Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s Simon Family Legacy Celebration on Wednesday, May 27 was an opportunity for communities to converge, gathering around a shared vision, shared responsibility, and shared purpose.
More than 100 TJF fundholders, community leaders, philanthropists, and Life & Legacy Ignite the Flame participants came together for an evening that felt less like a traditional event and more like a collective affirmation of where Jewish Tidewater is headed.
In addition to highlighting what has already been accomplished through TJF, the evening focused on what is now possible because of the community’s willingness to think bigger, lead boldly, and invest intentionally in the future of Jewish education, security, and cultural life.
In opening remarks, Britt Simon, president of the Simon Family Foundation, which sponsored the evening, reflected on the meaning of legacy and the responsibility of carrying values forward through philanthropy and communal leadership.
“Legacy is not measured only by what we build, but by the values we pass forward,” Simon said. “The true strength of any legacy is found in people; in the commitments we make to one another and to the communities we serve.”
During the event, attendees heard about the momentum Tidewater Jewish Foundation is building throughout the community and its vision to grow $500 million in permanent endowment with assets dedicated to strengthening and securing Jewish life in the region. Doing so follows TJF’s mission to build and guide more resources to empower Jewish life in Tidewater and beyond.
Keynote speaker Rabbi Daniel Cohen brought both inspiration and challenge to the evening, encouraging attendees to think deeply about purpose, impact, and the lives they are actively shaping.
The evening also marked a moment of continuity and leadership as Eddie Kramer, outgoing TJF chair, ceremonially passed the torch to Paul Peck, incoming chair, during a moving “passing of the light” ceremony that symbolized stewardship, trust, and the continuation of vision from one leader to the next.
A particularly joyful moment of the evening took place when guest Cantor Jason Schachter McKinney performed two spirited musical pieces that energized the room and inspired a sense of forward movement.
As flashlights illuminated the room during a communal rendition of This Little Light of Mine, the message of the evening was clear: the future of Jewish Tidewater is not something to wait for. It is something being built now – brighter together.
