Portsmouth – Jack Sanford Moscovitz, 90, a lifelong resident of Portsmouth, Va., peacefully passed away on July 1, 2026, with family by his side. Born on November 5, 1935, in Norfolk, he was the only child of Louis and Bluma Moscovitz, of blessed memory....
Month: March 2015
Archives
Ruby H. Schwarzschild
Lakeland, Fla. – Ruby Hainer Schwarzschild of Norfolk, passed away peacefully on August 6, 2026 in Lakeland, Fla. She was a dedicated mother, wife, grandmother, chef, artist, and beloved pillar of her community. Ruby was born in Norfolk on March 13,...
Dolly Parton’s Jewish connections
Singer, songwriter, and philanthropist Dolly Parton died Tuesday, August 25 at the age of 80. The outpouring of grief was immediate and universal. “PJ Library and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation team are sad to learn of the passing of musician, philanthropist,...
Thank you to our supporters who recently donated to Jewish News!
Supporters of Jewish News help keep local Jewish journalism alive at a time when it feels as if it is disappearing almost everywhere else. Jewish News appreciates all who support the newspaper with generous contributions – whether in honor of or in memory of...
JFS receives grant from Beth Sholom Village Foundation to expand support for seniors
Rooted in Jewish values of dignity, compassion, and communal responsibility, caring for older adults and people with disabilities has long been central to Jewish Family Service of Tidewater’s mission. A new grant from the Beth Sholom Village Foundation will help JFS...
Rose Frances Glasser and Bernard Glasser Philanthropic Fund makes gift to Jewish News
Among the various organizations and programs receiving recent gifts from the Rose Frances Glasser and Bernard Glasser Philanthropic Fund, was Jewish News. The distributions were determined by the late couple’s family. “My mother was a very astute businesswoman...
History preserves the past — memory preserves a people
My friend, the historian Niall Ferguson, recently posted something remarkable on social media. Reflecting on the resurgence of antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and what he called the “anti-history” engulfing much of the world, Ferguson reached a painful...
Standing witness in Verdun: Restoring identity to fallen heroes
Vice Admiral Herman Shelanski, USN (Retired) I joined the United States Navy in 1980 to protect the very freedoms that allowed me to live and pray as my Jewish ancestors did. Growing up with the heavy knowledge of the Holocaust, hearing on the news the persecution of...
Kempsville’s Lauren Krajesky is leading the distribution of millions of dollars to organizations that help seniors
Growing up in the Bible Belt (Northern Georgia south of Chattanooga, Tennessee), Baptist bred Lauren Krajesky could never imagine where she would be today. “I have to pinch myself,” she says. “I really am in a dream job.” A decade after becoming an executive...
Meet the guardians of Tidewater’s Jewish history
Every community has its keepers. As readers explore the congregations and organizations that comprise Jewish life in Tidewater in this issue’s Guide to Jewish Living in Tidewater, it’s worth meeting some of the volunteers who safeguard myriad stories that came before...
Temple Emanuel’s Religious School gets inspired renovation
What should a congregation do when a school’s enrollment grows year after year? Renovate the environment to match the dynamic energy, seems a reasonable response. Last December, volunteers at Temple Emanuel started this project by tearing down old coat...
Jewish Family Service holds 67th Biennial Meeting, celebrating generations of service and Jewish values in action
Gathering community members, leaders, volunteers, and supporters for an afternoon rooted in gratitude, purpose, and hope, Jewish Family Service of Tidewater held its 67th Biennial Meeting on Monday, June 22 at the Fred Huette Garden in Norfolk. More than a...
Shavuot Mitzvah Fair at SIA
This year, Shavuot celebrated 3,338 years since the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. To this very day, Jews continue to study the Torah, cherish it, and hold it close. The Torah serves as guidance on how to live and make the world a better place.SIA’s Primary Years...
Bearing witness through art: students gather to see their work on display
Throughout May, area students visited the Sandler Family Campus to view their artwork displayed in the Cardo.The exhibit featured pieces from the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s annual Elie Wiesel Writing & Visual Arts...
SIA celebrates the class of 2026
Graduation is always a meaningful and emotional milestone at Strelitz International Academy. For the fifth-grade students, many of whom have been part of the SIA community since infancy, it is a time to reflect on their growth, celebrate their accomplishments, and...
Sunset on the Water: Kayaking, reflection, and Jewish learning
Sunday, June 28, 6:30–9 pm, Norfolk’s waterways | Optional afterparty: 9–10 pm Trade the usual Sunday evening for an unforgettable experience on the water with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s NextGen community (ages 22–45) for this next adventure: Sunset on...
