One of the great things about being a journalist is traveling the world on story assignments. But it’s the remarkable people I meet, during my journey abroad, that fuels my passion for my profession.
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Tidewater Chavurah’s Second Friday Shabbat Service
Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill will lead Tidewater Chavurah’s second Friday Shabbat service at the home of Hal and Elaine in the Great Neck Meadows area of Virginia Beach.
New leadership at Freda H. Gordon Hospice means continued compassion and care for patients and families
After spending a decade of his adult life helping poor people in southwest China, Tom Elder came home to watch his father die – with dignity– thanks to excellent caregivers. Through it all, he learned compassion. And the value of hospice.
First Person: My Paean to Shabbat in Jerusalem
“All roads lead to Jerusalem…” or so I like to believe, and so I say, especially when I unexpectedly stumble across a friend or acquaintance walking to or from the Kotel on a Friday evening. In June of this year, I was privileged to find myself with 36 friends at the Kotel on a beautiful Shabbat evening, and it really felt like magic was in the air. We sat together, sang together, celebrated together and took turns lighting candles inside a terrarium!
Leon Family Gallery – Faces: Portraits from Madonna to the Pope by Hanoch Piven
Giving the art of caricature an innovative look while shedding new light on today’s most familiar faces, Israel Today Artist-in-Residence’s Hanoch Piven’s caricatures have appeared in major American magazines and newspapers such as Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone,The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, Entertainment Weekly and the New York Times. His work has also appeared in publications in Spain, France, England, Norway, Italy, and Israel.
First person: Wearing my heart on my sleeve
Earlier this summer, a group of 37 local community members traveled to Israel on the Federation’s Journey Home Mission to Israel. The week-long, interactive mission was designed to enable participants to follow their campaign dollars to the sites and programs funded by the UJFT’s Annual Campaign. It was also an opportunity for Federation young leaders to closely interact and share experiences with more seasoned leaders, with each group inspiring the other.
A new president for the Jewish New Year at Temple Emanuel
At a congregational meeting on June 5, 2018, Dr. Steven Warsof, a man respected for his myriad admirable traits, became the new president of Temple Emanuel by unanimous vote. As he addressed his congregation for the first time as president, Warsof recognized two congregants who worked to build their spiritual home a firm foundation.
Community honors Harry Graber at retirement celebration
After 30 years of dedicated service to Tidewater’s Jewish community, Harry Graber retired on June 30. Attended by hundreds of well-wishers, a celebration in his honor took place on June 14 at the Sandler Family Campus. Graber served from 1988 to 2003 as executive vice president of Jewish Family Service, followed by 15 years as executive vice president of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
2018 Guide to Jewish Living in Tidewater
Here is the 2018 Guide to Jewish Living in Tidewater. It features information on the following: Jewish Holidays 5779, Community Resources, Camps, Community Centers, Congregations, Education, Foundation, Services and Organizations, Social Services, Youth Groups and Cemeteries.
CBN hosts Israel’s UN Ambassador for 700 Club interview and lunch
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon began his remarks at a luncheon last month at CBN’s Founder’s Inn by noting that it is “usually a bad sign when there’s a room full of people coming to talk about Israel.” Looking around the room with a big smile, he continued, “but today looks different. This room is full of friends!”
First person: Beginning at the first border
The desert sun beat down on us as we stood on a hill, gazing out at what was forbidden for us to enter—the Gaza Strip. On approach to this overlook from the north, we drove past dozens of patches of scorched earth, remnants of fires from recent Palestinian terrorist attacks. Gazan terrorists utilized the winds and dry conditions to their advantage by sending flaming kites and balloons to Israel, which destroyed painstakingly cultivated crops and forests.
Second year for Nadiv ends with donation to JFS Food Pantry
Twelve months of lunch meetings with engaging speakers concluded with a shopping spree at Lidl in Virginia Beach on July 18. That’s when the group bought nearly $500 in groceries for the Jewish Family Service (JFS) food pantry. It also donated about $400 additional funds so JFS can purchase more food at a later date.
Protestant churches’ letter on Israel straining ties with Jews
WASHINGTON (JTA)—When 15 prominent American Protestant leaders sent a letter to Congress this month calling for an investigation and possible suspension of U.S. aid to Israel, at least one outcome was certain: The Jews wouldn’t like it. On Wednesday, Oct. 17, Jewish...
What We Carry goes to church
Since being launched in schools last fall, the Holocaust Commission’s What We Carry program has been presented 38 times in the community by trained Commission volunteers—27 times in school settings and 11 times for military audiences. More than half of the...
Aly Raisman, Munich 11’s David Berger to be inducted into Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
NEW YORK (JTA)—Olympic gold medal- winning gymnast Aly Raisman will be inducted into The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame & Museum. Raisman, 18, of Needham, Mass., will be among eight inductees into the hall in Commack, N.Y., in April. Also to be honored at the...
