NORFOLK - Harold Levenson, 83, passed away after contracting COVID. He was better known as Hal and can best be remembered by his booming presence – his mind and stature overwhelmed a room. He loved having challenging conversations as well as listening to music of all...
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Joan H. Strauss
VIRGINIA BEACH - Joan H. Strauss, age 101, died Monday August 7. Joan was the beloved wife of Werner S. Strauss, who preceded her in death. She was the loving mother of Renee Dawson and Larry Strauss (Katherine), grandmother of Adina S. Gadell (Tim), and...
Lily Stromberg
PORTSMOUTH—Lily Stromberg, age 94, died peacefully in her home with family on August 13. Lily was born in Montreal, Canada, to Jacob and Jennie Tessler. She earned her degree in elementary education from MacDonald College of McGill University School for Teachers. She...
Summer through a Jewish lens
Lounging on the beach and ziplining through tropical forests aren’t the only ways to have fun and interesting summer days. For some in Jewish Tidewater, it’s incorporating something Jewish into a trip, camp, or activity. Here, we highlight a few such ‘Jewish Summers’...
Protests in Israel – A family affair?
On Saturday, July 29, I took my seven-year-old twin daughters to the large Gome Junction protest, the northernmost protest against the judicial reforms in Israel. These protests have been occurring for 30 weeks in a row at junctions and in cities across Israel. Since...
In the room when Israel’s President Herzog addressed Congress
On Wednesday, June 19, I had the honor of joining leadership from our Jewish community, as well as leadership from Jewish communities and organizations around the country to hear Israeli President Isaac Herzog address a joint session of the United States Congress. I...
On Assignment with Lahav Harkov
Starts Thursday, October 6, Noon Monthly current affairs discussions with Lahav Harkov, the Jerusalem Post’s senior contributing editor, will take place on the first Thursday of each month, October through March. Grab lunch as Harkov leads an online briefing and...
Wiesenthal: Nazi Hunter…a one-man show
Tuesday, November 15, 7 pm Wells Theater Wiesenthal: Nazi Hunter…a one-man show written and performed by Tom Dugan, in partnership with the Virginia Stage Company, will be presented as a fundraiser for the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of...
Lolly Pearl Bernstein
Norfolk—Lolly Pearl Bernstein, 99, passed September 17, 2022. Born in Norfolk to Joseph and Jennie Donsky, she was raised in Colonial Place, was a graduate of Granby High School, a widow of Elmer Bernard Bernstein, and lifelong member of Temple Israel. She is survived...
Susan Blackman
Virginia Beach—Susan Ann Roussel Blackman passed away on September 15 at her home in Virginia Beach while sleeping, apparently from respiratory arrest caused by COVID. Susan was born in New Orleans, La., in 1966. In 1986, she married Jerome Blackman, a psychoanalyst...
Dee Ann Bond
Noblesville, Indiana—Dee Ann Bond, 75, of Noblesville, Indiana, passed away on August 20, 2022. Dee was a part of the “Baby Boom” after World War II and was born on March 13, 1947 to Dean and Ruth Benjamin of Monticello, Indiana. After she graduated from Twin Lakes...
Lawrence Ivan Brenner
Norfolk—Lawrence Ivan Brenner (aka Mr. Wonderful) passed away peacefully in his home at age 95 on September 7. Lawrence was born June 17, 1927 in Norfolk, Virginia to the late Joseph and Lula Brenner. He was preceded in death by his sister, Beverly Brenner Rostov....
Linda Cogan
Virginia Beach—Linda Cogan lived at Beth Sholom Village from 1995 until she passed away on September 1, 2022. Cogan arrived at BSV when she was 45 years old. During her 27 years as a resident, she experienced the growth and progress of BSV more than most residents and...
Bette Wohlgemuth
Boca Raton, Fla.—Bette Wohlgemuth (née Carver) of Boca Raton, Florida formerly of Waterbury, Connecticut, passed September 2, 2022 at the age of 93. She was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Mae (Schekzer) Carver, as well as her brother, Harold Carver. For 71...
High Holiday updates on COVID and other safety protocols for area congregations
According to the results of a recent COVID poll (the New York Times Morning Section, Aug. 22, 2022), “One of the central findings is how much attitudes have changed since the spring. Americans are less worried about the virus today.” How does this translate...
A “Super Day” is planned to take place at the Sandler Family Campus
Sunday, September 18 Sandler Family Campus, 11:30 am–4 pm Some are calling it “Super Duper Sunday” because of all of the exciting activity planned for Sunday, September 18 at the Sandler Family Campus. With four events taking place, the phrase “Super Duper” is...
Team Virginia Beach shares experiences of JCC Maccabi Games in San Diego
The JCC Maccabi Games returned for its 40th year last month in San Diego, California with five days of competition, building friendships, and Jewish identity. Among the 1,300 teen athletes from 57 delegations and 67 JCCs across the United States, Canada, Mexico,...
L’Shanah Tovah 5783
Dear Readers, If you listen closely, you might hear congregations throughout the nation exclaiming, “We’re BACK!” and if you listen even closer, you might also hear “…almost.” High Holidays services in 2021 were a mixed bag, with many still concerned about attending...
Sounding the Shofar in Tidewater
It’s a ritual that is both solemn and joyful, that brings musical expression into Judaism. The Jewish News asked local shofar blowers how they got started, why they embrace the tradition, and a little about performance anxiety. Rabbi Aron Margolin, Chabad of Tidewater...
That’s a wrap: End of Summer Shabbat
PJ Library in Tidewater and United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Young Adult Division (YAD) teamed up again to host the annual End of Summer Shabbat Dinner and Pool Party at the Simon Family JCC. Families and friends experienced an evening of good music, pool...
Rain doesn’t stop Sababa and Fretomology
Despite a slightly soggy start to the night, Sababa Social Club’s summer party went on as planned. The Marty Einhorn Pavilion provided great shelter from the rain as Sababa committee members Alene Jo Kaufman and Ellen Hundley assisted United Jewish Federation of...
Keepin’ it jazzy with Jack Frieden
For Jack Frieden, the love of vocal music of the 60s and beyond (think the Beach Boys, the Beatles, and Crosby, Stills & Nash) eventually spread to an appreciation of jazz. Today, he is the host of the Norfolk-based radio show, The Vocal Sound of Jazz on WHRV 89.5...
Strummin’ along with Bob and Jeanne Zentz
Fun fact: Johnny Cash listened to local folk musician Bob Zentz’s debut album Mirror and Changes and praised it as one of the finest things he’d heard by any artist. The album, which features The Ramblin’ Conrad Story, is now on Smithsonian Folk-Legacy (now under...
What’s in the new Iran deal, and what’s holding it up?
(JTA)—Last month, the chances that the United States would rejoin the Iran nuclear deal seemed higher than they had been in years. CNN and Reuters reported that Iran had dropped multiple demands in the ongoing negotiations over a new accord that would update the...
Ken Burns’ PBS documentary The U.S. And The Holocaust asks hard questions about how Americans treated Jews and immigrants during wartime
Premier Sunday, September 18, 8 pm, WHRO (JTA) — One of the first people introduced in Ken Burns’ new documentary series about the Holocaust is Otto, a Jewish man seen in the series’ first episode who tries to secure passage to America for his family but gets stymied...
Programs department gets new coordinator
Mia Klein has joined United Jewish Federation of Tidewater as the new programs department coordinator. In her new role, she will work with the directors of Arts + Ideas, Jewish Innovation, and the Jewish Community Relations Council, chief programs officer, and, other...