I’m writing to share with you news that the first day of school in the 2021–2022 academic year will be September 7. This of course coincides with the first day of Rosh Hashanah, marking the Jewish New Year, the beginning of the holiest time of the year for the Jewish...
Other News
Archives
Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s LIFE & LEGACY continues growth
In three years of the LIFE & LEGACY program, spearheaded by Tidewater Jewish Foundation, 530 new commitments have been made for a total of $20,208,740 in endowed gifts to support the Jewish community’s future. Consider: • More than $4 million in endowed gifts to...
Community Campaign looks to finish strong…and early!
The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2020 Community Campaign—came out of the gate strong once again this year. As this article goes to print, the campaign total stands at $4.43 million from more than 1,000 individual donors—well on its way to a successful...
Why I give…
To help maintain a spiritual home Hilary Truman Life & Legacy Donor Temple Emanuel became a home I didn’t know I was looking for. The first time I came, I came to support my best friend. My daughter enjoyed the atmosphere and the people, so I came with my friend a...
BINA on the go!!!!
December was a very busy month for BINA High School students. While many students are enrolled in dual curriculum college courses with Virginia Wesleyan University and were occupied with their heavy course load, this did not stop them from enjoying additional...
Second Annual Chinese Community Buffet
Make Kosher Chinese food, and they will come…; In New York City or even in Tidewater, scoring a reservation at a Chinese restaurant on Christmas Day, is well, like a miracle. No miracles needed for reservations at the Chinese Community Dinner at Beth Sholom Village....
My Interview with Yaakov Katz, the Jerusalem Post’s editor-In-chief
Yaakov Katz, editor-In-chief of the Jerusalem Post, educated and enlightened our community as part of the 2019–2020 Israel Today series. Katz is author of Shadow Strike: Inside Israel’s Secret Mission to Eliminate Syrian Nuclear Power. He shared his message over...
Spiritual late bloomer goes digging to discover what was ‘here all along’
Former Obama White House speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz came to Temple Emanuel to sign books and share what she learned on her post-White House Jewish journey on Sunday, December 8. The Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival and the Milton “Mickey” Kramer...
Iran has retaliated against Jewish targets before. But the Soleimani killing isn’t changing Jewish security around the world.
JERUSALEM (JTA)—On March 17, 1992, a suicide bomber drove a truck into the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, killing 29 and injuring hundreds of others. Two years later, in the same city, on July 18, 1994, another bomber drove a truck into the AMIA Jewish center,...
Virginia’s first female, first Jewish Speaker: Eileen Filler-Corn
Diversity across the Commonwealth. Diversity in the House. Eileen Filler-Corn’s historical new role as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s first woman and first Jewish Speaker of the House of Delegates is big news, locally, nationally, and even in Israel. Since November,...
A resolution over Iran splits a tight group of moderate Jewish lawmakers
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Max Rose, Elissa Slotkin and Elaine Luria are the Jewish third of the “Gang of Nine,” moderate Democrats in the House with national security backgrounds from swing districts. It’s a tight group, as described by Politico last year: The nine Democrats...
Strelitz International Academy: Teaching to think globally, act locally
As an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program candidate school, Strelitz International Academy provides a global and inquiry-based education with a mission to nurture active, compassionate lifelong learners grounded by intercultural understanding and...
End of year giving opportunities
This is the time of year we think about other people, friends and family. This year, I hope you will also think about your community and the many ways you can make a difference. Before 2016 comes to an end, consider these exciting programs and matching gift...
Top U.S. firefighters “dropped everything” to help Israel battle the blazes
TEL AVIV (JTA)—Call them Israel’s American volunteer fire brigade. Dozens of firefighters from across the United States put their lives on hold— leaving behind jobs and families—to help subdue the wildfires that swept Israel last month. While they all share a love of...
With the wildfires tamed, Israelis seek answers
JERUSALEM (JTA)—As the wildfires that raged across this country for nearly a week were subdued Sunday, Nov. 27, Israelis surveyed the devastation in search of answers. The fires, which continued to flare, consumed as many as 32,000 acres of forest and brush across the...
