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 For Tidewater Jewish Foundation, helping turn those ideas into reality is exactly why Community Impact Grants exist.

 Designed to strengthen Jewish life, the grants provide funding for projects and initiatives that create measurable impact throughout Jewish Tidewater. While many people associate grants with innovative new programs, Community Impact Grants support a broad range of needs, including special events, educational initiatives, collaborative programs, capital improvements, security enhancements, equipment purchases, and cultural experiences.

 Past grants have supported everything from community-wide concerts and Holocaust remembrance programs to Jewish cooking experiences, campus engagement initiatives, playground improvements, broadcasting technology, and security upgrades.

 “If a project has the potential to strengthen Jewish life and community, we want organizations to consider applying,” says Ann Swindell, TJF’s grants administrator.

 One of the biggest misconceptions, according to Swindell, is that organizations must navigate the grant process alone. “I want organizations to know they don’t have to figure it all out by themselves,” she says. “If you have an idea, a question, or you’re not sure whether a project qualifies, call me. I’d much rather have a conversation early and help strengthen an application than have someone miss an opportunity because they weren’t sure where to start. These grants exist to support our community, and my goal is to help organizations successfully move from idea to impact.”

 Over the years, Swindell has become a trusted resource for organizations throughout the application process, helping applicants think through project goals, measurable outcomes, budgets, timelines, and reporting requirements.

 “Community Impact Grants aren’t about creating hurdles,” she says. “They’re about helping organizations create meaningful impact. I want applicants to view me as a resource from the first conversation all the way through final reporting.”

 The current grant cycle closed July 10, but organizations that missed this deadline are encouraged to begin planning now for the next cycle, which opens November 15 and closes January 10, 2027.

Founded by Rabbi Michael G. Holzman, faith250 invites us to see this anniversary as an opportunity to “pause, come together, and recommit — across faiths and across differences — to the shared values that sustain our democracy.” For months, local clusters of congregations have come together to study sacred texts; that is, America’s sacred texts, among them the Declaration of Independence and The New Colossus. “This is not an academic exercise,” faith250’s website implores. “It is a moral and spiritual one. As you read and discuss these texts together, you will be asking: What do these words mean to me? What do they mean for our faith communities? What do they mean for us as Americans?”

One of the sacred texts identified by faith250 is America the Beautiful. Katherine Lee Bates, an English professor at Wellesley College, wrote the poem in 1893. She was traveling across the country that July, and she was moved by the physical beauty and the potential that she saw around her. Towards the end of her trip, Bates visited the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado. At the top of the mountain, beneath spacious skies and surrounded by purple mountain majesties, inspiration swelled and the words started coming to her. Bates descended the mountain and wrote the first draft of her poem in her hotel room that evening. Initially published with the title America: A Poem for July 4th, it was revised twice, and by 1911 it was the patriotic song that we all know.

There is so much that is beautiful about America, as Bates writes in her stirring verses. O beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain. We need only walk up the hill to the Presidio to see just a fraction of the immense natural beauty of this continent. The amber waves of grain refer to the beauty of the Great Plains, but also to the economic prosperity and potential that all of that farmland represents. 

O beautiful, for pilgrim feet. Our nation is a nation of immigrants – over the past 250 years, more than 100 million people have traveled across the wilderness to call America their home. The New York Times just published an interactive map of American ancestry, color-coded based on how people describe their backgrounds to the Census Bureau. The authors write, “There are nearly 200 unique identities represented; blend them – as 340 million Americans do – and we arrive at a jumbled, overlapping, story-filled infinity.” 

O beautiful, for heroes proved in liberating strife. Our founding fathers had a vision for a new kind of country, one grounded in democracy and the idea that all men are created equal. That vision has had profound implications for us, changing Jewish history forever. Rabbi Ethan Tucker writes, “America never demanded that Jews purchase equality at the price of their collective identity. For Jews, this country has never been an oppressive empire, nor is it a place that happens to be kind. It has simply been, in a completely unprecedented way, a country in which Jews are full and equal citizens.”

