Exciting things are happening as construction on the Marty Einhorn Pavilion at the Sandler Family Campus continues to move forward. The concrete is in, the ceiling fans are on site, and the LED color-changing lights have just been installed. Named in memory of Marty...
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Tidewater Ukraine Emergency Fund raises more than $675,000
As the war rages on in Ukraine, Jewish Tidewater has continued to give to the Tidewater Ukraine Emergency Fund. The fund has now raised and distributed approximately $678,000 to help the people of Ukraine via United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s overseas partners,...
Breyer fears Supreme Court ruling in Maine school case could lead to broad funding for religious schools
WASHINGTON (JTA)—The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Maine parents seeking funding to send their children to religious schools, a development that a dissenting Jewish justice, Stephen Breyer, suggested could open the door to broad public funding of parochial...

Simon Family Passport: Yael Schranz spends gap year in Israel
It’s been almost a month, and it feels like I just left yesterday. You know the experience was especially amazing when it is so difficult to move on from it. I went to Israel on a gap year known as Young Judaea Year Course. First, I lived in Jerusalem taking classes...

JFiT director makes it to Final 8 in national “Top Trainer” contest
On a particularly sunny morning in late April, between Life Fit and Stretch classes he teaches at the Simon Family JCC’s JFiT Wellness Center, an email caught Tom Purcell’s eye. The message was an inquiry about submitting for the opportunity to be named “Mr. Muscle...
Children’s story gets passed from generation to generation
The Tsigala Story told to Abbot Granoff, MD, by his paternal grandfather Morris Granoff (Pa) ignited a curiosity about his family’s history. In addition to spending time in Ukraine, the Granoff family story is a tale of travel, perseverance, and creativity. Here is...

New Children’s Pavilion at CHKD serves the community’s pediatric mental health needs
Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters opened its new $224 million, 14-story Children’s Pavilion on April 25. The facility offers a wide array of outpatient psychiatric services that include pediatric psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, mental...

Insight-centered approach to mental health: An interview with Dr. Michael Weissman
Judging by the waiting list of more than 400 people for Dr. Michael S. Weissman, Ph.D.’s outpatient practice, you would think there is a heightened need for mental health services today, and you would be exactly right. According to the Chesapeake and Norfolk-based...

JFS: “Perfect storm” sees heightened need for mental health counseling
Think about it: the world went through a pandemic, a lockdown, reintegration, new variants, social isolation, and financial uncertainty. Why wouldn’t anxiety be at an all-time high? “The level of stress has exploded,” says Debra Mayer, LCSW, CT director of clinical...
A pain management approach to long-haul COVID, gut issues, and what to know about medical marijuana
Staying on top of current research in pain management is very important to Dr. Lisa Barr, who has more than 30 years of experience as a board-certified physician treating patients in Tidewater with muscle, nerve, and joint problems related to sports injuries and...

