Jewish News celebrates these 2022 graduates with their families and the community. Mazel Tov on these students' achievements and best of luck as they take their next steps.
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Women’s Spring Lunch brings joy and tears
Sometimes, a topic touches so close to one’s heart that it’s impossible to ignore it or turn away. On Wednesday, June 1, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Cabinet hosted its annual Spring Lunch at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach. The...
Chalk Over Hate raises antisemitism awareness
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC joined Jewish organizations across North America for Chalk Over Hate, an initiative of Artists 4 Israel to fight antisemitism through public art on Friday, June 3. “As the CEO of Artists 4 Israel, I am...
Annie Sandler and volunteers visit Poland’s Ukrainian refugees
In late April, Annie Sandler, along with eight other board members and staffers of the JDC (Joint Distribution Committee) and student volunteers from Active Jewish Teens (AJT), traveled to Poland to visit Ukrainian refugees. The group had a rigorous schedule, first...
Dear Readers (Dads & Grads)
Dear Readers, A couple of weeks ago, it seemed that everywhere I turned, people were talking about graduations. Were there more than usual, or were we all just so excited to have proper ceremonies at the appropriate time and not the drive-by celebrations of 2020?...
Strelitz International Academy Class of 2022 Graduates
SIA graduates will attend the following middle school programs this fall: Cape Henry Collegiate, Norfolk Collegiate School, Norfolk Academy, Old Donation School, and Princess Anne Middle. SIA is an International Baccalaureate World School. Back row: Leia Silverstein,...
Jewish Tidewater’s graduates excel
‘Kids’ reflect on their dads
While every day is a great day to honor, appreciate, and love our dads (and the dads in our lives: grandfathers, sons, uncles, friends, and neighbors), this Father’s Day there’s even more reason to enjoy the holiday. It is the first summer in recent years that it’s...
Jewish community’s Memorial Day program honors and remembers
On the sunny morning of Friday, May 27, a group of 50 community members gathered to commemorate the upcoming Memorial Day prior to the long weekend’s start. Hosted by the local Navy Chaplains, along with the Jewish War Veterans (Post 158), the Board of Rabbis and...
Mikro Kodesh Cemetery gets spruced up and hosts Genziah
The heat of the day didn’t stop Jewish Tidewater’s volunteers from coming out on the morning of Sunday, May 22 to Mikro Kodesh Cemetery in Chesapeake. That morning, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Young Adult Division, together with Chabad of Tidewater and...
Rabbi Sender Haber to leave B’nai Israel
Many communities have a rabbi. In the times of the Talmud, that term was deemed somewhat narrow for the many responsibilities devolved on the community leader. Another term was needed and coined: Mara D’asra, literally ‘leader of the community.’ Such a leader is Rabbi...
Survivors Room honors area survivors
An active Holocaust Commission has been part of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater for more than 30 years. Among its numerous programs and projects, the Commission established a Speakers’ Bureau comprised of local Holocaust survivors. Escorted by Commission...
Giving, philanthropy, and life with Matthew Weinstein
Matthew Weinstein has led a fulfilled and busy life. He managed to find success and make an impact through his work, community service, and commitment to family. Not one to let retirement slow him down, Weinstein now puts his corporate healthcare experience to good...
Teaching Torah at Toras Chaim is an educator’s education on human connection
Former Gomley Chesed Synagogue in Portsmouth has been successfully reimagined as a vibrant hub of Hebrew learning. The Churchland site is the home to Toras Chaim, a lively Jewish community affiliated with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater that stresses Derech...
Brith Sholom breaks record of giving to the JFS Food Pantry
Brith Sholom did not let the pandemic stop them from taking care of their community. Forced to think out of the box by having its November food drive for Jewish Family Service’s Food Pantry in the parking lot instead of during an in-person meeting, members drove up...
BBYO: Meeting and welcoming new members through COVID-19
Programming for Tidewater BBYO has been a challenge, to say the least. With national BBYO restrictions in place to ensure the teens’ safety, including no indoor gatherings, members have had to be creative and patient. Meeting at the mercy of the weather has probably...
Lighting up the lot—Families gather for a socially distanced Havdalah
On a beautiful, warm November evening, the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus’s parking lot turned into a place for families to gather for Havdalah. Called Havadallah on the Lot, the event was organized and led by PJ Library in Tidewater. As cars arrived, each family...
