To better protect the members of the Jewish community who worship and attend area synagogues, day schools, and other Jewish agencies in Tidewater, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater with support from a Tidewater Jewish Foundation community impact grant, joined with...
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All Texas synagogue hostages ‘out alive and safe’ after harrowing 12-hour standoff, suspect is dead
(JTA)—All four hostages at a synagogue in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area were declared “out alive and safe” by Texas Governor Greg Abbott at 9:33 pm CST on Saturday, January 15, following a 12-hour standoff with an armed assailant in an unfolding saga that...

‘Quite simply a mensch’: Meet Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, freed after hostage crisis at his synagogue
(JTA)—Over the course of a harrowing 12 hours on Saturday, January 15, the entire world found out just what the Jews of Colleyville, Texas, think of their hometown rabbi. “Our rabbi is a wonderful human being,” Ellen Smith, who grew up at Congregation Beth Israel,...
2022 UJFT Community Campaign on track for a successful year
On January 14, 2022, the UJFT Community campaign stood at $4,595,000 from 1,000 individual gifts. This total is about $88,000 ahead of where the campaign stood on the same day last year. And even better: there are a good number of potential gifts still “out there” in...
The VAAD Hakashrus of Tidewater mission is to make kosher meals available to Jews in homes, at stores, and parties—and in prison.
The word kosher is associated with dietary provisions one chooses to follow in support of deeply held religious beliefs. The role of the VAAD (Hampton Roads’ kosher supervisory resource) is instinctively tethered to Jews’ freedom to enjoy kosher meals in restaurants,...
Jewish Family Service helps hundreds of local people during Fall 2021 outreach projects
Now in its 29th year, Jewish Family Service of Tidewater’s Annual Hanukkah outreach programs helped local Jewish families in financial need. Because of safety concerns with COVID-19, families received assorted gift cards for each child, along with a small bag filled...
Saffron & Rosewater
Sunday, February 26, 7:30 pm Old Dominion University’s Goode Theatre The perfume of Persian nights will transport the audience into a fragrant evening of stories, song, and surprises. An original show, it explores the Persian Jewish woman’s experiences as a child...
Campers will go on Adventures through Time at Camp JCC this summer
Registration opens February 1 Camp JCC, the Simon Family JCC’s popular summer program for children two years old through grade 11, begins accepting registrations for new and returning campers on Wednesday, February 1. Families are encouraged to sign up early to ensure...
Calling all bakers and cookie makers: Operation Hamantaschen
Sunday, February 19, 10 am–1 pm, Simon Family JCC The delicious aroma of fresh baked goods will flow through the halls of the Simon Family JCC during Operation Hamantaschen. Filled with assorted fruit jams or other sweet confections, these tasty triangular shaped...
Stir: My Broken Brain and the Meals That Brought Me Home
Wednesday, March 15, 12 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus Author of the award-winning memoir, Stir: My Broken Brain and the Meals that Brought Me Home, Jessica Fechtor will share her journey of recovery from a ruptured aneurysm at age 28 and how she reclaimed her...
CRC’s 5th annual Israel Poster Contest for first–12th graders
Deadline: Monday, February 13 The Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater invites area first through 12th graders to participate in its fourth annual Israel Poster Contest. Students and teachers can find a list of cool facts about...
Saturday Night Laughs, a comedy show
Saturday, February 18, 7:30 pm, Ohef Sholom Temple An evening of eating, drinking, and clean comedy, hosted by Susan Sussman, Ohef Sholom Temple’s comedienne, will take place in the temple’s Kaufman Hall. The exciting lineup of very funny people includes national...
Israeli pianist, a Young Concert Artist winner, to perform at Sandler Center’s Miller Theater
Tomer Gewirtzman, piano February 8, 7:30 pm One of the most exciting artists to emerge from the acclaimed Young Concert Artists program, Tomer Gewirtzman, pianist, is slated to perform at the Sandler Center’s Miller Theatre. The concert is presented by Virginia Arts...
Israel Story with Mishy Harman, master podcast storyteller
Thursday, February 16, 7:30 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus, free In a world of visual media communication, a radio podcast might seem like a throwback to an earlier era, but Mishy Harman, a curly haired, 30-something Jerusalemite, experienced an epiphany during...
Join CRC in Richmond for Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day
Wednesday, February 8 Deadline for registration: Tuesday, January 31 One of the great strengths of the Tidewater Jewish community is that so many people are willing to take action when it comes to issues impacting Israel or Jews locally and abroad. As such, the CRC...
What was Pharaoh thinking?
It’s interesting to reflect on the Torah portion, Parshat Bo, while reading Alan Morinis’s book, Everyday Holiness, in preparation for Tidewater Together. This year, the series of programs focuses on the theory and practice of mussar, a 200-year-old system of Jewish...
Thanks to generous donors, Jewish Family Service helped 120 families during Hanukkah
Now in its 24th year, Jewish Family Service of Tidewater’s Chanukah Gift Program annually helps local Jewish families in financial need with gifts and gift cards for their children and teens, and with money for those without children. This year, JFS received donations...
At dawn of the Trump era, two Jewish tribes descend on Washington
WASHINGTON ( JTA)—“Cantor Kaufman!” Rabbi Jonah Pesner shouted across the intersection of 3rd and D in Washington’s Northwest quadrant, packed sidewalk to sidewalk with women in pink pussycat hats and their male friends. “A song!” Jason Kaufman, the cantor at Beth El...
What Trump can do for Mideast peace on day one
(JTA)—In the run-up to his swearing-in on Friday, January 20, President Donald Trump made a series of big promises to Israel. Aside from his oft-repeated pledge to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, he has talked about reviving the peace process with...
For Jewish groups in Women’s March, many causes to fight for and a long road ahead
(JTA)—One Jewish group that joined the Women’s March on Washington has seen its online donations double since the election of Donald Trump as president. Another has twice as many guests as usual attending its annual conference. A third has seen its social media...
Reporting to a diverse audience
An article this month in the London-based The Jewish Chronicle, headlined: “Trump will widen the fissures in Jewish America,” states: “American Jews are well positioned to weather the storm that Mr. Trump has unleashed. The same, however, cannot be said for the...
Join the Society of Professionals’ Professional Directory
Application deadline: May 1 The official merging last fall of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Maimonides Society (medical professionals) and the Business and Legal Society into UJFT’s Society of Professionals, creates an abundance of networking and...
KBH and Temple Israel continue joint celebrations
For the last 16 years, Kehillat Bet Hamidrash/Kempsville Conservative Synagogue and Temple Israel have enjoyed a programming partnership, sharing simchas, celebrations, programs, and prayers. Hanukkah 5777 saw another opportunity for being together. KBH holds an...
Finally! Etgar Keret
Israeli author Etgar Keret was slated to speak at Old Dominion University’s Literary Festival this past September. Ahead of his visit, Jewish News published a review of his latest book, A Seven Year Memoir and an article about his receiving the $100,000 Bronfman...
Mazel Tov
Mazel Tov Special Section, January 30, 2017
“Kahbaid” weekend coordinated by Beth Sholom Village February 17–18
We read it every year and are urged to practice it every day. Kahbaid et a’vecha v’et e’mecha. Honor your father and mother is the fifth of the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai and which appear first in the Torah in the sedrah Yitro. (Exodus,...