WASHINGTON (JTA)—The Jewish contingent to the U.S. House of Representatives grew from 19 to 22 in the 2016 elections, doubling its Republican representation from one to two. Five Jews overall were newly elected to the House, while one Jewish congressman in Florida and...
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3rd Annual Mitzvah Day shows off Tidewater Jewish community’s can-do attitude
Participants at the Tidewater Jewish community’s 3rd Annual Mitzvah Day on Sunday, Oct. 30 demonstrated the benefits of a can-do attitude, working together to strengthen Jewish identity and improve life for those less fortunate. From teenagers who built sculptures...
Flour power and challahs galore bloom at 2016 Great Big Challah Bake
In a show of sisterhood and community, 125 women joined together to learn, laugh, mix, knead and braid at Tidewater’s 2nd Annual Great Big Challah Bake on Wednesday, Nov. 2. Held in the Cardo at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus, the goal of the women’s-only...
Success stories inspire professionals at recent Society event
In September, the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater held an inaugural event for its new Society of Professionals affinity group, promising unique and stimulating programming, and opportunities to connect to other professionals in the area. At its second event, the...
A house is not a home, until you have a good night’s sleep
Without a good night’s sleep, everything tends to be just a bit tougher. While physicians, teachers, employers and nearly all health experts stress the importance of sleep, not everyone has the good fortune to have a proper bed in which to get those necessary...
Business
The changing face of Jewish students brought to light during Women’s Luncheon
The Women’s Cabinet held its annual Lion-Tikva-Chai luncheon to thank women donors giving at the $1,800 level and greater. Stephanie Calliott welcomed the women and gave a brief and positive campaign update, thanking the donors who had already made their commitments...
A well-deserved honor for Amy Brooke
Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday, Dec. 10 Leah Schwartz, BINA High School past president BINA High School is thrilled to have the opportunity to honor the commitment, hard work, and dedication of Amy Brooke. From the first tenuous steps to create a Jewish girls high school...
Something funny happened on the way to the Cuban Missile Crisis
Jim Eilberg, CAPT, SC, USNR (RET) I had just finished supper when the telephone call came from the Petty Officer of the Watch. “This is not a drill,” he announced. “This is a 100% recall. Return to the ship immediately.” That was Monday, October 23, 1962, about 6:30...
Salute to Veterans
JFS Chanukah Gift Program helps local families
Debbie Mayer, LCSW, CT Written on behalf of a local Jewish Family Service client: Two years ago, my family moved to Virginia to care for an elderly relative. Once we got here, the job I was promised didn’t come through. I decided to stay here with my two children...
Lee & Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival Wednesday, Nov. 9–Sunday, Nov 20
Sherri Wisoff Hundreds of books will soon fill the Cardo at the Simon Family JCC. Immigrant stories are part of Jewish history, so it is fitting that on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 7 pm, the annual Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival begins with such stories...
Lawrence Steingold inspires with a Legacy of involvement
The word “No” isn’t in Lawrence Steingold’s vocabulary. He just can’t bring himself to utter it. A Certified Public Accountant and Virginia Beach resident, Steingold’s demeanor is easy-going and friendly. His eyes sparkle with warmth and curiosity, but his head tilts...
Hebrew Academy bids a fond farewell to Zena Herod, head of school
June 7 marked not only the graduation ceremony for Hebrew Academy’s Class of 2012, but also a farewell reception for Zena Herod, outgoing head of school. Held on the Sandler Family Campus, the cardo was filled with nearly 200 well-wishers including HAT trustees,...
B’nai Israel looks to the New Year under the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Sender Haber
In anticipation of an era of growth and increased involvement with the greater Tidewater Jewish community, B’nai Israel installed Rabbi Sender Haber as its new spiritual leader earlier this month. Rabbi Haber arrived in Tidewater more than 10 years ago as one of the...
Despite militarized society, Israel has strict gun laws
TEL AVIV (JTA)–First-time visitors to Israel might be taken aback to see groups of armed teenagers walking through a city plaza on a weeknight, or surprised to walk into a public bathroom and see an M-16 laying across the sinks as a soldier washes his face. But guns...
Education issues and the CRC
In 2010 I was asked to chair the Community Relations Council’s (CRC) education committee. Eliot Weinstein serves as vice chair. This committee assists with common education situations in our local school systems both public and private. Our goal is to provide a united...
