Sunday, December 11 1–4 pm Simon Family JCC PJ Library in Tidewater will present Sunday Fun Day Festival of Lights, a special Hanukkah extravaganza, one week before the start of the holiday. The afternoon will include a Hanukkah Glow in the Dark party and obstacle...
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Lynda Cohen Loigman: The Matchmaker’s Gift
Tuesday, December 6, 12 pm Watch from Home—Virtual Is finding true love a calling or a curse? In Lynda Cohen Loigman’s The Matchmaker’s Gift, Sara Glikman knows her gift as a child in 1910: she is a seeker of soulmates and a maker of matches. But among the...
Jai Chakrabarti: A Play for the End of the World
Tuesday, January 17, 12 pm Watch from Home—Virtual In Jai Chakrabarti’s A Play for the End of the World, Jaryk Smith, a survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto, and Lucy Gardner, a southerner, newly arrived in New York City in 1972, are in the first bloom of love when they...
New Year, New You: Voices to help you achieve your New Year’s resolution
In partnership with Simon Family JCC’s JFit Wednesday, January 25, 12 pm Sandler Family Campus The Whole Body Reset: Your Weight-Loss Plan for a Flat Belly, Optimum Health and a Body You’ll Love—at Midlife and Beyond Stephen Perrine and Heidi Skolnik $12 (lunch...
Workshop: Through the journey of your name
Monday, December 12, 12 pm, Simon Family JCC Inspired by the book, Malkah’s Notebook: A Journey into the Mystical Aleph Bet, this hands-on workshop will take participants on a mystical journey through the letters of their name when spelled in Hebrew. The workshop is...
Camp JCC Registration opens
Registration for Camp JCC Summer 2023 is now open for all sessions and age groups. The summer Camp JCC program, for children from rising pre-K through eighth graders, takes place June 20 to August 11, with a “last blast” program that follows. Special early bird...

Linda Cohen Loigman’s novel tells intergenerational story of matchmaking
Tuesday, December 6, 12 pm Watch from Home–Register for the link to join The Matchmaker’s Gift: A Novel Linda Cohen Loigman St. Martin’s Press 320 pages, 2022 Do you believe in love at first sight? Do you believe in soulmates? The Matchmaker’s Gift is a...
Jewish Book Festival guest highlights Jewish impact on Italian food
Monday, December 5, 7:30 pm Watch from Home—Register for the link to join Cooking alla Giudia: A Celebration of the Jewish Food of Italy Benedetta Jasmine Guetta Artisan Books 352 pages, 2022 Italian food. Just those two words bring to mind so many wonderful...
Award-wining author Jessica Nordell to speak on overcoming unconscious bias
Thursday, December 8, 7:30 pm Sandler Family Campus, Free Bias in society is something everyone knows of and has encountered, but what about the unconscious bias within each person that informs everyday actions? Have you ever taken the time to examine the preconceived...
Torah study gets prophetic
Tuesday, November 29, 7 pm A Torah study class led by Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill, rabbi of Tidewater Chavurah, is finishing up Second Kings in November and plans to begin the prophets for whom books are named, starting with Isaiah. The Torah study is virtual on Zoom and...
Ms. magazine co-founder and author of Shanda to speak at Jewish Book Festival
Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival Thursday, November 17, 7:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus, free “What a shanda!” I remember the first time I heard that phrase—it came from Sally, one of the Sisterhood ladies who invited me to join their dinner table...
The aleph-bet, a mystical journey that even adults will love
Presentation: Tuesday, November 29, 12 pm, online Workshop: Monday, December 12, 12 pm, Sandler Family Campus Art on view through December: Leon Family Gallery Part bedtime story, part poem, and filled with highly evocative illustrations, Malkah’s Notebook: A Journey...
Lorraine Fink’s artwork to return to the Simon Family JCC in a retrospective exhibition
Originally published in the July 19, 2021 issue. August–September Robyn Sidersky Then, Now, & Looking Forward: Lorraine Fink Retrospective, featuring artwork created by Lorraine Fink over the last several decades, will be on display in the Leon Family Gallery at...
Summer Music Series begins at JMCC
Originally published in the June 28, 2021 issue. Wednesdays, July 7, July 14, July 28, August 14, August 18, 7:30 pm The Jewish Museum and Cultural Center presents The Zelma G. Rivin Wonderful Wednesdays Summer Music Series each year. The 2021 season features five...
The apple falls just far enough from the tree in Lisa Novick Goldberg’s book about her family’s ties to the Mafia
Originally published in the May 31, 2021 issue. Monday, June 14,12 pm, Zoom Free with pre-registration required at JewishVA.org/BookFest Robyn Sidersky When Lisa Novick Goldberg was a child, she was often around Mafia figures—Venero Frank “Benny Eggs” Mangano was her...
AJC’s Global Forum goes virtual
Originally published in the May 31, 2021 issue. June 6–9 Rabbi Batya Glazer The American Jewish Committee’s annual Global Forum will be virtual this year, making it possible to participate from home. This conference delves into the substantive topics and concern of...
