Ben Sales (JTA)—Meet America’s Jews: They’re older, more educated, richer, and less religious, on average, than the rest of the country. They’re overwhelmingly white, though Jews under 30 are more diverse. Most of them care about Israel, though one in 10 support the...
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Adult programming at the Simon Family JCC to return in-person
For more than a decade, the JCC Book Club has met, and in that time, has read more than 150 books. There’s no surprise, then, that this group did not let the pandemic slow them down. Not only did the group continue to read and meet over Zoom, but the JCC Book Club...
How an IRA Charitable Rollover gift can reduce taxes
For those who are 70½ or older who have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and want to make a lasting impact on Tidewater’s Jewish community, an IRA Charitable Rollover with the Tidewater Jewish Foundation might be worth considering. By tapping into this asset,...
Bourbon, cigars, and conversation for Nadiv Men’s Giving Circle at the Cavalier
Nadiv Men’s Giving Circle met for the first time in more than a year at the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club for an evening of cigars, bourbon, and community. The men discussed plans for the group for the upcoming year and celebrated being able to gather in-person. Nadiv...
Temple Israel’s Men’s Club earns international recognition
Temple Israel Men’s Club won the Gold Torch Award on Wednesday, June 9, during the weeklong Virtual International Men’s Club Convention held in Chicago. The Torch Awards are given in alternate years during the convention. After three days of preparation, the award was...
Shmoozing on the beach with YAD
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Young Adult Division, also known as YAD, gathered on the evening of Wednesday, June 16 at the home of Stephanie Calliott and Don London for a Seashore Shmooze event. As pandemic restrictions ease, YAD has a full calendar of...
Biden administration supports replenishing Iron Dome after Gaza conflict
WASHINGTON (JTA)—A Biden administration official said the U.S. government supports restocking Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system after it was depleted by last month’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Dozens of House members from both parties have said they would push...
Elie Wiesel’s son: Jews always speak up for everyone else. Now’s the time to stand up for ourselves
(New York Jewish Week via JTA)—In the 1960s, the Communist Party cut the Russian Jews off from the Jewish people. They prohibited them from wearing tefillin, or celebrating b’nai mitzvah, or expressing support for the State of Israel. They intimidated and imprisoned...
TJF Community Impact Grant helps Beth Sholom Village telehealth initiative
Tidewater Jewish Foundation awarded a $25,000 Community Impact Grant to Beth Sholom Village for their new comprehensive telehealth initiative in March. “We are very excited to introduce this technology program to our residents, families, and staff,” says Amy...
BINA bakes for Film Festival
BINA High School collaborated with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater at a recent Virginia Festival of Jewish Film program. The movie’s theme inspired the organizers to want to offer pastries for sale at the event. They contacted BINA High School, and the board...
Gifting stock…what you need to know
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s donors paying their campaign pledge balances—or making a donation with appreciated stock (an excellent tax savings way to pay)—should contact Patty Malone, UJFT Campaign administrative assistant, at pmalone@ujft.org or...
JCRC responds
Among the five core issues for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Jewish Community Relations Council, the first listed on its website is: Combating antisemitism, bigotry, and racism. In response to the increase in antisemitic incidents, in addition to the JCRC’s...
Investments & Giving
Investments, January 22, 2017
Cantor with a conscience: Cantor Jennifer Rueben
A soaring new cantorial voice can be heard at Ohef Sholom Temple. Facilitating meaningful prayer and bringing festive and beautiful music to her congregation, however, are not the only talents Cantor Jennifer Rueben has revealed since her arrival in Norfolk five short...
Annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film
25 | Annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film presented by Alma & Howard Laderberg* and Patricia & Avraham Ashkenazi continues through Sunday, Jan. 28 National and international films, classics, and dramas featuring award-winning Jewish writers, actors, and...
Dozens of Jewish activists arrested at protest urging Congress to protect ‘Dreamers’
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Police in the U.S. Capitol arrested some 100 Jewish activists, many of them clergy, who protested in a Senate office building on behalf of a bill that would protect illegal immigrants who arrived as children. Several dozen of the activists from the...
