This past December, Josef Patar added a chapter he’s been trying to write for a while. . . he became a naturalized U.S. citizen.  With several supporters, including a couple of friends from Ohef Sholom Temple, he went to the Walter Hoffman United States Courthouse in Downtown Norfolk, made his citizenship official, and left waving an American flag.

A lifeguard and swim instructor at the Simon Family JCC, among other work endeavors, Patar escaped from Hungary at just 2 years old in 1956 with three siblings and his pregnant mother.  They left, he said, with nothing, not even any documents. His father stayed behind fighting for his country against Russia. “In the 1990s, my father got knighted by the Hungarian government for fighting the Russians,” recalls Patar.

Once his family made it to England, they were able to board the Empress of Great Britian ocean liner in Liverpool to head to Canada, which was accepting refugees. At the time, the U.S. was not. The ship docked in Halifax, and Canada was his home for three decades. His father was able to join the family after the war.

Patar’s first trip to Virginia was in January 1965 when he was ranked #2 in Canada in swimming at just 10 years old.  His team flew to Arlington, Va. for the competition, which by the way, Patar won, setting a record in his age category. He continued to set records throughout his swimming career.

Patar’s swimming success and ultimately, coaching, brought him to the United States many times, with his official move taking place in 1986 when he began a retail career in San Francisco. That work had him transferred throughout the country, living in Miami, Detroit, Colorado Springs, San Jose, New York, and Los Angeles, among other places. 

In 2024, Patar arrived in Virginia and has been a lifeguard and swim instructor at the JCC since that April. He says he “liked the Jewish community,” and decided to stay.

Mazel Tov Josef on your citizenship!

Mazel Tov to these couples and to all who are celebrating milestones in 2026!

Lori and Michael Glasser  

40th Anniversary 

Lori Hyman and Michael Glasser first met as teens at the JCC on Newport Ave. in Norfolk. Since Lori grew up in Virginia Beach and Michael in Norfolk, it was the Tuesday night BBYO meetings, Lori in Kruger BBG and Michael in Commonwealth AZA, where their paths crossed, but didn’t merge. 

Many years later, they saw each other at Waterside.  Michael “had just returned from a Singles Mission to Israel and was excited about his travels,” Lori recalls. “He told me to give him a call if I wanted to talk more later.”

Lori says she waited a few days before calling and “was really glad to learn he was out of the office.” The next day, she received a pink “While You Were Away” telephone message slip at work asking if she was hungry.  Their first date was a picnic lunch on the steps of Blair Junior High School in Ghent in September 1985.  By February, they were engaged and married on August 31, 1986. 

Their wedding took place in Ohef Sholom Temple’s chapel with 25 relatives and two friends each with a lively party that evening with more friends and relatives.

“I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom for our three boys, Bern, Jake, and Ross,” says Lori.  She volunteered at Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, where they attended, went on field trips, helped with the BeAR program, participated on a few boards, including the JCC, JFS, and Temple Israel.  Once the boys were all in school, she went to work at Michael’s law office.

At the same time, Michael was heavily involved in various organizations, including ADL, UJFT, and State of Israel Bonds, in addition to legal and bank-related boards.

All three sons are now married, “so we have three women in our lives, which we love,” says Lori.  Not to mention how “truly smitten!” they are with their young granddaughter, Sophia.

While Bern and Jolyn and Jake, Jess, and Sophia are Tidewater residents, Ross and Caroline have made their home in Denver.  Still, the family manages to gather most every Shabbat for a Facetime visit that includes lighting Shabbat candles and singing the blessings.

When asked about their favorite trips, there’s no surprise the response is “those with our family,” especially those 14 summers when they spent a couple of weeks in Maine and times visiting Israel. Plus, Lori adds that “Michael and I enjoy biking and have been on a couple of organized bike trips.

“We both grew up seeing loving and respectful partnerships, which were easy to emulate,” says Lori.  “Perhaps that’s our secret to a successful and happy marriage.”

“Forty years is a good chunk of a lifetime,” says Michael. “Marrying Lori was the smartest decision I have ever made.”  

