Jewish News

(JTA)—For North American Jews, the Jewish year 5778 began with tensions between Israel and the Diaspora over egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall and ended with more tension over a controversial nationality law. In between, North American Jews grappled with the impact of the #MeToo movement, the Trump administration relocated the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv and actress Natalie Portman made headlines for turning down a chance to collect a top prize in Israel.

After 30 years of dedicated service to Tidewater’s Jewish community, Harry Graber retired on June 30. Attended by hundreds of well-wishers, a celebration in his honor took place on June 14 at the Sandler Family Campus. Graber served from 1988 to 2003 as executive vice president of Jewish Family Service, followed by 15 years as executive vice president of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.

The 30th Annual Hebrew Academy of Tidewater’s Bob Josephberg Classic, which raises money for Hebrew Academy of Tidewater and Strelitz Early Childhood Education Center, will include a continental breakfast, on course lunch, beverages, snacks, and a post-tournament awards reception and dinner.

While the end of summer is almost here, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Young Adult Division still has plenty of fun planned, especially at its annual End of Summer Shabbat Dinner and Pool Party.

Israelis living in communities on the border with Gaza, known as the Gaza Envelope, are facing a wave of extreme terrorism. Since April, rockets—made from kites, balloons, and other devices—have barraged the region, causing fires that have burned thousands of acres of farmland and forests, putting the safety of residents at risk, and causing extensive [...]

Mondays, beginning August 13, 7 pm, Simon Family JCC The Simon Family JCC is offering a free Hebrew Reading Crash Course that is designed to teach those with no basic knowledge of Hebrew how to read the language in five easy lessons—just in time to be better prepared for High Holiday services. An estimated four million [...]

Thursday, September 6, 6 pm Sandler Family Campus United Jewish Federation of Tidewater will launch the 2019 Annual Campaign with Izzy Ezagui, the first one-armed military sharp shooter and author of Disarmed; presented in partnership with The Lee & Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival. The evening begins with a reception. Contact Amy Zelenka at [...]

Charlotte Rae, who starred as Mrs. Garrett on The Facts of Life Actress Charlotte Rae, who won acclaim playing the housemother Edna Garrett on the sitcom The Facts of Life, has died. She was 92. Rae, who was nominated for Emmy and Tony awards, died Sunday, August 5 at her home in Los Angeles. She was diagnosed last year with bone [...]

Richard Siegel, educator who co-edited The Jewish Catalog Andrew Silow-Carroll NEW YORK (JTA)—Richard Siegel, an educator who advocated for Jewish culture and arts and co-edited the seminal Jewish Catalog series of guides to “do-it-yourself” Judaism, died Thursday, July 12 in Los Angeles. He was 70 and had been battling cancer for two years, according to a friend and colleague, Barry Holtz, a professor [...]

Ronald Burt Zedd NORFOLK—Ronald Burt Zedd, 80, of Norfolk, died peacefully on July 22, 2018, after a brief illness. He lived in Norfolk his entire life and was blessed with a wide network of family and friends, all of whom loved him very deeply. He was best known for his sweet personality, kindness and most of all for his inimitable sense of humor. [...]