The images stayed with him until he decided he needed to be a part of the efforts. By 4 am on Thursday, Sept. 13, he had left a note for his parents and was on the road, driving north to New York.

When he arrived at Ground Zero, the scene was unlike anything he had imagined. “It was very loud,” he recalls. “Generators, steam, people, vehicles, dozens of cranes.”

The rubble pile rose from street level in places to roughly 75 feet high. Steel beams that formed the basic framework of the towers – massive pieces of solid steel, roughly a foot square – had been twisted and bent, like copper wire. And then there was the smell.

“The entire area smelled like someone lit a stack of newspaper and doused it with formaldehyde.”

At times, he could see glowing red steel deep inside the pile. Flames remained visible in nearby buildings and in portions of the rubble that rescuers could not reach.

Standing on Church Street, about 25 feet from where one of the towers had just been, he looked at the remains. The buildings had fallen “cleanly and eerily on top of themselves.”

But the scale of destruction was not of concern at this point – Ashe, and many other volunteers, were thinking about the possibility that someone might still be alive amongst the rubble.

“It truly felt like SAR,” he says, referring to search and rescue. “We all had that urgency.” Ultimately, though, the group discovered human remains, and calls moved down the line for medical personnel to come take control.

“It felt very sudden and sad and it temporarily sapped us,” he says. “I had truly thought we were going to find people we could help.”

The mission continued, though, as the nature of the work became clearer. Ashe points to his Jewish background as the driving force behind his determination to help, no matter how grim the situation turned out to be.

“Jews ignore religion and ignore danger when help is needed,” he says. “We take action and we care for others. That’s the mindset of Judaism.” And the threat of danger was imminent.

Three blasts from a horn meant falling debris was coming and everyone should take cover. At first, people tried to move when they heard the signal. But the debris was so extensive and movement through the site so slow that they quickly realized there was often nowhere to run.

In one instance, Ashe says he heard a sound like a cannon – which he later identified to be a large piece of glass falling from one of the buildings near the Millennium Hilton. The sound startled everyone, and then the three horn blasts came.

Nobody moved or spoke; instead, they just looked at one another and waited.

“We seemed to communicate that we were ready to help if anyone was hit by something,” Ashe says.

That said, the lasting memory of those days for Ashe isn’t pain, but gratitude. The work at Ground Zero was dark and sad. Volunteers came face to face with death, destruction and danger at a scale few people can comprehend – but in spite of it, he was just grateful to be there.

“I think every person in America wanted to take some tangible action,” he says. “And I was fortunate to have that opportunity.”

For Jennie Tabakin, a pediatrician and mother to Rivka, 6, and Ben, 8, talking through hard topics with kids is second nature professionally — but she credits her children’s Jewish day school with getting the holiday conversations started in the first place.

“It was a huge help for them to go to Strelitz (International Academy) because the conversation started there, and then it is easier to continue at home,” Tabakin says. PJ Library books, she says, help open the door further, and everyday sibling squabbles — Rivka and Ben “love each other fiercely and fight just as fiercely” — have taught the kids what it means to ask for forgiveness.

The family doesn’t have the kids fast, but a Break Fast hosted by their grandmother is the day’s anchor. This year, Tabakin is considering a different challenge — giving up something other than food for the 25 hours, such as phones.

“Honestly, in 2026 it’s probably harder for many to give up screens than food,” she says.

The family attends services at Temple Emanuel, which Tabakin describes as family-friendly, and pushes back on the idea that services are too serious for young kids.

“Without children, there’s no future in Judaism,” she says. “It’s super important to include them, even if it’s with adaptations and games.”

Not every question at home has an easy answer. A few years ago, her son asked whether Jonah was really swallowed by a whale — sparking a conversation about how adults themselves don’t always agree on whether the story happened literally or was meant to teach a lesson.

For Nina Kruger, teaching Yom Kippur to her son, Liam, now 10, has evolved over the years. When he was younger, she explained it simply, as a time to “say our sorries.” As Liam has grown, the conversation has deepened.

