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Halva and Heritage: Secrets of Sesame

Halva and Heritage: Secrets of Sesame

Thursday, Nov. 20, 7:30 pm Sandler Family  Who doesn’t love a good story and a good nosh? United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival will serve up both when Rachel Simons takes the stage at the Simon Family JCC for...

And they’re off! BeAR leapsinto the 2025–2026 school year

And they’re off! BeAR leapsinto the 2025–2026 school year

Schools across Norfolk and Virginia Beach are roaring to life as the Be A Reader Literacy Project kicks off another year with mentors meeting their new second-grade students – young readers who can use an extra boost of confidence and encouragement to help them...

Camp JCC fun does not need to wait until summer

Camp JCC fun does not need to wait until summer

Kids Night Out: Saturday, Nov. 22 5 – 9 pm , Sandler Family Campus Even though the calendar says November, the time to get excited about Camp JCC is now. The Simon Family JCC will host its first ever Camp JCC themed Kids Night Out this month, and summer camp...

Jewish Artists of the Past

Jewish Artists of the Past

Legacy 2025 L’ Dor V’Dor – From Generation to Generation Opening: December 6, 6:30 pm Sandler Family Campus Talk: Sunday, November 16, 4 pm Jewish Museum and Cultural Center Legacy 2025: Hampton Roads Jewish Artists of the Past arrives at the Simon Family Jewish...

Camp JCC School Days Out: Camp fun all year round

Camp JCC School Days Out: Camp fun all year round

Camp JCC is not just an excellent summer camp, it is a place where children, teens, and young adults connect, build community, learn, play, and grow with each other throughout the year. The skills, friendships, memories, and joy of Camp JCC are not limited to two...

Beth El celebrates 175 years

Beth El celebrates 175 years

Saturday, November 8, 7 pm Congregation Beth El will celebrate 175 years of Jewish life in Tidewater with an evening featuring music, food, drinks, and highlights of the past 175 years – as well as insights into the future.   This evening is for celebrating...

Luncheon honoring Hebrew Ladies Society 

Luncheon honoring Hebrew Ladies Society 

Sunday, January 11 Ohef Sholom Temple Jewish Family Service will host a special luncheon to celebrate the remarkable legacy of the Hebrew Ladies Society of Tidewater. Established in 1902, this pioneering group of women laid the foundation for what would later become...

Thanksgiving Drive

Thanksgiving Drive

Friday, November 21 10 am – 12 pmSandler Family Campus Jewish Family Service will host its annual Thanksgiving Drive the Friday prior to the holiday, offering people in need to pick up a free Thanksgiving meal through its drive-up pantry.   To volunteer to help...

Knots for Kindness

Knots for Kindness

Tuesdays, 10 am -12 pm Sandler Family Campus Every other Thursday 10 – 12 pm, Aviva A combined knitting and crocheting group, Knots for Kindness is open to beginners and experienced makers alike. All are welcome. All projects — scarves, lap blankets, and full-sized...

Ice cream social planned to celebrate Golda Meir Day

Monday, March 17, 5 pm, Simon Family JCC Golda Meir is remembered for many accomplishments – from playing a pivotal role in the founding of the State of Israel to becoming its first, and only, female Prime Minister.In Israel, her legacy now extends to a popular ice...

Kids Night Out: Supreme Pool Party

Saturday, April 26, 5 – 9 pm Sandler Family Campus The last Kids Night Out of the school year will be a special Supreme Pool Party Edition.With lots of beach balls, noodles, and dive toys, this Kids Night Out is sure to end the year with a splash! Kids will hang out...

Tidewater’s Great Jewish Bookshelf welcomes new subscribers

Off to an exciting start, the Great Jewish Bookshelf is engaging readers throughout Tidewater with powerful stories and new ideas. Even though the year is already underway, there’s still time to register for the subscription program. Late registrants can also select...

Applications now open for JELF

Students who seek loans for higher education may now apply to JELF – Jewish Education Loan Fund. The deadline is April 30, 2025.JELF offers 0% interest loans for full-time students from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia (excluding metro...

Celebrate Tu B’Shevat in Tidewater

The Jewish New Year of the Trees, Tu B’Shevat starts on Wednesday, Feb. 12. In the 17th century, Kabbalists created a ritual for the holiday that is similar to a Passover seder. Several options to participate in a modern version of the Tu B’Shevat seder are listed...

The New Christian Zionism: A panel discussion

“You can count on me. I’ll be there.” It was a simple text message, but one that meant a great deal to me.In the last year, I have watched a relationship blossom between ODU Hillel and the Institute for Jewish Life and Interfaith Understanding and Regent University’s...

A History of Hatred:New course explores threat of antisemitism

Six-week course begins Tuesday March 18, 6:45 pm, online In moments of collective astonishment about the state of the world, there’s an underlying awareness that much of what is taking place is not new. Antisemitism has resurfaced with alarming intensity, taking on...

Course empowers learners to advocate for justice

Class begins Tuesday, March 18, online Sometimes called “the longest hatred,” antisemitism has persisted in many forms for more than 2,000 years. It has evolved, taking various forms and adapting to the era’s prevailing social, political, and religious ideologies....

When a seemingly odd couple becomes friends and Torah study buddies

Monday, March 10, 7:30 pm • Sandler Family Campus What happens when an Orthodox rabbi and a Reform Jewish journalist team up to study and debate the Torah? Find out when Rabbi Dov Linzer and Abigail Pogrebin bring their unique perspectives to the Simon Family JCC for...

CommUNITY Play-In and Sing-along

Sunday, February 2, 4:30 pm, Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall, Norfolk State University The Virginia Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with the City of Norfolk, will host its annual CommUNITY Play-In and Sing-Along concert.Members of the community who play any...

Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day: An important date with the state

Wednesday, January 29, 7 am – 4 pm, Sandler Family Campus to Richmond Date with the State, also known as Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day, provides an opportunity for the statewide Jewish community to raise awareness around topics of importance such as countering...

Round Table Conversation: What’s in a name?

Thursday, February 6, 1 pm Sandler Family Campus Formerly known as Coffee and Conversation, Round Table Conversation is a lively discussion group that provides a welcoming space to discuss politics, history, and worldly events, with each participant offering a unique...

Virginia Council BBYO Reunion: Teens of the 1970’s and 1980’s

Saturday, April 26 • Weinstein JCC, Richmond The first Virginia Council BBYO reunion for teens from the 1970s was held in 2010. Now, 15 years later, and during the 100th anniversary year of the founding of BBYO, another reunion is planned to take place in April.“If...

Ohef Sholom Temple’s Taste of the Town to celebrate Cantor Jen

Saturday, January 25, 5:30 – 8 pm Ohef Sholom Temple A food and wine experience in honor of “40 and Fabulous” Cantor Jen Rueben is slated to take place at Ohef Sholom Temple. Savor delicious bites from local restaurants, sip fine wines and craft beers, and toast to...

Catholic Church of St. Stephen creates holiday cheer for thousands

For the eighth consecutive year, clients at Jewish Family Service of Tidewater have been adopted by members of the Catholic Church of St. Stephen in Chesapeake. Carol Ehrbar, who coordinates this project for St. Stephen each year, helped collect more than 3,000 gifts...

‘Knitting for Others’ helps other keep warm

Tuesdays 10 am – 12 pm Sandler Family Campus A mighty group of knitters meets every week to create beautiful blankets, scarfs, and hats to donate to Jewish Family Service to be distributed to those who need an extra bit of warmth. The group welcomes knitters of all...