Israeli Dance: Good for the Spirit and Body
Wednesdays, 5:30 PM • Simon Family JCC - NOTE NEW TIME
Come learn a style of dance that is rooted in the history and culture of Israel, while enjoying excellent cardiovascular exercise, and improving your coordination and flexibility. Taught by Pati Oliszewski, who has a deep passion for both dance and Jewish culture paired with years of performance. Thanks to a sponsorship by the Konikoff Center for Learning of the UJFT, this class is being offered for FREE through the end of October. (In November it will remain free for JCC members).
Yiddish Club
BEGINS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1:00 PM • Simon Family JCC
Yiddish Club is returning to the Simon Family JCC. This event promises to be a joyous occasion where attendees can reconnect with old friends and make new ones who share a love for Yiddishkeit. The Yiddish Club is a vibrant hub for preserving and promoting the Yiddish language and its rich heritage, making it an essential part of the community. This club is free and open to the community and will reoccur every other Tuesday throughout the year. For more information and to RSVP, please visit JewishVA.org/YiddishClub or contact Mia Klein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 757-452-3184.
NEW MELTON COURSE - Press Pause, Rest Assured
WEDNESDAYS @2PM, BEGINS OCTOBER 11 • TEMPLE EMANUEL
The Jewish approach to mindfulness and self-care traces back to the roots of creation. The concept of a week comes from the Jewish marking of six days of work and one day of rest. For six days each week, we actively interact with the world. On the seventh, we reflect on our actions. We pause, rest, reflect and reboot. In this unit, we will explore Shabbat and the role of time in Judaism. Along with other prescribed Jewish practices that ask us to pause, reflect and refrain from business as usual. Together, we will reflect on the practices that allow us to start anew, week after week, and year after year. JewishVA.org/Melton to register. Use code “60FY24” to receive $60 off.
Dean Cycon, author of Finding Home (Hungary, 1945)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9 | 12pm • SIMON FAMILY JCC
Dean Cycon illuminates a little-known piece of the Jewish post-WWII experience: A search for home, community, and family where they no longer exist.
$8 for JCC members and adults 55+ | $12 for non-members. Lunch included with ticket. For more information and to register, visit JewishVA.org/BookFest or contact Hunter Thomas at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Presented by the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC’s Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival and the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, in commemoration of the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht.
Amy Ostrower - Berkley: A Look Into The Heart of A Neighborhood
Sunday, November 12, 12:00 PM EST • Simon Family JCC
Step back in time and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of the Berkley Jewish community. Delve into the heartwarming journey of family traditions and cherished recipes passed down through generations, featured in the book, Nana Lena's Kitchen, a heartfelt tribute to Lena's culinary legacy, lovingly documented by her granddaughter, Amy Ostrower. JewishVA.org/Berkley FREE & Open to the Community.
Jacqueline Friedland, author of The Stockwell Letters
Monday, November 13 | 7:30pm • SIMON FAMILY JCC
Based on the true story of abolitionist Ann Phillips, The Stockwell Letters takes a deep dive into the obstacles faced by abolitionists who fought tirelessly to eradicate slavery. Jacqueline Friedland kicks off the Konikoff Center for Learning of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Unsung SHEroes of History series, a celebration of American women whose contributions to history have gone unrecognized through the passage of time. FREE and open to the community. For more information and to register, visit JewishVA.org/BookFest or contact Hunter Thomas at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Presented by the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC’s Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival in partnership with the Konikoff Center for Learning of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, the Institute for Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding at Old Dominion University, and ODU’s Department of Women’s and Gender Studies.
March for Israel in the Nation’s Capital
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14 • Tidewater to Washington, D.C.
October 7 was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. And now, antisemitism is on the rise while hundreds of hostages captured by Hamas are still missing. Now’s the time to take a stand. Join thousands of pro-Israel Americans in DC on Tuesday, November 14. RSVP Required > JewishVA.org/MarchonWashington Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Marjorie Ingall, author of Sorry, Sorry, Sorry: The Case For Good Apologies
Thursday, November 16 | 7:30pm • SIMON FAMILY JCC
With her six (and a half!)-step formula for apologizing beautifully, Marjorie Ingall explains how to respond to a bad apology, why a good apology is hard to find, and why it doesn’t have to be. For more information and to register, visit JewishVA.org/BookFest or contact Hunter Thomas at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Presented by the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC’s Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival. FREE and open to the community.
Moon Circle Gathering
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 6:30 PM • SIMON FAMILY JCC
The popular and soul-nourishing Moon Circle Gatherings return this month — with participants focusing on Illumination. It is the Hebrew calendar month of Kislev.
Registration required, $7 donation suggested. Jewishva.org/Moon
BeAR (Be A Reader) needs volunteers for the 23/24 school year!
We would love to add you to our team of mentors!
One hour a week, one-on-one quality reading time with your BeAR student will help them foster a love for reading while building a meaningful bond.
If you are concerned about the time commitment, consider the BeAR Share volunteer option, where two volunteers share the weekly time obligation for their student. Contact Robin Ford at 757-321-2304 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Humusiya is Tidewater’s Tastiest (and Kosher) Israeli Cuisine
Chef Eitan Altshuler presents his best take on authentic Israeli cuisine each week in a list of tantalizing specials that can be found on The Cardo Café menu (as well as online at Humusiya.com). His famously light and delectable hummus, plus items like shawarma, Za’atar pita, and more are featured each week and available for dine in (at the JCC), ordering ahead for takeout, or DoorDash delivery. All of which can be found at the website or by clicking here.
