Always the backbone of B’nai Israel Congregation, the B’nai Israel Sisterhood was responsible for a wealth of programs, classes, and fundraisers. They gave the synagogue an aura of energy, fun, and inspiration. Realizing the need for a reinvigorated Sisterhood, B’nai...
What’s Happening
Archives
Yom Hashoah 2019
Wednesday, May 1, 6:45 pm, Temple Israel A commemorative program celebrating the power of the human spirit and the enduring faith of those who witnessed and survived the Holocaust, this year’s event features guest speaker, Dr. Roger Loria. A survivor from Belgium,...
LAG B’OMER
Thursday, May 23 Celebrate LAG B’OMER and join The Simon Family JCC, YAD, and Chabad for a delicious family cookout, beer, rockin’ music, and a bonfire. Open to the community. For more information and tickets, contact Jasmine Amitay at JAmitay@ujft.org.
Train Like Israel’s Biggest Losers with Nadav Meirson
Simon Family JCC, CRC, and community partner’s present Train Like Israel’s Biggest Losers with Nadav Meirson Workout: Wednesday, May 15, 8:30 am Simon Family JCC Pushing fitness levels to new heights, Nadav Meirson, the trainer from the hit reality series The Biggest...

JDC’s HOME: Lens on Israel
Leon Family Gallery, Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus April 2019 JDC’s HOME: Lens on Israel, a photography exhibit from Temple Emanu-El’s Bernard Museum of Judaica & Streicker Center in New York, showcases diverse communities that live side-by-side in Israel...
Cause An Effect: A series for Jewish high school students (grades 9-12) and their parents
Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, BBYO, and OSTY present Cause An Effect A series for Jewish high school students (grades 9-12) and their parents Thursday, May 9, 6–9 pm The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) most recent “Audit of...
Simon Family JCC Current Events
Thursdays, 10:30 am, Simon Family JCC Group discussion of local, regional, national, and world news, as well as emerging topics in a cordial atmosphere. Free and open to the community. Contact David Rabinowitz at 757-424-3027.
Tidewater Chavurah’s Second Friday Shabbat Service
Friday, April 12, 7 pm Home of Hal and Elaine in Virginia Beach’s Great Neck Meadows area A “congregation without walls,” Tidewater Chavurah’s events are held in members’ homes or at other locations. Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill will lead the monthly Shabbat service with...
Israel Today with Ambassador Ido Aharoni
From Remembrance to Independence Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha’Atzmaut Wednesday, May 8, 7:30 pm Ohef Sholom Temple Honoring the transition that takes place in Israel as Yom Hazikaron, a somber day of reflection ends at sundown, giving way to Yom Ha’atzmaut’s celebration,...

JFS Run, Roll or Stroll celebrates 15 years
Sunday, May 5, 24th Street Park in Virginia Beach Onsite Registration 6:45–7:45 am 8K Run, 5K Run, and 5K Walk 8 am 1 Mile Run/Walk 9:15 am Fifteen years ago, runners and walkers hit the pavement at Norfolk Botanical Garden to participate in Jewish Family Service of...

