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If I had to sum up my mother in one word, it would be generous. My mom, Ellen Wagner, is generous with her love, her time, and her knowledge. She is always willing to open her home to anyone who might be alone for the holidays, she has a hard time saying no to...
My mom raised me with help from her mom, my Bubbie, at a time when there were not as many successful single parent households as there are now. She always wanted me to succeed without regard for what I may have been missing in my life and never wanted me to use what...
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival hosted a successful event with New York Times bestselling author Lisa Barr, who discussed her latest book Woman on Fire at the Chrysler Museum of Art. The event was in...
A small but mighty group of Federation donors recently returned from a magnificent week-long journey through time and space to ancient and modern Israel. From Feb. 28 to March 9, participants of the 2023 UJFT Community Mission to Israel wandered through history,...
Dear Readers, Calling the current climate in Israel “complicated” could be the understatement of the century. Never do I recall major Jewish organizations, donors, and celebrities making public statements against Israel’s domestic policy. Or tens of thousands of...
The supreme governing bodies of the Technion, the Council acting on behalf of the International Board of Governors, and with the approval of the Technion Senate, resolved to confer upon Avraham Ashkenazi the Technion Honorary Fellow Award. The ceremony is slated to...
During my formative years, the 1960s, my parents instilled in me a love of both Judaism and Israel. As a college student, I volunteered on a kibbutz one summer, working in the fields and hitch-hiking around Israel. I married a non-Jew, who later converted to Judaism...
I ran into my dear friend Amy Lefcoe last spring at the Simon Family JCC and asked her, “So, when are we going back to Israel?” “Hmmm, let me think about that,” Amy replied. As always, Amy worked her magic and created what would fast become one of my most memorable...
Dear Friends, Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) celebrates freedom as we recall the Exodus from Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. Family and friends at a seder, springtime, renewal, and freedom are just a few of the images that come to mind when we think about this most...
In her third floor speech since becoming a Congresswoman representing Virginia’s Second District, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans spoke about the importance of supporting Israel. The speech took place on Friday, March 10. The speech follows: Madam Speaker, I rise today to...
The recent terrorist murder in Israel of two Jewish boys from Har Bracha in the Arab village of Huwara fills the Jewish world with sadness. Yet, it is the extrajudicial response by religious settlers to the killings which resulted in widespread civilian destruction in...
Anyone who has traveled by the Pembroke Square area in the last few weeks might have seen exciting developments taking place on the corner by Target. Aviva Pembroke, the premier senior community that is being created in partnership by Beth Sholom Village and Pembroke...
The severity of the war in Ukraine, its inhumane treatment of civilians, and devasting destruction, is apparent to anyone watching or reading the news. What is not found in the main-stream media, however, is that at the start of the war, Ukraine was home to more than...
Through the efforts of its rabbi, Ellen Jaffe-Gill, Tidewater Chavurah has received a Torah scroll to use during Shabbat and holidays. Rabbi Jaffe-Gill acquired the scroll through the Jewish Community Legacy Project, an organization that helps small congregations with...
The first Virginia Congressman to sign the bipartisan Pascrell-Latko letter, demanding increased funding to protect synagogues and houses of worship, Congressman Donald McEachin visited the Sandler Family Campus for a quick conversation and lunch with a diverse group...
Support is urgently needed. Throughout the past year, Jewish Family Service, in partnership with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, has been highlighting the importance of mental health and wellness through a series of events. These events are part of JFS’ 18th...
Reading of the Names on Zoom Wednesday, April 27, 10 am–2 pm Contact hhorwitzintune@yahoo.com to reserve a spot. Yom Hashoah Commemoration Wednesday April 27, 6:45 pm Congregation Beth El Masks are required. The Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of...
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Whether he meant to or not, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz gave Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee, an opportunity for a breather in the middle of a contentious day of confirmation hearings on Tuesday, March 22. Cruz, who...
Dear Readers, This might be the year that we all get to dust off most of our Haggadahs, and maybe even polish the silver as we return, hopefully, to some more traditional Seders. While last year’s smaller outdoor Seders were a welcome step forward from the previous...
Instead of asking, “Why is tonight different from all other nights?” the first of the traditional four questions asked by the youngest child at the Seder, Jewish News asked local rabbis, “Why is Passover this year different from the last two years?” With the pandemic,...
PJ Library in Tidewater, in partnership with Strelitz International Academy and Camp JCC, gathered with the community at the Sandler Family Campus for a Purim celebration on Sunday, March 13. Dressed in colorful costumes ready to participate in Operation Hamantaschen,...
Tidewater BBYO held their first ever in-person Hamantaschen Bake on Sunday, March 6. Hosted by the Arluk family, BBYO teens crafted their hamantaschen from scratch to hot-out-of-the-oven. Both traditional ingredients, such as raspberry and apricot jams, and less...
It has been a banner year for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s NADIV Young Men’s Giving circle. Moving out of the pandemic, the group’s membership has climbed to 37 members—all active and donating into the giving circle. Plus, the men made another fantastic...
Thursday, April 7, 7:30 pm Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art When Unorthodox records live in Tidewater next month, Congresswoman Elaine Luria will be the Jewish guest, and former NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith will be the Gentile guest. Each of the podcast’s shows...
Transport facilitated by Magen David Adom and New York–based Hatzolah Air Lod, Israel (March 7, 2022)—When an apartment building in Kyiv was hit by a missile on Saturday, Feb. 26, Irina Karaush, 44, and her 19-year-old son, Mark, were injured. They received initial...
(JTA)—The world has had a crash course on Volodymyr Zelensky in recent weeks, as the Ukrainian president has galvanized his country against an unprovoked attack by neighboring Russia. The broad strokes of Zelensky’s career have long been known to those who pay...
Corned Beef and Cabbage Sandy Goldberg I am Jewish and my wife, Anne Bernadette, was born in Dublin. So, we have this mixed culture going where traditional Irish and Jewish foods are both served. I do all the cooking and when I planned to serve Corned Beef and Cabbage...
Chabad of Tidewater Thursday, March 17, 5:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus Chabad’s Annual Purim Party is back. Dinner, music, Purim mitzvoth, crafts, magic, face painting, balloon twists, and prizes. For more information or to RSVP, contact...
The Virginia Festival of Jewish Film presented by Alma and Howard Laderberg, wrapped up its 29th year on Monday, February 28 with a screening of Hester Street, restored in 4K for its 40th anniversary, and presented at Naro Expanded Cinema in honor of longtime Festival...
Thursday, March 24, 6 pm, Westin Virginia Beach The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities’ (VCIC) annual Tidewater Humanitarian Awards honors individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the promotion of respect and understanding among...