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Coastal Virginia Magazine presented the publication’s annual Giving Back Awards at a ceremony last month at MOCA in Virginia Beach. Tidewater Jewish Foundation was one of the 15 nonprofit organizations and seven businesses of various sizes and visions that were...
How often in life is something worth a two-year wait? The Holocaust Commission proved this can absolutely be true. Sponsored by Bank of America and originally scheduled for October of 2020, then postponed twice by the pandemic, Tom Dugan came to town last month with...
Dear Readers, The late, notably irreverent comedian Lenny Bruce once quipped that most Jewish holidays are “observed” rather than celebrated, including Hanukkah. Perhaps when Bruce performed that particular shtick back in 1961 that joke was accurate…Jews solemnly lit...
Eitan Altshuler shares his version and twists on a dessert recipe not widely used in America for Hanukkah Beyond the classics, there are more than a few days over Hanukkah to enjoy a variety of fried foods. The Jews of India like to celebrate by making Gulab Jamun, a...
The food Pantry, operated by Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, was recently expanded by about one-third its size. Prior to its expansion, JFS had two smaller pantries: one for the general community, and the “Milk and Honey” program for Jewish individuals. These two...
All training is perishable and should be refreshed at least annually. As we move into the next round of holidays, this is a timely reminder. It is during this next period when auto burglaries, robberies, and residential burglaries increase. When you leave a location,...
The final stages of the new mikvah project at 425 Washington Park are nearly complete, with late June as the projected opening. Then, with a little bit of mazel, and a lot of rain, the existing Norfolk mikvah will get its much-awaited renovation. Staying the course on...
Applications accepted beginning June 15 COVID-19 might have stalled summer plans, but that doesn’t mean that summer has to come to a standstill. Jewish Federations of North America just announced the launch of Jewish Changemakers, an opportunity for Jewish adults, age...
Governor Ralph Northam announced on Tuesday, June 3 that he would move the portion of the Commonwealth that includes Tidewater into Phase 2 of reopening effective Friday, June 5. With his announcement, the Simon Family JCC made final preparations to open its...
Richmond—Barry Steven Comess, one of life’s greatest characters, passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, following a prolonged battle with cardiovascular disease at the end of his 75th year. Cheers to Barry for a life well-lived! Barry is survived by his brother, Allan...
Norfolk—Donna Skwarlo Kootner, 77, a long time member of Ohef Sholom Temple, passed away on May 27. Donna was a cherished member of the Knitting Club at Beth Sholom Village, making treasured blankets for the residents. She was a devoted volunteer for various...
Chesapeake—Shoshana (Rosalyn) Lis, 92, of Chesapeake, Virginia, surrounded by her family, passed away of non-COVID-related illness on May 18, 2020. Born the daughter of Louis and Ruth Ehrlich on October 30, 1927 in The Bronx, she had one brother, Theodore Ehrlich....
Virginia Beach—Leo S. Simon passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on Thursday, May 14, 2020 after a short illness. Leo was born November 17, 1927 in Norfolk, Va. to the late Sol Simon and Dora Chadwick Simon and spent most of his life in Hampton...
Richmond—Lois Lowenberg Snyder, 95, passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2020 in Richmond, Va. Born in Norfolk, she was the daughter of the late David and Miriam Goodman Lowenberg. She was preceded in death by her husband, Julius J. Snyder, M.D. and her brother, Lt. David...
Norfolk—Thelma Steingold, 93, was born in Norfolk and raised in the Ghent/West Ghent area. She was the daughter of Isaac and Rose Saunders, immigrants who were devoted, life-long members of Congregation Beth El. After living in Florida for many years, she returned to...
Larry Kramer, one of the most important figures in the history of LGBTQ activism and a writer, died on Wednesday, May 27. Kramer, who wrote the semi-autobiographical play A Normal Heart, died in Manhattan of pneumonia, his husband, David Webster, confirmed to the New...
Virginia Beach—We are saddened by the passing of Dolores Bartel on May 7, 2020, after fighting a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Dolores was born in Miami Beach, Fla., the daughter of George and Alice Norris. She graduated from Miami Beach High and attended the...
Norfolk—Rita Semel Cohen 86, of Norfolk, died May 16, 2020 at Beth Sholom Home in Virginia Beach. Born in Syracuse, New York she was the daughter of the late Jack Semel and Sarah Coplon Semel. Rita was a graduate of Maury High School and attended Syracuse University....
Washington, DC—Dr. Ronald I. Dozoretz passed away peacefully on May 8, 2020 at the age of 85. Ron, affectionally known as Dr. D, dedicated his entire life to helping people. He had a very gentle and kind nature; however, he was a strong, confident leader who touched...
Virginia Beach—Lillian T. Kozak, 93, a retired U.S. Navy civilian and mother of an all-male “Brady bunch,” died May 11, 2020, at Beth Sholom Village. Mrs. Kozak was born in Norfolk to the late Benjamin and Sara Traub, later graduating Maury High School, and then...
NORFOLK—On Friday, May 15, 2020, Ronald “Ronnie” L. Levy, loving husband and father of two children, passed away at the age of 79. Ronnie was born in Norfolk, Va. to Max and Goldie (Peltz) Levy. A graduate of Newport News High School, he was a member of “Granby High...
Fairfax—Betty J. Weinstein 89, died May 6, 2020 in Fairfax, Virginia. Born in Norfolk, she was the daughter of the late Julius M. Tischler and Helen Weisel Tischler. Mrs. Weinstein worked for the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk for 37 years. She was preceded in death...
BOSTON (JTA)—As a teenager growing up in the West End of Boston in the early 1940s, Hyman Siegal was a regular at the West End House, a philanthropic club that offered programming for the sons of immigrants and a place to gather away from the crowded tenement homes....
He lisped. He wore an intense and engaged stare in photos. And he knew just about everything. Joel Kupperman, the adorable child star who helped burnish the stereotype of the brainy Jew as a panelist on the 1940s show Quiz Kids, died on April 8, according to an...
Remaining relevant in a world of clashing ideologies and mixed agendas, crisis upon crisis, decade after decade, is the most striking feature of a legacy organization such as ORT. Fixed, yet flexible, the foundation of ORT’s high-tech educational mission is relevance....
(JTA)—The Jewish Telegraphic Agency is recording layoffs and furloughs at Jewish organizations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This story is updated regularly and serves as a running log of layoffs and furloughs imposed at Jewish nonprofits. May 14: 60 laid...