Thursdays, October 27–November 17; 12–1:30 pm $60 for all four sessions; Simon Family JCC Where did the Jewish people come from? For many centuries, the answer to that question could come only from the sacred books of our tradition. But over the past 225 years, we...
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What’s happening in Israel Today— stay current with Lahav Harkov
Six monthly briefings Thursdays, starting October 6, 12 pm Upcoming Knesset elections, normalization with Turkey, and much more is currently taking place in the Israeli news cycle. Keeping up-to-date on current events in the U.S. is challenging, let alone remaining...
Beth El plans trip to Charlottesville
Sunday, October 23, 8 am–6 pm Congregation Beth El is planning a fun-filled mission to Charlottesville. The trip will include a Jewish-themed tour of Monticello with highlights of the Uriah Levy Jewish connection; a visit and meal at Congregation Beth Israel; and a...
Strelitz Golf Tournament
Monday, September 19, Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club, Virginia Beach The 34th Annual Strelitz International Golf Tournament, affectionately known as the Bob Josephberg Classic, is slated to take place next month. For the past 34 years, Strelitz International Academy’s...
Brith Sholom’s Club 50 returns
Sunday, August 28, 11am, Norfolk Masonic Temple Club 50 is back with an extra deluxe brunch planned. Members married 50 or more years are free. All others are $10 each. Include how many years you have been married with your reservation. RSVP to...
Fretomology to perform for Sababa Social Club’s summer gathering
Thursday, August 25, 5:30 pm Sandler Family Campus Sababa Social Club returns for a summer social for adults only featuring fun, friends, and the band, Fretomology. The event will take place at the Marty Einhorn Pavilion. A local band, Fretomology includes...
End of Summer Family Shabbat and Pool Party
Friday, August 19, 5 pm, Simon Family JCC Join PJ Library and PJ Our Way in Tidewater and the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Young Adult Division for this end-of-summer celebration at the Simon Family JCC’s outdoor water park. In addition to extending a warm...
Hampton Arts announces celebratory 35th anniversary season
The curtain rises on a dynamic season as Hampton Arts celebrates 35 years of presenting performing and visual arts. Bold and exciting programming brings the very best to venues both historic and new, including The American Theatre, The Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts...
Educators’ conference: Words still matter
Thursday, August 4 8:30 am–3:30 pm Great Neck Middle School (tentative) Online option available The 15th Biennial Educators’ Conference will take place next month. Presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission, along with Echoes &...
Wonderful Wednesdays at The Jewish Museum and Cultural Center
Wednesday, July 6, 13, 20 and August 24, 7 pm The Jewish Museum and Cultural Center sponsors The Zelma G. Rivin Wonderful Wednesdays Summer Music Series each summer with a diverse lineup. This year is no exception. All concerts are held at The Jewish Museum, also...
Jewish geography: Who Knows One?
Thursday, June 30, 7:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus Who Knows One?, a live show combining Jewish geography and six degrees of separation that began online at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place live in Tidewater. Founded and hosted by Micah Hart, the...

Opening the doors of conversation: a reflection of rising tides and tensions in Tidewater
Exhibit: June 8–July 31, Leon Gallery at the Sandler Family Campus As sea levels rise, so do tensions within the community. That is the idea that local artist Renée Calway is portraying in her exhibit, Rising Tides, Rising Tensions. The exhibit, which is inspired by...
Fiddler on the Roof
Tony Award®-nominated Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof Tuesday, November 19–Sunday, November 24 Chrysler Hall A beloved theatrical classic from Tony Award-winner Joseph Stein, and Pulitzer Prize-winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, Fiddler on the Roof is the...
2019 Latkepalooza
Latkes, books, music, crafts and camps Sunday, December 15 | 11:30 am–2:30 pm Sandler Family Campus Three children’s authors, a light lunch and latkes, crafts, visiting overnight camp representatives, and tons of activities combine to create a celebration of Hanukkah...
Shabbat Project 2019
Friday, November 15, 6–9 pm B’nai Israel Congregation For the past five years, the Tidewater community has joined this global Shabbat Project movement. Last year, 200 people came together for a beautiful and inspiring Friday night dinner in Ghent. The Tidewater...
Strelitz International Academy Open House
Friday, November 15, 8:30–9:30 am Strelitz International Academy Kindergarten–5th Grade Hear about the school’s new International Baccalaureate® candidacy program, meet middle school alumni, learn about its K-5 affordability program, and explore the primary years...
