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...
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Date with the State: Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day
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...
Peace by Piece marks 25years of a unique partnership with JFS and Edmarc
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...
Jewish Film Festival honors the victims of Hamas’ October 7 attacks in Israel
After three decades, the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, presented by Alma and Howard Laderberg, continues to evolve, bringing films that interest and excite, as well as meet the moment during times of turmoil. For the 31st annual festival, the Festival’s screening...
Virginia Festival of Jewish Film: Shorts, documentaries, and dramas
The lineup for the 31st Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, presented by Alma & Howard Laderberg, includes shorts, documentaries, and dramas and takes place next month at various locations throughout Tidewater. The Festival begins on Sunday, Feb. 18, with a special...
JFS continues meal delivery program with new partner
Kelly Burroughs and Jody LaibstainJewish Family Service’s Home Delivered Meals program is a continuum of the organization’s food service programs. Geared to older and disabled adults throughout Virginia Beach who qualify, a steadfast group of volunteers has been...
Bar Mitzvah plans morph into supporting IDF soldiers for Mostofskys
In anticipation of her nephew’s bar mitzvah in January, Tehilla Mostofsky bought tickets to Israel last July. Along with her husband, Sholom, and her parents, who had not been to Israel in 25 years, she planned to stay for five days to celebrate with her family. The...
Three local men volunteer near Gaza
Eitan Mor, Nathan Goldin, and Norman Goldin volunteered in Israel for two weeks in January. “Israel faces an existential threat, and I wanted to help and show my support,” says Norman Goldin. Both Goldins are physicians and hoped to provide medically related services....
Vergie McCall brought us together to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King
On Martin Luther King Day, Vergie McCall was in her element, not just singing a spiritual to residents of Maimonides Health Center (formerly Beth Sholom Village), where she is a longtime volunteer, but leading a program with three “other” Jews. Yes, the 76-year-old...
Family Shabbat Experience was a hit at Ohef Sholom
I don’t “belong” to Ohef Sholom Temple, but on Saturday, Jan. 27, I felt as if I did. My friend, Paul Terkeltaub, invited me to attend Ohef’s first “Family Shabbat Experience” and to bring my son, daughter-in-law, and their two sons (ages 8 and 5), promising a morning...
First dates, first meals
While not every first date is centered around a meal, most involve some sort of dining, even if it’s not fancy fare or a sit-down meal. When Jewish News asked these couples to share their first dining experiences together, one unexpected result was that the settings...
Challenges to charity: Alene and Ron Kaufman give with TJF
Marriage has its ups and downs, challenges and stability, joy and sadness, romantic moments, and “just everyday” happenings. We often simply react and respond to what is happening around us. Sometimes, however, we are intentional – when we purposely start a process....
Daffodil Project is planted at Jewish Museum and Culture Center
Myrna Amdursky The stars lined up correctly on Sunday, Oct. 22 for Tidewater’s 2nd Annual Daffodil Planting Day at the Jewish Museum and Cultural Center in Portsmouth. The sun was shining brightly, the temperature was comfortable, Bob and Jeanne Zentz played music,...
Strelitz International Academy Fall Festival: A new event in Tidewater
Carin Simon Beyond the games, the food, and the festivities, the Strelitz International Academy Fall Festival demonstrated the power of community with more than 750 people attending. Held on Sunday, Oct. 22 at the Sandler Family Campus, the event exceeded...
Rabbi Diana Fersko shares message of hope, urges community to speak up against antisemitism
Mia Klein In a visit to Tidewater, Rabbi Diana Fersko, author of We Need to Talk About Antisemitism and the rabbi at the Village Temple in Manhattan, shared a message of hope amid the ongoing war against Hamas in Israel and rising antisemitism around the world. “I...
Mothers Against College Antisemitism, a new Facebook group and movement, has 42K members and counting
Philissa Cramer (JTA) — As Elizabeth Rand watched an unnerving number of incidents pile up at colleges where her son was considering applying, she felt she had to do something. The longtime administrator of a Facebook group for people interested in discussing the...
More than 120 Jewish organizations sign letter rejecting bigotry and hate
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater joined with more than 120 Jewish organizations earlier this month in signing a letter prepared by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. The letter reads: THE JEWISH COMMUNITY REJECTS...
