Southeastern Virginia: Chesapeake • Norfolk • Portsmouth • Suffolk • Virginia Beach
Archives
This Sukkot, Jewish Family Service celebrated the holiday’s spirit of gratitude and community by launching its “Fill the Sukkah” Food Drive — an initiative that combined tradition with tzedakah. Instead of decorating a traditional sukkah this year, JFS invited...
The online world can be confusing and scary for people of all ages. That is why on Wednesday, Sept. 17, Secure Community Network’s Regional Security Advisor for Tidewater, Mike Goldsmith, spoke with the JCC Senior’s Club about recognizing common scams. Protecting...
Editor: Ever since Oct.7, 2023 this country (and around the world) has seen a strong upsurge in antisemitism. Much of this originates with right-wing white supremacists and the left Muslim pro-Palestinian sectors. But a large contingent also comes from...
The three Jewish attorneys profiled on the following pages have several common characteristics. First of all, Steve Brown, Bill Nossen, and Neil Rose all hail from the northeast, landing in Tidewater for various reasons. These men demonstrate their commitment to...
On a very rainy evening (some parts of Virginia Beach saw nearly a foot of rain on September 16), kids and grownups alike filled the Sandler Family Campus’ Fleischmann Lounge with joy as they played with their food with award-winning artist Bill Wurtzel. After a...
With the help of the community, Jewish Family Service delivered bags of joy and hope to Jewish seniors across the area residing in assisted living, care homes, long-term care facilities, and independent living communities. Each Rosh Hashanah bag was filled with...
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater recently announced the addition of Blake Sisler as the new coordinator of Youth and Family Engagement. Sisler will oversee PJ Library and Shalom Baby programs as well as support Jewish learning initiatives offered through the...
The High Holiday season is a sacred time for worship, reflection, and joy. It begins on the evening of Monday, September 22. “Our synagogues will see significant numbers of congregants coming to connect with their faith and the larger Jewish community,” says Mike...
A combination of High German and Hebrew, Yiddish is a language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. In Tidewater, the Yiddish Club is embracing Yiddish culture, language, and history with music, film, poetry, and literature at its monthly meetings. For...
Even in retirement, Harry Graber, former executive vice president of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, continues to be an active and beloved presence in the community. His dedication has never wavered, and he remains committed to sharing his time, talents, and...
In these trying times, advice from a security professional can go a long way to assuring personal and community safety in public, as well as, in private spaces. Here, Mike Goldsmith, SCN regional security advisor, offers a couple of easy-to-follow tips. Cybersecurity...
RICHMOND, Va. — Attorney General Jason S. Miyares announced the publication of a new Virginia Rules lesson focused on combating antisemitism. The announcement was made in August. This new module will be added to the broader Virginia Rules program, which provides...
Earlier this month, Erica Reisner Ausch, with the assistance of her daughter, Linda Ausch, made Matzah Ball Soup with her grandson, Leo Woodward, and his family: Erika Woodward, and Ausch’s great grandchildren, Wells and Bridget Woodward. L’dor V’dor. Aunty Linda...
More than 60 active adults gathered for a meaningful Model Passover Seder on Tuesday, April 9. Led by Rabbi David Bockman of Congregation Beth El with Dave Flagler, Simon Family JCC’s camp director, on guitar, the event took place at the Sandler Family Campus. The...
It started with a simple question during a meeting of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Innovation Steering Committee: If children have the privilege of receiving Jewish-themed books monthly through PJ Library, why shouldn’t adults have their own version? PJ...
The Jewish Museum and Cultural Center - JMCC (formerly Chevra T’Helim synagogue), United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, and the Chrysler Museum, are collaborating to present a special series of events. A three-year project, L’Dor v’Dor (from Generation to...
Voting is underway in an election that gives American Jews an opportunity to directly shape Israel’s future.The U.S. election for seats in the 39th World Zionist Congress will help determine the balance of power in the legislative authority of a Zionist organization...
As Jewish college students across North America experience unprecedented levels of antisemitism on campus, the University of Virginia has joined Hillel International’s flagship Campus Climate Initiative (CCI) program.Hillel’s CCI program is the nation’s leading...
In a time when combating antisemitism requires strong allies and open conversations, expanding circles and having friends is more important than ever. One such friend who has deepened his engagement with the Jewish community by attending events and having meaningful...
Robert C. Goodman, Jr., an attorney at Kaufman & Canoles, has practiced law for more than 50 years. His knowledge and expertise cover an array of subjects, including the complexity of estate planning and charitable giving.When consulting with clients about wills,...
Thoughout 2025, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation is celebrating 75 years of philanthropic service to the local community.Since it began in 1950, the Foundation has grown to become the largest provider of grants and scholarships in the region, supporting...
Each summer, local Jewish children could be eligible for a one-time, One Happy Camper® grant to help cover some of the costs associated with Jewish overnight camp.To secure the future of this opportunity, Naomi Limor Sedek, Tidewater Jewish Foundation president and...
Rarely does a day go by that Marcia Brodie doesn’t have a conversation with people who are unprepared for the unknown.Through her business, Marcia Trains, Brodie teaches caregivers and family members the best practices for working with someone with cognitive...
Jewish News wants to hear from you!The memory could be from last year, the last decade, or the previous century. The memory could be from a Day Camp or Residential Camp, as a Camper or Counselor. Length: 100 - 150 words, plus the camp’s name and a photo of the camper...
On the Tuesday prior to Purim, in coordination with Rabbi Levi Brashevitsky, the seventh and eighth grade boys from Toras Chaim took a trip to Harbor’s Edge in Norfolk to deliver Mishloach Manos packed at the school.The boys had a special opportunity to dance and talk...
A dozen young Jewish Adults from United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s YAD division got together last month for an evening of food, drinks, and… axe throwing!Josh Leibowitz, YAD chair, distinguished himself as the most improved thrower (while still guarding his...
An excellent community turnout greeted Operation Hamantaschen’s return to the Simon Family JCC on Sunday, March 9.The JCC was abuzz with cookie-making and engagement for people of all ages. BBYO volunteers jumped to the challenge of setting up for the event, running...
Two generations of young Jewish men combined forces on Sunday, March 30 to revitalize the garden at Strelitz International Academy.Nadiv, the young professional men’s fundraising group for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, worked with Old Dominion AZA, the boys’...
Of the many Jewish holidays that dot the calendar, one of my son’s favorites is Purim. For children, Purim is celebrated with costumes, festival foods like hamantaschen, donations to those in need, and a community reading of the Book of Esther, which joyously...
Members of Tidewater’s Jewish community annually support programs and initiatives that strengthen Jewish life locally, in Israel, and around the world through programs and initiatives not only funded, but, in some cases, are led by United Jewish Federation of...
✡️ Simon Family JCC Seniors ClubModel Passover SederLed by Rabbi David BockmanWednesday, April 9, 12 – 2 pmSimon Family JCCInformation: Mia Klein, programdepartment/seniors program coordinator, 757-452-3184 or MKlein@UJFT.org ✡️Beth ChaverimPassover Community Seder...
The Be A Reader (BeAR) Literacy Project has always been about resilience, adaptability, and community. The program even managed to create a space during the COVID-19 pandemic. As BeAR celebrates 25 years of fostering literacy among young students, it is navigating yet...