 “Yes, we’ll be celebrating 40 years this August, so the warranty period is definitely over,” quips Lori.  Still, by all appearances, Lori and Michael must’ve found a secret lifetime warranty. 

Nancy and Alvin Wall  

50th Anniversary 

Family and the often-played game of “Jewish Geography” have played meaningful roles in Nancy and Alvin Wall’s more than 50-year-old story – and from the very start.

Norfolk native Nancy Harrison, and Charleston, S.C.-raised Alvin Wall graduated from University of South Carolina in 1974. Nancy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology; Alvin an undergraduate degree in Banking and Finance. During four years of college, however, there was no meeting, no paths crossed for the couple.

The eventual meeting is credited to Alvin’s sister, Suzan, who was in her fourth year at The Medical College of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, where Nancy was also studying. 

“In those days if you wanted a degree in med tech you were required to attend a medical college somewhere. My sister’s first three years were at University of Georgia,” says Alvin. There were 15 or so students in that MUSC class and Suzan and Nancy started to play Jewish geography. When Nancy said she was from Norfolk, Suzan asked if she knew Jack Frieden. Since Jack’s father, Lenny, and Nancy’s dad, Harry (Hap), were in the insurance business together, the answer was obvious. 

 “Suzan set us up and we took it from there,” says Alvin. “Since we were all moving to Atlanta after graduation and Suzan and Nancy shared an apartment, I was always accused of stealing Suzan’s roommate.”

About a year and a half later, on September 11, 1976, Nancy and Alvin married at Ohef Sholom Temple in Norfolk.  Very few weddings are challenge-free, and theirs was not an exception.  A Shriner’s convention was taking place in town that weekend and hotel rooms were scarce. “We suspect we were booked into one of the last vacant rooms at the OMNI Hotel,” recalls Nancy. Plus, something happened with the photographer’s camera equipment, resulting in very few photos of their wedding celebration.

 After living in Atlanta for almost seven years, Nancy asked Alvin about moving to Norfolk to be near family. In October 1981, they made the move with their oldest son Michael, who was six months old. Ben was born in 1984.  “Our most treasured accomplishment was raising our sons in Virginia Beach. We are very proud of them,” Nancy and Alvin say.

 Jewish Geography came to play again for the Walls when they moved to Tidewater. Alvin’s father was a WWII Veteran, and the family had been stationed all over the country. When in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (1956-1959), “my father and Hal Sacks worked together teaching the warships how to fire their guns,” says Alvin. “Hal’s wife, Annabel, was my kindergarten teacher in Cuba at the William T. Sampson School on the base. Fast forward to our move to Norfolk and Annabel takes me aside at a meeting and reminds me about being my teacher. Hal was also kind enough to mention this in his memoir.”  Small world.

During the Atlanta years, Nancy had begun her career at Crawford Long Hospital, with her ‘first retirement’ taking place in 1980. In Tidewater in 1989, with Michael and Ben both in school, Nancy reentered the work force at Pediatric Specialists. Nancy says she “worked with great doctors, nurses, and wonderful staff and made lifelong friends.” She retired after 25 years. 

Alvin’s accounting career began with Arthur Andersen in Atlanta in 1974. When he and Nancy moved to Tidewater, he became a partner at Goodman and Company in Norfolk and then left to form Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer, CPAs in November 1989, with Marty Einhorn and Jeff Chernitzer. In December 2025, the firm merged with a Fargo, N.D.-based CPA firm listed among the Top 20 CPA firms in the United States. The new firm’s name is Eide Bailly. “Despite what you may hear, I continue to work full time,” muses Alvin.

Today, Nancy and Alvin keep busy with their sons and grandchildren: Michael and his wife, Robin, who live in Atlanta with their children, Tyler (9), Mia (6), and Cooper (3); and Ben, who lives with his partner Kyle Daniels in Oakland.

Volunteering is another way this extremely active couple spends their time. Nancy, known as a magical quilter, works with the Tzedakah Quilting Group at Ohef Sholom and sews mastectomy drain pockets, which she donates to anyone going through the process. Alvin serves on United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s board and as treasurer, on Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s board, the Towne Bank Norfolk Advisory board, and as vice chair and member of the board of trustees of Westminster Canterbury Chesapeake Bay. 

