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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...
Dear Readers, My first connections with Jewish News took place in the mid-1970s when, as an active teen in Tidewater’s Jewish community, my name and photo would sporadically appear on its pages. As I renewed my activity in the community as a young adult, I’d find my...
In the paper’s 75-year history, surprisingly few have served as editor. In fact, many of the first editions list no editor at all, but rather the executive of the Norfolk Jewish Community Council (in one instance Sydney S. Abzug) and in others, just editorial boards,...
Panel moderator Joel Rubin may have summed it up best, when he said, “The wind is definitely blowing in the right direction…” for the region’s new offshore wind farm, whose turbines will soon be generating power to light up area homes, power area businesses, and...
Tidewater Jewish Foundation celebrated donors, community milestones, and philanthropic accomplishments at the 2022 Simon Family Legacy Celebration on Sunday, May 17 at the Sandler Family Campus. The first in-person event in three years, the celebration highlighted the...
This year’s Yom Hashoah Commemoration, honoring the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, as well as liberators and righteous gentiles, was the first in-person gathering for the purpose since 2019. After cancelling the public commemoration in 2020 and having a...
Karina Filonenko evacuated from Ukraine to Poland with her two children just after the start of the war. A challenge for each person who lived in Ukraine after February 24, is to ‘stay alive.’ Could you ever expect that in the 21st century, the word “genocide” will be...
The annual Stein Family College Scholarship of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation is awarded this year to Leia Morrissey, a soon-to-be graduate of Granby High School in Norfolk. Morrissey is the 15th recipient of the four-year scholarship, which provides up to $20,000...
Muscle and Fitness magazine’s Mr. Health and Fitness competition is underway with the Simon Family JCC’s Tom Purcell a strong competitor. Purcell, the JCC’s Wellness and Fitness director, says “My goal each day is to help others obtain good health.” A 56-year-old...
Since its inception in 2011, Beth Sholom Village’s The Janet Gordon Annual Mah Jongg Event and Luncheon never missed a year…until COVID-19 hit. An event that Mah Jongg playing women have looked forward to and enjoyed, it has evolved from a tournament with competitive...
More than 40 seniors enjoyed matzah and music as they celebrated Passover at a festive community Seder at the Simon Family JCC on Tuesday, April 12. Chazzan David Proser of KBH Synagogue led a beautiful model Seder with the musical accompaniment of Dave Flagler, JCC’s...
The Tidewater Ukraine Emergency Fund has raised and distributed more than $280,000 as of Tuesday, April 19. The money has been sent to United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s overseas partner agencies, the American-Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and Jewish...
The former and late Supreme Court Justice, Louis Brandeis, once noted, “The most important office, and the one which all of us can and should fill, is that of private citizen.” Regardless of party affiliation, voting is a constitutional right—one that must be...
A sanctuary overflowing with people in prayer, ties, and high heels has been the picture of High Holiday success for more than a century. Local buzz about a stirring sermon is the new year cherry on top. Two universal truths hit home this year with COVID-19: Modern...
Saying thank you during a pandemic was Jody Wagner’s first order of business as the new chair of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation. In a short video on Facebook, she said: “Thank you to our donors for making sure our community has the resources it needs, and to our...
Sunday, September 13, 10 am–1 pm The past year has brought extraordinary challenges to the entire planet which have resulted in massive changes to the way we all do “business.” The Jewish community of Tidewater has certainly not been exempt from those changes—as...
When it comes to praying for a sweet New Year, this community is in overtime. Since Pandemic 2020 hijacked every aspect of life and living in March, synagogues have been immersed in the overnight challenge of implementing ways to touch members without physical...
After six fun-filled weeks, this year’s virtual camp, Camp JCC in the Cloud, concluded on August 14. What began as uncharted territory is now a new, innovative way to connect with area children and teens. Camp JCC collaborated with Happy Camper Live to create this...
When Randi and Steve Gordon were looking for ways to honor Steve’s parents, Tavia and Freda Gordon, of blessed memory, they knew approaching Strelitz International Academy to create a match program would be a ‘match made in Jewish education heaven.’ The Gordons were...
Earlier this month, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Tidewater Jewish Foundation teamed up to raise funds for the new Tidewater Mikvah. The brief, one-day campaign raised nearly $8,000 for the project. “This was a very successful campaign,” says Sarah Lipman,...
The Freda H. Gordon Hospice and Palliative Care of Tidewater recently welcomed Dr. Jerry McQuain as medical director. McQuain earned his master of physical therapy degree at West Virginia University, graduating valedictorian of his class. He received his medical...
Ever wonder how the books and authors are chosen for the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival? Last month, 20 community members, along with five staff professionals, took part in the Jewish...
Graduation ceremonies and celebrations for the Class of 2020, whether for high school, college, or graduate school, came to a screeching halt because of COVID-19. Another casualty of the pandemic. Still, imaginative celebrations took place via ZOOM, drive-by parades,...
Tzedek, tzedek tirdof: “Justice, justice you shall pursue” (Deut. 16:20). We, the Jewish faith leaders of Hampton Roads, are appalled not only by the murder of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis, but by the long procession of African-Americans who have been...
It doesn’t take a campus massacre or a pandemic for Virginia Tech students to bond with a charismatic and culturally distinct Israeli fellow, and to connect Jewishly. According to Sue Kurtz, executive director at Virginia Tech Hillel, students are nervous about the...
Over three dozen local Jewish women, led by mission co-chairs Annie Sandler and Mona Flax, along with JDC professional Sandy Katz, made the long trek to the Jewish communities of Minsk in Belarus and Sofia in Bulgaria…all through the “magic” of the internet. Following...
Strelitz International Academy Graduation was originally planned for June 2, but like nearly everything else this past spring, was postponed. A special outdoor, mask wearing ceremony took place on Tuesday, June 30 for these special graduates so that they could enjoy a...
For kids and families seeking some camp-like fun this summer, Camp JCC In the Cloud is ‘to the rescue!’ Unlimited access to online activities is FREE and available to anyone from anywhere. Different themed activities take place each week through August 14. At Camp...
Noya Azari is joining Camp JCC In the Cloud this summer as the camp’s Shaliach. A native of Tel Aviv, Noya Arazi, 23, was in Virginia Beach as a Camp JCC Shaliach in 2018. “Dance has always been a big part of my life,” sys Arazi. In fact, she is a certified Zumba...
After a national search, the Tidewater Jewish Foundation is ready to welcome Naomi Limor Sedek as its new president and chief executive officer. Coming from Nashville, Tennessee, Sedek’s lifelong work and passion for the promotion of Jewish life at the Jewish...
Tidewater’s Jewish community lost a giant on Saturday, June 6 with the passing of Kurt Rosenbach. Kurt was equally a man of vision and action. More than all of his volunteer service—often as founder or chair, he continued to press the community to realize financial...
Tidewater Jewish organizations secure more than $20.6-million in legacy commitments through LIFE & LEGACY® initiative Three hundred and twenty-five local donors have made 550 legacy commitments to support the Tidewater Jewish community since LIFE & LEGACY...