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A Sephardic Rosh Hashanah

A Sephardic Rosh Hashanah

Ashkenazi traditions are so pervasive in Jewish American communities, that many – Jews and non-Jews – think that those traditions are THE Jewish ways to observe and celebrate holidays. Those of Sephardic and Mizrahi heritage would most likely disagree.In fact, a new...

YAD women welcome Passover in a sweet way

YAD women welcome Passover in a sweet way

A small group of “exhausted-from-Passover-prepping” YAD women took time out on a Thursday evening to come together, swap advice, share stories, and create beautiful kosher for Passover dessert charcuterie boards.Combining classic sweets such as jelly rings, chocolate...

Four generations make Matzah Ball Soup together

Four generations make Matzah Ball Soup together

Earlier this month, Erica Reisner Ausch, with the assistance of her daughter, Linda Ausch, made Matzah Ball Soup with her grandson, Leo Woodward, and his family: Erika Woodward, and Ausch’s great grandchildren, Wells and Bridget Woodward. L’dor V’dor. Aunty Linda...

Commemorating Memorial Day

Commemorating Memorial Day

Friday, May 23, 8:30 am, Jewish War Veterans Flagpole, Sandler Family Campus Memorial Day’s origins lie in the aftermath of the Civil War, a conflict that claimed more American lives than any other. The immense loss overwhelmed the nation, leading to the establishment...

Celebrate Israel’s 77th Independence Day with Tidewater

Celebrate Israel’s 77th Independence Day with Tidewater

Sunday, May 4, 12 - 3 pm Sandler Family Campus Get ready for a joyful afternoon of culture, connection, and celebration at the Yom Ha’Atzmaut Community Celebration.Presented by Avraham and Karen Ashkenazi, this free, family-friendly celebration honors Israel’s 77th...

Passover: a holiday with myriad parts and favorites

Passover: a holiday with myriad parts and favorites

The eight-day holiday of Passover begins this year with First Night Seder on Saturday, April 12 and continues through sundown on April 20. Many people observe the holiday by including favorite family recipes and traditions into their Seders. Others introduce current...

Purim in Tidewater

Purim in Tidewater

The holiday of Purim begins this year on Thursday, March 13.Plenty of opportunities exist in Tidewater to participate in Purim festivities to commemorate Haman’s failed plot to destroy the Jews of Persia.The reading of the Megillah, Purim Carnivals, Purim Parties, and...

Hanukkah is coming! Hanukkah is coming!

Thanksgiving and all its preparations and celebrations are nowover – a signal not to take a breath, but rather to focus on the next holiday: Hanukkah.  Without missing a beat, it seems, congregations and schools are gearing up for a festive Hanukkah season,...

Getting through the fast day

Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Friday, October 11 Fasting for 25 hours is no easy feat. Hunger pangs, headaches, and general malaise typically set-in by midday, after the last morsel of food went down at dinner the previous night. Jews who observe the Yom Kippur fast...

Holiday table conversation starters

When gathering for the upcoming High Holiday meals with family and friends, this might be the year to veer away from a discussion of politics.   Instead, consider exploring a topic that is often overlooked, but is incredibly important –philanthropy. What better...

Baking for Rosh Hashanah: Women unite to support JFS

Every year, the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry—a cornerstone of Jewish Tidewater’s support system—assembles Rosh Hashanah care packages for more than 120 seniors, many of whom live in nursing homes or are homebound. These holiday bags, filled with essentials such...

High Holiday Schedules 5785

Jewish News has compiled a list of High Holiday services taking place at local synagogues for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Contact synagogues for information about babysitting, live-stream, and Zoom services. B’nai Israel Congregation...

Tu B’Av: One way to a man’s heart

A minor Jewish holiday, Tu B’Av is celebrated as a holiday of love. This year, it begins on the evening of Sunday, August 18 and ends at nightfall on Monday, August 19. There are few gestures that say “I love you” quite like making someone a meal. But as a chef, I...

Unity and pride: Tidewater comes together for Yom Ha’Atzmaut

The annual Tidewater community Yom Ha'Atzmaut gathering, held this year on Sunday, May 19 on the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus, was a vibrant recognition of Israel’s independence. The atmosphere was electric, as close to 2,000 community members were adorned in...

Shavuot: A celebration of cheesecake

Who doesn’t love a good cheesecake?!?  For a group of people who are between 75 and 90% lactose intolerant, we must have a lot of chutzpah because we clearly won’t be denied our love of all things dairy.    When I moved to Israel, I was actually shocked...

Maror and Chazeret: What is the deal?!

There is a phrase from Isaiah that I find particularly relevant these days… “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who present darkness as light and light darkness, who present bitter as sweet and sweet bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20)On Passover, we eat maror and...

Can Jews sing Dayenu while there are hostages?

The Passover seder gets a post-Oct. 7 rethink. (JTA) — As the American Israeli poet Marty Herskovitz thought about the upcoming Passover holiday, the prospect of singing Dayenu at the first seder since his country was attacked didn’t sit right with him.The classic...

Passover traditions around the world

Passover is a uniquely Jewish holiday, with four cups of wine, matzah, 10 plagues, and the central Seder plate. Though traditions and rituals vary among families and different cultures, the Passover story, retold each year, celebrates freedom during the Exodus from...