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	<title>Mazel Tov | Jewish News</title>
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	<description>Southeastern Virginia: Chesapeake • Norfolk • Portsmouth • Suffolk • Virginia Beach</description>
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		<title>Milestone anniversaries worth celebrating</title>
		<link>https://jewishnewsva.org/milestone-anniversaries-worth-celebrating-3/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Haley Bartel]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 19:22:26 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Mazel Tov]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trending News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://jewishnewsva.org/?p=36748</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Anniversaries are measured in years, but these couples say the real story is in the small things: a question about basketball, a slice of cheesecake, a paper on Herbert Marcuse. Married from five to 50 years, these four area couples share how they met, what they have built together, and what keeps them going. Prue [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Anniversaries are measured in years, but these couples say the real story is in the small things: a question about basketball, a slice of cheesecake, a paper on Herbert Marcuse. Married from five to 50 years, these four area couples share how they met, what they have built together, and what keeps them going.</em></h3>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prue and Mike Salasky<br><em>50th Anniversary</em></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Michael Salasky was a law student at William &amp; Mary, and Prue was on a graduate exchange from Exeter University in England, working on a master’s degree in U.S. history, when they met in the campus coffee bar. Mike knew the law student Prue was with at the time – but that didn’t stop him. “I thought I could do better than him, and it turned out I did,” he recalls.<br><br>Also, at the front of his memory from that day is the first time he heard her full name, Prudence, noting he “felt sorry for anyone who had to go through life with it.” Pity aside, Mike lent her a paper he had written on Herbert Marcuse, and that’s how it started.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Prue prefers to call it “a youthful mistake.”</p>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">After dating for about two years, they married when Prue was 23 and Mike was 26, both nervous.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">They came from very different places. Mike grew up in Norfolk in a large extended family and attended Beth El. Prue grew up on a farm in the south of England, 60 miles from London, attending the local parish church. “We really have absolutely nothing in common,” Mike says, “except that we both happen to have studied Russian.” Their working knowledge of the language came in handy when their daughters were small. “We could speak Russian and they didn’t know what we were talking about,” he muses.<br><br>Mike was a solo practitioner who worked six days a week for decades. He retired in 2020 but still maintains his license. Prue taught history, Latin, and ESL at schools and colleges throughout Tidewater, including Norfolk Academy, Tidewater Community College, and the Williams School. She spent the bulk of her career as a writer and editor at the Daily Press in Newport News, much of it part-time while raising their three daughters. After retiring, she earned a master’s in linguistics. A Fulbright scholarship took her to Bulgaria to teach English, though COVID cut the stay short. Today she produces a linguistics podcast, languagingHR, and Mike is immersed in the study of music. Mike is quick to brag on her impressive professional and academic careers. “She can blow the horn for me,” he says, “but I’ll blow the horn for her.”<br><br>Their daughters, Julia, Charlotte, and Vanessa, are all married with children. Julia lives in London, Charlotte in Dubai, and Vanessa in Philadelphia. Of their seven grandchildren, ages 7 months to 9 years, five are boys.</p>



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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“As parents we spent countless hours on soccer fields,” Prue says, and they have savored the Bat mitzvahs, graduations, weddings, and births. They have also weathered sorrows, including the loss of parents.<br><br>For years, the Salaskys celebrated the Jewish holidays with Mike’s large local family, rotating among households. Since the children and their cousins moved away, gatherings are rarer, so the couple has become flexible. They savor any time together, “whether on the beach or at a seder,” and have enjoyed attending services with their children and grandchildren in Philadelphia and London.<br><br>What do they admire in each other? Mike calls Prue brilliant, independent, funny, and charming. Prue appreciates how self-sufficient (or in other words, stubborn) Mike is. He makes her laugh and lets her be her own person without judgment, and his curiosity means she learns from him about topics she might not otherwise pursue.<br><br>“We have been fortunate in many, many ways,” Prue says, “because when you make a decision at age 23, you simply cannot know what life will throw your way.”</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">June and Bo Saks<br><em>50th anniversary</em></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">June Saks was born and raised in Norfolk, while Bo was from Gadsden, Alabama, having moved to Richmond to be near his mother and stepfather. June and Bo were introduced by mutual friends, sharing small-town roots and a preference for informality over big-city life. When they began dating, Bo moved to Norfolk, where they settled.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Much of their courtship, June says, took place at Norfolk General Hospital, where she was recovering from back surgery.