Sarah Cooper | Jewish News

Accommodations for open participation at Sandler Family Campus

Sarah Cooper — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:40:50 +0000

Providing accommodations for everyone who visits the Sandler Family Campus is an ongoing commitment for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Simon Family JCC. The campus facilities continue to be at the forefront of making certain all may visit and take advantage of the events, programs, classes, and fitness opportunities.

The automatic doors for the main entrance, bathrooms, and other entrances in the building, for example, may be opened with the push of a button, so that anyone requiring assistance, young and old alike, may enter. An elevator is also a staple of the campus, bringing patrons to the second floor for the Fitness Center, meeting rooms, and business offices.

UJFT hosts myriad programs and events to enrich Jewish learning, innovation, and celebration of the arts. These programs include the annual Jewish Book Festival and Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, speakers for the Community Relations Council and Israel Today programs, as well as classes offered by the Konikoff Center for Learning. Anyone who wants to attend these programs or classes is offered several accommodations at registration. For the hearing impaired or non-English speakers, interpreting services, assisted listening services to amplify sounds, preferential seating, and closed caption options are offered. Participants can opt for sensory fidget tools or noise-reducing headphones. The visually impaired are offered audio recordings when written materials are involved. UJFT and JCC staff are available to assist online registration when help is needed.

In a place where everyone is welcome, regardless of ethnicity, religion, age, or political stance, it’s no wonder that accommodations are provided for those in need.

To request accommodations, find a drop-down menu of options on any event page or contact Sarah Cooper at Scooper@ujft.org.

Retirees keep busy at Simon Family JCC

Sarah Cooper — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:32:49 +0000

The opportunities for engagement for retirees and seniors presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Simon Family JCC are plentiful and varied and designed to offer something for nearly everyone.

The Senior Club, for example, meets once a month and always includes lunch and an engaging activity. In November, the Virginia Opera presented a beautiful show of arias and duets; and in December, a holiday lunch party was held at Outback Steakhouse that included an optional gift exchange. Israeli dancing and a Passover seder are scheduled for the spring. Membership is only $15 a year (due in July) and it’s not necessary to be a JCC member to join.

Roundtable Conversations is a bimonthly gathering where current events are discussed (usually in a lively, respectful manner). Participants enjoy the fellowship along with coffee and snacks.

Yiddish and Book Clubs also meet once a month.

The calendar on page 35 lists specific dates and times for the clubs’ meetings and other events.

Many retirees gather every week for board and card games. From Mah Jongg, Bridge, Bunco, Mexican Train, and Scrabble, there is sure to be a game that everyone can play.

JCC membership gives access to all of this, plus use of the fitness equipment, fitness classes, and aquatics. Silver Sneakers is a program provided under certain healthcare coverage and offers free membership.

For additional information on clubs, gaming, and events, contact Sarah Cooper, coordinator of Arts & Lifelong Engagement, at Scooper@ujft.org or 757-452-3184. For information on Silver Sneakers and membership, call 757-321-2338 or go to simonfamilyjcc.org.

Sunday Fun Day: Down on the farm

Sarah Cooper — Thu, 08 May 2025 17:27:46 +0000

Sunday, April 6 turned into a very warm and sunny day for Sunday Fun Day at Hunt Club Farm. The event sold out and had a waiting list of families that wanted to join the farm fun. Families put on their sunscreen, hats, and tennis shoes and arrived at the first off-site Sunday Fun Day of the year – and the first one at Hunt Club since 2023. Spring was in the air and with the petting farm opening full time in April, it was a great way to enjoy the outdoors.

The petting farm includes rabbits, pigs, goats, sheep, donkeys, llamas, alpacas, and new this year, mini-highland cows. Feed cups were given to the first 15 families that registered, which usually makes the animals happy. A BirdWalk Aviary features beautiful parakeets and bird sticks with seeds are available for up close encounters. Those who wanted some movement and play headed to the TreeWalk Adventure, with its connected netted bridges, treehouses, and slides. Pony rides are also an option, and many families stopped for ice cream at the little store on the way out.

In addition to the fun it offers, Hunt Club Farm is educational. Children learn about different animals and how to practice compassion and are exposed to life on a farm and the importance of agriculture.

A great time was had by all. To learn more about future gatherings, contact Sarah Cooper at scooper@ujft.org.

Liam and Mollie Glassman pet a pig.

Mollie Glassman poses as a scarecrow.

The Oliszewski family enjoys the warm day together.

Rabbi Ari and Ben Oliszewski feed the alpaca.

Lia Oliszewski feeds the alpaca.

Amy and Liam Yashaev enjoy cuddling with the highland cows.

Makinley Rayner and her friend loved the birdwalk aviary.

Makinley and Liliana Beasley make silly poses.

Operation Hamantaschen: A sweet gathering

Sarah Cooper — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 18:03:49 +0000

An excellent community turnout greeted Operation Hamantaschen’s return to the Simon Family JCC on Sunday, March 9.