Special campaign match incentive for Giving Tuesday December 1
A successful Community Campaign is essential to ensure the strength and well-being of Jewish Tidewater’s agencies and community members. Understanding that the longer the COVID-19 crisis drags on, the greater will become the needs of Jewish Tidewater’s community...
Strelitz International Academy students learn about U.S. and Israeli election process
Students at Strelitz International Academy now know that learning about politics can be fun. As an IB Candidate School, SIA students learn about the world through inquiries, interviews, investigations, discussions, projects, and research. During the recent U.S....
Elaine Luria holds her seat
Elaine Luria has held onto her Second Congressional District seat, defeating Scott Taylor. Luria is a Jewish member of the so-called “Gang of Nine,” a group of moderate Democrats with national security backgrounds who were elected in 2018 to seats that had previously...
Birthright Israel: Smell the shawarma and feel the feels
A free, 10-day trip to Israel sounds like an easy sell. College students live to drink beer, eat ethnic foods, and hook up with peers on the beach, any beach. It might surprise you to know that convincing Jewish kids to indulge in Israel’s unique magic on someone...
Help JFS put a smile on a child’s face with its Chanukah Gift Program
In its 28th year, Jewish Family Service’s annual Hanukkah Gift Program is now underway. The first night of Hanukkah is December 10. Like nearly everything, the holiday is going to look a little different this year. Still, JFS’s core mission will remain the same:...
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival 2020–2021*
All events are open to the community with RSVP or tickets required and will take place virtually until further notice. For more information about the Festival, to register, sponsor, or volunteer, contact Patty Shelanski at 757-452-3184 or Pshelanski@ujft.org or...
2021 Campaign offering limited-time matching incentive during week of Thanksgiving
Tuesday, November 22 through Giving Tuesday, December 1 The 2021 Community Campaign of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater has come out strong, raising more than $3.4 million in its first four months. In a year which promises to be exceptionally challenging for...
Federation seeks to capture lightning in a bottle with second community phone-a-thon in December Sunday, December 13, 10 am–1 pm
What does an organization do when the success of a new program exceeds its wildest imagination? Well, that’s an easy question to answer… REPEATS IT! Or at least try to come as close as possible to “capturing that lightning in a bottle.” On the second Sunday of...
Giving opportunities for you and your family during COVID-19
2020 has been a tumultuous year, to say the least. As you and your advisors sit down to discuss year-end tax and charitable planning, there are several additional factors this year that can influence key decisions. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact virtually...
UJFT & the Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival 2020–2021
*Events shown only through November 15 All events are open to the community with RSVP or tickets required and will take place virtually until further notice. For more information about the Festival, to register, sponsor, or volunteer, contact Patty Shelanski at...
Type A. Plan B. Tom Purcell takes first place in the JCC 100-day Summer Fitness Challenge
For Tom Purcell, summer 2020 was the best of times and the worst of times. The pandemic continued to keep people away from their favorite sushi joints, hair salons, and gym-based training sessions. Purcell is Type A and Plan B. When it comes to fitness and his...
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater & the Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival 2020–2021*
*Events shown only through October 29 All events are open to the community with RSVP or tickets required and will take place virtually until further notice. For more information about the Festival, to register, sponsor, or volunteer, contact Patty Shelanski at...
Warren Karesh: A man of insight and integrity
Dr. Warren G. Karesh passed away on Tuesday, August 25, quieting a voice that added greatly to our Jewish community. Warren and his wife, Mimi, were active participants in United Jewish Federation of Tidewater activities throughout their time in Hampton Roads. Warren...
32nd Annual Strelitz International Academy Golf Tournament draws 107 golfers
On Tuesday, September 15, a perfectly crisp morning, the Strelitz International Academy 32nd Annual Golf Tournament, affectionately known as the Bob Josephberg Classic, took place on the Bayville Golf Club course. Sporting face-coverings and hand sanitizer, many...
Local teens interview Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District’s candidates, Representative Elaine Luria (D) and Scott Taylor (R)
Leila Abrams is a ninth grade student in Princess Anne High School’s International Baccalaureate program. She served as a Virginia Senate Page under Senator Jen Kiggans of the 7th Senatorial District throughout the 2020 Virginia General Assembly Session. This past...