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Children signing brachot in American Sign Language (ASL). Students harmonizing with hand-drumming while singing Oseh Shalom. Kids laughing while playing drama games they learned at day camp. ASL interpreters at community events. What’s going on?Sharon Serbin is going...
A minor Jewish holiday, Tu B’Av is celebrated as a holiday of love. This year, it begins on the evening of Sunday, August 18 and ends at nightfall on Monday, August 19. There are few gestures that say “I love you” quite like making someone a meal. But as a chef, I...
Sherry Lieberman is the winner of the Jewish News contest for two passes to the Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Sponsored by the Virginia Arts Festival, the Monet experience showcases more than 400 of Monet’s most iconic...
Windsurfing to wrestling – Jewish athletes earned at least 16 medals (at press time) at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.The stories about these Olympians are all interesting – even for those who don’t care all that much about sports. Read about them at JTA.org. Gold medals...
The successful 16th Biennial Educators' Conference, hosted by the Holocaust Commission and the Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, offered invaluable resources and insights to educators dedicated to teaching about...
The Konikoff Center for Learning of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater celebrated a remarkable year of Jewish education with a Celebration of Lifelong Learning event last month. This year, dedicated learners deepened their knowledge of Jewish history, thought,...
The fifth and sixth grade girls from Toras Chaim took a trip to the Maimonides Health Center in Virginia Beach on Monday, June 10.An innovative idea of Kayla Weinreb to teach her students about the act of chessed (kindness) while bringing joy to the Center’s...
After achieving plenty of recognition and success during the 2023- 2024 school year, the Be A Reader (BeAR) Literacy Project is now planning for the 2024-2025 school year.During this school year, BeAR worked with more than 100 second-grade students in Norfolk and...
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...
Patti Wainger A prayer vigil in support of Israel was held at Congregation Beth El on Sunday, Oct. 29. Reverend Tim Giddens, director of Norfolk’s Ghent Area Ministry, (GAM), New Life Church’s Pastor, David McBride, and Congregation Beth El’s spiritual leader, Rabbi...
Naomi Limor Sedek In 1987, when I was 12 years old, I hopped on a bus that was arranged by the local Federation that left from the JCC to march in Washington on Freedom Sunday for the Soviet Jews. That was 36 years ago and made such a vivid impression on me and shaped...
Stephanie Peck Prior to the terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7, William & Mary students from various faith groups would come together on campus and a positive relationship existed between Muslim and Jewish students. This peaceful exchange collapsed when Hamas...
Naomi Limor Sedek Nestled beside one of the area’s fastest-growing congregations, a new playground gleams under the sun. While it may appear as just slides and swings, it’s much more for the young Jewish families of B’nai Israel. Funded through a Tidewater Jewish...
Rabbi Ron Koas In the past month I was asked by my colleagues about our Shinshinim, and the secret of their success in our (Congregation Beth El) school, congregation, and community. I realize that not everyone is aware of this program, so please allow me to share a...
Myrna Amdursky The stars lined up correctly on Sunday, Oct. 22 for Tidewater’s 2nd Annual Daffodil Planting Day at the Jewish Museum and Cultural Center in Portsmouth. The sun was shining brightly, the temperature was comfortable, Bob and Jeanne Zentz played music,...
Carin Simon Beyond the games, the food, and the festivities, the Strelitz International Academy Fall Festival demonstrated the power of community with more than 750 people attending. Held on Sunday, Oct. 22 at the Sandler Family Campus, the event exceeded...
Mia Klein In a visit to Tidewater, Rabbi Diana Fersko, author of We Need to Talk About Antisemitism and the rabbi at the Village Temple in Manhattan, shared a message of hope amid the ongoing war against Hamas in Israel and rising antisemitism around the world. “I...
Philissa Cramer (JTA) — As Elizabeth Rand watched an unnerving number of incidents pile up at colleges where her son was considering applying, she felt she had to do something. The longtime administrator of a Facebook group for people interested in discussing the...
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater joined with more than 120 Jewish organizations earlier this month in signing a letter prepared by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. The letter reads: THE JEWISH COMMUNITY REJECTS...
Naomi Limor Sedek In these turbulent times, as we witness the horrific wave of violence and terrorism striking deep within Israel, our hearts and prayers are with our Israeli families, friends, and all those affected. The scenes of unrest shatter our hearts but...
This piece was originally published Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 in the Jerusalem Post’s special edition for the visit of President Joe Biden to Israel. Yaron Ashkenazi On October 7, I was awakened to a nightmare. From my house in Toronto, Canada, I saw the atrocities...
On April 12, 1945, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe, accompanied by United States Generals George S. Patton and Omar Bradley, toured the Ohrdruf concentration camp, the first camp to be liberated by US forces after...
Stephanie Peck Avraham Ashkenazi has lived in the United States for almost half of his life, but there is no disputing that he’s an Israeli, first and foremost. Forty years in this country has not altered his thick accent, nor has it diminished his love for Israel....
Stephanie Peck Looking for an investment in residential real estate? Opinions vary as to whether or not this is a good time for a non-owner-occupied buyer to purchase a house or duplex to rent or flip. Mortgage rates are at a 20-year high, and inventory is low in...
Todd Holcomb Excitement and anticipation were percolating for months around the opening of Fiddler on the Roof at the historic—and newly renovated—Wells Theatre. Finally, after all the intricate planning, midnight rehearsals, and engaging lead-up events, the Tidewater...
WASHINGTON (JTA) — As of November, Israelis will be able to enter the United States without a visa, a major change that Israel has long sought and that will ease travel for hundreds of thousands of its citizens. Israel’s entry into the Visa Waiver Program, which now...
State elections take center stage. Drew Goodove, JCRC Summer Intern All seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate are up for grabs on Tuesday, November 7. With so many vital issues, the Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish...
Ron Kampeas WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Biden administration is aiming to counter antisemitic discrimination in federally-funded transit systems, housing, food programs, and other areas — one of the most major actions the White House has taken since it unveiled a...
Area attorneys: Committed to their work, family, and communities Firm Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers The Car Crash Experts Specialty Personal Injury – Helping folks hurt in wrecks against insurance companies. Education University of California Berkeley, Phi Beta Kappa...