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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.
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.
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!”
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.
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.
“Maybe one day when I get older, I will move to Israel and join the IDF.” We’ve all thought about it. Whether it was daydreaming for a split second or two in class at Hebrew Academy (like me), at Sunday school, or even while sitting around the family dinner table. Even with the best intentions, reality eventually gets in the way, and very few actually make it to Israel. Izzy Ezagui, however, was one of those brave foreigners who knew his place was in the Israeli army.
Three area conservative congregations had their annual Men’s Club Blue Yarmulke breakfast at Temple Israel on Sunday, April 15.
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev research BEER-SHEVA, Israel, February 14— Medical cannabis therapy can significantly reduce chronic pain in patients age 65 and older without adverse effects, according to researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and...
5776: The year in review and more.
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...
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...
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...
So, let’s say you’re a Jewish community leader… And let’s say you have a vision for the future of the Jewish community—not just the community of Tidewater, but the global Jewish community…. And let’s say that vision requires future leadership to bring it to fruition....
Beth Sholom Village held its annual meeting on Thursday, June 14. Following cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, the meeting was held in the Religious—Cultural Center. Rabbi Michael Panitz delivered the invocation and Neil Friedman, president, presented his remarks. David...
At Jewish Family Service of Tidewater’s Annual Meeting on June 12, Elena Barr Baum, outgoing president, handed over the reins to Dr. Marcia Samuels, who will serve as president for the 2012–2014 term. Renee Strelitz, past president, installed Samuels and the other...
On our way to take our daughter to camp, my family stopped in Philadelphia to visit relatives. As a bonus, we went to the Franklin Institute to see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. In 1947, a young Bedouin boy came across a hidden cave along the shore of the Dead Sea....
At the June 6, 2012 meeting, Ron Kramer was elected chairperson of the board of directors of Tidewater Jewish Foundation. Kramer is a life-long resident of Tidewater and a member of a multi-generational philanthropic family. Following in the footsteps of his parents...
Tidewater Jewish Foundation recently announced Avi Malkin as the 2012 recipient of the Stein Family College Scholarship. A native of Newport News, Malkin is a Menchville High School graduate, ranking 10th in a class of 390. After tossing around school ideas, he...
“The Melton Mini School was a wonderful educational experience for me,” says Kevin Tabakin, a 2006 graduate of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School. Sponsored by the Jewish Life and Learning Department of the Simon Family JCC, a new first year class of the Florence...
Armond Caplan arrives each morning at the BB&T building in downtown Norfolk from his home at the Beth Sholom Terrace ready to put in a good day’s work. He mentions with a smile that someday he might decide to retire, but not just yet! Approaching his 100th...
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...
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)...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...