“We talk about Yom Kippur as an opportunity for reflection — a chance to look back on the past year, recognize where we can do better, and make a commitment to grow,” Kruger says. The family focuses on learning and accountability rather than dwelling on mistakes — values reinforced by Kruger, her partner, Darin, and Liam’s grandfather, Pop Pop.

Liam isn’t yet required to fast, but each year he chooses to challenge himself, going a little longer than the year before — a milestone he’s proud to share with his father in Arizona.

One family tradition carries the holiday’s spirit well beyond the day itself: a nightly “Dark, Light, and Sparkle,” where each person shares something that didn’t go well, something positive, and something to improve tomorrow.

“It encourages us to slow down, reflect honestly, celebrate growth, and set intentions for becoming better each day — and ultimately, better each year,” Kruger says.

The family also finds meaning in Kol Nidre, a service Kruger calls one of the most moving of the year — “gathering in shul with family, friends, and community members, all united in prayer, reflection, and hope for the year ahead.”

Kruger says Liam often surprises her by apologizing for things she wouldn’t consider worthy of an apology — sometimes even on behalf of people who he feels may have wronged her. Looking ahead, she hopes the holiday’s values of reflection, accountability, and compassion become a lasting part of who he is.

For Amy Weinstein, mother to Avi, 11, and Daniella, 9, Yom Kippur centers on services at Ohef Sholom Temple, where kid-friendly, clergy-led family services use storytelling to convey the holiday’s meaning. But for her family, the heart of the day is what comes after: the meal that breaks the fast.

Ten years ago, with a toddler at home and invitations to Break Fast gatherings starting too late in the evening, Weinstein and her husband , Eliot, decided to host their own — building a new tradition with friends who, like them, hadn’t grown up in Tidewater. They started with six families, including their own.

A decade later, the gathering has grown to more than 15 families, including friends who did grow up locally and Weinstein’s own parents, who later retired to Tidewater. The kids in the group have grown up together — the oldest is now a high school senior.

The evening leans non-traditional: arts and crafts, and s’mores once it gets dark. Weinstein’s youngest even took her first steps at Break the Fast in 2019.

“We’ve realized that we want to make sure that our kids and our friends’ kids are making core memories around the High Holidays,” Weinstein says. “Yom Kippur may seem like a strange choice for something that seems so celebratory, but we’re really just interested in creating community.”

For some guests, it’s become the most consistent holiday plan they have every year — “and we are honored by that,” Weinstein says. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

 Throughout the summer, I watched children playing and relishing their time at Camp JCC. 

 Over the past year, I have seen my own two teenagers strengthen their Jewish identities and friendships through Tidewater BBYO. I have watched our BBYO teens connect with hundreds of peers at regional conventions and thousands more at the BBYO International Convention in Philadelphia.

  I have seen our Tidewater Maccabi Team compete alongside thousands of Jewish teens from around the world at the Maccabi Games in Toronto, where Team Virginia Beach proudly brought home a gold medal in basketball! 

 I have seen Jewish Family Service of Tidewater volunteers package food for families in need during the holidays. 

 I have seen students in our Jewish day schools and synagogue religious schools mark milestones ranging from the first and last days of school to Confirmation ceremonies to graduations.

 I have witnessed the impact of our community’s generosity around the world. Earlier this year, participants on our Women’s Mission to Argentina visited JDC programs, the ORT school, and numerous other programs supported by the dollars we raise each year through our Annual Community Campaign.

 I have also witnessed the challenges we continue to face. Antisemitism remains a grim reality.  Acts of hatred impact us all, whether near or far, and require increased security measures to protect our Jewish community.

 And truly, these are only a few examples of the wide-ranging activities, programs, and challenges that take place and/or emanate from Jewish Tidewater. The story of our community is far larger. We are an extraordinary and caring community that, year after year, generously supports the Annual Community Campaign, enabling our Federation to allocate these funds to support, grow, protect, and sustain Jewish life in Tidewater and around the globe.

 For that, you should be proud. Proud of the strength, resilience, and commitment that define Jewish Tidewater. Proud of what we have accomplished together. And committed to helping secure our future for generations to come.

May 5787 bring us renewed opportunities to strengthen and protect Jewish life in Tidewater and across the Jewish world.

From my family to yours, L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu.

