What’s Happening

The world-renowned PhotoHouse is one of Israel’s most valuable and monumental private archives of historical photographs. Founded in 1936, it has been owned and operated by the same family for three generations. Rudi Weissenstein captured millions of photos of...

Begins Tuesday, September 20, 9 am Sandler Family Campus Twice a month, Baby and Me offers a time for a parent to bring their baby, up to 18 months old, to the Simon Family JCC for an hour of baby games and activities, social time with other parents and guardians, and...

Sunday, October 16, 11 am–3 pm Get ready to plant some bulbs and hope for a bountiful garden this spring in remembrance of the children who perished in the Holocaust. The Jewish Museum and Cultural Center in Portsmouth is hosting its first event in partnership with...

Sunday, October 9, 1–3 pm, MOCA The Simon Family JCC and United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, in collaboration with the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, invites students in sixth through ninth grade to a special Sukkot event at MOCA. The afternoon will begin...

Wednesday, October 26, 7:30 pm Sandler Family Campus   The best way to begin to understand Israel is to first understand the nation’s map. Since declaring independence in 1948, the tiny nation’s borders have often changed. Sometimes, Israel has gained territory;...

Class begins Thursday, October 27, 12 pm What is the history behind the narrative of the Jewish religion’s core story? One way to better understand Judaism’s history—as well as its “story”—is to explore the international framework in which its people emerged. The...

Leon Family Gallery Through early November Reception with the artist: Thursday, October 13, 4 pm   Shony Rivnay is an interdisciplinary Israeli-American artist based in Tel Aviv. His work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the world —Germany, Japan, South...

Friday, October 28, 6:30 pm Forty years ago, Edith Harrison, a long-time Ohef Sholom Temple member and founder of the Virginia Opera, asked a young Charles (Chuck) Woodward who was working for the Opera at the time, if he would “fill in” for OST’s organist who was...

Starts Thursday, October 6, Noon Monthly current affairs discussions with Lahav Harkov, the Jerusalem Post’s senior contributing editor, will take place on the first Thursday of each month, October through March. Grab lunch as Harkov leads an online briefing and...

Tuesday, November 15, 7 pm Wells Theater Wiesenthal: Nazi Hunter…a one-man show written and performed by Tom Dugan, in partnership with the Virginia Stage Company, will be presented as a fundraiser for the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of...

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 7–8 pm Ohef Sholom Temple, Free   Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle is the most monumental operatic experience ever created. Comprised of four epic operas, the Ring Cycle tells the story of Norse gods, heroes, and a magical ring of power. Since its...

Sundays, 9 am–12 pm   Each Sunday that Hebrew and Religious School takes place at Ohef Sholom Temple, families and community members are invited to enjoy some nibbles and nosh. Need to get some work done? Bring your laptop. Looking to make new friends? Come...

Wednesday, April 10, 7:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus On happy occasions we wish each other “Mazel tov!” and when we want something good to happen we hope that we have a little “mazel,” or luck. But good luck doesn’t just drop from the sky. People have more control over...

Saturday, April 6, Bnai Israel Toras Chaim’s Shabbos lunch features an opportunity to see projects and artwork made by students, hear divrei Torah given by students, and view pictures of what is taking place in the local Torah day school. Shabbos Parshas Tazria and...

Sunday, June 2, 2 pm, KBH Kempsville Conservative Synagogue, Kehillat Bet Hamidrash (KBH) just turned 40. The small, but mighty congregation has so much to celebrate. The congregation will officially acknowledge this milestone with an event to be held at the...

First program: Thursday, May 9, 6–9 pm A series for Jewish high school students, Cause An Effect offers students and their parents resources and tools to strategically respond to acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel rhetoric currently seen on campuses. The program is...

Saturday, October 19 Hilton Hotel Oceanfront, Virginia Beach Does “We’re the boys of chapter 370, we’ve got plenty of…” sound familiar? If it does, you’re in for a fabulous treat! For many Jewish males who grew up in Tidewater during the early 1960’s through the early...

Tuesday, April 2, 10:45 am–1:15 pm Congregation Beth El Dine, shop, and celebrate Park Place School community partners who are changing children’s lives. Auction and art items for sale starting at 10:45 am. Lunch begins promptly at 11:30 am and will conclude promptly...

Thursday, April 18, 11:30 am, Simon Family JCC The Simon Family JCC will host a seder open to all seniors. Rabbi Israel Zoberman will lead participants in a service followed by a traditional Passover meal. Tickets are $10. The registration deadline is Thursday, April...

Thursday, March 28, 5:45 pm The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center “I am honored to receive the VCIC Humanitarian award on behalf of the outstanding agencies whose endeavors I have been privileged to support,” says Patricia P. Wainger, one of this year’s honorees of...

March 29–31 Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, the highly respected scholar and bestselling author of 18 books, including A Code of Jewish Ethics, Jewish Literacy, and The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism, co-authored with Dennis Prager, will lead a weekend of learning as...

Purim is a particularly dear holiday to me for many reasons. Not only does the holiday celebrate when my namesake saved our people with wit, intellect, and bravery, it also is a time of good cheer to celebrate and have fun with friends—old and new! The nature of Purim...

Thursday, March 21, 5:30 pm, Wyndham Garden Hotel, across from Scope David Crone, an acclaimed ventrilogquist, will bring his array of charming “dummys”—puppets and other props—to life in a hilarious performance, drawing on classic Jewish and Purim-related themes—for...

Attention, college basketball fans! Nadiv, the young men’s giving circle through UJFT’s Young Adult Division (YAD), will host a community-wide fundraiser during the 2019 NCAA tournament. Here’s how it works: Every year in mid-March, the NCAA unveils a 68-team bracket....

The former editor-in-chief of Parade magazine, Janice Kaplan is the author of 14 popular books, including The New York Times bestseller The Gratitude Diaries, which received international praise. Kaplan will speak to the Tidewater community about her latest book, How...

Author Marilyn Simon Rothstein will discuss her latest novel, Husbands and Other Sharp Objects at a luncheon as the Simon Family JCC Book Club celebrates its 100th read. Marilyn Simon Rothstein is the author of Life and Separate, winner of the Star Award, presented by...

Friday, February 22–Saturday, February 23 Congregation B’nai Israel of Norfolk and Keneseth Beth Israel of Richmond are joining forces for a weekend of unity and inspiration in Norfolk. The weekend will kick off with a “Carlebach” style Kabbalat Shabbat. After...

March 2019 Leon Family Gallery at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus A young child just learns that her father has died from an accident at work. Who can she talk to about her feelings? How can she cope with this tragic loss? How will her family cope and begin to...

Sunday, February 24, 9:30 am–12:45 pm Sandler Family Campus, $10 An initiative of the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, Konikoff Center of Learning, Tidewater Learning Connection brings nationally recognized authors, speakers, and expert educators to engage the community...

Thursday, March 28, 2019, 5:45 pm The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center The Humanitarian Award of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities is presented to those individuals who have demonstrated a personal commitment to the promotion of respect and understanding...