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...
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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 Israel’s 77th Anniversary at the Yom Ha’Atzmaut community celebration
Sunday, May 4, 12 - 3 pm, Sandler Family Campus Jewish Tidewater is making plans to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s 77th Independence Day, with another vibrant and family-friendly afternoon filled with fun, culture, and community spirit.Attendees will have the...

BBYO holds spring kick-off
Tidewater BBYO had its spring kickoff at Surge Adventure Park, a multi-adventure trampoline park, ninja course, and arcade in Virginia Beach on Saturday, Feb 8. Eighteen teens attended the event, connecting with Jewish friends over pizza and an afternoon of fun. Henry...
Tova Polishuck “Doba” Katz
HAIFA, ISRAEL – Tova Polishuck “Doba” Katz, 93 years old, passed away in her apartment in Haifa, Israel on April 25.Tova was born on January 17, 1931 to Yahuda and Donia Soroko Polishuck of Raanana, Israel. She was the widow of Gerald Katz, mother to David Katz of...
Yetta Cohen Sifen
VIRGINIA BEACH – Yetta Cohen Sifen passed away peacefully in her home at the age of 93, surrounded by her loving family, on April 23.She was born on November 15, 1930, in Portsmouth, Va. In 1942, she welcomed her brother Stanley (married to Judy) into this world. In...
Regina (“Jeanie”) Holzsweig Weinstock
NEWPORT NEWS - Regina (“Jeanie”) Holzsweig Weinstock, 99, passed away on April 2.Born in Portsmouth, Va., to Philip and Fannie Holzsweig, Jeanie moved to Newport News as an infant. She grew up in Newport News, and although she lived many other places, Newport News was...
Knowledge is the answer
Jewish News is gathering and presenting some basic facts for this space to equip readers during this difficult time with the confidence needed to engage in conversation about Israel. This information is from Jewish Federations of North America, as of April 8. Six...
Forward features To Life: The Past is Present
Earlier this year, the Forward wrote about the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s book, To Life: The Past is Present, including six of the publication’s stories. The article, with two of the stories, is reprinted here with permission....
Senator Tim Kaine visits Sandler Family Campus
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine spent a couple of hours at the Sandler Family Campus last month chatting with members of Tidewater’s Jewish community about a host of issues, including Israel’s war with Hamas.
The Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community is celebrating 20 years!
To commemorate this milestone 20th anniversary, Jewish News is planning a special section in the May 13 issue.We invite you to share your personal stories, memories, and photos of being on the Sandler Family Campus since 2004.Think about all the reasons that brought...
Chrysler Museum of Art: Camp with an art focus
Does your child’s summer include Fantastic Creatures or 3D Illusions? How about painting, sculpting, or mosaics? For campers who attend Camp Art Stars at the Chrysler Museum of Art, the answer will be “Yes!”At Camp Art Stars, campers will find inspiration behind the...
Checking out the Solar Eclipse at the Sandler Family Campus
Some events simply cannot be missed. Apparently, that was the thought when young students at Strelitz International Academy were covered up with proper fashionable paper plates, in addition to the special protective sunglasses, to view the Solar Eclipse on April 8 at...
Next Rabbi Sacks Tidewater Community Book Club: The Great Partnership: Science, Religion, and the Search for Meaning
Sunday, April 28, 10 am, Temple Emanuel In The Great Partnership: Science, Religion, and the Search for Meaning, the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks challenges traditional perspectives on the intersection of science and religion. The Rabbi Sacks Tidewater Community Book...
Simon Family JCC to participate in Family and Student Wellness Expo
Saturday, May 11, 11 am – 2 pm Bayside High School The Family and Student Wellness Expo connects families with local resources, cultivating a stronger sense of community as well as ensuring families remain informed of mental wellness, family engagement, and student...
Mary Alice Fobian Epstein
VIRGINIA BEACH - Mary Alice Fobian Epstein passed away March 29.Mary was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on September 30, 1938. She graduated from St. Gertrude’s High School in Richmond. Mary then became a registered nurse after graduating from Mary Immaculate School...
Anita Smith Kinsley
MERRIMACK, N.H. – Anita Smith Kinsley passed away on April 2.Beloved wife of the late David Kinsley, Anita was the devoted mother of Michelle Kinsley and Jeffrey Kinsley and his wife, Christine. She was the dear sister of Mannie Smith and his wife, Judy, and Debbie...
Betty Lou Legum
NORFOLK - Betty Lou Legum, a lifelong resident of Norfolk, passed away on April 13 at the age of 96.She was predeceased by her parents, Jesse and Rose Ruden Rafelman, Robin Legum Siegel, and her husband Charles “Sonny” Stuart Legum.After graduating from Maury High...
Shirley Rosen
PORTLAND, MAINE – Shirley Rosen, 93, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, passed away March 22.Shirley, the daughter of Lena Shlanger Binder and Joseph Binder, was born in New York City, N.Y. on Dec. 16, 1930, on the Lower East Side. She graduated from Seward...
Jeffrey Alan Swartz
UERTO NUEVO, MEXICO - Jeffrey Alan Swartz passed away March 11 at his home. He left this world suddenly after an incomparable 71 years, having perpetually blazed his own trails.Son of the late Arthur F. Swartz and Raye Zfass Swartz-Keller, Jeff was born on February...
Mindy Kaufman Stergas
CHESAPEAKE - Mindy A. Stergas, beloved wife, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away on January 13.She was born on September 21, 1961, in Maryland. Mindy was 62 years old at the time of her passing.Mindy led a life filled with simple pleasures and cherished moments. She...
Friends of Jewish News
Recent donors to Jewish News: Walter FenskaVirginia HawksCarol WatersBarbara KledzikMr. and Mrs. Charles LinesPeter PrzyjemskiTerri and Steve Budman In memory of Carole Bernstein All contributions are appreciated and help the paper fulfill its mission of being a link...
Knowledge is the answer
Israel’s war with Hamas has resulted in vocal and aggressive antisemitism that has not been witnessed in the United States for many generations.Jewish News is gathering and presenting some basic facts in this space to equip readers during this difficult time with the...
Be a reporter:Incident Reporting is critical to combating antisemitism
The American Jewish community is facing the most complex and dynamic threat environment in modern history. Christopher Wray, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has warned that antisemitism in the U.S. is rising to historic levels; Jews are the target of...