(JTA)—If you’re in Arizona or Florida and a 585 area code pops up on your phone, you might want to answer: It could be a Jewish volunteer in Rochester, New York, whose mission it is to help you vote. The Greater Rochester Jewish Federation is one of a number of local...
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RBG: One Justice for All
The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg prompted an emotionally charged deep-dive into her body of work and personal life, including her 20-year long relationship with personal trainer Bryant Johnson. At 67, Ginsburg, aka ‘Notorious RBG,’ who was appointed by President...
Super Sunday 2021—A Different Kind of Day
In a “normal” year, Super Sunday—a much beloved tradition—is simply one part of the Tidewater Jewish community’s fundraising lifecycle. In a critical fundraising year, with rising needs and a true imperative to meet them with immediacy, Super Sunday 2021 became a...
Students return to SIA on Campus
Strelitz International Academy students returned to the Sandler Family Campus for in-person learning on August 24. After almost six months away from their school and their friends, SIA students were clearly excited to be back. It was a unique and busy summer as SIA...
How is this Super Sunday different from all other Super Sundays?
Sunday, September 13, 10 am–1 pm PREDICTION: This year’s United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Super Sunday Community Phone-a-thon will go down as “one for the record books.” Am I predicting an all-time high in the number of cards closed or the total of dollars...
Konikoff Center for Learning. Spark one mind. Change many lives.
David Konikoff didn’t come up with the legacy phrase “A mind is a terrible thing to waste,” however it aptly describes his life purpose and why he imagined the Konikoff Center for Learning at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC with that...
Special Senior Edition
Today’s ‘seniors’ are some of the most active people I know. Whether concentrating at work or relaxing in retirement, ‘busy’ and ‘engaged’ are more than buzz words for the over 55-year-old set. And, the articles in this section prove the point. Lisa Richmon spoke with...
Simon Family JCC reopens Monday, June 8
Governor Ralph Northam announced on Tuesday, June 3 that he would move the portion of the Commonwealth that includes Tidewater into Phase 2 of reopening effective Friday, June 5. With his announcement, the Simon Family JCC made final preparations to open its...
It’s time to build digital-first Jewish communities that will outlast the pandemic
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (JTA)—The other day, I saw an interesting Facebook post written by a college student who lives in New York. She was looking to find a daily morning minyan. Specifically, she sought one that met at a “college student-friendly hour,” since most minyanim...
Jewish Tidewater Volunteers: Your value as a volunteer is priceless
Looking to stay safely connected to real human beings while quarantined? Helping others is a good way to survive and add new meaning to your life. United Jewish Federation of Tidewater recently launched an initiative to meet urgent needs imposed by COVID-19’s...
Israel Fest 2020 – Tidewater Celebrates Israel @ 72 (from HOME!)
Sunday, May 3, 11 am The festivities will be different this year, but not having a larger gathering won’t keep Jewish Tidewater from celebrating Israel’s 72 years! Join the community for a day of celebration with virtual activities for Yom Ha’Atzmaut—Israel’s 72nd...
Relief Fund Opens. All Dollars to Stay in Tidewater.
EVEN APART, WE STAND TOGETHER. COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund Kol Yisroel Aravim Zeh b’zeh. All Jews are responsible one for the other. As we enter the season of Passover—a holiday steeped in traditions of coming together with family and friends for the Seder—we know...
For Tu b’Shvat, 5 of Israel’s must-see trees
(JTA)—Trees have stories, and Israel’s trees have lots of stories. Scattered throughout the country, scores of ancient and historic trees help shed light on fascinating aspects of Israeli history, from the biblical to the modern, that are often overlooked by the...
Tidewater Together’s Alan Morinis plans transformative journey for area Jews
Thursday, February 2–Sunday, February 5 Strengthening the Jewish community and engaging all area Jews in a truly transformative experience are two primary goals of the Milton “Mickey” Kramer Scholar-in-Residence Fund’s 4th Annual Tidewater Together. Unique in its...
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater condemns U.S. failure to veto Security Council Resolution
The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater condemns, without reservation, the decision of the Obama administration not to use its veto power in the U.N. Security Council to defeat a resolution criticizing Israeli settlements. The measure is clearly a blow, despite...
Elie Wiesel gave the Holocaust a face and the world a conscience
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate who became a leading icon of Holocaust remembrance and a global symbol of conscience, died Saturday, July 2 at 87. His death was the result of natural causes, the World Jewish Congress said in a...