There is so much beauty in America. And, of course, there is so much that is ugly. It can be discordant to sing of America the Beautiful when we face the reality of our country today. There is enormous polarization in America, and deep fissures in our democracy and systems of government. There is hatred of all kinds: racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, antisemitism, and so many more, and sometimes it seems as though the hatred is growing every day. There is so much suffering in our country, and often instead of working to alleviate it, we turn the blame onto those who are suffering themselves.

I could go on and on about all that is ugly in America in 2026. But this ugliness was also present in Katherine Lee Bates’ America of 1893. Her lofty depiction of “America the Beautiful” is not an accurate image of the America of her time. However, Bates was not merely glossing over the ugliness she saw. She was transforming it.

Rabbi Stephanie Kolin of Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn visited Pikes Peak with her family last summer, and she shared her reflections on the site and Bates’ poem with her congregation on Yom Kippur. She writes, “It turns out that Katherine Lee Bates, in addition to being an obviously talented poet, was also a brilliant professor at Wellesley College. And she wrote for many newspapers, including the New York Times, advocating against the unjust treatment of women, the poor, people of color, and immigrants in her day. She was outraged, even activated, by human suffering in her present, but she also had a far-reaching gaze: 

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam 

Undimmed by human tears.  

This wasn’t a naive utopian account of the America that was. No, she was drawing up the blueprints for the America that could be.” 

America the Beautiful isn’t a relic, a song that captures a moment in this country’s history. It is a ballad that is meant to serve as a rallying cry, to call us into action to turn it into reality. The song’s refrain repeats, “America! America!” Rabbi Michael Holzman, the founder of faith250, writes: “Like the angel who called, ‘Abraham, Abraham,’ this song calls to us to wake up, repeating our name twice, and asking us to put down the knife hanging over the future’s neck… The angel may have to shout at us ‘America! America!’… so we can face the choices before us.”

As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American experiment, let’s celebrate all that is beautiful in America. I hope we also listen to the rallying cry: America! America! Let’s refocus our sight on what is not currently beautiful in our country today, but what can become beautiful. Then, let’s get to work on those blueprints that Katherine Lee Bates drew up for us. 

Rabbi Madeline T. Budman, Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco, California.

 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. 

Mazel Tov to all these graduates and their families!

Madeline “Maddie” Elyse Acosta 

Kempsville High School

Graduating with Highest Honors, Varsity Field Hockey All Region honorable mention

Next: Christopher Newport University majoring in Biology/Health Science

Maddie is the daughter of Alison and Bernard Acoste and granddaughter of Bonnie and Bob Rothschild.

Devon Olivia Parker-Ashe

Virginia Tech

Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Public Health

Next: Eastern Virginia Medical School, Class of 2030.

Devon is the daughter of Dr. Allison R. Ashe and the granddaughter of Michel and Marilyn Ashe.

Jamie Levin

Eastern Virginia Medical School 

Next: Internship at MCV in Richmond

Jamie is the daughter of Ted and Cindy Levin and the granddaughter of Pauline Levin and Gilbert Levin (of Blessed Memory).

Samantha Levin

Brown University 

Degree in Environmental Science Graduated with Honors and Phi Beta Kappa 

Next: Working for the City of New York. 

Samantha is the daughter of Drs. Lawrence and Marianne Levin and the granddaughter of Pauline Levin and Gilbert Levin (of blessed memory).

Evan Nied

University of Virginia 

M.S. in Commerce, with a concentration in Business Analytics.

Evan was a Jefferson Scholar.

Next: After traveling throughout Asia, Evan will move to New York City and work as a Strategy Analyst at JPMorgan Chase. 

Evan is the son of Emily and Joel Nied and grandson of Renee and Stephen Caplan and Thelma Nied.

Moriah Schranz

Maury High School

Next: Hevruta Gap Year Program in Israel and then Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

Moriah is the daughter of Craig and Joanna Schranz.

