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The inaugural session of the Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Community Book Club took place on Sunday, Feb. 25 at Congregation Beth El. Participants included congregants of area synagogues as well as those without affiliation. As part of the series, sponsored by the Simon Family...
America is experiencing a strong uptick in antisemitism, especially on our college campuses. Jewish students feel unsafe and numerous attacks have been registered. University presidents have struggled to admit that advocating for the genocide of Jews is against school...
Registration for Camp JCC Summer 2024 is off to a very promising start – after all, it is “the place to be” this summer. In fact, enrollment is significantly higher compared to this point last year, with many of the families who have registered new to camp. Based on...
During the final days of staff training, camp directors across the country ask their teams to close their eyes and think about who their favorite camp counselors were and what was it about that person that made them special. What were their qualities? What interests...
Susan Byrne of Catering Concepts recently happened upon a bag of yamakas (kippot) – all from events where she had been the caterer. “It was fun to find them and have all of the memories come flooding back,” says Byrne. “Seeing those yamakas reminded me of viewing...
“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” – Albert Einstein We all want to feel that we truly make a difference. Participating in the Be A Reader (BeAR) Literacy Project of the United Jewish Federation Tidewater is an easy and rewarding way to accomplish...
“Strong legs, long life.” This is the mantra voiced by Tom Purcell during the LifeFit class he leads on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the Simon Family JCC. It is just one among many positive thoughts Purcell shares during every class – all promoting fitness and...
Those who weren’t in Casablanca on Saturday, Feb. 3 missed out. Temple Emanuel’s Casablanca-themed Casino Night was the place to be and the numerous Ingrids and Humphreys in attendance can attest to that. It was an energetic, delicious, fun night on the town. Leslie...
A strengthening Jewish presence is emerging at Old Dominion University – one that is quickly confirmed by all the activity on Old Dominion University’s Hillel’s accounts on Instagram and Facebook. ODU’s vibrant Jewish community is promoting a greater understanding and...
Old Dominion University’s basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 22 featured the Simon Family JCC Youth Basketball League during halftime. The popular JCC basketball youth league, now more than 60 years old, played on the ODU home court to an entertained crowd that cheered...
Thanks to our generous community, the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater (UJFT) has raised almost $4.8 million since October 7 to support humanitarian, emergency, and wartime needs through the UJFT’s Tidewater Supports Israel Emergency Fund. The second largest...
Jewish Federations of North America on Wednesday, Feb. 21, led 16 American Jewish organizations in a joint letter to members of the House of Representatives reaffirming their support for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of...
Eitan Altshuler is with the Cardo Café/Humusiya at the Sandler Family Campus, where he has created a popular Israeli menu. Passionate about Jewish community, here he discusses his time in Israel and how he evolved…and the importance food played in his growth. Jewish...
Celebrating Israel at 75 for me always comes down to the people…and fortunately for me, many memories. Between my family’s experiences and my own, I’ve chosen a few to share here. • My father, Victor, and his parents, Irvin and Elizabeth with his brother, Alex,...
The summer of 1977 changed my life forever. My parents, of blessed memory, provided me with the opportunity to travel to Israel through the American Zionist Youth Foundation. Along with 27 other college-aged students from across the United States, we embarked on a...
Camp JCC is a place for children to explore, challenge themselves, learn, grow, and experience new things outside of the construct and expectations of a classroom. Each camper, camp staff member, camp parent, and camp supporter have their own strengths, challenges,...
The Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, presented by Alma & Howard Laderberg, wrapped up its 30th anniversary on Wednesday, March 1, with Farewell Mr. Haffmann at Virginia Beach’s Beach Cinema Alehouse. The French film, distributed initially as Adieu, Monsieur...
Throughout the 2023 legislative session of the Virginia General Assembly, state delegates and senators discussed issues that are important to the statewide Jewish community. Two of those pieces of legislation, the statewide adoption of the International Holocaust...
(JTA)—Chaim Topol won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of an immigrant to Israel, stepped off the stage in London to fight for his country, and had his sketches of Israeli presidents turned into postage stamps. But the actor was, by far, best known for his embodiment...
Thursday, March 30, 6:30 pm, Westin Virginia Beach Town Center Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities’ 2023 honorees for the 59th Annual Humanitarian Award include Andrew S. Nusbaum. Humanitarian Awards are presented to individuals who have demonstrated a...
It’s time to gather family and friends for Pesach and join in a moment of reflection…to take stock of values and hold fast to what’s most important in the coming days, weeks, and months. At Tidewater Jewish Foundation, we are doing just that. When we think about the...
We recently had the chance to lead Tu B’Shevat and Purim activities around the community. It was a pleasure to participate in the region’s many festivities and share our experiences from celebrating these holidays in Israel with people of all ages. We’ve...
Recently published, To Life: The Past is Present: Holocaust Stories of Hampton Roads Survivors, Liberators and Rescuers, is the book’s second edition. This anthology contains recollections of ghetto and concentration camp survivors, hidden children, Jews on the...
More than 100 Brith Sholom members gathered at the Simon Family JCC on Sunday, Feb. 5, to learn the results of the 2022–2024 election. The newly elected officers are President, Dave Lesser; Vice President, Ray Rebby; Treasurer, Joe Goldberg; Secretary, Ed Landress....
Jewish News: When and where did you meet? Joan and Eric Joffe: We met on the beach in Clifton, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa in December 1968. JN: What was most memorable about your wedding? J&E: Our wedding on April 10, 1973 was during the time of...
Jewish News: You are both Tidewater natives. When and where did you meet? Stephanie Jarvis Caskill and Tyler Caskill: We met in 2011 at a mutual friend’s house. JN: What was most memorable about your wedding? S&T: Having so many of our friends and family...
Jewish News: When and where did you meet? Sarah and Bill Keasey: We met online May 5, 2008 on Bikerkiss.com. We both had Harleys. JN: What was most memorable about your ceremony? S&B: The most memorable was to have our wonderful family and friends surround us. JN:...
In August, Pam Gladstone, executive director for Congregation Beth El, turns 80. For more than three of her nearly nine decades, congregants, vendors, and visitors to Beth El have been accustomed to Pam’s friendly greeting at the sanctuary’s door or on the phone....
Two members of the leadership team at Beth Sholom Village were recently recognized with promotions, new designations earned, and for their community-wide work. Mazel Tov Lauren Schoenfeld and Amy Weinstein! Lauren Schoenfeld, LNHA The new administrator of the...
Artist Jean-Pierre Weill recently spoke to Alene Jo Kaufman of KBH Synagogue about his book, Evolve: A Children’s Book for Adults as part of the Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival. The conversation took place on Zoom. Weill, a father of five who was...
The Swordfish winter youth swim team may have been small, but they accomplished big things. Lead by coaches Leia Sabatini and Kayleigh Carnazza, the Swordfish broke 14 team records this season. During their three swim meets, Sawyer White, 9 years old, set three new...
(JTA)—An event that took place at James Madison University on Thursday, Jan. 26 to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day was scheduled to feature lectures about the legacies of Auschwitz and the intersection between white supremacy and antisemitism. There was...