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 “My mother was a very astute businesswoman and quite visionary, and I am certain I am aware of her intentions as I worked closely with her and on her testamentary plans,” says Michael A. Glasser. “Rose Frances and Bernard were an outstanding team. My mother worked for decades at our law firm aside my father and later with my brothers and me. 

 “We can honor their memory and also elevate those she would intend,” he says. 

 According to Glasser, the reasoning behind the gift to the paper, is that Jewish News is an “essential connection to the greater Tidewater Jewish community and is extremely critical while Jews and Israel are targeted with harassment.” 

Ross Glasser, a grandson of Rose Frances and Bernard, notes that Jewish News “connects us all.”

Rose Frances Levinson Glasser, who lived to be 101, is said to not have wasted a moment. 

 According to her obituary, “When Rose Frances would speak, people would listen. She could be feisty when the circumstances required it and everyone knew where Rose Frances stood – always on the side of her family.”

 She graduated from Maury High School (Class of 1932) and Ohio State University (Class of 1936) with a degree in social work and took graduate courses at ODU. Her first full-time job after college was working for the City of Norfolk assisting families in need during the Great Depression. She dated and then married Bernard Glasser, a young Norfolk lawyer.

After Bernard’s death in 1983, Rose Frances spent three consecutive winters in Israel volunteering on various projects including knitting clothing for the Ethiopian immigrants, working at the Israeli Ministry of Justice, and at Israeli libraries binding books. 

 The generosity and vision of Rose Frances and Bernard Glasser continue to be honored today and for future generations. 

A decade after becoming an executive assistant at Beth Sholom Village, the mother of three is now arguably at the center of the entire local Jewish community as its executive director. “We sold the nursing home and assisted living facility (the Terrace) in 2023 (the College Park campus is now Maimonides Health Center), then partnered with Pembroke Square Associates to build Aviva Pembroke, the senior living independent high rise adjacent to the former mall,” she says. At that point, Krajesky, who had earned a license as a nursing home administrator and become BSV’s vice president of administration, was wondering about her own professional future.  

“Nobody knew Beth Sholom better than Lauren,” says Fay Silverman, now BSV’s chairman of the board. “We had to decide whether to continue constructing more senior housing in the region or take interest income from the sale proceeds and invest it back in the community.” The board went with the latter option and fortunately, Krajesky was available, willing, and able to steer the effort. “We could not be more excited to have her lead our next chapter as a principally grant making organization.”

 Beth Sholom Village and Pembroke Square have hired an experienced outside firm, Greenbrier Associates, to manage Aviva and its 153 apartments, 114 of them for independent living, 27 for assisted living, and 12 for memory care residents. 

 “My office as well as my assistant and religious director are at Jewish Family Service on the Sandler Family Campus,” says Krajesky. For the team, it’s an ideal location, given that several of the agencies based there, such as United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and JFS itself, are two of 24 beneficiaries of the first $837,000 the Village has distributed in 2026. “Chabad of Tidewater, Congregation Beth El, Ohef Sholom Temple, Temple Israel, and Strelitz International Academy are others that have received money to fund projects to help seniors with transportation, health care, food insecurity, the arts, and other essential services,” says Krajesky.  “But it’s not just Jewish groups that we’re supporting.”

 The Judeo-Christian Outreach Center, Virginia Opera, Peninsula Agency on Aging, Prime Plus, Meals on Wheels, and Habitat for Humanity are also benefiting from BSV’s support.   

 “Habitat is using the money to repair homes for low-income seniors and Virginia Symphony is taking a quartet to senior living facilities,” says Krajesky, who spent considerable time this year making local non-profits aware of the opportunity. “We expect that many of these first recipients will continue to apply for contributions going forward but that more will join them as they become aware of us. It’s a real blessing to be able to help.”

“Beth Sholom Village was always a critical provider of housing and health care services for seniors across the region,” says Silverman. “Now we have a different mission. With Aviva filling up and having strong professional oversight, we can focus on using our resources to make a difference for others. It feels really good to do this.”

And Lauren Krajesky is directing it all. “It gives me so much pride to collaborate with our committees to review applications,” she says. “And the dollars will grow.”  Indeed, she expects BSV may have a million dollars or more to donate each year going forward, based on the stock market. “I will be able to walk downstairs and see patients, caregivers, and professionals interacting in JFS Alzheimer’s Café or drive over to the Dozoretz Hospice House, the only one of its kind in Hampton Roads, to see our investments at work.”

