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The role of Dad has evolved, from a staunch disciplinarian to a guiding light who changes diapers, drives carpool, and might even stay at home while Mom goes to work. According to their children, these Jewish Tidewater dads are generous with their time, community...
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Philanthropy Spring Lunch took place last month in the sun-filled Fleischman Lounge on the Sandler Family Campus. This event serves as a ‘Thank you’ for members of the Women’s Philanthropy who serve as volunteer campaign...
When the new rabbinic candidate’s resume crossed the desks of the search committee in late 2004, everyone immediately knew: Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg would be Ohef Sholom Temple’s new rabbi. An assistant rabbi at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation at the time, Rabbi Roz...
A standout student, Sarah Kosovsky has been named the 2025 recipient of the Stein Family College Scholarship, the largest scholarship available to Jewish students in Tidewater. Awarded through the Tidewater Jewish Foundation, this prestigious scholarship provides up...
Young area adults with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Young Adult Division gathered at Hank’s Filling Station on Tuesday, April 22 for a Happy Hour to celebrate the end of the Passover holiday. Two dozen participants enjoyed drinks and plenty of post-Passover...
Just a few days are left to vote in an election that gives American Jews an opportunity to directly shape Israel’s future.The U.S. election for seats in the 39th World Zionist Congress will help determine the balance of power in the legislative authority of a Zionist...
Cantor Elihu Flax to serve as part-time chaplain • Saturday, May 17, 10 am With a number of its Jewish and even some non-Jewish residents looking on, Cantor Elihu Flax affixed a fully kosher Mezuzah on the front door of Aviva Pembroke senior housing, located at...
Laura Gauld, an educator in Bath, Maine, describes a mother’s role in three, distinct stages. To a young child, a mom is a drill sergeant: “Brush your teeth before bed,” or “Hold my hand when we cross the street.” In the middle years, the mom becomes a manager: “Don’t...
Grace Gilson(JTA) — When she was five years old, Kitty Saks’ home in Vienna was commandeered by the Nazis, leading her family to flee to Brussels, where she was hidden in a convent until the Allies liberated Belgium. Twenty-seven members of her family were killed in...
U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner met with members of Tidewater’s Jewish community last month to discuss a range of issues, including Israel, the state of college campuses, and antisemitism.The former governor and senior senator from Virginia began the conversation by...
Summertime is right around the corner, with camps of every sort – day, overnight, specialty, and general – busy planning an exciting 2025 experience for campers. Whether campers stay close to home or embark on a few weeks away for an overnight experience, many...
My most recent visit to Israel started with Havdalah services in Hostage Square. The weight of October 7 – the loss, the trauma, the sadness – hangs in the air and seeps into your pores. The realization of the challenges Israelis deal with all day, every day, is...
Biden affirms commitment to Israel and fighting antisemitism The White House’s Rose Garden provided the festive backdrop for the celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month on Monday, May 20.Approximately 250 – 300 people attended the event at the invitation of...
The best of friends starting in kindergarten, Todd Copeland and Sam Brooke went to school together, spent time in each other’s homes as young friends do, and even travelled to Israel together. But they wouldn’t have old age together, as Sam passed away in 1993, around...
“When the kids are laughing that dad doesn’t know what is going on, you’ve arrived. If kids think dad is cool, something has gone terribly wrong,” Jerry Seinfeld once mused.Describing their dads ahead of Father’s Day, these adult children may have once subscribed to...
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Philanthropy Spring lunch took place last month in the Fleischman Lounge on the Sandler Family Campus. This annual lunch serves as a ‘Thank you’ event for members of Women’s Philanthropy who are volunteer campaign...
Resilience and determination. These two words are perfectly fitting for Evgeniia (Jenny) Kosatykh, the 2024 recipient of the Stein Family Scholarship. Kosatykh’s remarkable journey from war-torn Ukraine to the halls of Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach is an...
Volunteers are heavily relied on to help with the continued success of Jewish Family Service of Tidewater’s programs. The community of volunteers makes an incredible impact on the lives of the people served by the organization, with thousands of volunteer hours logged...
It was Saturday night.One of my lecturers and I were on a Zoom call with a bubbly and cheerful English lecturer from Mexico planning a collaboration between our students. My phone rang and I saw it was my administrative coordinator, calling at 9 pm – which only means...
Most first trips to Israel don’t begin with a tour of carnage, but Congresswoman Jen Kiggans’ did. In addition to meeting with families of hostages from the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, Kiggans and the other 14 members of Congress on the AIPAC trip spent time at Kibbutz...
Rugelach baking evening unites Jewish women in Tidewater Last month, 25 Jewish women met one evening at the home of Betsy Karotkin, UJFT Women’s Philanthropy chair, to meet and greet one another and to discuss the significant impact of Jewish women – all while...
Ambassador Brad Gordon briefed the Tidewater community on current events surrounding the Israel-Hamas war and the impact of the conflict on the region and Washington, D.C. The March event brought 300 people to the Sandler Family Campus to learn more about the war and...
Passover is a uniquely Jewish holiday, with four cups of wine, matzah, 10 plagues, and the central Seder plate. Though traditions and rituals vary among families and different cultures, the Passover story, retold each year, celebrates freedom during the Exodus from...
Looking for a seat at a seder or a way to learn more about Passover in Tidewater? Check out this listing to see all that is taking place for the holiday around town. ✡Chabad of Tidewater Passover SedersSeders are led by Rabbis Margolin and BrashevitskyFirst Night...
My family’s winter visit to Israel was a gift for my 50th birthday. This trip held special significance as my mother, born to Holocaust survivors, accompanied me, along with one of my brothers who hadn’t set foot in Israel for 31 years. Our journey was not a typical...
For day campers, camp instills lessons, skills, and experiences that are not found in most classrooms . . . including learning new games, spending days with new friends, perfecting the best- looking roasted marshmallow, and just plain having lots of fun.Overnight camp...
Calling all kings, queens, and righteous men! The joyous holiday of Purim begins this year on Saturday evening, March 23, or 13 Adar II, in the Hebrew calendar. Celebrating the Jewish victory over Haman, the reading of the Megillah teaches about acts of bravery in the...
October 7th changed a lot about Jewish life in Israel and the diaspora. Conversations that used to be challenging have become even harder. Students have become confused, conflicted, and pulled by various narratives not knowing what to think. Jewish students have...
On the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 7, a delegation of committed and proud Jews – ranging from ODU students to retirees – boarded a double-decker bus at the Sandler Family Campus in Virginia Beach destined for Richmond. There, we met up with other Jewish delegations...
Thursday, March 21, 5:45 pmThe Westin Virginia Beach Town Center Laura Geringer Gross is one of this year’s honorees for The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities’ (VCIC) 60th annual Tidewater Humanitarian Awards. Individuals and organizations who have made...
The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Philanthropy meeting on Thursday, Jan. 18 featured Eliza Prince, JDC senior development officer. Prince has been with JDC for a few months and works out of the Washington, DC area, serving several Jewish communities...
Beth Sholom Village hosted its biennial meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16, setting the stage for the organization’s transformative journey in healthcare for Jewish seniors in Hampton Roads. The event celebrated the non-profit’s rich history, as well as marked a significant...