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L’Shanah Tovah 5783

L’Shanah Tovah 5783

Dear Readers, If you listen closely, you might hear congregations throughout the nation exclaiming, “We’re BACK!” and if you listen even closer, you might also hear “…almost.” High Holidays services in 2021 were a mixed bag, with many still concerned about attending...

Sounding the Shofar in Tidewater

Sounding the Shofar in Tidewater

It’s a ritual that is both solemn and joyful, that brings musical expression into Judaism. The Jewish News asked local shofar blowers how they got started, why they embrace the tradition, and a little about performance anxiety. Rabbi Aron Margolin, Chabad of Tidewater...

That’s a wrap: End of Summer Shabbat

That’s a wrap: End of Summer Shabbat

PJ Library in Tidewater and United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Young Adult Division (YAD) teamed up again to host the annual End of Summer Shabbat Dinner and Pool Party at the Simon Family JCC. Families and friends experienced an evening of good music, pool...

Temple Israel bonds over kabobs

No great community event ever happens without mountains of work being done behind the scene. The recent Israel Fest was certainly no exception. Norfolk’s Temple Israel offered festivalgoers a tasty—and healthy!—reprieve from the heat of the day in the form of cool,...

Community meets with Congressman Donald McEachin

At a meeting with Jewish community leaders last month, Representative Donald McEachin of Virginia’s 4th congressional district, said that his “passion and love of Israel comes from learning from his father (who was an army veteran), that you don’t abandon your allies,...

Israel Fest 2019: Sun, fun, and lots of activities and people

Thousands from across Tidewater joined the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus to celebrate Israel’s 71st year on a bright, sun-filled day. Israel Fest 2019 was packed with authentic Israeli food, music,...

JCC, YAD, and Chabad’s Lag B’Omer Bash is true to its name

The 33rd day of the Omer was celebrated this year with beautiful weather and people from all congregations together at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus. As in past years, DJ Silver provided celebratory Israeli and Jewish tunes...

Happy Father’s Day

Celebrated on the third Sunday in June, Father’s Day was made a permanent national holiday by, you’ll never guess, President Richard Nixon, in 1972. Who knew? Father’s Day is usually filled with cards, gifts, and cookouts…though some dads get lucky and, like most moms...

Keeping tradition with the new guard

This past Memorial Day, my family and I went to a few of the local Jewish cemeteries in Tidewater to place American Flags on the graves of those who have, “borne the brunt of battle.” Ever since we moved to the area, some seven years ago, we have made this a family...

Holocaust Commission’s 2019 Elie Wiesel Competitions

The Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s month-long 2019 Elie Wiesel Visual Arts exhibit officially closed on May 31. The annual Elie Wiesel Competitions for students include visual arts and writing. TowneBank and the Simon Family...

The UK is finally taking Labour’s anti-Semitism seriously

(JTA)—On a recent speaking tour in North America, I was asked repeatedly about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn’s Labour has become an existential threat to British Jews, and audiences smartly inquired what could be done to stop growing...

Herman Wouk, legendary author who brought Judaism into the mainstream

BOSTON (JTA)—Herman Wouk, the bestselling Orthodox Jewish author whose literary career spanned nearly seven decades and who helped usher Judaism into the American mainstream, died Friday, May 17 at the age of 103. Wouk was the author of two dozen novels and works of...

Larry Melvin Saunders

Norfolk—Larry Melvin Saunders passed away at the age of 84 on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at Harbor’s Edge. Born in 1935 in Norfolk, Virginia, he was the son of Bertha and Edward Saunders, of blessed memory. He spent most of his life living in the Tidewater area, except...

Irene Mandel Blum

Virginia Beach—Irene Mandel Blum, 95, passed away on May 10, 2019 at Beth Sholom Village. Irene was born in Baltimore, Md., on July 12, 1923 to Joseph and Rachel (Solomon) Mandel. The family moved to Norfolk where Irene attended Maury High School. She was a life...

Patricia Leffew Ashkenazi

Virginia Beach—Patricia Leffew Ashkenazi, 70, passed away May 9, 2019 in Virginia Beach, surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her husband, Avraham Ashkenazi of Virginia Beach; children Pam Zettervall, husband Chris and children Laura and Olivia;...

A lost song and a grandson’s tribute

In Vilden Vald—Aaron Tessler ft. Zemiros Choir The Holocaust’s devastation brought about not only the decimation of the Jewish people in body, but also immeasurable losses to Jewish culture. Countless and precious pieces of memory, history, and tradition disappeared...

Artists 4 Israel

Leon Family Gallery, Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus May 2019 Craig Dershowitz, executive director of Artists 4 Israel, manages this group of artists from across the world who use the power of art to beautify the land, uplift people, and enhance Israel’s image....

JCC Seniors Club to tour Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond

Wednesday, June 19, 9 am—5 pm Holocaust education is vital to ensuring that people today know the warning signs that led to the attempted destruction of the Jewish people in Nazi Germany. “Understanding the lessons of the Holocaust makes people better citizens,...

Barr Foundation’s yad collection on display at Temple Emanu-El

Through August 11 Temple Emanu-El, 1 East 65th Street, New York City Museum hours: Sunday–Thursday, 10 am–4 pm Traveling to New York City during the next couple of months? If so, try to include a visit to Temple Emanu-El’s Bernard Museum of Judaica to view the Barr...

Ambassador casts a new light on Israel

Ambassador Ido Aharoni spoke at Ohef Sholom Temple as part of the Community Relations Council of the United Federation of Tidewater and community partners’ 8th annual Israel Today series on Wednesday, May 8. As a member of Israel’s Foreign Service for 25 years, and as...