In late February, members of Tidewater’s Jewish community leadership had the opportunity to be part of a conversation about Israel, the Palestinians, and the responsibility of Jewish leadership with Ambassador Dennis Ross and Ghaith al-Omari.

Ambassador Ross is the counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He also teaches at Georgetown University’s Center for Jewish Civilization. For more than 12 years, Ambassador Ross played a leading role in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process, dealing directly with the parties as the U.S. point man on the peace process in both the George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. 

 Ghaith al-Omari, the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Senior Fellow in The Washington Institute’s Irwin Levy Family Program on the U.S.-Israel Strategic Relationship, is the former executive director of the American Task Force on Palestine. He served as advisor to the negotiating team during the 1999–2001 permanent-status talks in addition to holding various other positions within the Palestinian Authority.

Ross and al-Omari have spent decades navigating the hardest dimensions of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Today, they travel together to campuses across the country, modeling informed, principled disagreement —
demonstrating that it is possible to engage complex realities without abandoning nuance, mutual respect, or intellectual rigor. 

In this serious, candid, and policy-grounded conversation about what comes next, moderated by Jay Klebanoff, the men fielded questions on topics such as: 

• The current strategic landscape in Israel and the Palestinian arena, 

• Realistic scenarios for the months and years ahead, 

• Lessons learned from past negotiations, and 

• Strategic insights on campus trends. 

Ross and al-Omari spoke about how slogans have become substitutes for thought, and that most peace activists are not really about peace, but rather about “no Israel.”

They also highlighted the two realities on Gaza.  Israelis saw hostages and the death of soldiers, while everywhere else witnessed the death and destruction in Gaza.

 At a time when voices are often amplified by outrage, this gathering presented a new perspective and appreciation for the ability to learn from each other. 

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Summer camp season is around the corner, and the Secure Community Network (SCN) is launching its first-ever Camp Security Initiative Webinar Series, designed for camp administrators, counselors, parents, and campers. This program is intended to provide practical guidance to help in preparations for a safe and secure summer.

Protecting Campers: Safety Guidance for Counselors, is the subject of the webinar taking place on April 22. It will offer practical instruction for counselors on situational awareness, camper supervision, and reporting suspicious activity. The session includes a live Q&A period with security professionals.

SCN also offers a list of essential safety questions for parents to ask prior to sending their children to summer camp. 

 Some of the questions are:

1. Has the camp had a Threat, Vulnerability, and Risk Assessment performed and has it developed a plan to implement identified security and safety issues?

2. How is access to the camp controlled for visitors and vendors?

3. What is the procedure for handling a missing camper?

4. How does the camp communicate emergencies to campers, staff, and families?

The complete list of questions with details, is available at securecommunitynetwork.org.   

Since launching in April 2024, SCN’s Camp Security Initiative has trained more than 5,000 camp-related individuals, conducted more than 100 site assessments, and helped secure $2.2 million in Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funding.

 She was pre-deceased by her husband of over 61 years, Ronald Bressler, in 2018, her parents, Arthur and Louise Halsband, and her siblings, Steven and Emily Halsband. She was born in Providence, Rhode Island, but raised in the nearby town of E. Greenwich. She lived in the Dayton area for more than 60 years after relocating from Chicago.

 She is survived by her three children, Dawn (Jack) Kaye, Kevin (Karen) Bressler, and Andy (Shellie) Bressler, nine grandchildren, Rebecca (Gregory Garbuz), Kaitlin (Brant Appel), Hannah (Daniel Grasso), Korinne (Eytan Rosenblum), Allison (Christopher Graves), Brooke, Adam, Casey, and Ava, and seven great grandchildren (Aubrie and Jasmine Bryant, Gloria and Miriam Graves, and Henry, Hallie, and Blake Appel).

 Irene was a dedicated homemaker who devoted her life to her family and community. Irene was an excellent cook who made sure her growing family had nutritious and tasty food to eat. She and Ron created a loving Jewish home, with the children getting their religious education at Temple Israel. Irene was a lifetime member of Hadassah and served, among other roles, as president of the Dayton chapter for several years. For the past seven years she was a resident at Brookdale Assisted Living in Englewood.  

 Contributions in her memory may be made to Ohio’s Hospice.

 Funeral services were held in the chapel at David’s Cemetery. Burial was in David’s Cemetery. Tobias Funeral Home, Far Hills Chapel.