Leonard Cohen, whose Jewish-infused poetry and songs inspired generations
(JTA)—Leonard Cohen, the Canadian singer-songwriter whose Jewish-infused work became a soundtrack for melancholy, has died. He was 82. “It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist Leonard Cohen has passed away,” his Facebook page...
From Generation to Generation
Learning from one another, some area seniors and teens have found that they may have more in common than they first imagined. To enrich the lives of both teens and seniors by forming friendships, Ohef Sholom Temple applied for and received a two-year grant to fund a...
Neta Levi sparks creativity at Sandler Family Campus
The halls of the Sandler Family Campus were lined with tables covered in red and white checked tablecloths on Wednesday, Oct. 19. It was not in preparation for an elaborate Italian dinner, but for the kickoff of three events with Neta Levi, Israel Today’s Israeli...
Serving up shalom at a post-election Thanksgiving
LOS ANGELES (JTA)—It was just a few weeks ago, on the night of Nov. 8, that my family had all anxiously exchanged text messages as we watched the election results trickle in. State by state, my Hillary-loving family saw our hopes slipping away—and now, too soon, we...
Jewish contingent in House grows from 19 to 22
WASHINGTON (JTA)—The Jewish contingent to the U.S. House of Representatives grew from 19 to 22 in the 2016 elections, doubling its Republican representation from one to two. Five Jews overall were newly elected to the House, while one Jewish congressman in Florida and...
3rd Annual Mitzvah Day shows off Tidewater Jewish community’s can-do attitude
Participants at the Tidewater Jewish community’s 3rd Annual Mitzvah Day on Sunday, Oct. 30 demonstrated the benefits of a can-do attitude, working together to strengthen Jewish identity and improve life for those less fortunate. From teenagers who built sculptures...
Flour power and challahs galore bloom at 2016 Great Big Challah Bake
In a show of sisterhood and community, 125 women joined together to learn, laugh, mix, knead and braid at Tidewater’s 2nd Annual Great Big Challah Bake on Wednesday, Nov. 2. Held in the Cardo at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus, the goal of the women’s-only...
Success stories inspire professionals at recent Society event
In September, the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater held an inaugural event for its new Society of Professionals affinity group, promising unique and stimulating programming, and opportunities to connect to other professionals in the area. At its second event, the...
A house is not a home, until you have a good night’s sleep
Without a good night’s sleep, everything tends to be just a bit tougher. While physicians, teachers, employers and nearly all health experts stress the importance of sleep, not everyone has the good fortune to have a proper bed in which to get those necessary...
Business
The changing face of Jewish students brought to light during Women’s Luncheon
The Women’s Cabinet held its annual Lion-Tikva-Chai luncheon to thank women donors giving at the $1,800 level and greater. Stephanie Calliott welcomed the women and gave a brief and positive campaign update, thanking the donors who had already made their commitments...
A well-deserved honor for Amy Brooke
Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday, Dec. 10 Leah Schwartz, BINA High School past president BINA High School is thrilled to have the opportunity to honor the commitment, hard work, and dedication of Amy Brooke. From the first tenuous steps to create a Jewish girls high school...
Something funny happened on the way to the Cuban Missile Crisis
Jim Eilberg, CAPT, SC, USNR (RET) I had just finished supper when the telephone call came from the Petty Officer of the Watch. “This is not a drill,” he announced. “This is a 100% recall. Return to the ship immediately.” That was Monday, October 23, 1962, about 6:30...
Salute to Veterans
JFS Chanukah Gift Program helps local families
Debbie Mayer, LCSW, CT Written on behalf of a local Jewish Family Service client: Two years ago, my family moved to Virginia to care for an elderly relative. Once we got here, the job I was promised didn’t come through. I decided to stay here with my two children...
Lee & Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival Wednesday, Nov. 9–Sunday, Nov 20
Sherri Wisoff Hundreds of books will soon fill the Cardo at the Simon Family JCC. Immigrant stories are part of Jewish history, so it is fitting that on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 7 pm, the annual Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival begins with such stories...
Becoming an Israeli butterfly—insights from an IDF veteran
Laine M. Rutherford The life of a 17-year-old Israeli high school senior isn’t much different than a 17-year-old American student. They’re both listening to music, hanging out with friends, acting goofy, possibly dating, probably working, and thinking about graduation...