Jewish Family Service of Tidewater volunteers meet every Wednesday at 10 am on the Sandler Family Campus to knit and crochet lap blankets, hats, and scarves. JFS social workers and case managers then give these hand-knitted creations as holiday gifts to residents in...
Other News
Archives
Alan B. Rashkind selected 2019 Eggleston/I’Anson Professionalism award winner
The Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association’s highest honor award, the 2019 Eggleston/I’Anson Professionalism Award, was presented to Alan B. Rashkind by the association. Rashkind is an attorney with Furniss, Davis, Rashkind and Saunders in Norfolk. The...
A fond farewell to Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz
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...
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...
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...
UJFT donors strengthen Jewish identity 5,000 miles away
This year, nearly 15,000 children and adults will participate in the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s (JDC) camp programs. The most well known of JDC’s camps is Szarvas, in Hungary, which attracts 1,500 campers from 20 different countries. Not all Jews...
The Virginia bus to Israel keeps on rolling
“What makes each trip unique for you?” After returning from leading my 27th Birthright Israel trip, this question continues to be asked. This past winter season was somewhat unique because of the security situation in the Holy Land. Birthright Israel mandated that...
Summer Camp
Dear Readers, With so much to say about, reminisce about and learn about summer camp, there never seems to be a shortage of articles and topics for the Jewish News annual camp section. We begin this year with a fun piece about famous people and their Jewish overnight...
Wine tasting event fills to capacity, garners praise
The UJFT Business & Legal Society and the Maimonides Society kicked off the new year on Sunday, Feb. 21 with one of their most successful events since the professional societies began in 2011. More than 80 Jewish professionals gathered at the Holiday Inn North...
Scholar in Residence program connects students to the Jewish community
Last fall, Hebrew Academy instituted a Local Scholar in Residence program to enhance the Jewish education experience by connecting students to the broader Jewish community. Fifth graders enjoyed visits from local clergy who opened up these young minds with various...
Statewide Jewish community praises the General Assembly for forceful condemnation of the anti-Israel bds movement
RICHMOND, VA—(March 9, 2016) The Jewish Communities across the Commonwealth jointly thanked the General Assembly for its bipartisan support of House Joint Resolution 177, a forceful condemnation of the discriminatory and anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions...