Jewish News March 2, 2026 Edition

In JFNA’s first ‘State of the Jewish Union’ address, security and antisemitism loom large

Grace Gilson

(JTA) — Speaking from Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Feb. 19, the president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, Eric Fingerhut, laid out his assessment of the state of Jewish life in America.

“The state of the Jewish union in America is strong, but it is being tested,” said Fingerhut. “We are united in our commitment to America and to Jewish life, even as we worry about the real threats of violence and the growing acceptance of antisemitic rhetoric.”

During his remarks, which was billed as JFNA’s inaugural “State of the Jewish Union” address ahead of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address the following week, Fingerhut issued six recommendations to Congress which centered on increasing security for Jewish communities.

They included providing federal support for security personnel, expanding FBI capabilities to counter domestic terrorism, increasing support for local and state law enforcement, prosecuting hate crimes aggressively, and holding social media companies accountable for amplifying antisemitic rhetoric.

“Jewish children and teens are facing growing risks online, including antisemitic harassment, bullying, and extremist content,” said Fingerhut. “We recognize the difficulty of legislating in this field, but states are moving forward, and it’s time for Congress to move forward as well.”

Fingerhut also called on Congress to increase funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $1 billion annually, and “make the program more flexible and simpler to use.” (This year,

the program is requiring recipients to support federal immigration enforcement and avoid programs advancing diversity, raising concern among many Jewish groups, including JFNA.)

At the beginning of his address, Fingerhut also emphasized the ties between the American Jewish community and Israel, which have come under scrutiny since JFNA published a survey last month which found that only one-third of American Jews say they identify as Zionist.

“The focus of today’s talk will be about the state of Jews in America, but it is not possible to have that conversation without acknowledging and addressing the emotional, familial, and religious connection between the American Jewish community and the people of Israel,” said Fingerhut.

Fingerhut’s remarks come shortly after Bret Stephens, the right-leaning Jewish New York Times columnist, argued during his 92NY’s annual “The State of World Jewry” speech that groups devoted to combating antisemitism, including the Anti-Defamation League, should abandon their strategy and instead focus on bolstering Jewish education and communal infrastructure.

During Fingerhut’s address, which largely centered on the security burdens placed on Jewish communities and concern for changes to social services funding, he also pivoted to a broader vision of Jewish life beyond the need for protection alone.

“It is important for the Congress to know that Jewish life is not only what we are protecting, but what we are building,” said Fingerhut. “It is Jewish education and Jewish experiences, but it is also human services, dignity, and belonging.”

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US soldier who protected Jews in POW camp during WWII to be awarded Medal of Honor

An American soldier who is credited with saving the lives of 200 Jewish comrades in a prisoner of war camp in Germany during World War II will receive the U.S. military’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

The award to Roddie Edmonds, who died in 1985, comes more than a decade after Israel’s Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem, recognized him as a “Righteous Among the Nations” for his bravery and six years after President Donald Trump recounted his heroism during a Veterans Day parade.

Edmonds, a sergeant from Knoxville, Tennessee, was the highest-ranking soldier among a group taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge when the Nazis asked him to identify the Jews in the group. Understanding that anyone he identified would likely be killed, Edmonds made the decision to have all the soldiers present themselves as Jews.

When a Nazi challenged him, he famously proclaimed: “We are all Jews here!”

The show of solidarity came to light only after Edmonds’ death, when a Jewish man who had been among the soldiers at the camp shared his recollection with the New York Times as part of an unrelated 2008 story about his decision to sell a New York City townhouse to Richard Nixon when Nixon was having trouble buying an apartment following his resignation as president.

When they found the article several years later, it was the first that Edmonds’ family had heard about the incident. Soon they were traveling to Washington, D.C., and Israel for ceremonies honoring Edmonds, one of only five Americans to be credited as Righteous Among the Nations, an honor bestowed by Israel on non-Jews who aided Jews during the Holocaust.

As the family campaigned for a Medal of Honor, Edmonds was also the recipient of bipartisan praise from two American presidents.

“I cannot imagine a greater expression of Christianity than to say, I, too, am a Jew,” President Barack Obama said during remarks at the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2016.

Three years later, President Donald Trump recounted the story at the New York City Veterans Day Parade. “That’s something,” he said. “Master Sergeant Edmonds saved 200 Jewish-Americans — soldiers that day.” (JTA)

Hugh Laurie rejects ‘Zionist’ label after tribute to Israeli Tehran producer

British actor Hugh Laurie pushed back against being labeled as a “Zionist” after facing a wave of online criticism for posting a tribute to the Israeli producer of the hit television show Tehran

“Dana Eden, who co-created and produced Tehran, died on Sunday, seemingly by her own hand,” Laurie, who played a nuclear inspector in the show’s third season, tweeted last month. “It’s a terrible thing. She was brilliant, and funny, and an exceptional leader.

Love and condolences to all who knew her.”

The seemingly innocuous post eulogizing Eden, 52, who was found dead while filming the latest season of the hit Apple TV+ series in Athens, quickly drew a volley of backlash on social media.

“She was part of the occupation force’s propaganda arm,” wrote one user in response to Laurie’s post. “What a shame, didn’t expect you to be a closet Zionist.” Another wrote that Eden “creates propaganda for Israel so that they can kill kids more effectively. People should have no sympathy for her.”

The award-winning series, which follows a young Israeli Mossad agent in Iran, was produced by the Israeli public broadcaster Kan and purchased by Apple TV+ in 2020 for roughly $20 million. Eden’s death, for which no cause has been announced, occurred during production of the show’s fourth season, which had already stalled following Oct. 7.

Laurie is not the first actor to spurn the “Zionist” label, as entertainers in recent years have increasingly faced pressure to declare their views on Israel. In December, Jewish actress Odessa A’zion pushed back on claims she was a Zionist after an image of her wearing an IDF shirt as a teenager circulated online.

“Nothing I have ever said or done could lead a sane person to believe that I am a Zionist,” wrote Laurie in a post on X. “However. If someone exults in the death of a friend of mine, yes I will block them. If you wouldn’t do the same in my position, you can f—ck off too.”

Laurie’s subsequent post also drew outcry, but this time from pro-Israel influencers who lamented the actor’s disavowal of the Zionist label, calling him “weak” and a “pathetic weasel.”

“God almighty, why does no one understand English anymore?” wrote Laurie. “I have not spoken or written a word that would indicate pro or anti Zionism. That’s what those words mean. Blimey.” (JTA)

Vanderbilt: Math question about Israeli occupation draws criticism

Vanderbilt University has launched an inquiry into a mathematics lecturer whose classroom exercise about Palestinian territory drew criticism from the activist group StopAntisemitism.

Tekin Karadag, a senior lecturer at the university’s department of mathematics, drew the ire of the antisemitism watchdog after it obtained a slide from one of his lectures that used a pro-Palestinian protest slogan and suggested that Israel was shrinking the Palestinian territory.