The Annual Great Big Challah Bake
Wednesday, November 13, 7 pm B’nai Israel Congregation Women of all ages are invited to Tidewater’s fifth annual Great Big Challah Bake, a partnership between B’nai Israel Congregation and the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. The event will be just one of...
Mah Jongg event benefits Beth Sholom
Sunday, November 3, 11 am - 3:30 pm, Beth Sholom Village The 11th Annual Janet Gordon Mah Jongg Day of Play & Luncheon is right around the corner – and it’s an event not to miss – one that really puts the "fun" in fundraiser. More than 125 Mah Jongg players of all...
Super Sunday 20/20—The Vision is Clear
Sunday, November 17, 9:30 am–1 pm Sandler Family Campus Super Sunday, as always, is being planned by a group of up and coming visionary leaders. Now called Rishon: Emerging Leaders, the group has spent the last few months learning about the Jewish community and...
‘The Aussie Gourmet’ prepares for Jewish Norfolk
Naomi Nachman hosts the Vaad of Tidewater’s Chopped Competition Sunday, November 3, 5 pm, Sheraton Waterside On the precipice of Naomi Nachman’s visit to Norfolk, I had the opportunity to speak with her about her extensive travels, love of food, and what to expect at...
Author shares stories of challenges and chutzpah!
Wednesday, November 6, 7:30 pm Sandler Family Campus I first heard Inbal Arieli speak in January during the International Lion of Judah conference in Florida. She was one of an interesting group of panelists who shared their stories—all ground-breaking women in...
Temple Israel’s Second Saturdays engage and entertain
Temple Israel’s unique hour-long Second Saturday programs are excellent and uplifting experiences For nearly seven years, synagogue past president and former local TV interviewer Joel Rubin has led a once a month interactive conversation on a Jewish related topic....
Shabbat Project 2019
Friday, November 15—Saturday, November 16 A global, grassroots movement that brings Jews from across the world together around the shared heritage of Shabbat, The Shabbat Project was introduced in South Africa in 2013 to astonishing effect. In the days that followed,...
A few words from Rishon: Emerging leaders, who are planning this year’s Super Sunday
Sunday, November 17, 9:30 am, Sandler Family Campus Ask anyone on this year’s Super Sunday planning committee why they became active in Jewish life in Tidewater and one word will be heard over and over: community. And that’s why they are all dedicated to strengthening...
Jewish Book Festival 2019-2020
Stirring up Good Trouble. The Science of Snacking. Israeli Innovation. Groundbreaking Genetics and Profit Meets Purpose. The annual celebration of Jewish writers, books, and ideas, Simon Family JCC’s Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival provides...
Avid readers and book clubs— Two special events with authors
Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival The Cast—Amy Blumenfeld Monday, November 18, 7:30 pm Simon Family JCC, free The Face Tells the Secret—Jane Bernstein Monday, December 16, 12 pm Beth Sholom Village, $12 includes lunch Two outstanding novels have been...
Ohef Sholom Temple 175th Anniversary Gala
Saturday, November 16, 6:30 pm The 19th oldest Reform congregation in the nation, Ohef Sholom Temple is celebrating its 175th Anniversary in style with a Gala at the temple. The evening includes cocktails, dinner, wine, open bar all night long, dancing, a piano bar,...
Fiery chopped competition to feature ‘The Aussie Gourmet’
Vaad of Tidewater Sunday, November 3, 5 pm Sheraton Waterside Naomi Nachman, author and social media influencer, will host four local teams of professional and home cooks in an all-out battle of kitchen supremacy for the title of Tidewater Chopped Champions at Vaad of...
Lessons from the Civil Rights Playbook: An evening with Christopher Noxon
Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival Monday, November 4, 6 pm Sandler Family Campus, free The human vocabulary cannot articulate what Christopher Noxon illustrates on the subject of history and hope in Good Trouble Lessons from the Civil Rights Playbook....
I want to pray, but what do I say?
Lunch & Learn with Amy Lefcoe Wednesday, September 25, 12 pm Simon Family JCC, free In a world with increasingly more questions than answers, more and more people are seeking the serenity that comes from a relationship with G-d. Explore this unique opportunity to...
Tidewater Chavurah and Congregation Beth Chaverim meet for holidays
Joint High Holidays services will be held this year with Tidewater Chavurah and Congregation Beth Chaverim. Both congregations, without their own buildings, will worship and enjoy the holidays together. Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill and Jim Hibbard will officiate. The Beth...
A Century of Activity in Romania: an American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee exhibit
Leon Family Gallery Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus Through October The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee was established on November 27, 1914 following the merger of two American Jewish relief committees, the Central Relief Committee for the Relief of...