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This issue of Jewish News is Stephanie Peck’s last as assistant editor. She joined the paper in July 2023 and made the decision several months ago to step away from the hectic world of newspaper deadlines. The paper appreciates that she offered to remain at her desk...
Earlier this year, Hampton Roads Community Foundation celebrated its 75th anniversary with an event at the Chesapeake Conference Center.“Now more than ever, America’s non-profit sector is an absolutely critical component in the democratic and economic framework that...
As we complete another incredibly successful year at Tidewater Jewish Foundation, I am heartened by the faith, trust, and confidence that is placed in us to safeguard personal heritage ideals.This past year, we grew our assets under management by 17%; 2% better than...
(JTA) — A new study by the Anti-Defamation League found that open-source artificial intelligence models can be “easily” manipulated into generating antisemitic and dangerous content.But in order to test the 17 open-source models in its study, the researchers had to...
The Nysmith School for Gifted Children entered into a settlement agreement with a Jewish family who alleged their children were wrongfully expelled after they complained to the school about their 11-year-old daughter being harassed based on her Jewish religion and...
Birthright Israel and Birthright Israel Foundation named Rabbi Gershon Litt the recipient of the 2025 Jeffrey R. Solomon Prize. The prestigious annual award recognizes an exceptional Jewish communal professional who has made a profound and lasting impact on the Jewish...
At Strelitz International Academy, the fall season is filled with excitement and meaning as students celebrate the holidays from Rosh Hashanah through Simchat Torah. The spirit of the holidays continues to shine at SIA as the community eagerly anticipates the SIA Fall...
The Cardo at the Sandler Family Camps was a whir of activity during the afternoon of Sunday, November 9. Roughly 40 volunteers – adults and children alike – busily prepared Thanksgiving meal kits for 350 families in need this holiday season. Jewish Family...
After experiencing vibrant and deeply moving Chaguim at Temple Emanuel, Pati, Lia, Ben, and I traveled to Buenos Aires, my hometown, to celebrate two very special occasions with our family there — my niece Martina’s Bat Mitzvah and my mother’s 75th birthday. We...
November 24, 2025, 11:00 AM–3:45 PM: Join the Simon Family JCC and Red Cross in the Jaffe Gymnasium, 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Virginia Beach, for a lifesaving blood drive. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, and one donation can save up to...
Four young women, with childhood roots in Jewish Tidewater, have nuptials on the mind. Now spread out across the country, three of these Virginia natives recently married, while one is still in the planning stages. Hannah Diehl Testa and her husband, Kevin...
A junior at Cape Henry Collegiate, Henry Scolnick was recently named one of this year’s recipients for the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award. Henry is the youngest recipient in this year’s cohort. Awarded annually by The Helen Diller Family Foundation, up to 15...
Lag BaOmer is Friday, May 16 From Passover to Shavuot, the Torah teaches that the days must be counted to prepare to receive the Torah. This counting is known as Sefirat HaOmer. It is a period marked by introspection and mourning, which is unexpectedly interrupted by...
On the third try, I landed at an overnight camp that was the right fit for me.The first, an all-girls sleepaway camp, located in New England, required an eight-week commitment, where campers dressed in uniform bloomers and saddle shoes to have “fun.” I was nine years...
On a glorious spring Sunday morning, 10 young moms came together for a fun brunch and flower arranging workshop.Hostess Bo Lepchitz and her sister, Sunny, provided a plethora of floral options and the ladies “went to town.” Everyone created a beautiful centerpiece to...
When schools close for winter and spring breaks and other federal holidays, Camp JCC School Days Out is the fun place to be for campers and a convenient and flexible option for parents.Registration was available for individual days, 5- and 10-day bundles, and for the...
Sunday, April 6 turned into a very warm and sunny day for Sunday Fun Day at Hunt Club Farm. The event sold out and had a waiting list of families that wanted to join the farm fun. Families put on their sunscreen, hats, and tennis shoes and arrived at the first...
In 2010 when the Holocaust Commission conceived of what would become the What We Carry program, its previously robust survivor Speakers Bureau was beginning to shrink. Witnesses to history continued to leave us, but eventually the program grew, and consisted of films...
I’ve been trying—unsuccessfully—to get Naomi Limor Sedek, president and CEO of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation, to listen to this song for weeks now. Man Smart, Woman Smarter, by Grateful Dead, has always made me smile, not just because of its catchy tune, but because...
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...
Eastern Region’s BBYO teens gathered for the annual Spring Cultural Convention at Camp Thunderbird in Lake Wylie, S.C. earlier this month. Eastern Region is comprised of three councils: Virginia Council (all of Virginia excluding Northern Virginia), North Carolina...
(JTA) — Almost all of the Holocaust survivors alive today will be dead in 15 years, a new projection by a leading organization advocating for their compensation finds.While the timeline is something of an actuarial inevitability — the Holocaust ended 80 years ago,...
Survey after survey reports that fewer adults and even fewer young people are aware of the Holocaust, or at least of its scale. In fact, denying the Holocaust or its enormity continues to gain followers and receive prominent placement on the national stage. With books...
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...
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...
When “Judy” sat down with her daughter over Rosh Hashanah dinner, their conversation drifted from brisket to legacy. She had just learned about the Life & Legacy program and felt inspired to share her own hopes for the future of Tidewater’s Jewish community. “It’s...
Lois Einhorn and her late husband, Barry, moved to The Talbot in 2019. The senior, independent living community in Norfolk opened more than 20 years prior to their move, in the same neighborhood as the couple’s long-time home.A random solicitation in the mail offering...
Estate planning prepares assets for future generations, while advanced funeral planning prepares for another inevitable future, diminishing some of the stress for grieving loved ones.“You can face it now and take care of it or let it fall on your family at that time,”...
Tidewater BBYO had an active agenda last month. The teens volunteered, socialized, and celebrated Shabbat as part of their March calendar.During Operation Hamantaschen for PJ Library at the Simon Family JCC, the teens set up the event, baked, and delivered the...
“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...
Whenever a mission participant returns from Israel, their first and often fondest memories are of their tour guide. And for the past 10 plus years, Tidewater’s exclusive Israel tour guide has been the amazing Zalman Spivak, a unique combination of many fine skills and...
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...