What’s Happening

Sunday, December 8, 10 am, Temple Emanuel, Free The Storyteller’s Story—Michelle Obama’s trailblazing speechwriter forges new path, again Sarah Hurwitz was Michelle Obama’s speechwriter. Now she’s dubbed Judaism’s speechwriter. If grace and gravitas were a big box...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Friday, August 18, 5 pm The annual End of Summer Shabbat dinner and pool party has expanded this year to include more games, more food, and more fun. Young at heart participants will enjoy a surf n’ slide, a water balloon challenge, and a tzedakah dive. For adults,...

2017–2018 Israel Today series begins with David Hazony, managing director of The Israel Project Tuesday, September 12, 7:30 pm Sandler Family Campus After returning from an eight-month stint teaching English in Myanmar, I had to figure out my next move. I thought a...

August, Leon Family Art Gallery A Vintage Jewish fashion photography exhibit from the collection of Beit Hatfutsot, The Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, and the Bernard H. and Miriam Oster Visual Documentation Center, will be on display in the Leon Family Art...

Sunday, Sept. 10 and Sunday, Sept. 17 Sandler Family Campus A two-part program on intermarriage between Jews and non-Jews, Making Jewish Choices, presented by Tidewater Chavurah, will take place at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus. The first session will present...

Thursday, August 3, 6:30 pm Hilarity is coming to the Simon Family JCC when comedian, writer, and actor Elon Gold performs at Laughter on the Lawn. Gold, born in the Bronx and currently living and working in Los Angeles, is “a favoured son in the proud tradition of...

Friday, July 21, 5:15–6:15 pm Ohef Sholom Temple Experience inner peace, soul nourishment, and personal transformation through the vibration resonance of chanting texts and quartz and gemstone singing bowls. A brief teaching, chant practice, sound healing, and time...

Sunday, July 9, 10 am Just as Hans Christian Andersen’s Rumpelstiltzken spun straw into gold for the miller’s daughter, every year Congregation Beth El spins its members’ gently used clothing, jewelry, and other items into funds to support the synagogue’s operations....

Shira Low Itzhak, a United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Women’s Cabinet member, will undertake a grueling bike ride on July 19. Along with 250 other women, she will ride 75 miles from New Jersey through the Catskill Mountains of New York. The World’s Greatest Finish...

Friday, June 9, 7 pm The Tidewater Chavurah will hold its second Friday of the month Shabbat service at the home of Hal and Elaine in the Great Neck Meadows area of Virginia Beach. Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill will lead the service, with prayers and joyful songs. An Oneg...

Opens: Friday, June 2, Leon Family Art Gallery Opening reception: Tuesday, June 6, 5:30–8 pm Artist Elizabeth Passerieux will exhibit her work in the Leon Family Art Gallery on the second floor of the Simon Family JCC. Passerieux was born in Montpellier, France in...

Thursday, June 1, 7 pm The near-record audience turnout for In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem on May  23, has prompted a one-night encore in cinemas nationwide. The film marks the 50th anniversary of Israel’s Six-Day War and brings to vivid life onscreen the...

Friday, June 16 The absence of Ann Zukerman* after her untimely passing late last year continues to be keenly felt by all who knew her. In keeping with Ann’s appreciation for Torah lectures and tasteful events, her family—under the leadership of Ann’s husband Herb—has...

Sunday, June 18, 2 pm, Beth Sholom Home Under the direction of Marilyn Buxbaum, the Frailache Klezmer Band will perform at Beth Sholom Home. The program will feature traditional Eastern European melodies, songs of the Yiddish Theater, as well as more modern Israeli...

Tuesday, May 23, select theaters This spring marks the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War. CBN Documentaries commemorates this historic battle with the new film, In Our Hands: the Battle for Jerusalem. For centuries, the Jewish nation had been in exile. Then, for a...

Sunday, June 4–Tuesday, June 6 Washington, DC A leading global Jewish advocacy organization, AJC has unparalleled access to government officials, diplomats, and religious leaders, engaging worldwide opinion and policy leaders at the highest levels. The annual...

Film marks 50th Anniversary of Israel's Six-Day War CBN and Fathom Events present theatrical screening, Tuesday, May 23 On the 50th Anniversary of the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War comes the gripping new docudrama In Our Hands: The  Battle for Jerusalem. This CBN...

Sunday, May 7, 2-4 pm The keynote speaker for this annual event to benefit the Beach Health Clinic to support under-served women with free cancer screenings and mammograms is Marni Siegel. For information, call Paula Krukin Levy, event chair at 757-467-6677; Devorah...

Saturday, May 6, 1 pm A conversation and luncheon with the New Israel Fund will take place at the home of Susan Feit and Eitan Stern. The New Israel Fund, Israel's leading progressive organization, has been working to advance equality, pluralism, and democracy for...

Saturday, May 20, 9:30 am Temple Israel's Annual Disability Awareness Shabbat will feature Lynne Seagle, executive director of the Hope House Foundation, as the guest speaker. Seagle began her career at Hope House Foundation in 1978 as director of residential...