 And then, there’s their creative side. Nancy and Alvin throw pottery on the wheel “and have almost 50 years of pottery at home to prove it” even though they are constantly giving much of it away. . . to friends, vendors, non-profits. Nancy needlepoints and plays Mah Jongg and Alvin is a wildlife photographer and is learning from Nancy to play Mah Jongg and how to sew quilt panels. 

Not to outdo their creative spirit, Nancy and Alvin enjoy visiting and hiking in the National Parks System. Their last two trips were to the Grand Canyon (second time) and the Big Five Parks in Utah. “We walk together and have lifted weights twice a week for almost 20 years with Ray Beard at the Simon Family JCC.” This past year they added Pilates classes at Performance Pilates to the mix.  

“Our hobbies consume us in a good way,” says Alvin. “We’re always ready to learn something new.”

Nancy’s mom, Joan Harrison told her many years ago, “that anyone can get married, but it took hard work to stay married.” Nancy adds, “our parents were great marriage role models.”  That, Nancy and Alvin agree, is a big part of the secret sauce to their marriage, along with selflessness, cooperation, coordination, caring for each other, kindness towards each other, and of course, loving each other. 

Fifty years is a long time.

Rochelle and Tal Aviv

10th Anniversary

Rochelle Laderberg Aviv grew up in Tidewater and Tal Aviv in Los Angeles, Calif. 

So how did these coastal opposites meet? 

After Rochelle earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from VCU and Tal his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UC Irvine and his MBA from George Washington University, they were both living in Arlington, Va.  It was the dating app, Coffee Meets Bagel, that did the trick. 

 “Our first date was July 2014 and we got engaged June 2015,” says Rochelle. 

Their wedding took place on June 11, 2016, at the MOCA in Virgina Beach.

 “Besides being one of the hottest days in Virginia Beach that summer, it was so amazing to have all of our friends and family come together from the West Coast and East Coast to come celebrate us,” says Rochelle. “Everyone danced and partied the whole night, and having orange crush cocktails gave the event a special Virginia Beach touch to it.”  

 Both Jewish, the couple says, “it’s incredibly important and meaningful to both of us to have a Jewish household/family, so that part has been easy.”  

 Tal’s parents are from Israel and moved to LA after they got married.  Both of his parents served in the Israeli Army and his dad grew up on a Kibbutz. Tal grew up going to private Jewish schools in LA and went to a Sephardic Synagogue when he was younger.  He also grew up speaking Hebrew with his family and his Israeli community. Rochelle grew up going to Ohef Sholom Temple, a Reform synagogue, “so our Jewish experiences growing up were very different,” says Rochelle. “We love being able to teach our kids the different traditions from their Ashkenazi and Sephardic family backgrounds.”

  Living in Northern Virginia with two toddlers, the couple realized during COVID how important it was to live closer to family, so they made the decision to move to Virginia Beach in 2022. Both of Rochelle’s parents were still in Virginia Beach and her sister and her husband and two young kids also decided to move back. “We realized how special and important it was going to be for our kids to grow up near their grandparents and cousins,” says Rochelle.  In fact, Rochelle’s younger brother also made the move back to Virginia Beach in July 2025 with his wife and kids from Austin, Texas. 

Busy parents of Ari, who is seven years old and Izzy, who is six years old, Rochelle works at Deloitte as a resource manager for the NY Tax Practice in the Financial Services Industry. Tal works at Guidehouse doing internal finance.

 “Our lives these days are run by what our kids have scheduled, which consists of Tae Kwon Do three days a week for Ari and Izzy, basketball and baseball for Ari, depending on the season, and dance for Izzy.

 Added to the mix of running from family to work, Rochelle and her siblings rotate hosting Shabbat Dinner every Friday night.  “It’s become a family tradition and all of the cousins love getting together to play every Friday night,” she says.

 During the summer they also spend a lot of time swimming in their pool, and going to the beach and Ocean Breeze.  “We recently started roller skating/rollerblading with the kids which has been fun,” she adds.

The Avivs’ secret to a good marriage?

 “I always go back to the beautiful words in our wedding ketubah.  It hangs above my desk, so I read it every day and it reminds me of the sacred covenant we made to each other,” she says.