Simon Family JCC Biennial Meeting honors the hard work of many, focuses on future collaborations
The 2016 Biennial Meeting of the Simon Family JCC took place on Wednesday, June 15. During the meeting, outstanding community accomplishments were acknowledged, awards were presented, a president bid his farewell, and a prospective president explained that the...
Simon Family JCC and United Jewish Federation of Tidewater seize the opportunity to merge
Successful nonprofits must change with the times. And so, to remain vital to their communities, Jewish organizations across the nation are making strategic structural moves. In the Tidewater Jewish community, two organizations with a closely aligned vision, the Simon...
Simon Family JCC Israel Fest extravaganza promises fun for the entire family—celebrating 68 years
Sunday, June 5, 11 am–4 pm, Sandler Family Campus Explore everything Israeli at the Simon Family JCC’s biggest party of the year, the sixth annual Israel Fest, honoring Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s 68th Independence Day. The festival honors all the cultural, artistic, and...
Holocaust Commission adds three powerful films to What We Carry program
Premiere of short documentaries at free screening Sunday, May 22, 2 pm, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts “My name is Alfred Dreyfus. I was born in Rastatt, Germany in 1923.” “My name is Mary Sigillo Barraco. I was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1923.” “My...
Community remembers those lost and honors those making a difference at Holocaust Remembrance event
Wednesday, May 4, 6:45 pm, Temple Israel Choosing the most powerful and meaningful moment of Tidewater’s annual commemoration of Yom Hashoah, the Holocaust Day of Remembrance, is difficult. This year, there will be an abundance of these moments. Each part of the event...
JFS presents 12th Annual Spring Into Healthy Living
World-renowned physician from The Cleveland Clinic to speak in Norfolk Wednesday, April 13, 7 pm, Chrysler Museum Approximately 82 million Americans are currently diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Millions more think they are healthy, but actually are at risk....
1,000 cookies made in Tidewater will be sent to U.S. troops in time for Purim
The 130 Operation Hamantaschen volunteers did everything they were asked, and more, at the March 6 communitywide “make and bake” program held at the Simon Family JCC. Including the tasting. Quality control wasn’t part of the volunteer description publicized by...
Date with the State-Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day: Citizenship and political efficacy at its finest
Before the sun had a chance to fully rise, members of the Jewish community rose to take action at the state capitol in Richmond on Tuesday, Feb. 2. More than 50 participants, Tidewater’s largest group for Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day, gathered to make their voices...
Western Wall prayer fight ends with historic compromise
TEL AVIV (JTA)—Israel’s government on Sunday, Jan. 31 approved a compromise to expand the non-Orthodox Jewish prayer section of the Western Wall, putting to rest the decades-long fight between Women of the Wall and Israel’s haredi Orthodox religious establishment. The...
Tidewater Together Scholar packs a one, two, three punch of experience, wisdom, and passion
Thursday, Feb. 4–Sunday, Feb. 7 For more than four decades, Rabbi Eric Yoffie has embraced his role as teacher, leader, thought-provoker, and change-maker. He’s spoken in front of small congregations and large. He’s met with presidents, prime ministers and leaders of...
Super Sunday XXXV: Get in the game!
Sunday, Jan. 31, 9 am – 1 pm Developing a theme for Super Sunday, The Tidewater Jewish community’s single largest fundraising event, has been a coming-of-age responsibility for hundreds of young adults since the inaugural event was held in 1981. This year is no...
23rd Annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film
presented by Alma* and Howard Laderberg January 16 – 24, 2016 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...
Business
Dear Readers, “It’s not personal, it’s strictly business,” Michael Corleone says to his brother Sonny in The Godfather. A renowned line from the famous film, it is exactly the opposite of what the articles in this section on business emphasize. For those featured,...
Participation in 2016 Week of Extraordinary Deeds exceeds expectations
The week of October 19-25 was billed as an extraordinary one for the Tidewater Jewish community. Volunteers worked on committees and with the staff at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, planning events to help make life better for others, while also...
CRC’s 5th annual Israel Today offers vibrant ideas and bold perspectives from three experts under 40
All events are free, open to the community and held at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus in Virginia Beach The Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater is joining with community partners, including all area synagogues and Jewish...
Diverse lineup for JCC’s annual Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival
Sunday, Nov. 1–Sunday, Nov. 15 Eight authors will speak at the Simon Family JCC as part of the Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival, enlightening the minds of the young and old, history buffs and environmentalists. Seth M. Siegel will kick off the...