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Virtual personal training now available at Simon Family JCC

Virtual personal training now available at Simon Family JCC

Among the many ways – classes, gym workouts, personal trainers – it offers to help members stay fit, the Simon Family JCC is adding another alternative: virtual personal training. In this option, participants and trainers work remotely via a digital platform, allowing...

New city director named for Tidewater BBYO

New city director named for Tidewater BBYO

Courtney Krutoy has joined Tidewater BBYO as its new city director.“After a long search, we have found the right person who has BBYO knowledge, a dedication to this role, and who is excited to jump in,” says Lauren Revenson, regional director, BBYO’s Eastern...

Power of community

Power of community

This past November in Washington, DC, a small group of colleagues and lay leaders from our Jewish community joined thousands of Jewish leaders from around the world at the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) General Assembly (GA).Personally, I drew much...

The Sacred Lights of Chanukah

The Sacred Lights of Chanukah

The fragile yet formidable Chanukah candles We tenderly lit, daringly defy the suffocating  Darkness around us and in us, Soothing and softening, we pray, all who  Their magic of evoked memories of elation And trepidation with oil – dripping levivot (Potato...

The original Hanukkah lights

The original Hanukkah lights

If you free associate on the word “Hanukkah,” it is likely that among your first mental images will be a Hanukkiyah –  maybe a craft project, the work of your own Sunday School-age hands? Or the family’s customary menorah when you were a child? Or an inheritance...

Hanukkah happenings in Jewish Tidewater

Hanukkah happenings in Jewish Tidewater

Light up the holiday by attending one or more of these community-oriented experiences.  With some events geared for children and others for adults, some in Virginia Beach and others in Norfolk, plenty of options are available to celebrate Hanukkah with community. Chag...

Knowledge is key

Knowledge is key

Jewish News continues to gather and present some basic facts to equip readers with the confidence needed to engage in conversation about Israel and antisemitism.  • Israel’s government is a parliamentary democracy and has three branches: executive, legislative,...

Philanthropy can start young

Philanthropy can start young

Some say it’s never too early to learn about generosity and tzedakah. That seems to be a prevailing philosophy for Alyson Gross and Michael Yaary, parents of two-year-old Asher.  Instead of gifts for his recent birthday party, the Strelitz International Academy...

The now ubiquitous mazel tov

The now ubiquitous mazel tov

Sitting in a movie theater, watching a favorite show, or listening to the radio, most Jewish people can’t help but chuckle when Hebrew or Yiddish vernacular is heard, as if they’re the only listener privy to this inside joke. But how, and when, did the phrase “mazel...

Hurricane Emergency Relief Fund

Hurricane Emergency Relief Fund

Hurricane Helene struck the east coast as a powerful Category 4 storm, bringing wind speeds exceeding 140 mph, a once-in-a generation storm surge, and more than 15 inches of rainfall. This caused widespread flooding and damage across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North...

KNOWLEDGE IS KEY 

SOME BASIC FACTS. • During Israel’s 1948 War of Independence, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion struck a deal with leaders of the Haredi community to exempt those whose full-time occupation was Torah study from mandatory military service. Arab citizens of Israel...

Your Dollars at Work

Birthright Israel brings 13,500 participants to Israel  As antisemitism reaches historic levels across the world, Birthright Israel participants will strengthen their Jewish identity and build relationships with the land and people of Israel when they need it...

Jewish Tidewater’s Graduates

Ayden Cohn Virginia Tech Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering and a Master of Science in Business Administration (Business Analytics).  Ayden was awarded the Virginia Tech Engineering Outstanding Master’s Student award. Next: Ayden will work as an engineer...

Getting creative: Three ways to support education

In addition to the celebrations of graduation season, education tends to get a lot of attention.Tidewater Jewish Foundation can help donors make a difference in the lives of young people by funding education. While establishing a scholarship fund at TJF is one way to...

