Mazel Tov

Katelynn McAraw, 16, a participant in the Better Together Program, recently won its essay contest, earning her $8,000 toward a semester program in Israel. Better Together, a program that unites seniors and teens through monthly lunches and activities, is funded by a...

The Norfolk Forum, the nation’s oldest publicly subscribed speakers’ forum recently elected Jody M. Wagner, as its 2017–18 board president. Wagner is president of Jody’s Popcorn, which she and her husband, Alan Wagner, MD, founded in Virginia Beach in 2005. Wagner...

At its annual meeting on June 21 (see article on page 27), Beth Sholom Village honored several employees who have been with the organization for 30 or more years. They include: Carolyn Tolman, Lana Chapman, Carolyn Dukes and Mary Parker.

Elizabeth Block Rosenberg on her graduation from Yale University’s graduate school of management with an MBA. Liz recently moved to Dallas to pursue her career. She is the daughter of Paul and Stefan Rosenberg and an alum of Kempsville High School and UVa.

Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Loiterman, Toras Chaim’s principal, was recenlty invited to become a member of Virginia’s Equitable Services Workgroup by Christopher Kelly, EdD. Kelly is the equitable services ombudsman in the Office of Program Administration and Accountability...

Brandon Terkeltaub and David Calliott on successfully passing the Certified Financial Planner™ exam and becoming CFP® practitioners. This certification is held by only 20% of financial advisors and takes over a year of preparation. These two young community leaders...

Mr. and Mrs. David Balaban of Virginia Beach on the engagement of their son, Jody Michael Balaban to Erin Ashley McGrattan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel T. McGrattan Jr., also of Virginia Beach. Ms. McGrattan, a graduate of Bishop Sullivan Catholic High and...

Rabbi Israel Zoberman with Martin Culqreth, Special Agent in Charge, of the FBI’s Norfolk field office. Rabbi Zoberman addressed the Hampton Roads FBI community on the historical Jewish experience.

Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman for having his article on Holocaust Remembrance and the 69th anniversary of the State of Israel inserted into the Congressional Record by Congressman Scott Taylor.

Katelynn McAraw, winner of the Better Together Program essay contest. A sophomore, Katelynn participated in the pilot year of Better Together, a lunch and learn series with Ohef Sholom Temple teens and seniors from Beth Sholom Village. She wrote about her experiences...

Rabbi Israel Zoberman joined Mayor Alan P. Krasnoff and the citizens of Chesapeake on Thursday, May 4 at the city’s National Day of Prayer program. Rabbi Zoberman shared a heartfelt message of Hope and Prayer for Unity.

Morris Benjamin Panitz and Elana Havusha Panitz on the birth of their daughter, Ziva Liora, in Jerusalem on Feb, 1, 2017. The grandparents are Yosi and Suzie Havusha, of Los Angeles, and Rabbi Michael and Sheila Panitz of Norfolk.

Beth and Barry Dorsk on the engagement of their son, Justin to Erin Giblock. Justin is the grandson of Robert Dorsk of blessed memory and Peggy Dorsk, Jack Koonan of blessed memory and Barbara Krampf. Erin is the daughter of John and Cindy Giblock, and granddaughter...

Rabbi Israel Zoberman, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Chaverim, on his article on Yom HaShoah and Yom HaAtzmaut being inserted into the Congressional Record by Congressman Scott Rigell.

Renen Katz and Amanda Perlman Katz of Loxahatchee, Fla. on the birth of their daughter on August 12, 2014, Ella Mia Katz. Ella is the granddaughter of Donald Katz of Stuart, Fla. and Elisa Ellin of blessed memory and Andrea Perlman and Perry Perlman, also of...

Congregation Beth Chaverim’s Rabbi Israel Zoberman with a United Nations soldier from Denmark on the Golan Heights’ Mt. Bental at a U. N. force observation post. The post overlooks the abandoned Syrian town of Kuneitra. Rabbi Zoberman participated in a Solidarity...

Rabbi Israel Zoberman of Congregation Beth Chaverim in Virginia Beach and his daughter Rachel Zoberman Azoff at the White House Chanukah Reception, hosted by President and Mrs. Obama on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014.

Charlene and David Cohen on the engagement of their daughter, Donna to Asher Kells of Northern Virginia. Donna received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park and a MA in mental health from New York University. She is a...

Eve Sacha Burton-Poteet, RN, BSN, BSHCM, on her promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, USN. Her father, Commander Joshua Jacob Nelson, (Retired), promoted her. Married to Scott Poteet, they have two children, Josh 11 and Leah 7, who both attended Strelitz...

Jeffrey A. Swartz, a partner at Swartz, Taliaferro, Swartz & Goodove in Norfolk, who was selected for Virginia Business magazine’s “Virginia’s Legal Elite” for 2014 in the category of Criminal Defense. Swartz was selected by his peers and members of the Virginia...

Rabbi Israel Zoberman who delivered the opening prayer on Thursday, Dec. 11, of the U.S. Senate session.

Rabbi Arthur Ruberg and Miriam Brunn Ruberg on the marriage of their son Rabbi Jeremy Ruberg to Rebecca Shapiro. The wedding took place on Nov. 23 in Stamford, Conn., where Rebecca grew up. The couple will reside in New City, N. Y. where Jeremy is the assistant rabbi...

Amy and Eliot Weinstein on the birth of their son, Avi Maxwell Weinstein, born on Nov. 4, 2014. Grandparents are Ellen and Bill Wagner of Chadds Ford, Pa. and Debbie and David Weinstein of Livingston, N.J. Great Grandmother is Lorraine Wagner of Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Michael Goodove, a partner at Swartz, Taliaferro, Swartz & Goodove in Norfolk, has been selected for Virginia Business magazine’s “Virginia’s Legal Elite” for 2014 in the category of Civil Litigation. Goodove was selected by his peers and members of the Virginia...

by Leslie Shroyer JCC Association’s Merrin Center for Teen Engagement has selected 15 professionals from JCCs and camps in North America to participate in the Merrin Teen Professional Fellows Program. Erika Eskenazi, the Simon Family JCC’s Children and Camp director,...

Tidewater Jewish Foundation is busy welcoming the Kaplan family to Tidewater. Scott Kaplan is the new president and CEO of the Foundation. Kaplan, his wife Erica, and their two children, Liora and Eden, moved to the community from western Massachusetts. In the next...

Richard and Beth Gross on the engagement of their son, Geoffrey Todd Gross of Boca Raton, Fla. to Leah Hanah Berkowitz, also of Boca Raton. Leah is the daughter of Fred and Cathy Berkowitz of Boca Raton. She is a senior at Brandeis University. Geoff is the youth...

To mark the occasion of Rabbi Israel Zoberman’s 40th anniversary of his ordination, Senator Mark Warner will sponsor his delivery of the opening prayer at the U.S. Senate session on Thursday, Dec. 11. The session will be carried live on CSPAN.

Jewish actress Mila Kunis gave birth to a girl. The baby was born Sept. 30 at Cedars- Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The father is Kunis’ fiancee, actor Ashton Kutcher. Kunis said in interviews before her delivery that she would take a break from acting to be a...

On the occasion of his 40th anniversary in the rabbinate, Rabbi Israel Zoberman of Congregation Beth Chaverim, offered the opening prayer at the House of Representatives as the guest of Congressman Scott Riggell this past summer.