WASHINGTON (JTA)—In 1987, Congress passed legislation that declared there would never be an office of the Palestine Liberation Organization on U.S. soil. President Ronald Reagan agreed and signed the law. Seven years later the law was still on the books. But that year...
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Veterans honored at annual ceremony
Tidewater Jewish Foundation held their 8th annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony and Service on Friday, Nov. 10 at the Sandler Family Campus. The annual event was attended by close to 100 community members, and was a beautiful tribute to those who have served the United...

Light up the night with Latke Palooza
A grand community-wide Hanukkah party Wednesday, Dec 13, 5:30–7:30 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus Dinner, holiday-themed activities, and a Mister G concert With Hanukkah nearly here, the 5th Annual Family Latke Palooza promises activities for all ages to enjoy....

Quilting for a good cause
The generosity and good spirit of the Ohef Sholom Temple Tzedakah Quilting Group can be seen through Thursday, Dec. 14 at the Sandler Family Campus. That’s because the group’s quilts are on display, brightly decorating the Cardo. After the exhibit, Jewish Family...

Wine Time
2012 Karmei Yosef Winery Bravdo Shiraz Judean Hills, Israel Dark chocolate has radicalized me. But, this is not about chocolate. As a highly untrained wine wonk, I am going to tell you about an Israeli wine I have been blessed with tasting. Bravdo Shiraz 2012 This is...