“Assume Palestine as a state with a rectangular land shape. There is the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the Jordan River on the east,” read the slide. “From the river to the sea, Palestine (…) was approximately 100 km. in 1946. The land decreases by 250 sq. km per year, due to the occupation by Israel. How fast is the width of the land decreasing now?”

Karadag, a Turkish national who received his PhD from Texas A&M University in 2021, included the question under “examples related to the popular issues” in a survey of calculus class, according to StopAntisemitism, which wrote in a post on X that Karadag was “bringing his anti-Israel, antisemitic bias into his classroom.”

In a statement, Vanderbilt said that the content had been removed and that an inquiry had been launched into Karadag.

“The university has received reports alleging a member of the faculty engaged in unprofessional conduct related to content shared during course instruction,” the school said. “The content in question has been removed, and a formal inquiry has been initiated consistent with relevant university policy.”

The inquiry was not the first time that Vanderbilt took swift action against the expression of proPalestinian sentiments on its campus.

In March 2024, the university, which has roughly 1,100 Jewish undergraduate students, was among the first universities to expel students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. This year, the school’s antisemitism “grade” from the Anti-Defamation League was bumped up from a “C” to an “A.” (JTA)

Homeland Security hires social media manager whose posts raised alarm for promoting ‘white-nationalist rhetoric’

The Department of Homeland Security has hired a new digital communications director whose social media content for the Labor Department reportedly raised alarm bells inside the department and beyond for promoting white supremacist rhetoric.

Peyton Rollins began his new role at Homeland Security last month, The New York Times reported.

Rollins, 21, has been identified as the staffer responsible for posts at the Labor Department that have been decried as making veiled antisemitic and racist allusions. He also claimed credit for a large banner of President Donald Trump’s face that was hung from the Labor Department’s headquarters, which its critics said echoed fascist stylings.

During Rollins’ time at the Labor Department, its social media pages have featured a range of slogans including “the globalist status quo is OVER,” “PATRIOTISM, NOT GLOBALISM” and “Patriotism will Prevail. America First. Always,” which featured an image of an American flag with 11 stars, the number that appeared on some Confederate flags.

One post on X in November, which featured the phrase “Americanism Will Prevail,” spurred hundreds of negative comments because it appeared to use the same typeface used on the original cover of Mein Kampf.

In his new role, Rollins will oversee the Homeland Security social media accounts, including its X account which has been accused of tweeting antisemitic dog whistles. (JTA)

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OPINION

What Purim teaches us about surviving — and even thriving — under authoritarianism

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Rabbi Mike Moskowitz (JTA) — Purim is not only a celebration of Jewish survival. It is a political handbook.

The Book of Esther reads less like ancient folklore and more like a case study in how to endure — and outmaneuver — authoritarian power. It is a story about fear, propaganda, strongman politics, and the dangerous illusion that silence will keep us safe.

When Mordecai urges Queen Esther to confront the king, she hesitates. She understands the threat. She sees the injustice. But she is afraid. Speaking out could cost her status, safety — even her life. Silence feels

safer. Familiar. Rational.

Mordecai’s reply cuts through the comfort of quiet compliance:

“If you keep silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will come from another place — but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows? Perhaps you have attained this royal position for just such a crisis.”

His message is bracing. Privilege is not protection. In an unjust system, no one is truly insulated. The question is not whether history will move. It is whether we will move it.

Haman, the regime’s xenophobein-chief, persuades King Ahasuerus to legalize genocide with a bribe and a narrative. He describes the Jews as “a

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certain people, scattered and dispersed.” Outsiders. A threat to stability. Different. Dangerous.

The decree is chillingly bureaucratic: destroy, massacre, exterminate — men, women, children — and plunder their property. Authoritarianism rarely begins with chaos; it begins with paperwork.

But Haman misreads what he sees.

“Am echad” — he calls them one people, intending it as an accusation. Yet the phrase carries another meaning: a unified people. What he labels as vulnerability becomes a protective strength. What he frames as difference becomes a solidarity of holiness.

Esther’s answer to the decree is not despair. It is organization: “Go, gather everyone together.”

banquets, the performative masculinity. It reminds us that authoritarian pageantry is designed to inspire obedience and nationalist fervor, not moral clarity.

And then it does something radical. It commands joy.

Purim reminds us that authoritarian pageantry is designed to inspire obedience and nationalist fervor, not moral clarity.

Autocracy depends on fragmentation. Resistance begins with connection and grows by reinforcing them.

King Ahasuerus, meanwhile, embodies the fragility of the infallible strongman. When he regrets his decision, he refuses to revoke it. An edict sealed with the king’s signet ring, he insists, cannot be undone. Rather than admit error, he issues a second decree allowing Jews to defend themselves.

The result? Preventable bloodshed. Seventy-five thousand dead. Pride proves deadlier than policy.

Purim does not romanticize power. It exposes its absurdity — the gaudy displays of wealth, the drunken

We are instructed to celebrate, to send gifts to one another, and to give to the poor. These are not sentimental rituals. They are social strategies. Joy builds resilience. Generosity builds trust. Mutual aid builds networks that outlast regimes. Where authoritarianism thrives on isolation and fear, Purim insists on community and courage.

The story’s lesson is neither naïve nor partisan. It is enduring: Silence does not save us. Unity does. Power rooted in cruelty collapses. Power rooted in collective responsibility endures.

Esther stepped forward not because she was fearless, but because she understood that fear could not be her master.

Perhaps that is the deepest teaching of Purim: We are alive in this moment for a reason. History has placed us here. The question is whether we will gather, speak, give, love — and choose joy — together.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA, its parent company, 70 Faces Media, Jewish News, or United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.

Mike Goldsmith shares security expertise with community

Philip Liebman

After 35 years of service on the Norfolk Police Department fighting crime as a police officer, advancing through the ranks to become Norfolk’s Chief of Police, then on to a second career as an Assistant City Manager for Norfolk, Mike Goldsmith was more than entitled to retire and spend his days fishing, traveling, or enjoying a quiet life of leisure with friends and family. But that’s just not what he had in mind.

After retiring from an exciting and successful career of service, Goldsmith decided to put his special experiences, knowledge, and skills back to work and joined Secure Community Network as the local Regional Security Advisor. SCN is supported in Tidewater by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.

financial information.

The audience was intensely interested in Goldsmith’s discussion about personal security. He urges use of the RUN-HIDEFIGHT strategy. When a threat appears, try to run away from it as fast and far as possible – a proven method to greatly improve chances for survival and avoid injury. If there is no way to run, then find the best possible place to hide. And finally, if unable to hide, fight back – but only as a last resort.

SCN is a nationwide organization focused on providing online and personal security for Jewish communities using the latest methods, analysis, and technology available. It consults with local synagogues and Jewish organizations, and coordinates with local, state, and federal law enforcement to fight acts of antisemitism and terrorism. The organization’s role recently expanded to include protection of Christian houses of worship that have now also come under attack.

