A global, grassroots movement that brings Jews from across the world together around the shared heritage of Shabbat, the Shabbat Project initiative was introduced in South Africa in 2013. In the days that followed, the Jewish world heard, and was inspired by, how the majority of the community kept Shabbat, and how Jews were brought together in unprecedented ways.
What’s Happening
Archives
Tidewater Chavurah’s Second Friday Shabbat Service
Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill will lead Tidewater Chavurah’s second Friday Shabbat service at the home of Hal and Elaine in the Great Neck Meadows area of Virginia Beach.
Beyond Duty: Diplomats Recognized as Righteous Among the Nations at Regent University
An exhibition by the State of Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Leon Family Gallery: Curating the Past, Creating the Future: Selections from the National Library of Israel
Highlighting the four central collections at the impressive National Library of Israel, this exhibit will focus on the spiritual realm—with sacred books, sacred places, and mysticism, as well as the ethnographic and secular realm—with Israeli culture, Hebrew/Jewish language.

Super Sunday to involve all ages
Get ready to “rise up” and be the secret ingredient in the 2019 Annual Campaign by participating in Super Sunday, the annual community phone-a-thon.
Current Events with Seniors
Current Events with Seniors Thursdays 10:30 am–12 noon 237 Simon Family JCC Join a stimulating discussion on local, international, and world-wide topics. It is always an interesting and fun time. For further information, call Bernice Greenberg at...
Center for the study of Religious Freedom at Virginia Wesleyan University: NEXUS Interfaith Dialogue
NEXUS Interfaith Dialogue Gender Roles and Religion Monday, October 8, 7:30 pm Virginia Wesleyan’s Batten Student Center, Pearce Hospitality Suite Panelists Rev. Kim Hodges, Pastor of Lynnhaven Colony Congregational, United Church of Christ (Protestant); Rabbi Rosalin...
Seniors in the Sukkah
Join the senior community to celebrate Sukkot this year with Senior Art in the Sukkah.
Ohef Sholom’s Sanctuary Rededication to feature Rabbi Rick Jacobs
One hundred years ago, Ohef Sholom Temple moved to the corner of Stockley Gardens and Raleigh Avenue, constructing the congregation’s magnificent sanctuary. While over the course of the century, nearly every other aspect of the synagogue’s structure has undergone renovations and additions, the sanctuary has remained a constant, with only minor adjustments made to assure its use in a contemporary world and restoration efforts rendered to preserve its beauty. It has been a place of worship, celebration, and mourning. For generations, the sanctuary has been home for Ohef Sholom’s congregants.
Wonder Woman On Her Flesh: Queer Jewish Women and Pride Tattoos
Wonder Woman On Her Flesh: Queer Jewish Women and Pride Tattoos Thursday, October 4, 11 am–12 pm Virginia Wesleyan’s Blocker Hall Auditorium The pink triangle has gone from a stigmatizing Holocaust symbol to an emblem of LGBTQ pride. Similarly, Jewish women using...
Celebrating 70 Years of Heroes and Hope
For many Jews around the world, Israel remains central to their identity, inspiring the hopes and dreams of the Jewish people. Every single day, the brave men and women of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) risk their lives to protect those hopes and dreams. Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) is devoted to supporting these defenders of Israel with educational and wellbeing programs and facilities. Since 1981, FDIF has played an important role in ensuring that IDF soldiers are cared for while carrying out their crucial tasks.
Collage workshop with Hanoch Piven for Seniors
Join the senior community for a special workshop with Israel Today’s artist-in-residence Hanoch Piven.
Passing in Review, a new book by Hal Sacks Reception and presentation
Thursday, May 7, 6:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus Long-time Book Review Editor for Jewish News, Hal Sacks will discuss his latest book, Passing in Review. The collection of reviews and essays spans more than 30 years of Sacks’ contributions to the newspaper. After the...
From Temple to Brill Building: Jews and the Beat Era
Saturday, May 23, 8 pm Tidewater Chavurah invites the community for Tikkun Leil Shavuot at the home of Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill. Rabbi Jaffe-Gill will present a two-part study session, focusing first on a comparative reading of the Kaddish prayer and excerpts from Allen...
Tidewater Jewish Journeys walks to Israel
May 18 – June 14 Tidewater Jewish Journeys, the local organization that was created to support Tidewater’s involvement with the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project’s trips to Israel and beyond, is embarking on its first major fundraiser, JWRP WALKS 2015. Anyone can...
Israel Fest at the Simon Family JCC a Celebrate Israel event
Sunday, May 17, 11 am–5 pm The biggest outdoor community event of the year, Israel Fest promises to be a day of fun for the entire family. Israeli cuisine, the return of the Israeli band Hataklitim, the Bar Kocva Israeli Art Expo, and so much more will assure that the...
