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....
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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...
Jewish groups wary of proposed federal tax overhaul
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Jewish groups expressed dismay at some of the provisions of a tax overhaul that President Donald Trump and Republicans hope to complete by the end of this year. The overhaul, broadly, slashes taxes and compensates for them to a degree by reducing...
Larry David’s Holocaust joke was an offense—against comedy
NEW YORK (JTA)—In a famous episode of Seinfeld, Jerry is upset that his dentist, a recent convert to Judaism, is already telling Jewish jokes. He complains to the dentist’s former priest. “I wanted to talk to you about Dr. Whatley,” Jerry says. “I have a suspicion...
Challah Bake 2017
In a delightfully busy night filled with flour and community, 150 women gathered to mix, knead, and braid at Tidewater’s 3rd Annual Great Big Challah Bake. Held on Thursday, Oct. 26 at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus, the women-only event offered the...
No Frill Bar & Grill celebrates 30th anniversary
Jerry Meltsner arrived on the shores of Norfolk from his hometown of Philadelphia via Los Angeles in 1983. His first stop in town was to run the food service operation at Stanley Peck’s Bessie’s Place, which morphed into the Boat House—a concert and party venue where...
The Quality Shops celebrates 100 years in business
Founded as a hat store in Portsmouth in 1917 by Morris H. Rapoport, The Quality Shops is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year as a family owned and operated business. And, let’s face it, in today’s retail climate, that is a major accomplishment. Specializing in...
25 years of brightening Chanukah for local children and teens
“I am a native of Tidewater and have spent my whole life here. I met and married the love of my life after college and we had one beautiful daughter. Unfortunately, our marriage did not turn out to be beautiful. After counseling and serious soul searching, we decided...
Israel Today Forum tackles the timely topic of Geopolitics
Thursday, May 1, 7 pm With Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations at a contentious and critical point— the nine-month deadline for the American mediated discussions is April 29—Robert Satloff will have plenty to discuss as the featured Israel Today Forum speaker. The...
Israel Poster contest features flying cars, two flush system, bone glue, and more
The Community Relations Council invited first through 12th graders of Tidewater to participate in an Israel Poster Contest in February. Students were asked to illustrate a cool fact about Israel in a hand-made, 8.5” x 11” poster. More than 100 entries were on display...
On the Run/To or From… An inquiry into the creative life of Lorraine Fink
After raising five children and seeing them off to college, many might decide that it is time to relax, smooze and play a little mahjong. But, not Lorraine Fink. Instead, Fink was just beginning to create. For more than four decades, nothing has been able to hold back...
A personal account of Beth El’s trip to Israel
Empty nester…. Sounds so “empty” and negative-right? Wrong. My wife, Jody and I finally reached that stage of life this fall when our second daughter flew the coop and went off to college. It was sad for us, but we found ourselves able to make our first, long talked...
Positive feedback abounds after Tidewater Together community weekend
Intrigued by the concept of exploring the community’s Jewish future, Rear Adm. Janet Donovan and her husband Dan chose to attend the Tidewater Together discussion held on March 21 during the Friday night Shabbat service at Ohef Sholom Temple. More than 300 people...
Students impress at Hebrew Academy’s Annual Science Fair
March 25 marked Hebrew Academy’s Annual fourth and fifth grade Science Fair. Sixteen students proudly presented their projects in a packed cafeteria filled with parents, grandparents, faculty and students. Also in attendance were NASA scientists and contest judges,...
Olympic Games spark a Mitzvah-lympics at HAT and the Strelitz preschool
At Hebrew Academy and the Strelitz Early Childhood Center preschool, the Sochi Olympics sparked a unique twist on performing acts of kindness. After all, what is better than inspiring others to practice kindness and pass it on? Carlyn Goldstein, third grade teacher...
Community partners ensure future of Israel Today Forum
On May 1, the final presentation in the 2013–2014 Israel Today forum will take place as Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy discusses Geopolitics. The two presenters preceding Satloff in the well-respected speaker series...
Standing with Kansas City
On Sunday, April 13, three innocent lives were taken by bullets fueled by hatred, shot by a man consumed with bigotry. We echo the following sentiments initially expressed by the chair of the Jewish Federation of North America board of trustees: “We at the Jewish...
Meet the Presidents
Philip Walzer President, Temple Israel Profession Business writer, The Virginian-Pilot Education Bachelor’s degree in English, Princeton University, 1981 Family Wife, Mary Ann, registered nurse at Virginia Beach Ambulatory Surgery Center; sons Jacob, 24, University of...
HAT and Strelitz preschool celebrate Shushan Purim in grand style
Students at Hebrew Academy and the Strelitz preschool celebrated Shushan Purim with great enthusiasm last month. The day began with a parade and then everyone convened in the multi-purpose room where all Queen Esthers, Hamans, superheroes and Disney characters joined...
Retiring of a leader
On Saturday, Feb. 22, Temple Israel celebrated Education Shabbat and the leadership of Kathryn Morton, who will retire this summer after 16 years as director of the synagogue’s Sunday school. She has touched many lives with her passion for teaching, her endless...
Celebrating 100 days of school in style
Hebrew Academy of Tidewater students recently celebrated their 100th day of school. This fun milestone offered the perfect chance to mix a little silliness with a good learning opportunity. In activities and lessons that helped sharpen students’ math and observational...
Trees of cans for Foodbank
They did it! — Temple Israel’s can tree displays were a hit at Taste of Hampton Roads, with the 1,500 cans used in the construction donated to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Taste of Hampton Roads, held on March 4 at Virginia Beach...
Maimonides Society pre-film reception showcases talent of local violinist
The Maimonides Society of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater hosted a special reception for its members prior to the screening of Orchestra of Exiles at the Sandler Family Campus on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Featured at the reception was professional violinist Pavel...
Film builds anticipation for Israel Philharmonic Performance
More than 200 community members attended the Tuesday, Feb. 25 screening of the documentary Orchestra of Exiles at the Simon Family JCC. The film, which explores the story behind the founding of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, helped build excitement for the...
2014 Yom Hashoah guest speaker believes “Life is here to live”
Sunday, April 27, 6:45 pm Ohef Sholom Temple The Tidewater community’s solemn, annual observation of Yom Hashoah, the Holocaust Day of Remembrance, may be a bit lighter this year. A laugh, or two, could even erupt during the community-wide gathering. This year’s...
Purim Package from Operation Hamantashen
Greetings from waters near South-East Asia! From the bottom of my heart and the bottom of Combat Logistic Battalion-31 bellies, we thank you and your corps of volunteers for the delicious hamentaschen. As the Jewish chaplain embarked on the USS Ashland (LSD-48) with...
UVa’s Birthright trip exceeds expectations
Before going to Israel, I expected to visit historical and religious sights, make some new friends, and eat a lot of hummus. Though these things all ended up being true, I got a lot more from my trip than I anticipated. Not only did I experience a different culture,...
Danuta Epstein presents Global Studies senior project
High school senior Danuta Epstein welcomed an interested audience to “her” synagogue, Kempsville Conservative Synagogue/Kehillat Bet Hamdrash on Sunday, Feb. 23, to present her senior project for the Global Studies World Language Academy located in Tallwood High...