In February, Goldsmith was invited to attend the Suburban Acres Civic League in Norfolk to share several suggestions on safety and security. For online financial security, for example, Goldsmith spoke about how to avoid risks of having banking, credit card, and other financial information stolen online and by scam telephone callers, as well as the importance of being suspicious, prudent, and vigilant when making purchases or sharing personal

When away from home, Goldsmith discussed the need to be alert to the surroundings, particularly when getting in and out of a vehicle, even locking all car doors at a gas station. At work, stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and other public places, observe and make a mental note of possible escape exits in the event of a fire or act of violence, he suggests. Make emergency exit plans with family and periodically review those plans. When something doesn’t look quite right, walk away . . . go to a safe place where there are other people . . . and remember that everyone has an alarm button on them – the car’s key fob.

For security at home, Goldsmith urges extensive use of outdoor lighting, plus lowering hedges that might be a hiding place for would-be burglars. The more lighting outside the home, the safer. Install deadbolt locks on doors that are designed to go well into the wall beyond the flimsy door frame. Check windows to securely lock them and maximize locking systems on French doors.

In this time of increasing antisemitism, acts of violence and crime, Goldsmith is ready to share his wealth of experience and knowledge and continue his mission of keeping the Tidewater community safe.

OPINION

7 years in prison for praying at the Western

Wall? Netanyahu’s coalition is threatening a war on Jewish unity.

Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, Rabbi Rick Jacobs (JTA) —During the recent Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations’ mission to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that Jews around the world stand strong and unified in support of Israel and against antisemitism. “Fight, fight, fight,” he told us, celebrating Jewish strength and unity in the face of existential challenge.

Indeed, since Oct. 7, Israel has waged a multifront war to defend itself against terrorists and their sponsors. Despite navigating a wide array of views among our own members about how Israel should execute the war, Diaspora communities have stood by Israel while facing resurgent and lethal antisemitism.

Yet now, forces in Israel’s own government are threatening a war on another front — against the Jewish people itself. And it is the prime minister who is silent.

Members of his coalition are pushing legislation in the Knesset that would prohibit any religious services or activities at the Kotel that do not meet the approval of the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) chief Rabbinate. Under the bill, anyone who publicly leads or engages in prayer contrary to the Rabbinate’s directive would face up to seven years in jail.

As leaders of two of the largest global Jewish movements, which together represent more than 3 million Jews, we know too well what would happen if this became law. Egalitarian, non-Orthodox approaches, such as mixed seating, would be banned. Women would have no space to read Torah or lead prayer. Birthright Israel and many others would no longer have a place to gather as a mixed group at Judaism’s holiest site.

Think of thousands of families from places such as Florida, New Jersey, Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv, and beyond who want to celebrate their daughter’s bat mitzvah in an

intergenerational moment of Jewish pride at our holiest site in our holiest city — only to face seven years in prison.

And the prime minister is silent.

This legislation is just the latest challenge in our movements’ years-long efforts to secure religious pluralism at the Kotel. We know that touching the stones and feeling closer to the ancient Holy of Holies can offer deep spiritual and religious connections. That’s why the Kotel should be a strong symbol of Jewish resilience, unity and spirit. It should reflect the diversity of our people and our approaches to prayer and Jewish life.

In 2016, a previous Netanyahu-led government approved a compromise to establish a new section of the Kotel for egalitarian prayer to recognize that pluralism. In that area, located south of the more established space run according to haredi tradition, families and groups may gather without a mechitza, or separation by gender. Liberal Jews can pray and celebrate according to our traditions and practices.

Yet, after a lengthy and challenging negotiation process in which all parties made painful compromises, Netanyahu immediately set the agreement aside, and successive governments have never fully implemented the plan.

In practice, the southern egalitarian prayer section is a vibrant space, with thousands coming daily for prayer and to celebrate b’nai mitzvah and other happy occasions. However, even as the Israeli government provides millions of shekels annually for upkeep of the northern section of the Kotel, it has refused to provide equal or adequate funding for security and upkeep to the southern section. Our space lacks full access for those with physical disabilities, its flooring is rotting, and visitors have not been able to touch the actual wall since a stone fell there seven years ago.

Last month, the Israeli Supreme Court took an important step to push the government to fulfill its 2016

commitment by directing it to stop dragging its feet and finally meet its obligations. In response, MK Avi Maoz, with the support of Justice Minister Yariv Levin and others within the current governing coalition, has sponsored the bill demanding that the entire Kotel, including the area of pluralistic Jewish expression, be brought under the Chief Rabbinate’s control.

By aligning with only the 15% of Jews worldwide who are haredi, Maoz is declaring war against the vast majority of the Jewish people. Despite the dream articulated in Hatikvah to be “a people living freely in their Land,” there will be no freedom of religion at Israel’s holiest site. Extremism and coercion will be the law of the land.

Maoz and his allies see the vitality of non-haredi religious expression as something to be controlled and repressed — not just at the Kotel, but throughout the State of Israel and beyond.

In contrast, we believe in religious pluralism and Jewish unity, without seeking to tell others how to “do Jewish.” We see it as a sign of strength and vibrancy and know that true Jewish unity does not require uniformity of practice or approaches to prayer.

That stance should start with the prime minister.

Our Diaspora communities have “fought, fought, fought” for Jewish strength and Israel for generations, and especially since Oct. 7. It’s time for the prime minister to “fight, fight, fight” for the unity and strength of the Jewish people, demand that members of his coalition reject this bill and respect Jewish pluralism.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA, its parent company, 70 Faces Media, Jewish News, or United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.

At US Commission on Civil Rights hearing, Jewish students warn against politicizing campus antisemitism

Hajdenberg (JTA) — Instead of practicing with her a capella group or preparing to lead Shabbat services, University of Maryland senior Tekoa Sultan-Reisler spent her Friday afternoon testifying about campus antisemitism in front of the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

She shared that she had witnessed antisemitism at her school, and heard about it from other students in J Street U, the college division of the liberal pro-Israel lobby that she leads. But she was also very clear on another point: She did not want Jewish college students’ pain to be used for a political agenda.

“Jewish students do not want to be used as a pretext to justify this divisive and xenophobic action of the administration,” Sultan-Reisler said in her testimony. “Instead, protecting students’ right of free speech and expression would allow all students to feel safe on campus, regardless of faith or ethnicity.”

Sultan-Reisler and other students who testified similarly criticized the Trump administration’s decision to defund universities that did not comply with its terms for addressing antisemitism. They took the stand on Friday, Feb. 20 on the second day of a two-part hearing called by the civil rights commission in an independent investigation — the first — into how the federal government has responded to campus antisemitism.

The commission, which has the power to issue subpoenas, is appointed by Congress and the president and currently has a narrow Democratic majority. A bipartisan group of representatives requested the antisemitism investigation in 2024.