</p>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">June recalls their wedding day as “a beautiful April day” – cool but full of springtime. Friends and family came from out of town, including several of Bo’s college friends, who are still close with him today. “There was just a very warm, loving feeling,” she says.<br><br>Bo became part of June’s family right away. She has two brothers, and Bo easily fit in as the third. He worked in her family’s business and, she says, “did it beautifully.”<br><br>June’s paternal grandfather was one of the early leaders of Ohef Sholom Temple, and her mother, who moved from New York after marrying her father, became devoted to it, too. June volunteered at the temple and the Sisterhood, taught in the religious school, and served on both the temple and Sisterhood boards of directors. Bo supported all of it, handling carpools and play dates, and being home when the kids arrived on nights she had meetings. She also volunteered a lot at Norfolk General, which Bo supported just as fully.<br><br>The couple has two children, Lauren, who lives in Washington, D.C., and Michael, who returned from the West Coast to Richmond with his two sons, now 11 and 9.<br><br>The Saks’ are a sports-minded family. Bo attended the University of Alabama, and the rest of the family has adopted the Crimson Tide. The grandsons play several sports, swim, and fish.<br><br>Holidays were always a big part of family life. June’s parents hosted Rosh Hashanah, and she and Bo hosted the Break Fast. After 38 years in their home in Colony Point, near Wards Corner, they moved to Aviva Pembroke, where there isn’t room for large gatherings, so they now celebrate with friends at the family dinners there. “I loved having family and extended family to our home,” June says. “I miss that tremendously.” Still, she adds, “life goes on.”<br><br>According to June, there is a lot to admire about Bo. “He is a nice man, a good man who loves people,” she says. He stays in touch with his friends and has long helped newcomers to Norfolk get acclimated. She also treasures his continued love and support for her family.<br><br>The greatest gift of their marriage? “Family,” June says. “Being together, supporting one another through the good times and the bad times.” There have been “glitches,” she adds, and things aren’t always rosy, “but knowing that you have that support for one another” makes the difference.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rachael and Michael Nusbaum<br><em>10th anniversary</em></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Rachael grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, and Michael is a Norfolk native. They met in Nashville at M.L.Rose, a restaurant and bar, during March Madness.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“I asked his roommate, ‘What’s a field goal in basketball?’” she says. Michael was the one who answered, and he promptly asked for her number. “The rest is history!”</p>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Early in their dating, a friend offered some reassurance. Michael’s sister had gone to college with one of Rachael’s oldest and dearest friends, and when that friend realized who Rachael was dating, she told her, “Whether this relationship lasts a week, a month, a few years or forever, Michael Nusbaum is the type of person who will show you how you deserve to be treated.”<br><br>Their wedding was “a blowout,” Rachael says. Almost every guest they invited attended, and the couple felt “the support and outpouring of love” as they began their marriage. Soon after, they relocated to Norfolk and bought their first house together. Rachael works as a travel agent for Seabreeze Travel and Michael works for S.L. Nusbaum Insurance.<br><br>The Jewish community welcomed the Nusbaums “with open arms” and has remained an important part of their village, they say. During her first years in Norfolk, Rachael helped Ohef Sholom Temple with its Harold Grinspoon initiative, and Michael now serves on the temple’s board of directors. They are excited for their son, Harding Parkes, (he’s called Parkes) and turns 3 in February, to grow up at the temple.</p>



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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The couple waited seven years after moving to Norfolk to have Parkes. “We grew up together during those years,” she says, and Parkes’s birth in 2024 brought them closer still, as they “saw sides of one another we hadn’t before.” His arrival is also what they’re most proud of as a couple, along with the little man he is growing into. Their own family traditions are just beginning to take shape. What matters most, she says, is quality time with family, whether on a holiday or at a yearly tradition.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When things get hard, they return to their core values. “We are each other’s very best friends,” she says. “We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders, and we have the same hopes, dreams, and goals for one another, our life, our son.” The key to a happy and lasting marriage, in her view, is communication and respect.<br><br>They marked their 10th anniversary with a Rhine River cruise, and they’re looking forward to “many more adventures with each other and our family for many, many years to come.”</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ellie Cesario and Kevin Keltz<br><em>5th anniversary</em></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Though they’ve been married five years, Ellie Cesario and Kevin Keltz met on Saturday, April 3, 2004, at the opening reception of an art show at Studio One-O-Seven in Norfolk. Ellie was one of the exhibiting artists. “Standing by my artwork and looking at one of my own paintings,” she recalls, someone behind her asked, “Have you tried the cheesecake? It’s delicious!” She turned around, met Kevin, and the two talked for the rest of the evening. They traded information, and soon they had their first date.