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First woman, first Jewish delegate to hold this position (Richmond)—The House Democratic Caucus elected Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn on Saturday, Dec. 8 to serve as Leader for the 2019 General Assembly session and state legislative elections. The Caucus held the...
Two representatives from AIPAC were in Tidewater earlier this month to meet with the Board of Rabbis and Cantors. While in town, they also made time for conversation with several community leaders. Debra Saxon, AIPAC’s associate director for Policy and Government...
After graduating from Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, many students have enrolled in International Baccalaureate (IB) middle school programs in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. The IB program is an approach to learning which is recognized all over the world, with the schools...
Some 300 Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) supporters gathered on Thursday, Nov. 29 for the FIDF Virginia Inaugural Gala at The Hilton Oceanfront, raising more than $200,000 for well-being and educational programs for the brave soldiers of the Israel Defense...
One of the many interesting aspects of compiling this Business section each year is the vastly different areas that comprise the businesses we profile. They can be large or small, start-ups or long-time family-owned establishments, virtual or brick and mortar,...
While the books are gone and events have paused, the memories still remain from a busy month of reading and events during the Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival at the Simon Family JCC. The book festival ran October 30–December 2 and brought hundreds of...
Where would I stay? What should I wear? Will I have to sit separately from my friends? Can we stay in groups? Is it okay to take pictures? These were just some of the questions that were asked prior to this year’s Shabbos project in Norfolk. Community members,...
“Last call for the pushke!” That’s a phrase one can expect to hear every Friday night in the minyan room at Temple Israel, just as reliably as the psalm for Shabbat or the shema. It’s a tradition with a long history that recently passed a milestone. There have been...
(JTA)—The 2018 midterm elections were hailed as a victory for gender parity, as an unprecedented number of women won bids to serve in Congress. More than 100 women were elected to serve in the House of representatives and the Senate, according to final vote tallies...
The Women’s Division of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater held its annual Lion Tikva Chai Luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 1 to celebrate its newest milestone givers. And, there was a lot to celebrate. Headlining the event was author, lecturer, and performer Erin...
The Great Big Challah Bake was a huge success as more than 120 women got together to bake challah as part of the International Shabbos project. The event took place last month at the Sandler Family Campus. Along with the ingredients and supplies that were provided,...
For the past couple of months, I’ve been hearing, “Hanukkah is so early this year!” Yet, according to the Hebrew calendar, Hanukkah is showing up perfectly on time—on the 25th of Kislev. For those of us who live by the Gregorian calendar, however, the Festival of...
As he backs out of his driveway, Jerry Kantor stops to help a neighbor with a flat tire and asks, “Is there anything that I can do to help you?” and he really means it. With a sense of compassion, Kantor’s volunteerism focuses on the health and welfare of the elderly...
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 7 pm The Oxford English Dictionary defines diplomacy as: the profession, activity or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country’s representatives abroad. Wherever, whenever, and however he can, Neil Lazarus epitomizes the...
The Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater partnered with Congregation Beth Chaverim in Virginia Beach to host an encore presentation of the 63-minute documentary, What We Carry (in its entirety), on Jan. 6. Featuring the stories of local...
The opening night of the 20th Anniversary of the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, presented by Alma* and Howard Laderberg, took place at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, Jan. 19. Several speakers introduced the festival, including Scott Katz,...
Every Autumn, congregants from area synagogues leave Tidewater for a different kind of “Promised Land”—the land flowing with orange juice and sun-tan lotion. The minyanim are a little bit smaller, and cherished neighbors are absent for a season. This past summer at...
With its frayed cover and sticky note tabs sticking out from a number of pages, Gary Takakin’s copy of The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation into a Sacred Community by Dr. Ron Wolfson is testimony to the number of times the book has been...
As an investment advisor and partner with the firm, The Alcaraz Mercadante West Investment Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, Janet Mercadante takes the responsibility of investing her clients’ money very seriously. For 22 years, she has helped people plan for their...
Three weeks ago, 20 Jewish college students and young adults from Tidewater left for an opportunity that they may never have again; one that simply was too good to turn down. They were treated to a 10-day, (almost) all-expenses paid, laidback, virtually pressure-free...
More than two months have passed since Hurricane Sandy brought heavy rain, high winds and flooding to the east coast of the United States. For Tidewater residents, the storm marked another near-miss in the yearly threatening roster of storms, and the memory of its...
Scott Katz officially started as center director of the Simon Family JCC on Wednesday, Jan. 2. Jewish Community Centers have been part of Katz’s life since his teenage days in Baltimore. “I became involved with the JCC through BBYO. I then began working at the JCC in...
From beneath a superimposed Israeli flag, startling blue eyes stare forward with bold intensity. Without blatantly saying it in words, the poster for the 2012- 2013 Israel Today speaker series, displayed in Tidewater Jewish agencies, synagogues and the Simon Family...
NEW YORK (JTA)—You’re at a wedding or bar mitzvah, mingling at the bar or catching up with a distant relative, when you hear it—the opening notes of a familiar tune that as if by some invisible force carries you and other guests to the dance floor for the rousing...
An Asian fusion twist on a traditional Chanukah party, Sushi-Sake-Latke was the Young Adult Division of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s biggest event of the year. Held on Saturday, Dec. 1 in the Cardo on the Sandler Family Campus, more than 180 people...
Say the words, “92nd Street Y” to someone who’s moved to Tidewater from New York or New Jersey. Chances are, eyes will brighten with a knowing look, and a sigh, or sound of longing, may follow. An abundant and expansive calendar of cultural, educational and community...
When creating the theme for this year's Super Sunday fundraising phone-a-thon, the young Jewish community leaders on the steering committee opted to toss out the cutesy and sporty ideas of the past. The 10 Super Sunday committee members instead chose a concept that...
While it is hard to believe we’re wrapping up another calendar year, it is easy to recall that Jewish News reported on a lot of news and activity in 2012. In fact, we printed more pages than ever. Trips to Israel and Cuba, the elections, unrest in the Middle East,...
Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival Sponsors The Simon Family JCC thanks all the Book Festival sponsors for making another successful season possible: Beth and Nathan Jaffe Karen Jaffe Monarch Bank Altmeyer Funeral Homes Barnes and Noble Beth Sholom...
Agenda items that should be listed (in no particular order) for scheduled meetings of the 2013 Super Sunday steering committee: excitement, inspiration, motivation, and innovation. Gone is the order of previous years’ meetings, when the committee would visit various...
In an effort to engage students in learning about the presidential election, Hebrew Academy held its own mock presidential debate and rally on Monday, Nov. 5. Organized by Lorna Legum, Hebrew Academy librarian and media specialist, the debate featured HAT’s fifth...
The floor was shaking. The air was humming with energy and the room’s temperature steadily rose as the 200 teenagers danced and jumped around. One or two kids even climbed on each other’s shoulders, gaining a better view as 200 voices joined in song. No less than 10...