The Feb. 20 session followed several tense exchanges on Thursday, Feb. 19 as commission members pressed those testifying — including representatives of antisemitism watchdogs StandWithUs and the Brandeis Center — on whether the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights should have its full funding back, and the costs and benefits of different government agencies’ own civil rights offices. They also made partisan jabs, with many accusing either the Biden or Trump administration of failing to protect Jewish students.

Craig Trainor, former acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education, criticized the Biden administration for its slow pace in resolving antisemitism discrimination complaints at universities.

“The Biden Education Department’s Offices for

Civil Rights’ policy agenda was deeply unserious and counterproductive and its response to the antisemitic harassment and violence consuming America’s college campuses was weak and ineffective,” Trainor said.

Kevin Rachlin, vice president for government relations and Washington director of the The Nexus Project, meanwhile, lambasted the Trump administration’s attempt to shrink the Office of Civil Rights.

The commission is accepting written testimonials until March 20.

antisemitism and praised the Trump administration’s heavier-handed tactics.

“Despite the elimination of encampments and other results of the threat to withhold federal funding from schools which failed to protect Jewish students, the underlying hatred which gave rise to the encampments is alive and well and could explode again at any time,” said Leonard Gold, a retired attorney and the executive

“By closing those offices, by removing those personnel, by reducing those resources you have effectively hobbled the very organization that is dedicated to protecting not just Jewish students but all students,” Rachlin said.

Like her peers who testified over the two days, Sultan-Reisler recounted specific incidents of antisemitic intimidation. She recalled that in November 2023, the words “Holocaust 2.0” were written in chalk on the campus sidewalk, and during an on-campus demonstration, a student waved the flag of Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organization. But said she didn’t think the Trump administration’s response to allegations of campus antisemitism had made her safer.

Among the other students testifying was Harvard University’s Tova Kaplan, who was one of 10 students to pen an op-ed last year arguing that Trump’s response to antisemitism had harmed research and academic freedom without helping Jewish students.

Others who testified, including many nonstudents and older adults, said they thought the Biden administration had been too reserved in tackling campus

producer of Blind Spot, a documentary about campus antisemitism after Oct. 7.

Since 2025, the Trump administration has canceled billions of dollars in HHS research grants for universities like Columbia, Harvard, and Princeton in an effort to coerce universities to comply with demands like making hiring, admissions, and course material changes. Harvard University defended its handling of campus antisemitism and decided to reject those demands.

The commission is accepting written testimonials until March 20. The commission’s report is expected by the end of the 2026 fiscal year.

The final report could feature more information from within federal agencies. In one tense exchange, Mondaire Jones, a Democrat and former congressman from New York who is one of the investigation’s chairs, asked Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Greg Dolin why the justice department had not yet handed over documents the commission requested.

“You have a statutory obligation to comply,” Jones said. “That is very clear under federal law.”

Laura Loomer and other Jewish conservatives sound alarm over Tucker Carlson’s White House access

Andrew Lapin (JTA) — Jewish figures on the far right are increasingly expressing concerns about President Donald Trump’s handling of an antisemitism rift among the Republican party, after its instigator Tucker Carlson reportedly visited the White House for the third time in weeks on Monday, Feb. 23.

The visit, reported by Punchbowl News journalist Jake Sherman, came days after his combative interview with Trump’s ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, ignited antisemitism allegations and a diplomatic row with Arab leaders.

After the interview Carlson also appeared on Saudi state-owned TV, during which he called Israel’s Gaza war a “land grab” and repeated his past claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

is “evil and destructive.” Carlson has ties with both Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where he has said he intends to buy property and has hosted high-profile events.

Laura Loomer, a far-right Jewish activist, has staked out a warpath against Carlson’s continued welcome in the Trump administration.

“It seems like a suicide mission for any Christian or Jew who doesn’t idolize Hitler to keep donating to the GOP,” Loomer tweeted Monday, Feb. 23. In a follow-up, she wrote, “It’s like I woke up one day and 90% of the people I’ve come to know on the right over the last 10 years have morphed into different people.”

Loomer’s explosion of anger and angst is significant because she has boasted of close ties to Trump and has appeared

to hold some sway over White House hiring. In the past, when she has targeted administration staffers or potential hires, many have been spiked quickly. Now, as she raises alarms about Carlson and antisemitism on the right, the White House has remained silent.

“It’s shocking that I have to say this, but the GOP has a major identity crisis right now, the GOP has a growing Jew hate and foreign influence problem, and the party seems to be in a struggle session with Neo Nazis who they aren’t explicitly rejecting,” Loomer tweeted. “My advice is for people to not donate at this time till we get clarity from the party on what the party’s position is on these issues.”

Other Jewish figures on the far right, including radio host Mark Levin and

pro-Israel activist Sloan Rachmuth, sided with Loomer against Carlson.

“He should be condemned by the White House, not invited to it,” Levin tweeted.

Carlson’s reported White House visit was one of several he has made since increasingly using his show to lean into friendly interviews with conspiracy theorists and white nationalists, including Nick Fuentes. Seen as a bellwether of conservative influence with close ties to Vice President JD Vance, Carlson’s broadsides against Israel and increasing embrace of antisemitic talking points have paralleled a similar rise in such sentiments among younger GOP voters and caused serious concern among many Jewish conservatives.

Huckabee himself, in damage control following his comments in the interview, has publicly urged the Trump administration to cut ties with his former Fox News colleague.

“I hope they quit letting him into the White House because, quite frankly, this is a person who is doing serious, significant damage to President Trump and to the administration,” the ambassador told the Christian Broadcasting Network, hours before Carlson was spotted at the White House.

At least one other Trump appointee has also spoken out to defend Huckabee and condemn Carlson.

“Am I the ONLY member of the Trump’s [sic] Administration defending AND supporting Ambassador Huckabee?” Leo Terrell, chair of the Trump administration’s antisemitism task force, tweeted Monday, Feb. 23.

Following the Huckabee interview, the influential Israeli-American conservative activist Yoram Hazony said Carlson’s earlier visits to the White House had come at the invitation of Trump, who Carlson said was worried that the burgeoning antisemitism rift would drive voters to the Democrats in the midterm elections this fall.

Hazony, whom Carlson mentioned in the video of his Huckabee interview, said Carlson had asked him for help mending fences but that he had come away unconvinced that Carlson wanted to make any changes.

“I explained to him that I can’t do much to help him, because just about every Jew I know believes he’s been waging a savage campaign against Jews, Judaism, and Israel for the past 18 months — and that most think his aim is to drive Jews and Zionist Christians out of the Trump coalition and out of the Republican party,” Hazony wrote on X.

Carlson requested Hazony set up a meeting with Netanyahu, Hazony claimed; he declined to do so. While at first Hazony said he was open to conversing with Carlson in the name of “building coalitions,” he has changed his mind.

effort to engage in good faith and set the record straight. Unfortunately, I’m not surprised at the outcome.”