</p>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kevin grew up in Miami Beach, Florida, and came to Norfolk in 1980 to become director of Residence Life at Old Dominion University, a job he held for 17 years. Ellie grew up in Uniondale, on Long Island, and moved to Virginia Beach in 1999. She was a public school teacher who later became a counselor. Now, they are both retired.<br><br>Ellie says she knew it was special as she got to know Kevin and was impressed by how genuine he is in his actions and relationships. Kevin says he knew Ellie was the one because he was willing to drive 45 minutes, almost to Pungo in Virginia Beach, for a date.<br><br>They dated for 17 years before marrying. “We joke about how it took a while for us to be sure,” Ellie says. They keep separate homes – Kevin’s in Norfolk and Ellie’s in Virginia Beach; he spends half the week in each, which gives both time for their own activities and for the friends Kevin has had for many years.<br><br>They were married five years ago, at the height of COVID, in a backyard with a small group of friends. They couldn’t invite everyone they would have liked, but “it was beautiful,” says Ellie, and a group effort: friends handled the flowers, food, photographs, and decorations, and made the chuppah by hand.<br><br>Since then, milestones have included a trip to Kevin’s hometown of Miami Beach, where Ellie saw where he grew up and met friends he has kept since childhood, and many outdoor art shows together “in all kinds of weather.” They also enjoy group activities with friends, including a movie of the month and holiday and neighborhood celebrations.</p>



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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ellie admires how Kevin is a people person who is open-minded, kind, and gentle, with a devotion to family, friends, and animals, has a great sense of humor, and a talent for planning trips. Kevin, for his part, says, “Aside from her physical beauty, what I admire most about Ellie is her generosity, honesty, patience, willingness to go out of her way to help others, and her multiple talents.” Those include art, dancing, gardening, and cooking, and “she knows more about working on cars than I do.”<br><br>They both love the National Parks and take at least two trips a year. Kevin plans where they stay and finds the best places to eat, while Ellie drives. Kevin also meets faithfully with a coffee group, and the two enjoy watching college football and spending time with each other’s friends.<br><br>They marked their fifth anniversary by attending the milestone anniversary service at Ohef Sholom Temple. Looking ahead, they say, it’s about continuing to communicate with each other and spending time together.</p>
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		<title>New inductees of Fine Family Academy of Educators include Eric Werner</title>
		<link>https://jewishnewsva.org/new-inductees-of-fine-family-academy-of-educators-include-eric-werner/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Terri Denison]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 19:03:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Latest News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mazel Tov]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://jewishnewsva.org/?p=36746</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The Fine Family of Academy Educators held a ceremony in September to honor its latest inductees, including Eric J. Werner, MD. Established in 2019 by the Fine family and community supporters, the Fine Family Academy of Educators is part of the Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University. The Academy recognizes [&#8230;]]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Fine Family of Academy Educators held a ceremony in September to honor its latest inductees, including Eric J. Werner, MD.<br><br>Established in 2019 by the Fine family and community supporters, the Fine Family Academy of Educators is part of the Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University. The Academy recognizes and advances excellence in health professions education. Among the Academy’s goals, it aims to foster “faculty development, educational innovation, scholarship, educational leadership, and mentorship while cultivating a vibrant community dedicated to advancing the art and science of teaching.”<br><br>As a member of the Academy, educators are part of a community that allows them to collaborate and learn from different perspectives through regular gatherings.<br><br>While several other medical schools have created similar programs, the number is limited, resulting in the Fine Family Academy of Educators attracting educators to the school, says Karen Fine, a member of the EVMS Foundation Board of Directors.<br><br>Werner has been a member of the Department of Pediatrics faculty since 1987. A pediatric hematology/oncology physician, he practiced clinical medicine for more than 40 years and now serves as vice chair for faculty affairs in the Department of Pediatrics and as chief medical quality and wellness officer for Children’s Specialty Group.<br><br>“I’m honored to be included in the Academy,” says Werner. “The concept of the Fine Family Academy is wise – to advance the understanding of how to better educate people in the healthcare fields.”<br><br>Members of the Fine family, including Morris Fine, Barbara and Andrew Fine, Karen and Matt Fine, Diane and Jeffery Fine, Jane and Rob Fine, and Mike Fine attended the event.<br><br>At the ceremony, each member was presented with a stole embroidered with the Academy’s emblem, which features a leaf, symbolizing growth, knowledge, transformation, and renewal. The letter F is woven into the leaf, honoring the Fine family. The stole may be worn with formal academic regalia. A commemorative lapel pin was also presented to each new inductee. Karen Fine participated in the presentations.