 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 Renewal Magazine.  Both publications won numerous state and national awards.  Her most rewarding moment, however, was the publication of the book, To Life, featuring the testimonies of Tidewater’s Holocaust survivors, rescuers, and liberators, which received two national awards.  

 Prior to her association with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Reba was the afternoon editor of the Ledger-Star, again the recipient of awards for writing and page design.  Reba published 10 books, one of which is in its fourth printing, The Edgar Cayce Encyclopedia of Healing. 

 She leaves behind a son, Dr. Nelson Karp, a brother, and a nephew, Mark, and her four adoring cats.  

 She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward.  

 A colleague and friend, Rabbi Israel Zoberman, noted that Reba was “devoted to the well-being of the community and will be sorely missed.”  Harry Graber, UJFT’s former executive vice president, said, “Reba’s leadership made sure that antisemitism was fought and the diverse aspects of Judaism were heightened and celebrated. She was well-respected and loved by her staff and fellow colleagues of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.”

 Another friend and colleague, the late Hal Sacks, upon her retirement, left these words in tribute to Reba: “Here’s to Reba whose heavenly muse Gave us three decades of the Jewish News. Peace, peace oh Madame Queen, we pray you think of us each day.” 

 During these past few years as Reba’s health declined, her dear friend, Teresa Lilly, was by her side, assisted by Loquanda.         

 A funeral service was held at The Hebrew Cemetery, Chapel, in Charlotte. Interment followed in the Hebrew Cemetery. McEwen Funeral Service-Pineville Chapel.

 He is survived by his wife, Carol, 88, and children Michael (Caryn), Samuel (Susan), son-in-law Bob Mastorakis, and grandchildren Brenna, Daniel, and Jonathan. He was the son of William and Goldye Levitin and was predeceased by his brother, Charles, and daughter, Amy. 

 At an early age, he was nicknamed “Buddy” which stayed with him the rest of his life. 

 He was very close to Charles, who taught him to play baseball and golf in the 1940’s. Buddy was elected captain of the Maury High School golf team, when the new sport was introduced to local high schools. According to Buddy, Granby High golfers were unbeatable because they played the nearby course every day after school.

 Buddy was a 1952 graduate from Maury and graduated in 1956 from Duke University with Phi Beta Kappa honors. He met Carol Ann Hyman from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, at Duke, and they were married in June 1959 after Buddy returned from military duty in Korea. Following the death of his father, he and his brother took over the family furniture business.

 Buddy led a life of service to others. On alternate Monday mornings for 12 years, he and a co-reader were the “Voice of Hampton Roads” on WHRO, reading The Virginian-Pilot to blind listeners.

 He was past president of the Norfolk Host Lions Club, Melvin Jones Fellow of Lions International, and recipient of the Lions International President’s Award. He was a former member of the board of directors of the Lions Medical Eye Bank of Eastern Virginia and a lifetime member of Congregation Beth El.

 He served as Master of Norfolk Lodge #1, Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons, the oldest Masonic Lodge in the Commonwealth. He was president of the Grand Lodge of Virginia Scholarship Foundation.

 In 1984, Buddy was called upon by Thomas L. Oliver, Norfolk native living in California and chief engineer for AT&T West Coast to establish the TOWN Foundation, named for members of his family and the family of his late wife. Graduating high school students would have the opportunity to avoid the financial difficulties he experienced putting himself through Virginia Tech in the 1920’s.

 From 1998 through 2008, Buddy served on the Norfolk State University Foundation board of directors and revised the board’s scholarship program. He was the first president of the TOWN Foundation and served 30 years as president, secretary, and executive vice president until retiring in 2017 as vice president emeritus.

 In 2009, Buddy and Carol established the Levitin Family Endowment at Norfolk State University, and in 2015, the Jordan and Carol Levitin Endowed Scholarship in Nursing at Old Dominion University.

 Buddy became an avid walker in 1975 and subsequently was attracted to the sport of competitive race walking. He became a member of the United States Track and Field Association and was a certified USATF Mater Level official. In 2019, at the Virginia 24 Hour Ultra Walk/Run for cancer in Hampton, he set a state record in men’s 85-89 age group.

 As a competitor or judge, Buddy was always quick to remind friends “when you see a turtle sitting on a fence post, you know it didn’t get there by itself.”

 The family requests contributions in Buddy’s memory to the scholarships listed above or a charity of the donor’s choice.

