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...
Other News
Archives
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...
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...
Tidewater women have the world at their Doorstep
February brought the Jewish women of Tidewater together to hear from two different, but equally fascinating emissaries. The Women’s Cabinet Outreach and Engagement Committee welcomed Zoya Schvartzman to its second in a series of three “PLUS ONE” events on Wednesday,...
Prospect of Trump nomination poses dilemma for Jewish Republicans
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Donald Trump’s surging candidacy has sent shivers through the ranks of the Republican elite and created deep anxiety among Jewish Republicans, some of whom are so unnerved they are prepared to vote for Hillary Clinton if Trump wins the nomination. Yet...
Cape Henry Collegiate’s Global Connections students prepare for trip to Israel
“So, what are your views on Donald Trump?” asks Joyce Schwartz, an English literature teacher at Ramot Yam School in Michmoret, Israel. Her students stare at the Skype screen in silence, awaiting an answer to one of the most politically loaded questions of the moment....
Beth Sholom Village easily passes inspection
Five state surveyors walked into Beth Sholom Village’s The Berger Goldrich Home unannounced for an annual state survey earlier this month. The three-day inspection of The Home received three minor isolated tags (deficiencies). The average number of tags for a...
3rd Annual Tidewater Together scholar challenges community to think about the future
Rabbi Eric Yoffie knew he would be speaking to a wide cross-section of the Jewish community as the Milton “Mickey” Kramer Scholar-in-Residence for the 3rd Annual Tidewater Together, which took place February 4–7. What he didn’t know was if his Jewish audience—of all...
February is Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month
From 2009 until 2015, February was known throughout Jewish communities as Jewish Disability Awareness Month. This year, there’s a new name and a more encompassing vision: February is now Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). Established by the...
2016 Super Sunday exceeds expectations
“Game Over!” said Jeremy Krupnick, 2016 Super Sunday Steering co-chair, as he approached his fellow committee members after the Tidewater Jewish community’s annual Super Sunday phone-a-thon on January 31. “You aren’t going to believe this,” Krupnick said, as he...
Remembering and moving forward — AMIA in Argentina
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 dollars” to one of...
How Justice Scalia’s death impacts five cases that matter to Jews
WASHINGTON (JTA)—With the sudden passing of Justice Antonin Scalia, the Supreme Court is now split 4-4 between liberals and conservatives, throwing into doubt how the court will rule on a raft of cases—including several watched by Jewish organizations. Scalia, who was...
Gomley Chesed’s lions come home to Beth El
Gomley Chesed Synagogue’s Lions of Judah—bronze-like sculptures with fierce snarling mouths and red-glowing eyes—were objects of affection for generations of that once vibrant Portsmouth congregation. But neither the lions, most of the active members, or the memories...
Rebuilding homes and faith through Bridges
I’ve always been fascinated with Judaism because of the many layers of my faith that I see in various aspects of modern day life. With that strong presence, one of the most challenging opportunities we have today is to educate and learn from all types of spiritual and...
Joe Fleischmann’s gift of computer knowledge
Classes begin Monday, Feb. 15 The Simon Family JCC was Joe Fleischmann’s home away from home. He knew everyone and spent at least a few full days a week at the JCC taking classes, exercising, eating lunch, and being with friends. When he passed away last year at 89,...
Super Sunday success
An “old-fashioned,” Jewish community Super Sunday phone-a-thon still works in 2016. The proof? The 80 volunteers who came to make phone calls and provide support on Sunday, Jan. 31, at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus. And the community members who answered...
Ohef Sholom’s Confirmation Class holds retreat at the beach
The Ohef Sholom Temple 2016 Confirmation Class held a one-day retreat in December at Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E. Health Center at the oceanfront in Virginia Beach. This annual event for the Confirmation Class was a meaningful and bonding experience for the 15 members who...
Temple Israel continues tradition of volunteering on Christmas
In December, the local Jewish community continued its 20-year tradition of bringing good cheer—and good food—to needy people on Christmas. Nineteen people cooked and served dinner to homeless families at Haven House, a shelter operated by ForKids in Norfolk. The...
Oh frog-et about it!
4th Annual Community Relations Council Israel Poster Contest is going to be wild! Spiders and raptors and frogs, oh my! Those words are not the synopsis of a play starring arachnids, birds, and amphibians, but a few details from the list of Cool Facts about Israel...
Jewish community of Argentina going strong despite challenges
Sixteen members of the Tidewater Jewish community recently returned from a special mission to the Jewish community of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The mission, sponsored by the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, allowed local donors to “follow their campaign dollars”...
Studying success Israeli style
Prof. Jack Habib and his colleague Dr. Keri Zelson Warshawsky enjoyed a walk through Seashore State Park on Thursday, Dec. 17 as their last experience in Tidewater before they flew back to Israel. Invited to Tidewater by Annie Sandler, the researchers experienced two...