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Freemason Street Baptist Church and Ohef Sholom Temple have more things in common than may meet the eye: bringing the community together, breaking bread, giving thanks, and observing their faith in prayer and song for an impressive 95 years. As the story goes,...
Established by five area families in 1982, Congregation Beth Chaverim is “House of Friends” in Hebrew. Initially, the group began meeting in each other’s homes, and as they grew, started meeting in local churches. With the community’s support, the growing congregation...
With Veterans Day coinciding with Erev Shabbat for Parashat Vayera (Genesis 18-22), I wanted to share a word of Torah (d’var Torah) that bridges the two events. Parashat Vayera is, after all, full of passages that capture the imagination and ignite the Jewish soul!...
What do you get when you put a truly special Israeli artist in front of a room full of amazing Jewish women leaders? A thoughtful discussion on the “art” of community building. Such was the case at the...
My first full-time job as an editor was with Tidewater Virginian, a business magazine published by the area Chambers of Commerce. There, I was introduced to the complex world of business and its many facets and stories—so many stories. Like those multiple story...
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Mission to Israel—March 1–9, 2023 Information Session Thursday, November 10, 6:30 pm Sandler Family Campus Experience an unforgettable week with friends and community and enjoy Israel in the spring. Four nights in Jerusalem, two...
Sunday, November 20, 12–2 pm It’s really extraordinary. Why would a group of New Yorkers help Virginians build a new mikvah in Ghent? The answer: because, they understood the need. In 2019, after years of dealing with Ghent’s outdated mikvah, ground was broken for a...
The dedication of the Marty Einhorn Pavilion took place on the practically perfect morning of Sunday, September 18. Jazz sounds of the Jimmy Masters Trio welcomed guests, lunch was served, and the...
The Jewish Community Relations Council posed a series of questions to the candidates running for Virginia’s Second Congressional District: Congresswoman Elaine Luria and State Senator Jen Kiggans. Their responses follow. JCRC strives to motivate, educate, and advocate...
In the summer of 2020, my family had to cancel a trip to Israel due to the pandemic. I was disappointed that I wasn't going to experience Israel with my family, but I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to go with my second family, Capital Camps. I have...
Dear Readers, It happens to all of us. For some, more often than others. The reasons vary…it might be time to write a will, purchase a home, or establish a trust. Or, maybe a traffic accident (or violation) occurs, a dispute with neighbors brews, or an employment...
Laws and regulatory issues impact everyone—from private citizen to business owner, from employee to retiree, and it seems everybody in between. In this special section, Jewish News surveys a few local attorneys to find out what’s trending, what’s coming, and how to...
The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Cabinet, led by co-chairs Barbara Dudley and Mona Flax, kicked-off the 2022 campaign year by going to camp…at the Simon Family JCC. On a beautiful (albeit rather warm) afternoon, members of the Women’s Cabinet...
SIA becomes first official Primary Years IB Programme in Tidewater Carin Simon After two years of candidacy, Strelitz International Academy (SIA) received full authorization this month as an International Baccalaureate® World School Primary Years Programme. For more...
For two busy years starting in 1986, a young Doron Kissinger Kaynar and his family made their home in Norfolk while serving as the shaliah at the Jewish Community Center of Tidewater on Newport Ave. Thirty-five years later, Kissinger Kaynar traveled from Israel...
When Byron Harrell walked into his first Hineni leadership fellowship event in 2017, he was a rising star financial advisor at Davenport & Co. He was familiar with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, having gifted money, knowing that it was dispersed to various...
Like so many other events planned in 2020, Ohef Sholom Temple’s Mitzvah Day had to be postponed in April of last year. Planning for the big day was already underway when everything seemed to come to an abrupt halt. One of the projects scheduled for Mitzvah Day was the...
The National Museum of American Jewish History held its inaugural Only in America® Hometown Hero contest earlier this summer. Tidewater’s Pam Blais was among the nominees and ultimately selected as the first ever Hometown Hero in the Museum’s Ed Snider Only in...
Jody Wagner As we begin to emerge from the upheaval of this past year, many of us are reflecting on our goals and values. For me, it’s the importance of participating in the Jewish community and supporting Jewish causes. I was raised in the tight-knit community of...
Carin Simon, Admissions Director As the Strelitz International Academy graduates ascended the stage on June 8, 2021 for their special graduation ceremony, parents and supporters cheered with joy. The 2020–2021 school year commenced with an unsettled beginning of the...
Shower with Appreciation was the theme of this year’s Jewish Family Service Employee Appreciation Celebration held on June 16. JFS pays tribute each year to its employees and honors those reaching specific levels of longevity. “Last year, during the pandemic,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...