These are Rochelle’s favorite lines from their ketubah that really guides their marriage:

“We shall treasure and respect each other with honor and integrity as we create a loving family together.  May our love provide us with the determination and courage to be who we are.  May our lives become whole and intertwined forever.  You are my best friend, my hopes and future, my strength, my soulmate.  Standing proudly beside you, in your eyes I see my love, and in your heart I see my dreams, and in our promise I see a union, true and steadfast, uniquely devoted to compassion, kindness and sincerity.  We pledge to cherish and sustain each other, meeting life’s trials with quiet strength and courage, and meeting life’s blessings with wonder, joy and laughter.  We will grow as individuals and delight in an elegant freedom born from mutual respect.  As life partners, we shall strive to build a home committed to our Jewish heritage. May the joy of living for one another bring smiles to our faces.” 

 Surrounding Erica with love were her cherished grandchildren: Liza Woodward and her boyfriend, Austin Ferguson; Leo Woodward and his wife, Erika Woodward; Blake Laibstain and his fiancée, Mattee Long; and Raven Laibstain. Bonnie’s husband, Jeff Laibstain, and Erica’s treasured great-grandchildren—Wells Edison Woodward, Bridget Jolie Woodward, and Barett Roy Woodward—whose laughter and smiles were a beautiful reminder of the generations she has nurtured, all added to the celebration.

 Adding to the emotion of the evening, the room was lovingly decorated with photographs of Erica and her beloved husband, Eddie, from years past, alongside more recent images displayed on a contin-
uous loop capturing cherished memories. These moments—spanning decades of love, partnership, and family—served as a quiet, beautiful tribute to a life richly lived and deeply shared.

 The room was filled with stories, laughter, and deep gratitude for 90 years of love, resilience, and unwavering devotion to family and friends. Surrounded by multiple generations and lifelong relationships, the celebration was a moving tribute to a remarkable woman whose legacy is not only measured in years, but in the countless lives she has touched with her warmth, strength, and love. Her beloved husband, Eddie, was felt in every smile and every memory, and there is no doubt he would be so proud of the extraordinary life Erica continues to lead and the beautiful family they built together.

The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities will hold its 62nd annual Tidewater Humanitarian Awards event this month. These awards honor individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the promotion of respect and understanding among people of diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds in South Hampton Roads. 

Among the recipients is Bruce Waldholtz, M.D., a native of Pittsburgh who moved to Tidewater in 1988. During his 35 years of private practice in gastroenterology, he has taught hundreds of medical students and residents. He continues to precept weekly at the Hopes Clinic (an EVMS Medical Student Run Clinic) and volunteers at the Chesapeake Care Free Clinic. Waldholtz has been a member of the Community Faculty at EVMS and was the Rector of EVMS during the period that led to the creation of The Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU. For more than three decades, he has been an American Cancer Society Volunteer at the state, regional, and national levels. He played a critical role in the pilot and launch phase of the ACS VOICES OF Black Women, a generational study of 100,000 African American Women to better understand health conditions and how to improve overall health among Black women. 

Other Humanitarian Award recipients this year include Clyde T. Clark, Jr., Captain Janet H. Days, and Conrad M. Hall.

Jane P. Batten will receive the 2026 Tidewater Distinguished Virginian Award.

Sixty-two years ago, the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities – then called the National Conference of Christians and Jews – began a tradition in South Hampton Roads, “to honor the work of our friends, neighbors, and family members who gave to others the same rights, respect, and dignity that they sought for themselves.” Today, VCIC works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. 

 VCIC also provides professional development for many local educators, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, leveraging diversity and inclusion to achieve success. In 2018, VCIC opened an office on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan University.

For more information about VCIC or reservations for the Awards on March 26, go to www.inclusiveVA.org. 

Prior to joining the Sandler Family Campus, Frissora spent 14 years with the United States Coast Guard, where, in addition to serving in an active-duty capacity, he held a wide range of roles. “I started off as a technician, completely hands on, working on ships where maintenance is a whole different world compared to a land based facility. As I progressed in my career, I took on more responsibility and leadership,” says Frissora.

