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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...
Dear Editor, Thank you so much for accepting my article to the Jewish News on the new Keilim Mikvah, the mikvah for immersing vessels. I have received several comments on how much people appreciated seeing this article featured and knowing that we have made the mikvah...
Israel’s war with Hamas has resulted in vocal and aggressive anti-Zionism and antisemitism across the globe. Many American Jews lack basic knowledge about Israel to converse with certainty about the sole democracy in the Middle East. Beginning with this column, in...
On the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 7, a delegation of committed and proud Jews – ranging from ODU students to retirees – boarded a double-decker bus at the Sandler Family Campus in Virginia Beach destined for Richmond. There, we met up with other Jewish delegations...
February marked the 25th anniversary of Peace by Piece, a partnership between Jewish Family Service of Tidewater and Edmarc, a family-centered home health and hospice for children with life-threatening illnesses. Peace by Piece is an interfaith program for grieving...
(JTA)—Two weeks after feting Donald Trump as America’s most pro-Israel president ever, the Zionist Organization of America had harsh words for the man who aspires to return to the White House. “ZOA deplores the fact that President Trump had a friendly dinner with such...
A local Jewish man with two young children came to Jewish Family Service for help with his family and overdue bills. He had lost his full-time job when his workplace unexpectedly shut down. He did not have enough funds to pay bills and have anything else left over....
The 2022–2023 Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival began last month with three authors, each with unique stories for the Tidewater community. Dan Grunfeld, author of By the Grace of the Game: The Holocaust, a Basketball Legacy, and an Unprecedented...
(JTA)—Forty-five percent of American adults believe the United States should be a “Christian nation,” according to the results of a new survey published Thursday, October 27 by the Pew Research Center—the latest data point finding modern support for Christian...
Israel is now a leading player in space tech. “A private Israeli space venture recently propelled our nation into the club of four countries that have landed on the moon,” said Director General of the Israel Space Agency, Uri Oran, at a U.S.-Israel Space Tech event....
Winding down from the whirlwind of family High Holiday celebrations and gearing up for Thanksgiving, I am reminded that our worldview is relative. For example, instead of focusing on the volatility in the market this past quarter, we should take the long view over...
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Few of the American Jewish groups who would not speak out about the prospect of extremists in government before Israel’s elections have done so the day after, even though Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right provocateur, seems headed for a position of power....
Smaller is sometimes better, especially in the case of something other than mainstream for this holiday season, as well as for everyday Judaica needs. Here are four shops in Tidewater where you can find interesting and one-of-a-kind items in a friendly and welcoming...
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Be a Reader (BeAR) program held its Kickoff/Workshop for the 2022/2023 school year on October 24. It was the first meeting of the group since the COVID-19 pandemic began. It was a...
“Do-over, do-over!” Many remember hearing or exclaiming this as a child at recess when a game was not fair, not conclusive, or maybe not to someone’s liking. At times, the need for a “do-over” was obvious and agreed upon, while other times merely uttering the phrase...
Gilbert Eyecare has been operating for more than 50 years and calls itself “your Hampton Roads designer eyewear headquarters.” A family-run business with locations in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, each offer medical offices and a retail eyewear center under one roof....
Cohen Investment Group (CIG) is a privately owned commercial real estate investment firm specializing in multifamily apartments and self-storage properties. The firm’s strategy is to identify and acquire well-located real estate assets below replacement cost while...
The former Belvedere Hotel motor lodge at the Virginia Beach oceanfront was replaced by the new Hyatt Place Oceanfront beginning two years ago, with the Hyatt opening its doors this past June. Within four days of opening, according to Matthew Krogsund, the hotel’s...
October 11, 2022 Today, I am pleased to announce a historic breakthrough in the Middle East. After months of mediation by the United States, the Governments of Israel and Lebanon have agreed to formally end their maritime boundary dispute and establish a permanent...
Changes were recently made to Virginia Beach’s election system. In this year’s election on November 8, voters will only be able to select a city Council and a School Board representative who represents the specific district where a given voter resides. The previous...
(JTA)—A bumper crop of etrogs took a more direct route to Israel this year, thanks to a historic confluence of geopolitics and religious observance. Once home to the largest Jewish community in the Arab world, Morocco has a long history producing the citrus fruit used...
Under the well-organized leadership of Adele Muller and Carol Smith, another Mitzvah was carried out and “is in the books.” A group of Tidewater Chavurah members prepared and fed a nutritious dinner at the Judeo Christian Outreach Center. They served baked rigatoni...
In Tidewater for a little more than a month, ShinShinim Aya Sever and Alma Ben Chorin are engaging community members of all ages. Since mid-September, the two Israelis have been busy celebrating and teaching about the Jewish holidays, adding an Israeli flair to...
Dan Grunfeld: Wednesday, November 2, 7:30 pm By the Grace of the Game: The Holocaust, a Basketball Legacy, and an Unprecedented American Dream Dan Grunfeld Triumph Books 262 pages, 2021 The 2022-23 Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival kicks off this...
(JTA)—Frank Saraceno has worked for ESPN since 1994 and has produced hour-long documentaries on some of the biggest stars in sports for the cable channel’s Emmy Award-winning “E:60” series. But he thinks working on the episode that premiered September 20, might have...