A Purim party at B'nei Israel in Norfolk

Norfolk, Virginia is not exactly a place known for its religious Jews.  It’s popular for its seafood, for its Navy connections, and for the beaches of nearby Virginia Beach – hardly a very kosher host of superlatives.  Yet, Norfolk is home to two thriving orthodox Jewish communities (as well as an enormous conservative synagogue) and even boasts of having an eruv. And even if there’s no kosher restaurant, there is at least a kosher bagel place!

Norfolk is the community where I first became exposed to orthodox Judaism back in 2004.  It was nice to go back and visit this weekend.  It was a trip down memory lane to walk the same streets, visit the same homes, and sit in the same seat in shul.

Norfolk is a mostly black-hat community, the kind of place where nearly all the men wear suits on Shabbat (even if it’s hot), yet it’s not an extreme community at all.  It’s not a singing-dancing-drinking kind of shul; it tends to be much more serious than that in terms of community religious observance. Yet, the mood of the synagogue is decidedly lighthearted and there is always a l’chaim available for those who want one.  The community also takes hachnosas orchim very seriously, so if you call up the shul (B’nei Israel – (757) 627-7894), there is an option to have someone provide you with Shabbos accommodations and meals, and if you don’t call ahead, you can just show up at shul – there is always an announcement offering Shabbos meals to anybody who needs them.

Many of the people living in the Norfolk community are ba’al teshuva, so they didn’t grow up orthodox, but became religious later in life.  As a result, there is a very relaxed attitude in the community, which is open and accepting.  Women there might wear short sleeves or hats, even as their husbands insist on wearing suits.  You could pretty much show up in any kind of outfit and nobody would judge you, having been there themselves.  It’s a great feeling and it’s why I was able to open my mind up to orthodoxy while I was there.

Unfortunately, I have never really experienced the Chabad of Norfolk.  When I first became involved in the community, Norfolk had a kollel that was extremely active in outreach (or “inreach”!) and I was so well taken care of that I had no interest in going elsewhere.  Now that I am traveling and spending Shabbat in a different place almost every week, I am excited about seeing a new side of Norfolk! Hopefully in the coming weeks we will have a chance to check it out.