The JCC was abuzz with cookie-making and engagement for people of all ages. BBYO volunteers jumped to the challenge of setting up for the event, running trays, cleaning and resetting cookie tables, boxing cooled cookies, and delivering them to their owners. The Jewish Innovation Steering Committee offered a big hand in manning the ovens and helping with the mitzvah project. Plus, the Children and Family Committee gathered a few days before the event to make the dough and prepare the fillings. Everyone’s assistance contributed to making Operation Hamantaschen run smoothly.

As last year, PJ Library of Tidewater decided to make Misloach Manot (gift baskets), one of the other main activities of the day. Participants donated snacks and candy, and the Jewish Community Relations Council purchased lots of hamantaschen to add to the baskets. The JCRC delivered these baskets to 45 local agencies and organizations that have shown and continue to support Tidewater’s Jewish community.
What makes this event special is the hands-on aspect of everyone involved. From dough making to rolling the dough to packaging cookies, it’s a day of creating sweet memories with family and friends and showing appreciation to others.

To learn more about PJ Library in Tidewater or learn about upcoming programs, visit JewishVA.org/PJLibrary or contact Sarah Cooper at Scooper@ujft.org.

Mara and Avery Goldstein focus on their cookie making.

The Beasley family works together.

Logan Hoffman, a BBYO volunteer, runs a tray to the kitchen.

Grayson Lautman helps other children

Mimi and Teresa Greer carefully add the fillings.

Shinshinim Danielle Hartman leads fun Purim games with the children.

Kids Night Out: Supreme Pool Party

Sarah Cooper — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:35:27 +0000

Saturday, April 26, 5 – 9 pm Sandler Family Campus

The last Kids Night Out of the school year will be a special Supreme Pool Party Edition.

With lots of beach balls, noodles, and dive toys, this Kids Night Out is sure to end the year with a splash! Kids will hang out with campers and counselors from Camp JCC, their Strelitz schoolmates, and friends from the community.

Parents can drop off their 4- to 12-year-old children to enjoy a night filled with crafts, games, snacks, and lifeguard-supervised swimming (for those who can swim without a flotation device). Send children with a kosher-style dinner as they will eat within the first hour.

Note that Kids Night Out has new hours this year: 5 – 9 pm.

Register at https://jcc.jewishva.org/kids by 4 pm on Friday, April 25 or before it sells out. For more information or to share suggestions for future events, contact Sarah Cooper at scooper@ujft.org or call 757-321-2306.

Glow party: Sisters Emelia and Scarlett St. Pierre and friend Noa Glaser at the Glow Party in December.

Levi Cohen, Henry Rhone III, Noah Bernstein, and Jan Hodicky always enjoy swimming at Kids Night Out.

A twist on tradition

Sarah Cooper — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 19:17:01 +0000

The smell of fresh cookies baking filled the Sandler Family Campus on Sunday, March 10 for the annual “Operation Hamantaschen” PJ Library event.

Children, parents, grandparents, and friends put on colorful aprons, pushed up their sleeves, and dove into the delicious, premade dough. Rolling pins and circle cutters helped make the right shape as everyone added their favorite jams and chocolate. Trays were quickly filled as volunteers ran them to the kitchen and brought out packaged, cooled cookies for those that were finished.

As usual, the sweet Sunday also doubled as a PJ Library Sunday Fun Day with plenty of engaging activities in the gym, including an art station with paper crowns and felt masks to decorate. Children giggled as they jumped in a bounce house while others coasted across the floor on scooters, many proudly wearing costumes to celebrate Purim. Parents got in on the fun by shooting hoops, playing a quick soccer match, or by catching up with friends on the bleachers.

Operation Hamantaschen is an event families look forward to each year. While it’s great to get together, celebrate a holiday, and take home some tasty treats, this event also incorporates an element of giving back. In years past, participants took home half of their cookies and donated the other half to local military families. This year was different. Due to world events and rising antisemitism, the children and family committee decided to do something new. In accordance with the holiday, Mishloach Manot, or Purim gift baskets, would be made and delivered to local organizations that have stood by and supported Israel and the Jewish community. Families donated an array of snacks and candy, as well as baskets and other decorating material, to make the gift baskets in the gym. YAD partnered with the event and several volunteers directed this table.

Operation Hamantaschen was successful because of everyone who participated – from making dough beforehand, to donating items, from attending the event, to delivering gift baskets.

Molly Futerman cuts out perfect circles and knows how to reuse the dough.

Rabbi Aron Margolin and Cantor David Proser are ready to bake the first trays of cookies.

Ariel Lopez flattens the dough for cutting.

The Collins family works together to prep the dough.

Shinshin Maya Ostrov helps Liam Glassman with the raspberry jam.

The Rosenbergs start to add the fillings.

Alene Kaufman and Cantor David Proser baked for the familie

Mimi Greer checks that the chocolate is just right.