United in Solidarity: TJF’s unwavering support for Israel in times of crisis
Naomi Limor Sedek In these turbulent times, as we witness the horrific wave of violence and terrorism striking deep within Israel, our hearts and prayers are with our Israeli families, friends, and all those affected. The scenes of unrest shatter our hearts but...
Recovery and Resilience with Awz
This piece was originally published Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 in the Jerusalem Post’s special edition for the visit of President Joe Biden to Israel. Yaron Ashkenazi On October 7, I was awakened to a nightmare. From my house in Toronto, Canada, I saw the atrocities...
Holocaust Denial An excerpt from To Life: The Past is Present
On April 12, 1945, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe, accompanied by United States Generals George S. Patton and Omar Bradley, toured the Ohrdruf concentration camp, the first camp to be liberated by US forces after...
Avraham Ashkenazi, Israeli-American businessman, reflects on the war in Israel
Stephanie Peck Avraham Ashkenazi has lived in the United States for almost half of his life, but there is no disputing that he’s an Israeli, first and foremost. Forty years in this country has not altered his thick accent, nor has it diminished his love for Israel....
Residential real estate can be a boon for investors
Stephanie Peck Looking for an investment in residential real estate? Opinions vary as to whether or not this is a good time for a non-owner-occupied buyer to purchase a house or duplex to rent or flip. Mortgage rates are at a 20-year high, and inventory is low in...
Tradition! Community celebrates Fiddler on the Roof
Todd Holcomb Excitement and anticipation were percolating for months around the opening of Fiddler on the Roof at the historic—and newly renovated—Wells Theatre. Finally, after all the intricate planning, midnight rehearsals, and engaging lead-up events, the Tidewater...
U.S. lets Israel into Visa Waiver Program, easing travel for Israeli citizens
WASHINGTON (JTA) — As of November, Israelis will be able to enter the United States without a visa, a major change that Israel has long sought and that will ease travel for hundreds of thousands of its citizens. Israel’s entry into the Visa Waiver Program, which now...
JCRC 2023 Voter’s Guide
State elections take center stage. Drew Goodove, JCRC Summer Intern All seats in the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate are up for grabs on Tuesday, November 7. With so many vital issues, the Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish...
Biden expands Civil Rights Act protections at 8 cabinet departments to include antisemitism
Ron Kampeas WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Biden administration is aiming to counter antisemitic discrimination in federally-funded transit systems, housing, food programs, and other areas — one of the most major actions the White House has taken since it unveiled a...
John Cooper
Area attorneys: Committed to their work, family, and communities Firm Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers The Car Crash Experts Specialty Personal Injury – Helping folks hurt in wrecks against insurance companies. Education University of California Berkeley, Phi Beta Kappa...
Clay Macon
Area attorneys: Committed to their work, family, and communities Firm Glasser & Macon PC Specialty Real Estate, Estates, Corporations, Civil Litigation Education University of Virginia, BS University of Virginia, JD Jewish organizations and involvement Ohef Sholom...
Steve Leon
Area attorneys: Committed to their work, family, and communities Firm Cooper, Spong & Davis, P.C. Specialty Creditor’s Rights, Collection law, Credit Union law Education University of Virginia Cumberland School of Law Jewish organizations and involvement I have...
Terry Tessler
Area attorneys: Committed to their work, family, and communities Firm Virginia Indigent Defense Commission Norfolk Public Defender’s Office Specialty Criminal Law Education University of Miami University of Florida, JD Jewish organizations and involvement: I have...
Deborah Casey named to Virginia’s Common Interest Community Board
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced several administration and board appointments on Friday, Sept. 29. Among them, Debbie Casey, Wood Rogers Vandeventer Black principal and vice chair, was appointed to Virginia’s Common Interest Community Board. The board regulates...
Jeffrey Brooke elected chairman of Norfolk Economic Development Authority
Terri Denison Last month, Jeffrey F. Brooke was elected chairman of the Norfolk Economic Development Authority. A member of Norfolk’s EDA since 2019, Brooke says he initially volunteered on this citizen’s board “because I was born and raised in Norfolk and have a real...