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...
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Nearly half of U.S. adults believe America should be a ‘Christian nation’
(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...
Israeli and U.S. space agencies welcome private sector R&D and commercial partnerships to advance the $1 trillion space tech market
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....
It’s time to start thinking about end-of-year planning
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...
After Israel’s election, these Jewish groups are reticent about speaking out about extremists
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....
Holiday shopping and Judaica needs met in four area gift shops
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...
BeAR literacy program welcomes new and returning mentors for the 2022/2023 school year
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...
Calling for a “Do-Over!”
“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...
Seeing the business side of vision: Gilbert Eyecare
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....
Investment firm earns positive returns on apartments and storage facilities
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 Hyatt in Virginia Beach: A new property and its cousin in Town Center
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...
Statement by President Joe Biden on breakthrough diplomacy in the Middle East
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...
Time is running out! Take the Jewish Tidewater survey ASAP.
Survey closes February 29 In just about 15 minutes you can let Tidewater’s organized Jewish community know what you think works and what doesn’t and what you’d like to see more or less of. And, you can do it anonymously for absolutely no cost from the comfort of your...
Anti-Semitism: Why Today?
Excerpted from Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg’s sermon at Ohef Sholom Temple on February 7, 2020. As if the fear of the coronavirus isn’t enough, the Anti-Defamation League reports that extremists are promoting conspiracy theories blaming (guess who?) the Jews. February...
White supremacists distributed more propaganda in 2019 but held fewer events, ADL says
One flyer reads “Holocaust = fake news.” Another says “America is not for sale.” And another: “Diversity destroys nations.” These are just a few of the 2,713 pieces of propaganda distributed in the United States by white supremacist groups in 2019, according to...
Disability with dignity
In recognition of February as Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusivity Month, this is the second of a two-piece spotlight on the community’s awareness and actions on behalf of people with disabilities. For Tidewater’s Jewish agencies, congregations, and buildings,...
Retirement works for Lois and Barry Einhorn
Spending two hours and 36 minutes interviewing community activists Lois and Barry Einhorn about ‘retirement’ at The Talbot on Granby isn’t just enlightening and educational, it is like watching two improv masters. Preparing for my first meeting with two equally...
At Gerald’s Ice Cream Bar, a retired dentist lives his ice cream-making dream
Retired dentist Gerald Einhorn loves making homemade ice cream. The warmth he feels just eating ice cream is connected to childhood memories of his father William “Willie” Einhorn. Willie Einhorn was a co-founder of Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, known today as Strelitz...
Volunteers have been the backbone of weekly Shabbat Services at Beth Sholom Village since Day One
It was my grandfather, Hyman Brenner, who roped me in back in 1980. The beloved Lenny Goodman was leading Shabbat services each Saturday at Beth Sholom Home, but he did not read from the Torah. I could, and at the urging of Grandpa, one of the first male residents, I...
JCC retirement reboot: community-centered connectivity meets functional health benefits
The Simon Family JCC and JFit combo package is more than a cultural community center and fully loaded fitness center studio with all kinds of bells and whistles. A beautiful setting, country club perks, yoga, senior programs, festivals, café, and supreme member care...
And on the doorposts of your…house?
After four decades in the Rabbinate, the majority of them spent as the spiritual leader of Conservative congregations in New Jersey and Virginia, Temple Israel’s Rabbi, Dr. Michael Panitz, estimates he’s helped affix mezuzot to the doorposts of literally hundreds of...
Concert for social justice brings communities together
Ohef Sholom Temple saw the climax of its 175th year celebration on Sunday, January 19, with a concert featuring two of the qualities the congregation is most proud of—the vigor of its dedication to social justice through civic outreach, and the joy of music as a fount...
Rabbi Ariel Burger challenges us to carry on Elie Wiesel’s message and legacy
In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission partnered with The Milton “Mickey” Kramer Scholar-In-Residence Fund of the Congregation Beth El Foundation’s Tidewater Together series to...
Help enrich the community: Take the Jewish Tidewater survey
For the first time in 19 years, Tidewater’s Jewish community is embarking on a community needs assesment. The Jewish Tidewater Survey is designed to gather information to build a stronger, more dynamic Jewish community. The last survey, the 2001 Jewish Community...
Virginia Festival of Jewish Film
The 27th Annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film is one of the longest-running Jewish film festivals in the nation. A dedicated screening committee, led by Mark Robbins and William Laderberg, selected films meant to engage diverse Tidewater audiences—Jewish and...
Charlie Harary: Mentor, parent, friend
Sitting in my car at Norfolk International Airport on Wednesday, January 8, I was a little apprehensive. After months of preparation, I was about to meet the legendary Charlie Harary and drive him to the Simon Family JCC. Harary was visiting Tidewater as part of the...
FIDF’s Virginia Chapter holds inaugural Biking for Soldiers
On a crisp autumn morning, on Sunday, October 27, 15 volunteers began cheering as a caravan of cars—with bike racks on the back—headed for Chickahominy Riverfront Park in Williamsburg. Bikers, of all ages and physical abilities, came out to demonstrate their support...
Rekindle your relationship with food. Reboot your family history.
Filling a room with more than 250 people, Cleveland Clinic’s Chief Wellness Officer, plant-based nutrition advocate, and author of What to Eat When, Dr. Michael Roizen came with a few surprises and a healthy dose of scientific data to back them up. A pre-event warmup...
Terrapin 2.0: Farm-fueled, color-blazed, and fired up
If you ask chef Amy Brandt what makes Terrapin in Virginia Beach the area’s marriage proposal mecca, she’ll propose two main ingredients. “There’s only one restaurant in the area with the intimacy of Terrapin and 100% integrity in everything they do,” says the former...
Jewish Family Service’s disability programs take place all year
Programs focusing on including and enriching the lives of those with various forms of disabilities or special needs are a big part of Jewish Family Service’s work. For more than 25 years, for example, Jewish Family Service has collaborated with the Jewish Community...
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...