What’s Happening

Ali Katz, author, Hot Mess to Mindful Mom Presented as part of the Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival, in partnership with Jewish Family Service Wednesday, Nov. 15, 11 am, Simon Family JCC There have been a few times in my life that I experienced what...

Award-winning author wraps up book festival Sunday, Nov. 19, 10:30 am, Ohef Sholom Temple Catching up with author Neville Frankel is like chatting with a favorite professor. He’s knowledgeable and kind and excited to share both his research tactics and his excitement...

The Simon Family Passport to Israel Fund, providing grants for trips for teens to Israel, is now accepting applications. The program’s purpose is to provide funds to enable and encourage Jewish students (ages 13–18*) to participate in an Israel trip experience. The...

Monday Oct. 30, 7:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus While being a Pro Football Hall of Famer comes with many perks, Bruce Smith had a different kind of opportunity when he traveled to Israel with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft in June. Born and raised in Norfolk,...

Sandler Family Campus What’s up now and next Erez Kaganovitz: Humans of Tel Aviv October As the human behind the Humans of Tel Aviv, photographer Erez Kaganovitz showcases the bright and inclusive culture of Israel. Kaganovitz wants his photographs to show a different...

Tuesday, November 14, 7:30 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus Dr. Rachel Fish, Ivy League educator, documentarian, and activist, will discuss her latest book, which she co-edited with Ilan Troen, Essential Israel: Essays for the 21st Century, next month in...

Sunday, Nov. 19, 10:30 am, Ohef Sholom Temple Neville Frankel, author, On the Sickle’s Edge I’ve been speaking to many diverse groups lately about the writing of my recent novel, On the Sickle’s Edge. As I refined my talk, a most wonderful speech coach—let’s call her...

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 11 am, Simon Family JCC Ali Katz is a mindfulness guru. Her mission is to inspire people across the globe to leave stress and guilt behind and to embrace a life full of balance, presence, and joy. Katz began her journey when she realized that as a...

Thursday, Oct. 26, 7 pm Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus In 2013, on the Thursday evening before the first Shabbos Project in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2,500 women gathered to share in the joy and tradition of making challah. The Shabbos Project’s goal is to unite...

Thursday, Nov. 9, 6:30 pm, Beth El “Evil does not need your help, only your indifference.” These are the words of Holocaust survivor Hanns Loewenbach, z’l—and he would know—as he was in his hometown of Berlin the night of Nov. 9, 1938 and witnessed the flames,...

Thursday, October 26, 7 pm, Sandler Family Campus The 3rd Annual Great Big Challah Bake is slated to take place as a lead-up to the globally scheduled Shabbat Project, observed from sundown Friday, October 27 until sundown Saturday, October 28. This year’s Challah...

Wednesday, April 17, noon, Vandeventer Black offices The Business and Legal Society of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, the Tidewater Jewish Foundation and the Virginia Israel Advisory Board present “Israel Incubates and America Invests” at a free,...

Thursday, April 11, 5:30–8 pm An exhibit and panel discussion at Old Dominion University will explore what happens when the rule of law is obliterated. The program begins at 6:30 pm with opening remarks by The Honorable G. William Whitehurst, Ph.D. former U.S....

Exhibit at ODU: April 2–April 30 Panel discussion at ODU: April 11, 6:30 pm In 1932, Germany’s Weimar Republic had a democratically elected president and Parliament. The Weimar constitution guaranteed equality before the law, freedom of religion, free speech, and...

Saturday, April 13, 9:30 am and Sunday, April 14, 6 pm The relationship that a Jew feels with Israel goes much deeper than the news headlines, which focuses on the frustrations of diplomacy and politics, leaving our yearning for human connections unsatisfied. Leading...

Wednesday, April 11, 7 pm Basing Israel’s claim to her land and right to exist on today’s media reports, could lead you to believe that our connection to the region goes back merely a few decades. But we all know that ancient history supports that Jews have, in fact,...

Sunday, April 7, 9 am–3 pm Items will include gently used books, video and board games, CDs, DVDs, craft and scrapbooking supplies. At Ohef Sholom Temple, 530 Raleigh Ave. in Norfolk. Call 757-625-4295 for more information.

Tuesday, April 16, 7:30 pm Noa, or Achinoam Nini, may not be a well-known singer in the United States, but she’s been a huge star in Israel and Europe since she launched her career two decades ago. At 43, she hopes her three-week tour beginning in mid-April will...

Sunday, April 14, 7 pm Savyon Liebrecht, the Internationally known Israeli writer and a daughter of Holocaust survivors, will speak at Old Dominion University about the politics of writing in Israel today. In her novels, short stories and plays, Liebrecht writes about...

June 17–June 28 The Virginian-Pilot is offering a free twoweek journalism workshop with sessions on reporting, writing, photography and design. The program is open to high school sophomores and juniors; promising freshmen will be considered. Visit...

Sunday, April 28, 12:30–5 pm Israel Festival at the Simon Family JCC, with Israeli food, fun inflatables, camel rides, a special community walk through Israel, Walk the Land 65 (www. walktheland65.org), and a musical performance by The Shuk! Look for upcoming details...

This is the story of Idit Benmor, Israeli, Norfolk resident, adjunct professor at Old Dominion University and lover of the Hebrew language. Once upon a time, there was a little girl growing up in Haifa, Israel. She spoke and read Hebrew like every other child in...

Thursday, April 11, 11:30 am If April showers bring May flowers, what brings Jeff Lawson, WVEC Channel 13’s chief meteorologist, to Beth Sholom Village? The Annual Spring Luncheon presented by the Beth Sholom Auxiliary. Lawson will discuss “What’s Up with the...

Jewish Family Service of Tidewater’s 9th Annual Run, Roll or Stroll Neptune’s Park at 31st Street, Virginia Beach 8K Run, 5K Run/Walk or 1 Mile Run/Walk Sunday, May 5 Runners and walkers know that running and walking help boost numerous health benefits such as weight...

through March 17 A gripping tale about the value of faith, the costs of freedom and the South at the close of the Civil War, Matthew Lopez’ The Whipping Man is now being performed at Virginia Stage Company. It is a co-production with Marin Theatre Company of Mill...

Sunday, March 17, 2 pm Crossing Delancey, a romantic comedy film starring Amy Irving and Peter Riegert was released in 1988. Directed by Joan Micklin Silverand, the film was based on a play by Susan Sandler, who also wrote the screenplay. Irving was nominated for a...

April 8–May 17 When a loved one dies, everyone in their family is touched by this loss. Children and teens are especially affected by losses and other important life changes. Jewish Family Service’s counseling staff, through the Dozoretz Center for Healing and Jessica...

Saturday, March 9, 8 pm Originally from New York, Rabbi Gavriel Friedman, aka Rav Gav, now splits his time between Jerusalem and his touring circuit. A regular lecturer at Aish HaTorah, Rav Gav has energized Jewish communities in cities all over the world, including...

Saturday, March 16, 8 pm A former editor of The Harvard Lampoon and The National Lampoon, Mike Reiss wrote for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Garry Shandling Show and Alf, before he was hired in 1989 for a new animated show called The Simpsons. Four Emmys...

Wednesday, March 6, 8 pm What We Carry, the documentary of Tidewater-based Holocaust survivors produced by the Holocaust Commission of the UJFT, was recently featured on Los Angeles-based Jewish Life Television’s (JLTV) J Report. The hourlong television show decided...

Monday, March 18, 6:30 pm This is the time of year when the Jewish Education Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater presents one of its professional development workshops for all community Jewish educators—teachers and principals. The workshop will be...