Knowledge is key – Some basic facts

In the third quarter of 2023, roughly 150,000 Palestinians from the West Bank were working in the Israeli economy. In Quarter 4, that went down to 17,000. (marketplace.org) The blue ribbon symbolizes support and solidarity for the safe return of the hostages taken by...

Gratitude for To Life: The Past is Present

Elka Mednick, director The Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater:Thank you for the donation of To Life: The Past is Present. This book will be a useful addition to the Reference collection in Dinwiddie High School (DHS) Library.At DHS,...

Rabbi Zoberman recognized for 50th anniversary in the rabbinate

In honor of his 50 years in the rabbinate, Rabbi Israel Zoberman has received numerous local, state, and federal recognitions for this milestone achievement.A member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Rabbi Zoberman received an Honorary Life Membership for...

Passover at Sandbridge. Who knew?

Hundreds of orthodox Jewish families rented homes in the Sandbridge section of Virginia Beach for the duration of this year’s eight-day Passover holiday. Families from outside of Virginia brought their traditions and kosher meals to Sandbridge, with 10 synagogues...

Israeli chef’s table experience

Community members gathered in the beautifully decorated Marty Einhorn Pavilion on the Sandler Family Campus on the evening of May 16 for an Israeli Chef’s Table Experience with visiting Israeli chef, Yaniv Cohen. With his love and extensive knowledge of spices, Chef...

Appreciation extended to BeAR mentors for their dedication

The Be A Reader (BeAR) literacy project, dedicated to fostering a love of reading among 2nd grade students in Norfolk and Virginia Beach’s Title I schools, hosted an end-of-year appreciation luncheon for its mentors last month.Gail Flax, BeAR chair, welcomed everyone...

Knowledge is key. Some basic facts.

 • 26 Iyar (Hebrew date for this issue of Jewish News) – Israel’s Six Day war began in 1967. (fushionglobal.org) • During the third quarter of 2023, Palestinians working in Israel brought back roughly $1 billion in income. In the fourth quarter, that was around $79...

Yom Hashoah 2024: A solemn evening of remembrance and inspiration

The 2024 Yom Hashoah Commemoration honoring the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, as well as liberators and righteous gentiles, brought the community together around awareness, sadness, honor, hope, and the understanding that each day it is possible to choose to...

Fishing Derby reels in anglers

The Simon Family JCC hosted its annual Catch and Release Fishing Derby on Sunday, May 5. Nearly 100 anglers of all ages tried their luck at the pond, which was stocked with bass, catfish, and bluegill. The largest catch of the day, according to Tom Edwards, athletics...

Shavuot: A celebration of cheesecake

Who doesn’t love a good cheesecake?!?  For a group of people who are between 75 and 90% lactose intolerant, we must have a lot of chutzpah because we clearly won’t be denied our love of all things dairy.    When I moved to Israel, I was actually shocked...

The first 20 years – a great start!

At the risk of sounding cliché – it seems like yesterday. I joined Jewish Family Service of Tidewater in September of 2003 as the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community was under construction. What an honor to attend my first Simcha...

Knowledge is key

Jewish News is gathering and presenting some basic facts to equip readers during this difficult time with the confidence needed to engage in conversation about Israel and antisemitism. GenocideThis word is being used by protestors on campuses to describe Israel’s...

Jaime Brathwaite: a Sandler Family Campus treasure

One of the crown jewels of the Sandler Family Campus sports a blue shirt and an easy smile – on a daily basis. Cecilio Brathwaite, better known as “Jaime” (pronounced Hymie for a Jewish reference), has been employed by the Tidewater Jewish community for 42 years,...

Norfolk minister offers a benediction for all to appreciate

Those of us who attend major civic events, Jews and some non-Jews alike, wait for it. When a minister delivers the invocation, it is often with some religious fervor and a beseeching to the Savior “in whose name we pray.” But at the Hampton Roads Chamber’s recent...