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Unpacking Antisemitism: An action-based workshop

Sunday, October 17, 1 pm In partnership with Old Dominion University’s Institute for Jewish Studies & Interfaith Understanding, the Jewish Community Relations Council is hosting an afternoon workshop to learn strategies to fight the rising tide of antisemitism....

Christine Rafal

Virginia Beach—Christine Hansen Rafal passed away peacefully in her home on August 24, 2021 in Virginia Beach. She was surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was born in Alexandria, Va. on December 2, 1949 to Mae and Henry Hansen, of blessed memory. Chris...

Stanley Saks

Philadelphia, Pa.—Stanley Saks, age 100, died August 24, 2021. Husband of the late Miriam Saks, father of Sandra Stern, Donna (Bernie) Greenberg, and Edward (Sherry) Saks; brother of Robert (Yetta) Saks; also survived by 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren....

Stop & Shop…and Support a Great Cause

Jewish Family Service of Tidewater’s Helping Hearts project Sunday, Oct. 11, 1–5 pm, Simon Family JCC, free Screening of I’ll Be Me, 2 pm Shopping and a free movie? Sounds like a great day! Jewish Family Service of Tidewater is hosting the 2nd Annual Holiday Stop...

Diary of Anne Frank stars Elizabeth and Dorothy Hughes

Peninsula Community Theatre in Newport News, through Sunday, Oct. 18 Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm; Sundays at 2:30 pm No stranger to the stage, 13-yearold Elizabeth Hughes has appeared in professional and community theater, school, dance and summer camp...

Camp Scholarship Tzedakah box at the JCC for 2016 Campers

“I didn’t know until recently that some families can’t afford the full tuition of Camp JCC each summer,” says Linda Spindel, active JCC board member. “I just took it for granted that all kids who wanted to come to Camp JCC could attend.” Reading recently that the...

Abundant opportunities to “do good” at 2nd Annual Mitzvah Day

Sunday, Oct. 25, 1:30–4:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus All ages. Free and open to the community. Register at www.JewishVA.org/mitzvah-day Last year’s inaugural Mitzvah Day attracted more than 300 community members who leapt at the opportunity to do mitzvot (good deeds...

Congregation Beth El welcomes new cantor

Cantor Wendi Portman Fried joined Congregation Beth El on August 1 and has been in constant motion since her first day. Cantor Wendi, as she is best known, most recently served the Congregation of Shaare Tefillah and the community of Olney, Md. for 10 years....

Mazel Tov

Dear Readers, Fortunately, there is always a reason to exclaim, “Mazel Tov!” With our 2nd Annual Mitzvah Day just around the corner and our Federation’s Campaign kickoff primed for success, it is fruitful to remember that we do not need to look very far or too hard to...

Why Pope Francis has given religion a good name again

NEW YORK (JTA)—This is a momentous time—not only because it is Judaism’s most sacred season, but also because as we welcome 5776, we in North America are also welcoming Pope Francis, one of the most inspiring religious leaders of our time. Rather than hiding in...

Does Iran deal rift mean Jews will go GOP in 2016?

(JTA)—One conspiracy theory making the rounds is that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s various Iran-related confrontations with President Barack Obama are part of a Sheldon Adelson plot to turn American Jews into Republican Party voters in 2016. Even if one rejects...

Lech-Lecha (Genesis 12:1–17:27)

Noah was not destined to be the father of the Jewish people, nor the founder of our faith. Though the most righteous one in his corrupt generation, he failed to reach out and save human lives besides those of his own family. Thus, the rabbis who were aware of Noah’s...

Marvin Mandel, Maryland’s only Jewish governor

Marvin Mandel, the only Jewish governor of Maryland, died at 95. Mandel, a Democrat who led the East Coast state from 1969 until 1977, died Sunday, August 30 in St. Mary’s County, Md. The cause of death was not provided. His gubernatorial record was a mixed one: While...

Isidore Simonoff

Norfolk —Isidore Simonoff, 98, died Monday, August 24, 2015, at Beth Sholom Home of Eastern Virginia. He was a native of Brooklyn, N. Y. and lived in Norfolk for most of his life. He was the son of the late Max and Rachel Rappaport Simonoff and was preceded in death...

Margo Kranz Gottesman

Kensimgton , Md.—Margo Kranz Gottesman died on August 31, 2015, after a long illness. She is survived by her caring and loving husband, Moshe; beloved sons, Nathaniel and Jonah; and devoted siblings, Jessica Hughes, Rachel Bankier, Jonathan Kranz and their spouses....

Sylvia Lerner Glazer

Norfolk —Sylvia Lerner Glazer, 73, of Charleston, passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at home. A retired secondary school teacher from Norfolk, Va., Sylvia moved to Charleston in 1972 and attended Temple Israel. She was a graduate of the National Cathedral...

Helene Blum

NORFOLK—Helene Blum (nee Piwovar) 87, formerly of Philadelphia, Pa., passed away on August 19, 2015. She is survived by her husband Herschel, two daughters and their husbands, two grandchildren and four great grandchildren. With the encouragement and support of her...

First ever Tidewater Shabbat Project

Friday, Oct. 23–Saturday, Oct. 24 Jewish people will gather in hundreds of cities around the world for the international Shabbat Project. The concept is simple: Jews of all walks of life, from across the spectrum—religious, secular and traditional; young and old, from...

CRC presents The Hope: The Rebirth of Israel

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7 pm, Sandler Family Campus Partnering with the Christian Broadcasting Network, the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater invites the community to a free screening and discussion of The Hope: The Rebirth of...

Reading begins for Book Festival

Henna House author: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7 pm, Simon Family JCC The annual “community read” book for the Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Jewish Book Festival is now available for purchase. Henna House is an evocative and stirring novel about a young woman...