ, and @JewishBookCouncil. 

Here’s to 100 years more of Jewish literary tradition.

With the international rise in antisemitism since the events of October 7, 2023, the JBC has launched an initiative for authors, publishers, publicists, agents, editors, and readers to report antisemitic literary-related incidents. If you have experienced or witnessed an antisemitic incident in literary spaces, email Reporting@JewishBooks.org with information and a description of what occurred. If the incident occurred locally, please also report it to the UJFT and the Secure Communities Network by visiting JewishVA.org/Report.

Hunter Thomas is director of Arts + Ideas at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. For more information about these events and initiatives, contact him at HThomas@UJFT.org or 757-965-6137.

Who doesn’t love a good story and a good nosh? United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival will serve up both when Rachel Simons takes the stage at the Simon Family JCC for Secrets of Sesame. She will be interviewed by Jody Wagner of Jody’s Popcorn.

 Simons is the Aussie-turned-New Yorker behind Seed + Mill, the first U.S. shop devoted entirely to sesame. Based in NYC’s Chelsea Market, Simons’ pastel packages of halva and jars of tahini have professional chefs and home cooks alike swooning. At this event, she will share the journey of the sesame seed, a tiny ingredient with a 5,000-year history that spans continents and cultures. And yes, there will be tastings. Guests can sample Seed + Mill’s signature halva while hearing how this humble seed became a global star.

 Simons’ new book, Sesame: Global Recipes & Stories of an Ancient Seed, is more than a cookbook. It is a passport to kitchens around the world, with more than 80 recipes that range from classic hummus to sesame ramen. Jewish favorites include challah and honey cake, and inventive twists like carrot-tahini dip inspired by Rosh Hashanah traditions. Contributions from culinary icons Yotam Ottolenghi and Molly Yeh make it even richer.

The Washington Post calls the book “an exploration of sesame’s use around the globe, in both modern and traditional ways, driving home the incredible versatility of the nutritious seed.”

 Simons will also share her own story, a multicultural journey from Australia to New York, shaped by family history and a love of food that connects people. It is a tale of migration and resilience, told through recipes and memories.

The Jewish Book Festival runs through December 11, bringing authors and ideas that spark conversation and community. Register at JewishVA.org/BookFestival for an evening that proves big stories can come from the smallest seeds.

The Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival is funded in part by the citizens of Virginia Beach through a grant from the City of Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission and is held in coordination with the Jewish Book Council, the longest-running organization devoted exclusively to the support and celebration of Jewish literature.

 The conversation resumes with Michael Shapiro, founder of Ketubah.com, on Wednesday, November 12, at 12 pm. Shapiro invites audiences into the world of Jewish marriage contracts, not as legal documents, but as living art. In Ketubah Renaissance, Shapiro traces the ketubah’s 2,500-year evolution from a groom’s pledge to a canvas for modern love stories. His talk is paired with a companion exhibit of contemporary ketubot, curated by Shapiro and on display in the Simon Family JCC’s Leon Family Gallery through November 16. Tickets are $15 for JCC members, $20 for potential members and includes lunch. Pre-registration required by November 4.

 The festival goes virtual for a special Jewish Book Month centennial event on Tuesday, November 18 at 1 pm with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, senior rabbi at Central Synagogue and the first Asian American ordained as a rabbi, along with author and journalist Abigail Pogrebin, for a conversation about Buchdahl’s memoir, Heart of a Stranger. The book is a spiritual guide for everyday living, and the discussion promises insight into faith, identity, and belonging.

Presented in partnership with the Jewish Book Council and JBC member sites, including the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. Pre-registration required by November 17.

 The festival returns in person with Rachel Simons, founder of Seed + Mill and author of Sesame: Global Recipes & Stories of an Ancient Seed on Thursday, November 20 at 7:30 pm. Simons takes readers on a flavorful journey through the history and cultural significance of sesame, from its ancient roots to its starring role in global cuisine. It’s a night for food lovers, storytellers, and anyone curious about how something so small can carry such a big story.

 The volume turns up as Rick Mersel, founder of Norfolk’s iconic NorVa venue, shares his memoir All Revved Up and Ready to Go on Thursday, December 4 at 7:30 pm.
From bar mitzvah dance floors to punk rock stages, Mersel’s story is a loud, raw, and wildly funny ride through Norfolk’s music scene. It’s not just a memoir, it’s a mixtape of rebellion, belonging, and the Jewish kid who helped build a cultural landmark.

 Tickets are $10 for JCC members, $18 for potential members and includes a dessert reception. Pre-registration required by November 12.

 The festival closes with Corey Rosen, expert storyteller and author of A Story for Everything on Thursday, December 11, at 7:30 pm. Rosen’s interactive evening blends laughter, inspiration, and practical tips for mastering the art of storytelling. Whether a seasoned speaker or someone who avoids the mic at all costs, Rosen will help participants find their voices, and maybe even their next great story.

