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. 

 Born in Germany to Polish Holocaust survivors who met in a displaced persons camp after World War II, Meier grew up hearing the language at home and among her parents’ friends. English eventually became her dominant language, but decades later, Yiddish still connects her to the people who shaped her childhood. 

 Today, she reconnects with that heritage at the Simon Family JCC’s Yiddish Club, where members gather monthly to explore the language through conversation, music, poetry, film, and more. 

 For Meier, Yiddish was always close to home, but with time and assimilation it became just out of reach. 

 “My parents would speak to me in Yiddish, but quickly I started answering them in English,” she says. After she entered preschool in the United States, where “everybody spoke English,” eventually “they just gave up and started speaking to me in English.” 

 Still, Yiddish remained present in her family’s life. Her parents and their friends continued speaking the language, sharing jokes, stories, and memories. 

 “Even amongst their friends, when they got much older, they were pretty much speaking English most of the time,” Meier says. “But they’d get together with friends and speak Yiddish.” 

 Though her father never taught her the language, she remembers him preserving it through music. “My father sang beautifully,” she says. “He would sing songs in Yiddish, and I remember a lot of them.” 

 Rabbi Israel Zoberman remembers a similar shift in his early years. 

“When I came to Israel, I was about four years old,” Zoberman says. “We were told, ‘Don’t speak Yiddish on the street. No one will play with your kids if they hear them speak Yiddish.’”

 Born in Kazakhstan in 1945 to Polish Holocaust survivors, Zoberman spent his infancy moving across postwar Europe before his family settled in Israel. At home, his parents spoke Yiddish – even though it wasn’t welcome outside. 

 In the years following Israel’s founding, Hebrew became a symbol of national renewal. Many immigrants embraced it while leaving Yiddish behind, seeing it as a language associated with exile, persecution, and the destruction of European Jewish life. 

For club organizer Harry Graber, however, Yiddish was never a reminder of the past – it was his first language. He grew up speaking it on the Lower East Side, where Yiddish was part of everyday life in many Jewish neighborhoods. 

 Today, he sees the club as a way to show that Yiddish was not only a language of survival, but a language of creativity, humor, and culture. 

 “I want people to understand that the language is fun, that the language was used by people in very complex ways,” he says. “It was their everyday language… they used it for poetry, literature, and music.” 

 Now, once a month, members of the Yiddish Club gather at the Sandler Family Campus to read, laugh, and explore a language that once connected millions of Jews across Europe – and continues to connect them today. 

 Meier says part of what makes Yiddish so difficult to translate is its humor. “There are so many wonderful Yiddish expressions,” she says. One favorite saying she remembers is, “With one rear end, you can’t dance at two weddings.” Another colorful curse wishes someone would “grow like an onion with your head in the ground.”

 With the Yiddish Club, they’re preserving not only a language, but the memories it carries — something deeply personal to club member Myrna Amdursky. 

 “What comes up is a part of my life that is now gone,” she says. “That was the language of my parents and grandparents’ generation.”  

 Similarly to Meier, Amdursky’s parents were set on helping their children fit into American life. She says her father intentionally chose not to teach the language to his children. 

 “He did not want me and my brother to learn Yiddish because he thought it would influence our English pronunciation,” she says. 

 Yiddish became what Amdursky calls, “a language for parents only” – something spoken among adults when they didn’t want children to understand the conversation. 

 But while some may assume the group functions as a language class, Amdursky says that’s not quite accurate. 

 Members discuss contemporary efforts to preserve and revitalize the language while exploring Yiddish films, music, and other forms of media.  

Yiddish sayings are woven throughout the meetings, but the main point of the group is remembrance and discussion.  

 “It is not a structured learning environment. We are not studying Yiddish as a language,” Amdursky says. “We’re absorbing the culture.”  

 While Yiddish is often associated with prewar Europe and the Holocaust, Graber hopes the club can expand that understanding. 

 “Yiddish is so much portrayed, and to some degree rightfully so, as the language of pre-World War Two Europe,” he says. “But I tried to do some stuff that’s post-World War Two, so to see how it’s being used today.” 

 To Graber, preservation does not mean freezing Yiddish in the past. Instead, he sees it as a language that has evolved. “Not a language that died, but a language that has changed.” 

“It is important to me for people to understand that the Yiddish language is not simply a folk language but a sophisticated language used by Ahkenazi Jews for one thousand years,” says Graber. “Hebrew was the language of the bible and Aramaic of the Talmud but Yiddish was the language of a civilization of Jews expressing itself in philosophical, theatrical, literary, scientific, academic and all other terms and formats reflective of a people successfully reaching beyond the limits of oppression.”

The Yiddish Club meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 1 pm at the Sandler Family Campus. Information: jewishva.org/Adults or contact Sarah Cooper at SCooper@ujft.org.

 Our BeAR mentors spend one hour a week reading with a second grader in a local Title I school. That may not sound like much, but that hour can be the brightest part of a child’s week. Yes, we help children strengthen their reading skills, but we also provide something many kids desperately need: a caring adult who is there just for them.

