The brutal 11-day attack by Hamas on Israeli citizens demonstrated to the world just how fragile peace is between Israel and its neighbors. It also was a reminder for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater to unequivocally reaffirm its support of the State of Israel’s...
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Congresswoman Elaine Luria joins group asking President Biden to fight anti-Semitism
A group of moderates, including Congresswoman Elaine Luria, sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Tuesday, May 25, condemning a series of comments they deem as anti-Semitic. They write: “We are deeply disturbed by the recent surge of antisemitic incidents in the...
What is the Iron Dome? All about the missile defense system that changed how Israelis experience war
(JTA)—Overnight between Thursday, May 13 and Friday, May 14, an arresting image appeared on social media: On the right, streaks of fire shot out into the night sky—rockets heading for a group of buildings illuminated in the darkness. But on the other side of the...
Life in Israel During Conflict: Perspectives from people with local connections
Several Tidewater Jewish community members have friends and relatives who live in Israel and were candid in talking about the current situation. When asked how their lives have been affected and how they feel about the ongoing con-flict, this is what they said: ARLENE...
‘Twas the year the Christmas lights went out for good: Joseph “Buddy” and Leonard Strelitz
This is the first in a series on generations of families in Jewish Tidewater. Joseph “Buddy” Strelitz honored his mother’s single dying wish and became a trailblazer for the Jewish tribe in her memory. Buddy’s son, John Strelitz, says that his grandmother’s only...
JCC Camp staff positions Calling all Grads!
“We want you (all graduates—high school and/or college) to embark on a leadership role with us at Camp JCC,” says Dave Flagler, director of Camp and Teen Engagement at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC. Camp JCC is hiring senior counselors...
Business
Dear Readers, From Downtown Norfolk to Tel Aviv, Jewish businesses and entrepreneurs positively impact everyday living with an array of products and services. Consider the Israeli company, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, whose headquarters for its North American and...
Rabbi Dr. Judith Abrams, pioneering online Talmud teacher
Rabbi Dr. Judith Abrams, the founder and director of the online Talmud learning website MAQOM, has died. Abrams, who made a career of Jewish teaching and learning, died of a heart attack on Oct. 22 in Houston. She was 56. She was a relative latecomer to Jewish study....
Herman P. Simon
NEWPORT NEWS—Herman P. Simon, 93, passed away on Thursday, October 16,2014. He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y. and was a resident of Newport News since 1949. He was a graduate of New York University with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1946 and received an MBA...
Lt. Col. Joseph Howard Keller
Norfolk — Lt. Col. Joseph Howard Keller, U.S. Army retired, 99, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014 at Beth Sholom Home in Virginia Beach. He was a retired civil engineer for the Dupont Corporation. Born in Portsmouth, Va., he was the son of the late Belle...
Dr. Ira Gould
Virginia Beach —Dr. Ira Gould passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014, at the age of 94. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Frances Ruth Lasting Gould, his children, Robin, Bruce (Jennifer), and Randy (Natalie). He is also survived by his...
Ruth Virginia “Ginny” Harfield Goodman
Norfolk — Ruth Virginia “Ginny” Harfield Goodman died on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014. Ginny was born in Norfolk in 1926, the daughter of Rose Salsbury Harfield and Eugene Eliot Harfield, and graduated from Maury High School in 1944 and Syracuse University in 1948. She was...
Aaron Brewer
Portsmouth — Aaron Brewer, 91 years old, a native of Portsmouth, Va., passed away Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. He was one of eight children born to Ida and Benjamin Brewer. He was a photographer for the Portsmouth Star newspaper before being drafted into the army in 1943...
Richard and Beth Gross
Richard and Beth Gross on the engagement of their son, Geoffrey Todd Gross of Boca Raton, Fla. to Leah Hanah Berkowitz, also of Boca Raton. Leah is the daughter of Fred and Cathy Berkowitz of Boca Raton. She is a senior at Brandeis University. Geoff is the youth...
Rabbi Israel Zoberman at U.S. Senate
To mark the occasion of Rabbi Israel Zoberman’s 40th anniversary of his ordination, Senator Mark Warner will sponsor his delivery of the opening prayer at the U.S. Senate session on Thursday, Dec. 11. The session will be carried live on CSPAN.
The Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival
Through Sunday, Nov. 16 by Leslie Shroyer Nine author events are taking place at the Simon Family JCC during the Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival. Three are highlighted here. For all events, go to www.SimonFamilyJCC.org. A musical evening The Late...
Chill Zone: A new opportunity for Jewish girls
Thursdays by Jenny Lefcoe With the 2015–2016 school year kicking off, it’s easy to become overwhelmed, exhausted and want to seek an outlet from the endless pressures of daily life. To help Jewish girls with that need for an outlet, Tidewater has a new and exciting...
Keeping an eye on Iran
by Robin Mancoll Are you keeping your eye on the ball? Or, in this case, are you keeping your eye on Iran’s progress as they head toward nuclear weapons capability? With so much taking place in the Middle East, it’s easy to lose sight of what we thought last year at...
Update from the State, Lieutenant Governor Ralph S. Northam visits community
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 7 pm, Sandler Family Campus The number of topics Ralph Northam can speak about when he visits the Sandler Family Campus run the gamut from the recent election, to conflicts over Medicaid expansion, to the latest neurological surgery procedures, to...
Book Festival cookbook for busy cooks
Kosher Cuisine: For a New Generation Cantor Mitch, The Singing Chef Red Portal Press, 2014 168pp., $16.95, ISBN 978-1-938063-53-4 On Thursday, Nov. 6, at noon, Cantor Mitch Kowitz will be present in partnership with Beth Sholom Village and Jewish Family Service as...
Just in time for author visit
Hanna and Walter Hanna and Walter Kohner With Frederick Kohner iUniverse, reissued 2008 147pp., $14.95 ISBN 978-0-595-46598-9 On Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Women’s Cabinet PLUS ONE brunch, co-hosted by the UJFT Holocaust Commission, attendees will hear a Holocaust story...
YAD off to great start for 2014–2015
From Sukkot to Cornhole to business networking to social action, the Young Adult Division of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater offered “something for everyone” with several recent successful kick-off events. For YAD Men’s programming, The 1st Annual Cornhole...
Community shows up to advocate for Jewish priorities
The community recently had the opportunity to hear the 2nd Congressional District of Virginia candidates share their views. The event on Monday, Oct. 20 at the Sandler Family Campus allowed attendees to personally meet incumbent Rep. Scott Rigell (R) and challenger...
Business & Legal Society makes waves with lunchtime event at ZIM
by Laine Mednick Rutherford A shipping container has a finite amount of space in which to fit cargo. So, too, does the boardroom at the ZIM USA office building in Norfolk—in relation to how many people it can seat for lunch. Fortunate, then, were the 32 members and...
Men’s Major Donors: Men gather to show support for Jewish community
There are those who have been close friends for years. Others are business associates or casual acquaintances who see each other in synagogue or at community events. Still others are multi-generational members of the same family. Some reside a substantial time of the...
Beneath The Helmet: From High School to the Home Front
Tidewater premier: Thursday, Nov. 20, 7 pm Beneath the Helmet: From High School to the Home Front is a new full-length documentary film from Jerusalem U, the creators of the PBS-featured documentary Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference. The...