Englewood, Ohio – Irene Bressler of Englewood, passed away on March 23, 2026, shortly before what would have been her 88th birthday. She was pre-deceased by her husband of over 61 years, Ronald Bressler, in 2018, her parents, Arthur and Louise Halsband, and her...
Month: August 2014
Archives
Reba Karp
Virginia Beach – Reba Karp passed away peacefully on March 17, 2026, at the age of 92. Reba was truly one of a kind. She began working as editor of the Southeastern Virginia Jewish News in May 1978 and was also instrumental in the creation of...
Anna Lee Rapport Langman
Charlotte, N. C. – Anna Lee Rapport Langman passed on March 9, 2026, at the age of 86. She was a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina. A funeral service was held at The Hebrew Cemetery, Chapel, in Charlotte. Interment followed in the Hebrew Cemetery. McEwen Funeral...
Jordan S. “Buddy” Levitin
Norfolk – Longtime Norfolk resident, Jordan S. Levitin, better known as “Buddy,” 92, passed away on April 10, 2026. He is survived by his wife, Carol, 88, and children Michael (Caryn), Samuel (Susan), son-in-law Bob Mastorakis, and grandchildren Brenna,...
Howard Mark Miller
Virginia Beach – Howard Miller passed away peacefully on March 19, 2026; he was 74 years old. He will be remembered as a devoted father, a cherished family member, an accomplished Bridge and basketball player, and a respected legal advocate whose...
Shirley E. (Cohen) Neumann
Phoenixville, Pa. – Shirley E. (Cohen) Neumann, 96, wife of the late Leonard J. Neumann of Phoenixville, passed away on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Born on December 30, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Julius and Beatrice (Abramson)...
Stephen Howard Pitler
Norfolk – Stephen (Steve) Howard Pitler, age 81, passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Steve was born in Norfolk on March 20, 1945. The son of Julia and Albert Pitler, Steve attended Granby Elementary and Granby High School. He graduated from Temple...
Richard Taylor
Norfolk – Richard Taylor, 86, passed away on April 2, 2026. Richard was born on May 10, 1939, in Norfolk, Va. Of blessed memory are his mother, Dorothy, his father, Hyman, and his brother, Martin H. Taylor. Richard is survived by his...
Red noses, real healing:The power of laughter in Tidewater
For one remarkable week in March, Tidewater experienced a different kind of medicine—one delivered with red noses, improvisation, and deep compassion. Representatives from the Dream Doctors Project, an Israeli nonprofit that integrates professional medical clowns into...
America’s 250th Birthday Quilt may include blocks from two Hampton Roads Jewish residents
Darva Gruber and Sharon Grossman share something besides their long membership at Temple Israel. They both love crafting. So, when Gruber became aware that Visit Williamsburg, as part of the nation’s 250th Commemoration, intended to create The Great American Birthday...
Stay vigilant – our community depends on you
This month’s attack at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan is a stark reminder that antisemitic threats are real. The attack on the same day at Old Dominion University, though not targeting the Jewish community directly, hit close to home and underscores the...
Unless you’ve walked in their moccasins or slept in their beds. . .Visiting Israel during this latest Iran war. February 25-March 8, 2026
A view from Israel / First Person While we knew there was a chance a war might break out, our nephew and niece were having a baby, and we were meeting our sister and brother in Zichron Ya’akov to celebrate. Zichron, as the Israelis call it, is an idyllic, small...
Bruce Waldholtz to receive a VCIC Tidewater Humanitarian Award
Thursday, March 26, Westin Virginia Beach Town Center The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities will hold its 62nd annual Tidewater Humanitarian Awards event this month. These awards honor individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to...
Holocaust Commission marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day
The Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater hosted a moving community gathering in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27. Held on the Sandler Family Campus, the program brought people of all ages together to...
Learning and creating with Mizrach class and workshop
The recent Mizrach class and hands-on glass workshop offered by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Konikoff Center for Learning provided a journey from learning to creating. The experience began with a class led by Rabbi Ari Oliszewski, who explored...
Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day highlights bipartisan support
Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day once again brought voices from across the Commonwealth to the State Capitol, underscoring a simple but powerful truth: showing up matters. Nearing the midpoint of the 2026 General Assembly session, Jewish community members...
Learning, leading, and connecting: Israeli Eagles in action
Over the past few months, we have had the joy of leading the Israeli Youth Movement, Israeli Eagles, in Tidewater. Each month, kids from across the community gather to learn about Israel, build friendships, and grow as confident, curious, and caring young leaders....
