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...

Begins Sunday, Jan. 8, 6–8 pm Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill, spiritual leader of Tidewater Chavurah, will continue her popular class Torah Study for Skeptics, meeting in the parish hall at Old Donation Episcopal Church. The class meets on the second and fourth Sundays of...

Sunday, Dec. 25, 7 am–2 pm Spend time with residents and be part of a more than 30-year-tradition. Volunteer activities include: • Serving food • Reading books • Playing board games • And, more! Well-behaved animals are also welcome. A Switch Day social for residents...

Sunday, Jan. 15, 12:30 pm Temple Sinai Newport News Bring an appetite for a showing of the documentary Deli Man at Temple Sinai. Feast on deli meat or cheese sandwiches, Sabra hummus, chips and dill pickles, Dr. Brown’s sodas and more (including popcorn), while...

Sunday, Dec. 25, 9:30 am–3 pm Mister G concert: 11 am Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus Partaking of delicious and comforting food during the holiday season spans all religious traditions. With Hanukkah and Christmas sharing the same date this year, what could be...

Thursday, Jan. 12, 12 pm, Sandler Family Campus To prepare for this year’s Date with the State on Wednesday, Feb. 8, the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Legislative Action Committee will host a meeting to discuss potential...

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 7 am–4 pm For years, members of Jewish communities from across the Commonwealth have gone to the State Capitol in Richmond to collaborate on Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day, also known as Date with the State. This annual event has proven to be a...

Sunday, Jan. 22, 9 am – 1 pm Super Sunday, the Tidewater Jewish community’s largest single fundraising day of the year, is as predictable as eating latkes during Hanukkah. Volunteers from throughout South Hampton Roads will gather at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family...

The Emmy-nominated documentary film, Defiant Requiem, will be shown as part of the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film at the Tidewater Community College Roper Performing Arts Center in Norfolk. The film tells the story of Rafael Schachter, a brilliant young Czech...

Founder and president of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, Kenneth Marcus has written an indispensable book about the manner in which anti-Semitism has evolved from the ancient world to the present. Tracing the history from anti-Judaism to...

An Israeli husband and wife dance duo, one deaf and one who hears, will share their uniquely choreographed dance work, Two Worlds, at Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach. Combining pantomime, sign language and expressive movement, this dance team...

Spend time with residents and be part of a more than 30-year-tradition. Volunteer activities include: • Serving food • Reading books • Playing board games • And, more! Well-behaved animals are also welcome. A Switch Day social for residents and volunteers begins at 2...

Want to put a smile on a teenager’s face this holiday season? Young Adult Division of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater is collecting $5 and $10 gift cards for local teens in need. These gift cards will serve as holiday gifts for teens that need it most. Consider...

Crossing the Line 2 Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7:30 pm A documentary revealing the rise of anti-Israel activity and anti-Semitic rhetoric on North American university campuses, Crossing the Line 2 demonstrates when reasonable criticism of Israel ‘crosses the line’ into...

Tuesday, Dec. 6, 7:30 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus, free Author Kenneth L. Marcus will share details from his latest book, The Definition of Anti-Semitism, in which he elaborates on the link between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, and how this is impacting...

K-5 Open House — Wednesday, Dec. 7, 8:30 am This event will include information sessions and the chance to meet current HAT faculty, students and parents. RSVP to Carin Simon, admissions director, Hebrew Academy of Tidewater and Strelitz Early Childhood Education...

Tuesday, Dec. 6, 6–7 pm, Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus The Society of Professionals and INSCO Insurance invite community members to attend the next event in the Conversations series, a private discussion with Kenneth L. Marcus, president and general counsel of...

Sunday, Dec. 11, 2 pm Jewish Museum & Cultural Center The Jewish Museum & Cultural Center’s Cheva Cinema film series will present Yentl, a 1983 American romantic musical drama film from United Artists (through MGM) directed, co-written, co-produced by and...

Sunday, Dec. 11, 6 pm Museum of Contemporary Art An Israeli deaf and hearing dance duo from Israel, Jill and Amnon Damti will perform, Two Worlds, where the worlds of silence and sound are creatively meshed into a moving dance performance. The Damtis use pantomime,...

Tuesday, Nov. 15, 7:30 pm Sandler Center for the Performing Arts presents The Aluminum Show next month, a new and unique show that brings the material, music and artists together on stage in a magical, mystery-filled creation. A combination of visual theater, dance...