Jewish News

(JTA) President-elect Joe Biden filled the months before Inauguration Day lining up a slate of Cabinet secretaries, assistants and advisors, many of them Jewish. Biden’s choices reflect a diverse cross-section of American Jewry and possess expertise gleaned from decades of experience in government, science and medicine and law. Here’s a rundown of the Jewish names [...]

WASHINGTON (JTA)—There are 37 Jewish members of the 117th Congress, which was sworn in earlier this month amid the trauma of an insurrection spurred by President Donald Trump. Of the 37, there are 10 in the Senate and 27 in the House of Representatives—25 Democrats and two Republicans. All 10 Jewish senators caucus with the [...]

Hanukkah around the world together Beth El celebrated Hanukkah each night with collective candle lighting, singing, and sharing that took the congregation around the world and back again. Several members grew up in other countries and shared stories and childhood memories of their Hanukkah celebrations. Mike Ashe and Sonia Stein shared stories from France, Vivian [...]

When most people hear the word ‘Hadassah,’ chances are they think of a hospital in Israel. In actuality, Hadassah is so much more. Hadassah’s mission statement describes itself as “a volunteer organization that inspires a passion for and commitment to the land, the people, and the future of Israel. Through education, advocacy, and youth development, [...]

While the wait for a safe vaccine for all looms large, the range of reactions to COVID-19 is as diverse as the people whose lives are affected. Some seniors in the community have lived in Tidewater all their lives. They’re married with children and grandchildren and have strong ties to the area. For others, family [...]

Prue Salasky spent six months of a 10-month teaching assignment in Bulgaria through the U.S. Fulbright program. Her Balkan adventure, including plans to visit Istanbul, Kiev, Odessa, and Israel, was cut short when Fulbright canceled all its programs worldwide due to the novel coronavirus pandemic and sent everyone home—effective immediately. Salasky was in Baltimore, Md, [...]

We sometimes fall into the understandable error of thinking that tradition is the opposite of having a history. We think that history is about change, whereas tradition is about resistance to change. That’s true some of the time, but not always. A deeper understanding reveals that tradition itself is developmental, not static. The holiday of [...]

In September 2016, Tidewater Jewish Foundation partnered with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to launch the Life & Legacy program in Tidewater. After four successful years, 332 donors have made 571 legacy commitments worth $21.5 million in current and future gifts to support endowments in the local Jewish community. The initial ‘start-up’ phase of this program [...]

As Jewish Family Service nears its 75th year as a Jewish Service Agency, the non-profit organization is charting its future by focusing on the increasing needs of the community. JFS sees an opportunity to expand and re-energize the agency’s big impact mission-based programs. “JFS is increasing our focus on outreach through our Private Duty Embrace [...]

Strelitz International Academy returned from Winter Break to Spirit Week, January 5–8, culminating in the Day of Giving, hoping to inspire parents to participate in the school’s annual donor fund (ADF) reflecting the power of community. Spirit Week was the brainchild of SIA’s Parent Volunteer Committee and Student Government Association to highlight this important Week [...]