Norfolk – Stanley J. Peck told his last joke on Sunday, September 13, shortly after celebrating his 91st birthday and his 70th wedding anniversary.He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 24, 1935, and moved to Norfolk, Virginia, when he was 10 years old. He was...
Month: February 2018
Archives
Selma Oppleman Snyder
Virginia Beach – Selma Oppleman Snyder passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, just four months shy of her 100th birthday.To know Selma was to know a woman who was truly unforgettable. Iconic, elegant, beautiful, opinionated and fierce...Selma...
Dr. Stephen Willis Tonelson
Norfolk – Dr. Stephen Willis Tonelson died peacefully on September 17, 2026.His wife, Lona, and his daughters, Claire and Rachel, were with him. He was predeceased by his parents, Dr. A. Rufus and Mrs. Sara Tonelson, and his older brother, Dr. Louis Tonelson.Steve was...
A Community Commemoration of October 7
Join Tidewater’s Jewish community to commemorate the lives lost on October 7, 2023, and honor the strength and resilience of the Israeli people.Community members will create a visual tribute by planting 1,200 Israeli flags on the grounds of the Reba and Sam Sandler...
ODU Hillel plans memorial event for October 7
Wednesday, October 7, 12:30 -1:30 pmWebb Center, Old Dominion University This year’s October 7 Memorial at Old Dominion University centers on the voices of students. They will read, share personal reflections, remember those whose lives were changed by October 7, and...
Jay M. Woodman
Virginia Beach – Jay M. Woodman, 77, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, September 7, 2026.Jay was born in Hampton, Va. to the late Theodore and Frances Woodman, and was preceded in death by his in-laws, Shirley and Leon Harris, and son-in-law Joel Prohofsky....
Joan Naomi Thompson
Marco Island, Fla. – Joan Naomi Thompson, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and cherished friend, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2026. She leaves behind a legacy of love, devotion, and family that will continue to live on through the generations.Joan was the...
“I was fortunate to have that opportunity.” 25 years after 9/11, one local Jewish Marine remembers Ground Zero
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, David Ashe was at home in Virginia Beach watching the Today Show while on terminal leave from the Marine Corps.He had recently completed his first active-duty tour and was stationed in San Diego. At the moment, however, Ashe was at...
Gloria Steinem, Jewish feminist trailblazer
Ron Kampeas(JTA) — Gloria Steinem, the trailblazing feminist who turbocharged the women’s rights movement’s second wave by casting the liberation of women as part of the broader project of eliminating other bigotries including antisemitism, died at 92 on Wednesday,...
A legacy of opportunity
Harry Mansbach, of blessed memory, believed that opportunity carried responsibility. His daughter, Sally Herman, remembers a father who understood how much circumstance could shape a person’s path. She says he believed those who had been fortunate had a responsibility...
Saying sorry: Observing Yom Kippur with little ones
Where Rosh Hashanah brings sweetness and celebration, Yom Kippur asks something different — stillness, honesty, and the harder work of reflection. For young children, that’s a tricky needle to thread. Three local families share how they’ve made it meaningful. Jennie...
Celebrating the Jewish Harvest holiday in Tidewater
Sukkot, which literally translates to “booths” or “huts,” is akin to a fall harvest festival. It’s a holiday that celebrates all God gives, both in terms of crops and shelter. Eating, dwelling, and even sleeping in the sukkah commemorates the time of Jews living in...
Book signing for Wendy Goldberg’s Mom’s Book: It was Never About the Grief
Saturday, August 29, 10 am, Roast Rider Coffee, Virginia Beach Benjamin Goldberg, of blessed memory, made Wendy Coleman Goldberg a mother, a founder of the Benjamin Goldberg Foundation, and most recently, an author. Instead of testing it or severing the bond, his...
From Awareness to Action: Preparing for the High Holidays with SCN Security Trainings
Thursday, August 20, 7:30 pm, Zoom Tuesday, August 25, 7:30 pm, Zoom As the Jewish community prepares to gather for the High Holidays, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Secure Community Network (SCN) invite community members to participate in two free online...
Ann Rae Gershman
Richmond, Va. – Ann Rae Gershman, 93, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, friendship, and resilience. Born on March 20, 1933, Ann Rae grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, where her intelligence and determination were evident from...
