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The annual Stein Family College Scholarship of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation was recently awarded to Danial Watts, a soon-to-be graduate of Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach. Watts is the 13th recipient of the four-year scholarship, which provides up to...

Earlier this month, our community, along with communities around the world, celebrated the 73rd birthday of the State of Israel. On Sunday, April 18, the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community was more vibrant than it has been in more...

The past 12 months have been unlike any before them in myriad ways. No one can argue with that. However, in other ways, it’s been business as usual for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Division—with creative programming and fundraising. This year’s...

When I was in college, I remember saying to my friends that I did not want to be a mother. It came with responsibility that I did not want. As a mother, you are given a precious gift, yet it comes with no instruction manual and no way to know that you’ll get it...

Just like the rest of the world, Beth Sholom Village had been waiting. Waiting for what all hoped would be the answer to the devastating COVID-19 virus. The answer came in the form of a shot that takes about 30 seconds. Then, three weeks later, a second shot. On...

Monday, April 12–Thursday, April 22 https://www.jewishva.org/Lfinkart On view through May 10 in the Leon Family Gallery, Sandler Family Campus Art is meant to be viewed and shared, according to Lorraine Fink, and sometimes, it can also assist a favorite organization....

Passover usually marks the start of spring and a reminder to celebrate redemption, hope, and renewal. Now, as we begin to emerge from one of the most challenging years of our lifetime, we see the possibilities of real celebration in our near future. For Jewish...

Congresswoman Elaine Luria is the primary sponsor of one piece of legislation condemning Iran’s nuclear program. A bipartisan group of House members joined Luria earlier this month to introduce the resolution, which condemns Iran’s decision to enrich uranium to 20%...

Monday, April 12–Thursday, April 22 On View: Leon Family Gallery, Sandler Family Campus Auction and sale: www.JewishVA.org/LFinkArt Lorraine Fink is generously donating 99 original works of art for auction and sale with all proceeds benefiting visual arts programming...

Children, teens, and their parents have been in a “virtual” world for more than one year and the social pressures, academic stresses, and lack of real-world experiences are taking their toll. Parents will do almost anything to help their children succeed, whether with...

A phone application assistance and outreach program for people who need help registering for the COVID-19 vaccination is being offered by Jewish Family Service. People can call and speak to Sharon Rosenbaum and/or Jody Laibstain. They will help people navigate any...

During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all experiencing a relentless hunger—a hunger for our children and grandchildren, a hunger for our friends, a hunger for “normalcy.” But few of us, gratefully, have known hunger as an empty stomach crying out for food....

Mary Parker was not ready for her husband of 33 years to die and certainly not for the intense care he would need in his final days. “Charles was just 48 when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma before his death at the age of 64. After years of treatment, his...

In 2020, Carin Joffe Simon and husband Mike Simon planned the first Tidewater virtual Bar Mitzvah for their son, Nate. When Betty Ann Levin watched the event, which was livestreamed on Facebook from their home, she joined the community of friends and family...

If you think the new sitcom, Call Your Mother is about children avoiding their mothers during the pandemic, you would be half right. The show, starring Kyra Sedgwick, is based, however, on life after the pandemic. The life-after-COVID messaging is pure hope and...

As Hayden Caplan prepared for his upcoming bar mitzvah in May, there was no question what he wanted to do for his mitzvah project. A friend from his pre-school days at Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, Benjamin Goldberg, an amazing young boy, passed away at just eight...

March 23 at 7 pm & April 26 at 8 pm Join this informational session to learn about Camp JCC 2021 and the program modifications that will be in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Camp JCC Director, Dave Flagler, will present, answer questions, and will...

A phone application assistance and outreach program for people who need help registering for the COVID-19 vaccination is being offered by Jewish Family Service. People can call and speak to Sharon Rosenbaum and/or Jody Laibstain. They will help people navigate any...

The Jewish Agency for Israel, JAFI, is a global platform that founded and built the state of Israel. Now in its 90th year, its mission to overcome challenges facing Jews around the world expands its reach while responding to the hurtling impact of COVID-19. JAFI...

Creativity reigns throughout the community with plans to celebrate Purim with both traditional and innovative, fun events. The holiday commemorates the saving of the Jewish people in Persia as recounted in the Book of Esther. Compiled by Ronnie Jacobs Cohen for Shalom...

What profession did you retire from? I started and was responsible for running a residential mortgage loan servicing operation that eventually became the third largest in the country. Today, we are one of the largest employers in Tidewater. My background was public...

What profession did you retire from? I had a wonderful career working with great colleagues, clients, and donors—27 years in wealth management/finance and 8 years in philanthropy. What are you doing now? I’m grateful I’ve had the opportunity to give back to the...

What are you doing now? During the first six months of COVID, I wrote a research-informed journal-style book about it as it was unfolding. I was in Florida with my mother (now 96) during that time. At first I was there to help her, then we were both there until we...