ROANOKE - Brian Jay Wishneff was born on October 16, 1952, and passed away on May 24, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. He was the son of the late Alvin Wishneff and Ruth Victor Wishneff. Brian grew up with his parents, three sisters, and one brother in Norfolk. He...
Month: September 2012
Archives
Dr. Leonard I. Ruchelman
SILVER SPRING, Md. - Dr. Leonard I. Ruchelman passed away peacefully on April 27, 2025, at the age of 91 in his home in Silver Spring, Maryland. He was born on June 28, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York to Jacob and Sarah Ruchelman. Leonard is survived by his wife Diana...
Ernest Martin Lendman
Virginia Beach - Ernest Martin Lendman (Ernie), 86, passed away on May 11, 2025. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Ernie was the son of the late Henry and Sarah Lendman. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Sheila Ktotstein Lendman, and his brother Stephan...
Benjamin Kevin Glaser
VIRGINIA BEACH - Benjamin Kevin Glaser, affectionately known as Kevin, passed away unexpectedly at his home on May 15, 2025, at the age of 62. Born in Norfolk and raised in Virginia Beach, Kevin was a proud graduate of Kempsville High School, Class of 1981. He went on...
Albert Brunn
COCONUT CREEK, FLORIDA - Albert J. Brunn, 100, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Born in Berlin, Germany, in 1924 to Martin and Hertha Brunn, Albert’s early life was shaped by the profound upheaval of his time. As antisemitism swept through Nazi...
Lag Baomer – Flames with Life
This year’s Lag BaOmer celebration hosted by Jewish Virginia Beach brought together more than 300 participants for an afternoon that balanced joy, depth, and community spirit — and showcased a Jewish presence that’s growing, young, and full of life. Held at Hunt Club...
Tidewater’s Yom Ha’Zikaron Ceremony
Community members gathered at the Sandler Family Campus on Wednesday, April 30 to recognize Israel Remembrance Day (Yom HaZikaron) – a solemn occasion dedicated to remembering Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror attacks. Leading the heartfelt ceremony were...
Beach Sisterhood plays Bunco
A combination of Beth Chaverim and Temple Emanuel women, Beach Sisterhood held its first Bunco game at Ilene Kohen’s home in April. Several guests joined Beach Sisterhood for this entertaining event. The group of 18 women had lots of fun trying to roll three dice and...
Local VE-Day observance features Holocaust survivor
The 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day was observed in Tidewater with a special presentation by Dr. Roger and Win Loria at the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk on May 8. United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission partnered with the MacArthur...
ODU Hillel walks to shine a light on mental health
Students from Old Dominion University’s Hillel, led by Dr. Amy Milligan, proudly participated in the school’s annual Out of the Darkness Walk, a national movement in support of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on Sunday, April 27. The event is part of a...
An Evening of Israeli Culture and Connection
Last month, Adrianne Royes invited Tidewater’s Shinshinim, Danielle Hartman and Emily Patyuk, as well as a few friends, to spend an evening together filled with Israel culture and cuisine. “A fun time was had by all. Guests were thoroughly pampered by our Shin-chefs...
My Jewish family is proof that hope is worth mustering after terror cuts young lives short
The death of any young person at the hands of a terrorist is horrific. The death of a young couple on the verge of getting engaged to be married reverberates further. The Mishnah tells us that to destroy any life is to destroy a world, but to destroy the lives of two...
‘He never should have made it inside that building’: Jewish security groups face down lapses in DC shooting
Security professionals urge Jewish institutions to expand the security perimeter at their events. On Wednesday, May 21, three-armed security officers stood guard as the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington held its annual meeting in the nation’s...
Attorney General Miyares secures court decision requiring American Muslims for Palestine to comply with investigation
Court rejected nonprofit’s efforts to delay oversight Attorney General Jason Miyares secured a court victory last month that will compel AJP Educational Foundation, also known as American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), to comply with the Attorney General’s Civil...
Let’s join together: United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Biennial Meeting
Wednesday, June 11, 6:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus Tidewater’s Jewish community often gathers for commemorations and celebrations. In fact, over the past several months, from Yom Hashoah to Yom Ha’Atzmaut, and for so many more occasions as well, we have gathered in...
Street names for Andrew Fine in VIBE Creative District
In keeping with the ViBe’s 10-year anniversary celebrations, the Virginia Beach City Council recognized the ViBe Creative District with a Resolution at its meeting on Tuesday, May 20. The City Council thanked ViBe co-founders Andrew Fine and Laura Wood and executive...