Some non-Jewish GOP lawmakers have started to join their Jewish colleagues on the right in condemning Carlson, or antisemitism more forcefully.

“I used to respect Tucker Carlson but after watching his interview of @ GovMikeHuckabee I am appalled,” Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana wrote on X. “Tucker gave ample platform and time to Nick Fuentes to share his antiSemitic vitriol, but constantly interrupted, was impatient, disingenuous, argumentative, and disrespectful to Huckabee.”

The GOP has made it very clear over the last few years that Jewish voters on the right are not welcome, we are not appreciated, and we will not be given basic respect.

“In Tucker’s case, the private person turns out to be exactly who we’ve been seeing in public,” he wrote. “Whatever his motives for turning his podcast into what seems to be a circus of anti-Jewish messaging, right now that project is clearly more important to him than helping the administration keep its coalition together so it can govern effectively and win elections in 2026 and 2028.”

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, condemned Carlson and praised Huckabee. He had previously said Carlson should not be invited to the White House.

“Tucker Carlson has a long history of peddling antisemitic conspiracy theories and lies about Jews and the Jewish state,” Greenblatt tweeted. “His recent interviews continue to amplify hate and launder falsehoods. None of this is new. It’s just pathetic. I appreciate Ambassador @GovMikeHuckabee’s

Stutzman added, “Carlson suggesting all ‘Jews’ do a DNA test in order to live in Israel is repulsive and smacks of ignorance regarding the oldest faith practice in the world combined with the worst kind of exclusionary prejudice and elitism.”

In a slightly more coded message, Alabama Sen. Katie Britt tweeted Feb. 23, “We must continue to call out and condemn antisemitism at every turn. Proud to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters at home and abroad.” Britt did not mention Carlson or Huckabee by name. By contrast, GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, an established foe of Carlson’s who was also on the receiving end of a tough interview over Israel, has retweeted several pro-Huckabee and anti-Carlson posts following the interview.

The Trump administration has not commented publicly on the interview or its backlash. Trump staffers have reportedly been working behind the scenes to assure Arab leaders that Huckabee’s comments during the interview, in which he suggested Israel has a divine right to much of the Middle East, do not represent official administration policy.

The drama has raised a range of

Local Relationships Matter

MEET: Paul R. Hernandez

“This area is our home and we are committed to supporting it. Our lawyers are actively involved by donating their time to programs that help the community, especially in the schools with young drivers. I am very involved with End Distracted Driving, spending 20 days a year in the schools educating students about the dangers of using a cell phone while driving. The other major program we work on is Every 15 Minutes which highlights how every 15 minutes someone dies in a car crash and helps teens understand the consequences of drinking and driving.”

“Payday is very forward thinking and is always up on potential changes. We have also been impressed by Payday’s contingency planning. Whenever there is a potential natural disaster in our region, such as a large storm, Payday is proactive and works with our staff to make sure that everyone will be paid without interruption.”

“ “

Our client relationships are anything but transactional. We are long-term partners, dedicated to the success of our clients, and most importantly, their people.

issues beyond the antisemitism rift, including the fact that Carlson’s son works for Vance and about Carlson’s relationships with Saudi Arabia and Russia, both of which are promoting interviews on state media about Carlson’s criticism of the Trump administration.

Carlson is keeping up his streak elevating fringe GOP figures amid the controversy, posting an interview with outsider Iowa gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn.

“We have a Christian form of government, but we have elected people that are not following that custom and

religion in Christianity,” Lahn told Carlson in the interview. “And so you’re going to have a constitutional crisis. You’re going to have fraud all over the place.”

For Loomer, the moment is existential for right wing-Jews. “The GOP has made it very clear over the last few years that Jewish voters on the right are not welcome, we are not appreciated, and we will not be given basic respect,” she tweeted.

“There’s some elected officials in the GOP who would be ok with seeing Jews mass murdered,” Loomer continued, without naming names. “As a lifelong Republican, this is very alarming to me.”

JEWISH TIDEWATER

building, creates endowment

Alene Jo Kaufman

And with stroke of a few pens, it was over! The closing documents were signed, the checks issued, and Kehillat Bet Hamidrash/Kempsville Conservative Synagogue (KBH) was officially a congregation without a building –yet with a new endowment fund.

After months of cleaning, sorting, and donating nearly 50 years of accumulated items, KBH has entered the next stage of its journey as a Conservative synagogue in Tidewater. Centrally located in shared space on the Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community and no longer burdened by the responsibility of maintaining a building, synagogue members are refocused on their core mission of religious observance and fellowship.

Since moving to the campus, membership has grown, Shabbat morning attendance has increased, more members are taking part in leading services, and new monthly programs for children are in place. Kiddush luncheons continue each week, with members lingering to talk and connect after services. Even the prayers seem to sound better.

Although KBH meets in the warm,

Services are held each Shabbat morning at 10 am. All are welcome. Bring identification for campus security. For more information, email kbhsynagogue@gmail.com or visit kbhsynagogue.org.

Free Mazel Tov

Tell Jewish Tidewater about your simchas and have a photo published in Jewish News to remember for years to come. Up to 100 words and photo at no charge.

Send your listing and photo to speck@ujft.org with Mazel Tov in the subject line.

If you do not get a response or have a question, call 757-965-6100.

State of the Foundation: Securing Jewish life in Tidewater

TJF staff

The State of the Union. The State of the City. Most people have heard of or attended gatherings like these, where leaders reflect on the present and make projections about the future.

Last month, Tidewater Jewish Foundation did just that. Board members gathered for the Foundation’s annual State of the Foundation to strengthen the strategy forward. It was a purposeful pause to name both the successes and challenges of supporting Jewish life in Tidewater, and to align around a path ahead.

Over the past decade, TJF has helped turn local generosity into real support, fueling grants and long-term

charitable funds that strengthen Jewish life across the region. In plain terms, the Foundation has been growing its ability to help; supporting organizations now while also building long-term stability that can carry the community through changing needs and future challenges.

The State of the Foundation gathering focused on what comes next. Board members heard from Eddie Kramer, TJF board chair and Paul Peck, chair-elect, about the Foundation’s forward-looking strategy, how it plans to secure the resources that sustain Jewish education, synagogue life, cultural programming, social services, and community wellbeing, so future

generations are not forced to rebuild what can be secured today.

For Naomi Limor Sedek, TJF president and CEO, those conversations often begin with something deeply human: people care, but they don’t always have the words, or a clear plan. “It’s not that they haven’t thought about their legacy, they just can’t always articulate it,” she says. TJF’s role is to help individuals and families, at any stage of life, define what they want to perpetuate and then structure a meaningful, lasting plan to support the Jewish community.

