Stephanie Peck This year celebrates the sixth, worldwide Reverse Tashlich, an effort to tackle the global pollution problem by cleaning up our waterways. Tashlich comes from the Hebrew word, meaning “to cast.” Each Rosh Hashanah, Jews cast away their sins during the...
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Jewish Family Service: Outreach during the holidays
Stephanie Peck Among its many activities, Jewish Family Service attempts to make all the major Jewish holidays better for those who might need a bit of a boost or metaphorical hug. Prior to Rosh Hashanah, for example, Jewish Family Service will deliver holiday gift...
Beach Community Shul built on passion
Following four years of service to Orlando’s Jewish community, Rabbi Meir and Adina Lessoff have brought their passion and commitment to Virginia Beach. Their mission: to reach Jews in search of a deeper connection to their heritage. Arriving as newcomers to Virginia...
JELF loans nearly $60,000 in Tidewater’s Jewish community
Financial aid applications for 2023-24 school year re-open. Deadline: September 30, 2023 With more than 45 million Americans in some form of outstanding interest-bearing student loan debt, 0% interest loans can help save borrowers thousands of dollars in high...
Tzofim Friendship Caravan returns to Tidewater with a celebration of unity and culture
Sierra Lautman Israeli Scouts from the Tzofim Friendship Caravan visited Tidewater on July 28 for the first time in four years. Their performances bridge the gap between Israeli and American culture, demonstrating the power of music and unity in fostering connections...
Splashes of fun and farewell: Tidewater says goodbye to Aya and Alma at the August Sunday Fun Day
Nofar Trem A blazing sun over the Metzger Outdoor Aquatic Center at the Simon Family Jewish Community Center helped make certain temperatures were up – in a good way – for Sunday Fun Day in August. The afternoon was a heartwarming convergence of community members,...
How Adam Sandler’s ‘You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah’ imitates real life, from its stars to its parties
Shira Li Bartov (JTA) — To prepare for their role in creating Adam Sandler’s latest movie, crew members hit the Toronto bar and bat mitzvah circuit. Production designer Perry Blake and set decorator Julia Altschul, guided by a local consultant on the Jewish...
In the room when Israel’s President Herzog addressed Congress
On Wednesday, June 19, I had the honor of joining leadership from our Jewish community, as well as leadership from Jewish communities and organizations around the country to hear Israeli President Isaac Herzog address a joint session of the United States Congress. I...
Jewish Federations of North America respond to Israel’s judicial reform vote
In response to the Knesset’s vote earlier today (July 24, 2023) on the Reasonableness Law, Jewish Federations of North America issued the following statement: “The Jewish Federations of North America are deeply pained over the growing polarization we have witnessed in...
A targeted civil rights tour
When I booked my flights for the 2018 Association of Holocaust Organizations conference held in Mobile, Ala., I did not think about extending my trip to visit the then brand-new National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, a two-hour drive north. I vowed...
Strelitz International Academy: Gifts and Pledges for the 2022-2023 school year
Prophet $50,000+ Anonymous United Jewish Federation of Tidewater – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Righteous $20,000 - $49,999 Dozoretz Family Fund Edward Kramer Cindy & Ronald Kramer Celia K. Krichman* Charitable Trust Laura & Jerrold Miller Deb & Peter...
Summertime at Strelitz International Academy
Rainbows, rocket ships, and red, white, and blue spirit are just some of the themes that filled Strelitz International Academy’s classrooms this summer, keeping SIA’s summer session busy both inside and outside of the classroom. To maintain excitement and engagement,...
Converging holidays provide a chance to reflect and give at TJF
There is something very apropos and meaningful about the convergence of two beautiful holidays, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah—both of which represent a celebration of religious freedom and are centered on the theme of gratitude for the blessings in our lives. As you...
Hanukkah Happenings
Congregation Beth El SIX13, a cappella singing group, in concert at Beth El Sunday, December 5, 4–5:30 pm, in-person and online Congregation Beth El is celebrating its 171st Anniversary and Hanukkah with a concert by the world-renowned male a cappella singing group,...
The Great Big Challah Bake—is back in-person
Tidewater women from five years of age and up gathered at B’nai Israel Congregation in Norfolk for the 7th Annual Great Big Challah Bake on Thursday, October 21. The annual event is part of the global Shabbos Project and a collaboration between B’nai Israel...
Workshop on antisemitism featured national and local experts
Old Dominion University’s Institute for Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding, along with Jewish Community Relations Council and the Konikoff Center for Learning of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater hosted an online workshop to learn about the hidden...
