Norfolk –Thelma Laderberg passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026, at Harbor’s Edge in Norfolk, Virginia, at the age of 100. She lived a long, full, and deeply meaningful life—one defined by creativity, independence, devotion to family, and enduring...
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Marvin Joel Merkle
Norfolk – Marvin Joel Merkle, 79, passed away peacefully, Thursday, January 22, 2026. He was born in Richmond, Virginia, the son of the late Harold Hyman and Eva Merkle. He is survived by his two daughters, Jenefer Dayle Snyder and husband...
Toby Flex Pekarsky
Virginia Beach – Toby Flex Pekarsky, age 85, passed away on January 11, 2026. She was born in Portsmouth, Virginia to the late Fred and Belle Levin Flex. She was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Robert Jay Pekarsky, her sister Sally Flex Weinraub, her...
Gerald Martin Sandler
Norfolk – Gerald “Jerry” Martin Sandler, 88, of Norfolk, Virginia, passed away peacefully at his home on January 20, 2026. He was born in Norfolk on June 28, 1937, to the late Lou “Lovey” and Anna Rose Sandler. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife...
Samuel Leon Shapiro
Washington, D.C. – Samuel Leon Shapiro, a long-time Norfolk resident, died on January 17, 2026, in Washington, D.C. at the age of 86. He will always be remembered as a loving and beloved husband, father, and grandfather with a remarkable intellect, a gentle...
Albert P. Solomon
Virginia Beach – Dr. Albert “Al” P. Solomon, a devoted husband, father, and veteran, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025, in Virginia Beach at the age of 81. Born on July 31, 1944, Al lived a life marked by dedication to both his profession and his...
Seniors Club exclusive event with authors of The Joy of Costco
Wednesday, November 20, 11:30 am Sandler Family Campus The Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival will host Susan and David Schwartz, authors of The Joy of Costco, for an exclusive 30-minute meet and greet with the JCC Seniors Club. The...
Ethel-Raye Greenspan
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - We bid farewell to Ethel-Raye Greenspan of Norfolk, Virginia, whose journey of life gracefully concluded on October 16, at the age of 87. Ethel-Raye touched countless lives with warmth and kindness, leaving behind cherished memories that...
Holly Silver Margason
NORFOLK - Holly Silver Margason passed away peacefully on Oct. 11, surrounded by her family while watching The Wizard of Oz, one of her favorite movies. Fittingly, she passed during the moment where Dorothy crosses over from the black and white world into the magical,...
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,...