Norfolk – After a brief illness, Helen Laibstain, 96 years old, died Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at her home. Born March 3, 1929, Helen was the daughter of Julius and Celia Shulman Cohen. Seventy-two years ago, Helen married the love of her...
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Sylvia Bernstein Wagner
Omaha, Nebraska – Sylvia Bernstein Wagner, a pioneering civic leader, accomplished actress, and champion of social progress in Omaha, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2026, at the age of 100. Her life was defined by principled...
Gilda Weber
Virginia Beach – Gilda Weber, aged 99, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2026, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Born on June 5, 1926, she lived a long life devoted to her family. Gilda was born in the Bronx, N.Y., and graduated from Beth Israel...
Engagement stories filled with romance and surprise
When it’s time to propose, the days of going it alone and private are a thing of the past. It used to be that all that was necessary to become engaged was a couple in love and a ring. Family, friends, and photographers to capture the moment, are all part of today’s...
Jody’s Popcorn opens new retail store
A small factory retail store recently opened at Jody’s Gourmet Popcorn’s Norfolk manufacturing facility – making in-person purchasing of the artisan popcorn again doable for Tidewater residents. While it’s always possible to purchase the popcorn from the...
Securing Houses of Worship:Countering Active Threat Training (CATT)
Sunday, March 22, 3 pm First Presbyterian Church, Norfolk Active threat situations are unpredictable and can unfold quickly—often ending within three to five minutes. Recognizing warning signs and knowing how to respond can save lives. In collaboration with...
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC’s Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival 2024
October 28 - December 4 For more than 40 years, this annual celebration of Jewish writers, books, and ideas has featured authors from various backgrounds who have written about diverse topics. Featured author events allow the community to engage with bestselling and...
Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman’s poem, October 7, was included in the Congressional Record by Congresswoman Jen Kiggans on September 25, 2024.
Israeli painting is donated to United Jewish Federation of Tidewater
Boaz Kritchman, an Israeli with two adult children living in Tidewater, facilitated the donation of a painting last month to the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. The impetus for the donation, by his son, Lotan Kritchman, stems from a desire to remember...
JCC Seniors Club: In the sukkah with ShinShin Emily Wednesday, October 16, 12 pm Sandler Family Campus
Many Jewish holidays that aim to bring in a sweet new year take place this month. Since the Seniors Club meeting falls on Erev Sukkot, it will be held in the Sandler Family Campus sukkah. Emily Patyuk, one of Tidewater’s ShinShinim (Israeli ambassadors) will lead...
The Daffodil Project: Remembering children of the Holocaust
Sunday, October 20 11 am – 3pm Jewish Museum and Cultural Center Portsmouth The Daffodil Project Rededication Ceremony, which commemorates the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust, will take place at the Jewish Museum and Cultural Center...
JCC Book Club
Monday, October 21, 1:30 pm Sandler Family Campus In March 2024, Christopher Gorham spoke virtually in partnership with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Konikoff Center for Learning about his novel, The Confidante. The JCC Book Club will go into more...
Charles Bress
SILVER SPRING, Md. - Charles Marvin Bress passed away on September 29. Beloved husband of the late Patricia Bress; devoted father of Paul Bress (Carol Robitaille), Susan Weiglein (Andre), and Nancy Bailey (Darrin); loving brother of Larry Bress (Linda), and the...
David N. Cohen
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - David (Pop-Pop) Cohen, 78, passed away peacefully with his family by his side after a long battle with cancer on September 23. Beloved and devoted husband of Charlene; loving and caring father to Anton (Debra) Cohen, Gavin Cohen, Lori (Shane)...
Alfred Dreyfus
VIRGINIA BEACH - Alfred Dreyfus, 100, peacefully passed away on October 4. He was born in Rastatt, Germany on December 11, 1923, to Emmy (née Lieblich) and Manfred Dreyfus. From his father, an industrialist and World War I veteran, Alfred inherited a passion for...
Arthur S. Kreger
VIRGINIA BEACH - Arthur S. Kreger died on September 24 with his wife and daughter by his side. He was born in Norfolk, Va. on February 27, 1936, to the late Lena Cohen and Jacob Kreger. Arthur was preceded in death by his siblings Sammy, Bernice, Sol, and...
Holiday table conversation starters
When gathering for the upcoming High Holiday meals with family and friends, this might be the year to veer away from a discussion of politics. Instead, consider exploring a topic that is often overlooked, but is incredibly important –philanthropy. What better...
Nadiv Kicks off new year with big crowd, important cause
The men of Nadiv voted and chose Camp JCC as the recipient of the group’s fundraising efforts during the ‘24-‘25 programming year. Nadiv gathered on Thursday, Sept. 5 at the Virginia Beach home of Laura and Fred Gross to socialize and discuss where to direct the...
ZIM moves to Virginia Beach
Rabbi Meir Lessof joins Nissim Yochai, president of ZIM, and other dignitaries to affix mezuzot at ZIM’snew office building in Virginia Beach. The move from Norfolk marks more than 1,000 new job opportunities for Virginia Beach. Rabbi Meir Lessoff and Nissim Yochai,...
Shirley Adrienne Baum
ST. ALBANS, ENGLAND – Shirley Adrienne Baum passed away on September 16 at the age of 88 in St. Albans, England. A native of London, she was prede- ceased in 2015 by her husband, Braham Baum. She leaves behind her children, Gary (Elena) and Tracey and grandchildren,...
Robert Herman
WILMINGTON, N.C. - Robert Herman, 88, passed away on Saturday, September 7. Robert was born on June 30, 1936, to Carlyn and Benjamin Jaffe in Suffolk, Virginia. When Robert was two, his father passed away and his mother married Phillip Herman, who adopted Robert. In...
Robert B. Levin
VIRGINIA BEACH – Robert B. Levin, “Bobby,” passed peacefully in his home on September 17 after a courageous battle with cancer. Bobby was predeceased by his parents, Carla and Bernard Levin, and his sister, Margaret. He is survived by his son, Maxwell Levin, siblings...
Dr. Stewart Barry Segal
INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. - Stewart Barry Segal passed away on September 19 at the age of 73, surrounded by his family and knowing that he was loved, that he had made a difference in countless lives, and that his work here was done. He was born on July 19, 1951, in Norfolk,...
Dorothy Mae Zimmerman
POMPTON PLAINS, N.J. - Dorothy Mae Zimmerman passed away peacefully sur- rounded by her loving children, Betsy, Josh, and Susan, on September 16, just two weeks shy of her 89th birthday. Prior to her retirement, Dorothy was the administrator of private psychiatric...
Preparing for 5785
Typically, as we prepare for the New Year, I would share the enormous impact of our 2024 Annual Campaign where, together as a community, we raised more than $5 million to support the needs of the Jewish people and organizations locally, on college campuses around...
Donations to Jewish News
Jewish News appreciates all who support the newspaper with generous contributions – whether in honor of or in memory of friends and loved ones or as a Friend of Jewish News. Friends of Jewish News Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lines Virginia Hawks Carol Waters Barbara...