Jewish News

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 Tidewater, we are able to look forward to those celebrations [...]

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% purity. “Iran is a state-sponsor of terrorism and poses an existential threat to our national [...]

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 and classes at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC. All 99 paintings will be [...]

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 academic support, test preparations, or extracurricular activities. But, one of the most [...]

(JTA)—Israel must grant citizenship to Jews who converted to Judaism in Israel under non-Orthodox auspices, its Supreme Court ruled Monday, March 1, possibly igniting another round in the long-running government battle over who the state should recognize as Jewish. The decision, written by Chief Justice Esther Hayut, comes less than a month before national elections. [...]

Actually standing in a boat looking at a whale in the water, it’s not hard to imagine how one swallowed Jonah. Encouraging her students to be inquisitors, Morah Nicole’s class at Strelitz International Academy has become enthralled with all kinds of whales. That’s how I learned that whales migrate through our area from December to [...]

Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s Simon Family Passport to Israel Fund, which provides grants for trips for teens to Israel, is accepting applications for the program until March 15, 2021. The program provides funds to enable and encourage Jewish students to participate in a trip to Israel. Trips that are funded include educational and peer group experiences. [...]

Anniversaries are sometimes faced with mixed emotions. For some, there’s pure joy in recalling a wedding anniversary or the day children or grandchildren were born. Conversely, some bring sadness, reminders of the loss of loved ones or of a catastrophic event such as 9/11. For Pam Blais, like the global community, March 2021 represents the [...]

Around the time of their bar or bat mitzvot, teens explore what it means to become an adult and active member of the Jewish community. They study Torah, learn to lead services, perform mitzvah projects and begin their journey into Jewish philanthropy. The Tidewater Jewish Foundation is available to facilitate a conversation between the b’nai [...]

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 confusion and register them on-line. Volunteer to help JFS and Untied Jewish Federation of [...]