Eliana Dori Gordon
Fairfax, Va. – Eliana Dori Gordon, affectionately known as Ellie, passed away suddenly on July 14, 2026, in Fairfax, Virginia. Born on July 3, 1998, Ellie lived a vibrant and meaningful life, leaving us far too soon at the age of 28. A devoted...
Howard I. Horwitz
Norfolk – Howard Irving Horwitz passed away peacefully on July 7, 2026, with his family by his side. He was 78 years old. Howard was born and grew up in Richmond, Va., the son of Seymour and Esther Fishman Horwitz, of blessed memory. He graduated from...
Pauline Sod Levin
Norfolk – Pauline Sod Levin passed away surrounded by her loving family on July 26, 2026. She was born in Temple, Texas, on July 17, 1931, to Bertha and Joseph Sod. When she was four years old, her family – including her brother Louis – moved to Norfolk,...
Renie Teitelman
Silver Spring, Md. – Renie Teitelman (nee Becker), passed away peacefully at the age of 97 at her home at Riderwood Village, Silver Spring MD, on Monday July 27. Renie was a native of New York City, a longtime resident of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and a...
Lynn Augusta Goodman Zoll, EdD
Virginia Beach – Lynn Augusta Goodman Zoll, EdD, age 81, passed peacefully on July 15, 2026, in her home in Virginia Beach, Va. Born in Norfolk, Lynn (Gigi to her high school and college friends) grew up in Virginia Beach. After graduating from...
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...
From idea to impact: Community Impact Grants help strengthen Jewish Tidewater
Every organization has them: ideas discussed around board tables, programs waiting for funding, projects that could strengthen Jewish life, deepen engagement, expand educational opportunities, or bring people together in meaningful ways. For Tidewater Jewish...
America the Beautiful
As I’m sure you know, July 4, 2026, just took place, the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776. From America’s Block Party in Times Square to fireworks launched from the Golden Gate Bridge, we...
America at 250 Spotlight: Rashi Brashevitzky
Whether at a Shabbat table, in a classroom, or leading a Jewish holiday celebration, Rashi Brashevitzky is doing what she is most passionate about: helping people find meaningful ways to connect with Jewish life. Rooted in the traditions of Chabad,...
Jewish Tidewater’s Graduates
Jewish Tidewater has much to applaud with its graduates. We celebrate some here. See more 2026 graduates in last months edition. Mazel Tov to all these graduates and their families! Madeline “Maddie” Elyse Acosta Kempsville High School Graduating with Highest...
Michelle Luria: A life rebuilt by connection, conversation, and community
Michelle Luria didn’t expect to start over. But now, from her Norfolk apartment overlooking the Elizabeth River, she describes a life filled with new experiences and community. “I love it here,” she says. “The people are so lovely, intelligent, well...
Steering through Alzheimer’s: A journey of hope, community, and connection
Few diagnoses change the course of a family’s journey quite like Alzheimer’s disease. It reaches far beyond the individual, touching spouses, children, grandchildren, friends, and entire communities. Today, more than 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living...
The keys to retirement with Gad Brosch
Strolling the streets of downtown Norfolk, one might hear the smooth sound of live jazz wafting from a condo’s windows. “We get together quite often, at least once a week to play,” says Gad Brosch, MD. A gynecologist who retired after 35 years in practice, he now...
Planning ahead: Four conversations every family should have before a crisis
Conversations about aging are often postponed because they can feel over-whelming or uncomfortable. Yet some of the best decisions families make happen long before they are faced with an urgent medical event or unexpected hospitalization. Planning ahead allows older...
More than a language: keeping Yiddish alive
Yiddish was the first language Harriet Meier ever spoke. Born in Germany to Polish Holocaust survivors who met in a displaced persons camp after World War II, Meier grew up hearing the language at home and among her parents’ friends. English eventually...
Finding balance in flowing waters
“Let’s gather. Let’s offer. Let’s receive. Let’s ground.” This is how Jennifer Lenay, Simon Family JCC fitness instructor, guides students through gentle, breath-synced movement in Flowing Waters, an aquatic take on traditional tai chi. Held...
Coming soon: A new hub for senior connection, learning, and wellness
The new Center for Active Living is being launched by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC. The program is made possible through a grant from Beth Sholom Village and support from the Joseph Fleischmann Memorial Fund of the Tidewater Jewish...