Virginia Beach City Council honors UJFT’s Jewish Community Relations Council and Holocaust Commission for International Holocaust Remembrance Day
In a strong demonstration of civic partnership and solidarity with the Jewish community, the Virginia Beach City Council issued an official resolution on January 20 proclaiming January 27, 2026 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in the City of Virginia Beach....
Engagement stories filled with romance and surprise
When it’s time to propose, the days of going it alone and private are a thing of the past. It used to be that all that was necessary to become engaged was a couple in love and a ring. Family, friends, and photographers to capture the moment, are all part of today’s...
Celebrating a Living Legacy: Honoring Hebrew Ladies Charity Society
The legacy of Hebrew Ladies Charity Society was celebrated during a warm and meaningful afternoon luncheon on Sunday, January 11 at Ohef Sholom Temple. The event honored more than a century of compassion, generosity, and hands-on service. Stephanie Peck, JFS...
How did the most adult book in the Bible turn into a kids holiday?
The story of Purim is decidedly not family-friendly, yet it offers little ones unique access into a holiday where everything is upside-down. (JTA) One of the main advantages for Jewish kids in a Christian world is that — thanks to Purim — they get two “Halloweens.”...
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JTA News
Protests roil Australia ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s planned visit
Herzog was invited to visit Australia by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the wake of the Bondi massacre.
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The post Protests roil Australia ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s planned visit appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Human Rights Watch’s top Israel-Palestine staffer quits over shelved report criticizing Israel
The group's former head Kenneth Roth, a major critic of Israel, defended the deci defended the NGO’s decision to shelve the report,
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The post Human Rights Watch’s top Israel-Palestine staffer quits over shelved report criticizing Israel appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
A maligned marker honoring a French Nazi sympathizer is off NYC’s streets — for now
Disrepair seems to have accomplished what Jewish advocates could not.
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The post A maligned marker honoring a French Nazi sympathizer is off NYC’s streets — for now appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Latest Epstein files release unleashes wave of antisemitic conspiracy theories on social media
“This is the synagogue of Satan we are up against,” wrote far-right streamer Candace Owens.
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The post Latest Epstein files release unleashes wave of antisemitic conspiracy theories on social media appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
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Latest News
Turning the Page: 2026 JAHM books announced for Tidewater schools
One of the annual initiatives of Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), which takes place in May, is the distribution of books to local schools. Through this program, thousands of students encounter Jewish stories, many for the very first time. The 2026 JAHM...
Beth Sholom Village launches new grant program to support seniors
Aging with dignity is a cornerstone of a strong community. Increasingly, that dignity is defined not only by care, but by connection, purpose, and opportunity. Through the newly launched Beth Sholom Village Grant Program, Beth Sholom Village is investing in innovative...
Accommodations for open participation at Sandler Family Campus
Providing accommodations for everyone who visits the Sandler Family Campus is an ongoing commitment for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Simon Family JCC. The campus facilities continue to be at the forefront of making certain all may visit and take...
Legacy conversations begin around the table
The table was already cluttered. Half-empty glasses, a bowl of pasta passed one more time, someone reaching for the last challah crumbs. It wasn’t a planned conversation. No agenda. Just a familiar meal, shared with people who knew one another well enough to speak...
When dialogue unites: One table, three rabbis, and a shared hope.
I experienced one of those moments that reaffirms why sincere dialogue remains one of the most powerful tools we have as a society, on Wednesday, Dec. 17. Around a shared table sat three rabbis—Rabbi Shlomo Eisenberg of Congregation B’nai Israel,...
Midyear matters: BeAR needs more volunteers
Halfway through the school year may not feel like the moment to start something new, but for BeAR, it is one of the most critical times to step in. The Be A Reader (BeAR) Literacy Project needs additional mentors for Willard Model Elementary (Norfolk) and...
Support for Beth Israel
Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, was set on fire predawn on Saturday, Jan. 10. Thankfully, no congregants or staff were injured, and the building was unoccupied at the time. The synagogue did have a security camera system, a fact which assisted in the...
Showing up matters: Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day returns
Community advocacy strengthens security, combats antisemitism, and builds lasting relationships. Tuesday, Feb. 10, Richmond As the 2026 legislative session of the Virginia General Assembly gets underway this month, one message is clear: showing up matters. That’s why...
Other News
America’s Black-Jewish story gets an update on new PBS series featuring Henry Louis Gates, Michael Twitty and more
(JTA) — Passover may still be months away, but PBS is seating a diverse set of Jews down for a seder this month — casting the communal storytelling meal as an ideal entry point for exploring the complicated history of Black-Jewish relations in the United States....
HIAS shuts Vienna office that aided generations of refugees after Trump pulls funding
(JTA) — Since the end of World War II, Vienna has functioned as an Ellis Island for Jewish refugees from Europe and the Middle East, a place where survivors, dissidents and religious minorities arrived with little more than documents and hope, and departed toward new...
How Hamantaschen became a Purim staple
Today we think of hamantaschen, the triangle-shaped stuffed cookie, as the pastry of the Jewish holiday of Purim. But the original hamantaschen had no Jewish connection at all. According to Gil Marks in his landmark book, Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, the hamantaschen...
Deni Avdija becomes first Israeli to be selected as an NBA All-Star
(JTA) — Portland Trail Blazers star Deni Avdija’s meteoric rise has officially reached a new stratosphere, as the 25-year-old forward has become the NBA’s first-ever Israeli All-Star. Avdija was named an All-Star reserve for the Western Conference on...
What’s Happening
Securing Houses of Worship:Countering Active Threat Training (CATT)
Sunday, March 22, 3 pm First Presbyterian Church, Norfolk Active threat situations are...
Midyear matters: BeAR needs more volunteers
Halfway through the school year may not feel like the moment to start something new, but for BeAR,...
Join Camp JCC for School Days Out on Presidents’ Day
Monday, February 16, 9 am – 4 pm, Sandler Family Campus Looking for the perfect plan for...
RESCHEDULED: A Feminist Lens: Celebrating Joan Roth
Thursday, March 19, 7:30 pm Sandler Family Campus Internationally acclaimed photographer Joan Roth...
Obituaries
May the Source of Peace
send peace to all who mourn, and comfort to all who are bereaved.
Howard J. Bernstein
Galloway, N.J. – Howard J. Bernstein, 93, passed away on January 22, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was predeceased by his parents, Ida...
Robert Buckman
Virginia Beach – Robert “Bob” Buckman, passed away peacefully at his home on January 13, 2026. Bob was a loving husband, father,...
Barbara Carlson
Chesapeake – Barbara Carlson, a remarkable soul who dedicated her life to the pursuit of truth and beauty, passed away peacefully on the morning of...
Thelma Laderberg
Norfolk –Thelma Laderberg passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026, at Harbor’s Edge in Norfolk, Virginia, at the age of 100. She...