A heart-healthy President’s Day at Camp
While school was out on Monday, Feb. 16, campers spent Presidents’ Day getting active and inspired at Camp JCC’s School Days Out program. To celebrate American Heart Month, the day’s theme was all about heart health. Campers began the morning by...
Launch of Lev Sara Bikur Cholim
Sunday, March 8, 6 PM A new initiative dedicated in memory of Shirley Farfel Berman a”h, Lev Sara Bikur Cholim is being created to extend a loving hand to individuals in the community—and beyond—who are in Norfolk for medical care. This evening is an opportunity...
Tidewater BBYO updates website
When Courtney Krutoy took on the role of Eastern Region BBYO City Director - Tidewater last year, she noticed that BBYO’s digital presence on United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s website was both buried and outdated. Krutoy worked with Teresa Knecht, marketing...
KBH to kick off creative Shabbat services for families
Saturday, March 21,10:30 am, Sandler Family Campus Members of KBH synagogue are excited to unveil a brand-new Shabbat services format designed for children and families. Once a month, KBH, in partnership with Tidewater Shinshinim, will hold a special program...
Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse to screen at Chrysler
Sunday, March 15, 2 pm, Chrysler Museum of Art Few works have transformed Holocaust storytelling as profoundly as the graphic novel Maus. When Art Spiegelman won the 1992 Pulitizer Prize, it was the first time a graphic novel earned that honor, signaling a cultural...
Books to share, stories to love
Monday, May 4 – Friday, May 8, Sandler Family Campus A PJ Library book swap families won’t want to miss is about to begin. Starting April 6, collection boxes located in the Sandler Family Campus lobby and at Strelitz International Academy will accept...
Camp JCC presents Kids Night Out: Ultimate Bracket Bash
Saturday, March 21 5 - 9 pm, Sandler Family Campus Get ready to hit the court and experience the madness! Children, ages 4–12, are invited to the Ultimate Bracket Bash Kids Night Out. The evening kicks off with basketball relays where campers can showcase their...
Registration now open for Spring Break Camp
April 6 - 10, 9 am – 4 pm Sandler Family Campus When school is out, Camp JCC is in. Children currently in K-5th grade can look forward to a week filled with energy, friendship, and fun with a jam-packed schedule that includes free swim sessions in the indoor...
Conversational Hebrew with the Shinshinim, Session 3: Around Town
Mondays, March 9 - April 13, 5:30 pm, Sandler Family Campus Planning a trip to Israel or just want to feel more comfortable getting around in Hebrew? If so, join the Shinshinim, Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan, for Session 3 of Conversational Hebrew: Around Town....
Dream Doctors bring humanity in action to Tidewater
Tuesday, March 24, 7:30 pm Sandler Family Campus Israel’s renowned Dream Doctors Project—professional medical clowns who bring healing, dignity, and emotional support to patients and families in hospitals and humanitarian settings around the world – will visit...
Golda Day with the Shinshinim
Tuesday, March 17, 6 pm Sandler Family Campus Children and families are invited to join Shinshinim Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan for a delicious evening of games, crafts, and an ice cream social to celebrate Golda Meir, Israel’s first female Prime Minister. Kids...
Partners in Jewish Life: Discussing the new antisemitism
Tuesday, March 17, 6 –7:15 pm, Sandler Family Campus The upcoming evening of Partners in Jewish Life will center around a conversation about The New Antisemitism: Roots and Responses, inviting participants to explore how antisemitism has evolved over time—and how...
Two opportunities to learn and laugh with Miriam Anzovin
Wednesday, March 11, 7:30 pm and Thursday, March 12, 12 pm, Sandler Family Campus The community has two options to experience Jewish learning through the voice of Miriam Anzovin, the creator behind the beloved #JewishLoreReactions series on TikTok and Instagram. Known...
NextGen Happy Hour Shabbat
Friday, March 27, 5 – 7 pmSandler Family Campus Jewish adults between ages 22 and 40, are invited to begin the weekend with “Shabbat mode” at a NextGen Happy Hour Shabbat. Leave the stress of the work week behind and unwind in a relaxed, friendly...
A middle school event with friendly competition and a creative activity
Sunday, March 29, 12:30 – 2:30 pm Pinboys, Virginia Beach A fun afternoon of bowling and beading is planned for middle school students this month. Participants have the choice to hit the bowling lanes with friends, spend time creating beaded crafts, or...