<br><br>A reception followed the ceremony.</p>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1036" height="800" src="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/55550666108_b9742f1d9d_c.jpg" alt="Alfred Abuhamad, MD, Eric Werner, MD, U. Samuel Ikonne, PhD, and Karen Fine." class="wp-image-36638" srcset="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/55550666108_b9742f1d9d_c.jpg 1036w, https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/55550666108_b9742f1d9d_c-980x757.jpg 980w, https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/55550666108_b9742f1d9d_c-480x371.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1036px, 100vw" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alfred Abuhamad, MD, Eric Werner, MD, U. Samuel Ikonne, PhD, and Karen Fine.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1201" height="800" src="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Fine-Family-Academy-2026.jpg" alt="The Fine Family Academy of Educators newest inductees with members of the Fine family." class="wp-image-36654" srcset="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Fine-Family-Academy-2026.jpg 1201w, https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Fine-Family-Academy-2026-980x653.jpg 980w, https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Fine-Family-Academy-2026-480x320.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1201px, 100vw" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Fine Family Academy of Educators newest inductees with members of the Fine family.</figcaption></figure>
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		<title>Heroism on a ski lift:Major Metzger’s strong hold</title>
		<link>https://jewishnewsva.org/heroism-on-a-ski-liftmajor-metzgers-strong-hold/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Haley Bartel]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:58:16 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Latest News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mazel Tov]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://jewishnewsva.org/?p=36742</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Major Metzger, a student at Virginia Beach Middle School, was with family and friends at Wintergreen Ski Resort in January 2025, when he committed an act of bravery that saved another child from a 16-foot fall and earned him the Carnegie Medal for Heroism. “All I could think about was how scared I was and [&#8230;]]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Major Metzger, a student at Virginia Beach Middle School, was with family and friends at Wintergreen Ski Resort in January 2025, when he committed an act of bravery that saved another child from a 16-foot fall and earned him the Carnegie Medal for Heroism.<br><br>“All I could think about was how scared I was and making sure I didn’t drop him,” Major recalls, referring to the day of the incident. Major is the son of Amy and Mark Metzger.<br><br>Six-year-old Bryce Rader and Major, then 10 years old, were on the chairlift together riding to the slopes. When Major noticed Bryce was slipping, he grabbed his friend’s hand – even as Bryce continued to slip further off the lift. Major held onto Bryce, who was wearing a heavy helmet and skis, for about four minutes until ski patrol arrived with a safety mat and advised him to let go. Bryce landed safely on the mat, suffering only minor injuries.<br><br>“Something that helped me hold on to him was all the thoughts in my head of him getting hurt and how much pressure was on me to hold on until ski patrol arrived,” he says.<br><br>Major was awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism this past summer. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger presented him the award at his school on Sept. 16. The honor was presented by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, an organization whose mission is to “recognize and support those who perform acts of heroism in civilian life in the United States and Canada.”<br><br>For Major, the award was simply a bonus. “I am very honored to get the award,” he says. “But this was never about getting an award, it was saving my friend.”</p>
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		<title>Shari Dozoretz Friedman to be honored as Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer</title>
		<link>https://jewishnewsva.org/shari-dozoretz-friedman-to-be-honored-as-outstanding-fundraising-volunteer/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Haley Bartel]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:56:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Latest News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mazel Tov]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://jewishnewsva.org/?p=36740</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Shari Dozoretz Friedman will receive the Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Hampton Roads Chapter at its National Philanthropy Day Awards Presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 10. “One of the biggest honors of my life is to be receiving this award,” Friedman says. “I grew up in a family that always gave [&#8230;]]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Shari Dozoretz Friedman will receive the Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Hampton Roads Chapter at its National Philanthropy Day Awards Presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 10.<br><br>“One of the biggest honors of my life is to be receiving this award,” Friedman says. “I grew up in a family that always gave back to those in need, and we were taught to always share in our good fortune.”<br><br>Friedman has worked with a wide range of local nonprofits, including United Way’s Women United 10 for 10 group, Achievable Dream, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. Most of her fundraising, however, has benefited the Dozoretz Hospice House of Hampton Roads, which is named for her late father, Dr. Ronald Dozoretz.