For Janae Loudon, that impact is personal.

 The rising ninth grader recently earned top honors in United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission’s Elie Wiesel Writing Competition. Loudon is also one of the newest participants in the Maria A. Mansbach Memorial Student Motivation Program, a mentorship and enrichment initiative facilitated through An Achievable Dream and funded by a supporting organization of Tidewater Jewish Foundation.

 Loudon, who enjoys reading, creative writing, crafts, and spending time in nature, says entering the writing competition allowed her to challenge herself and express ideas.

 “My essay was about learning from history and understanding others,” she says. “I chose it because I think people should learn from the past.”

 Loudon says she felt both surprised and proud when she heard she had won.

 The Mansbach Scholars program supports fifth through 12th grade students in Title 1 schools in Norfolk through mentorship, academic support, life-skills development, enrichment activities, and college preparation experiences. Students participate in workshops, field trips, collaborative projects, and exposure to college campuses and career pathways designed to help them envision a successful future.

 “My favorite part has been hearing advice from mentors and learning about college,” Loudon says. “The program helped me feel more confident in myself and my writing.”

 The Mansbach program recently expanded through a partnership between TJF and An Achievable Dream, a nationally recognized educational organization focused on helping students succeed regardless of socioeconomic background. Together, the partnership aims to equip students with the skills, confidence, and mindset needed for college, career, and life.

 Elka Mednick, director of the Holocaust Commission, says, “For nearly three decades, the Elie Wiesel Writing and Visual Arts Competition has encouraged students to engage not only with the history of the Holocaust, but with its relevance today. Inspired by Elie Wiesel’s legacy of remembrance and moral responsibility, the competition invites young people to reflect on how lessons from the past can shape the choices they make in the present.”

 Naomi Limor Sedek, Tidewater Jewish Foundation president and CEO, says Loudon’s achievement reflects the shared mission behind both programs.

 “When organizations and programs come together around education, mentorship, and opportunity, we begin to see real community impact,” Sedek says. “The Mansbach Scholars program and the Elie Wiesel Competition both help students develop confidence, compassion, and critical thinking skills; qualities that shape individual futures in addition to strengthening our broader community.”

To learn more about supporting One Happy Camper or to begin a conversation about establishing a lasting legacy through this initiative, contact Naomi Limor Sedek at Tidewater Jewish Foundation, nsedek@tjfva.org or 757-965-6109.

 As a child, his mother taught him to notice when someone needed help, to carry groceries for a neighbor, to lend a hand without being asked, to show up for others simply because it mattered. Those early lessons became the foundation of who he is.

Today, that same instinct to serve defines Aiden, the 2026 recipient of the Stein Family Scholarship. He will attend JMU. 

A senior at Kempsville High School, Aiden has built a strong record of leadership and community involvement, from mentoring elementary school students to volunteering extensively and serving as a student representative on the Virginia Beach Resort Advisory Committee.

 “I’ve just always been taught to help,” Aiden says. “If anyone calls, I’m there.”

His approach is grounded in servant leadership. “You’re not being a leader to grow yourself; you’re being a leader to grow others,” he says. “And then you grow with them.”

 That commitment to serving others is also deeply rooted in his Jewish identity. From helping at synagogue to founding and leading the Jewish Student Association at Kempsville High School, Aiden has carried those values into his everyday life. 

 That mindset is shaping his future. Aiden plans to study hospitality and tourism management alongside business administration. He hopes to return to Virginia Beach to support local, family-owned businesses and create shared spaces that bring people together. “I really just want to help the local community thrive,” he says.

 The Stein Family Scholarship, created in memory of Arlene Shea Stein, reflects a legacy of compassion and a belief that education should be accessible to all.

“This scholarship gave me options,” Aiden says. “If I don’t have to work just to pay off debt, I can put that energy into helping others and making a bigger impact.”

 Naomi Limor Sedek, Tidewater Jewish Foundation president and CEO, says, “When we see young leaders like Aiden, alongside families like the Steins who continue to invest in the next generation, we are reminded that the future of our Jewish community is strong. We can move forward with confidence knowing it is in the hands of individuals who are deeply committed to service, leadership, and lifting others.”

 For Aiden, the opportunity carries responsibility. “It’s not just about what this does for me,” he says. “It’s about everyone I’ll be able to help because of it.”  And in that way, the lessons he learned as a child continue to ripple outward, shaping not only his path, but the lives he will touch along the way. “There’s no such thing as a missed opportunity. Just opportunities that lead you somewhere different.”

Growing up in Norfolk’s West Ghent neighborhood, Kossman’s early connection to Jewish life was more cultural than religious, he says. It wasn’t until he spent nearly 30 years away, primarily in Connecticut, that his understanding of Judaism began to take shape in a more meaningful way. Through study and guidance by a Chabad rabbi, he developed a deeper appreciation for the principles that continue to influence him today.