For more information on the Beth Sholom Village Fund and how to secure assistance, visit 

bethsholomvillage.com or call Lauren Krajesky. She’s more than happy to help share in BSV’s good fortune.   

 To help meet those challenges, educators from across the region gathered this summer for the 2026 Tidewater Inclusive Educators’ Conference, a partnership between the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, and Jewish Peninsula. The conference was made possible through a grant from Tidewater Jewish Foundation, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening inclusive schools, meaningful Holocaust education, and respectful communities throughout the region.

The two-day conference equipped teachers, administrators, counselors, librarians, and other education professionals with practical strategies for creating classrooms where students feel valued, respected, and engaged. Sessions focused on building positive classroom cultures, addressing antisemitism and other forms of bias, establishing healthy boundaries, and helping students become positive contributors to their school communities.

 The conference’s second day took participants to the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond where they explored ways to teach Holocaust history in meaningful and engaging ways. Educators examined how Holocaust education can help students understand the consequences of prejudice, strengthen critical-thinking skills, and draw connections between history and contemporary civic responsibility.

 Librarian and media specialist Kindra Mosher highlighted ways Holocaust education can be integrated across disciplines, demonstrating how history, language arts, media literacy, and civics can work together to deepen student learning and engagement.

 A common theme emerged throughout the conference: creating inclusive classrooms is ongoing work that requires intention, empathy, and preparation. Participants left with new ideas, practical tools, and a renewed commitment to building learning environments where every student feels they belong.

 To support that work beyond the conference, attendees were introduced to resources, including VCIC’s Combating Antisemitism and Bias in Schools guide. Available in the resources tab at InclusiveVA.org/programs/belonging, the guide provides educators with strategies for recognizing and addressing bias and fostering inclusive school communities. The JCRC also highlighted its Five-Year Calendar of Jewish Holidays and Observances, a resource shared with school administrators, elected officials, and community leaders to help increase awareness of Jewish practices and avoid potential scheduling conflicts with major holidays and observances.

To learn more about the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, visit InclusiveVA.org. To learn more about Jewish Community Relations Council, visit JewishVA.org/JCRC. To learn more about the Holocaust Commission, visit HolocaustCommission.org.

Find the Five-Year Calendar at JewishVA.org/5-Year.

 Participants experienced an evening of paddling and community connection, which was elevated by the insightful teachings of Rabbi Michael Panitz from Temple Israel and Rabbi Pinchas Zimmer from B’nai Israel. The rabbis shared words of Torah that beautifully connected Jewish wisdom with the surrounding nature and sunset. Their teachings provided all the spiritual light needed for a memorable night on the water.

To learn more about NextGen events and how to register, visit www.JewishVA.org/NextGen or email Hannah Yasemsky, engagement coordinator, at Hyasemsky@ujft.org.

 That philosophy has guided Peck’s decades of leadership within the Jewish community and now shapes his vision as the new board chair of Tidewater Jewish Foundation. At a time when many organizations are focused on meeting today’s challenges, Peck believes TJF has a unique responsibility: to strengthen the long-term financial foundation that will allow Jewish life in Hampton Roads to thrive well into the future.

 Central to that vision is TJF’s ambitious goal of growing its endowed assets to $500 million. For Peck, the number is not the destination; rather it is what that level of philanthropic investment could make possible.

 Peck says he envisions synagogues strengthened by permanent endowments, agencies with the resources to innovate and expand programming, scholarships that open doors for more students, and community institutions better equipped to address growing security needs. Instead of simply sustaining operations year after year, organizations would have the freedom to invest boldly in the future.  

“If we achieve this vision,” Peck says, “the exciting things we can do as a community will be limited only by our imagination.”

 That long-range perspective is what first drew Peck to the Foundation.  “TJF is designed to protect the investments our parents and grandparents made,” he says. Inspired by the Jewish teaching of the man who plants a carob tree knowing he will never enjoy its fruit, Peck believes every generation has a responsibility to plant seeds whose greatest impact will be realized by those who follow.

 He also hopes to reshape how the community thinks about philanthropy. “One of the greatest misconceptions we must change is that philanthropy is only for the wealthy,” Peck says. “There are meaningful opportunities for individuals and families at every stage of life to create lasting impact.”

