WASHINGTON (JTA)—Bomb threats were called in to at least 16 Jewish community centers and other institutions in seven states on Monday, Jan. 9. The calls were prerecorded in some cases and live in others, with the caller using voice disguising technology, and likely...
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Donald Trump says Israel is being treated “very, very unfairly”
President-elect Donald Trump accused the Obama administration of treating Israel with “total disdain” hours after Secretary of State John Kerry’s speech rebuking the country’s settlement policy and offering his plan for Middle East peace. Trump spoke to reporters on...
Blaming Obama doesn’t advance the cause of Middle East peace
What did Secretary of State John Kerry say that caused former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren to say that U.S. policy toward Israeli has become “sad, tragic and dangerous?” That led Sen. Ted Cruz to say that Kerry and President Barack Obama are...
24th Annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film
With the 24th season of the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film briskly underway, national and international movies, including documentaries and full feature dramas created by award winning Jewish writers and filmmakers, are being shown at multiple locales around...
Third Hanukkah party in Executive Mansion’s history hosted by Governor McAuliffe
Jewish community leaders, clergy, elected officials and professionals from across the Commonwealth gathered on December 14 at the Executive Mansion for an early Hanukkah celebration. Only the third such party held at the Mansion, Governor Terry McAuliffe and his wife...
Amy Brooke honored by BINA; school celebrates 10 years
BINA High School celebrated its 10-year anniversary honoring Amy Brooke on Dec. 9 and 10. Many alumni returned to Norfolk to be a part of the celebration, travelling from New York, New Jersey, and Maryland—several with young families—to catch up with their old...
Investing in the future of Tidewater’s Jewish community
It‘s never too early to think about how to leave your mark on the community and how you want to be remembered. Each year by using disposable income charitably, people make an imprint on the Tidewater Jewish community. That choice is an investment—whether it is making...
What Draws You… to volunteer, to give, to care?
Community-wide fundraising phone-a-thon Sunday, January 22, 9 am–1 pm Reba & Sam Sandler Family Campus Asking questions is one of the most time-honored traditions of Judaism, and the young adults organizing this year’s Super Sunday community-wide phone-a-thon have...
From Mumbai to March of the Living: Bringing Holocaust education to Jewish Indian teens
Last December I traveled to India with American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s (JDC) Entwine. My peers and I connected with the Jewish community, particularly the Jewish Youth Pioneers (JYP), a young-adult delegation of Jewish-Indians who live in the greater...
TJF’s Life & Legacy program off to an exciting start
Since launching in September, the Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s Life & Legacy program has created new levels of excitement and engagement within the Tidewater Jewish community. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s Life & Legacy program is a four-year initiative...
Holocaust organizations, scholars and educators sound alarm on surge in hate crimes; issue call to action to lawmakers and citizens
(New York, NY)—In a powerful statement issued by an array of Holocaust institutions, scholars and educators from around the world (including United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission), an alarm is being sounded on the rise of groups that promote...
Holocaust Commission members attend National Social Studies Conference
In early December, Dana Cohen, a child survivor of the Holocaust and a member of the Holocaust Commission, Elena Barr Baum, director of the Holocaust Commission, and I attended the annual conference of the National Council for the Social Studies in Washington, DC,...
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...
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...