Super Sunday
Sunday, Jan. 28 • 10 am – 1 pm United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s biggest phone-a-thon fundraising day of the year— Super Sunday—raises money for the annual campaign. The annual event supports UJFT’s work, which directly impacts the lives of Jews in Tidewater as...
Tax laws in flux: Give now!
Year-end is often the most opportune time to consider financial and tax planning strategies. As this article is being written, Congress and the White House are negotiating significant changes in the tax laws that could, if enacted, impact financial strategies and...
From Brooklyn to Norfolk State
I grew up in a not so religious American Jewish household in a heavily Orthodox section of Brooklyn in the 1980s. I felt disconnected from my culture and outcast from the community, even though it surrounded me. Only a few generations removed from an Orthodox...
Virginia Arts Festival’s education outreach makes learning leap to life
For more than 20 years, the Virginia Arts Festival has brought renowned artists from around the globe to Hampton Roads. In addition to the packed schedule of world-class performances, the Festival reaches out to students each year. In fact, during the past school...
Dance about Kristallnacht inspired by UJFT Holocaust Commission conference
Over many decades of creating choreography that conveys an emotional story, Elbert Watson, Norfolk Academy dance director, has covered many searing topics. Most notably, he has developed dances that explore aspects of African- American history, from slavery to the...
Setting all students up for success at Hebrew Academy of Tidewater
Jewish Proverb: “Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.” While a Jewish Day School experience is often considered a homogeneous education, within every group of students, a range of abilities always exists. Hebrew Academy of Tidewater’s goal, therefore, is...
Beth El welcomes the Park Place School
Walking through Congregation Beth El’s education wing on a weekday, one might be surprised to hear the sounds of violins. The source of the music is from students who attend the Park Place School, located at Beth El since August. Each of the 66 second through sixth...
US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital long overdue
In a move long overdue, the United States of America has finally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Congratulations to President Trump, congratulations to people of Israel, and congratulations to everyone who prayed to see this day. Over the past 50 years,...
Noted local artist’s work will have lead role in new Beth Sholom theater
Sunday, Feb. 4, 2 pm First performance will be tribute to mothers and fathers Lorraine Fink’s iconic artwork hangs on the walls of many Tidewater homes and galleries. A series of designs entitled “Seven Days of Creation” is permanently displayed at the Sandler Family...
Israel Today’s Rachel Fish speaks with myriad groups
Educator and editor, Rachel Fish, visited Tidewater in early November, making stops at local high schools, universities, and other public forums along the way. Fish, associate director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University, began her trip...
Education
Education, December 18, 2017
Jerusalem recognition reaction
President Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States intends to move its embassy to Jerusalem as a recognition of that city’s status as the capital of Israel, has been met with myriad responses—from jubilation to dismay, from pride and relief to anger and...
What do cars, babies, and donuts have in common?
Local Jewish entrepreneurs participated on a panel, Conversations: Perspectives on Leadership, Success and Community, on Wednesday, Nov. 8, for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Society of Professionals. The gathering, sponsored by Insco Insurance and moderated...
End of year giving opportunities for individuals and families
During the holiday season , people tend to think about family, friends, and those they care about. This year, why not also think about the community and the many ways it’s possible to make a difference. No matter a person’s age, there are many ways to get involved and...
Canada issues first Hanukkah postage stamp
MONTREAL (JTA)—Canada issued its first Hanukkah stamp in its official mail carrier’s 150-year-history. Described as part of an initiative to highlight the nation’s cultural diversity, the stamps from Canada Post feature two colorful geometric designs: of dreidels and...
The Trump administration says it wants to shut down the PLO mission. Now what?
WASHINGTON (JTA)—In 1987, Congress passed legislation that declared there would never be an office of the Palestine Liberation Organization on U.S. soil. President Ronald Reagan agreed and signed the law. Seven years later the law was still on the books. But that year...
