What’s Happening

One of the longest running Jewish film festivals in the nation, the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film is presented by Patricia and Avraham Ashkenazi and Alma and Howard Laderberg. Strange Fruit In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, January 20, 6 pm Susan S....

Friday, January 31, 6 pm, B’nai Israel An elegant Shabbos dinner in support of BINA High School will take place on Friday, January 31. The fundraiser for the girls’ high school still has sponsorship opportunities available.For reservations, sponsorships, or more...

Next session: Wednesday, February 12, 3 pm Elihu Flax first studied to be a rabbi before becoming a Conservative-trained cantor. For the past 16 years, he has served in both roles as director of Religious Services at Beth Sholom Village. Now, four times a year,...

Saturday, March 7 Doors open: 6:45 pm; Auction begins: 7:45 pm Save the date! Kempsville Conservative Synagogue’s popular 19th Annual Gala Art Auction is slated for March. Featuring art in all media and price ranges, the event will be presented by Arrin Ross Auctions,...

Winter Camp: Monday, December 23–Tuesday, December 31 6:30 am–6 pm (closed Dec. 25) Kids Connection is a Before and After-School Care Program for elementary aged children that attend Strelitz and Virginia Beach Public Schools.* The enrichment program includes weekly...

Adam’s Animals by Rabbi Barry Schwartz Sunday, Nov. 12, 10:30 am, Congregation Beth El Adam’s Animals features Adam, who has a big job. God has asked him to name all the animals from A to Z. Some animals are happy with their names, others less so. A beautifully...

Sunday, Nov. 12, 1–5 pm Simon Family JCC The Simon Family JCC’s Jewish Life and Learning Department is offering an opportunity to join in a global movement with a taste of Limmud, bringing together local Jews of all persuasions to create and celebrate Jewish learning...

Ali Katz, author, Hot Mess to Mindful Mom Presented as part of the Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival, in partnership with Jewish Family Service Wednesday, Nov. 15, 11 am, Simon Family JCC There have been a few times in my life that I experienced what...

Award-winning author wraps up book festival Sunday, Nov. 19, 10:30 am, Ohef Sholom Temple Catching up with author Neville Frankel is like chatting with a favorite professor. He’s knowledgeable and kind and excited to share both his research tactics and his excitement...

The Simon Family Passport to Israel Fund, providing grants for trips for teens to Israel, is now accepting applications. The program’s purpose is to provide funds to enable and encourage Jewish students (ages 13–18*) to participate in an Israel trip experience. The...

Monday Oct. 30, 7:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus While being a Pro Football Hall of Famer comes with many perks, Bruce Smith had a different kind of opportunity when he traveled to Israel with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft in June. Born and raised in Norfolk,...

Sandler Family Campus What’s up now and next Erez Kaganovitz: Humans of Tel Aviv October As the human behind the Humans of Tel Aviv, photographer Erez Kaganovitz showcases the bright and inclusive culture of Israel. Kaganovitz wants his photographs to show a different...

Tuesday, November 14, 7:30 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus Dr. Rachel Fish, Ivy League educator, documentarian, and activist, will discuss her latest book, which she co-edited with Ilan Troen, Essential Israel: Essays for the 21st Century, next month in...

Sunday, Nov. 19, 10:30 am, Ohef Sholom Temple Neville Frankel, author, On the Sickle’s Edge I’ve been speaking to many diverse groups lately about the writing of my recent novel, On the Sickle’s Edge. As I refined my talk, a most wonderful speech coach—let’s call her...

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 11 am, Simon Family JCC Ali Katz is a mindfulness guru. Her mission is to inspire people across the globe to leave stress and guilt behind and to embrace a life full of balance, presence, and joy. Katz began her journey when she realized that as a...

Thursday, Oct. 26, 7 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus In 2013, on the Thursday evening before the first Shabbos Project in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2,500 women gathered to share in the joy and tradition of making challah. The Shabbos Project’s goal is to unite...

Thursday, Nov. 9, 6:30 pm, Beth El “Evil does not need your help, only your indifference.” These are the words of Holocaust survivor Hanns Loewenbach, z’l—and he would know—as he was in his hometown of Berlin the night of Nov. 9, 1938 and witnessed the flames,...

Thursday, October 26, 7 pm, Sandler Family Campus The 3rd Annual Great Big Challah Bake is slated to take place as a lead-up to the globally scheduled Shabbat Project, observed from sundown Friday, October 27 until sundown Saturday, October 28. This year’s Challah...

Monday, October 30, 7:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus, free Bruce Smith is no stranger to the spotlight. The defensive end holds the NFL career record for quarterback sacks, with 200. Smith was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009, and the College Football...

Erez Kaganovitz: Humans of Tel Aviv October The photojournalist behind Humans of Tel Aviv, Erez Kaganovitz has photographed thousands of Tel Aviv citizens, capturing their stories to share with the world. As Kaganovitz told Haaretz, “I’m not trying to bend reality; I...

Tuesday, October 10, 5:30 pm Simon Family JCC Erez Kaganovitz, photojournalist and creator of Humans of Tel Aviv, has an educational and fun event planned for families when he visits Tidewater as part of the Simon Family JCC, CRC, community partners’ Israel Today...

Mark Goldfeder, senior lecturer at Emory Law School and senior fellow at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory Tuesday, October 17, 7:30 pm Sandler Family Campus “So long as institutions like the United Nations continue to issue one-sided statements...

Tuesday, November 14, 7:30 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus What is the Arab/ Israeli conflict and why hasn’t it been resolved? What explains the failure of American diplomatic efforts to bring about peace in the Middle East? Can Israel be both a Jewish and a...

Sunday, November 12, 1–5 pm, Simon Family JCC Bringing people together of all backgrounds, religious affiliations, and ages to nurture, mentor, and celebrate Jewish life and learning for an afternoon is Tidewater Yom Limmud’s goal. In addition to offering interactive...