Community members who want to participate can begin with a simple conversation. Whether someone is early

in their career, raising a family, planning for retirement, or reflecting on the legacy they hope to leave, TJF can help translate values into action, through donor-advised funds, legacy commitments, endowment planning, or other giving vehicles that align with personal goals.

The future of Jewish Tidewater is not abstract. It is built decision by decision, family by family. And it begins with asking one powerful question: What do I want my legacy to be?

To start the conversation about your own legacy, contact Naomi Limor Sedek at Tidewater Jewish Foundation, 757-965-6109 or nsedek@tjfva.org.

Jewish hockey star Jack Hughes’ overtime goal propels US to historic gold medal in Olympic hockey

Jacob Gurvis (JTA) — Jewish hockey star Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal Sunday, Feb. 21 to clinch a gold medal for the U.S. men’s hockey team, its first since 1980.

The New Jersey Devils star center, who had scored twice in Team USA’s semifinal win, sent the puck between the legs of Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington 1:41 into overtime to give the American team a 2-1 win.

“This is all about our country right now. I love the USA,” Hughes told NBC. “I love my teammates.”

The win broke a 46-year Olympic drought for Team USA, which had not taken gold since the famous “Miracle on Ice” team that upset the Soviet Union on its way to gold in 1980. The United States also won in 1960.

“He’s a freaking gamer,” Quinn Hughes, Jack’s older brother and U.S. teammate said, according to The Athletic. “He’s always been a gamer. Just mentally

tough, been through a lot, loves the game. American hero.”

Quinn Hughes is a defender for the Minnesota Wild and a former captain of the Vancouver Canucks who won the NHL’s top defenseman award in 2024. He was also named the best defender in the Olympic tournament by the International Ice Hockey Federation after scoring an overtime goal to send the U.S. team to the semifinals.

The third Jewish member of the U.S. team, Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, won the one game he played, a Feb. 14 preliminary-round victory over Denmark.

The Hughes family — rounded out by youngest brother Luke, who also plays

“Recently

for the Devils — has long been lauded as a Jewish hockey dynasty. They are the first American family to have three siblings picked in the first round of the NHL draft, and Jack was the first Jewish player to go No. 1 overall. They are also the first trio of Jewish brothers to play in the same NHL game and the first brothers to earn cover honors for EA Sports’ popular hockey video game.

Jack, who had a bar mitzvah, has said his family celebrated Passover when he was growing up. Their mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, who is Jewish, represented the U.S. women’s hockey team at the 1992 Women’s World Championships and was on the coaching staff of the goldmedal-winning women’s team in Milan. Weinberg-Hughes is also a member of the

International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Hughes’ golden goal ushered in a burst of Jewish pride on social media, with one user calling it “the greatest Jewish sports moment of all time.” The Hockey News tweeted that Hughes was “the first player in hockey history to have a Bar Mitzvah and a Golden Goal! Pretty cool!” Jewish groups and leaders also jumped on the praise train. “Special shout out to @jhugh86 on scoring the game-winning goal!” tweeted Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League. “Beyond his incredible skill on the ice, Jack makes history as a proud representative of the American Jewish community, reminding us that the Jewish people are interwoven into America in her 250th year! Mazel Tov, Jack!”

—Andrew H. Hook President of Hook Law Center

Securing Houses of Worship: Countering Active Threat Training (CATT) Sunday,

March 22, 3 pm First Presbyterian Church, Norfolk

Active threat situations are unpredictable and can unfold quickly—often ending within three to five minutes. Recognizing warning signs and knowing how to respond can save lives.

In collaboration with Jewish Community Relations Council, a local pastors’ group, and Secure Community Network, the first of what is envisioned as many interdenominational training sessions will take place next month at First Presbyterian Church in Ghent.

Mike Goldsmith, Secure Community Network’s Regional Security Advisor for Tidewater, will present an introduction to Countering Active Threat Training (CATT)—a foundational course designed for faith-based institutions and houses of worship, and open to every member of the community.

This one-hour course requires no prior security background and covers the basics of situational awareness and practical, real-world guidance to help protect yourself, your family, and your community.

Participants will learn how to recognize suspicious or potentially dangerous behavior, how to respond if a situation becomes life-threatening in everyday settings such as a church, synagogue, grocery store, or restaurant, and how to react to different threat scenarios.

First Presbyterian Church is located at 820 Colonial Avenue in Norfolk.

Investing in futures: JELF helps local students afford college –interest free

through April 30

In 2025, JELF (Jewish Educational Loan Fund) loaned $2.3 million in 0% interest loans to almost 500 students, allowing Jewish students to pursue higher education without the burden of interest-bearing debt. Among those supported, five Jewish students from Tidewater were awarded $25,750.

JELF is the only Jewish organization in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to offering interest-free loans for higher education. Since 2015 alone, JELF has provided 3,864 loans, totaling nearly $17 million across a five-state region, which includes Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia (excluding metro DC). JELF is proud to maintain an exceptional 99% student repayment rate for nearly 20 years.

As the 2026-2027 academic year approaches, Jewish students are invited to apply for interest-free loans for college, graduate school, or vocational programs. The application is open through April 30, 2026, at jelf.org/app.

Locally, JELF collaborates with Jewish Family Service of Tidewater. This partnership is dedicated to supporting Jewish students in Hampton Roads, ensuring they have the financial support to pursue and complete their educational goals.

To be eligible for a JELF loan, applicants must:

• Be a permanent resident of Fla., Ga., S.C., N.C., and Va. (excluding metro DC)

• Be enrolled full-time in a degree granting program

• Be in good academic standing

• Be a U.S. citizen or have lawful immigration status

• Provide a cosigner who lives in the U.S.

• Plan to accept the federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans

/ (757) 287-5765

Unlike traditional financial aid, JELF loans help cover both educational and living expenses including rent, food, books, and travel. By eliminating interest, JELF saves borrowers thousands of dollars and helps ease the growing student debt crisis affecting more than 45 million Americans.

Through its sustainable, interest-free loan model, JELF ensures that every dollar repaid is reinvested to support the next generation of students, strengthening a continuous cycle of educational opportunities. At a time when tuition and inflation place increasing pressure on families, the partnership of committed community donors remains critical to helping Jewish students pursue—and achieve—their educational goals.

For more information about JELF or to support its mission, visit jelf.org or call 770-396-3080.

JCC Lifeguard Josef Patar celebrates citizenship

Terri Denison

His story could be a novel. . . and a page-turner, at that.

This past December, Josef Patar added a chapter he’s been trying to write for a while. . . he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. With several supporters, including a couple of friends from Ohef Sholom Temple, he went to the Walter Hoffman United States Courthouse in Downtown Norfolk, made his citizenship official, and left waving an American flag.

A lifeguard and swim instructor at the Simon Family JCC, among other work endeavors, Patar escaped from Hungary at just 2 years old in 1956 with three siblings and his pregnant mother. They left, he said, with nothing, not even any documents. His father stayed behind fighting for his country against Russia. “In the 1990s, my father got knighted by the Hungarian government for fighting the Russians,” recalls Patar.