David Broza performs for Celebrate Israel
Thursday, May 21, 7 pm Sandler Center for the Performing Arts Israeli superstar David Broza is considered one of the most dynamic and vibrant performers in the singer/songwriter world. Broza will perform live at Virginia Beach’s Sandler Center for the Performing Arts...
Beth El’s 165th — Sunday, May 3, 7 pm
Congregation Beth El will celebrate its 165th anniversary with a free and open to the community commemorative program. The program, Beth El Norfolk 1850–2015: What We Built, is made possible in memory of Maxwell and Burnette Zedd by their children, Kay Kesser and...
Passing in Review, a new book by Hal Sacks, Reception and presentation
Thursday, May 7, 6:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus Long-time Book Review Editor for Jewish News, Hal Sacks will discuss his latest book, Passing in Review. The collection of reviews and essays spans more than 30 years of Sacks’ contributions to the newspaper. After the...
YAD Talks: Big gains, huge losses, lessons learned with former Madoff trader, Andrew Cohen
Thursday, April 30, 6 pm, Bite Restaurant & Catering The stories Andrew Cohen will share at the Spring 2015 YAD Talks networking event could be the basis for a new Netflix Original Series: stellar career success, huge financial gains, early retirement, devastating...
Camp JCC Dive-in Open House
Sunday, May 31, 1–4 pm An afternoon of fun and frolicking is planned for the Simon Family JCC pool and fields. Enjoy some wacky water games and a slip ’n’ slide and dive into Camp JCC, including a GAGA tournament with prizes. Play as a team or as an individual. Games...
Celebrate Israel Series features the film, Jerusalem
Thursday, April 23, 6 pm and 8 pm, Virginia Beach Aquarium See Jerusalem through the eyes of three different teenage girls in the brilliant documentary at the Giant Screen Theater at the Virginia Beach Aquarium. This event is the second in the Simon Family JCC’s...
Women cancer survivors honored at 4th Annual Pink Tea
Sunday, May 4, 2 pm Temple Emanuel will honor women cancer survivors at its annual Pink Tea. The event raises funds to support the Beach Health Clinic of Virginia Beach, an organization that provides mammograms for women who do not have any medical insurance. The...
David Broza performs for Celebrate Israel
Thursday, May 21, 7 pm, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts For nearly 40 years, Israeli superstar David Broza has been considered one of the most dynamic and vibrant performers in the singer/songwriter world. Broza will perform live at Virginia Beach’s Sandler...
It’s an Israel-themed Shabbat celebration
Friday, April 17, 5:30 pm The Children and Family Department of the Simon Family JCC and the Young Adult Division of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s first co-sponsored Family Shabbat celebration event of the year will feature Israeli-style food, fun and...
A tale of Survival: The Jewish Hospital in Berlin 1945
Monday, April 13, 12:30 – 1:30 pm, Old Dominion University Tuesday, April 14, 7:30 pm, Old Dominion University A metal bas-relief hangs on a wall in our home. A gift from the Jewish community in Iasi, Romania where my father was born, it commemorates the pogrom begun...
Yom Hashoah community Holocaust commemoration to feature Holocaust Survivor from Poland
Wednesday, April 15, 6:45 pm, Congregation Beth El Henry Greenbaum, a Polish Auschwitz survivor from Bethesda, Md. and weekly volunteer at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, even at age 86, will be the featured speaker at the annual Holocaust commemoration...
A Holocaust Memoir: Dodging Death
Sunday, April 12, 10 am Temple Israel The story of each Holocaust survivor weaves a poignant, yet individual thread in the tapestry of the world’s collective memory. The Temple Israel Men’s Club continues its dedication to sharing these stories with the annual Yom...
You’ve seen her on TV, now see her in person Joan Lunden: My Journey
Presented by Jewish Family Service Sunday, April 26, 2 pm, Norfolk Academy As part of its Spring Into Healthy Living programming, Jewish Family Service of Tidewater will present Joan Lunden, American journalist, author and television host at Norfolk Academy’s Samuel...
Ohef Sholom Temple’s Scholar-in-Residence: Rabbi Amy Scheinerman
Friday, April 17–Sunday, April 19 The 2015 Scholar-in-Residence Weekend at Ohef Sholom Temple, sponsored by Rabbi Connie and Dr. Jerry Golden, will feature Rabbi Amy Scheinerman. Opportunities to hear and study with Rabbi Scheinerman include Friday Shabbat services,...
Pink Tea at Temple Emanuel
The 4th Annual Pink Tea to honor women cancer survivors and emphasize that, “Your Good Health is in Your Hands,” will take place at Temple Emanuel. This year’s topic, Cancer in the Family, will be presented by Dr. Louise Lubin. A psychologist who has been involved...
Parents’ meeting for the Swordfish Swim Team
Tuesday, May 12, 5:30 pm Simon Family JCC The Simon Family JCC’s Swordfish Swim Team is for swimmers from five to 18 years old. This recreational competitive swim team offers experienced coaching to swimmers who wish to improve technique, get fit and make friends....