Yom Hashoah 2025 Honors and Remembers
Falling on the 82nd anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, this year’s Yom Hashoah community commemoration reminded Tidewater’s Jewish community of how important it is to remember those who perished in the Holocaust and honor those who survived. More than 350...
Rain couldn’t dampen the fun at the 21st Annual Run, Roll, or Stroll
Jewish Family Service of Tidewater hosted the 21st Annual Run, Roll, or Stroll at the Sandler Family Campus on Sunday, May 4. The event kicked off at 10:30 am in the field behind the Simon Family Jewish Community Center. Despite rainy and uncertain weather, families,...
Nadiv’s first Texas Hold Em Tournament was a big success and a thrill for this novice dealer
I am not a card player, nor have I played one on TV. But when my son Danny Rubin, the founder of the young men’s Giving Circle (now part of the Campaign division of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater), Nadiv, asked if I would be a dealer for their May 13 Texas...
A legacy to live, not lecture: Warren and Helen Aleck’s quiet generosity
It’s a classic American love story—football player meets a pretty girl. They begin a courtship, marry, and the rest is history. Sixty-four years later, Helen and Warren Aleck still tell that story with a gleam in their eyes. Who knew that a chance high school romance...
Governor Glenn Youngkin issues Executive Order to expand efforts to combat antisemitism at Virginia Schools
Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 48 Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Religious Bigotry in Virginia Public Schools and Institutions of Higher Education to further expand his efforts to combat antisemitism at Virginia public schools and institutions of...
Israel’s 77th anniversary is celebrated with joy and unity
Tidewater’s Yom Ha’Atzmaut community celebration marking Israel’s 77th Independence Day, took place Sunday, May 4 at the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus. Hosted by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC, the afternoon was filled with engaging...
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
The role of Dad has evolved, from a staunch disciplinarian to a guiding light who changes diapers, drives carpool, and might even stay at home while Mom goes to work. According to their children, these Jewish Tidewater dads are generous with their time, community...
After museum shooting, 40+ Jewish groups call for $1B in federal funding to secure religious institutions
The statement was signed by groups representing the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform movements as well as other major organizations. After a gunman murdered two people outside a Jewish museum, a wide range of major Jewish groups has asked the federal government to...
Held under the stars, Israeli Chef’s Table Experience with Chef Basson scored many stars
The Marty Einhorn Pavilion at the Sandler Family Campus was filled with laughter, conversation, and the unmistakable sense of unity on Thursday, May 1 for the second annual Israeli Chef’s Table Experience. Hosted by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and presented...
Jewish Tidewater’s Graduates
Graduations are a time to recognize achievements, formally bid farewell to a valued educational institution, prepare for the next steps along life’s journey, and of course, to celebrate! Jewish Tidewater has much to applaud with its graduates – the awards, impressive...
Women’s Philanthropy Hosts Annual Spring Lunch
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Philanthropy Spring Lunch took place last month in the sun-filled Fleischman Lounge on the Sandler Family Campus. This event serves as a ‘Thank you’ for members of the Women’s Philanthropy who serve as volunteer campaign...
2025 UJFT Annual Campaignon track for a successful finish
The 2025 Annual Campaign of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater recently crossed over the milestone $5 million mark, on its way to a successful close. The campaign year officially closes on Monday, June 30. Every attempt is made to have all gifts closed before...
See something wrong? Report it!
Report an antisemitic incident at Federation.JewishVA.org/IncidentReportingIn an emergency, always call 9-1-1 first.If online reporting is not practical, contact local law enforcement and/or the relevant suspicious activity reporting authority.Also contact Mike...
Celebrations and observances abound in Jewish Tidewater
Dinners and luncheons with a famed Israeli chef, Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day), and Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) were among myriad gatherings that took place throughout Jewish Tidewater just prior to this issue going to press. All were well...
Rabbi Roz Mandelberg reflects on her 20th anniversary at Ohef Sholom Temple
When the new rabbinic candidate’s resume crossed the desks of the search committee in late 2004, everyone immediately knew: Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg would be Ohef Sholom Temple’s new rabbi. An assistant rabbi at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation at the time, Rabbi Roz...
Sarah Kosovsky named 2025 Stein Family Scholarship recipient
A standout student, Sarah Kosovsky has been named the 2025 recipient of the Stein Family College Scholarship, the largest scholarship available to Jewish students in Tidewater. Awarded through the Tidewater Jewish Foundation, this prestigious scholarship provides up...