The JFit training circuit at the Simon Family JCC has a new addition. It’s simply referred to as “The Chair” for those who speak “Pilates talk.” While many may have seen or be familiar with The Reformer—another, larger device used in Pilates training—the new Split...
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New director for UJFT’s Arts & Ideas
Hunter Thomas joined United Jewish Federation of Tidewater as the new director of Arts & Ideas on Tuesday, Feb. 1. Thomas’ career began at Youngstown’s Jewish Community Center as a junior camp counselor. He later worked in various departments before most recently...
Simon Family Passport to Israel: Chava Harpaz attends seminary in Israel
Being in Israel for my year abroad was such an amazing opportunity. Attending a year in seminary gave me the chance to form long-lasting friendships with girls from all over the world, including Mexico, Panama, London, and Switzerland. I was able to broaden my...
Tidewater Jewish community invests in its future through young leadership programs
NADIV, established in 2016, is United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Young Adult Division’s Men’s Giving Circle. While NADIV is rooted in networking opportunities (which still holds true today) it has evolved to a giving circle that is connecting its participants in...
Career Day at Toras Chaim
On Tuesday, Jan. 25, Toras Chaim converted its auditorium into a job fair for the school’s Career Day. Several stations were set up with local business people and professionals volunteering to share the highlights of their professions and the importance of getting an...
PJ Library at Norfolk Botanical Garden: A Tu B’Shevat celebration
In celebration of trees, PJ Library in Tidewater visited Norfolk Botanical Garden for a guided tour on January 9. Families learned about the trees, plants, and flowers that are native to Tidewater and enjoyed a read-aloud of the book, Trees Make Perfect Pets by Paul...
BBYO remains busy through the winter
BBYO has maintained an active presence for its members, overcoming many obstacles this winter. The cold, the snow, and the impacts of the Omicron COVID-19 variant were among the challenges the teens faced. The Winter Regional Convention in Durham was cancelled...
Tidewater grateful for ongoing partnership with Secure Community Network
To better protect the members of the Jewish community who worship and attend area synagogues, day schools, and other Jewish agencies in Tidewater, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater with support from a Tidewater Jewish Foundation community impact grant, joined with...
All Texas synagogue hostages ‘out alive and safe’ after harrowing 12-hour standoff, suspect is dead
(JTA)—All four hostages at a synagogue in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area were declared “out alive and safe” by Texas Governor Greg Abbott at 9:33 pm CST on Saturday, January 15, following a 12-hour standoff with an armed assailant in an unfolding saga that...
‘Quite simply a mensch’: Meet Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, freed after hostage crisis at his synagogue
(JTA)—Over the course of a harrowing 12 hours on Saturday, January 15, the entire world found out just what the Jews of Colleyville, Texas, think of their hometown rabbi. “Our rabbi is a wonderful human being,” Ellen Smith, who grew up at Congregation Beth Israel,...
2022 UJFT Community Campaign on track for a successful year
On January 14, 2022, the UJFT Community campaign stood at $4,595,000 from 1,000 individual gifts. This total is about $88,000 ahead of where the campaign stood on the same day last year. And even better: there are a good number of potential gifts still “out there” in...
The VAAD Hakashrus of Tidewater mission is to make kosher meals available to Jews in homes, at stores, and parties—and in prison.
The word kosher is associated with dietary provisions one chooses to follow in support of deeply held religious beliefs. The role of the VAAD (Hampton Roads’ kosher supervisory resource) is instinctively tethered to Jews’ freedom to enjoy kosher meals in restaurants,...
TJF participates in national LIFE & LEGACY™ conference
In early June, I had the pleasure of joining Lawrence Steingold, Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s incoming board chair, as well as Scott Kaplan, TJF president and CEO, and Sallie Williams, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s marketing director, along with colleagues...
Three Jewish teens plan travel to Israel with grants from Simon Family Passport to Israel program
Shelby Brown, Mattisyahu Loiterman, and Audrey Peck—three Tidewater teens—will head to Israel with the support of a grant from Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s Simon Family Passport to Israel program. Brown, a rising senior at Norfolk Academy, will spend three weeks in...
Why it really bugs me when you misspell my name
(Kveller via JTA)— Earlier this year, my son’s elementary school hosted its winter band and choral concert. While waiting for the fifth- and sixth grade musicians to finish tuning their instruments, I scanned the brightly colored program to find my son’s name...