Betty Ann Levin is executive vice president/CEO of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family Jewish Community Center.

 Ahead of the visit, VBPD’s Community Liaison Unit, along with the 2nd Precinct’s sergeant and officers, met with synagogue leadership for an introductory conversation and walkthrough of Temple Emanuel and its education building. The meeting provided an opportunity to build relationships, discuss challenges and opportunities, and familiarize officers with the facility, recognizing that it is far better to become familiar with a property before an emergency than during one.

 “The strength of Virginia Beach lies in our ability to foster deep, meaningful collaborations between the police department, our citizens, and our faith-based communities,” says Chief Paul W. Neudigate. “When law enforcement joins hands with the people we serve and the spiritual leaders who guide our neighborhoods, we create an unbreakable network of support and communication.”

 The meetings underscored the importance of strong partnerships between law enforcement and faith communities. Participants discussed the Jewish community’s unique needs while identifying opportunities to strengthen communication, collaboration, and ongoing security and preparedness efforts.

 “United Jewish Federation of Tidewater is grateful to Chief Neudigate, his leadership team, Captain Gordon and the officers of the 2nd Precinct, and Captain Gervin and the officers of the 4th Precinct, where the Sandler Family Campus is located, and the Virginia Beach Police Department as a whole for their partnership and commitment to helping ensure the safety, security, and well-being of the Jewish community,” says Betty Ann Levin, UJFT’s executive vice president/CEO.

 Secure Community Network trainings and services are offered at no cost thanks to the generosity of donors to United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. The support helps ensure every Jewish organization has access to expert security resources, regardless of size or budget. To help sustain this important work, please consider donating to UJFT’s Annual Campaign.

To learn more about SCN, visit JewishVA.org/SCN or email Mike Goldsmith at mgoldsmith@securecommunitynetwork.org.

 In a special surprise, the Virginia Beach Police Department also greeted students outside the building to wish them a wonderful school year. Children—and even some parents—were all smiles chatting with the officers. 

 For SIA, the start of the school year coincided with some fun and positive news: Strelitz International Academy was voted Best Daycare, Best Child Development Center, and Best Private School in Virginia Beach in the 2026 Best of Virginia Media contest. 

 Looking past the first week of school, SIA has a jam-packed year planned, in addition to the learning, growing, and excitment happening in the classrooms. Parent Night, the 38th Annual Bob Josephberg Classic Golf Tournament at Virginia Beach National on Wednesday, September 2, and the 4th Annual SIA Fall Festival on October 25, among other events. 

Interested in learning what makes SIA award-winning? Schedule a personalized tour by contacting Ally St. Pierre, 

 Margaret Sawyer and Alice Titus, co-chairs of Ohef Sholom Temple’s archives, along with their team, spend hours each week exploring and preserving documents, photographs, and oral histories that chronicle nearly two centuries of Jewish life in Tidewater. 

 Both women devote their Wednesdays to the temple’s archives as volunteers. Their motivation is simple.

 “American Jewish history sometimes gets omitted,” says Titus. “Sometimes it’s because people don’t know it. Sometimes it’s because they choose other things to focus on.”

 While researching local stories, Titus was struck by how often Jewish contributions appeared only in passing. “You pick up older histories of Norfolk and Tidewater, and they only sometimes mention a Jewish person. They only sometimes mention a Jewish congregation,” she says. 

 OST’s archives provide a fuller picture of the region’s development by documenting the civic, cultural, and philanthropic roles Jewish residents have played throughout Tidewater’s history. 

 “We’re collecting things that have not been published or mass circulated,” Titus explains. Unlike a library, which houses published materials that can often be found elsewhere, archives preserve unique historical records.

 The work is meticulous, but it often leads to unexpected discoveries. Volunteers spend hours cataloging documents, rehousing materials in archival folders, and learning the stories behind each collection.

 Researchers, filmmakers, authors, and family members regularly turn to Ohef Sholom’s archives for assistance. For example, the archives supported research into the SS Quanza, a ship carrying Holocaust refugees back to Europe that had to stop for coal in Norfolk in 1940. Records preserved in the archives documented the efforts of local Jewish leaders who advocated for the passengers. 

