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Singer-Songwriter Rick Recht to perform community concerts in Tidewater Thursday, November 29–Sunday, December 2 A popular Jewish rock star, Rick Recht is also an educator and leadership motivator. During his visit to Tidewater’s Jewish community, Recht will bring his...
Across the nation, vigils, services, and town hall meetings have taken place since the horrific murders at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 27. The same is true for Tidewater. In sanctuaries and in public spaces and in private schools, the...
The 11 victims of the Saturday, October 27 attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue included two brothers with intellectual disabilities, a married couple and a physician who assisted patients in the early days of the AIDS crisis. The chief medical examiner of Pittsburgh's...
Israel Today’s first ever artist-in-residence, Hanoch Piven, will lead a variety of workshops for people of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities, as well as display his work in the Leon Family Gallery during his two-week Tidewater visit, October 15–October 26.
The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater kicked-off its 2019 Annual Campaign to a standing room only crowd on Thursday, Sept. 6 at the Sandler Family Campus. Featured speaker Izzy Ezagui— IDF soldier and author—addressed the packed room, and kept the audience spellbound as he recounted the harrowing and heartening experiences of his life.
(JTA)—For North American Jews, the Jewish year 5778 began with tensions between Israel and the Diaspora over egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall and ended with more tension over a controversial nationality law. In between, North American Jews grappled with the impact of the #MeToo movement, the Trump administration relocated the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv and actress Natalie Portman made headlines for turning down a chance to collect a top prize in Israel.
An annual reminder of what it means to be Jewish, this year the High Holidays get their ‘ jump start’ on September 1 with the joyful Selichot services. The following Thursday, another motivator to start 5779 on a positive note—inspiring personal growth and commitment to one’s self as well as to the greater Jewish community—takes place at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Annual Campaign Kickoff.
( JTA)—Jewish tourists from North America are likely to notice one big difference when visiting synagogues around the world. Though a plethora of symbols, such as stars of David and menorahs, may be displayed, national flags are rare inside the sanctuary. Meanwhile,...
NAHAL OZ, Israel (JTA)—Dani Ben David fiddles with his radio, switching between it and his cellphone as he drives through the Beeri Forest, a nature reserve located on the border of Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. As his Jeep jolts over the dirt road, he...
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Society of Professionals (SOP) held its annual spring event ‘An Evening at the Cavalier’ on Wednesday, April 25. Sponsored by Insco Insurance Group, more than 100 people convened at the new Cavalier Hotel Crystal Ballroom to...
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israeli leaders and citizens responded with euphoria as the Trump administration moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem on Monday, May 14, designating a pre-existing consular building as the official U.S. diplomatic mission to the Jewish State. Hundreds...
Promoted as a major celebration of the Jewish state on the eve of its 70th anniversary, Israel Fest lived up to its billing on Sunday, April 22. Some 2,500 persons from across the community, double what attended in 2017, filled the backlot of the Simon Family JCC to...
The Virginia Festival of Jewish Film celebrates and supports International Jewish film and filmmakers, presenting the newest and best films worldwide. The Festival brings together community and provides entertainment and education through various film genres. We look...
WASHINGTON (JTA)—They want to brandish a new stick against Iran, but hawks in Congress aren’t going to use it—yet. For all the disappointment they expressed following the deal on Iran’s nuclear program, skeptics in Congress appear to be willing to give the agreement...
Sponsored by Jewish Family Service Sunday, Dec. 15, 10 am–3 pm Simon Family JCC I have recently had the honor of attending two very special Shabbat services, the first at Congregation Beth El and the second at Ohef Sholom Temple. Both Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz of Beth El...
The struggling, but brave Jewish families of Budapest, Hungary want to celebrate Chanukah as a community; and like all Jewish parents, they want Chanukah to be a special time for their children. That is why the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater is launching a new...
NEW YORK (JTA)—As the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination approaches, we Jews have our own special reasons to mourn. The conventional community memory of Kennedy would be enough by itself. JFK overcame the legacy of his father, President Franklin...
Sunday, Nov. 3–Sunday, Nov. 17 The Cardo of the Sandler Family Campus will be filled with books of all shapes and sizes, as the Simon Family JCC presents The Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival 2013. Thanks to the festival’s partner Barnes & Noble,...
The custom of inviting guests to share a meal in the temporary dwelling known as a sukkah, during the festival of Sukkot, became an opportunity to share Jewish traditions with other faith communities in Tidewater. The Community Relations Council of the United Jewish...
The morning after the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2014 Annual Campaign Kickoff, phones started ringing and emails started arriving in Campaign staffers offices. “How did he do it? That was amazing? I’ve never been to an event like this before— it was...
The importance of being an active advocate for Israel was brought home to area college students at the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Bringing Israel Home event on August 11. The annual event, designed by and for college...
In 2000, at the age of 11, Ina’s neighbor told her that she was a Jew. Confused by the comment, she went home and asked her parents for the truth. “How is this possible?” she asked. Growing up Christian, she went to church with her mother. Without saying a word, her...
After 10 months of leadership seminars, workshops, and discussions, and more than 12 hours of travel, participants of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2013 Hineni! Leadership Development program touched down in Israel on Thursday, June 20. For the next six...
The advantage in the chess game currently “in play” on the second floor of the Sandler Family Campus goes to the entire Tidewater Jewish community, who— no matter the game’s outcome — are already winners. Carefully installed in the Kramer boardroom in mid-June, the...
On Monday, June 3, 2013, Alvin Wall called to order a meeting of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater (UJFT) for the last time as its president. That evening on the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus, the UJFT’s biennial meeting saw the installation of a new...
NEW YORK (JTA)—May is Jewish American Heritage Month, a commemoration first recognized by President George W. Bush in 2006. Since then, hundreds of programs have taken place nationwide annually to honor the rich contributions of Jews to American culture and society....
Members of the Jewish and Christian communities shared a special night honoring Israel, and one another, at Virginia Beach’s Rock Church on April 23. Organizations representing the two communities, including Christians United for Israel, the United Jewish Federation...
May 3–10 Jewish Family Service of Tidewater’s 9th Annual Week of Healthy Living will feature events and activities that promote wellness threefold: body, mind and “soles.” For the body, there is a program on Jewish genetic diseases. For the mind, there will be a...
Sunday, April 28, 12:30–5 pm The Simon Family Jewish Community Center will host a free*, family-centered celebration of Israel’s Independence Day— Yom Ha’Atzmaut—for the entire Tidewater community, reaching out to everyone who supports Israel and enjoys its culture....
(Jewish Exponent) -- “It was a beautiful day. I was so excited to run and having such a good run. The crowd was unbelievable. The whole experience was amazing. It was almost magical." That’s how the Boston Marathon began for Rabbi Benjamin David, head rabbi at Adath...
Sunday, April 14, 1–4 pm Avoiding the Desert to Find Enlightenment Starting with the evening of the second seder, we have been in the period known as Sephirat HaOmer, often called Sephira for short, or in English, the Counting of the Omer. During the sevenweek Sephira...
6:45 pm How often do memories of life during the Holocaust seep into Frank Grunwald’s mind? Every day—maybe 15 times or maybe 30—says this year’s guest speaker for the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s commemoration of Yom Hashoah,...