<br><br>She served as capital campaign chair and board member for the 12-bed facility, the region’s first freestanding inpatient hospice house, and helped establish a major fundraiser to support it. Friedman credits the many people behind the project, each playing an instrumental part in its development.<br>“This is not the work of one person or one family,” she says. “I feel so grateful to our extraordinary board, generous donors, community partners, volunteers, and committed advocates to make this a reality and help expand compassionate hospice care in our area. It truly warms my heart to be involved in our first freestanding inpatient Hospice House that has helped so many people in our community during life’s most difficult moments.”<br>Philanthropy, Friedman says, is essential for organizations that could not otherwise survive. The Hospice House operates at a deficit every year because Medicare covers only part of the cost. An angel fund supports patients who don’t qualify for Medicare and can’t pay out of pocket.<br><br>“We deeply believe that every person deserves compassion, dignity, and comfort during life’s final journey,” she says, “but we need the help of the entire community for these organizations to sustain themselves.”<br><br>Friedman is one of six honorees this year. The others are Sentara –Health (Outstanding Philanthropist – Organization), Jane Batten (Outstanding Philanthropist – Individual), the Elizabeth River Project (Outstanding Nonprofit in Fundraising), Bert Schmidt (Outstanding Nonprofit Leader) and Brooks Lively, CFRE (Outstanding Fundraising Professional).<br><br>The event celebrates the impact of philanthropists and fundraisers throughout Tidewater. Proceeds help fund scholarships and educational opportunities for local development professionals.</p>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1067" height="800" src="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Dozoretz.jpg" alt="Dr. Ron Dozoretz, of blessed memory, and Shari Friedman" class="wp-image-36651" srcset="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Dozoretz.jpg 1067w, https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Dozoretz-980x735.jpg 980w, https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Dozoretz-480x360.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1067px, 100vw" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr. Ron Dozoretz, of blessed memory, and Shari Friedman</figcaption></figure>
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		<title>A first-of-its-kind Virginia Beach grant helps artist leap into glass</title>
		<link>https://jewishnewsva.org/a-first-of-its-kind-virginia-beach-grant-helps-artist-leap-into-glass/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Haley Bartel]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:50:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Arts & Entertainment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mazel Tov]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Other News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://jewishnewsva.org/?p=36738</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[When Virginia Beach opened applications for its first-ever Individual Artists Support Grant, Rachel “RJ” Jaffe knew it was meant for artists like her.“It was designed for people like me that are actively working and sharing their art and have these grand projects but just need the funding to help see it through,” she says. Jaffe [&#8230;]]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When Virginia Beach opened applications for its first-ever Individual Artists Support Grant, Rachel “RJ” Jaffe knew it was meant for artists like her.<br>“It was designed for people like me that are actively working and sharing their art and have these grand projects but just need the funding to help see it through,” she says.<br><br>Jaffe is the creative behind 23 Beans, where she sells and teaches ceramics and glass, though she got her start in the former. It was the grant that allowed her to expand into another medium.<br><br>The application asked for a proposal explaining how up to $4,800 would be spent, and how it would strengthen her artistic practice while contributing to the city’s cultural landscape. She was awarded the full amount.<br><br>The grant, run by the city’s Cultural Affairs office, is meant to help local artists build their practice, grow professionally, add to their portfolios, and engage with the community.<br><br>Her proposal changed along the way. Shortly after applying, Jaffe won a scholarship to a glassblowing workshop at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina, but it covered only part of the cost. The trip wasn’t in her original plan, so she amended her proposal, and the city approved using the funds to cover the rest.<br><br>“Craft schools are different from a traditional art school,” she says, describing Penland’s one- to two-week intensives where students live on campus and learn a specialized skill from a craftsperson.<br><br>The grant’s reach goes beyond her. Jaffe estimates 10 to 15 of her peers also received funding, and the recipients showed work made with their grants in a joint exhibition at the Virginia Beach Arts Center last May. A friend of hers applied after hearing about her experience and also attended Penland.<br><br>Today, Jaffe teaches ceramics and glass fusing at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, including a current six-week wheel-throwing course on vessel making, and leads workshops at the Hermitage Museum &amp; Gardens and the Chrysler Museum of Art’s Perry Glass Studio. She also belongs to 757 Create, an artist-run collective that shares exhibition opportunities and practical advice, such as how to price a commission.