5776: The year in review and more.
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Donald Trump supporters launch push for American ‘swing state’ votes in Israel
JERUSAlEM (JTA)— On behalf of Donald Trump, Republicans this month launched a get-out-the-vote campaign geared to Americans living in Israel. The initiative, which began Wednesday, August 3 has unprecedented funding and local strategic support. The effort by...
Mazel Tov
Dear Readers, Fortunately, there is always a reason to exclaim, “Mazel Tov!” With our 2nd Annual Mitzvah Day just around the corner and our Federation’s Campaign kickoff primed for success, it is fruitful to remember that we do not need to look very far or too hard to...
Is lunar eclipse at Sukkot an ominous sign?
by Edmon J. Rodman LOS ANGELES (JTA)—As we usher in Sukkot, will there be a blood moon rising? John Hagee, the San Antonio pastor who wrote the book Four Blood Moons: Something is About to Change, would have us believe so. Hagee predicts that because of a cycle of...
High Holidays
Dear Readers, In this, the first of our two special High Holiday sections, we devote lots of pages to recapping the events of the worldwide Jewish community of 5774. What a year it was…from the death of Ariel Sharon to the discovery of art confiscated from Jews in...
Operation Protective Edge Updates from Israel
In order to provide Jewish News readers with additional sources of information than may be found in U.S. media, we’ve gathered the following links to a variety of news updates, opinions, analyses, and live blogs from Israel. The views expressed on these sites are not...
Presbyterian Divestment from Israel discussed with local pastor
by Robin Mancoll, director, Community Relations Council, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Earlier this summer, the Presbyterian Church USA (PC USA) voted by a very narrow margin (310-303) at its General Assembly in Detroit to divest from three companies who do...
First stage of Jewish News Archival Project now online
Thanks to the generosity of contributors, the Jewish News Archival Project is making great progress. In fact, readers can check out the results to date. Small Town Papers is converting old Jewish News issues to a readable format, easily accessed on the newspaper’s...
Guide to Jewish Living in Tidewater
Tidewater’s Jewish Community Calendar tends to be busy most months of the year. The reason? The myriad of welcoming organizations, synagogues and schools that are brimming with events. We’re fortunate, and most of us probably don’t realize it. I received a call a few...
How much has Israel’s war in Gaza cost?
by Ben Sales TEL AVIV (JTA)—After the missiles have stopped, after the troops have come home, even after most of the wounded are out of the hospital, Israelis will still be feeling the burden of Operation Protective Edge—this time in their pockets. With the recent...
Stand Strong for Israel Community Gathering
Thursday, July 24 | 7:00 p.m. Sandler Family Campus 5000 Corporate Woods Dr., Virginia Beach, VA Please join the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, the Community Relations Council of the UJFT, and the entire community, as we gather to show our solidarity with...
Update on Operation Protective Edge, Day 10
News and links to photographs, videos and other information from Israel: THE SITUATION - IDF ground forces entered Gaza just after 10pm Thursday night. A further 18,000 reserve soldiers were called up during the night. In total, 48,000 reserve soldiers have been...
Jewish Women’s Salon closes its “Live Season” and gears up for on-line summer discussions
The Jewish Women’s Salon closed its “live season” with the second in a two-part showing of the award-winning documentary film Miss Representation. The event, held on Sunday morning, May 20 at the Sandler Family Campus, again produced a good deal of rain, but also a...
The Jewish Museum & Conference Center presents the 4th annual Wonderful Wednesdays Summer Music Series
Joann Falletta and Friends Wednesday, June 13, 7:30pm JoAnn Falletta, Debra Wendells Cross, and Robert Alemany, have performed and recorded together and promise to bring an exciting evening of wonderful music. Falletta (guitar), Cross (flute), and Alemany (clarinet)...
Susan and Jon Becker Create a Jewish Legacy
Sitting down for a conversation in the beautiful Ghent home of Susan and Jon Becker, the comfort, ease and unity of their partnership is immediately apparent. They demonstrate the kind of quiet understanding, empathy and humor that can only come from years of shared...
JFS holds reception to thank major donors
Jewish Family Service of Tidewater hosted a Major Donor Reception on Thursday, May 10 at the Simon Family JCC to thank its donors for their support and generosity during the past year. Community leaders convened for a short program led by Betty Ann Levin, JFS...