 Presented in partnership with the Konikoff Center for Learning.

 As 2025 wraps up and a century of Jewish Book Month is marked, these final events offer a chance to come together, share space, and celebrate the voices that have shaped the year. Whether through art, memoir, food, music, or laughter, the Jewish Book Festival reminds that stories, especially when shared in community, are what keep community connected.

For details and tickets, visit JewishVA.org/BookFest.

Hunter Thomas is director of Arts + Ideas at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. For more information about the festival or to sponsor or volunteer, contact Thomas at HThomas@UJFT.org or 757-965-6137.

After a lively talk exploring his background creating playful funny food faces and books, participants of all ages created their own edible artwork using an array of gourmet mushrooms. Wurtzel’s most recent book, FUNGI, focuses exclusively on artwork made from mushrooms.

“I had so much fun, it was such a wonderful experience,” says Josephine Krekorian. Following the program, Wurtzel urged the attendees to take home as many mushrooms as they could carry – none went to waste. “I went home and made mushroom soup with lamb,” says Krekorian. “I cook with all those mushrooms. It never occurred to me to create art out of them!”

 Wurtzel, who typically travels with his wife, an accomplished special educator, shared that they often present workshops for children at schools across New York City, promoting healthy eating. 

“The most touching part of the evening was seeing how much he loves his wife. They will celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary next month,” says Sharon Serbin.

True to Wurtzel’s joyful approach, the program blended learning and play, complete with fun facts about the kingdom of fungi and hands-on exploration. Or, as Serbin says, “It was a fun and creative evening.”

A companion exhibit of Wurtzel’s art was displayed in the Simon Family JCC’s Leon Family Gallery throughout August and September. For those who missed it, signed copies of the artwork, as well as signed copies of FUNGI, are still available for purchase. Contact Shyanne Southern at SSouthern@UJFT.org or 757757-452-3184 for more information.

Hunter Thomas is director of Arts + Ideas at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. He can be reached at HThomas@UJFT.org or 757-965-6137. 

 The conversation begins as veteran journalist and author Yaakov Katz returns to Tidewater for an evening that promises to be both searing and sobering on Thursday, October 23, at 7:30 pm. Katz, co-author of While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East, will explore how Hamas, Israel’s weakest enemy, succeeded in launching a surprise attack on one of the world’s most powerful militaries. This necessary conversation is for anyone hoping to figure out what happened and how to ensure it doesn’t happen again. (Free and open to the community.)

 The festival’s energy will shift a few days later when comedians Paula Skaggs and Josh Linden, authors of Tiny Pep Talks, take the spotlight on Tuesday, October 28, at 7:30 pm. Why wait for a big milestone to get a pep talk? This event is all about celebrating life’s everyday annoyances, (sending a scary email, parallel parking, and more), with laughter and encouragement. Attendees can expect a night of bite-sized hype, improvised pep talks, and a dessert reception. Bring a friend (yes, that one, she isn’t mad at you) and get ready to laugh. Tickets are $10 for JCC members, $18 for potential members. Pre-registration required by October 20.

 Rabbi Shira Stutman, former senior rabbi at Washington DC’s Sixth & I, will share wisdom from The Jewish Way to a Good Life, drawing on Jewish tradition to offer practical inspiration for happiness, community, and loving kindness on Wednesday, November 5, at 7:30 pm. As Jewish Book Month celebrates its 100th year, Stutman’s message is a timely reminder that the Jewish wisdom and values that comprise the heart of all Jewish literature, continue to guide us through every chapter of our lives.

The first half of the festival culminates when historian Elizabeth R. Hyman presents the previously untold story of The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto on Thursday, November 6, at 12 pm. Hyman will uncover the true story of five courageous young women who sparked an uprising and defied the odds. Their legacy, brought vividly to life, is a powerful tribute to resistance and hope. (Tickets: $15 for JCC members, $20 for potential members. Includes lunch. Pre-registration required by October 29.)

 As Jewish Book Month turns 100, and the community embraces the possibilities of a new year, the Jewish Book Festival invites the community to join in celebration, reflection, and discovery. Each event is an opportunity to engage with the ideas and voices that have shaped Jewish life for generations, and to be part of the next chapter.

For details and tickets, visit JewishVA.org/BookFest.

Hunter Thomas is director of Arts + Ideas at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. For more information about the festival or to sponsor or volunteer, contact him at HThomas@UJFT.org or 757-625-7821.

This event was funded in part by the citizens of Virginia Beach through a grant from the City of Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission and held in coordination with the Jewish Book Council.

Hunter Thomas is director of Arts + Ideas at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. For more programming information, visit www.JewishVA.org or email HThomas@UJFT.org.