<br><br>The grant shaped the work she’s making now: a collection of goblet-style stemware that references the kiddush cups and cut glass she grew up around at her grandparents’ home. “I really learned to value functional art in that way, and so that led me to create a collection of Judaica,” she says.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Artists Support Grant are currently closed. Artists can email <a href="mailto:ArtsInfo@vbgov.com">ArtsInfo@vbgov.com</a> for updates on future rounds.</em></p>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="800" src="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/judaica.jpg" alt="Jaffe’s Judaica collection." class="wp-image-36664" srcset="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/judaica.jpg 1000w, https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/judaica-980x784.jpg 980w, https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/judaica-480x384.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1000px, 100vw" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jaffe’s Judaica collection.</figcaption></figure>
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		<title>A century of wisdom and blessing: Honoring Jesse Shepperd at 105</title>
		<link>https://jewishnewsva.org/a-century-of-wisdom-and-blessing-honoring-jesse-shepperd-at-105/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jewish Family Service staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:48:01 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Mazel Tov]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Other News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://jewishnewsva.org/?p=36736</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[On October 20, Jesse Shepperd celebrated her 105th birthday surrounded by family, friends, and the people who are lucky enough to know her.Her birthday brought together generations of family, including her son and daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, along with her canasta friends and Jewish Family Service and Russell House staff. In Jewish tradition, reaching such [&#8230;]]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On October 20, Jesse Shepperd celebrated her 105th birthday surrounded by family, friends, and the people who are lucky enough to know her.<br>Her birthday brought together generations of family, including her son and daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, along with her canasta friends and Jewish Family Service and Russell House staff.<br><br>In Jewish tradition, reaching such a venerable age is seen as a profound blessing, embodying the sacred obligation of Kibbud Zekenim—the honoring of elders. Over her 105 years, Shepperd has maintained a front-row seat to history—living through the challenges of the Great Depression, the global shifts of World War II, 20 different U.S. presidents, the dawn of the Space Age, and the rapid rise of the digital revolution. From the first black-and-white television sets to the smartphones of the modern era, Shepperd has witnessed the world completely reinvent itself.<br><br>When asked what would make her birthday complete, she knew exactly what she wanted: a gathering of the people she loves, and a slice of chocolate cake. As the room joined together to sing “Happy Birthday,” Shepperd giggled and cheered along with everyone else, clearly enjoying every moment.<br>When her daughter spoke about her mother’s remarkable health, sharing, “Mom doesn’t take any medications. She’s doing so well. She’s an incredible woman,” Shepperd leaned over to a staff member and, still smiling, asked, “What did she say?” The exchange brought another sweet moment of laughter to an already joyful afternoon.<br><br>Shepperd’s birthday was also an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable memories she has made through these passing eras. She captivated the room by sharing the story of the time she met jazz legend Louis Armstrong, while her daughter brought a beautiful photograph of Shepperd from her wedding day. Between stories of the past, vintage photographs, and lively conversation, Shepperd posed happily for pictures.<br><br>There were thoughtful gifts, too: a beautiful brooch, a handmade necklace, chocolates, and a soft lap blanket knitted by Jewish Family Service’s Knitting for Others group. Cards filled with messages of affection and appreciation reflected what everyone in the room already knew: the birthday girl is a joy to be around.<br><br>For the past six years, Shepperd has been a client of Jewish Family Service of Tidewater. This partnership reflects the enduring value of Dor L’Dor—from generation to generation—reminding of a collective responsibility to cherish, protect, and learn from others – especially elders. In her time with JFS, Shepperd has continued to show those around her something that cannot be measured in years alone. Her birthday was a celebration not only of her longevity, but of the warmth, humor, and positivity she brings to the people in her life.<br><br>At 105, Shepperd is a reminder that age is only one part of a person’s story. There is still laughter to share, historic memories to revisit, and new moments to treasure. Sometimes, the best way to celebrate a remarkable life is simply with a room full of people who love you, a look back at a century of incredible history, and a little chocolate cake.</p>
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		<title>Mike Jaffe rides with 250 bikers to Cleveland to raise dollars for Tribe of NOVA Foundation</title>