Why Democrats and Republicans are fighting over the Jerusalem embassy bash
WASHINGTON (JTA)—A fight over who was and wasn’t invited to the U.S. Embassy dedication in Jerusalem last month is becoming yet another battle in the war between Republicans and Democrats over Israel. Top Jewish Democrats in Congress are suggesting the embassy bash...
Beth Sholom Rehab “Gets it right the first time”
The last thing anyone wants to hear after surgery or any other procedure that requires post-op rehabilitation, is that it is necessary to return to the hospital for more treatment. Today, neither does the rehab facility. The healthcare landscape is evolving from a...
Retirement celebration planned for Harry Graber
Thursday, June 14, 6 pm, Sandler Family Campus A festive celebration honoring Harry Graber for his decades of service to Tidewater’s Jewish community will take place this week. Months in the planning, the event promises to be meaningful, memorable, and entertaining....
A trip of a lifetime: A father and his daughters in Israel
Everyone has a hero. For me, it’s my dad, S. Beryl Adler. From extraordinary tomato gardener to dedicated flounder fisherman to champion gelato eater to ODU founding father (Monarch Magazine winter 2016), the man has always held my heart. So, when we had lunch...
Father’s Day
June 11, 2018, Father's Day
Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s team: positioned to “grow” the community’s future
Though small and mighty, the professional staff of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation is well equipped to help strengthen Tidewater’s Jewish community. The team is led by Scott Kaplan, president and CEO, who moved to the area with his family in 2014. In less than four...
Toras Chaim Dinner 2018 honors Rabbi Loiterman
More than 130 people celebrated 16 years of Toras Chaim at a dinner held on Sunday, May 13. The evening also honored Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Loiterman, the school’s principal, for his 10 years of selfless devotion to Toras Chaim. The evening began with a social cocktail...
A Mother’s Day celebration at Beth Sholom
Many mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers among the residents at the Berger-Goldrich Skilled Care Center and the Terrace Assisted Living facility, were honored by Beth Sholom Village on Mother’s Day with a special brunch. After guests ate, the new A’Bisl...
Community set to honor Harry Graber
Thursday, June 14, 6 pm, Sandler Family Campus After serving as United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s executive vice president for 15 years, Harry Graber is set to retire on June 30. In addition to his service at UJFT, Graber was Jewish Family Service’s executive...
One Night raises funds, delights diners
The Simon Family JCC held its signature fundraising event, One Night, on Tuesday, April 24. Hosted by Baker’s Crust Artisan Kitchen, 132 guests gathered for a night of outstanding Israeli cuisine, community, and philanthropy. This year’s guest chef, sponsored by the...
YAD’s momME time provides Tidewater moms with entryway to community and a much-needed break
The momME time program through the Young Adult Division of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, was launched in 2016 as a way to bring Tidewater moms together to bond, relax, and engage with the community; completely kid-free. From the start it has been a huge...
Health Care
Health Care, May 28, 2018
Lucie Waldman awarded Stein Family College Scholarship from Tidewater Jewish Foundation
The annual Stein Family College Scholarship of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation was awarded this month to Lucie Waldman, a soon-to-be graduate of Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach. Lucie is the 10th recipient of the four-year scholarship provided to a Jewish...
Lag B’Omer’s fire lights up a fun celebration
The Tidewater Jewish community was fired up on Thursday, May 3 for its annual Lag B’Omer Bash. This year’s event, hosted by the Simon Family JCC, the Young Adult Division of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, and Chabad of Tidewater, attracted nearly 200...
The value of burying books
The ceremony began on a sunny spring morning beside a single dugout grave and a pile of dirt. On Sunday, April 15, 15 middle schoolers from Ohef Sholom Temple buried 1,000 worn-out prayer books in the Tree of Life section at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk. Everyone...
TJF grants support wide range of projects for local agencies
The Tidewater Jewish Federation Grants process was created to have an impact on the Tidewater Jewish and general community by providing funding for new and innovative projects that focus on the social, welfare, health, education, community relations, and cultural...
Scholar highlights Jewish traditions on beer and horseradish
Most people would think twice before mixing horseradish and beer. However, Josh Kulp, the rosh (head) of the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, covered both topics during his weekend visit to Norfolk in March as scholar-in-residence for Congregation Beth El and Temple...