When I first walked off the plane into the Ben- Gurion Airport, I stepped straight onto a large bus that took me to my home for, what I believed, was just the next four months. I first noticed that Israel was not just a large desert, but it was more of a wonderland...
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Interest-free loans available for higher education for Jewish students
JELF (Jewish Educational Loan Fund) has assisted the Jewish community since 1889 when the doors of the Hebrew Orphans’ Home first opened in Atlanta, Georgia. Since its inception, JELF has served the five-state region of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South...
Reduce your taxes with an IRA Gift in 2018
Starting this year, the standard deduction has doubled, which will significantly reduce the number of taxpayers who itemize their deductions. If you are 70½ or older (or know someone who is), here is an easy way to help the Jewish community. Rather than simply take...
In Jerusalem, Ruth Bader Ginsburg celebrates her commitment to tikkun olam
JERUSALEM (JTA)— Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg described how grateful she was for her Jewish heritage during a screening of a new documentary film about her life and career at the Jerusalem Cinematheque. “The demand for justice, peace and enlightenment...
Retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s Jewish legacy
NEW YORK (JTA)—Not an hour after Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement as associate justice on the Supreme Court, the National Council of Jewish Women tweeted its dismay. “Justice Kennedy’s retirement could drastically shift the balance of the Supreme Court, and...
Local rabbi represents community at Pride event
During the week in which the LGBTQAI community celebrates its local presence, Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill, spiritual leader of Tidewater Chavurah, represented the Jewish community at Hampton Roads Pride’s interfaith event on June 26 at New Life Metropolitan Community...
Brith Sholom’s move to Beth Sholom has been a win-win
Energetic president Joe Goldberg has led a 300% rise in membership “No heat, no bugs, no rain.” That’s how Joe Goldberg described the wise decision to move a July 1 pre-holiday cookout into the Pincus Paul Community Room at Beth Sholom Village. There were no...
Beth Sholom thanks Honor Campaign donors with reception and uplifting message
It is not immediately evident when walking into the Auburn Drive lobby, but all around the Berger-Goldrich Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center at Beth Sholom Village in Virginia Beach, a major renovation of patient rooms, corridors, and other spaces is underway....
YAD connects with Israeli Sister City, Kiryat Yam
The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater has a special bond with its Israeli sister city, Kiryat Yam. The coastal city is just 12km north of Haifa, and like Norfolk, is also known for its mermaids. After a mission trip to Israel in 2016, UJFT’s Young Adult Division’s...
Legal Matters
Legal Matters, July 16, 2018
Teens and seniors bond through Better Together at Beth Sholom Village
When Alisa Kosovsky got to Beth Sholom Village, she immediately walked over to sit with Lillian Kozak. The two are decades apart in age, but as close as ever. One is on the precipice of starting her life independent of her family—in college. The other is looking back...
Sandler Family Golf Tournament raises funds for three area organizations
Philanthropy was so intricately woven into the fabric of Reba and Sam Sandler’s family, that it should be no surprise that their children continue on their parents’ path. Perhaps one might suggest however, that equally important to their own generous gifts is that...
Chris Kraus joins Ohef Sholom Temple as its first director of Family Learning
Ohef Sholom Temple’s Long Range Plan in 2006 envisioned engaging a full-time educator for its Religious School, but it wasn’t until 2013 when the Religious School Strategic Plan called for putting the vision into action. Throughout 2014, Linda Fox-Jarvis, then...
The Mothers Circle empowers women raising Jewish children
Dynamic conversations and religious discussion riveted the Klezmer Room at the Sandler Family Campus with participants of The Mothers Circle. Over the last nine months, 10 women who were not raised Jewish, but are married to Jewish men, de-mystified Judaism, learned...
Hineni! graduates meet with Hofheimers before leaving for Israel
On Tuesday, June 2, Marcia Hofheimer and Joyce Strelitz and family, on behalf of the board of the Tom Hofheimer Fund, hosted the participants of the upcoming Tom Hofheimer Young Adult Mission to Israel for a special nesiah tovah (good journey) gathering. Twenty...
What will the ADL lose when Foxman leaves?
NEW YORK (JTA)—If there’s one thing that can be said of longtime Anti-Defamation League leader Abraham Foxman, who is stepping down this month after nearly 30 years at the helm, it’s that he never holds back from speaking his mind. In an age of canned, anodyne...
