(JTA)—Leonard Cohen, the Canadian singer-songwriter whose Jewish-infused work became a soundtrack for melancholy, has died. He was 82. “It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist Leonard Cohen has passed away,” his Facebook page...
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From Generation to Generation
Learning from one another, some area seniors and teens have found that they may have more in common than they first imagined. To enrich the lives of both teens and seniors by forming friendships, Ohef Sholom Temple applied for and received a two-year grant to fund a...
Neta Levi sparks creativity at Sandler Family Campus
The halls of the Sandler Family Campus were lined with tables covered in red and white checked tablecloths on Wednesday, Oct. 19. It was not in preparation for an elaborate Italian dinner, but for the kickoff of three events with Neta Levi, Israel Today’s Israeli...
Serving up shalom at a post-election Thanksgiving
LOS ANGELES (JTA)—It was just a few weeks ago, on the night of Nov. 8, that my family had all anxiously exchanged text messages as we watched the election results trickle in. State by state, my Hillary-loving family saw our hopes slipping away—and now, too soon, we...
Jewish contingent in House grows from 19 to 22
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...
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...
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...
Congregation Beth Chaverim’s 30th anniversary
A grateful founding rabbi, I shall always remember and cherish the transforming birth of what we affectionately called, “the baby.” Much love and tenderness has been bestowed upon the fast-growing “baby,” remaining the newest synagogue in Hampton Roads and the only...
Federation-Synagogue grants program seeks to build a strong community
Continuing its yearlong effort to strengthen temples and synagogues in the Tidewater community, the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater recently launched its Federation-Synagogue Grants program. Funds are being made available for innovative projects that will...
Payday Payroll Services wins Monarch Bank’s $50,000 ‘Top Flight’ Prize
“Hampton Roads has spoken and selected this year’s $50,000 winner,” Brad E. Schwartz, CEO of Monarch Bank, said in announcing Payday Payroll Services as the winner of its second annual communitywide contest. “Monarch Bank developed this award program to recognize top...
Performing Arts at the J receives gift from lover of music, Leah Wohl*
Many years before Leah Wohl passed away she requested that Ina and Moss Friedman become stewards of her estate. In addition to other organizations within the Jewish community, the Friedmans chose to sponsor the Performing Arts at the J for the next three years in her...
What makes the Yeshivas Aish Kodesh different
When friends from outside the community ask me what is different about teaching at an Orthodox Jewish boys’ high school, usually they are most curious about the religious aspects of the school. As a general studies teacher, I could easily answer that I don’t teach in...
Beth Sholom Village celebrates National Nursing Home Week
The nursing and activity staffs at Beth Sholom Village developed a week of special events that brought smiles to everyone’s faces—staff, visitors and residents—to celebrate National Nursing Home Week, May 14–18. A few of the highlights include: May 14 — Dress-Up Day,...
Beth Sholom Auxiliary installs new officers
The Auxiliary of The Berger-Goldrich Home held its Annual Spring Luncheon and Installation at The Home on Thursday, May 17. Following hors d’oeuvres in the lobby, the guests adjourned to the Pincus Paul Social Hall for lunch and the program. Introductory remarks were...
“Open debate on the situation in the Middle East”
Thank you, Madame President. Let me begin by thanking you, personally, for your outstanding leadership of the Security Council this month. Churchill once said, “In the time that it takes a lie to get halfway around the world, the truth is still getting its pants on.”...
Toras Chaim students attend political rally
Mitt Romney’s visit on Thursday, May 3 to Portsmouth was an exciting educational opportunity for the students of Toras Chaim. Seventh and eighth grade civics class students have been following the electoral process all year. Having them experience the process first...
JDC visitors from Hungary find abundant generosity in Tidewater
As a young child in Moldova, being Jewish meant two things to Zoya Shvartzman: her parents spoke a strange language at home, and she was pushed to be better than anyone else, particularly in school. The language wasn’t identified as Yiddish, nor was the expectation of...
Virginia Israel Advisory Board funded for FY2013 and FY2014 thanks to Tidewater and state-wide grass roots efforts
More than 320 notes and signatures were sent by the Tidewater community to Governor Bob McDonnell’s office, advocating for full funding for the Virginia Israel Advisory Board, $175,361 for FY2013 and FY2014. With this funding and a commitment for VIAB to remain an...
Jewish Council for Public Affairs Annual Plenum 2012 in Detroit
On May 5 I headed to Detroit for the annual Plenum of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, otherwise known as the JCPA, the Community Relations Council’s umbrella organization. The JCPA, the public affairs arm of the organized Jewish community, serves as the...