Week of Healthy Living ran, rested and recycled
Jewish Family Service of Tidewater celebrated the “3 R’s” of Healthy Living—Running, Resting and Recycling—during the 8th Annual Week of Healthy Living. The week started off with the annual Run, Roll or Stroll at Neptune’s Park on May 6. The cloudy day didn’t hamper...
Health care in the Jewish community
From physicians to nurses to physical therapists to conducting groundbreaking and life altering research to assisting people in need in impoverished nations to raising funds for medical supplies and care, Jews are involved and making contributions each and every day...
YAD’s Hands on Tidewater group volunteers at the JFS Run Roll and Stroll
Hands on Tidewater continued one of its longest running annual traditions of sending a delegation of volunteers for Jewish Family Service’s Run, Roll or Stroll Race at the Virginia Beach Boardwalk on Sunday, May 6. Hands on Tidewater is the community service/ social...
Students collaborate in building Israel Festival’s ‘Western Wall’
Several groups of students worked together to build a replica of the Western Wall in Jerusalem for the Simon Family JCC’s Israel Festival. Students from Toras Chaim, JCC Kids Connection, Strelitz Early Childhood Center and Hebrew Academy of Tidewater constructed...
Marilyn and Marvin Simon Family Legacy Society Tribute Dinner—A great success
On May 2, the Tidewater Jewish Foundation hosted its biennial Simon Family Legacy Society tribute dinner at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community. With more than 70 in attendance, comprised of current members, affiliate leadership...
Perlman performance rouses audience at Virginia Arts Festival concert
Students of the Perlman Music Project, along with their mentor, Itzhak Perlman, received three standing ovations at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. The concert was copresented by the Virginia Arts Festival and the Marilyn and Marvin Simon Family JCC as the...
Students get help from Federation gifts
Students at the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater are fortunate to have some of the most modern, technologicallyforward learning tools in their classrooms. Some of the hi-tech tools come via the use of Interactive White Boards, commonly known as smart boards, which allow...
Dr. Jason K. Wagner: Making time for “doing Jewish”
Jason Wagner, MD, 27, lights up when he talks about his ketubah that he and his wife Shauna signed at their wedding on Nov. 12, 2011. “It was so cool to explore ketuba.com on the internet and design our own document. We chose the graphics and also the wording.” It...
Ohef Sholom Temple and Temple Sinai join together
Two congregations will soon officially be one. On Sunday, June 3, Temple Sinai of Portsmouth and Ohef Sholom Temple of Norfolk will come together as one congregational family. The day will begin with a ceremony at Temple Sinai, where Rabbi Arthur Steinberg will speak...
Jewish Education Night, 2012
Jewish learning—its teachers and administrators of all the community Jewish schools were honored at this year’s Jewish Education Night on May 14 at the Simon Family JCC. Many awards and recognitions were given to deserving teachers and youth. Annabel Sacks, chair of...
Burle Usher Stromberg: Following in his father’s footsteps
“It warms my heart that there are so many exciting events taking place at HAT. Not only are we teaching our students, but we are also educating our parents, grandparents and siblings,” says Burle Stromberg, president of the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater board. When...
Gordon Family Philanthropy continues through naming of new hospice Freda H. Gordon Hospice and Palliative Care of Tidewater
Freda Gordon, of blessed memory, spent her life quietly and humbly nurturing her family and community. Now her legacy of caring and compassion will live on through the Freda H. Gordon Hospice and Palliative Care of Tidewater. “Our family is pleased to make this lead...
Gratitude and remembrance mark Yom Hashoah ceremony at Beth El
Interspersed within the reverent mood that marked much of the Yom Hashoah ceremony on April 19 at Congregation Beth El, were touches of passion, expressions of hope, and displays of dedication to remembering the lessons of the Holocaust. The Holocaust Commission of...
Community enthusiastically participates in Tikkun Tidewater 2012
Held on Earth Sunday, April 22, Tikkun Tidewater 2012 could easily have been called Rain Day and become a complete washout. Instead, the three-hour event supporting the Jewish ideal of repairing and caring for the world for future generations was an overwhelming...
Expanded Maimonides Society off to a healthy start
The Maimonides Society of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater gathered at the home of Jody and Alan Wagner, MD last month to socialize and discuss future plans. Comprised of a variety of Jewish healthcare professionals, Maimonides Society members have been a...
New film promotes positive view of Israel
On Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, community members were treated to a special Israel Independence Day treat, complete with popcorn and candy. The Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater showed a free screening of the...