Southeastern Virginia: Chesapeake • Norfolk • Portsmouth • Suffolk • Virginia Beach
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For more than 40 years, this annual celebration of Jewish writers, books, and ideas has brought together bold voices and fresh perspectives. From Israel and her neighbors to Jewish tradition, from comedy to cuisine, from telling history to telling YOUR story, there...
As we enter this High Holiday season of reflection and renewal together, I am reminded that these holidays invite us to pause, look inward, and reconnect—with our traditions, our communities, and with our loved ones. This year, more than ever, we are reminded of the...
Sukkot – also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths – celebrates the fall harvest and commemorates the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the desert after their Exodus from Egypt. The week-long Jewish festival is celebrated by building, dwelling, and...
A combination of High German and Hebrew, Yiddish is a language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. In Tidewater, the Yiddish Club is embracing Yiddish culture, language, and history with music, film, poetry, and literature at its monthly meetings. For...
Jewish Tidewater celebrates Sukkot with an array of events throughout the region. All listings are open to the public. Chabad of Tidewater Community Sukkot Dinner and Dessert in the Sukkah Monday, October 6, 7:30 pm Suggested donation $18/person RSVP:...
Sunday, January 11 Ohef Sholom Temple Jewish Family Service will host a special luncheon to celebrate the remarkable legacy of the Hebrew Ladies Charity Society of Tidewater. Established in 1902, this pioneering group of women laid the foundation for what...
Friday, November 21, 10 am – 12 pm Jewish Family Service will host its annual Thanksgiving Drive at the Sandler Family Campus when community members in need can pick up a free Thanksgiving meal through its drive-up pantry. Those who wish to volunteer to help...
Begins Friday, October 31 Jewish Family Service is launching its annual Chanukah Gift Drive to support families in need this holiday season. Beginning October 31, JFS will begin accepting donations of gifts and monetary contributions. The deadline is...
Sundays, beginning October 19, 1-3 pm Sandler Family Campus This fall, Tidewater’s newest Shinshinim, Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan, are launching a brand-new Israeli youth movement inspired by the energy and spirit of the Israeli Scouts, “Tzofim.” Open to third...
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA - Birdie Glanzer Brundage, 95, beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away on September 3, 2025. Born March 28, 1930, in New York City to Dr. Joseph and Helen Weiser Glanzer, she graduated from the Birch Wathen School and...
NORFOLK - It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of Larry Wallis Dobrinsky, who passed away on September 7, 2025, at the age of 85. Larry was a native of Norfolk, where he graduated from Maury High School. He lived in Norfolk most of his life and only...
ROANOKE - Brian Jay Wishneff was born on October 16, 1952, and passed away on May 24, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. He was the son of the late Alvin Wishneff and Ruth Victor Wishneff. Brian grew up with his parents, three sisters, and one brother in Norfolk. He...
SILVER SPRING, Md. - Dr. Leonard I. Ruchelman passed away peacefully on April 27, 2025, at the age of 91 in his home in Silver Spring, Maryland. He was born on June 28, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York to Jacob and Sarah Ruchelman. Leonard is survived by his wife Diana...
Virginia Beach - Ernest Martin Lendman (Ernie), 86, passed away on May 11, 2025. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Ernie was the son of the late Henry and Sarah Lendman. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Sheila Ktotstein Lendman, and his brother Stephan...
VIRGINIA BEACH - Benjamin Kevin Glaser, affectionately known as Kevin, passed away unexpectedly at his home on May 15, 2025, at the age of 62. Born in Norfolk and raised in Virginia Beach, Kevin was a proud graduate of Kempsville High School, Class of 1981. He went on...
COCONUT CREEK, FLORIDA - Albert J. Brunn, 100, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Born in Berlin, Germany, in 1924 to Martin and Hertha Brunn, Albert’s early life was shaped by the profound upheaval of his time. As antisemitism swept through Nazi...
This year’s Lag BaOmer celebration hosted by Jewish Virginia Beach brought together more than 300 participants for an afternoon that balanced joy, depth, and community spirit — and showcased a Jewish presence that’s growing, young, and full of life. Held at Hunt Club...
A combination of Beth Chaverim and Temple Emanuel women, Beach Sisterhood held its first Bunco game at Ilene Kohen’s home in April. Several guests joined Beach Sisterhood for this entertaining event. The group of 18 women had lots of fun trying to roll three dice and...
Court rejected nonprofit’s efforts to delay oversight Attorney General Jason Miyares secured a court victory last month that will compel AJP Educational Foundation, also known as American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), to comply with the Attorney General’s Civil...
In keeping with the ViBe’s 10-year anniversary celebrations, the Virginia Beach City Council recognized the ViBe Creative District with a Resolution at its meeting on Tuesday, May 20. The City Council thanked ViBe co-founders Andrew Fine and Laura Wood and executive...
Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 48 Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Religious Bigotry in Virginia Public Schools and Institutions of Higher Education to further expand his efforts to combat antisemitism at Virginia public schools and institutions of...
Graduations are a time to recognize achievements, formally bid farewell to a valued educational institution, prepare for the next steps along life’s journey, and of course, to celebrate! Jewish Tidewater has much to applaud with its graduates – the awards, impressive...
Light up the holiday by attending one or more of these community-oriented experiences. With some events geared for children and others for adults, some in Virginia Beach and others in Norfolk, plenty of options are available to celebrate Hanukkah with community. Chag...
For the eighth consecutive year, clients at Jewish Family Service of Tidewater have been adopted by members of the Catholic Church of St. Stephen in Chesapeake. Carol Ehrbar, who coordinates this project for St. Stephen each year, helped collect more than 3,000 gifts...
Tuesdays 10 am – 12 pm Sandler Family Campus A mighty group of knitters meets every week to create beautiful blankets, scarfs, and hats to donate to Jewish Family Service to be distributed to those who need an extra bit of warmth. The group welcomes knitters of all...
The United States Postal Service’s new Hanukkah stamp celebrates the holiday with an image of a hanukkiah, the nine-branch candelabra used on Hanukkah. Designed by art director and stamp designer Antonio Alcalá, the image was created in ink; the irregular lines of the...