NEW YORK (JTA)—During a combative news conference in early August, White House adviser Stephen Miller told reporters that the United States should prioritize immigrants who speak English. “Does the applicant speak English?” Miller asked, describing a bill to reduce...
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What it’s like to be Jewish in South Korea
Though the Jewish community in South Korea is small, Jews visiting the country to compete in or watch the Winter Olympic Games won’t have to skimp on kosher food or Shabbat programming. The country’s Chabad emissary is setting up a pop-up restaurant in Pyeongchang...
Arielle Di Porto brings stories of Aliyah to Tidewater
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Cabinet recently hosted Arielle Di Porto from the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI). Di Porto gave a stirring presentation about JAFI’s important work of rescuing Jews throughout the world. Director of the Aliyah division...
Dr. Steven Warsof appointed honorary member of Israeli Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
EVMS Professor of Obstetrics, Dr. Steven Warsof, was made an honorary member of the Israeli Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology for his long-standing volunteer efforts at the Azoraeli School of Medicine of the Galilee at Bar Ilan University in Sfat Israel. The award...
Mazel Tov
Mazel Tov, February 5, 2018
HAT and Strelitz celebrate traditions with grandparents
While many people were busy preparing turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater Konikoff Center of Learning and the Strelitz Early Childhood Education Center celebrated the time-honored tradition of Grandparents’ Day on Wednesday, Nov. 22....
Latkepalooza: A festive evening of music, crafts, programs, and food
On the second night of Hanukkah, December 13, more than 150 children and adults gathered at the Sandler Family Campus to celebrate the Festival of Lights. The 5th annual Latkepalooza, co-sponsored by the Simon Family Jewish Community Center and PJ Library, included...
Portnoys agree on their legacy
When talking with Erinn and Dr. Felix Portnoy, the commitment and love they have for the Jewish community is obvious. As parents of very young children, they feel compelled to step up and provide for the Jewish future of the next generation, and are thrilled to be...
Jewish volunteers serve Christmas dinner
For almost a quarter-century, about 20 Jews in Tidewater have engaged in a beloved Christmas tradition: serving Christmas dinner at a homeless shelter in Norfolk. For at least 20 years, they ensured that residents of the Dwelling Place, an emergency shelter that has...
HAT graduate moves home to serve community as rabbi
There’s a new rabbi in town. Just before Hanukkah, Virginia Beach native Rabbi Zalman Margolin moved from Brooklyn with his wife Bracha and their two children to expand Chabad of Tidewater with a new presence near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. “We are delighted to...
Delta employees detail a pattern of anti-Semitic abuse at airline
NEW YORK (JTA)—It wasn’t long after Nahum Amir began working for Delta Airlines as a mechanic that he says his manager started calling him “the Jewish guy.” Then Amir says the manager accused him and other Jews of “killing kids in Gaza.” During the same period, Yaron...
Investments & Giving
Investments, January 22, 2017
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...
Celebrating the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater class of 2014
Every year comes the bittersweetness of Hebrew Academy’s graduation, a culmination of hard work and determination by children, most who have attended since preschool. While parents and teachers both kvell over the fact that these children have reached this milestone,...
Yom Hazikaron Commemoration and Day of Learning at HAT
A meaningful day of commemoration and learning on Yom Hazikaron, Israeli Memorial Day, was held on May 5, 2014/5 Iyar 5774 at the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater Konikoff Center of Learning for students and the community. Beginning at 8:30 am, students, faculty, former...