Erin Wainger 

Norfolk Academy

Next: University of Maryland 

Erin is the daughter of Jill and Brian Wainger and granddaughter of Kathy and Jerry Kantor and Patti and Jules Wainger. 

Caroline Wainger 

Norfolk Academy

Next: Tulane University 

Erin is the daughter of Jill and Brian Wainger and granddaughter of Kathy and Jerry Kantor and Patti and Jules Wainger. 

 “I love it here,” she says. “The people are so lovely, intelligent, well educated, well-traveled. Just really nice to be around.” 

 In fact, she says, “I’ve always loved Virginia. The first time I came here, I was nine years old. I visited Williamsburg.” 

 After a lifetime in Birmingham, Alabama, Luria and her husband, Herbert, moved to Tidewater approximately four years ago to be near their daughter, Elaine Luria, who had made Norfolk her home. Not long after the couple’s move – about a year later – her husband died following a long illness.  

Luria’s roots in Birmingham were deep – a city where she, along with her late husband and daughter, were all natives. There, she was extremely active in Jewish communal life, serving in leadership roles with organizations such as the National Council of Jewish Women. She was also involved in the arts, volunteering for decades at the Birmingham Museum of Art as a docent.  In addition, Luria was a Blue and Gold officer for the Naval Academy where she interviewed candidates and helped them through the application process. In fact, 25 of her candidates were accepted to the Naval Academy and all graduated.

 When she relocated, however, she says she was ready to step back. 

 “I had done so much volunteer work. I was ready to take a rest.” 

 In Norfolk, Jewish life looks different but is still familiar in feeling. She is a member of Ohef Sholom Temple and speaks warmly about the congregation and Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg. She attends services roughly once a month, often with neighbors, and occasionally joins Sisterhood events. 

 Much of her social life, however, is rooted in the broader community of where she lives, at Harbor’s Edge. She has also joined the American Friends of Lafayette and travelled to France, New Orleans and Richmond with the group.

 “I just talk to people,” she says. “That’s how I meet everyone.” 

 That ease of connection has become the foundation of her new life. She rarely eats alone, instead making daily plans with neighbors and friends. Jewish or not, she describes the community as deeply welcoming. 

 Looking back, she doesn’t hesitate when asked about the move. 

“It was definitely the right move for me,” she says. “There are so many wonderful things to do here – you can’t even imagine.” 

And, of course, it doesn’t hurt to have her daughter’s family – Elaine, Robert, and Violette – close by.

 Behind every statistic is a personal story; one of resilience, adaptation, love, and connection. While there is still much to learn about Alzheimer’s, researchers now know that changes in the brain associated with the disease can begin years before symptoms appear. For most families, however, the journey begins with subtle changes in memory, thinking or daily routines, prompting a search for answers and, ultimately, an opportunity to find support, resources, and community.

 That was the case for Linda Spindel, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease two years ago. Spindel speaks openly about her diagnosis and proudly shares the small victories that continue to bring her joy. 

 Losing her ability to drive has been the most difficult adjustment, Spindel says. Yet even that challenge is something she approaches with optimism. In a moment that perfectly captures her spirit, Spindel reflects on her diagnosis through the lens of driving: “It’s been a good ride.” While there are more red lights than she would like, she laughs and adds that she knows the road well. Her positivity is both inspiring and contagious.

 Spindel offers encouragement to others who are newly diagnosed. Rather than withdrawing from family, friends, or community support, she encourages people to focus on what they can still do rather than what they can no longer do. “I feel lucky,” she says, explaining that she is more intentional than ever about nurturing relationships and finding joy in everyday moments. 

 Her husband, Ron Spindel, says much of Linda’s positive outlook can be attributed to the support they have received from family and the broader community. In particular, he credits Marcia Futterman Brodie, founder of Marcia Trains, LLC, with helping them navigate this chapter of life by providing guidance, resources, encouragement, and understanding. For Brodie, this work is personal. “No one should have to walk this journey alone,” she says.

