On Saturday, June 15, Congregation Beth El gathered at a special Shabbat Service to honor and wish Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz and his family a very heartfelt L’Hitraot—but not goodbye! The Arnowitz family left Beth El’s Congregational family on June 30 to depart first to...
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A museum on Southern Jews moves its eclectic 4,000-item collection across state lines
(JTA)—A prosthetic leg that belonged to a Russian Jewish immigrant to Lake Providence, Louisiana. An 8-foot neon sign from a hotel that advertised as the only establishment with an “up to date kosher kitchen” in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Two organs from the now shuttered...
Who’s running the show in Israel between elections? An explainer.
JERUSALEM (JTA)—With Israel coming up on its second election in five months with no ruling coalition in power, some may be asking who is actually running the government. They needn’t worry—at least not very much. Israelis went to the polls in April expecting to elect...
Senate unanimously condemns anti-Semitism with resolution co-introduced by Senator Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON (JTA)—The Senate unanimously approved a resolution condemning anti-Semitism, the latest congressional bid to address an issue that has roiled American politics. The resolution passed Thursday, June 13 was introduced by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Tim...
Harold Grinspoon’s LIFE & LEGACY inspires locals
Harold Grinspoon is active, intelligent, quick to crack a joke, and he is only 90 years old. A true renaissance man, he has traveled far and wide, owned and operated a successful business, and has recently begun creating massive art installations, many of which are...
Eurovision in Israel: Celebrating global connections through music
Tel Aviv lit up with magic during the week of May 13 for the 64th annual Eurovision Song Contest. With all of Europe’s eyes on Israel, Tel Aviv did not disappoint. In 2018, Netta Barzili, representing Israel, was announced the winner of the 63rd Eurovision Song...
Where We Disappear, Simon Fink’s directorial debut set to premiere in Los Angeles
Friday, June 21, 7 pm The feature film, Where We Disappear, directed by Norfolk native Simon Fink, is getting its world premiere in Los Angeles at the historic TLC (Grauman’s) Chinese Theatres. The film is the official selection of the 2019 Dances With Films festival....
Temple Israel bonds over kabobs
No great community event ever happens without mountains of work being done behind the scene. The recent Israel Fest was certainly no exception. Norfolk’s Temple Israel offered festivalgoers a tasty—and healthy!—reprieve from the heat of the day in the form of cool,...
Community meets with Congressman Donald McEachin
At a meeting with Jewish community leaders last month, Representative Donald McEachin of Virginia’s 4th congressional district, said that his “passion and love of Israel comes from learning from his father (who was an army veteran), that you don’t abandon your allies,...
The UK is finally taking Labour’s anti-Semitism seriously
(JTA)—On a recent speaking tour in North America, I was asked repeatedly about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn’s Labour has become an existential threat to British Jews, and audiences smartly inquired what could be done to stop growing...
A lost song and a grandson’s tribute
In Vilden Vald—Aaron Tessler ft. Zemiros Choir The Holocaust’s devastation brought about not only the decimation of the Jewish people in body, but also immeasurable losses to Jewish culture. Countless and precious pieces of memory, history, and tradition disappeared...
Ambassador casts a new light on Israel
Ambassador Ido Aharoni spoke at Ohef Sholom Temple as part of the Community Relations Council of the United Federation of Tidewater and community partners’ 8th annual Israel Today series on Wednesday, May 8. As a member of Israel’s Foreign Service for 25 years, and as...
My AIPAC experience
Last month I had the amazing opportunity to attend the American Israeli Publican Affairs Committees (AIPAC) annual policy conference. The conference attracted more than 18,700 pro-Israel Americans, including 4,000 college students with the goal of strengthening the...
The Simon Family JCC is getting physically fit, point by point
When it comes to success, people have learned that there is no one giant step that does it; it’s a lot of little steps. The Simon Family JCC utilizes this approach when assisting its members with reaching their fitness goals. The JCC implemented their new Ultimate...
The Scouts are returning to town
One scout can make a difference, but together they can rock the world. Each year, two scouts from Tzofim, Israel are selected to live in Virginia Beach and work at the JCC Summer Camp as counselors. This program offers the scouts an opportunity to understand the...
