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.
What’s Happening
Archives
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.
Celebrated artist to conduct workshops
Israel Today’s first ever artist-in-residence, Hanoch Piven, will lead two workshops during Super Sunday. The hands-on family workshops encourage creativity, communication, and self-reflection through the creation of collages with common, everyday objects. Piven conveys the message that playfulness is an important tool to be used to generate a space in which individual self-reflection and growth are possible.
Super Sunday moves to October and makes plan to engage all ages
Super Sunday comes early this year, so mark calendars and get ready to “rise up.” Be the secret ingredient which makes a successful 2019 Annual Campaign—make the call, take the call, donate — and make a difference in the lives of Jews at home and around the world
Become a Book Club Insider
The Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival has fall reads for book clubs. Register a community book club and receive the following exclusive perks: discounts on group tickets, reserved seating with book club at author events, book club mention during...

Leon Family Gallery: Faces: Portraits from Madonna to the Pope
Leon Family Gallery, Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus October Faces: Portraits from Madonna to the Pope Hanoch Piven Giving the art of caricature an innovative look while shedding new light on today’s most familiar faces, Israel Today Artistin- Residence’s Hanoch...
Super Sunday is early this year
Sunday, October 21, 10 am–1 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus The Tidewater Jewish community’s annual fundraising phone-a-thon, Super Sunday is a volunteer-driven day. Super Sunday is being held earlier than in previous years to accelerate the Annual Campaign and...

Leon Family Gallery: Shana Tova! Rosh Hashanah Greeting Cards from the 1920s–1940s
Leon Family Gallery | Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus | September Shana Tova! Rosh Hashanah Greeting Cards from the 1920s–1940s Shana Tova greeting cards are a surprisingly ancient tradition—dating back to 14th century Germany and preceding Christmas cards by...
Friends of the IDF to hold first Virginia Gala
Thursday, Nov. 29, 6 pm Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) from all areas of the Commonwealth of Virginia will gather for the first-ever FIDF Virginia Chapter Gala to support well-being and educational programs for the IDF...
One person’s trash is another’s art work
What better way to start off the New Year, than with a little bit of cleaning? When Israel Today’s first ever Artist-in-Residence, Hanoch Piven, arrives in Tidewater, supplies will be needed. In order to have a workshop based on found objects, the Community Relations...
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....
Teen Wellness: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Lives
Sunday, April 19, 1–3:45 pm, the Sandler Family Campus An empowering event for local Jewish teens and their parents, Teen Wellness: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Lives is presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, the Simon Family Jewish Community Center, Jewish...
African Children’s Choir
Tuesday, March 31, 7:30 pm, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts The 2nd Annual World Music Event Concert to benefit ACCESS the ARTS will feature the African Children’s Choir. Founded in 1948 by Ray Barnett, the choir has performed around the world. Annie Sandler...
The Berlin Jewish Hospital Lecture and exhibit at Old Dominion University
Monday, April 13, 12:30 pm, Perry Library Dr. Elke-Vera Kotowski and Dr. Julius Schoeps from Mendelssohn Center for European-Jewish Studies in Berlin will lead discussions on the history of the Jewish Hospital in Berlin, where 800 Jewish patients survived the...
Virginia Symphony plays for children at the JCC
Sunday, April 26, 2:30 pm The Simon Family JCC’s final Children’s Cultural Arts Series presents the Virginia Symphony’s “Musical Voyages.” This musical voyage celebrates sounds and rhythms of some of the countries of the Asia Pacific played by a string quintet. From...
The Sonenshine Lecture Series
Friday, March 27, 12:30 and 7 pm, Old Dominion University Professor Michael Brenner will speak twice for The Sonenshine Lecture Series as part of the Institute for Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding at Old Dominon University. Jewish Life in Contemporary...
Adult Education program at Ohef Sholom Temple: Rescues and Rescuers
Sunday, March 29, 11 am Marty Mandelberg will speak on the topic, Rescues & Rescuers, at a program presented by Ohef Sholom Temple’s Adult Education committee. From 1933 through 1945, innumerable attempts to save European Jewry from the fate that Hitler and his...
11th Annual Grieving Children’s Art Show
April 10—May 8 Leon Family Art Gallery at the Sandler Family Campus Imagine being a child and learning that your mother was killed in a car accident. Who can you talk to about this sudden tragic loss and who will understand? Although family and friends of all ages are...
Gidi Grinstein rescheduled due to snow
Monday, April 20, 7:30 pm, Simon Family JCC The Simon Family JCC’s first Celebrate Israel event for 2015, Gidi Grinstein, originally scheduled for Feb. 23, but postponed due to hazardous travel conditions caused by a snowstorm, will take place next month. Grinstein is...
Cantor Mitch to bring music, recipes to Newport News
Sunday, May 3, 2 pm, Temple Sinai Mitchell Kowitz is not just another cookbook author. Kowitz, better known as “Cantor Mitch,” is the author of Kosher Cuisine for a New Generation. In the book, he not only provides kosher recipes that are light, simple and tasty, he...
The Community Relations Council’s 3rd Annual Israel Poster Contest
Have you voted yet? Vote at the Sandler Family Campus through March 31 Stop by the Simon Family JCC’s Cardo to cast a vote for your favorite Israel Advocacy poster. The entries by so many artists, combined with cool facts about Israel, offer a visually and...
Yom Hashoah
Wednesday, April 15, 6:45 pm, Congregation Beth El Presented by the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, the annual Yom Hashoah commemoration honors survivors, liberators and righteous gentiles. The event also applauds winners of its...
It’s Run, Roll or Stroll Time!
Sunday, May 3 The 11th Annual Run, Roll or Stroll, which will take place at 24th Street Park in Virginia Beach will include an 8K run, a 5K run, 5K walk and a 1 mile run/ walk, plus fun activities for all ages. Don London of The New 101.3 radio station will provide...
Israel’s global humanitarian efforts highlight of CRC Forum
Sunday, March 15, 7:30 pm Sandler Family Campus The past few months have proven challenging for Dr. Ofer Merin, the featured speaker in the Community Relation Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s upcoming Israel Today Forum. “I’ve had to confront,...
The Maccabeats
Sunday, March 29, 3 pm Performing Arts at the J, presented by Leah Wohl*, presents The Maccabeats, a male a cappella group, performing at the Simon Family JCC. Tickets are going fast, so order now at 321-2338. Adults are $20 or $15 for JCC members; Children are $15 or...
Community Relations Council’s 3rd Annual Israel Poster Contest
Vote March 10–March 27 All entries in the Community Relations Council’s 3rd Annual Israel Poster Contest are on display (and available for voting) in the Sandler Family Campus Cardo. Stop by and cast a vote for an Israel Advocacy poster. The display includes the...
Local rabbis say amen to choice of Tidewater Together Scholar-in-Residence 2nd Annual Tidewater Together
Thursday–Sunday, March 26–29, 2015 When Rabbi Sharon Brous arrives in Virginia Beach on March 26 to begin a four day weekend as the 2nd Annual Tidewater Together Scholarin- Residence, she’ll meet a community that’s curious to find out: how does someone earn the title...