Once his family made it to England, they were able to board the Empress of Great Britian ocean liner in Liverpool to head to Canada, which was accepting refugees. At the time, the U.S. was not. The ship docked in Halifax, and Canada was his home for three decades. His father was able to join the family after the war.

Patar’s first trip to Virginia was in January 1965 when he was ranked #2 in Canada in swimming at just 10 years old. His team flew to Arlington, Va. for the competition, which by the way, Patar won, setting a record in his age category. He continued to set records throughout his swimming career.

Patar’s swimming success and ultimately, coaching, brought him to the United States many times, with his official move taking place in 1986 when he began a retail career in San Francisco. That work had him transferred throughout the country, living in Miami, Detroit, Colorado Springs, San Jose, New York, and Los Angeles, among other places.

In 2024, Patar arrived in Virginia and has been a lifeguard and swim instructor at the JCC since that April. He says he “liked the Jewish community,” and decided to stay.

Mazel Tov Josef on your citizenship!

Mazel Tov

Milestone anniversaries worth celebrating

Terri Denison

A wedding anniversary of any number is reason to celebrate, yet milestone anniversaries traditionally get special attention. Reaching a milestone is no easy feat and so Jewish News asked three of area couples about their secrets to the foundation of their marriages, about the families they’ve begun and grown, and about the fun they’ve had and continue to enjoy.

Mazel Tov to these couples and to all who are celebrating milestones in 2026!

Lori and Michael Glasser

40th Anniversary

Lori Hyman and Michael Glasser first met as teens at the JCC on Newport Ave. in Norfolk. Since Lori grew up in Virginia Beach and Michael in Norfolk, it was the Tuesday night BBYO meetings, Lori in Kruger BBG and Michael in Commonwealth AZA, where their paths crossed, but didn’t merge.

Many years later, they saw each other at Waterside. Michael “had just returned from a Singles Mission to Israel and was excited about his travels,” Lori recalls. “He told me to give him a call if I wanted to talk more later.”

Lori says she waited a few days before calling and “was really glad to learn he was out of the office.” The next day, she received a pink “While You Were Away” telephone message slip at work asking if she was hungry. Their first date was a picnic lunch on the steps of Blair Junior High School in Ghent in September 1985. By February, they were engaged and married on August 31, 1986.

Their wedding took place in Ohef Sholom Temple’s chapel with 25 relatives and two friends each with a lively party that evening with more friends and relatives.

“I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom for our three boys, Bern, Jake, and Ross,” says Lori. She volunteered at Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, where they attended, went on field trips, helped with the BeAR program, participated on a few boards, including the JCC, JFS, and Temple Israel. Once the boys were all in school, she went to work at Michael’s law office.

At the same time, Michael was heavily involved in various organizations, including ADL, UJFT, and State of Israel Bonds, in addition to legal and bank-related boards.

All three sons are now married, “so we have three women in our lives, which we love,” says Lori. Not to mention how “truly smitten!” they are with their young granddaughter, Sophia.

While Bern and Jolyn and Jake, Jess, and Sophia are Tidewater residents, Ross and Caroline have made their home in Denver. Still, the family manages to gather most every Shabbat for a Facetime visit that includes lighting Shabbat candles and singing the blessings.

When asked about their favorite trips, there’s no surprise the response is “those with our family,” especially those 14 summers when they spent a couple of weeks in Maine and times visiting Israel. Plus, Lori adds that “Michael and I enjoy biking and have been on a couple of organized bike trips.

“We both grew up seeing loving and respectful partnerships, which were easy to emulate,” says Lori. “Perhaps that’s our secret to a successful and happy marriage.”

“Forty years is a good chunk of a lifetime,” says Michael. “Marrying Lori was the smartest decision I have ever made.”

“Yes, we’ll be celebrating 40 years this August, so the warranty period is definitely over,” quips Lori. Still, by all appearances, Lori and Michael must’ve found a secret lifetime warranty.

Mazel Tov

Nancy and Alvin Wall

50th Anniversary

Family and the often-played game of “Jewish Geography” have played meaningful roles in Nancy and Alvin Wall’s more than 50-year-old story – and from the very start.

Norfolk native Nancy Harrison, and Charleston, S.C.-raised Alvin Wall graduated from University of South Carolina in 1974. Nancy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology; Alvin an undergraduate degree in Banking and Finance. During four years of college, however, there was no meeting, no paths crossed for the couple.

The eventual meeting is credited to Alvin’s sister, Suzan, who was in her fourth year at The Medical College of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, where Nancy was also studying.

“In those days if you wanted a degree in med tech you were required to attend a medical college somewhere. My sister’s first three years were at University of Georgia,” says Alvin. There were 15 or so students in that MUSC class and Suzan and Nancy started to play Jewish geography. When Nancy said she was from Norfolk, Suzan asked if she knew Jack Frieden. Since Jack’s father, Lenny, and Nancy’s dad, Harry (Hap), were in the insurance business together, the answer was obvious.

“Suzan set us up and we took it from there,” says Alvin. “Since we were all moving to Atlanta after graduation and Suzan and Nancy shared an apartment, I was always accused of stealing Suzan’s roommate.”

About a year and a half later, on September 11, 1976, Nancy and Alvin married at Ohef Sholom Temple in Norfolk. Very few weddings are challenge-free, and theirs was not an exception. A Shriner’s convention was taking place in town that weekend and hotel rooms were scarce. “We suspect we were booked into one of the last vacant rooms at the OMNI Hotel,” recalls Nancy. Plus, something happened with the photographer’s camera equipment, resulting in very few photos of their wedding celebration.

After living in Atlanta for almost seven years, Nancy asked Alvin about moving to Norfolk to be near family. In October 1981, they made the move with their oldest son Michael, who was six months old. Ben was born in 1984. “Our most treasured accomplishment was raising our sons in Virginia Beach. We are very proud of them,” Nancy and Alvin say.

Jewish Geography came to play again for the Walls when they moved to Tidewater. Alvin’s father was a WWII Veteran, and the family had been stationed all over the country. When in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (1956-1959), “my father and Hal Sacks worked together teaching the warships how to fire their guns,” says Alvin. “Hal’s wife, Annabel, was my kindergarten teacher in Cuba at the William T. Sampson School on the base. Fast forward to our move to Norfolk and Annabel takes me aside at a meeting and reminds me about being my teacher. Hal was also kind enough to mention this in his memoir.” Small world.

During the Atlanta years, Nancy had begun her career at Crawford Long Hospital, with her ‘first retirement’ taking place in 1980. In Tidewater in 1989, with Michael and Ben both in school, Nancy reentered the work force at Pediatric Specialists. Nancy says she “worked with great doctors, nurses, and wonderful staff and made lifelong friends.” She retired after 25 years.