William “Bill” Nusbaum: Tikkun Olam in Hampton Roads
Bill Nusbaum, 56, has a painting in his home of the village of Positano which he bought at an art auction at Ohef Sholom Temple in 2008. The landscape of the picturesque village nestled into a cove, precariously perched on the mountainside of Italy’s Amalfi Coastline,...
JFS honors staff at Employee Appreciation Dinner
Dedicated. Unusually patient. Devoted. Knowledgeable. Gentle. Caring. Attentive. These are just a few of the words patients have used to describe Curlean Fentress, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Jewish Family Service of Tidewater. For these and other reasons,...
NFTY— The gift that keeps on giving
Imagine you are a 20-something newlywed with a full time job, busy making a life in a new city. A local Reform synagogue approaches you and your spouse with a plea for help. “Please help! The Temple Youth Group is in desperate need of adult supervision. We’ve heard...
Jewish groups largely applaud health care ruling
WASHINGTON (JTA)—American Jewish groups—with the notable exception of the Republican Jewish Coalition—were largely satisfied with the U.S. Supreme Court’s vote to uphold President Obama’s landmark Affordable Care Act in a 5–4 vote. Nancy Kaufman, CEO of the National...
Presbyterian Church’s narrow rejection of divestment unlikely to slow anti-Israel push
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Proponents of using economic pressure to force Israel out of the West Bank may have lost a key battle —by a hair’s breadth—but they have no intention of giving up. That’s the message from backers of a divestment motion at the General Assembly of the...
JFS honors volunteers with appreciation brunch
With more than 6,000 collective hours of volunteer service in 2011 under their caps, one would think they’d look tired. But this was not the case for the Jewish Family Service volunteers attending the agency’s Volunteer Appreciation Brunch on June 27. They were...
New biking trail in northern Israel
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael KKL-JNF and the Misgav Regional Council recently held an inauguration ceremony for a new hiking and biking trail near the KKL-JNF Australia Park at the Segev Forest. The trail is part of a biking trail project developed by Keren Kayemeth...
The Simon Family JCC Thanks Corporate and Community Supporters in the 2011-2012 Annual Donor Report
The Simon Family Jewish Community Center would like to take this opportunity to recognize and offer a special Thank You to our 2011-2012 corporate and community sponsors. We are grateful for the continued generous support from our local businesses and surrounding...
Hebrew Academy first graders receive their first siddurim
It was a proud moment for Hebrew Academy of Tidewater’s first graders who received their siddurim on May 24. The Siddur presentation was beautiful, celebrated with many meaningful moments and ruach (spirit). This year, two area rabbis participated both in their roles...
Simon Family JCC’s Golf Tournament raises money for many
The 2nd Annual Simon Family JCC Presidents’ Cup Golf Tournament was a success with nearly 100 golfers playing under sunny skies at Heron Ridge Golf Club in Virginia Beach. Through the generous support of sponsors, $60,000 was raised at the event on Monday, June 11....
June screening kicks off 20th anniversary of Jewish film festival
A screening to celebrate next January’s Simon Family JCC’s 20th Annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film presented by Alma* and Howard Laderberg took place on June 10 at the NARO Cinema in Norfolk. An anonymous sponsor enabled the NARO to show Footnote, a Cannes Ophir...
Congratulations to the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater’s Class of 2012
As any parent knows, blink and they will grow…and just like that, they are gone. Another set of graduates flew the coop on June 7 at a very meaningful Hebrew Academy of Tidewater Konikoff Center of Learning commencement ceremony for the Class of 2012. The...
Israeli teens thank Tidewater on behalf of thousands for learning opportunities
The Tidewater community has long been able to watch videos and read reports of how local gifts are making a difference to students in Israel who are the beneficiaries of World ORT programs. On June 5, members of the community heard first-hand from a pair of Israeli...
Simon Family JCC’s Meeting recognizes accomplishments and sets goals for Simon Family JCC
The 2012 Biennial Meeting of the Simon Family JCC took place on Wednesday, June 13. At the meeting, outstanding accomplishments for the Center were recognized, a president bid her farewell, and another was installed for a two-year-term. Sandra Porter Leon, outgoing...
Yeshiva Aish Kodesh’s tribute dinner honors Jordan Slone
More than 250 friends, family and supporters of Yeshiva Aish Kodesh, the Talmudical Academy of Norfolk, enjoyed a warm celebration of the area’s first and only Jewish Boy’s high school on May 20 at the school’s Tribute Dinner honoring Jordan Slone, founding president...