Eventually, Frissora moved into command-level roles where he managed budgets, departments, boats, and multiple facilities — all while supporting a very high operational tempo. “The Coast Guard’s primary mission is life saving, so even while managing infrastructure, I was balancing that with operational readiness and mission execution,” he says.

 “Working on this campus is obviously a different environment, but a lot of the core skills translate directly: leadership, planning, being proactive, and making sure people have a safe and reliable place to do their work,” says Frissora. “The biggest difference is that now I get to focus fully on supporting a community instead of supporting an operational mission, and I’m really enjoying that shift.”

His goal for the Sandler Family Campus, he says, is to “maintain the high standard of excellence we already have here. This campus is an amazing place for families and our members, and I’m committed to keeping it that way while continuing to improve wherever we can. I plan to use the feedback and input we receive from our community to make sure we’re always meeting their needs.”

 Frissora says he focuses on a proactive approach to maintenance and leadership, rather than waiting for things to break or become issues. By staying ahead of potential problems, he says, “we can ensure our members always have the best facilities possible.”

 The Shrewsbury, Mass. native and his family (wife, Kellie; daughters, Sawyer and Peyton; and son, Declan) arrived in Virginia Beach in August 2025 with the Coast Guard and decided to stay when he left the service. 

 “One of the things I really like about this area is the balance it offers — it has the feel of a close, welcoming community, but it’s also surrounded by everything you could want: the ocean, great food, and plenty of places to explore. I also really appreciate the climate. We still get all four seasons, but none of them are too extreme. It’s a good middle ground, and it makes the area an easy and enjoyable place to live and work,” he says.

 Director of William & Mary Hillel at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Rabbi Litt is being honored for his nearly two decades of transformative work in Jewish and Israel education, having staffed more than 40 Birthright Israel trips.

 According to Birthright Israel, the organization believes that the most effective Jewish educators are those who inspire others through their actions. The Jeffrey R. Solomon Prize is an expression of Birthright’s appreciation for individuals who are strengthening Jewish continuity and perpetuating Jewish Peoplehood. 

 The award was presented at the Taglit Birthright Israel Education Committee meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the TBI office in New York City. Rabbi Litt is a member of that committee. 

 Gidi Mark, International CEO of Birthright Israel, praises Rabbi Litt’s influence: “The Jeffrey R. Solomon Prize celebrates the finest educators in our field, and Rabbi Litt is a shining example. As a veteran madrich, he has consistently helped young Jews transform the Israel experience into a profound moment of identity-building. His commitment to creating meaningful connections embodies the founding vision of Birthright Israel: ensuring a strong Jewish future through extraordinary encounters with the Land and People of Israel. We are immensely proud to recognize his invaluable contribution.”

“It is such an honor to receive this award,” says Rabbi Litt. “I firmly believe that Taglit Birthright Israel is the most powerful educational tool we have today to connect our young, Jewish adults to Israel and their heritage. 

“Through TBI, almost one million Jewish adults 18 – 26 years old have participated in an Israel educational experience. I know the impact that the trip has on my students,” he says. 

  “Rabbi Litt is a truly exceptional Jewish communal professional and a fitting recipient of this award,” says Elias Saratovsky, president and CEO of Birthright Israel Foundation. “He models the exact standards of leader ship and mentorship that our dear friend, Dr. Jeffrey R. Solomon, has always championed. Rabbi Litt’s work, both on our trips and in his daily role as a Hillel director, reinforces the idea that a positive Jewish role model can inspire a lifetime of engagement. He doesn’t just teach values; he lives them, securing a vibrant future for the next generation of Jewish leaders.”

 The core of Rabbi Litt’s success lies in turning a 10-day trip into an enduring, personal journey for participants-a process he sustains through his Hillel work. Rachel Dornfest, a Birthright Israel alumna and former student at the College of William & Mary, says, “Before Birthright, I had never felt a personal connection to Israel; it was just a distant country. But Rabbi Litt fused my Jewish identity with the land. He didn’t just teach the history; he showed us how the Kotel is a living avenue of connection and Tzfat is a place of unimaginable spirituality. That experience, combined with his ongoing mentorship afterward, fundamentally changed the kind of Jew I aspired to become.”

