Jewish News

In the digital-turned-remote age of work and worship, every single dollar makes a difference. Five synagogues in the area received funds from United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund of the Tidewater Jewish Community to upgrade and purchase equipment needed for a richer remote religious experience, including Congregation Beth El, Kempsville [...]

After almost 18 years of serving the spiritual and religious needs of Beth Sholom Village as its director of Religious Services, Cantor Elihu Flax is retiring in July. Cantor Flax became a fixture at BSV, taking an interest in all of the residents who lived there, both long-term or short-term for rehabilitation. During his years [...]

Beth Sholom Village is set to welcome Rabbi Adam Ruditsky as its new Religious Cultural Leader. Ordained by the Academy for Jewish Religion of California in Los Angeles, Ruditsky embraces the words of the Kotzker Rebbe, who taught, “a whole heart is a broken heart,” meaning that on the journey of life, everyone has the opportunity [...]

The most common questions that people ask regarding summer camp, says Dave Flagler, Camp JCC director, concerns swimming. “People want to know if swimming will take place,” he says. “’Of course, it will!’ I tell everyone.” Camp JCC, after all, is known for its successful swim program and beautiful pool facilities. And, this year, will [...]

Have you met or do you know someone who has recently moved to our community? If so, Shalom Tidewater would love to welcome them on behalf of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Simon Family JCC. Please direct them to the link on our website, JewishVa.org/shalom-tidewater or share their name and contact information with [...]

The sun was shining and the air crisp, making it a perfect day to hang out of car windows and stand up through sunroofs waving Israeli flags and streamers to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s 73rd Independence Day, at the Sandler Family Campus on Sunday, April 18. Families enjoyed “traveling through Israel” while never leaving their [...]

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 than a year! Families joyfully participated in a drive-through Israel [...]

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 Women’s Cabinet, chaired by Mona Flax, made calls, sent letters, texts, and emails, [...]

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 right. And, I always wanted [...]

Virginia Beach—Elsie Hirsch, 99, passed away peacefully at home on April 1, 2021, just days shy of her 100th birthday. She was born in Ulm, Germany on April 6, 1921 to Carl and Hilda Moos. In 1939, Elsie immigrated to the United States with her parents as a Holocaust refugee. Her brother, Henry Moos, had [...]