Books for area schools
Each year the Holocaust Commission’s White Rose project donates educational materials to ALL middle and high schools in the area. Commission volunteers finish packing up this year’s books to be delivered to school libraries.
Colin Powell, who brokered the Middle East ‘road map’ to peace, dies at 84
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Colin Powell will be remembered in history as the first Black U.S. national security advisor, the first Black military chief of staff and the first Black secretary of state. He was also the first military chief to speak Yiddish as a second language,...
With Yair Lapid at his side, Blinken uses a word that Israel has been longing to hear on Iran
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Yair Lapid got what he wanted out of his Washington visit: the word “every,” instead of “other.” During Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s first meeting with President Biden in August, Bennett was happy with what he heard: the American...
Navy has three rabbis stationed in Tidewater
Three rabbis walk into a bar. One Reform, one Conservative, one Orthodox. The story is significantly less funny than you might imagine. While, in general, rabbis tend to be pretty funny people when you get them together in social settings, this was a business meeting....
FIDF Virginia Chapter meets, celebrates, and hears from Israeli military leaders
American athletes have won a total of 2,673 medals in the history of the Olympics, so the chances of meeting an American medal winner is low, but not impossible. Given that Israeli athletes have won only 13 medals, what are the chances of meeting an Israeli medal...
29 years of helping local Jewish children and teens
Jewish Family Service received this thank you note from an 11-year-old girl after Hanukkah last year: Dear JFS Helpers: Thank you for including me in the Chanukah gift drive. I live with my grandma and she and I have to watch how we spend money. My grandma surprised...
How to leverage giving opportunities at TJF
As the end of 2021 approaches, there’s a greater sense of normality: people are returning to society and the workplace. Yet, millions of people across the globe are still being impacted by COVID-19. Still, there is a silver lining: according to Giving USA 2021, a...
New novel, The Serpent Papers, focuses on Vietnam War
The Serpent Papers by Jeff Schnader, an area author and professor of medicine, is set on Columbia University’s campus amidst protests against the Vietnam War. This is the first book written about Columbia’s 1972 demonstrations. For the Vietnam War generation, the war...
All Jewish teens are invited to join BBYO
Tidewater BBYO invites all area Jewish teens to get involved. BBYO provides teens in eighth through 12th grades the opportunity to make friends, gain leadership experience, and have fun being Jewish. All BBYO programming is peer led: the teens plan and create...
First Person: New book provides an interactive manual of important life skills
Your Journey Beyond Breast Cancer: Tools for the Road Louise B. Lubin, PhD Every woman remembers the moment she heard, “You have breast cancer.” These words begin a long winding journey with potential roadblocks and detours. Wherever one may be on their cancer...
Memorial Service at BSV remembers those departed since last year
It is a Jewish custom to remember family members and friends on the anniversary of their passing. A memorial prayer is recited, a candle is lit, and donation is often given in memoriam. After not gathering in person for more than one year, Beth Sholom Village held a...
Weddings 2021: Happy ever after, hitches and all
The 2020–21 wedding theme is a mix of Suspend Disbelief and Hello Fantastical. For three recently married couples, snookered by the pandemic and forced to alter their original dream wedding plans dramatically, getting the last laugh was extra sweet. Erin Leon and...
Bittersweet blessings for Paul Turok’s growing family
Paul Len Turok was born to count many blessings: Building a sweet life with Vivian (Viv); moving from South Africa to Virginia at just the right time; feeling embraced by the local Jewish community; raising two healthy children with good souls and great hair; and...
PJ Library in Tidewater’s Pizza in the Hut: a Sukkot celebration
Tidewater families gathered in the sukkah on the Sandler Family Campus for a Sukkot celebration on Sunday, September 19. The path to the sukkah featured a life-sized book walk of images from The Harvest Blessings by Amy Meltzer, a PJ Library author. In the sukkah,...
Simon Family Passport to Israel recipient Nathan Prince soaks in the Israel experience
The Israel trip was an experience of a lifetime! A couple of reasons why I chose to be a part of the Journey 5 trip to Israel include making new connections and experiencing historical and culturally important areas in my homeland. Growing up Jewish was not easy. In...
Elie Wiesel Competition’s 2021 winners now online
www.holocaustcommission.jewishva.org It took 25 years and a coronavirus to push the Elie Wiesel student competitions (art and writing) to their new online format. Since most public and many private school students spent their year in remote learning, the Holocaust...
