NORFOLK - With profound sadness, we announce that Charles Neilson Cooper, age 89, died on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.Charles was born on July 13, 1935, in Norfolk, Va. to Dudley Cooper and Mary Miller Cooper. He was raised in Norfolk alongside his older brother, Joel...
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Marilyn Miller
NORFOLK – Marilyn Miller passed away peacefully on February 18, 2025, at the age of 97.She is survived by two sons and her daughter-in-law.Marilyn Miller was born January 29, 1928, in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was the only surviving child of Helen and Louis Epstein. Her...
Ronnie Hermelin Moscovitz
NORFOLK - Ronnie Hermelin Moscovitz passed away peacefully in her sleep at home, family by her side, on February 28, 2025.Born to Al and Bea Hermelin, of blessed memory, in Norfolk, Va., on May 7, 1940, she was the eldest of four children. Being diagnosed with...
Robert Oasis
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA - Robert (Bob) Oasis passed peacefully at home on March 6, 2025. He was surrounded by both family and friends.Bob grew up in West Hartford, Conn., attended Hall High School and earned a BA from Curry College in Milton, Mass. His career...
Dr. Louis O. Tonelson
VIRGINIA BEACH - Dr. Louis O. Tonelson passed away on March 15, 2025.Dr. Tonelson was born to A. Rufus and Sara Tonelson on May 1, 1947, in Norfolk, Va.Dr. Tonelson is survived by his best friend and confidant of 54 years, his wife Anita. He is also survived by his...
Broken Vessels, Restored Souls: Ceramics in Jewish Mysticism and Art
Sunday, March 30, 12:30 – 2:30 pm, Torggler Center at Christopher Newport University In Judaism’s mystical traditions, the myth of the ‘breaking of the vessels’ imagines vessels of divine essence shattered at creation, left for humans to find and repair the...
Celebrate Tu B’Shevat in Tidewater
The Jewish New Year of the Trees, Tu B’Shevat starts on Wednesday, Feb. 12. In the 17th century, Kabbalists created a ritual for the holiday that is similar to a Passover seder. Several options to participate in a modern version of the Tu B’Shevat seder are listed...
Alexander Portnoy
KYRIAT YAM, ISRAEL - Alexander Portnoy passed away on January 6, 2025, in Israel.Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Tatiana Portnoy; sister, Maya (Portnoy) Beglatzi; son, Felix Portnoy (Erinn), daughter, Natalie Kalman (Yossi); and grandchildren, Amelia and...
Mary M. Shroyer
FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA – Mary Martin Shroyer, 91, died on January 22, 2025. Mary was predeceased by her husband, Norman C. Shroyer.She was born November 25, 1933, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Clynt Allen Martin and Anna Stoner Martin, and lived over 54 years in Franklin,...
Alan “Famous Uncle Al” Stein
VIRGINIA BEACH - Alan Stein, also known as “Famous Uncle Al,” passed away on January 11, 2025.Alan was born in New York on February 7, 1937, and lived a long and storied life. He was the son of the late Sam and Irene Stein. He was a veteran of the US Army. While...
Ara Sue Summers
CORDOVA, ALABAMA - Born October 12, 1937, to Evelyn Jean and Floyd Summers, Ara Sue Summers passed away peacefully on January 17, 2025.She is survived by her four children: Elizabeth Leeor, Richard Riccio, Hope Riccio, and Laura Devine. Ara was also a proud...
Dr. Jesse Charles Zedd
VIRGINIA BEACH - Dr. Jesse Charles Zedd, age 77, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2025. He was best known for his personality, generosity, and sense of humor.Jesse received his undergraduate degree from Campbell University, his master’s degree in guidance and...
Statements on the ceasefire and hostage deal
Wednesday, January 16, 2025 President Joe BidenToday, after many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal. This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed...
Beach Sisterhood holds annual Hannukah celebration
Hanukkah came early to the 29 participants of this year’s Beach Sisterhood Hanukkah Party, which was held in Temple Emanuel’s social hall on December 10. Holiday foods such as latkes with a side of applesauce or sour cream and jelly filled munchkins, along with pizza...
Mazel Tov!
Benjamin and Allie Fues-Yarow on the birth of their daughter, Lennon Mae Fues-Yarow, on October 14, 2024. The family lives in Arlington, Va.Proud grandparents are Rick and Debi Yarow of Norfolk and Eric and Liza Fues and Heather McAfee of Bethesda, Md.Proud...
CommUNITY Play-In and Sing-along
Sunday, February 2, 4:30 pm, Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall, Norfolk State University The Virginia Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with the City of Norfolk, will host its annual CommUNITY Play-In and Sing-Along concert.Members of the community who play any...
The Stephanie Nakasian Jazz Trio performs Jewish Roots of the Great American Songbook
Saturday, February 1, 6:45 - 9 pm Congregation Beth El Congregation Beth El will present The Stephanie Nakasian Jazz Trio performing songs by legendary Jewish songwriters and performers such as Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Barbra Streisand, and Irving...
Virginia Council BBYO Reunion: Teens of the 1970’s and 1980’s
Saturday, April 26 • Weinstein JCC, Richmond The first Virginia Council BBYO reunion for teens from the 1970s was held in 2010. Now, 15 years later, and during the 100th anniversary year of the founding of BBYO, another reunion is planned to take place in April.“If...
Ohef Sholom Temple’s Taste of the Town to celebrate Cantor Jen
Saturday, January 25, 5:30 – 8 pm Ohef Sholom Temple A food and wine experience in honor of “40 and Fabulous” Cantor Jen Rueben is slated to take place at Ohef Sholom Temple. Savor delicious bites from local restaurants, sip fine wines and craft beers, and toast to...
Barry Einhorn
NORFOLK - On Friday, December 27, 2024, Bernard (Barry) Isaac Einhorn, D.D.S., loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 95.Barry was born on October 7, 1929, in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Lillian and William...
Sheal D. Lisner
VIRGINIA BEACH - On Saturday evening, December 28, 2024, Sheal D. Lisner passed away peacefully in his home at the age of 86.He was born on November 22, 1938, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Louis and Anna Lisner, and was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, and...
Stephen Alan Schechner, MD
VIRGINIA BEACH - Stephen Alan Schechner, MD, was born in Norfolk, Va., on December 2, 1944, to Hedy Hauer and Joseph Schechner, MD. He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Daniel Herbert Schechner.Steve graduated valedictorian from Norfolk Academy, received a...
Jewish Tidewater and beyond in 2024
For the global Jewish community, the year’s beginning contained a heaviness as the war in Gaza continued to escalate, hostages were still held, and antisemitism ramped up to levels not experienced in most of our lifetimes.Campus protests, threats against synagogues,...
JCRC interviews Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District’s candidates: Representative Jen Kiggans (R) and Missy Cotter Smasal.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater posed a series of questions to the candidates running for Virginia’s Second Congressional District: Congresswoman Jen Kiggans and Missy Cotter Smasal. Their responses follow. JCRC...
Candidates for U.S. Senator respond
With permission to reprint from Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington and Washington Jewish Week, this is a recent Q&A with candidates for the U.S. Senate, Senator Tim Kaine and Hung Cao. Printed are the candidates’ responses to two questions...
Letters offer support to Jewish community for October 7
In recognition of the first anniversary of the brutal attacks by Hamas, several elected officials and retired U.S. military leaders issued letters in condemnation of the atrocities and in solidarity with the Jewish community. Among those sending letters were U.S....