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...
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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...
Plenty of fish in the pond
Hebrew Academy of Tidewater’s third grade students invited Sandler Family Campus “experts” to a brief presentation of their research of the Campus Pond, dubbed “Lake Sandler” on Tuesday, Oct. 17. The students were investigating whether Lake Sandler would need to add...
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...
JFS Special Needs program enjoys a Night Out at Café M
Jewish Family Service’s Chaverim and Simcha groups offer social, recreation and religious programs for local Jewish adults with various physical, emotional and/or developmental disabilities. Each of these groups meets monthly and provides members with an opportunity...
Temple Israel hosts Disability Awareness Shabbat
Temple Israel’s second annual Disability Awareness Shabbat took place on Saturday, March 1 with Colleen Miller, executive director of disAbility Law Center of Virginia, as the featured speaker. The center serves as a non-profit law firm for addressing issues that...
HAT second graders receive Chumash during traditional presentation
Hebrew Academy of Tidewater’s second graders recently received their Chumashim. The annual tradition celebrates everything students have learned so far about the Hebrew language and Judaic studies. Few things make parents more proud than seeing their child beam with...
Celebrating an Evening of the Arts
Art plays a critical role in developing a child’s creativity, discovery and learning processes. A form of expression, art gives students the opportunity to take risks, experience beauty on many different levels and share something personal about themselves. Each year,...
Tallwood High School students share their impressions on Israel
Student Youth Ambassadors enrolled in the Global Studies & World Languages Academy at Tallwood High School who participated in an exchange program organized by the America Israel Friendship League, shared stories of their experiences on Thursday, March 6 at the...
Tidewater Jewish Genetic Screening provides vital information for future generations
One hundred and sixty-two community members participated in the Tidewater Jewish Genetic Screening in December at the Sandler Family Campus. A make-up day for college students took place in January. The screening was a partnership between Jewish Family Service of...
Future for Israel and American Jewry explored
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) held its annual Plenum in Atlanta, Ga., March 8–11. The Plenum is the annual conference for Jewish community leaders and representatives from 125 Jewish Community Relations Councils and 16 national Jewish agencies to...
Tidewater goes to AIPAC
The 2014 America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference was the largest gathering of America’s pro-Israel community with 14,000 attendees. The conference highlighted the importance of the partnership between the United States and Israel and...
Israel: Exit-Nation
Imagine the following: • A camera, which can see through walls and ceilings, delineating people and motion within, allowing law enforcement and the military to more effectively take out bad guys, rescue hostages and locate bombs. • A pair of glasses that reads to you,...
Archiving Jewish News
Those of you who honored me by being present at the book signing for Hal’s Navy, may recall that I committed the proceeds to the creation of The Jewish News Archival Project Fund. Many in the community have shared my concern that the precious record of Jewish communal...
Meet the Presidents
Ron Kramer Chairman Tidewater Jewish Foundation Profession Former owner, Kramer Tire Company Education Bachelor of Science, University of Richmond Family Wife, Cindy; Children: Will, June, Alex, and Austin; and new Labradoodle puppy, Bella. Jewish organizations United...
JMC presents Bagels and Bluegrass
Saturday, April 12, 7 pm An evening of “Bagels and Bluegrass” will coincide with the Jewish Museum and Cultural Center’s focus on Appalachia from April through July. Included in the program will be Jean Haskell, Ph.D., retired director of the Center for Appalachian...
Israeli Soldiers’ Stories
Tidewater was fortunate to be included in the StandWithUs Israeli Soldiers’ Stories tour on Thursday, Feb. 22. This innovative program which features reserve duty Israeli college students who talk about the Israeli-Arab conflict, give a human face to the Israel...
States of Matter
At the Strelitz Early Childhood Center, four-year-old preschool students are learning about the scientific method of study, a process for theorizing how or why things work. Some of this winter’s below freezing temperatures set the perfect stage for an informative...
East meets Middle East at Temple Israel
Last month, the Jewish new moon ceremony coincided with the Chinese New Year. So, Temple Israel and the United Hebrew School celebrated. Rabbi Michael Panitz says that by pairing Rosh Chodesh and the Chinese holiday, “Our members came away with a better understanding...
Jewish Educational Loan Fund 2014 applications now available
March 1–April 30 Applications for interest-free loans for post-secondary education (college, graduate school and vocational programs) are now available for the 2014- 2015 school year from the Jewish Educational Loan Fund (JELF). The application is open to Jewish...
Jewish Family Service celebrates National Social Work Month in March
Each year in March, Jewish Family Service recognizes its social workers and case managers during National Social Work Month. The month is designed to help raise awareness about the American social work profession’s 116-year commitment to improving social conditions...