 For active senior adults, BeAR is a wonderful way to stay engaged, connected, and involved in the community. Our mentors tell me all the time that they look forward to their BeAR day. They love hearing about their student’s week, celebrating their successes, and watching their confidence grow. Many of our volunteers say they signed up to help a child, but quickly realized the child was helping them, too.

 As we begin planning for another school year, now is the perfect time to think about becoming a BeAR mentor. One hour a week is so easy to do, and I have seen firsthand the difference it makes. I’ve watched children discover a love of reading, and light up when their mentor walks through the door. I’ve also watched volunteers find friendship, purpose, and joy in these relationships. It is a simple commitment that creates something truly special.

For more information about becoming a BeAR mentor, contact Robin Ford at 757-321-2304 or email rford@ujft.org.  

 Moskowitz, a widely published author and educator who grew up in Richmond and spent a year in Virginia Beach as a child, attending Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, drew on ideas from his book, Ancestral Allyship during the presentation. In the book, he connects themes of identity, responsibility, and belonging to the weekly Torah portion. His teaching at the event emphasized that allyship is not a static label, but an ongoing practice rooted in Jewish values and lived experience.

 The conversation was moderated by Deb Segaloff, who highlighted Moskowitz’s ability to bring traditional texts into contemporary discussions. “[He] chooses to focus on inclusion and the many things that unite us as people,” says Segaloff. “He gives hope to the many LGBTQ+ Jews that want to belong and be part of the community.”

 Throughout the evening, Moskowitz encouraged participants to remain open to the perspectives and experiences of others, framing that openness as a core element of both Jewish learning and allyship. The event was attended by people of all faiths and backgrounds. “It was a wonderful event,” says Alicia “Sunny” Peoples, co-chair of the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission. “As someone whose faith tradition is intersectional, I loved the conversation.”

 Moskowitz also returned to the principle that all people are created b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God, and challenged attendees to consider what that belief means in practice. His reflections connected traditional sources with contemporary conversations around identity and community, offering a perspective that was both rooted in Jewish texts and responsive to present-day realities.

The program was held in partnership with the Jewish Book Council, Hampton Roads Pride, and the LGBT Life Center of Hampton Roads, and was funded in part by the citizens of Virginia Beach through a grant from the City of Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission.

For more information about Arts + Ideas programming, contact Hunter Thomas at HThomas@UJFT.org or 757-965-6137.

Preparing hearts for Shavuot

Before the holiday, NextGen members gathered for a Neighborhood Porch Pop-Up, welcomed by congregants of B’nai Israel who transformed their homes into sanctuaries of learning and connection.

 The evening began at the home of Dr. Gedaliah Schwartz and his family, where Rabbi Pinchas Zimmer guided the participants in a fascinating analysis of the structural layout of the Two Tablets to uncover their modern spiritual blueprint.

 At the second stop, hosted by Eitan and Anna Bloom, Rabbi Aryeh Kravetz led a discussion on cultivating resilience through faith, encouraging participants to reflect on personal growth and navigating life’s inevitable challenges.

 The evening concluded at the home of Rabbi Shlomo and Liba Eisenberg with an exploration of the Book of Ruth. Liba Eisenberg highlighted Ruth’s extraordinary faith and unwavering loyalty, reminding participants that her courageous choice to join the Jewish people ultimately led to the lineage of King David, forever shaping Jewish history.

Continuing the conversation

Following Shavuot, NextGen reunited at Temple Israel for The Third Hour, a traditional third Shabbat meal, complete with Jewish learning led by Rabbi Michael Panitz. Building on the themes explored before the holiday, the gathering focused on bringing Shavuot’s lessons of spiritual growth and renewal into everyday life.

The discussion returned to the Book of Ruth, reflecting on how Ruth—a Moabite woman who chose Judaism with complete devotion—became the great-grandmother of King David. Participants also explored the Torah’s repeated commandment to love and care for converts, recognizing that when the Israelites accepted the Torah at Mount Sinai, they too became, in many ways, “Jews by choice.” The conversation offered an opportunity for attendees to connect with several members of Rabbi Panitz’s conversion program before the evening concluded with a beautiful Havdalah service.

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Together, these gatherings demonstrated that Shavuot is not simply a holiday to observe, but an invitation to continue learning, building community, and finding new meaning in Jewish tradition throughout the year.

To learn more about NextGen events, register for an event, and how to get more involved, visit JewishVA.org/NextGen or email Hannah Yasemsky at hyasemsky@ujft.org.

Liel Aisikowitz

Liel, 17, grew up in Yerucham and brings a global perspective shaped by her eight years living in Canada before returning to Israel. Growing up between cultures, she developed a deep appreciation for connection, identity, and community—values that inspire her work as a Shinshin.
In high school, Liel majored in chemistry and mechatronics, while also dedicating her time to youth leadership through Tzofim and volunteering in a Hebrew school abroad. She is a thoughtful and adaptable individual who enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with others.

Liel describes herself as both structured and spontaneous—organized when it comes to responsibilities, but always ready for a last-minute adventure. Her perfect day, she says, is “relaxing at the beach, soaking up the sun.”

