A Shabbat was clearly the right time to dedicate the new ark at Aviva Pembroke, the senior housing community now open at Pembroke Square in Virginia Beach.
Naval Officer and woodcrafter David Small was our Noah, creating the home for the same Torah that was in the chapel at Beth Sholom Home/Village for more than 40 years. Now it resides at Aviva, along with a growing number of Jewish men and women including Harold Smith who told me the service was “one of the best I’ve attended, very meaningful.”
Harold was among several in the community room on a recent Saturday morning as Cantor Elihu Flax, my son Danny (a newly minted Beth Sholom Village board nominee), his sons Niv and Shai, and yours truly led prayers and an interactive conversation about the 40 plus year journey that produced Aviva.
“We have always taken care of the needs of Jewish seniors including their desire to practice their faith,” said Larry Siegel, a past board chair who was instrumental in establishing a partnership with Pembroke Square Associates to create Aviva and its 153 apartments – mostly independent living units, but several also dedicated for assisted living and memory support residents.
“We will continue to do so here,” said current chair Jay Kossman, who with my wife Sara Jo, oversaw the construction of the ark with David Small. For that mitzvah, l gave those two the honor of the first ark opening.
During our impromptu dialogue, Larry, Jay, former chair Neil Friedman, and Cantor Flax, who managed religious affairs at Beth Sholom in College Park for 18 years and is now chaplain at Aviva, spoke about the respect that Aviva has for all faiths. In fact, Flax meets with residents twice a week and organizes programs and services with volunteers like my family and friends, including Ben Kozak, here this day, as he was many Shabbats at Beth Sholom.
“This was very ‘haimish’,” said Abby Friedman, “a very moving event for families, board members, residents, and the entire community.”
Most in attendance, including incoming chair Fay Silverman, either did aliyot or ark openings.
“I was thrilled that my brother Steve Berlin, who was in town from Charlotte, had one, too,” said active resident Arlene Owens.
We will continue having monthly Friday evening or Saturday morning services and invite anyone seeking a relaxing space with an ark, siddurs, tallitot, keepot, and a friendly “congregation” in the heart of Virginia Beach to join us. While there, see what Aviva has to offer or visit online at www.avivapembroke.com.