  “I don’t think there’s ever a Wednesday that somebody doesn’t have an ‘aha’ moment,” Sawyer says of the archives’ team’s regular meeting time. “All of a sudden something jumps out at you.”

 In addition to preserving historical records, the archives also connects families to their own history.

 One day, while sorting through family records, Sawyer found handwritten notes created decades earlier by a congregant who had passed away, but whose family still belonged to the temple. She made copies and passed them along to the woman’s granddaughter. 

 “She was in tears,” Sawyer recalls.

 In another particularly meaningful case, the archives provided documentation that helped establish a deceased woman’s Jewish identity, allowing her to be buried in a Jewish cemetery in New York City.

 Those moments transform routine archival work into something more personal, offering glimpses into lives that might otherwise be overlooked.

 Among the collection’s most valuable holdings are more than 40 oral history interviews, preserving the voices and experiences of community members.

Titus and the other volunteers also offer educational programs and presentations highlighting the archives’ collection and efforts. 

 For Sawyer and Titus, preserving history is about more than organizing old documents. It is about ensuring that future generations inherit stories and hear the voices that shaped Jewish life in Tidewater.

 More than a meeting, the occasion was a celebration of JFS’s decades-long commitment to caring for individuals and families across Hampton Roads through the enduring Jewish values of chesed (loving kindness), tzedakah (justice through giving), and tikkun olam (repairing the world).

 One of the meeting’s highlights was the installation of Steve Brown as the new president of the JFS board of directors. Brown will serve a two-year term, helping guide the organization as it continues to meet the changing needs of the community with compassion and dignity. The organization also recognized Stephanie Peck, outgoing board president, for her dedication and leadership. Peck served as president from April 2024 through June 2026, and her commitment helped strengthen JFS’s mission of serving others with respect, responsibility, and heart.

 Kelly Burroughs, JFS CEO, presented the Distinguished Community Service Award to Lawrence Steingold in recognition of his many years of dedicated service to Jewish Family Service. Steingold has served as a board member, board president, and treasurer. His leadership reflects the Jewish principle of avodah, sacred work done in service of others. Steingold’s long-standing commitment has helped JFS grow, adapt, and continue providing care to people who need it most.

 The Distinguished Community Partner Award was presented to St. Stephen Martyr Catholic Church for its generosity and dedication to clients in the Public Adult Guardianship program. Each Christmas, members of the church ensure that every client receives a thoughtful gift, reminding them that they are remembered and cared for during the holiday season. This partnership is an example of neighbors coming together across faith traditions to uphold the shared values of dignity, compassion, and care for the vulnerable.

 Rabbi Pinchas Zimmer shared an inspiring D’var Torah, offering words that connected the day’s celebration to the deeper responsibility of community: to see one another, to care for one another, and to pass that responsibility from one generation to the next. 

 Guests enjoyed a delicious Mediterranean lunch catered by Charlie’s Mediterranean.

 Over the past year, JFS has continued to make a difference throughout Hampton Roads. In 2025, JFS provided 362 medical transports for seniors, delivered 7,458 meals to homebound individuals, assisted 346 Jewish individuals with food and financial support, delivered 984 holiday gifts to seniors, and provided court-appointed guardianship services to 1,333 adults. Behind each number is a person, a family, and a moment when help arrived with dignity. Together, these services reflect not only a year of impact, but a legacy built over decades of showing up for the community in times of need, transition, celebration, and uncertainty.

 One of the most meaningful parts of the afternoon was seeing so many generations of the JFS family together in one place. Former leaders, current board members, staff, volunteers, donors, and long-term supporters gathered to honor the organization’s past while looking toward its future. Their presence reflected the Jewish value of l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation, reminding everyone that the work of JFS is both an inheritance and a promise: to preserve what has been built, to strengthen what is needed today, and to ensure that compassionate care continues for generations to come.

 The Biennial Meeting was a celebration of leadership, service, and community, as well as a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helps Jewish Family Service continue making a difference every day. For decades, JFS has stood as a trusted source of support, compassion, and practical assistance. Guided by Jewish values and sustained by the dedication of its community, JFS will continue to provide care, dignity, and hope for individuals and families now and for generations to come.