HAT golf tournament celebrates 24th year and passes the event chair baton
Golfers laced their cleats and teed off at Bayville Golf and Country Club for this year’s annual Hebrew Academy of Tidewater Konikoff Center of Learning golf tournament. The event, which celebrated its 24th year, raises funds for need-based scholarships for students...
Woolsey visit evokes awareness of national vulnerabilities
Speaking to an audience at the Sandler Family Campus on Sept. 10, R. James Woolsey’s delivery was easygoing and folksy. The message the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency delivered, however, was anything but casual. “We are on the verge of something as...
Campaign Kickoff opens eyes and hearts to community’s mitzvot
Guests at the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2013 Campaign Kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 27, were treated to an evening of Ethiopian sights, smells, and tastes. They heard firsthand accounts of the difficulties and triumphs of being Jewish, Ethiopian and...
The times have surely changed
This is the last in a four-part series about the 110th anniversary of the Hebrew Ladies Charity Society. Invitations to the 110th Anniversary Luncheon honoring the ladies who founded the Hebrew Ladies Charity Society in 1902 have been mailed and now is the time to...
Back to Shul Shopping a success for synagogues
The Simon Family JCC came alive on Sunday, Sept. 9 as local Jewish agencies hosted various community events. The JCC welcomed potential new members to tour the facility and learn about the programming opportunities, Jewish Family Service brought their staff and lay...
Leslie and Larry Siegel Create a Jewish Legacy
Although very proud of their family and the roles they have played in Tidewater’s Jewish community for the past 38 years, Leslie and Larry Siegel were not anxious to have their names in this profile. The foundation they created, a donor-advised fund, is designed to do...
Hebrew Ladies Charity Society: Working to Improve Our Community
This is the third in a series about the 110th anniversary of the Hebrew Ladies Charity Society. A single Jewish mom with two teenage children is just getting by financially until she hurts her back and can’t work. Her children get jobs after school, but the family...
Ethiopian rescue effort has longstanding ties in community
In 1991, a call for help went out to the worldwide Jewish community. As a civil war raged in Ethiopia and the ruling government was about to be toppled, more than 14,000 Jews had been secretly gathered and were waiting to be transported to Israel, their biblical,...
Community Relations Council presents R. James Woolsey, former director of the CIA
Monday, Sept. 10, 7 pm R. James Woolsey, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (1993-95) and current chairman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, will speak at the Sandler Family Campus at a program presented by the Community Relations Council...
Nefesh B’Nefesh representative to speak at Beth Chaverim
Sunday, Sept. 9, 11 am Making the transition from living in the United States to settling in Israel can seem daunting. Help is available, however, for those thinking about or planning to make Aliyah (immigrating to Israel). Ari Schuchman, director of Overseas Programs...
Super Summer Shabbat is a success
The Young Adult Division of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Children and Family department of the Simon Family JCC teamed up for an end-of-summer Shabbat celebration. On Friday, Aug. 17, more than 120 people gathered around the JCC Water Park for a...
Annual Summer Institute for Jewish educators August 15 and 16
Area Jewish educators met for two consecutive nights at the Simon Family JCC last month to share teaching techniques, methods, and ideas with colleagues under the direction of guest presenters. The Summer Institute, which began more than 20 years ago, is sponsored by...
Times change…but the vision remains the same for Hebrew Ladies Charity Society
This is the second in a series of articles about the 110th anniversary of the Hebrew Ladies Charity Society. Big things make headlines, but little things can also make a difference. The nine Orthodox Jewish women who started the Hebrew Ladies Charity Society in 1902...
On my fourth trip to Israel, I found a nation struggling with historic challenges, but still optimistic about its future
Motti is a 28-year-old Orthodox Jew, trying to find himself in a country where seemingly half the population respects and appreciates his total devotion to his faith and the study of its texts; and the other half despises him for not contributing to the general...
Freda H. Gordon honored at hospice’s ribbon cutting
Thursday, July 12 will be remembered as a momentous occasion, as the community honored Freda H. Gordon, of blessed memory, and officially open the Freda H. Gordon Hospice and Palliative Care of Tidewater. Tavia and Steven Gordon, along with Randi and Steven Gordon’s...
Teens choose Jewish summers
For some of Tidewater’s Jewish teens, the summer was an opportunity to immerse themselves in Jewish worlds…focused on Judaism, performing mitzvot, exploring their Jewish identity. And, along the way, they all seemed to have incredible, meaningful and fun experiences....
Tidewater gets visit from top AIPAC exec
Howard Kohr, American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s executive director, made his first visit to the Tidewater Jewish community on Tuesday, July 17. His trip is a testament to the tremendous growth in local pro-Israel activism. In addition to meeting with local...