Norfolk—Helen Bell Walker Shapiro, 79, passed away at her home in Norfolk on Monday, June 8, 2020, after a brief, but brave struggle with cancer. Helen was born in February of 1941 in Norfolk, Va. and grew up on Bute Street. At Maury High School she discovered a...
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Mystery Wine Night a huge hit for YAD during quarantine
A Zoom chat room of Young Adult Division (YAD) members was filled with clinking glasses, generous pours, and lots of laughter on Thursday, May 21. That’s because YAD hosted its first-ever, Mystery Wine Night. YADians conducted blind taste tests of four wines and...
A hero lost, but forever loved: Stan Smolen
When my sister Lynn and I were young, Daddy was our hero. As we grew up and learned his stories we realized he was an American hero, too. Our precious father, Stan Smolen, died last month at the age of 95. He was a veteran of WWII who served his country proudly. He...
2020 Community Campaign
Not quite what we’d envisioned As the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2020 Community Campaign draws to a close, many of us will look back on it as “one for the record books.” The 2020 Campaign—Our 2020 Vision, as we called it—did not turn out to be anything...
At the J, contactless training is an exercise in reinvention
Tires on cars, in parking lots, is so 2019. Pandemic life touches just about everything and everyone. Some of the efforts to adapt produce marvel-inducing change. When COVID-19 struck and Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s ruling made it no longer possible to use the...
Fierce forces of human nature: Local congregations rise to the occasion
Community leadership calls for more than soliciting donors and volunteers who buy into your vision. Patti Wainger and Dorianne Villani recently passed an overnight crash course on the contact-free fight against local food insecurity. Together with members of their...
Encore screening of What We Carry holocaust documentary
Sunday, Jan. 6, 3 pm A standing-room-only crowd of more than 800 packed the Tidewater Community College’s Roper Theater in downtown Norfolk last March to attend the premiere of the documentary, What We Carry. Featuring the memories, insights and inspirational messages...
Marco Grimaldo visits area pre-legislative session
Sunday, Jan. 13, 10:30 am The Community Relations Council organizes the Tidewater community each year to prepare for the “Date with a State,” when representatives from Jewish communities across Virginia descend on Richmond to lobby for issues considered pertinent to...
YAD celebrates Chanukah with a Sushi-Sake-Latke party
An Asian fusion twist on a traditional Chanukah party, Sushi-Sake-Latke was the Young Adult Division of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s biggest event of the year. Held on Saturday, Dec. 1 in the Cardo on the Sandler Family Campus, more than 180 people...
Community trip to Holocaust Museum
Holocaust Commission members have been talking for years about taking a trip to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. One was finally set up for Oct. 30. Thanks to Hurricane Sandy, those looking forward to the trip would have to wait a little...
Film Festival looks back over 20 years
View the full film schedule here The Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, which will celebrate its 20th consecutive year as a major cultural event in this community Jan. 19–27, was a feat for a community this size when it began in 1993. Twenty years ago, Marty...
Learning Fest reinvigorates Romanian Jews
Over the past 20 years, Romania’s Jewish community has been completely transformed. “For us, Jewish life is really integrated with modern life,” says Luciana Friedmann, president of the Jewish community of Timisoara, Romania. “Two hundred and forty people singing...
“Tour De Mensch” bike event recognizes Jewish Service members
Beth El members Craig and Joanna Schranz wanted to create an event that got people outside to raise awareness for a good cause. And so, with Congregation Beth El Men’s Club and the Mitzvah in Motion group, Tour De Mensch was born. Held on Nov. 4 to recognize the long...
Beth El brings N.Y. speaker series to Tidewater
Say the words, “92nd Street Y” to someone who’s moved to Tidewater from New York or New Jersey. Chances are, eyes will brighten with a knowing look, and a sigh, or sound of longing, may follow. An abundant and expansive calendar of cultural, educational and community...
Super Sunday Committee makes an investment in community
When creating the theme for this year's Super Sunday fundraising phone-a-thon, the young Jewish community leaders on the steering committee opted to toss out the cutesy and sporty ideas of the past. The 10 Super Sunday committee members instead chose a concept that...
National Mix-It-Up Day 2012 launches joint activities at HAT and Strelitz Preschool
Celebrated by schools across the country, National Mix It Up Day promotes respect and tolerance among children. The program, first introduced to Hebrew Academy of Tidewater by school guidance counselor Michele Fenley, LCSW, encourages children to broaden their...
Freda H. Gordon Hospice and Palliative Care of Tidewater receives Gold Seal of Approval® from The Joint Commission
In operation for just a few months, the Freda H. Gordon Hospice and Palliative Care of Tidewater has already made a big impact on many of its patients’ family members, including Irwin Kroskin. When his wife Ruthi became ill, Kroskin called on the hospice team. “When...
Vayyehi: The end of the beginning
This Shabbat, throughout the Jewish world we read Parashat Vayyehi, the concluding portion of the Book of Bereshit. However brief it may appear in comparison to other Parashiyot, its importance remains vital to the development of the People of Israel during Biblical...
Thank you for a great 2012
While it is hard to believe we’re wrapping up another calendar year, it is easy to recall that Jewish News reported on a lot of news and activity in 2012. In fact, we printed more pages than ever. Trips to Israel and Cuba, the elections, unrest in the Middle East,...
Linking to Lincoln on Chanukah
LOS ANGELES (JTA)—We need to celebrate a Lincoln Chanukah this year. It’s not because of the new Spielberg movie—that gives us something to do on Christmas Day—but because of the 150th anniversary of a little-known event in American history that threatened to expel a...
Vergie Veronica McCall: A Star of David
In her soothing voice, Vergie McCall recites Psalms 23 and 91 to her hospice patients. “Prayers are powerful,” she confirms. “When you leave this world, you are going to the presence of God,” her grandmother used to say. “In the spirit of the Divine, you are no longer...
Alan Jay Tucker
Norfolk—Alan Jay Tucker, 69, passed away Saturday, Nov, 24, 2012. Alan was born April 8, 1943 and retired as a professional bridge player. He is survived by his wife JoAnn; his sister Barbra; step-daughter Maria and her husband; grandchildren Alexander, Michael, Zoe;...
Edward S. Levine
Virginia Beach—Edward S. Levine, 67, passed away Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born Nov. 26, 1944 in Brooklyn, N. Y. to the late Albert and Miriam Levine. He spent his life in the paper industry, starting his own company,...
Dr. Harvey A. Glick
Virginia Beach—Dr. Harvey A. Glick passed on Thursday Nov. 22, 2012 surrounded by his loving family in a local hospital. He practiced family dentistry and served many patients and their families in the Great Bridge area for 45 years. He was a proud member of the Ohef...
Rosemarie Simone Blais
Virginia Beach—Rosemarie Simone Blais (nee Verboncoeur) died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, at her home in Virginia Beach after battling cancer for many years. She was 72. Born in Windecken, Germany Jan. 18, 1940 and moved to the United States in 1948. In her adult life,...
Stephen David Baer
Virginia Beach—Stephen David Baer, publisher, lawyer, entrepreneur, and pianist extraordinaire, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. He was born to Eli and Sadie Glasser Baer in Washington, D.C. where he lived until age 10, before moving to Baltimore, Md. Mr. Baer...