For Jack Frieden, the love of vocal music of the 60s and beyond (think the Beach Boys, the Beatles, and Crosby, Stills & Nash) eventually spread to an appreciation of jazz. Today, he is the host of the Norfolk-based radio show, The Vocal Sound of Jazz on WHRV 89.5...
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Strummin’ along with Bob and Jeanne Zentz
Fun fact: Johnny Cash listened to local folk musician Bob Zentz’s debut album Mirror and Changes and praised it as one of the finest things he’d heard by any artist. The album, which features The Ramblin’ Conrad Story, is now on Smithsonian Folk-Legacy (now under...
JTA Teen Journalism Fellowship – Apply Today!
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency is offering a virtual journalism fellowship for high school-age (14-18 years old) Jewish teenagers. This remote fellowship encourages teens of all backgrounds, identities, genders, cultures, and connections to Judaism to apply. For more...
Separating Man from Myth: Grappling with Wagner’s Ring
Tuesday, Sept. 13, 7 - 8 pm, Ohef Sholom Temple, Free Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle is the most monumental operatic experience ever created. Comprised of four epic operas, the Ring Cycle tells the story of Norsegods, heroes, and a magical ring of power. Since its...
Antisemitism appears in Virginia Beach
Sunday morning, July 24, residents in the Little Neck community of Virginia Beach woke up to find antisemitic fliers distributed throughout multiple neighborhoods. The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) was...
Dedication of Marty Einhorn Pavilion
Music and arrival, 11:30 am Dedication, 12 pm The day’s festivities begin with the long-anticipated dedication of the Marty Einhorn Pavilion with the program and lunch starting at noon. Alvin Wall and Jeff Chernitzer, Einhorn’s long-time business partners and friends,...
Guide to Jewish Living in Tidewater: Dear Readers
Dear Readers, A guide or directory is often an accurate barometer of how a community is faring. If the guide shrinks over the years, it stands to reason that the same is true for the community. The converse, of course, is also true. Across the nation many communities...
A Holocaust study tour is powerful and timely
The trip started with a crazy coincidence. I have been director of the Holocaust Commission for 12 years, and was a volunteer for the previous 10. After working with educators, the Virginia Department of Education, and the public on Holocaust education for 22 years, I...
Jeffrey Flax helps claim Gold Medal at Israel’s Maccabi Games
An article in the July 18 issue of Jewish News reported on local attorney Jeffrey Flax’s qualifying for the Masters Golf Division at the Maccabi Games in Israel. Flax returned from the competition with great news: an individual Bronze win on the U.S. Masters...
Team Virginia Beach competes at JCC Maccabi Games in San Diego
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the JCC Maccabi Games returned for its 40th year and Team Virginia Beach descended on San Diego, La Jolla, and Del Mar, California, for five days of competition, building friendships, and continuing to build...
Podcaster Michael Brooke brings Torah to knowledge-hungry listeners
Why would someone with a very limited social media footprint start a podcast and hope it grows organically? Because it did. Michael Brooke, who has a bachelor’s degree in Talmudic Studies and is continuing his education in Kollel, launched his Motivation...
Nancy Engel: Cheers to 33 years
It was bound to happen one day… Nancy Engel, Jewish Family Service’s executive administrative assistant, retired on August 4 after serving the organization for more than 33 years. Engel’s journey didn’t start in a typical employee-employer relationship; it was...
Take YAD out to the ballpark!
Young Adult Division (YAD) donors to United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Annual Campaign made their way to Harbor Park to see the Norfolk Tides take on the Gwinnett Stripers on Sunday, June 27. The young adults enjoyed the game, were thanked for their past...
Slowing down is not an option for seniors on the move
Who says an 85-year-old retired dentist would never launch a third career crafting specialty ice cream cakes during a pandemic? What would stop a lifelong community activist from leveraging decades of knowledge gained as a board member (inside and outside the Jewish...
Happy 100th Birthday Olga Payes!
Dear Olga, On July 15, 2021, we will honor and celebrate your century of life. This is an incredible milestone, but not nearly as incredible as you are. May your 100th Birthday be filled with never-ending joy and pleasure. May you continue to enjoy the journey of...
Sunday Fun Day at the JCC pool: Cool fun in the sun (and shade)
The first Sunday Fun Day on June 13 was a splashing success! More than 200 people enjoyed perfect Tidewater weather, free sweet treats from the Kona Ice truck, impromptu water slam dunk contests, plenty of slide action, and a 2-hour music set by Dave Flagler, director...