She says she applied for the Shinshinim program because “I know what it feels like to live outside of Israel and not really understand what’s going on. I want to be someone people can turn to—to ask questions and form a real connection, beyond what they see online.”

Liel is especially passionate about sharing what she loves most about Israel: its hospitality, its food, and the sense of unity that connects people across differences.

Evyatar Olswang

Evyatar, 18, comes from the moshav of Kidron and brings a strong passion for creativity, leadership, and community-building. A self-described “creative and social person,” he has spent years involved in youth leadership, guiding both younger children and teens in his local youth movement.

In school, Evyatar majored in philosophy and theater fields that reflect both his intellectual curiosity and his love for artistic expression. He is also an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking, drawing, journaling, and spending time in nature.

Evyatar has already built strong connections to American Jewish life. He attended a Jewish summer camp in Pennsylvania and participated in a Bronfman Fellowship seminar in New York, where he engaged in conversations about Jewish identity and community.

He says he applied for the Shinshimim program because “I care deeply about people, community, and Jewish life. I want to create spaces where people feel comfortable asking questions, expressing themselves, and building real connections.”

His experiences volunteering, especially after October 7th, when he helped organize aid efforts and community initiatives, have strengthened his commitment to meaningful service and leadership.

When he’s not leading or creating, Evyatar is likely found hiking outdoors, cooking, or planning his dream future travels around the world.
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Both of these young Israelis share a deep desire to connect with the Tidewater community—not just by sharing facts about Israel, but by building authentic relationships that bring Israel to life in personal and meaningful ways.

Throughout the year, they plan to lead programs, visit schools and synagogues, and engage with people of all ages. Whether through conversation, culture, or creativity, their goal is to strengthen the bond between Israel and the Tidewater Jewish community.

To learn more about the program, apply to become a host family, or find ways to get involved, visit JewishVA.org/Shinshinim or contact Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

“For Minette, I believe the temple choir was an intersection of two very meaningful elements in her life – music and faith,” says Chuck Woodward, Ohef Sholom Temple’s music director. “For its members, the choir became a community. Minette sang with the choir for nearly 40 years, helping nurture a space where relationships formed alongside the music.”

Cooper’s belief in building community extended far beyond Jewish life. She saw the arts as another way people could gather, connect, and understand one another. Her most enduring impact came through Arts for Learning Virginia (formerly Young Audiences), where she served as a donor, program leader, and board president, and as a member of the organization’s national board of directors. Under her influence, the organization grew to more than 600 performances annually, bringing arts education directly to more than 38,000 students in schools across the state.

She also worked closely with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (serving as president the same time she was president of Ohef Sholom) as well as numerous regional arts and educational institutions – receiving multiple awards for her effectiveness and contributions as a board member and leader.
Her influence expanded from local organizations to statewide advocacy efforts, including the creation of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads and as a board member of Virginians for the Arts, where she helped demonstrate the civic and economic importance of the arts.

Leadership aside, Cooper never stopped being a participant. She continued to attend board meetings, serve on committees, sing in the Virginia Symphony Chorus, and subscribe to an array of arts performances across Hampton Roads, regularly bringing family and friends along.

“She saw Judaism as family,” says her son, Erik. “Her goal was always to make sure everyone felt heard.” The mother of three – Brooke, Erik, and Jeff – she was known for hosting family seders and break the fasts that included extended family and friends.

“She took pleasure in seeing her kids and grandchildren build their own Jewish lives,” says Erik.

Through her involvement with the Elizabeth River Project, she participated in oyster-raising efforts from her pier and later delivered them for environmental monitoring. Her grandchildren joined her in this work, and several continued it in their own B’nai Mitzvah and civic projects.
She was, Jeff says, the “rock” of the family, quietly managing logistics, gatherings, and connections.

“I relied on her to do a lot of stuff without realizing all the stuff I relied on her to do. She just did it,” says Erik.

She maintained a meticulously organized system for the family’s annual holiday card, the Cooper Gazette, which reached upwards of 2,500 people each year. Long before digital networks, she built her own, an expansive web of connection sustained through the relationships she carefully tended. In every corner of her life across more than half a century in the Jewish community, the arts, and civic institutions across Tidewater, Cooper practiced her most defining qualities: a relentless curiosity about people and a determination that no one should ever feel forgotten.

“Her small family growing up shaped everything,” Jeff says. “It’s why she built so much community around her.”

Perhaps most powerfully, Cooper lives on in her family by the habits she demonstrated: showing up, staying connected, and believing that community is something you actively create every day.

As her granddaughter Hannah reflects, she was “a once-in-a-generation person.”

Cooper’s impact cannot be contained in a single organization, title, or decade. It lives in the institutions she strengthened, the cultural life she expanded, the Jewish history she preserved, and the thousands of people who received a handwritten note, a remembered detail, or an invitation that made them feel included.

Minette Cooper spent her life making sure people felt remembered. In the process, she created communities that will remember her for generations.

Interested in nominating someone to be recognized as an Outstanding Jewish American in Tidewater? Visit JewishVA.org/TidewaterHeroes or contact Sierra Lautman at SLautman@UJFT.org.