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Wednesday, June 11, 6:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus Tidewater’s Jewish community often gathers for commemorations and celebrations. In fact, over the past several months, from Yom Hashoah to Yom Ha’Atzmaut, and for so many more occasions as well, we have gathered in...
Report an antisemitic incident at Federation.JewishVA.org/IncidentReportingIn an emergency, always call 9-1-1 first.If online reporting is not practical, contact local law enforcement and/or the relevant suspicious activity reporting authority.Also contact Mike...
When asked about neurodiversity, the odds are most people wouldn’t be able to answer. Social media, television, and film often misrepresent neurodiversity, either exaggerating its effects or minimizing its impact.Neurodiversity describes the unique ways people’s...
Get ready for summer when the Simon Family JCC’s outdoor pool opens on Saturday, May 24.Weekday aquatics exercise classes will move outside during the summer season, weather permitting, and many other events return to enjoy with friends and family. Among the special...
Stepping outside this time of year, one might initially squint because of the bright sun or the pollen, which means that bright summer days are ahead. One might even figuratively squint at the realization that the end of the school year is near. While those eyes are...
When Kenna Werby celebrated her Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, March 29, she didn’t just mark a major milestone in her own life – she made a lasting impact on the lives of countless young readers in Tidewater.For her Bat Mitzvah project, Kenna chose to support the Jewish...
Earlier this month, Erica Reisner Ausch, with the assistance of her daughter, Linda Ausch, made Matzah Ball Soup with her grandson, Leo Woodward, and his family: Erika Woodward, and Ausch’s great grandchildren, Wells and Bridget Woodward. L’dor V’dor. Aunty Linda...
More than 60 active adults gathered for a meaningful Model Passover Seder on Tuesday, April 9. Led by Rabbi David Bockman of Congregation Beth El with Dave Flagler, Simon Family JCC’s camp director, on guitar, the event took place at the Sandler Family Campus. The...
It started with a simple question during a meeting of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Innovation Steering Committee: If children have the privilege of receiving Jewish-themed books monthly through PJ Library, why shouldn’t adults have their own version? PJ...
The Jewish Museum and Cultural Center - JMCC (formerly Chevra T’Helim synagogue), United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, and the Chrysler Museum, are collaborating to present a special series of events. A three-year project, L’Dor v’Dor (from Generation to...
Voting is underway in an election that gives American Jews an opportunity to directly shape Israel’s future.The U.S. election for seats in the 39th World Zionist Congress will help determine the balance of power in the legislative authority of a Zionist organization...
As Jewish college students across North America experience unprecedented levels of antisemitism on campus, the University of Virginia has joined Hillel International’s flagship Campus Climate Initiative (CCI) program.Hillel’s CCI program is the nation’s leading...
A variety of activities and events designed for adults 55+ are offered by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Simon Family JCC. Whether participants are eager to meet new friends, dive into a great book, or engage in stimulating discussions, there’s...
In a world where technology often seems to pull people apart, the Be A Reader Literacy Project is bringing generations together. Senior adults in Norfolk and Virginia Beach are stepping up to mentor second graders in Title I schools, and in the process, they’re...
Reduced pricing at the movie theater is a widely known perk of achieving ‘senior’ status, but it is far from the only one. A benefit that assists in keeping that same age group healthy, fit, and engaged is less known, but arguably more beneficial. . . free membership...
Lifeguards are integral to most swimming pools – certainly to all the Simon Family JCC’s pools. While the aquatics team has had its share of seasoned guards, most tend to be teens and/or young adults. Two new employees, however, are out of the lifeguard-ordinary: Paul...
FIRST PERSON: A VIEW FROM ISRAEL I was in Israel for 10 days through a structured university trip called Israel Authentic (part of the Tlalim Group). Eight students on the trip were from Boston University and seven were from Virginia Tech, where I am a rising...
SOME BASIC FACTS. • During Israel’s 1948 War of Independence, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion struck a deal with leaders of the Haredi community to exempt those whose full-time occupation was Torah study from mandatory military service. Arab citizens of Israel...
Birthright Israel brings 13,500 participants to Israel As antisemitism reaches historic levels across the world, Birthright Israel participants will strengthen their Jewish identity and build relationships with the land and people of Israel when they need it...
Ayden Cohn Virginia Tech Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering and a Master of Science in Business Administration (Business Analytics). Ayden was awarded the Virginia Tech Engineering Outstanding Master’s Student award. Next: Ayden will work as an engineer...
Time flies! While it feels like just yesterday the Strelitz International Academy’s Class of 2017 graduated, seven years have passed and these students are graduating from high school.Last month, these alumni and their parents returned to SIA for a special Senior...
In addition to the celebrations of graduation season, education tends to get a lot of attention.Tidewater Jewish Foundation can help donors make a difference in the lives of young people by funding education. While establishing a scholarship fund at TJF is one way to...
In the third quarter of 2023, roughly 150,000 Palestinians from the West Bank were working in the Israeli economy. In Quarter 4, that went down to 17,000. (marketplace.org) The blue ribbon symbolizes support and solidarity for the safe return of the hostages taken by...
Elka Mednick, director The Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater:Thank you for the donation of To Life: The Past is Present. This book will be a useful addition to the Reference collection in Dinwiddie High School (DHS) Library.At DHS,...
In honor of his 50 years in the rabbinate, Rabbi Israel Zoberman has received numerous local, state, and federal recognitions for this milestone achievement.A member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Rabbi Zoberman received an Honorary Life Membership for...
Hundreds of orthodox Jewish families rented homes in the Sandbridge section of Virginia Beach for the duration of this year’s eight-day Passover holiday. Families from outside of Virginia brought their traditions and kosher meals to Sandbridge, with 10 synagogues...
Community members gathered in the beautifully decorated Marty Einhorn Pavilion on the Sandler Family Campus on the evening of May 16 for an Israeli Chef’s Table Experience with visiting Israeli chef, Yaniv Cohen. With his love and extensive knowledge of spices, Chef...
The Be A Reader (BeAR) literacy project, dedicated to fostering a love of reading among 2nd grade students in Norfolk and Virginia Beach’s Title I schools, hosted an end-of-year appreciation luncheon for its mentors last month.Gail Flax, BeAR chair, welcomed everyone...
• 26 Iyar (Hebrew date for this issue of Jewish News) – Israel’s Six Day war began in 1967. (fushionglobal.org) • During the third quarter of 2023, Palestinians working in Israel brought back roughly $1 billion in income. In the fourth quarter, that was around $79...
The 2024 Yom Hashoah Commemoration honoring the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, as well as liberators and righteous gentiles, brought the community together around awareness, sadness, honor, hope, and the understanding that each day it is possible to choose to...
The Simon Family JCC hosted its annual Catch and Release Fishing Derby on Sunday, May 5. Nearly 100 anglers of all ages tried their luck at the pond, which was stocked with bass, catfish, and bluegill. The largest catch of the day, according to Tom Edwards, athletics...
Who doesn’t love a good cheesecake?!? For a group of people who are between 75 and 90% lactose intolerant, we must have a lot of chutzpah because we clearly won’t be denied our love of all things dairy. When I moved to Israel, I was actually shocked...