 “The gift of Birthright Israel is lasting and powerful,” says Rabbi Litt. “That is why I continue to lead trips twice a year and why it is a vital component of my campus work. I encourage every Jewish young adult to go as soon as they can and, if they are in the Tidewater area, they should give me a call. I would love to take them with me.” 

 The prize, named in tribute to Dr. Jeffrey R. Solomon, a lifelong Jewish communal professional and one of Birthright Israel’s earliest and most consistent champions, includes a $5,000 award and up to $1,800 toward professional development.

Hannah Diehl Testa and her husband, Kevin Testa, reside in Charleston, S.C., where she is a consultant and he works in sales. In September, they were married at the Historic Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach.

Julia Rosenblum Hartley, and her husband, Doug Harley, live in Seattle, where she is in her second year of residency in family medicine and he is a research engineer with Blue Origin. Their dream wedding, overlooking the beach at Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort, was upended by Mother Nature who created a rain-soaked weekend. Fortunately, Plan B had been strategized beforehand and everything moved inside, seemingly seamlessly. 

Both the Hartleys and the Testas were married days before their weddings in front of a justice of the peace, since their officiants would not be recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia. According to an article on theknot.com, a wedding site, this courthouse approach to saying “I do” satisfies the legality of the marriage, provides for more flexibility during the ceremony, and allows loved ones to officiate. The Testas recited their vows as the bride’s aunt, Laurie Seigel, officiated. A friend of the groom’s served as officiant at the Hartleys’ September wedding.

Also, that month, Becca Schwartzman, a transition specialist at Ivymount School in Rockville, Md., married Alec Gershen, an associate at Troutman Pepper Locke LLP in Washington D.C., at the Westin Philadelphia where Rabbi Andrew Markowitz officiated. 

 When asked what was special about the wedding, Becca’s parents, Susan and Eric Schwartzman, say, “Aside from having our family and friends join us in celebrating Becca and Alec’s marriage, what touched us most was the Groom’s Tisch, the Bedecken, and the signing of the Ketubah. These customs—honoring the groom and the bride as individuals and then joyfully uniting them before they walked down the aisle to the chuppah, felt sacred and was wonderfully festive. We loved that Becca and Alec chose to make these traditions part of their wedding.”

In May of 2027, Rachael Stromberg will marry her high school sweetheart, Sean Miller, at the Chrysler Museum, in a ceremony officiated by Rabbi Roz Mandelberg. Rachel works as an early childhood educator at Edlavitch D.C. JCC while completing a Speech Language Pathology Master’s Program, and Sean is a business analyst at McKinsey and Company.

All four couples opted for a black-tie dress code. Several other planning details have evolved as this new generation weds. These current brides curated this very personal milestone with their own twists. For starters, the three married couples shared wedding updates and registry on theknot.com, an option not available to previous generations.

Testa and Gershen added signature accents to their celebrations. Hannah and Kevin incorporated heirlooms on their wedding day, including their parents’ wedding pictures on the cake table, an ‘in memory of’ table with pictures, and the same cake topper on their wedding cake that had adorned the Diehls’ wedding cake a generation ago. Hannah’s robe, worn during hair and makeup, was made with lace from her mother’s wedding dress.

The Gershens, who met at summer camp, had signature drinks at their wedding, each with a connection to camp, plus a Mojito named for their dog, Mordi. Becca designed personalized matchboxes, also featuring their beloved pet.

Changing into a reception dress adds a second chapter to the wedding event and another chance for the bride to express her style. Both Testa and Gershen changed from a wedding gown to a party dress in the later hour. Alec Gershen even changed from his black tuxedo into a white dinner jacket for the remainder of the evening.

The Hartley wedding included another trend that took flight in 2025 – the color green. A New York Times article shares that 11 percent of couples chose sage as their prominent color choice this year. Bridesmaids in this wedding wore sage green dresses, and the organic theme continued over the dance floor where white flowers amidst lush greens descended from the ceiling, dotted with large disco balls for a party vibe.

