What’s Happening

Sunday, April 30, 11 am–4 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus On May 14, 1948, Israel’s future first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, publically read Israel’s Declaration of the establishment of the State of Israel, marking the ending of the British Mandate. The...

Sunday, March 19, 6:30 pm Congregation Beth El In the beginning of Escape to Virginia From Nazi Germany to Thalhimer’s Farm, author Bob Gillette writes, “Hope and courage are the right hand and left hand of the human spirit that keeps suffering people going. They keep...

The Be A Reader (BEAR) program is one of three finalists for Classic Air’s One Hour Cares $5,000 giveaway. The recipient will be chosen at the end of March in a lottery-type drawing, with the more “likes” received at OneHourCares.com increasing the chances to win....

Tuesdays, March 28 and May 2, 7 pm Ohef Sholom Temple’s recent Listening Campaign “indicated that congregants are interested in sharpening their communicative fluency in Hebrew, and that they would like to do so in a fun and relaxed setting,” says Dr. David Metzger,...

Sunday, April 2, 5:30 pm, Temple Israel Shabbos Night Fever is this year’s theme for Temple Israel’s annual spring fundraiser. Guests are encouraged to dress in disco wear—leisure suits, bell bottoms, platform shoes, and, for the more adventurous, full John Travolta...

Four-week session begins Wednesday, March 29, 12:30 pm, Simon Family JCC Classes: Wednesdays, March 29, April 5, April 26, May 3 Dr. Alan Morinis, founder and dean of The Mussar Institute, was the guest scholar for last month’s Milton “Mickey” Kramer...

Sunday, March 19, 2 pm Kehillat Bet Hamidrash/Kempsville Conservative Synagogue’s 17th annual art exhibition and auction will feature auctioneer Rick Brandwein of Marlin Fine Auctions and Creative Events. He plans to bring a variety of media to meet varied pocketbooks...

Wednesday, March 15, 12 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus Sharing her journey of recovery from a ruptured aneurysm at age 28 through the restorative power of food and cooking, Jessica Fechtor, author of the award-winning memoir, Stir: My Broken Brain and the Meals...

Thursday, March 30 The Westin, Virginia Beach Town Center Since 1963, Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC) has annually honored individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to heal divisions within their community and to advance a...

Saturday, March 25, 8 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus One of Israel’s singing treasures, Gitit Shoval will share her vocal and storytelling talents through her concert, “From Gershwin to Dylan: the Genius of Jewish Songwriters,” a tribute to Jewish composers, as...

Monday, March 13, 7:30–8:30 pm Boyd Dining Center, Virginia Wesleyan College Rabbi David N. Saperstein is the immediate past United States Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. Saperstein was a principal advisor to the President and Secretary of...

Sunday, March 12 11:30 am–2 pm, Ohef Sholom Temple Ohef Sholom Temple Youth (OSTY) will hold its annual Purim Carnival at the temple. This year’s carnival will feature games, a dunk tank, pie-the-Cantor and other festivities. The Men’s Club will sell lunch and the...

Thursday, March 21, 5:45 pm The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities has selected two members of the local Jewish community to be among those receiving its prestigious Humanitarian Awards this year. Robert “Bob” Nusbaum and Marian Bear Ticatch will be honored at...

March 5-16 When Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman started writing the book for the award-winning Broadway musical Jersey Boys, they didn’t think they had much in common with pop sensations and real-life, New Jersey natives Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. “Marshall...

Wednesday, March 13, 7 pm Ohef Sholom Temple’s Adult Education committee presents “The History of Jewish Music” with Cantor Wally. A look at the Bible shows that the most ancient descriptions of song originate with the Jews. From the ram caught in the thicket near...

Sunday, March 17, 12–2 pm Preparing for Passover can be both intense and exhilarating for women. The to-do list fills with chores including; cleaning the house from top to bottom to rid it of chametz (leavened products), hauling out the special Passover china, ironing...

Monday, Feb. 18, 7 pm Sometimes we don’t know what to think. Is Israel really a land of war, borders, politics, and falafel? With half a dozen siblings who have chosen to begin their married lives in Israel, I know that there is so much more. When I visit Israel I...

Saturday, March 9, 8 pm Impressions—like it or not, you’re a role model with Rabbi Gavriel Friedman, is a “must see” for parents, young adults, and anyone interested in an entertaining and engaging evening with a positive message. Sponsored by United Jewish Federation...

Sunday, Feb. 17, 10–11:30 am Ask a woman about a great female role model, and she might answer Golda Meir, Eleanor Roosevelt, or Hillary Clinton. Ask her again, but this time make it more personal, as it pertains to how she thinks and feels, and the answer may be...

Sunday, Feb. 24 10:30 am at Ohef Sholom, 3 pm at Beth Sholom Village Does Cookie Monster love triangular Hamentaschen as much as circular cookies? Is Oscar grouchy about the Jewish people when he dresses up as Haman? And, can Big Bird rule over ancient Persia? Find...

Saturday morning Shabbat services at Congregation Beth El start at 9:30 am. For those who arrive 30 minutes earlier, they are treated to a stimulating and inspirational session of Torah Talk led by Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz. It’s a chance to nosh on cake, coffee and tea...

Saturday, Feb. 23, 7 pm Let’s do the time warp again…at Temple Israel’s “Rockin’ Hora Purimshpiel.” The Purim skit, accompanying Temple Israel’s Purim service and the reading of Megillat Esther, will be based on the classic movie musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show,...

Sunday, Feb. 24, 4 pm Although she has never been bullied, Arianna Gershon was moved by discussions at BBYO over the past year to spearhead an event at the Simon Family Jewish Community Center and make it her senior project at Norfolk Collegiate School. The Bully...

Friday, Feb. 1—Sunday, Feb. 3 Focusing on themes of freedom, “Let My People Go!” is Virginia Chorale’s third concert program this season. For “Let My People Go!” Charles Woodward, artistic director and conductor, selected songs associated with freedom movements from...

Thursday, Feb. 21, 7:30 pm Moderated by Eric Michael Mazur, Gloria & David Furman Professor of Judaic Studies Hosted by Virginia Wesleyan College See leaders from the Tidewater Jewish community fight to settle this age-old question: “Which is better, the latke or...

Sunday, April 14, 1–4 pm • Simon Family JCC parking lot No need to get out of the car. Drive through and your car will be unloaded! www.jewishva.org/recycle Items accepted for recycling: Cell phones, VCRs, PC towers/ desktops, circuit boards, keyboards, iPods/MP3...

Opening reception: Sunday, Feb. 10, 3–6 p.m. The Mike Kantor who worked in Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan after he graduated from college could hardly have pictured himself as an aspiring artist in his 60s. But that is how Kantor identifies himself these days,...

Saturday, Feb. 23, 6:30 pm Be Happy! It’s Adar! Purim is coming with a busy night at Beth El. The Megillah reading and costume parade begins at 6:30 pm. A children’s program will take pace in Barr Hal with refreshments, a balloon artist and a magician after their...

Sunday, Feb. 10, 11 am What does an African American, an evangelical Christian and a Jewish college student have in common? They are the featured speakers at this year’s AIPAC brunch at Ohef Sholom Temple. As in years past, the Ohef Sholom Temple Men’s Club,...

Sunday, Feb. 17, 10–11:30 am With Purim approaching on Feb. 24, thoughts turn to the great heroine of the Tanakh, Queen Esther. Esther had the courage to use her position to save the Jewish people. Few people have the opportunity for such dramatic heroism today, but...