Among them is tikkun olam: the call to repair the world.

“That idea isn’t theoretical,” Kossman says. “It’s something you’re meant to live out in how you show up, how you support, and how you contribute.”  That belief has become the foundation of his philanthropic philosophy. 

 Alongside his wife, Joyce, Kossman takes a strategic approach to philanthropy, prioritizing institutions that educate, equip, and create lasting impact. Their giving reflects a belief that strong organizations don’t just meet immediate needs; they shape people, strengthen communities, and extend their influence over time.

  That commitment has not gone unnoticed. In 2025, Kossman was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni by Old Dominion University, an acknowledgment of his sustained contributions of time, talent, and resources in service to the broader community.

 Rather than focusing on short-term outcomes, Kossman is drawn to long-term influence. “We focus on supporting institutions that help people learn how to think and lead,” he says. “If you invest in that, the return isn’t immediate, but it is lasting.”

 That same thinking shapes his views on sustaining Jewish life. Kossman believes some of the most important investments happen early, through experiences such as Jewish day school and camp. “That’s where identity starts to take hold,” he says. “It’s where relationships are formed, where people build lifelong friendships, meet their partners, and begin to understand what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves.”

 In those environments, he sees more than education or recreation. He sees continuity taking root. “You have to invest early,” he adds. “Those experiences stay with people, and they shape how connected they feel later in life.”

 As a member of Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s board of directors, Kossman brings this same strategic lens to conversations around legacy giving, particularly when it comes to engaging future donors.  “One of the biggest challenges is helping people understand the ‘why,’” he says. “If you can connect people to the purpose behind giving, if they understand the impact, that’s what sustains it.”

 For Kossman, legacy isn’t about a final gift or a single decision. It’s about aligning values with action, again and again.

 Beth Sholom Village has transformed to meet the evolving needs of seniors in Tidewater by reimagining how it carries forward a longstanding commitment rooted in one of Judaism’s enduring values: l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation. For decades, the Jewish community invested in Beth Sholom Village and its earlier iterations to ensure that seniors could live with quality, dignity, and meaningful opportunities for engagement.

 Today, that legacy continues through a new philanthropic model. Beth Sholom Village is now a grantmaking organization focused on supporting programs that improve care, foster engagement, and ensure lives of dignity for seniors, particularly Jewish seniors, while also addressing senior needs throughout the greater Hampton Roads community.

 By partnering with Tidewater Jewish Foundation to steward and administer the program, Beth Sholom Village is ensuring that these philanthropic resources are managed thoughtfully and positioned for long-term sustainability. While the Beth Sholom Village Grants Committee continues to guide funding decisions, TJF provides philanthropic expertise, administrative infrastructure, and investment stewardship that help charitable funds grow and continue supporting seniors.

 For TJF, the partnership reflects its broader mission of working alongside Jewish organizations to strengthen philanthropy and sustain community impact. “Passover reminds us that transformation is part of the Jewish story,” says Naomi Limor Sedek, TJF president and CEO. “Our community’s institutions must also evolve so their values and generosity can continue to make a difference. We are proud to partner with Beth Sholom Village to help ensure that its legacy of caring for seniors continues to support our community for generations.”

 “Beth Sholom Village has long been committed to supporting organizations that care for seniors and strengthen Jewish life in our region,” says Edie Schlain, chair of Beth Sholom Village’s Grants Committee. “Working with Tidewater Jewish Foundation allows us to continue that mission while ensuring our charitable resources are stewarded responsibly and positioned to create lasting impact.”

 Like the Passover story, the partnership reflects a belief that renewal, when guided by purpose and community values, can lead to a stronger future. 

Organizations navigating change or seeking to strengthen their philanthropic impact are encouraged to contact Tidewater Jewish Foundation to explore how partnership and stewardship can help sustain their work in perpetuity. Naomi Limor Sedek may be reached at nsedek@tjfva.org or 757-965-6109.

 Last month, Tidewater Jewish Foundation did just that. Board members gathered for the Foundation’s annual State of the Foundation to strengthen the strategy forward. It was a purposeful pause to name both the successes and challenges of supporting Jewish life in Tidewater, and to align around a path ahead.

 Over the past decade, TJF has helped turn local generosity into real support, fueling grants and long-term charitable funds that strengthen Jewish life across the region. In plain terms, the Foundation has been growing its ability to help; supporting organizations now while also building long-term stability that can carry the community through changing needs and future challenges.

 The State of the Foundation gathering focused on what comes next. Board members heard from Eddie Kramer, TJF board chair and Paul Peck, chair-elect, about the Foundation’s forward-looking strategy, how it plans to secure the resources that sustain Jewish education, synagogue life, cultural programming, social services, and community wellbeing, so future generations are not forced to rebuild what can be secured today.