Passover
Dear Readers, As much as we all love our Passover traditions and reminiscing about them, this is a holiday that consistently offers a new recipe, a new twist, a new way to celebrate and observe. In fact, according to Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz’s Torah Thought, the rabbis...
Tidewater gets update on World ORT
The local chapter of ORT, a Jewish organization devoted to education, held its annual spring lunch last month at the Sandler Family Campus. The event’s special guest was Harry Nadler, North American representative for World ORT, the international non-governmental...
Baseball’s back: Here’s a look at 8 Jewish major leaguers and a manager
(JTA) – Will Joc Pederson rebound from his second-half struggles of last season? Can Kevin Pillar build on his strong 2015 campaign? Will injuries derail one-time MVP Ryan Braun? These are some of the questions to be answered as these Jewish players and others get set...
Federation celebrates campaign volunteer solicitors
Volunteer solicitors from across all divisions of the 2016 UJFT campaign came together at the home of John and Renee Strelitz to celebrate the successes of the campaign to date, and to get energized to close the remaining open gifts. After being warmly welcomed by the...
From the Hal Sacks Jewish News Archives
April 7, 2006 The Tidewater Chapter of Hadassah held its second annual hamantashen baking event for adults and kids. Baskets were decorated, filled with hamantashen and donated to Jewish Family Service. April 12, 1996 The Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s Charitable Gift...
Hoop House added to preschool garden for year-round growing
Planting, harvesting, and baking are not typical activities for an early childhood curriculum. But they are at Strelitz Early Childhood Education Center, which is leading the way in providing a well-rounded education for its students. Three and four-year-old children...
Inside the Jewish life of Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland
(JTA)—Americans have heard a lot about Merrick Garland since President Barack Obama nominated him to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court. But there’s a lot we still don’t know. What are his views on abortion? Will the Republican leadership give him a hearing in...
Online archives gets new name
Hal Sacks is a man of many words. Literally. The author of two books, Hal’s Navy and Passing in Review and countless Jewish News articles and book reviews, Sacks has spent the last few years on a personal mission to benefit the community—using his written and oratory...
Report: Israel world’s 11th happiest country
Israel is the 11th happiest place in the world and happier than the United States, according to a new study. Among the 156 countries ranked in the World Happiness Report conducted by University of British Columbia researchers, Israel placed 11th, two spots ahead of...
Home
Dear Readers, I think it is real this time. Glorious white blossoms, hopeful tree buds, and colorful flowers emerging from the soil are all welcome signs that spring might have actually sprung in Tidewater! With springtime, of course, comes a different focus on our...
Experiencing Jewish India with JDC
This past December I was incredibly lucky to spend 10 days with the Joint Distribution Committee ( JDC) to experience Jewish life in India. Prior to applying to this trip for college students, I was completely unaware that Jews lived in India, let alone in three...
Regent University Torah Dedication and Celebration
Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg delivered these remarks at the ceremony Hinei Matov u’Manayim Shevet Achim Gam Yachad. How good it is and how pleasant when brothers and sisters come together in unity. So we thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Larson for your faith, your vision, and your...
Toras Chaim: So much to write about
Rabbi Mordechai Loiterman, Toras Chaim’s principal, recently requested that board members and parents write articles about what is happening in the school. With so much occurring at Toras Chaim, it is hard to choose. While it would be interesting to write about the...
Courage is contagious
Inspired and encouraged by her parents’ commitment to public service and her own Christian faith, Olga Meshoe knew she had to get involved. On Wednesday, March 2, the Tidewater community heard from this young South African about her work as an advocate for Israel and...
YAD’s Purim party provides an evening escape to Fabulous Las Vegas
A little piece of the Las Vegas strip popped up in Tidewater on the evening of Saturday, March 19. The occasion? The Young Adult Division of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s What Happens at Purim, Stays at Purim party. Nearly 200 revelers joined in the...
LeDor VaDor: the Senior Home in Buenos Aires
by Amy Zelenka Sixteen members of the Tidewater Jewish community recently returned from a mission to the Jewish community of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sponsored by the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, the mission allowed local donors to “follow their campaign...
Sandler Family Campus hosts new homes for birds
Hoping to take advantage of the natural open landscape, Tom Edwards, Simon Family JCC sports and recreation director, has placed five birdhouses around the Sandler Family Campus. Edwards crafted four new bluebird nest boxes made of cedar. The handmade birdhouses are...