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WASHINGTON—In a speech on the House Floor on Thursday, March 7, Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02), a 20-year Navy veteran, spoke in support of a House resolution condemning anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry. The resolution passed later that day, 407–23. A...
Among Brith Sholom’s many activities, the club often features informative and engaging speakers at its meetings. Jerry Sandler, program chairman, has arranged speakers from such places as the F.B.I, the Virginian-Pilot, and the Red Cross. And, Congresswoman Elaine...
Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Simon Family JCC, and community partners’ latest Israel Today expert, visited Tidewater February 19–21, where he spoke to more than 1,100 people. The senior vice...
Camp provides a time and space for fun, as well as for development of confidence and new skills—all in a protected and caring environment. In fact, studies consistently demonstrate the long-term benefits of a summer camp experience for both campers and counselors....
Bertram and Gladys Aaron Endowed Professorship in Jewish Studies Dr. Richard Freund, a prominent archaeologist, historian, and explorer, has been appointed to a new position at Christopher Newport University where he will lead Judaic Studies and build strong ties with...
Forty delegates from Tidewater boarded a bus on the morning of February 6, making their way to Richmond for Virginia’s annual Jewish Advocacy Day with the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. Nearly 200 delegates from Tidewater,...
With several workshops and discussions on contemporary Judaica, graphic artist Hillel Smith lectured, inspired, encouraged, and produced art during his mid-February visit. Smith led a lunch discussion on his book, Parsha Posters, as a part of the Simon Family JCC’s...
Moments before writing this, I gave Scott Kaplan, president and CEO of Tidewater Jewish Foundation, an enthusiastic “Mazel Tov!” on hiring a new development associate and LIFE & LEGACY coordinator. “So?” you may ask. The point is, we say “Mazel Tov!” for many...
In a first ever joint event, the Norfolk and Virginia Beach Forums came together, and with the Holocaust Commission, brought the powerful message of Father Patrick Desbois to Tidewater. The idea to bring this internationally known scholar and humanitarian to Tidewater...
The 26th Annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film presented by Alma & Howard Laderberg and Patricia & Avraham Ashkenazi was “one of the most successful in the 26-year history of the festival,” according to Mark Robbins, Film Festival screening committee...
Ever wonder why Tidewater and the Jewish community have so many active retirees and busy seniors? We all know that our weather is mild (everything is relative, I know, as I’m always checking temps in Boston, DC, and points south), getting from place to place is easy,...
Israel’s history is familiar to Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg. Her mother is from the country, Mandelberg lived there as a student, and she has visited many times. Yet, Mandelberg says she couldn’t help from saying “Wow,” as she watched the film Creation of a State, the...
For some, the annual Tidewater Yom Hashoah—Holocaust Remembrance Day—commemoration ceremony is too intense, too painful, too sad, or not important to their lives, and so they don’t attend. Others, however, see it as vitally important that they remember the people both...
Junior Poetry First Place—Lana Berry, 8th Grade, Norfolk Academy, Norfolk, Charlie Doar Second Place—Stephen Opitz, 6th Grade, Baylake Pines, Virginia Beach, Mary Opitz Third Place—Rice Webb, 8th Grade, Norfolk Academy, Norfolk, Charlie Doar Honorable Mention—Gregory...
Mazel Tov to Tami Arnowitz and Barbara Klaff who were the winners in the Jewish News facebook contest for tickets to see The Odd Couple at Virginia Stage Company. We hope they enjoyed the show!
Saturday, May 11, 8 pm Performing Arts at the J, presented by Leah Wohl*, presents its last performance of the season: Portsmouth native David Krohn, a baritone talent, with Charles Woodward, pianist. “I am thrilled to return to Hampton Roads to perform a special,...
From Rummikub to the ‘God Particle’—A timeline of Israeli innovations NEW YORK (JTA)—While a great deal of international and media focus has been placed on Israel’s military conflicts, the country quietly has become an energetic, ambitious incubator of...
Members of the legal, business, academic, Jewish and greater communities gathered on April 11 at Old Dominion University for a reception and panel discussion of the exhibit, Lawyers without Rights: Jewish Lawyers in Germany under the Third Reich. More than 200 people...
Decades have passed since Leslie Legum and Connie Golden first met one another at Belvoir Terrace, a summer camp for girls in Lennox, Mass. But as the two women pore over a treasured trove of faded camp programs, tattered pictures and a 12-page letter Golden wrote...
Sunday, April 14, 7 pm An Israeli Holocaust survivor forbidden by his granddaughter to mention his experiences in the war during her engagement party, collapses with a stroke when she yells at him to remain quiet. A Jewish woman struggles unsuccessfully to find the...
As the media was covering President Obama’s visit to Israel on March 20, a group of community members gathered that night at Temple Emanuel in Virginia Beach to discuss the role the media plays in shaping negative opinions about Israel. The synagogue hosted the third...
I don’t know what made me more proud. Hearing how strong Hillel has become at my alma mater, the University of Virginia, or the fact that my nephew was the one delivering the good news. Rabbi Jake Rubin, son of my brother, came to Norfolk at the invitation of Hillel...
Jill Sava joins the Simon Family JCC as its new director of the children and family department, which includes directing Summer Camp, Kids Connection, the Before and After School Program, and the Babysitting department. The sixth of seven children in a very close-knit...
Over bowls of matzoh ball soup and glasses of sweet, Kosher wine, almost 80 faith leaders and representatives of Tidewater’s many religious affiliations gathered at the Simon Family Jewish Community Center on March 19 for a pre-Passover seder. The Community Relations...
Betsy Oasis Karotkin and her daughter, Jennifer Karotkin Adut both treasure their Jewish heritage. As mother and daughter, their stories are intertwined, and yet their journeys are completely different. “Life, like art, is full of surprises,” says Karotkin. An artist...
Beginnings is the Simon Family JCC’s full day program for babies six weeks through 2½ years. Its youngest charges (six weeks–approximately 16 months old) have recently moved to a new, more spacious area to accommodate more babies and anticipated demand. Thanks to a...
Julia Child often laughed about her experience being raised as a child on tuna noodle casserole in Southern California. It wasn’t until she was in her 20s and sat down to her first Parisian meal that she knew in her heart that she was actually French. Myself, I didn’t...
None of the nearly 40 women who attended the Jewish Women’s Salon live event “Who’s Your Esther,” on Feb. 17 knew what to expect when they arrived at 10 am. By the time the event ended at 11:45 am, though, the resounding cries of “Is it really over?” and “You must do...
The response to the 2013 Tidewater Women’s Outreach Seder, held at the Simon Family JCC on March 17, was evident before the first bite of egg matzoh crossed a lipsticked mouth. Women from all affiliations and backgrounds made reservations early, and the Seder drew...
JERUSALEM (JTA)—President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it’s safe to say, haven’t always been the best of friends. The leaders of two closely allied countries, they’ve have had a relationship described more often as tense than anything else. But...
“Ice cream and cake, ice cream and cake...” are the words repeated throughout the video that Joel Nied put together as an invitation to his son’s fifth birthday party. The short, which is extremely entertaining, has clarity, energy, rhythm and packs a punch, much like...