Julie Kievit is Jewish Community Services manager at Jewish Family Service.

 Jewish life in Tidewater is built on connection, community, and caring for one another. Whether someone has lived in the area for decades or is new to the area, there are countless ways to become part of something bigger than oneself.

 One can celebrate a holiday with friends, visit the Simon Family JCC, support a local Jewish organization, cheer on a community fundraiser, attend the Viginia Festival of Jewish Film, or spend time getting to know someone from a different generation. This list could go on forever.

 But wait, there’s something else to add to the list. Become a BeAR mentor.

 For one hour each week during the school year, BeAR volunteers read with second graders in local Title I schools. It sounds simple, but that hour becomes something special. Children build confidence, discover the joy of reading, and know that someone believes in them. Mentors leave with something too, a sense of purpose, new friendships, and the satisfaction of knowing they’re helping shape the future of the community.

 There’s a reason Judaism places such value on caring for others. Communities don’t become strong by accident. They become strong because ordinary people choose to show up for each other.

 As the new school year approaches, BeAR seeks caring adults in Norfolk and Virginia Beach who are ready to make a difference – one child and one hour at a time.

 The next chapter starts soon, and there’s always room for one more person to help write it.

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

 Rooted in the traditions of Chabad, Brashevitzky has spent her career helping children, families, and educators in Tidewater discover Judaism as a living, relevant, and personal tradition. 

 Brashevitzky’s story begins with her upbringing at Chabad of Tidewater, where Jewish education was a way of life. From an early age, she was taught the importance of sharing Jewish learning with others, a value that became foundational to her approach as an educator and leader. 

 Even as a child, she stepped naturally into leadership, running youth Shabbat groups and engaging other children in Jewish life. By 19, she was teaching full-time. Her early involvement evolved into a lifelong calling. 

 Brashevitzky’s current role as Judaic Studies director at Strelitz International Academy came after she began raising her family with her husband, Rabbi Levi Brashevitzky. When her third and youngest child was in kindergarten, Brashevitzky says she embraced a leadership opportunity, describing it as the beginning of a new chapter in her professional and communal life. 

 Emphasizing that Jewish tradition is not static, but alive, Brashevitzky’s view, which is shaped by Chassidic tradition, is that the Torah speaks across generations, offering wisdom for experiences and challenges that remain part of the human experience. 

 In today’s world, Brashevitzky sees Jewish education as both grounding and essential. As young Jews encounter a wide range of identities and influences, she believes Jewish learning provides continuity and connection. She also acknowledges that Jewish community feels especially meaningful during a time of increased antisemitism. 

“When the world is scary,” she says, “Jewish education feels like coming home.” 

 Outside the classroom, Brashevitzky’s work at Chabad of Tidewater reflects that same philosophy. Together with her family, she welcomes Shabbat guests from across the community and around the world, designs engaging holiday programs, and leads a women’s personal growth group rooted in Jewish wisdom. 

 Brashevitzky’s commitment to building community among parents, staff, and families shaped her decision to pursue a Master of Social Work, which she sees as a natural extension of her work. At Chabad of Tidewater, she assists with everything from pastoral counseling and grief support to addressing food insecurity and connecting individuals with needed resources. 

 Her perspective reflects a broader philosophy that Jewish values and social-emotional health are inseparable. Caring for others, sharing what one has, and taking responsibility for one another are central expressions of Jewish teaching, while emotional and spiritual wellbeing must be considered together. 

 When reflecting on the people who shaped her path, Brashevitzky points to her parents, Rabbi Aron and Rychel Margolin, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe as central influences. 

 “The Rebbe was a big part of my universe as a child, but something I’ve chosen as an adult,” she says. 

 Being recognized as an Outstanding Jewish American in Tidewater, she says, is both humbling and meaningful. 

 “It is pretty cool. I am really touched and honored that someone would think of me. It is nice to know that when you work really hard, the impact is seen. I pride myself on being inclusive, and I am so happy that was recognized.” 

  Through classrooms, family engagement, and community life in Tidewater, Brashevitzky continues to advance a vision of Jewish education that is accessible, connected, and alive—one rooted not only in teaching tradition, but in helping people see themselves within it. 

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.