Love and Light: A Tu B’Av community celebration
Sunday, July 26, 12 – 4 pm • Sandler Family Campus United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s NextGen community teams up with PJ Library to celebrate Tu B’Av, the Jewish holiday of love, through meaningful action, music, and poolside fun tailored specifically for young...
For the first time, a kosher restaurant has won a Michelin star
(JTA) — As golden confetti rained down around him Thursday, May 28, Israeli chef Raz Shabtai broke down in tears and was embraced by his cheering staff.Moments earlier, a livestreamed Michelin ceremony had announced that his Miami restaurant, Mutra, had become the...
Joan Carole Bass Baydush
Lewisville, N.C. – Joan Carole Bass Baydush, 82, recently of Lewisville, N.C. and formerly of Norfolk, Va., died peacefully after a prolonged illness.A warm welcoming smile, a tender touch, a kind manner, a keen intelligence, a passion and excitement for life and a...
Rita Gamsey Burnat
Atlanta – Rita Gamsey Burnat, daughter of the late Milton Linwood Gamsey and Rosalind Gamsey, passed away on June 5 at her home in Atlanta, at the age of 74.She was predeceased by her son Kyle Burnat. Rita is survived by her son Lawson Burnat and daughter-in-law Laura...
Dean Joel Casper
Norfolk – Dean Joel Casper, age 86, was born on August 22, 1939, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Jennie Goodman Casper and Israel Casper. He passed away on May 29, 2026, at Beth Abraham Homes.He is survived by his partner, Anna Karp, and his children: Scott Casper, Tracy Casper...
Alan David Galumbeck
Tazewell, Va – Alan David Galumbeck, 81, a technical guru for Landmark Communications at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk and with The Weather Channel in Atlanta, died June 7 in Tazewell, Va, after a battle with cancer.Alan was predeceased by his parents, Ella and...
Linda Sinowitz
Virginia Beach – Linda Louise Lillian Linde Sinowitz, 75, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with kidney disease and several other conditions.Born on December 12, 1950, in New York, Linda was the beloved daughter of William...
Marsha Del Rosario Wilks
Virginia Beach – Marsha Del Rosario Wilks, 87, passed away in her home on April 12, 2026.She was born in California to Gregorio and Stella Del Rosario.She is survived by her husband Jay Wilks of 40 plus years, sister Triva Stanton, brother Jessel Curry, one grandson...
Hampton Roads Real Estate Planning Council recognizes TJF’s Neil Rose and Randy Parrish
Tidewater Jewish Foundation is guided by a board and network of community leaders whose professional excellence and civic commitment help shape the way it stewards legacy, philanthropy, and the future of Jewish life in Tidewater. Their accomplishments extend far...
Rabbi Zoberman’s articles inserted into Congressional Record
Remembering the Liberation of Auschwitz, an article by Rabbi Israel Zoberman was inserted in the Congressional Record by Congresswoman Jen Kiggans in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.The article focuses on a book written by Marc Saperstein, a...
The books that made me a BeAR
We all carry certain books with us long after childhood ends. They sit quietly on the shelves of our memory; dog-eared, underlined, loved, while shaping who we become and teaching us how to dream. Some stories came easily. Others were challenging, the kind where you...
Dive into summer at theMetzger Outdoor Aquatic Center
If you’re feeling ready to beat the summer heat poolside, you’re in luck. The Metzger Outdoor Aquatic Center opened on Saturday, June 6, marking the start of the Simon Family JCC’s seven-day-a-week summer pool season.The outdoor pool opens daily at 11:30 am, closing...
America at 250 Spotlight:Tidewater Jewish Hero Dorothy Salomonsky
Dorothy Salomonsky never expected that an effort to help a few vulnerable community members would grow into one of Virginia’s leading public guardianship programs. But more than 30 years after helping launch the JFS Personal Affairs Management (PAM) program at Jewish...
400 Jewish leaders push to advance bipartisan Jewish Security Act
Amid rising threats to the American Jewish community, Jewish Federations of North America brought more than 400 Jewish leaders from 82 different communities across the country to Capitol Hill to hold over 200 meetings with key Congressional leadership late last month....
Beth Sholom Village: Inaugural grant recipients support seniors across Tidewater
What does it mean to age with dignity? Sometimes, it means having transportation to the grocery store or a doctor’s appointment. Sometimes, it means sharing a meal with friends, participating in a wellness program, or simply feeling connected to a community. Often,...
The responsibility and reward of service
Reflections on leadership, legacy, and the future of Jewish Tidewater Two years have flown by. My term as chair of Tidewater Jewish Foundation is nearing its end. I have served with some of the most dedicated board members and staff anyone can ever be privileged to...