 As he begins his term, Peck is quick to recognize that TJF’s momentum is the result of decades of dedicated leadership. He credits the Foundation’s past and present board members, volunteers, donors, and community partners for investing their time, talent, and treasure to build one of the region’s strongest Jewish philanthropic institutions.

 “The outstanding leadership of those who came before us has put TJF on an exciting trajectory,” he says. “I’m honored to serve alongside an exceptional board of directors as we build on that foundation together.”

 Peck believes the Foundation’s greatest work is still before it. “TJF looks at the long game,” he says. “Our role is to ensure that future generations inherit a Jewish community that is strong, resilient, and prepared for whatever comes next.”

 For Tidewater Jewish Foundation, helping turn those ideas into reality is exactly why Community Impact Grants exist.

 Designed to strengthen Jewish life, the grants provide funding for projects and initiatives that create measurable impact throughout Jewish Tidewater. While many people associate grants with innovative new programs, Community Impact Grants support a broad range of needs, including special events, educational initiatives, collaborative programs, capital improvements, security enhancements, equipment purchases, and cultural experiences.

 Past grants have supported everything from community-wide concerts and Holocaust remembrance programs to Jewish cooking experiences, campus engagement initiatives, playground improvements, broadcasting technology, and security upgrades.

 “If a project has the potential to strengthen Jewish life and community, we want organizations to consider applying,” says Ann Swindell, TJF’s grants administrator.

 One of the biggest misconceptions, according to Swindell, is that organizations must navigate the grant process alone. “I want organizations to know they don’t have to figure it all out by themselves,” she says. “If you have an idea, a question, or you’re not sure whether a project qualifies, call me. I’d much rather have a conversation early and help strengthen an application than have someone miss an opportunity because they weren’t sure where to start. These grants exist to support our community, and my goal is to help organizations successfully move from idea to impact.”

 Over the years, Swindell has become a trusted resource for organizations throughout the application process, helping applicants think through project goals, measurable outcomes, budgets, timelines, and reporting requirements.

 “Community Impact Grants aren’t about creating hurdles,” she says. “They’re about helping organizations create meaningful impact. I want applicants to view me as a resource from the first conversation all the way through final reporting.”

 The current grant cycle closed July 10, but organizations that missed this deadline are encouraged to begin planning now for the next cycle, which opens November 15 and closes January 10, 2027.

 “I love it here,” she says. “The people are so lovely, intelligent, well educated, well-traveled. Just really nice to be around.” 

 In fact, she says, “I’ve always loved Virginia. The first time I came here, I was nine years old. I visited Williamsburg.” 

 After a lifetime in Birmingham, Alabama, Luria and her husband, Herbert, moved to Tidewater approximately four years ago to be near their daughter, Elaine Luria, who had made Norfolk her home. Not long after the couple’s move – about a year later – her husband died following a long illness.  

Luria’s roots in Birmingham were deep – a city where she, along with her late husband and daughter, were all natives. There, she was extremely active in Jewish communal life, serving in leadership roles with organizations such as the National Council of Jewish Women. She was also involved in the arts, volunteering for decades at the Birmingham Museum of Art as a docent.  In addition, Luria was a Blue and Gold officer for the Naval Academy where she interviewed candidates and helped them through the application process. In fact, 25 of her candidates were accepted to the Naval Academy and all graduated.

 When she relocated, however, she says she was ready to step back. 

 “I had done so much volunteer work. I was ready to take a rest.” 

 In Norfolk, Jewish life looks different but is still familiar in feeling. She is a member of Ohef Sholom Temple and speaks warmly about the congregation and Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg. She attends services roughly once a month, often with neighbors, and occasionally joins Sisterhood events. 

 Much of her social life, however, is rooted in the broader community of where she lives, at Harbor’s Edge. She has also joined the American Friends of Lafayette and travelled to France, New Orleans and Richmond with the group.

 “I just talk to people,” she says. “That’s how I meet everyone.” 

 That ease of connection has become the foundation of her new life. She rarely eats alone, instead making daily plans with neighbors and friends. Jewish or not, she describes the community as deeply welcoming. 

 Looking back, she doesn’t hesitate when asked about the move. 

“It was definitely the right move for me,” she says. “There are so many wonderful things to do here – you can’t even imagine.” 