Rochelle Shoretz, whose cancer battle inspired her activism, dies at 42
NEW YORK (JTA)—Rochelle Shoretz was fond of saying, “There are no problems, only solutions.” Her approach to life was not to dwell on bad news, but to channel the energy that friends described as boundless into somehow making things better. It’s what drove her to...
UJFT 2015 Biennial Meeting honors community leaders
Tuesday, June 16, 6 pm The community is invited, and encouraged to attend the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2015 Biennial Meeting. This free event will take place at the Sandler Family Campus. Leadership of the UJFT will pass from current president Miles...
Ed Karotkin wows retired U.S. Military officers
When a former Naval officer called and asked for a speaker on a topic of interest to former U.S. Military officers, I knew I wanted the very best. Having just heard a presentation by Dr. Edward Karotkin to the 400 Club on his recent work at Zvi Medical Center of Bar...
Temple Israel Spring Fundraiser was a swinging sellout
Jewish Americans have made their marks in many fields. Entertainment is certainly among them. To celebrate the accomplishments of Jewish composers George Gershwin, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Stan Getz, Herb Alpert and Neil Diamond, Temple Israel presented “Let’s...
Israel Fest and the 2nd Annual Celebrate Israel Series at the Simon Family JCC
The 2015 Israel Fest at the Simon Family JCC brought the community together to share in a day of celebration for all things Israeli. From the food and beer, to the activities, band, art and camel rides, the crowd of nearly 1,700 enjoyed a weather-friendly day of...
Richard Avedon: Family Affairs on view at National Museum of American Jewish History
Located in Philadelphia, just a five-hour drive from Virginia Beach, the National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) is the only U.S. venue to feature Richard Avedon: Family Affairs, from the collection of the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. The exhibition presents a...
Still time to register and reserve. There are at least three “Starts to Summer.”
First, is Memorial Day when most pools officially open, Pungo has its Strawberry Festival and, in the ‘olden days’ white was appropriate to wear again. That start was a couple of weeks ago. The second takes place with the last ring of the school bell for the academic...
Jewish Education Night celebrates teachers and Jewish learning in Tidewater
The emphasis placed on Jewish learning in Tidewater was evident both in the number of people honored and the representation of many facets of the community at Jewish Education Night on May 19. Professional, volunteer and youth educators were honored at the annual...
Women’s Cabinet celebrates success at Annual Lunch
The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Cabinet thanked outgoing members and welcomed those coming in to serve a three-year term during the Annual Spring Lunch on May 12 at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. Jodi Klebanoff, outgoing chair, welcomed...
Dana Cohen receives 2015–2016 Stein Family College Scholarship of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation
A busy senior at Kempsville High School, if Dana Cohen is not tutoring second graders at an elementary school as part of her involvement with National Honor Society, she might be found in the yearbook office at school where she’s worked since her sophomore year. Or...
Congregation Beth El 10th Confirmands explore Jewish identity
On Saturday, May 16, Jaden Baum, Hannah Foleck, Olivia Kamer, Maya Lipton and Matthew Specht celebrated their Confirmation at Beth El with their teachers Leon Covitz and Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz. The 10th graders led nearly every part of the service and read almost all...
Don’t hibernate — Be a BEAR Mentor
Sixty-six earth year trips around our sun, travelling at the velocity of about 18.5 miles per second, constitutes the official age of retirement in the United States. By this time, most people are quite aware of the toll such a journey has on one’s body. It can be a...
Houston floods inundate Jewish homes and two synagogues
(JTA)—Two synagogues and the homes of countless Jewish residents were damaged in the floods that swept through Houston last month, inundating homes and businesses, sweeping away cars and leaving at least five people dead. Shirley (85) and Jack Alter (87), a Jewish...
Tom Hofheimer loved getting young people to Israel
Our last article spoke about the Fund’s expanding its horizons and the past 10 years witness to a sea change in emphasis. An important grant was given to ORT Israel for an innovative and award-winning volunteer program to bring “sunshine to hospitalized young Jewish,...
Denise Hoffman: a VBCPS Volunteer of the Year
More than 22,000 individuals served as volunteers in Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) during the 2014–2015 school year, donating more than 690,000 hours of service, valued at $15,562,883. On Thursday, April 30, at VBCPS’ annual community celebration of these...
Noah’s Ark Family Fun Day at Beth El
On Sunday, April 26, Beth El Synagogue hosted a Noah’s Ark themed Family Fun Day. Open to the community, more than 40 families with infants to grandparents attended. With decorations courtesy of Leslie Siegel, there was something for all to enjoy. Whether it was...