Happy Hanukkah!
Hanukkah, Jewish News December 4, 2017
Dr. Mark Goldfeder visits Sandler Family Campus for a trio of events
The Norfolk Kollel, in partnership with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Community Relations Council and Society of Professionals, hosted Dr. Mark Goldfeder for a series of events on October 17 at the Simon Family JCC on the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus....
The Janet Gordon Annual Mah Jongg Day: Playing with a purpose
In 2010, the Janet Gordon Mah Jongg Tournament began as a tribute to Janet Gordon and as a way to raise funds for Beth Sholom Village, the community’s only Jewish skilled nursing, rehab, and assisted living facility. Seven years later, it is still that and so much...
Flying high and winning gold
Hearing Wes Sandler describe skydiving is much like listening to Brad Pitt’s character describe fly fishing in the film, A River Run’s Through It; equal parts science, art, adventure, and passion—and for the lucky listener, the excitement of gaining a glimpse into a...
Where there’s a WILL there’s a way…
Can you believe it is already November? As the days get shorter and the leaves continue to fall, we think about the end of the calendar year and all of the things we hoped or planned to get done before year-end. What did you say you were going to do this year? Were...
Grants available for first time Jewish overnight campers
Tidewater Jewish Foundation is launching the One Happy Camper program in partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp. The initiative provides need-blind grants of up to $1,000 to families with children attending nonprofit Jewish overnight camp for the first time....
Anti-Semitic incidents surge in United States, ADL says
NEW YORK (JTA)—Anti-Semitic incidents in the first nine months of 2017 have risen 67 percent over the same period last year, according to the Anti- Defamation League, which factored in a string of bomb threats largely attributed to a Jewish man in Israel. On the...
Amanda Gladstone is Stein Family College Scholarship’s 2014 recipient
Amanda Gladstone does not know what the term “free time” means. As one of only two Jewish students attending Hickory High School in Chesapeake, she got involved with BBYO to be more connected with her Judaism. And this involvement did not simply entail going to weekly...
Temple Emanuel’s rabbi marks his first year
Last June, Rabbi Marc Kraus arrived in Virginia Beach to become the rabbi at Temple Emanuel. Rabbi Kraus’ wife, Alicia Cohen Kraus, was recently appointed Old Dominion University’s Hillel director. Since their arrival, the couple has hosted more than 120 people for...
ATID program highlights future possibilities for community leaders
The three-year Strategic Plan adopted by the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater in 2011 was developed and instituted to unify and strengthen the Tidewater Jewish community. A key initiative of the plan—one of seven—was to establish a community leadership...
Promoting change in struggling communities Max Sandler’s efforts continue
When the Jewish News caught up with Max Sandler two years ago, the Virginia Beach native was adapting to life in Gondar, Ethiopia. Then 26, Sandler had committed to a year living and working in an environment unlike anything he was familiar with, as a Jewish Service...
A Presbyterian disagrees with his denomination’s vote to divest
Let me begin by saying that I am very disappointed with the decision of the General Assembly to divest from three U.S. companies doing business with Israel. I have a great love and respect for the Jewish people, which began even before I was born! I grew up in a...
UJFT Mission to Israel A journey of a lifetime in just eight days
Seventeen members of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Summer mission to Israel recently returned from an action-packed and highly emotional visit. The adventure began in Jerusalem, with a breathtaking panoramic view of the city atop of the Tower of David....
Egypt and United States, usual brokers in cease-fires, may not help this time
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Escalations between Hamas and Israel are nothing new. What’s missing this time, analysts say, is the alignment of outside interests that has resolved such fights in the past. Egypt’s government lacks the influence over Hamas of its predecessors and...
Notes and appreciation: 75th Commemorative issue
By now, the publication commemorating Tidewater’s Jewish community’s 75 organized years should have made it to everyone’s mailboxes, and, hopefully, been opened, browsed though, and maybe even read. We’ve heard from many readers (who must have opened, browsed and...
White City Shabbat breaks Guinness World Record for largest Shabbat Dinner with 2,226 diners in Tel Aviv
White City Shabbat set the Guinness World Record for the Largest Shabbat Dinner ever at the Hangar 11 in the port of Tel Aviv when 2,226 attendees were officially inscribed in the Guinness World Record for the Largest Shabbat Dinner on Friday night June 13. Notable...
Hebrew Academy of Tidewater Konikoff Center of Learning Graduation awards and presentations
Nine year awards (from preschool, age two–5th grade)—Mushky Brashevitzky, Shayda Rahimzadeh, Blake Brown, Gabe Foleck, Leo Kamer and Danial Watts James London Memorial Athlete of the Year—Danial Watts Most Improved in General Studies—Shayda Rahimzadeh Abe and Anna...
Two area students reflect on Birthright Israel
Memories for a lifetime by Sam Sacks, Virginia Tech, class of 2014 It is incredible what one can experience during 10 days in Israel. Earlier this year, thanks to Birthright and Hillel at Virginia Tech, we were given the opportunity to witness the Land of Israel. Of...
Hap Unger’s rug goes to HAT
There are many people who have walked through the halls at Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, wherever it has been located. Some are more memorable than others, but few made as “big” a mark on the school as Harold (Hap) Unger. I first met Hap when his daughter Jennifer...
Jewish Family Service: 62nd Biennial Meeting
On Monday June 9, JFS held its Biennial Meeting to install the new board president and officers. Dr. Marcia Samuels, outgoing president, welcomed Lawrence Steingold, who will serve as president for the 2014-2016 term. The other members of the executive committee are:...
The sun sets on Torah on Tap
On Wednesday, June 18, the last Torah on Tap of the season took place at the home of Marcy and Paul Terkeltaub. Co-hosted by Lisa and Murray Rosenbach, the 25 people who attended ranged in age from 24 to ‘80-something.’ Since its inception, the discussions during...
12th Melton graduation in Tidewater
When this year’s nine Melton graduates received their certificates, they joined a group of 180 adults in Tidewater who have completed the first two years of the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning. The students, who took 60 class sessions at the Simon...
From corporate law to the Capitol to caramel corn: Jody Wagner’s journey continues
Wafting through the air on 31st St. near the corner of Atlantic Avenue, stronger than the smell of the ocean and more enchanting than the aroma of suntan lotion, is the scent of freshly popped popcorn. That memorable smell draws people into Jody’s—the gourmet popcorn...
Kabbalat Kaboom: Celebrating the Fourth on a Friday
LOS ANGELES (JTA)—Part God Bless America, part Shabbat Shalom, the Fourth of July this year falls on a Friday. In this land of religious freedom, how do we plan to observe both? As the sun sets over the “fruited plain,” will we be lighting Shabbat candles and...
Family loves Camp JCC hosting Israeli counselors
When Israeli born Cheni Alofer and her husband Sam told their children they were taking a trip to visit family in Israel this June, their son Aaron said, “Will that mean we will miss Camp JCC?” Aaron, a rising first grader at HAT, and his younger sister Natali, will...
Visiting professor at ODU
This summer will see the arrival of Professor Joseph R. (Joe) Hodes who will begin the Fall semester at Old Dominion University in the History Department teaching three courses. Currently a visiting professor at Tulane University where he has been teaching The Arab...
Exploring Jewish Morocco
I grew up in Israel of the 1950’s and 1960’s when peace with an Arab state was even beyond a dream. Thus the opportunity to visit an Arab country moves me deeply. Through the years I have had the good opportunity to go on missions with fellow rabbis to Egypt, Jordan...