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Street names for Andrew Fine in VIBE Creative District

Street names for Andrew Fine in VIBE Creative District

In keeping with the ViBe’s 10-year anniversary celebrations, the Virginia Beach City Council recognized the ViBe Creative District with a Resolution at its meeting on Tuesday, May 20. The City Council thanked ViBe co-founders Andrew Fine and Laura Wood and executive...

Celebrations and observances abound in Jewish Tidewater

Celebrations and observances abound in Jewish Tidewater

Dinners and luncheons with a famed Israeli chef, Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day), and Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) were among myriad gatherings that took place throughout Jewish Tidewater just prior to this issue going to press. All were well...

May is Jewish American Heritage Month

May is Jewish American Heritage Month

President George W. Bush proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month in 2006, designating the month to acknowledge Jewish contributions to American culture, history, military, science, government, and more. The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records...

Vote through May 4 in election for World Zionist Congress

Vote through May 4 in election for World Zionist Congress

Just a few days are left to vote in an election that gives American Jews an opportunity to directly shape Israel’s future.The U.S. election for seats in the 39th World Zionist Congress will help determine the balance of power in the legislative authority of a Zionist...

Federal cuts to food assistance devastate JFS Food Pantry

Federal cuts to food assistance devastate JFS Food Pantry

Recent federal budget cuts have significantly impacted food banks across the country, and the food pantry at Jewish Family Service is no exception.The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has eliminated more than $1 billion in funding for programs that helped schools...

Beth El’s new rabbi is a man of many talents

Beth El’s new rabbi is a man of many talents

Jacob Herber arrives in Norfolk July 15 Cyclist, scholar, father, mentor, musician, soccer, hockey, and baseball fan, U.S. history buff, Coast Guard Chaplain…and rabbi.That pretty much describes Jacob Herber, who assumes the pulpit at Norfolk’s Congregation Beth El in...

David Elcott on the future of Liberal Democracy

David Elcott on the future of Liberal Democracy

“We were not ready for this.”With those sobering words, Dr. David Elcott opened his presentations during his visit to Tidewater earlier this month as part of the Konikoff Center for Learning. He spoke to students, faculty, and community at Virginia Wesleyan, members...

TJF & UJFT: The power of partnership

TJF & UJFT: The power of partnership

Members of Tidewater’s Jewish community annually support programs and initiatives that strengthen Jewish life locally, in Israel, and around the world through programs and initiatives not only funded, but, in some cases, are led by United Jewish Federation of...

Israeli painting is donated to United Jewish Federation of Tidewater

Boaz Kritchman, an Israeli with two adult children living in Tidewater, facilitated the donation of a painting last month to the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.  The impetus for the donation, by his son, Lotan Kritchman, stems from a desire to remember...

Kristallnacht: A turning point in Nazi persecution

November 9-10, 1938, Kristallnacht, or the “Night of Broken Glass,” marked a critical escalation in Nazi persecution of Jews. This pogrom led to the destruction of more than 1,000 synagogues and 7,500 Jewish-owned businesses, resulting in the arrest of 30,000 Jewish...

Singing for Shalom: A concert of hope and remembrance

Monday, October 7, 6 pm, Temple Emanuel Nearly a year has passed since the tragic events of October 7, 2023, a day that will forever be seared into the collective memory of our people. On that fateful day, Hamas brutally murdered a multitude of people. Families were...

Tidewater commemorates October 7, marking one year

Monday, Oct. 7, 8:30 am Sandler Family Campus Hamas unleashed a vicious attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 innocent people, taking more than 250 people as hostages, and shattering the global Jewish community’s sense of safety on Saturday, October 7, 2023. On...

Super Sunday brings community together for Today, Tomorrow, and Always

Dozens of community members gathered on Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Sandler Family Campus for the Federation’s annual Super Sunday Community Phone-a-Thon. Despite a strange weather pattern, which forced the event indoors, the energy and enthusiasm was high throughout the...

Consider a philanthropic audit

Meet “Ellen,” a perpetual giver. From her synagogue, the Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia, and Hillels, to her alma maters, Ellen supports a wide array of causes on a monthly or yearly basis. Some contributions come directly from her cash flow, while others are...

Donations to Jewish News

Jewish News appreciates all who support the newspaper with generous contributions – whether in honor of or in memory of friends and loved ones or as a Friend of Jewish News. Friends of Jewish News Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lines  Virginia Hawks Carol Waters Barbara...

Ruby Lions kick-off the UJFT 2025 Campaign

On a pleasantly cool and beautiful August evening, 25 Ruby Lions (UJFT Lion of Judah women giving at the $10K+ level) gathered for dinner at the home of Annie Sandler, in what may be a first-ever in Tidewater... an event where the women’s division kicked-off the...

Full-Scale Exercises test local readiness

More than 100 people participated in a full-day, active shooter simulation last month to test the City of Norfolk’s preparedness in the event of a critical incident. Together with the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Ohef Sholom Temple, and the Secure Community...

Challenged to help: Aryeh Litt’s journey to Feldman Scholarship

Tidewater Jewish Foundation recently named Aryeh Litt the 2024 Feldman Family Medical and Health Professions Scholarship recipient. Currently pur- suing a degree in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling at Hofstra University, Litt’s mission is to serve others. Litt's...

TJF relaunches Life & Legacy Plus program

Kickoff event: Thursday August 15, 5:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus Life & Legacy, now branded as Life & Legacy Plus, is being relaunched by Tidewater Jewish Foundation. Life & Legacy Plus is a four-year extension of the partnership program of the Harold...

An archival journey through Tidewater Jewish history

“Cardboard is evil!” At least it is when it’s backing for a framed document from 1878. As a result, when the volunteers who staff the Archive at Ohef Sholom Temple came across a framed document from 1878 that was backed with cardboard, the document was removed from...

First Person – A secret weapon – Mitzvot Matter

I hear it over and over again – “Mi K’amcha Yisrael” – Who is like you the Jewish people?Enter the world of mitzvot – our secret weapon. How could that be? After all, what is a mitzvah? It’s a commandment in the Torah, which is 3,500 years old. How could doing a...

Myths vs. realities: Understanding Tidewater Jewish Foundation

Guided by the principles of tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (repairing the world), Tidewater Jewish Foundation is dedicated to creating permanent resources for the Jewish community. The many facets of community involvement in which TJF is engaged have caused some...

Meet Tidewater’s new Shinshinim

Tidewater is starting its third year working with the Jewish Agency for Israel, hosting Shinshinim (Israeli Emissaries) to bring Israeli culture, knowledge, and experiences to people of all ages. Shinshin is an acronym for Shenat Sherut – a year of service given by an...