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United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Philanthropy gathered for its annual Spring Lunch at the Sandler Family Campus last month. The event served as both a celebration and thank you for a year defined by generosity, leadership, and community impact....
In late February, Ilana Peck Leibler was in Norfolk, expecting to return to Israel after a quick visit with her family. The war in the Middle East, however, swiftly and drastically altered her plans. A Norfolk native, Leibler has lived in Israel for nine years....
At this year’s Yom Hashoah commemoration on April 13, Megan Zuckerman and Elyse Cardon, Holocaust Commission co-chairs, reminded the community that memory is not just something to hold onto, but something that commands action, asking each person to reflect on their...
It was just a day after the twin horrors of March 12 – the attack on Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Mich. and the murder of an ROTC professor in class at Old Dominion University here in Norfolk – when I attended Friday night services in the Sinai Chapel...
I will begin this article with a disclaimer: I am not a writer. And I’ll go one step further and admit that I have no idea how to start this article or how to title it. But despite all that, here I go – jumping in with both feet! In early March, I joined 17...
Sunday, May 3, 8 am, 24th Street Park, Virginia Beach Jewish Family Service’s Run, Roll & Stroll returns to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront next month. The 5K race and 1-mile fun run will begin at 24th Street Park. “We are thrilled to return oceanside and once...
A view from Israel / First Person While we knew there was a chance a war might break out, our nephew and niece were having a baby, and we were meeting our sister and brother in Zichron Ya’akov to celebrate. Zichron, as the Israelis call it, is an idyllic, small...
A beautiful, high-end fancy seder plate might be the perfect centerpiece at the table. Other times though, the attraction might radiate from the memories of a beat-up, or a child-made, or an artistic piece that when placed on the table, manages to bring loved...
For 10 days in February, audiences across Tidewater gathered in theaters not just to watch films, but to experience them together. The 33rd Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Simon Family JCC, transformed...
A wedding anniversary of any number is reason to celebrate, yet milestone anniversaries traditionally get special attention. Reaching a milestone is no easy feat and so Jewish News asked three of area couples about their secrets to the foundation of their...
The Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater hosted a moving community gathering in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27. Held on the Sandler Family Campus, the program brought people of all ages together to...
Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day once again brought voices from across the Commonwealth to the State Capitol, underscoring a simple but powerful truth: showing up matters. Nearing the midpoint of the 2026 General Assembly session, Jewish community members...
In a strong demonstration of civic partnership and solidarity with the Jewish community, the Virginia Beach City Council issued an official resolution on January 20 proclaiming January 27, 2026 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in the City of Virginia Beach....
When it’s time to propose, the days of going it alone and private are a thing of the past. It used to be that all that was necessary to become engaged was a couple in love and a ring. Family, friends, and photographers to capture the moment, are all part of today’s...
The legacy of Hebrew Ladies Charity Society was celebrated during a warm and meaningful afternoon luncheon on Sunday, January 11 at Ohef Sholom Temple. The event honored more than a century of compassion, generosity, and hands-on service. Stephanie Peck, JFS...
“Electrifying,” is how Annie Sandler, JDC president, enthusiastically describes Buenos Aires and other parts of Argentina. One of her first trips as president of JDC, the leading global Jewish humanitarian organization, was to travel to this South...
My father, Gustave Hershkovitz, was born April 24, 1931, in Colojvad, Transylvania, the younger of Rozalia Lazar and Fred Hershkovitz, my grandparents, two children. His was a very religious family and he fondly remembered going to synagogue with his beloved...
February 15 - 25 The Virginia Festival of Jewish Film returns for its 33rd year with a fresh slate of films that spans history, suspense, and true‑life heroism—from the Yom Kippur War saga The Stronghold to the international sports thriller Tatami, the October 7th...
A collector of Judaica and a lifelong Norfolk resident, Clay Barr has launched an initiative with Chrysler Museum of Art to cultivate a permanent Judaica collection at the museum.When asked why a Judaica collection is important to the Chrysler Museum at this moment,...
Twelve Beth El congregants, led by Rabbi Yoni Warren, Rabbi Jacob Herber USCG, and Admiral Herm Shelanski, Ret., were treated to a special morning minyon aboard the USS Harry S. Truman on Thursday, Oct. 30.Some may recall when the Truman was commissioned in 1998. Now,...
Nearly 250 members of Jewish Tidewater gathered at the Simon Family JCC for this year’s Community Impact Day on Sunday, Nov. 23. Students from Congregation Beth El, Ohef Sholom Temple, and Temple Emanuel attended Religious School at the event instead of their usual...
Move over Purim. . . Hanukkah is staking its own claim on fun as a Jewish holiday that embraces a bit of silliness and play. From a banana shaped menorah – a Banorah – to Dinokkah the Hanukkah inflatable lighted dinosaur – which stands at six feet tall and...
The annual United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2026 Lion–Tikva–Chai Luncheon is an opportunity to thank and celebrate the leading donors and volunteers of the Federation’s Women’s Division. This year’s lunch welcomed more than 70 women and featured an amazing...
Former editor of the Jerusalem Post and senior fellow at the Jewish People’s Policy Institute, Yaakov Katz returned to Tidewater on Thursday, October 23 to discuss Israel’s Blind Spot – Understanding Hamas. The evening’s conversation was based on Katz’s recent...
As food prices continue to rise and benefits such as SNAP decrease, more neighbors are struggling to put meals on the table. In fact, Jewish Family Service’s Food Pantry has seen a significant increase in visitors—people who never imagined they would need to ask for...
Throughout the world, the nation, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Tidewater, events took place marking Oct. 7, 2023 –recalling the horrors of that day, while praying for the safety and release of the 48 remaining hostages still in Gaza at the time.In addition to the...
Since 1939, inventions such as nylon stockings, twistie ties, and microwave ovens have entered everyday life, not to mention cell phones and the internet. Fifteen presidents have resided in the White House and men have landed on the moon and spent months in space. And...
Women’s Philanthropy and guests gathered on a crisp fall evening on the Sandler Family Campus for a beautiful “Night Under the Stars” to celebrate Sukkot earlier this month. The setting couldn’t have been more perfect — the glow of string lights, the scent of fall in...
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington and Washington Jewish Week produced this Virginia General Election Jewish Voters’ Guide for the 2025 statewide races. The candidates running for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General...
Estate planning attorney Rob Goodman explains how TJF can help business owners blend financial strategy with a legacy of philanthropy. When Rob Goodman sits down with a business owner to talk about succession planning, the conversation often turns to something deeper...
The men of Nadiv selected PJ Library as its fundraising cause for the 2025-2026 programming year. The group met on Tuesday, Sept. 9 and, after healthy debate, voted on the popular program that provides families with resources that connect them with Jewish...
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington and Washington Jewish Week produced a Virginia General Election Jewish Voters’ Guide for the 2025 statewide races. This publication provides information about the candidates running for Governor,...