 That philosophy is shared by Beth Sholom Village, where leaders have witnessed how the support of caring professionals, friends, and loved ones can make a profound difference for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and the families who care for them, helping them find strength and connection along the way. To help meet these needs, Beth Sholom Village has earmarked funding for Jewish Family Service to launch an Alzheimer’s Café under Brodie’s guidance. The initiative will create opportunities for families to gather, share experiences, and find support in a welcoming environment, helping ensure that no one faces the journey in isolation.

 Spindel’s story serves as a powerful reminder that while Alzheimer’s disease may alter the road ahead, it does not diminish the importance of joy, purpose, or meaningful relationships. With the right support and a caring community, even the most challenging roads can be traveled with hope.

Lauren Krajesky, LNHA, CDP is Beth Sholom Village’s executive director.

 Does he get complaints from the sessions? “I invite my neighbors, they join us! Preventative medicine,” says Brosch.

 His love for jazz music started many years ago in Israel. Born in Haifa, Brosch took piano lessons as an adolescent and remembers one of his teachers, Mrs. Schall, a Hungarian woman who escaped Nazi Germany. Her husband, a jazz pianist, played for the British soldiers and would play songs when he picked up his wife. All the Things You Are by Ella Fitzgerald is the song that initially turned a young Brosch on to jazz. 

 Since retiring in 2005, playing music has become his focus, his mission, and his purpose. “I’m fighting to keep my music alive,” Brosch says.

For three years, Brosch played at Sentara Heart Hospital, Sentara Leigh Hospital, and Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital under the “Music and Medicine” initiative.  At one time, he also performed at places such as Westminster-Canterbury and Beth Sholom Village. One could imagine how effective it must be in raising the spirits of patients in the healing process. 

Today, Brosch accompanies other vocalists and plays frequently in hotels and casinos such as The Rivers Casino in Portsmouth and Varia Italian Restaurant at the Hilton Main Hotel. He is often seen alongside vocalists Danielle Roby and Frank Cubillo of Frank Sings Frank. Although playing jazz is his passion, it’s not the only reason he does it. 

 At his self-proclaimed “89 years plus,” the active retiree tries to stay busy and believes that it is the key to a long, happy life. He works out three days a week via Silver Sneakers and rides his bike to run errands at least twice a week. A main concern for him is that so many adults do not have a plan to stay active after retirement. 

 “Pick something you enjoy, that belongs to you, and plan for it. Try to be the best you can be.” 

 Brosch is a member of the JCC Senior Club and attends Roundtable Conversations. To keep the brain active, “keep researching and learning. Surround yourself with younger people and be involved,” he says.

For information on senior activities at the Sandler Family Campus or to learn about a Gad Brosch future performance, contact Sarah Cooper at scooper@ujft.org. 

 One of the first conversations every family should have is about when additional support may be beneficial. Whether it’s help with daily activities, medication management, or simply the desire for greater social connection, understanding the differences between independent living, assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing can make future decisions less stressful.

 Another important discussion centers on financial planning. Many families have questions about how to pay for senior living, whether selling a home is necessary, what resources may be available, and how to prepare financially for the years ahead. Having these conversations early can help families make thoughtful decisions rather than rushed ones.

 Families should also discuss estate planning and legal documents. Ensuring wills, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, and other essential documents are up to date provides peace of mind and helps loved ones honor an individual’s wishes.

 Finally, understanding Medicare and insurance options can be invaluable. Navigating healthcare coverage can be confusing, and learning about available benefits before they are needed helps families make informed choices with confidence.

 Jewish tradition teaches the importance of honoring elders with dignity, compassion, and respect. Planning ahead reflects these values by ensuring older adults remain at the center of decisions about their own care and future.

 Whether personal planning or helping a loved one, starting the conversation today can make tomorrow’s decisions easier.

Ashley Harris BS, CTRS, CDP, is director of community relations at Village at Maimonides Health Center of Virginia Beach.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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