Latest News

Archives

Mitzvah Projects deserve their own “Mazel Tov!”

Mitzvah Projects deserve their own “Mazel Tov!”

Becoming a bar or bat mitzvah is a multi-faceted time for 13-year-olds and their families.  Preparations for this special milestone include studying Jewish history and Hebrew, learning how to conduct a Shabbat service, interpreting a parsha, and applying its...

John Stein brings a taste of New York to Tidewater

John Stein brings a taste of New York to Tidewater

Start spreading the news…Ess-a-Bagel has made its way from New York to Tidewater. Baker’s Crust Bagel, a new concept by restauranteur John Stein, is now open at The Shops at Hilltop. The eatery features a full menu of Ess-a-Bagel bagels, deli sandwiches, and Three...

BBYO in Tidewater begins new year with increased participation

BBYO in Tidewater begins new year with increased participation

Last month’s BBYO kickoff event had a great turnout with about 20 Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) boys and 16 B’nai Brith Girls (BBG) attending.   The teens swam, ate pizza, caught up with old friends, and met some new additions to BBYO Tidewater. The night wrapped...

Candidates for U.S. Senator respond

With permission to reprint from Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington and Washington Jewish Week, this is a recent Q&A with candidates for the U.S. Senate, Senator Tim Kaine and Hung Cao. Printed are the candidates’ responses to two questions...

For our Jewish community, local races matter

October 7, 2023, changed us. The attack on our beloved Israel was truly soul crushing for our entire community. We followed the news hour by hour, spoke with friends and family in Israel, and prayed for their safety.  Beyond October 7, seeing what was starting to...

After one year, “No, I’m not doing so well.”

(How are you?) מה שלומך? (What's up?) מה נשמע? These simple, innocent questions that we automatically use at the beginning of an interaction with someone we know have, since October 7, 2023, become loaded in Israel.  With every phone call or conversation with my...

Lay leaders with legal degrees utilize their expertise for the community

Lay leaders are integral to the functioning of Jewish Tidewater. With multiple synagogues, day schools, and various agencies meeting myriad needs of the community, Jewish Tidewater’s lay leadership helps steer the missions and define the goals of each organization, as...

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...

Editor marks 20 years at Jewish News

As we usher in 5785 this week, I again wish you and your families l’shana tova tikatevu. May each of us be inscribed in the Book of Life. And may we find better days ahead for all of Israel and the Jewish people.In this issue of Jewish News, I want to take a moment...

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...

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...

Next Generation Group gathers for the first time

The first meeting of the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Next Generation group occurred on Sunday, August 11 in the Survivor’s Room at the Sandler Family Campus.  Comprised of children of Holocaust survivors, as well as third...

Nadiv Kicks off new year with big crowd, important cause

The men of Nadiv voted and chose Camp JCC as the recipient of the group’s fundraising efforts during the ‘24-‘25 programming year. Nadiv gathered on Thursday, Sept. 5 at the Virginia Beach home of Laura and Fred Gross to socialize and discuss where to direct the...

36th Annual Strelitz International Golf Tournament: A swinging success

The Strelitz International Academy’s (SIA) 36th Annual Golf Tournament, held on Wednesday, August 28 at the Virginia Beach National Golf Club, proved to be another hole-in-one event. Known as the Bob Josephberg Classic, this tournament remains SIA’s premier annual...

Preparing for 5785

Typically, as we prepare for the New Year, I would share the enormous impact of our 2024 Annual Campaign where, together as a community, we raised more than $5 million to support the needs of the Jewish people and organizations locally, on college campuses around...

Tidewater earns medals at Maccabi

Seven members of the Team Virginia Beach delegation to the JCC Maccabi Games & Access 2024 arrived on August 5 at the Houston airport at 1 am – delayed but excited for the upcoming competitions. More than 1,700 teens from across the globe convened in this Texan...

ODU Hillel takes field trip to Bobby Scott’s Labor Day event

Several members of Old Dominion University’s Hillel attended Congressman Bobby Scott’s 43rd Annual Labor Day Cookout in Newport News. Amy K. Milligan, PhD, ODU’s Batten Endowed Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies, director, Institute...

A splashing Shabbat: Tidewater welcomes Shabbat at annual pool party

New and familiar faces flooded the Metzger Outdoor Aquatic Center water park and splash pad at the Simon Family JCC for the annual End of Summer Shabbat and Pool Party, hosted by PJ Library in Tidewater, UJFT’s Young Adult Division, and the Tidewater ShinShinim....

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...

Lasting memories for campers

Another successful summer concluded last month for Camp JCC. More than 230 campers attended this year – from Hampton Roads, as well as from California, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington DC, and Richmond In addition, families relocating to Hampton Roads...

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...