And, of course, it doesn’t hurt to have her daughter’s family – Elaine, Robert, and Violette – close by.

 Behind every statistic is a personal story; one of resilience, adaptation, love, and connection. While there is still much to learn about Alzheimer’s, researchers now know that changes in the brain associated with the disease can begin years before symptoms appear. For most families, however, the journey begins with subtle changes in memory, thinking or daily routines, prompting a search for answers and, ultimately, an opportunity to find support, resources, and community.

 That was the case for Linda Spindel, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease two years ago. Spindel speaks openly about her diagnosis and proudly shares the small victories that continue to bring her joy. 

 Losing her ability to drive has been the most difficult adjustment, Spindel says. Yet even that challenge is something she approaches with optimism. In a moment that perfectly captures her spirit, Spindel reflects on her diagnosis through the lens of driving: “It’s been a good ride.” While there are more red lights than she would like, she laughs and adds that she knows the road well. Her positivity is both inspiring and contagious.

 Spindel offers encouragement to others who are newly diagnosed. Rather than withdrawing from family, friends, or community support, she encourages people to focus on what they can still do rather than what they can no longer do. “I feel lucky,” she says, explaining that she is more intentional than ever about nurturing relationships and finding joy in everyday moments. 

 Her husband, Ron Spindel, says much of Linda’s positive outlook can be attributed to the support they have received from family and the broader community. In particular, he credits Marcia Futterman Brodie, founder of Marcia Trains, LLC, with helping them navigate this chapter of life by providing guidance, resources, encouragement, and understanding. For Brodie, this work is personal. “No one should have to walk this journey alone,” she says.

 That philosophy is shared by Beth Sholom Village, where leaders have witnessed how the support of caring professionals, friends, and loved ones can make a profound difference for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and the families who care for them, helping them find strength and connection along the way. To help meet these needs, Beth Sholom Village has earmarked funding for Jewish Family Service to launch an Alzheimer’s Café under Brodie’s guidance. The initiative will create opportunities for families to gather, share experiences, and find support in a welcoming environment, helping ensure that no one faces the journey in isolation.

 Spindel’s story serves as a powerful reminder that while Alzheimer’s disease may alter the road ahead, it does not diminish the importance of joy, purpose, or meaningful relationships. With the right support and a caring community, even the most challenging roads can be traveled with hope.

Lauren Krajesky, LNHA, CDP is Beth Sholom Village’s executive director.

 Does he get complaints from the sessions? “I invite my neighbors, they join us! Preventative medicine,” says Brosch.

 His love for jazz music started many years ago in Israel. Born in Haifa, Brosch took piano lessons as an adolescent and remembers one of his teachers, Mrs. Schall, a Hungarian woman who escaped Nazi Germany. Her husband, a jazz pianist, played for the British soldiers and would play songs when he picked up his wife. All the Things You Are by Ella Fitzgerald is the song that initially turned a young Brosch on to jazz. 

 Since retiring in 2005, playing music has become his focus, his mission, and his purpose. “I’m fighting to keep my music alive,” Brosch says.

For three years, Brosch played at Sentara Heart Hospital, Sentara Leigh Hospital, and Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital under the “Music and Medicine” initiative.  At one time, he also performed at places such as Westminster-Canterbury and Beth Sholom Village. One could imagine how effective it must be in raising the spirits of patients in the healing process. 

Today, Brosch accompanies other vocalists and plays frequently in hotels and casinos such as The Rivers Casino in Portsmouth and Varia Italian Restaurant at the Hilton Main Hotel. He is often seen alongside vocalists Danielle Roby and Frank Cubillo of Frank Sings Frank. Although playing jazz is his passion, it’s not the only reason he does it. 

 At his self-proclaimed “89 years plus,” the active retiree tries to stay busy and believes that it is the key to a long, happy life. He works out three days a week via Silver Sneakers and rides his bike to run errands at least twice a week. A main concern for him is that so many adults do not have a plan to stay active after retirement. 

 “Pick something you enjoy, that belongs to you, and plan for it. Try to be the best you can be.” 

 Brosch is a member of the JCC Senior Club and attends Roundtable Conversations. To keep the brain active, “keep researching and learning. Surround yourself with younger people and be involved,” he says.

For information on senior activities at the Sandler Family Campus or to learn about a Gad Brosch future performance, contact Sarah Cooper at scooper@ujft.org.