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“Can you imagine a Jewish and Israeli food festival right here in Tidewater?” says Terri Sarfan, president of the Simon Family JCC. “It started with a vision for a bigger and improved Israel Fest, and it’s morphed into a series of fabulous programs involving the...

(JTA)—Ariel Sharon, one of Israel’s last warrior statesmen, whose military and political careers were woven into his nation’s triumphs and failures, has died. Sharon, 85, died Saturday, January 11 at the Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv after eight years in a coma....

January 26 9 am–1 pm Take the call, make a gift, volunteer your time Volunteers needed Two shifts: 9–11 am, and 11 am–1 pm. Babysitting provided. The Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community, Virginia Beach Frequently asked questions What exactly is...

The Virginia Festival of Jewish Film celebrates and supports International Jewish film and filmmakers, presenting the newest and best films worldwide. The Festival brings together community and provides entertainment and education through various film genres. We look...

WASHINGTON (JTA)—They want to brandish a new stick against Iran, but hawks in Congress aren’t going to use it—yet. For all the disappointment they expressed following the deal on Iran’s nuclear program, skeptics in Congress appear to be willing to give the agreement...

Sponsored by Jewish Family Service Sunday, Dec. 15, 10 am–3 pm Simon Family JCC I have recently had the honor of attending two very special Shabbat services, the first at Congregation Beth El and the second at Ohef Sholom Temple. Both Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz of Beth El...

The struggling, but brave Jewish families of Budapest, Hungary want to celebrate Chanukah as a community; and like all Jewish parents, they want Chanukah to be a special time for their children. That is why the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater is launching a new...

NEW YORK (JTA)—As the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination approaches, we Jews have our own special reasons to mourn. The conventional community memory of Kennedy would be enough by itself. JFK overcame the legacy of his father, President Franklin...

Sunday, Nov. 3–Sunday, Nov. 17 The Cardo of the Sandler Family Campus will be filled with books of all shapes and sizes, as the Simon Family JCC presents The Lee and Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival 2013. Thanks to the festival’s partner Barnes & Noble,...

The custom of inviting guests to share a meal in the temporary dwelling known as a sukkah, during the festival of Sukkot, became an opportunity to share Jewish traditions with other faith communities in Tidewater. The Community Relations Council of the United Jewish...

The morning after the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2014 Annual Campaign Kickoff, phones started ringing and emails started arriving in Campaign staffers offices. “How did he do it? That was amazing? I’ve never been to an event like this before— it was...

The importance of being an active advocate for Israel was brought home to area college students at the Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Bringing Israel Home event on August 11. The annual event, designed by and for college...

In 2000, at the age of 11, Ina’s neighbor told her that she was a Jew. Confused by the comment, she went home and asked her parents for the truth. “How is this possible?” she asked. Growing up Christian, she went to church with her mother. Without saying a word, her...

After 10 months of leadership seminars, workshops, and discussions, and more than 12 hours of travel, participants of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2013 Hineni! Leadership Development program touched down in Israel on Thursday, June 20. For the next six...

The advantage in the chess game currently “in play” on the second floor of the Sandler Family Campus goes to the entire Tidewater Jewish community, who— no matter the game’s outcome — are already winners. Carefully installed in the Kramer boardroom in mid-June, the...

On Monday, June 3, 2013, Alvin Wall called to order a meeting of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater (UJFT) for the last time as its president. That evening on the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus, the UJFT’s biennial meeting saw the installation of a new...

NEW YORK (JTA)—May is Jewish American Heritage Month, a commemoration first recognized by President George W. Bush in 2006. Since then, hundreds of programs have taken place nationwide annually to honor the rich contributions of Jews to American culture and society....

Members of the Jewish and Christian communities shared a special night honoring Israel, and one another, at Virginia Beach’s Rock Church on April 23. Organizations representing the two communities, including Christians United for Israel, the United Jewish Federation...

May 3–10 Jewish Family Service of Tidewater’s 9th Annual Week of Healthy Living will feature events and activities that promote wellness threefold: body, mind and “soles.” For the body, there is a program on Jewish genetic diseases. For the mind, there will be a...

Sunday, April 28, 12:30–5 pm The Simon Family Jewish Community Center will host a free*, family-centered celebration of Israel’s Independence Day— Yom Ha’Atzmaut—for the entire Tidewater community, reaching out to everyone who supports Israel and enjoys its culture....

(Jewish Exponent) -- “It was a beautiful day. I was so excited to run and having such a good run. The crowd was unbelievable. The whole experience was amazing. It was almost magical." That’s how the Boston Marathon began for Rabbi Benjamin David, head rabbi at Adath...

Sunday, April 14, 1–4 pm Avoiding the Desert to Find Enlightenment Starting with the evening of the second seder, we have been in the period known as Sephirat HaOmer, often called Sephira for short, or in English, the Counting of the Omer. During the sevenweek Sephira...

6:45 pm How often do memories of life during the Holocaust seep into Frank Grunwald’s mind? Every day—maybe 15 times or maybe 30—says this year’s guest speaker for the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s commemoration of Yom Hashoah,...

More than 200 people gathered on Sunday, Feb. 10 for brunch at Ohef Sholom Temple and for an inspiring America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) event. Following a delicious brunch prepared by the Men’s Club of Ohef Sholom, who joined with the Sisterhood, Young...

Armed with talking points, folders filled with information, and an abundance of determination, a contingent of focused Jewish citizens took to the halls of the Virginia General Assembly building on January 22. The group of 36 who traveled by bus from Tidewater joined...

Likud leads, but rise of Yesh Atid, Jewish Home bode bumpy road ahead for Netanyahu TEL AVIV (JTA)—His party shrunk, his opponents grew and his challengers multiplied. But with the results in, it seems Benjamin Netanyahu survived the Knesset elections on Jan. 22 to...

When Jewish communities initiated the one-day Super Sunday phone-a-thon 30 or so years ago, they essentially were mirroring other successful fundraising events of the time, such as the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon. Volunteers called from a bank...

View the full film schedule here The Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, which will celebrate its 20th consecutive year as a major cultural event in this community Jan. 19–27, was a feat for a community this size when it began in 1993. Twenty years ago, Marty...

Jewish communities across the United States are grappling with the reality of dwindling synagogue memberships, struggling or shuttered JCCs, shrinking Day School enrollment and little opportunity for Jewish culture, education and interaction. This area is not immune...

(JTA) – As Israel and Hamas mostly stilled their guns after reaching a cease-fire agreement, ending eight days of intense bombardment, both sides took home some new lessons about their foes. By firing longer-range rockets capable of reaching Jerusalem and Tel Aviv,...