JFS holds Biennial meeting in-person, the first in two years
Jewish Family Service of Tidewater opened its 65th Biennial meeting on Tuesday, June 8 with an invocation by Rabbi Batya Glazer, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Jewish Community Relations Council director. Following the invocation, Ellen Rosenblum, JFS board...
Rise in antisemitism and an updated spelling
The Virginian-Pilot printed two political cartoons that I found stunning on Monday, June 7. Both were commentaries on the recent surge in antisemitism with messages that the prejudice has just been hiding in the United States…that it’s never really disappeared. What...
Governor Northam tweets condemnation of antisemitism
In tweet on Wednesday, June 2, Governor Ralph Northam, @GovernorVA wrote: Our country is seeing a disturbing rise in anti-Semitic attacks. Freedom of religion is a founding pillar of this nation—and it applies to every faith. Hate against anyone because of who they...
SIA first graders receive their first Siddur at first in-person event of this school year
It was a day of firsts for Strelitz International Academy’s first grade students. On Friday, May 21, SIA first graders each received their very own Siddur (prayer book). In line with the SIA Hebrew Language, SIA first grade students have been learning to read and...
The ancient antidote to tech-spiked antisemitism on college campuses
Antisemitic slurs have no expiration date. Despite raising awareness to the painful struggle of minorities via Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate—across every social media platform, and in countless consumer ads—stereotypes against Jews persist without hesitation...
UJFT opens Israel Emergency Fund
The brutal 11-day attack by Hamas on Israeli citizens demonstrated to the world just how fragile peace is between Israel and its neighbors. It also was a reminder for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater to unequivocally reaffirm its support of the State of Israel’s...
Congresswoman Elaine Luria joins group asking President Biden to fight anti-Semitism
A group of moderates, including Congresswoman Elaine Luria, sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Tuesday, May 25, condemning a series of comments they deem as anti-Semitic. They write: “We are deeply disturbed by the recent surge of antisemitic incidents in the...
What is the Iron Dome? All about the missile defense system that changed how Israelis experience war
(JTA)—Overnight between Thursday, May 13 and Friday, May 14, an arresting image appeared on social media: On the right, streaks of fire shot out into the night sky—rockets heading for a group of buildings illuminated in the darkness. But on the other side of the...
Life in Israel During Conflict: Perspectives from people with local connections
Several Tidewater Jewish community members have friends and relatives who live in Israel and were candid in talking about the current situation. When asked how their lives have been affected and how they feel about the ongoing con-flict, this is what they said: ARLENE...
‘Twas the year the Christmas lights went out for good: Joseph “Buddy” and Leonard Strelitz
This is the first in a series on generations of families in Jewish Tidewater. Joseph “Buddy” Strelitz honored his mother’s single dying wish and became a trailblazer for the Jewish tribe in her memory. Buddy’s son, John Strelitz, says that his grandmother’s only...
JCC Camp staff positions Calling all Grads!
“We want you (all graduates—high school and/or college) to embark on a leadership role with us at Camp JCC,” says Dave Flagler, director of Camp and Teen Engagement at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC. Camp JCC is hiring senior counselors...
Start of school for 2021–2022 calendar year is revised for two local districts
Virginia Beach and Norfolk Public Schools will begin classes for the 2021–2022 school year on Thursday, September 9, 2021. This change will ease the transition back to school for Jewish families, eliminating the conflict between the first day of school and Rosh...
JDC Responds to COVID-19 Surge in India
Give at: www.jdc.org/COVIDIndia The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), in coordination with the Indian Jewish community and its local partner SEWA Cooperative Federation, is responding to the devastating COVID-19 surge in India by deploying...
Strelitz International Academy holds in-person student conferences
Communication between parents and teachers is an important part of the experience at Strelitz International Academy. Parents are always encouraged to contact their child’s teacher with questions or concerns that arise during the school year. SIA’s goal is to bring out...
Rare find available at Phoebus Auction Monday, May 31
The auction business can be an historian’s dream come true. People and Items connected to the events of history constantly appear. Provenance is a constant attraction. These people and events occupy the auctioneer’s thoughts and efforts, with family stories expanding...
Camp JCC—Meet the team
Dave, Sarah, Sierra, Lavette, Elyssa, Kate-Lynn, Chris, and Michelle look forward to seeing campers this summer Excited to be back in person this summer, Camp JCC’s leadership staff has both new and familiar faces. The extensive experience among these individuals,...