An ice cream trolley offered a selection of flavors and toppings as the cake stood nearby, ready for slicing. Ellen Rosenblum, Julia’s mother, says her favorite part of the night was the couple’s first dance. “They love each other so much, and they smiled the whole time.”

 Born on November 12, 1945, in Chu, Kazakhstan to Polish Holocaust survivors, Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman is believed to be the world’s only Kazakhstan-born rabbi.  He spent his early childhood in Displaced Persons Camps in Austria and Germany following an escape from Poland.  Immigrating to Haifa, Israel in 1949 with his family, he served in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) in the 1960’s. 

 Rabbi Zoberman earned a bachelor’s degree in Hebrew literature from Chicago’s College of Jewish Studies (today’s Spertus Institute) in 1969, and his B.A. in Political Science from Chicago’s Roosevelt University in 1970. He has a M.A. degree in political science from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Rabbi Zoberman was ordained as a Reform Rabbi at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1974. His alma mater granted him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1999. He is the only rabbi to earn a doctoral degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling from the McCormick Theological Seminary (affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA) in Chicago, Illinois in 1980. He was the founding rabbi of Congregation Beth Chaverim, where he led for more than 30 years, and previously served as an associate rabbi of Ohef Sholom Temple (1981-1982). He is the founder and spiritual leader of Temple Lev Tikvah in Virginia Beach and the Honorary Senior Rabbi Scholar of Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach.

 Rabbi Zoberman offered prayers twice in the U.S. Senate and twice in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was the guest of Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden at White House Hanukkah receptions. Cox Cable and Mayor Meyra Oberndorf of Virginia Beach honored him as a “Great Citizen of Hampton Roads” in 1989. On his 30th Anniversary of ordination, he was honored by the Senate of Virginia Joint Resolution No. 134. Mayors Oberndorf, Sessoms, and Dyer of Virginia Beach honored him respectively with “Rabbi Israel Zoberman Day.”

 Rabbi Zoberman has also represented the Jewish community at civic events in Chesapeake, with former Mayor Krasnoff and the Chesapeake City Council presenting him with a Certificate of Recognition on his 40th Anniversary in Rabbinic Ministry. 

 He represented the Holocaust survivors who found refuge during WWII in Kazakhstan at a ceremony at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.

 Nobel Peace Laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel wrote about Rabbi Zoberman, “As the son of Holocaust survivors, founder of his congregation in Virginia, and outspoken writer on Jewish and community issues, he has worked to keep memory of that tragic period in human history close in Jewish and American consciousness. Though respected for his spiritual leadership, he is equally sought for his erudition.”

 On his 50th Ordination Anniversary, Rabbi Zoberman was honored by the Virginia Legislature Joint Resolution 235 “As an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his legacy of service and for his many contributions to the Commonwealth.”  The American flag was flown over the United States Capitol in honor of Rabbi Zoberman’s special anniversary by Senator Mark Warner of Virginia and was presented to him. Congresswoman Jennifer A. Kiggans of Virginia honored him in the Congressional Record with an article and issued a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia acknowledged it with a moving statement of appreciation. Mayor Dyer of Virginia Beach honored him with a Proclamation, June 1, 2024, as “Rabbi Israel Zoberman Day.”

Married to Jennifer, Rabbi Zoberman is the father of a son and daughter, and grandfather to two boys.

“In Judaism, the number 18 means chai or ‘life.’ I have chosen to donate $1,800 of my (Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award) scholarship to Ballers to ensure the ‘life’ of the program continues to be a success. But it takes much more than that to make it happen. I’m asking for your help tonight. I invite you all to come together to match my donation. Chai is good, but double chai is even better!”

Henry was hoping for a match, but “what happened next was a ripple effect of good,” says Lauren Scolnick, Henry’s mother. The Cape Henry junior raised an additional $6,100 for Ballers Basketball, the league he founded to offer children with disabilities an opportunity to play organized basketball. Combined with his $1,800 commitment, Henry raised $7,900 in just 10 minutes. 

In addition to founding Ballers Basketball and fundraising for the nonprofit, Henry also coaches and performs all volunteer recruiting for Champions Baseball, a program of Aid Another, every Saturday.

To donate to Ballers Basketball, go to https://GiveButter.com/ BallersSponsor26.