		<link>https://jewishnewsva.org/mike-jaffe-rides-with-250-bikers-to-cleveland-to-raise-dollars-for-tribe-of-nova-foundation/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Terri Denison]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:46:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Mazel Tov]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Other News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://jewishnewsva.org/?p=36734</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Virginia Beach Lost Tribe riding member, Mike Jaffe participated in this past summer’s JMA Ride to Remember to Cleveland.This was Jaffe’s “10th or 11th Ride to Remember,” he says. The 250 members of the Jewish Motorcyclist Alliance who participated in the ride to Cleveland for its annual convention raised a record-setting $250,000 for the [&#8230;]]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A Virginia Beach Lost Tribe riding member, Mike Jaffe participated in this past summer’s JMA Ride to Remember to Cleveland.<br>This was Jaffe’s “10th or 11th Ride to Remember,” he says.<br><br>The 250 members of the Jewish Motorcyclist Alliance who participated in the ride to Cleveland for its annual convention raised a record-setting $250,000 for the Tribe of NOVA Foundation that serves victims and their families of the Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack by Hamas at the NOVA music festival in Israel.<br><br>This was the first time that Holocaust education was not on the program. The group’s mission is to promote Holocaust education and awareness as well as combat antisemitism.<br><br>“The JMA as a whole and Virginia Beach Lost Tribe always welcome Jewish riders of all ages,” says Jaffe.<br></p>
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		<title>Birthday</title>
		<link>https://jewishnewsva.org/birthday/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jewish News VA]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:45:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Mazel Tov]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Other News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://jewishnewsva.org/?p=35889</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Wishing Stanwood Dickman a very Happy and Healthy 91st Birthday on Friday, August 28. His family will be celebrating with him.]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><br>Wishing Stanwood Dickman a very Happy and Healthy 91st Birthday on Friday, August 28. His family will be celebrating with him.</p>



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		<title>Achievement</title>
		<link>https://jewishnewsva.org/achievement-4/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jewish News VA]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:44:41 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Mazel Tov]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Other News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://jewishnewsva.org/?p=35887</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Sam Sacks was recently chosen Teacher of the Year in Savannah-Chantham County Public School System. He was also named Teacher of the Year for his school, New Hampstead, K &#8211; 8. A STEM coordinator, Sacks is known for his dedication to his students.&#160; As the recipient of this honor, Sacks will help lead as part [&#8230;]]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sam Sacks was recently chosen Teacher of the Year in Savannah-Chantham County Public School System. He was also named Teacher of the Year for his school, New Hampstead, K &#8211; 8. A STEM coordinator, Sacks is known for his dedication to his students.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As the recipient of this honor, Sacks will help lead as part of the Superintendent’s Professional Senate and will join the school board for all regular session meetings.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">&nbsp;Sacks was also selected to be the teacher in residence at UGA Marine Institute at Sapalo Island, a research facility run by the University of Georgia. At the facility, research is conducted on tides, animals that live in wetlands, and other related topics. The facility occasionally invites a public school teacher to participate. Sacks was invited last year and then was asked to present to the University’s graduate students regarding lessons he created for his students based on his experience on the island. Sacks got invited back this year, which is apparently unusual.</p>



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		<title>Jewish Tidewater’s Graduates</title>
		<link>https://jewishnewsva.org/jewish-tidewaters-graduates-7/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jewish News VA]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:00:01 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Mazel Tov]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trending News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://jewishnewsva.org/?p=35783</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Jewish Tidewater has much to applaud with its graduates. We celebrate some here. See more 2026 graduates in last months edition. Mazel Tov to all these graduates and their families! Madeline “Maddie” Elyse Acosta&#160; Kempsville High School Graduating with Highest Honors, Varsity Field Hockey All Region honorable mention Next: Christopher Newport University majoring in Biology/Health [&#8230;]]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Jewish Tidewater has much to applaud with its graduates. We celebrate some here. <a href="https://jewishnewsva.org/jewish-tidewaters-graduates-6/">See more 2026 graduates in last months edition</a>.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong><em>Mazel Tov to all these graduates and their families!</em></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1036" height="800" src="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/il_fullxfull.4001491537_4iin-1036x800.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-35494" style="aspect-ratio:1.2950166828113228;width:536px;height:auto" srcset="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/il_fullxfull.4001491537_4iin-980x757.webp 978w, https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/il_fullxfull.4001491537_4iin-480x371.webp 479w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 479px) 479px, (min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 978px) 978px, (min-width: 979px) 1036px, 100vw" /></figure>