Timeless Jewish classic, Keeping Up with the Steins is finale for this year’s film festival
Originally published in the May 31, 2021 issue. Thursday, June 24, 8 pm, Sandler Family Campus, socially distant family-friendly cookout, 6:30 pm Tickets: $12 per person, children ages 12 and under are free Reservations by June 17 Robyn Sidersky The Bar and Bat...
“There is much left unsaid” Mimi Lemay says about book following her viral essay to her transgender son
Originally published in the May 10, 2021 issue. Wednesday, May 12, noon, via Zoom, free Robyn Sidersky After Mimi Lemay wrote a letter to her son, Jacob, she realized she had more to say. The letter, turned into an essay that went viral, led her to write a book, What...
Hallie Ephron to discuss her latest novel, a combo of Marie Kondo and murder
Originally published in the May 10, 2021 issue. Thursday, May 13, 7:30 pm, Zoom, free Robyn Sidersky Hallie Ephron didn’t start writing until she was 40, and published her first book 10 years later. Unlike the rest of her immediate family, she didn’t initially want...
Family Havdalah and magic with Ohef Sholom Temple
Originally published in the May 10, 2021 issue. Saturday, May 15, 6 - 7:30 pm, Ohef Sholom Temple parking lot Cantor Jen will lead Havdalah at Ohef Sholom Temple’s first in-person, outdoor event of 2021. Bring chairs or blankets and a picnic style dinner to enjoy...
No more #QuietingtheSilence
Originally published in the May 10, 2021 issue. Blue Dove Foundation to speak about new book for Mental Health Awareness month Thursday, May 20, 7:30 pm, via Zoom Free, pre-registration required at JewishVA.org/BookFest Robyn Sidersky Jennifer Greenberg’s husband,...
What’s the secret to thriving after turning 90? Carl Reiner asks a few friends.
Originally published in the April 26, 2021 issue. If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast, Tuesday, May 4–Thursday, May 6, virtual, $12 per household Conversation with Director Danny Gold, Thursday, May 6, 12 pm, Zoom Robyn Sidersky Director Danny Gold shares details...
Famed Israeli chef Yotam Ottolenghi takes viewers on a trip to Versailles through his new film
Originally published in the April 26, 2021 issue. Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles Virtual screening: April 26–28, $12 per household Conversation: Wednesday, April 28, 8 pm Robin Sidersky The intersection of food and art will be celebrated as part of United...
Tidewater to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut: Israel’s 73rd Independence Day
Originally published in the April 12, 2021 issue. Sunday, April 18, Sandler Family Campus Drive-Through celebration, 12–2:30 pm, free, limited tickets JewishVa.org/IsraelFest Drive-In Movie, 8 pm, $12 per person, limited tickets JewishVa.org/FilmFest Yom Ha’atzmaut,...
Lorraine Fink: We’re all in this together Virtual Art Auction and Sale
Originally published in the April 12, 2021 issue. Monday, April 12–Thursday, April 22 https://www.jewishva.org/Lfinkart On view through May 10 in the Leon Family Gallery, Sandler Family Campus Terri Denison Art is meant to be viewed and shared, according to Lorraine...
Tidewater Jewish Foundation Legacy Donors to be honored at virtual event
Originally published in the April 12, 2021 issue. Tuesday, May 25, 7:30 pm, free Jewish Tidewater’s 339 legacy donors are among the 18,000 who will be honored at the first Legacy Donor Appreciation Event sponsored by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s (HGF) LIFE &...
Aulcie Perry’s Norfolk connection
Originally published in the April 12, 2021 issue. Aulcie at the Drive-In: Sunday, April 18, 8 pm Sandler Family Campus, $12 per person Robyn Sidersky Do you remember the Virginia Squires, Norfolk’s very own basketball team? The American Basketball Association team...
NYC Cantor Azi Schwartz looks forward to sharing his love of Jewish liturgical music with Norfolk area audience
Originally published in the April 12, 2021 issue. Sunday, April 25, 7:30 pm, $36 Joel Rubin He is the 40-year-old grandson of four Holocaust survivors from Hungary and Czechoslovakia who all emigrated to Israel where they met after the War. One grandfather was a...
Kehillat Bet Hamidrash/Kempsville Conservative Synagogue to host Art Auction
Originally published in the April 12, 2021 issue. Sunday, May 2, 7 pm Tired of looking at the same walls during this time at home? See an empty spot just calling out for a new piece of art? KBH has the solution! Kehillat Bet Hamidrash (KBH)—the Kempsville...
A year of Jewish learning
Originally published in the March 22, 2021 issue. Sierra Lautman A year ago this month, the world entered the pandemic. Amazingly, Jewish organizations of all sizes, including United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, have seen increases in the numbers of engaged...
Park Avenue Synagogue Cantor Azi Schwartz in concert for Temple Israel
Originally published in the March 22, 2021 issue. Sunday, April 25, 7:30 pm, Zoom, $36 Not many clergy are considered YouTube sensations, but Azi Schwartz, senior cantor of Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City, has become just that, thanks to his creative and moving...
Tidewater Chavurah: Who is ready for weekly Torah study?
Originally published in the March 22, 2021 issue. Tuesdays, 7 pm, Zoom Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill of Tidewater Chavurah, now leads a weekly Torah study on Tuesday evenings. Discussion focuses on the parshat ha-shavua, the Torah portion that will be read on the following...