 For Naomi Limor Sedek, TJF president and CEO, those conversations often begin with something deeply human: people care, but they don’t always have the words, or a clear plan. “It’s not that they haven’t thought about their legacy, they just can’t always articulate it,” she says. TJF’s role is to help individuals and families, at any stage of life, define what they want to perpetuate and then struct-
ure a meaningful, lasting plan to support the Jewish community.

 Community members who want to participate can begin with a simple conversation. Whether someone is early in their career, raising a family, planning for retirement, or reflecting on the legacy they hope to leave, TJF can help translate values into action, through donor-advised funds, legacy commitments, endowment planning, or other giving vehicles that align with personal goals.

 The future of Jewish Tidewater is not abstract. It is built decision by decision, family by family. And it begins with asking one powerful question: What do I want my legacy to be?

To start the conversation about your own legacy, contact Naomi Limor Sedek at Tidewater Jewish Foundation, 757-965-6109 or nsedek@tjfva.org.

 Moments like these – unscripted, warm, and rooted in connection – are often where meaningful conversations about family values and legacy begin. Across generations, families have gathered around food not only to nourish the body, but to share stories, pass down traditions, and explore what matters most. These conversations don’t require formal meetings or legal documents. They happen naturally, shaped by each family’s rhythm, humor, and history.

 Talking about legacy isn’t about perfection or preparedness. It’s about curiosity. It might start with a memory, how someone learned about giving from a parent or grandparent, or a simple question posed over dinner: What causes do you care about most? From there, values emerge. Justice. Responsibility. Lovingkindness. Memory. What can feel abstract on paper becomes deeply personal when spoken aloud.

 In many Jewish homes, tikkun olam isn’t discussed as a concept. It’s practiced. It shows up in the causes families support, the values they model, and the way generosity is woven into everyday life. A shared meal becomes more than nourishment; it becomes a reminder that repairing the world often begins close to home, one conversation and one choice at a time.

 Tidewater Jewish Foundation encourages families to embrace these moments and meet each other where they are. Through thoughtfully designed conversation guides, TJF offers simple prompts and reflections that help families talk about giving, values, and the Jewish future in ways that feel authentic, not intimidating.

 “Legacy conversations don’t have to be heavy or formal to be meaningful,” says Naomi Limor Sedek, TJF president and CEO. “Some of the most powerful discussions happen when families are relaxed and present with one another. A shared meal creates space for listening, vulnerability, and connection. That’s where values are truly passed on.”

Whether it’s a Shabbat dinner, a holiday gathering, or a quiet weeknight meal, these moments offer an opportunity to begin, or continue, the conversation.

To request a complimentary conversation guide or to schedule a relaxed, no-pressure legacy conversation with a Tidewater Jewish Foundation team member, contact Naomi Limor Sedek, TJF president and CEO, at nsedek@tjfva.org

 Tidewater Jewish Foundation believes this season can be a powerful opportunity to connect purpose with impact. With thoughtful planning, charitable giving can become a steady source of meaning in retirement, while also protecting the vitality of Jewish life in Tidewater.

Here are three ways TJF helps retirees turn intention into lasting impact:

1) Check in on tax and charitable planning

Retirement brings shifts in income, taxes, and long-term financial plans. TJF works alongside donors and their advisors to ensure charitable giving fits into the bigger picture. This may include strategies such as giving more in certain years, using a donor-advised fund to support organizations steadily over time, or exploring other tools that align with personal financial goals.

2) Involve the next generation

With more time in retirement, many donors find new opportunities to include children and grandchildren in giving conversations. TJF can help families use donor-advised funds to teach values, strengthen relationships, and pass down a tradition of generosity. Donors may also name children or grandchildren as successor advisors, so the family’s philanthropic spirit continues.

3) Build a legacy that strengthens Jewish life

Retirement is often when estate plans are updated—
making it an ideal time to consider a legacy gift. Donors may choose to name a fund at TJF as a beneficiary of retirement assets, create a permanent endowment to support community needs, or establish a family legacy fund that carries Jewish values forward.

“Retirement creates space for reflection and a powerful opportunity to be intentional about the legacy someone wants to leave,” says Naomi Limor Sedek, Tidewater Jewish Foundation president and CEO. “For many donors, philanthropy becomes one of the most meaningful ways to strengthen Jewish life today while ensuring the future is even stronger.”

TJF welcomes conversations with retirees and those planning for retirement who want to explore how charitable giving can bring clarity, purpose, and lasting impact to this next chapter.

Contact Naomi Limor Sedek at nsedek@tjfva.org or 757-965-6111 to begin the conversation.