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He came. He commented. They loved it.

He came. He commented. They loved it.

Laughter hung in the air long after the end of comedian Elon Gold’s set during the Simon Family JCC’s first Laughter on the Lawn event. More than 400 community members gathered to partake in the hilarity. “He was so funny,” says Joel Rubin, “I’ve never heard anyone...

Why volunteering matters

Volunteering isn’t something to put off until you have extra time and money. There are numerous reasons why the returns far outweigh the time invested, especially during lean times. Alene and Ron Kaufman both volunteer at Jewish Family Service. “Everyone has some...

Want to help bless and beautify Beth Sholom Home?

No Jewish home, or even room, is complete without a kosher mezuzah on the door post. That will certainly be the case when the renovation of the Berger-Goldrich Home is completed by next summer. (see article on page 27) By donating a minimum of $1,000 to the Honor or...

Chief Rabbinate says list of rabbis is not a blacklist

(JTA)—The Israeli Chief Rabbinate says that its list of foreign rabbis has been misconstrued, and that the list does not imply that those rabbis cannot be trusted to vouch for the Jewish identities of their followers. On Saturday, July 8, JTA reported on a list of...

Al Franken learned about justice from his childhood rabbi

(JTA)—In February 2015, Sen. Jim Inhofe carried a snowball on to the floor of the Senate to prove global warming did not exist. Everyone knows “it is very, very cold outside,” the Oklahoma Republican said. “Unseasonable.” That, says Al Franken, gave him an idea. “I...

Hebrew Academy’s Camp Creation Station: full STEAM ahead!

With more than 60 years of experience in the world of education, Hebrew Academy of Tidewater decided this year to pilot a one-week summer camp program—Camp Creation Station. This new camp utilized ideas and activities from HAT’s very strong STEAM curriculum (Science,...

Tidewater Hineni! group experiences Israel together

Tidewater Hineni! group experiences Israel together

On an early Tuesday morning in June, 14 new graduates of the Tidewater Hineni! Leadership Program landed in Israel for the culmination of their two-year program. The 5th UJFT Tom Hofheimer Young Leadership Mission to Israel was underway. Day 1 The mission began with...

Legal Matters

Legal Matters

Who knew one year ago when we scheduled this issue’s Legal Matters that so many legal decisions and arguments would be taking place—in Israel and in the USA? Consider, for example, Israel’s suspension of the Western Wall agreement (page 16) and, its advancement of a...

Bloomberg ‘flattered’ by inaugural $1 million ‘Jewish Nobel Prize’

NEW YORK (JTA)—In August, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg told New York magazine, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could get all the Russian billionaires to move here?” Today, the Russian billionaires—or at least some Jewish ones—returned the compliment, naming Bloomberg...

Yellen’s rise to Fed chief gains more attention for gender than faith

WASHINGTON (JTA)—Janet Yellen is soft-spoken, tough, methodological, flexible— and Jewish. President Obama’s announcement that he had tapped Yellen, 67, to succeed Ben Bernanke as chairman of the Federal Reserve made news in part because she would be the first woman...

Meet the Presidents: Marcia Samuels, president, Jewish Family Service

Profession I am a licensed clinical psychologist in a private practice in Norfolk. Education Undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia; master’s and doctorate degrees from Florida Institute of Technology. Family Married to David Kamer Two children, Olivia...

Tallwood students prepare for Israel exchange

Students meet Tidewater Jewish community Wednesday, Oct. 30, 3:30–4:30 pm Ten students from the Israeli city of Modi’in, representing the Youth Ambassador Exchange Program between Israel and the United States, will arrive in Virginia Beach on Thursday, Oct. 24....

In the Sukkah with Beth El

Congregation Beth El made good use of its sukkah and the Sukkot holiday this year with programming covering a range of interests, ages and celebratory activities. The festivities kicked off with the “First Annual Sukkah Raising,” which was held as part of the opening...

Fourth Annual Golf’s Longest Day

Beth Sholom Village’s 4th annual Richard “Dick” Porter Memorial Golf tournament took place on a day with picture perfect weather. Ten golfers enjoyed great golfing and camaraderie for a wonderful cause, raising approximately $70,000 for Beth Sholom Village and playing...

Hebrew Academy elects new SGA officers

It was another spirited campaign this fall as Hebrew Academy prepared to elect its SGA officers. Speeches were shared, posters were displayed and, in the end, a new cabinet was chosen. These new SGA officers say that there should be a couple of events each...

VCIC kicks off the year at the Simon Family JCC

The Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities held its first meeting of the fiscal year on Sept. 9, 2013 at the Simon Family JCC. Under the leadership of Carolyn Abron-McCadden, who is beginning her third year as chair, members discussed...

Men discuss commitment at luncheon

In what has become an annual United Jewish Federation of Tidewater tradition, men from the community gathered to enjoy lunch, be inspired and take part in a truly extraordinary event. On Tuesday, Sept. 24, the week following a great Annual Campaign kick-off, 32 men...

The danger of a nuclear-armed Iran

In his recent speech before the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned, “The last century has taught us that when a radical regime with global ambitions gets awesome power, sooner or later its appetite for aggression knows no...

Jewish Republicans caught in party shutdown crossfire

WASHINGTON (JTA)—The first lawmaker to speak at a closed-door Capitol Hill confab convened by the Republican Jewish Coalition’s women’s affiliate was, naturally enough, a woman. So was the second. Against the background of the current federal budget battle, that’s...

Pew survey of U.S. Jews: soaring intermarriage, assimilation rates

NEW YORK (JTA)—There are a lot more Jews in America than you may have thought—an estimated 6.8 million, according to a new study. But a growing proportion of them are unlikely to raise their children Jewish or connect with Jewish institutions. The proportion of Jews...

Netanyahu’s U.S.A. trip

Netanyahu warns: If necessary, Israel will stop Iran on its own WASHINGTON (JTA)—Israel is prepared to strike on its own if Iran is poised to obtain a nuclear weapon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the United Nations General Assembly. “Israel will not allow...

Bonnie Brand joins American Friends of Tel Aviv University board

The board of directors of American Friends of Tel Aviv University, a donor group that supports Israel’s largest academic institution, Tel Aviv University, recently elected Bonnie Brand to its board. A Tidewater native and lifelong resident, Brand serves on the board...

Virginia candidate says non- Christians worship ‘false religions’

WASHINGTON (JTA)—Jewish groups called on the Republican candidate for Virginia’s lieutenant governor to explain a sermon in which he said non-Christians are engaged in a “false religion.” E.W. Jackson, a pastor, on Sunday, Sept. 22 preached at the Restoration...

Stein family endows the Stein Family College Scholarship

The generosity of a few can impact the lives of generations to come. Case in point—the Stein family, which is helping Jewish students from throughout Hampton Roads fulfill their dreams of a quality college education. Five years ago, the family established the Stein...

Amos Guiora visits Maury High School

“Intriguingly fascinating,” Annie O’Donnell, a Maury High School junior says about Amos Guiora’s presentation to Maury’s Model U.N. Club on Monday, Sept. 24. An Israeli-American law professor, Guiora shared some of his experiences while working as IDF legal advisor to...

Amos Guiora on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Syria, Iran and Russia

Appreciation for international security expert Amos Guiora’s experience, insight and intelligence was clear from the size of the crowd that showed up to hear him speak on Sunday, Sept. 22 at Temple Israel. More than 150 community members attended the briefing,...