 A funeral service was held at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk Chapel, officiated by Rabbi Jacob Herber. Interment followed at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

 He will be remembered as a devoted father, a cherished family member, an accomplished Bridge and basketball player, and a respected legal advocate whose compassion and integrity touched many lives.

 Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in West Hempstead, Long Island, Howard had a passion for basketball. At West Hempstead High School, he became an All–Nassau County Basketball Player and was second at the school’s all-time points upon graduation. His remarkable skill attracted the attention of top college coaches, among them Lefty Driesell and Digger Phelps, who visited his home during the recruitment process. Lifelong medical challenges ultimately prevented him from playing at the level he once seemed destined for, but Howard’s love for the game never faded. He continued to play whenever he could and later found joy in coaching his son Nate, and his niece Melissa, and nephew Matt.

 Howard went on to graduate from the College of William & Mary, where he met his wife, Francis Miller. He earned his law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law. Settling in Tidewater, Howard co-founded the law firm, Miller & Marx, building a respected practice in family and criminal law.

 His commitment to public service was profound. Howard served as president of the Tidewater Legal Aid Society and was a two-time recipient of the Pro Bono Award from the Norfolk–Portsmouth Bar Association – a testament to his deep sense of responsibility toward those in need of legal support.

 Outside the courtroom, Howard pursued another lifelong passion: Bridge. His dedication, sharp strategic mind, and competitive spirit earned him recognition as a Diamond Life Master, one of the esteemed ranks in the game. Among his proudest achievements was winning a national pairs Bridge title with Richard DePaulo, a highlight that reflected both his skill and his love of the challenge the game offered.

 Howard was predeceased by his wife, Francis Miller, and parents Harold and Florence Miller.

 He is survived by his devoted son, Nathaniel Miller. He also leaves behind his brother, Dr. Norman Miller, and Norman’s wife, Gail Miller; his niece, Melissa Miller, and her husband, Seth Lonsk; and his nephew, Matthew Miller and his wife Jennifer. To his family, friends, colleagues, and all who were touched by his kindness, Howard’s memory will remain a source of warmth, inspiration, and enduring affection.

 Graveside funeral services were held at the King David Section of the Woodlawn Cemetery. Donations can be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

 Born on December 30, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Julius and Beatrice (Abramson) Cohen and sister of the late Bernard (Buddy) Cohen.

 Shirley worked as the bookkeeper with her husband for many years at Neumann’s Furniture Store in Phoenixville.

 She was a member of Congregation B’nai Jacob, Phoenixville, and served in many leadership roles including multiple terms as president of the Sisterhood. She was also a founding member of the B’nai Jacob Cemetery Association.

 She is survived by four children:  Beverly, wife of Stuart Berman z’l; Harriet, wife of Steven Bissey; Jerry, husband of Naomi Richman Neumann; and Melissa, wife of Seth Schwartz.

 She is survived by nine grand-children: Scott (Hillary), Rachel (Chris), Aaron (Elizabeth), Daniel, Zachary, Benjamin (Ariel), Hannah (Michael), Ian (Rose), and Rebecca and seven great-grandchildren, Sammy, Jack, Isaac, Neville, Lev, Charlie, and Shalva.

 Her funeral service took place at Congregation B’nai Jacob in Phoenixville. Burial followed in B’nai Jacob Cemetery, Mont Clare, Pa.

 Contributions in her memory may be made to Congregation B’nai Jacob or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

 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 University in 1968, and he received his law degree from the University of Baltimore in 1973.

 Steve married Janet, the love of his life. He was a devoted husband, wonderful father, and grandfather. He was a confident and loyal friend to many.

 Steve was a three-sport athlete at Granby and at Temple University. While at Granby, he was voted most athletic.
 

He won the heavyweight Eastern championship and placed second in the state. He was also selected as Norfolk’s outstanding baseball player. At Temple University in 1968, he was voted the most outstanding athlete.

 Steve went on to attend law school and was admitted to practice law in 1973. Steve was selected as one of the best lawyers in America. He retired in 2012. He also served six years in the Virginia National Guard. 

 Steve will be remembered for his sense of humor, superior wit, integrity, and dependability.

 Steve is survived by his wife, Janet, his son, Damon, and daughter, Evan. He is also survived by Damon’s wife, Amy, and four beloved grandchildren, Theodora, Veronica, Logan, and Lucinda.

 A funeral service was held at Ohef Sholom Temple in Norfolk. Burial followed at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.hdoliver.com.