Special tour of yads exhibit at the Chrysler organized by UJFT
Enthusiasts of the Jewish Art Education classes offered by the Konikoff Center for Learning at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and other members of the Simon Family JCC, joined Clay Barr for a private tour of The Guiding Hand: The Barr Foundation Collection...
Strelitz International Academy students celebrate Shavuot with a Mitzvah Fair
Primary Years students at Strelitz International Academy had excitement in their eyes as they entered the room for the Shavuot Mitzvah Fair on Friday, June 3. Richard Glasser’s family dedicated the unique holiday celebration in his memory. His brother Michael,...
Disability with dignity
In order to best serve a community’s diverse needs, accountability and awareness co-exist with Kavod, the Hebrew term that translates to concepts of dignity, honor and respect. February is Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month. The community’s commitment to...
Generous donors help Jewish Family Service assist 229 locals during Hanukkah
Now in its 27th year, Jewish Family Service of Tidewater’s Chanukah Gift program annually helps local Jewish families in financial need with gifts and gift cards for those with children and teens, and with VISA gift cards for those without children. The community...
JCC Youth Basketball League tribute Sofia Ruiz Konikoff
For decades, the Simon Family JCC Youth Basketball League has mixed sportsmanship and athletic skill building with fun and friendship. The league is open to children of all faiths from kindergarten to 5th grade. The 2020 JCC Youth Basketball League season is dedicated...
BurgerIM opens in Norfolk
The Israeli burger chain, BurgerIM recently opened two locations in Norfolk, one just outside the Norfolk Premium Outlet mall and one on West 25th St. Burgerim, by the way, is the plural of burger in Hebrew. Started in Tel Aviv, the chain is expanding throughout the...
Kitchen Barn: Still crazy busy after all these years
Walk into Kitchen Barn in Virginia Beach, home to 100,000 kitchen gadgets and five full lines of cookware, and you’ll be greeted by a warm and friendly face with a head full of knowledge. The broad smile might belong to Annmarie King whose thick salt and pepper hair...
Dear Virginia Beach City Public School Jewish Community Families
I’m writing to share with you news that the first day of school in the 2021–2022 academic year will be September 7. This of course coincides with the first day of Rosh Hashanah, marking the Jewish New Year, the beginning of the holiest time of the year for the Jewish...
Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s LIFE & LEGACY continues growth
In three years of the LIFE & LEGACY program, spearheaded by Tidewater Jewish Foundation, 530 new commitments have been made for a total of $20,208,740 in endowed gifts to support the Jewish community’s future. Consider: • More than $4 million in endowed gifts to...
Community Campaign looks to finish strong…and early!
The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2020 Community Campaign—came out of the gate strong once again this year. As this article goes to print, the campaign total stands at $4.43 million from more than 1,000 individual donors—well on its way to a successful...
Why I give…
To help maintain a spiritual home Hilary Truman Life & Legacy Donor Temple Emanuel became a home I didn’t know I was looking for. The first time I came, I came to support my best friend. My daughter enjoyed the atmosphere and the people, so I came with my friend a...
BINA on the go!!!!
December was a very busy month for BINA High School students. While many students are enrolled in dual curriculum college courses with Virginia Wesleyan University and were occupied with their heavy course load, this did not stop them from enjoying additional...
Second Annual Chinese Community Buffet
Make Kosher Chinese food, and they will come…; In New York City or even in Tidewater, scoring a reservation at a Chinese restaurant on Christmas Day, is well, like a miracle. No miracles needed for reservations at the Chinese Community Dinner at Beth Sholom Village....
My Interview with Yaakov Katz, the Jerusalem Post’s editor-In-chief
Yaakov Katz, editor-In-chief of the Jerusalem Post, educated and enlightened our community as part of the 2019–2020 Israel Today series. Katz is author of Shadow Strike: Inside Israel’s Secret Mission to Eliminate Syrian Nuclear Power. He shared his message over...
Spiritual late bloomer goes digging to discover what was ‘here all along’
Former Obama White House speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz came to Temple Emanuel to sign books and share what she learned on her post-White House Jewish journey on Sunday, December 8. The Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival and the Milton “Mickey” Kramer...
Iran has retaliated against Jewish targets before. But the Soleimani killing isn’t changing Jewish security around the world.
JERUSALEM (JTA)—On March 17, 1992, a suicide bomber drove a truck into the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, killing 29 and injuring hundreds of others. Two years later, in the same city, on July 18, 1994, another bomber drove a truck into the AMIA Jewish center,...
Virginia’s first female, first Jewish Speaker: Eileen Filler-Corn
Diversity across the Commonwealth. Diversity in the House. Eileen Filler-Corn’s historical new role as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s first woman and first Jewish Speaker of the House of Delegates is big news, locally, nationally, and even in Israel. Since November,...
A resolution over Iran splits a tight group of moderate Jewish lawmakers
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Max Rose, Elissa Slotkin and Elaine Luria are the Jewish third of the “Gang of Nine,” moderate Democrats in the House with national security backgrounds from swing districts. It’s a tight group, as described by Politico last year: The nine Democrats...
Strelitz International Academy: Teaching to think globally, act locally
As an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program candidate school, Strelitz International Academy provides a global and inquiry-based education with a mission to nurture active, compassionate lifelong learners grounded by intercultural understanding and...
BINA High School’s Annual Thanksgiving Bake Sale raises funds and treats
Prepared with hundreds of pies, dozens of cookies, and breads, BINA girl’s high school held their annual Thanksgiving bake sale on Tuesday, November 26 at Dominion Tower to raise crucial operating funds. A second location at the World Trade Center allowed more...
Tasty Hanukkah twists and turns
Everyone loves latkes. Making them is another story. Is buying frozen potato pancakes or working with a mix the way to go? Some say, ‘most definitely,’ others, reply ‘No Way!’ This is the second article (of two) featuring serious cooks who ‘play with their food’ and...
Jewish Family Service receives and distributes warmth for the holidays
When a local Catholic church asked Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, “do you have people you want to help?” the question undoubtedly resulted in a community partnership full of good will and good cheer. Such was the case for JFS and Catholic Church of St. Stephen in...