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<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:66.66%">
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Madeline “Maddie” Elyse Acosta&nbsp;</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Kempsville High School</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Graduating with Highest Honors, Varsity Field Hockey All Region honorable mention</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Next: Christopher Newport University majoring in Biology/Health Science</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Maddie is the daughter of Alison and Bernard Acoste and granddaughter of Bonnie and Bob Rothschild.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Devon Olivia Parker-Ashe</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong><strong>Virginia Tech</strong></strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Public Health</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Next: Eastern Virginia Medical School, Class of 2030.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Devon is the daughter of Dr. Allison R. Ashe and the granddaughter of Michel and Marilyn Ashe.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jamie Levin</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Eastern Virginia Medical School&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Next: Internship at MCV in Richmond</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Jamie is the daughter of Ted and Cindy Levin and the granddaughter of Pauline Levin and Gilbert Levin (of Blessed Memory).</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Samantha Levin</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Brown University&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Degree in Environmental Science Graduated with Honors and Phi Beta Kappa&nbsp;</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Next: Working for the City of New York.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Samantha is the daughter of Drs. Lawrence and Marianne Levin and the granddaughter of Pauline Levin and Gilbert Levin (of blessed memory).</p>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="800" src="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Neid-Evan-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-35787" srcset="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Neid-Evan-edited.jpg 800w, https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Neid-Evan-edited-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 800px, 100vw" /></figure>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Evan Nied</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>University of Virginia&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>M.S. in Commerce, with a concentration in Business Analytics.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Evan was a Jefferson Scholar.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Next: After traveling throughout Asia, Evan will move to New York City and work as a Strategy Analyst at JPMorgan Chase.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Evan is the son of Emily and Joel Nied and grandson of Renee and Stephen Caplan and Thelma Nied.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="800" src="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Schranz-moriah-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-35788" srcset="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Schranz-moriah-edited.jpg 800w, https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Schranz-moriah-edited-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 800px, 100vw" /></figure>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Moriah Schranz</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Maury High School</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Next: Hevruta Gap Year Program in Israel and then Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Moriah is the daughter of Craig and Joanna Schranz.</p>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="800" src="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Wainger-Erin-senior-portrait-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-35491" srcset="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Wainger-Erin-senior-portrait-edited.jpg 800w, https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Wainger-Erin-senior-portrait-edited-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 800px, 100vw" /></figure>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Erin Wainger&nbsp;</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Norfolk Academy</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Next: University of Maryland&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Erin is the daughter of Jill and Brian Wainger and granddaughter of Kathy and Jerry Kantor and Patti and Jules Wainger.&nbsp;</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="800" src="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Wainger-Caroline-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-35490" srcset="https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Wainger-Caroline-edited.jpg 800w, https://jewishnewsva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Wainger-Caroline-edited-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 800px, 100vw" /></figure>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Caroline Wainger&nbsp;</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Norfolk Academy</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Next: Tulane University&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Erin is the daughter of Jill and Brian Wainger and granddaughter of Kathy and Jerry Kantor and Patti and Jules Wainger.&nbsp;</p>
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