HOME: Lens on Israel, a JDC Exhibit
Leon Family Gallery Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus April 2019 This exhibit showcases the work of photographers who have documented the diverse communities that live side-by-side in Israel, as well as the work of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee...
Bestselling Author Janice Kaplan and Dr. Barnaby Marsh reveal how to create luck
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...
Community Relations Council and simon Family JCC join to expand israel Today series
Kickoff event with Ambassador Dennis Ross in collaboration with Virginia Beach Forum Tuesday, September 20, 7:30 pm sandler Center for the Performing Arts The Simon Family JCC’s Cultural Arts department and the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish...
Robert Gillette to open Jewish Book Council’s season on the Peninsula
Sunday, September 11, 7 pm, United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula Robert Gillette will speak about his young adult book, Escape to Virginia, in the first event of the Jewish Book Council’s 2016–2017 season. Escape to Virginia tells the true story of how...
Norfolk-Virginia Beach Chapter Hadassah’s open meeting to feature Aaron Vinik
Wednesday, September 14, 7 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus A national leader in basic and clinical Neuropathy, Dr. Aaron Vinik will speak on diabetes and aging at Hadassah’s next meeting. Vinik has defined the heterogenic of neuropathy and has pioneered the use...
Hampton Roads Diversity and Inclusion Consortium quarterly meeting
September 15, 9–11 am, Sandler Family Campus, free The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater will host the next Hampton Roads Diversity and Inclusion Consortium quarterly meeting. The HRDIC provides organizations with opportunities to share ideas, resources, and...
UJFT Campaign Kickoff Features Ambassador Dennis Ross
Tuesday, September 20, 5:45 pm Sandler Center for the Performing Arts (Israel today with Dennis Ross follows at 7 pm) The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater will kickoff its 2017 Annual Campaign with an evening of education and inspiration. This year’s kickoff...
Next year in Jerusalem—and Tsfat— and Tel Aviv—and the Golan—
Federation plans Summer 2017 “B’Yachad” Israel Mission Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a mission unlike any this Federation has offered in the past, featuring men’s, women’s and joint programming, AND a meet-up with the Young Leadership Hofheimer mission...
First Iota Gamma Phi Reunion planned
Sunday, September 11, 11:30 am–2:30 pm A reunion for area Iota Gamma Phi Sorority sisters is slated to take place in September. The high school sorority was active for 70 years in Tidewater and the reunion is for anyone who was a member at any time. “Sisters” from...
Israeli Scouts to perform at Simon Family JCC
Wednesday, August 3, 6 pm, Simon Family JCC Ten 17-year-old Israeli Scouts and two leaders will visit the Simon Family JCC in early August. Each Friendship Caravan of Scouts, or Tzofim, consists of five males and five females. The Scouts are all accomplished...
Israeli portrait photographer Miri Hyman’s exhibit focuses on mothers
Leon Family Art Gallery at the Simon Family JCC July 20–August 20 A white billowy hood crowns a woman’s face peeking out of the darkness. Ceremonial robes drape the human form. The composition is swallowed in sorrow. Monochromatic tones transition from deep blacks to...
Sculptures by Lorraine Fink
Through June 16, Slover Library, Norfolk Mythically, with a wash of whimsy, this collection by includes 8- and 3-foot sculptures, which feature both obsolete and repurposed objects. The collection imparts a powerful, societal statement connecting past, present and...
Challah Days—Highlights of featured speakers
Friday, June 17–Sunday, June 19, Kempsville Conservative Synagogue When Kempsville Conservative Synagogue/Kehillat Bet Hamidrash began planning A Taste of Challah Days Around the World, no one imagined where it would lead the congregation. Planning a Shabbat...
Lorraine Fink turns discarded JCC lights into sculpture
Saturday, June 4, Exhibit opens at Slover Library, Norfolk In 2014, As Lorraine Fink took down her art show at the Leon Family Gallery and loaded it into her car, she was drawn by “a silent vibrant cry from a small mountain of metal and plastic at the edge of the...
Now in it’s sixth year, the Simon Family JCC Presidents’ Cup Golf Tournament has seen its share of exciting and silly moments
Thursday, June 9, 11:30 am registration, 1 pm shotgun start, Heron Ridge Golf Club, Virginia Beach Everyone’s favorite character—Norman Sher (known to most as Normie)— shares a few, colorful memories from past Simon Family JCC Presidents’ Cup Golf Tournaments, as well...
Simon Family JCC Israel Fest extravaganza promises fun for the entire family—celebrating 68 years
Sunday, June 5, 11 am–4 pm, Sandler Family Campus Explore everything Israeli at the Simon Family JCC’s biggest party of the year, the sixth annual Israel Fest, honoring Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s 68th Independence Day. The festival honors all the cultural, artistic, and...
Israel Fest to feature tapestries that weave a tale of Jewish Pilgrimage
Sunday, June 5, 11 am–4 pm During the Spanish Inquisition in the 16th century, the Monzon family from Monzon, Spain, was one of many Jewish families expelled from their homes. This displaced family wandered around Europe seeking a new home in Russia where they lived...
The Simon Family JCC celebrates its Biennial Meeting as its staff merges with the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater
Wednesday, June 15, 7 pm The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC are merging. Starting in January of 2016, JCC leadership initiated a plan for the Center and UJFT to combine resources, creating a stronger staff to support both the Federation and...
Splashes of color and hours of fun planned for opening day pool party
Sunday, May 22, 1–4 pm, Simon Family JCC, Free for everyone The calendar may say May, but the weather shouts, “summer.” Simon Family JCC members and guests are invited to cool off and get their feet wet at the first pool party of 2016. The family friendly outdoor...
Matti Friedman Israel Today—Sifting through the media spin
Wednesday, May 11, 7:30 pm, Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus Matti Friedman, former Jerusalem Bureau reporter and editor for the Associated Press will be the featured speaker in the final event of the 5th Annual Israel Today Series, hosted by the Community Relations...
Simon Family JCC’s 6th Annual President’s Golf Cup Tournament improves kids programs at every shot
Thursday, June 9, 1 pm, Heron Ridge Golf Club One of the greatest professional golfers of all time, William Ben Hogan, said, “The most important shot in golf is the next one.” The Simon Family JCC applies that sentiment when planning their Annual Presidents’ Golf Cup...
YAD, JCC, and Chabad’s Lag B’Omer Bash
Bonfire, Food, Beer, Music Thursday, May 26, 5:30 pm In the midst of Omer count, count off these 10 fun facts about the Lag B’omer holiday, to get informed and pumped for the upcoming YAD, JCC and Chabad Lag B’Omer Bash. • Lag B’Omer, literally translated from Hebrew...