Alvin’s accounting career began with Arthur Andersen in Atlanta in 1974. When he and Nancy moved to Tidewater, he became a partner at Goodman and Company in Norfolk and then left to form Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer, CPAs in November 1989, with Marty Einhorn and Jeff Chernitzer. In December 2025, the firm merged with a Fargo, N.D.-based CPA firm listed among the Top 20 CPA firms in the United States. The new firm’s name is Eide Bailly. “Despite what you may hear, I continue to work full time,” muses Alvin.

Today, Nancy and Alvin keep busy with their sons and grandchildren: Michael and his wife, Robin, who live in Atlanta with their children, Tyler (9), Mia (6), and Cooper (3); and Ben, who lives with his partner Kyle Daniels in Oakland.

Volunteering is another way this extremely active couple spends their time. Nancy, known as a magical quilter, works with the Tzedakah Quilting Group at Ohef Sholom and sews mastectomy drain pockets, which she donates to anyone going through the process. Alvin serves on United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s board and as treasurer, on Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s board, the Towne Bank Norfolk Advisory board, and as vice chair and member of the board of trustees of Westminster Canterbury Chesapeake Bay.

And then, there’s their creative side. Nancy and Alvin throw pottery on the wheel “and have almost 50 years of pottery at home to prove it” even though they are constantly giving much of it away. . . to friends, vendors, non-profits. Nancy needlepoints and plays Mah Jongg and Alvin is a wildlife photographer and is learning from Nancy to play Mah Jongg and how to sew quilt panels.

Not to outdo their creative spirit, Nancy and Alvin enjoy visiting and hiking in the National Parks System. Their last two trips were to the Grand Canyon (second time) and the Big Five Parks in Utah. “We walk together and have lifted weights twice a week for almost 20 years with Ray Beard at the Simon Family JCC.” This past year they added Pilates classes at Performance Pilates to the mix.

“Our hobbies consume us in a good way,” says Alvin. “We’re always ready to learn something new.”

Nancy’s mom, Joan Harrison told her many years ago, “that anyone can get married, but it took hard work to stay married.” Nancy adds, “our parents were great marriage role models.” That, Nancy and Alvin agree, is a big part of the secret sauce to their marriage, along with selflessness, cooperation, coordination, caring for each other, kindness towards each other, and of course, loving each other.

Fifty years is a long time.

Mazel Tov

Rochelle and Tal Aviv 10th Anniversary

Rochelle Laderberg Aviv grew up in Tidewater and Tal Aviv in Los Angeles, Calif.

So how did these coastal opposites meet?

After Rochelle earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from VCU and Tal his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UC Irvine and his MBA from George Washington University, they were both living in Arlington, Va. It was the dating app, Coffee Meets Bagel, that did the trick.

“Our first date was July 2014 and we got engaged June 2015,” says Rochelle.

Their wedding took place on June 11, 2016, at the MOCA in Virgina Beach.

“Besides being one of the hottest days in Virginia Beach that summer, it was so amazing to have all of our friends and family come together from the West Coast and East Coast to come celebrate us,” says Rochelle. “Everyone danced and partied the whole night, and having orange crush cocktails gave the event a special Virginia Beach touch to it.”

Both Jewish, the couple says, “it’s incredibly important and meaningful to both of us to have a Jewish household/family, so that part has been easy.”

Tal’s parents are from Israel and moved to LA after they got married. Both of his parents served in the Israeli Army and his dad grew up on a Kibbutz. Tal grew up going to private Jewish schools in LA and went to a Sephardic Synagogue when he was younger. He also grew up speaking Hebrew with his family and his Israeli community. Rochelle grew up going to Ohef Sholom Temple, a Reform synagogue, “so our Jewish experiences growing up were very different,” says Rochelle. “We love being able to teach our kids the different traditions from their Ashkenazi and Sephardic family backgrounds.”

Living in Northern Virginia with two toddlers, the couple realized during COVID how important it was to live closer to family, so they made the decision to move to Virginia Beach in 2022. Both of Rochelle’s parents were still in Virginia Beach and her sister and her husband and two young kids also decided to move back. “We realized how special and

important it was going to be for our kids to grow up near their grandparents and cousins,” says Rochelle. In fact, Rochelle’s younger brother also made the move back to Virginia Beach in July 2025 with his wife and kids from Austin, Texas.

Busy parents of Ari, who is seven years old and Izzy, who is six years old, Rochelle works at Deloitte as a resource manager for the NY Tax Practice in the Financial Services Industry. Tal works at Guidehouse doing internal finance.

“Our lives these days are run by what our kids have scheduled, which consists of Tae Kwon Do three days a week for Ari and Izzy, basketball and baseball for Ari, depending on the season, and dance for Izzy.

Added to the mix of running from family to work, Rochelle and her siblings rotate hosting Shabbat Dinner every Friday night. “It’s become a family tradition and all of the cousins love getting together to play every Friday night,” she says.

During the summer they also spend a lot of time swimming in their pool, and going to the beach and Ocean Breeze. “We recently started roller skating/rollerblading with the kids which has been fun,” she adds.

The Avivs’ secret to a good marriage?

“I always go back to the beautiful words in our wedding ketubah. It hangs above my desk, so I read it every day and it reminds me of the sacred covenant we made to each other,” she says.

These are Rochelle’s favorite lines from their ketubah that really guides their marriage:

“We shall treasure and respect each other with honor and integrity as we create a loving family together. May our love provide us with the determination and courage to be who we are. May our lives become whole and intertwined forever. You are my best friend, my hopes and future, my strength, my soulmate. Standing proudly beside you, in your eyes I see my love, and in your heart I see my dreams, and in our promise I see a union, true and steadfast, uniquely devoted to compassion, kindness and sincerity. We pledge to cherish and sustain each other, meeting life’s trials with quiet strength and courage, and meeting life’s blessings with wonder, joy and laughter. We will grow as individuals and delight in an elegant freedom born from mutual respect. As life partners, we shall strive to build a home committed to our Jewish heritage. May the joy of living for one another bring smiles to our faces.”

A

every time it

Mazel Tov

Erica Ausch celebrates her 90th with family and friends

Linda Ausch

Family and friends gathered on a Saturday evening in January to celebrate an extraordinary milestone as Erica Reisner Ausch turned 90 years young. Her daughters – Jodie Woodward, Linda Ausch, and Bonnie Laibstain — brought together those who know her best and love her most: family, dear friends, her devoted Mah Jongg group, and members of her water aerobics class (yes, she still teaches!), all to honor a woman whose boundless energy, generosity of spirit, and joyful presence have shaped so many lives.

Surrounding Erica with love were her cherished grandchildren: Liza Woodward and her boyfriend, Austin Ferguson; Leo Woodward and his wife, Erika Woodward; Blake Laibstain and his fiancée, Mattee Long; and Raven Laibstain. Bonnie’s husband, Jeff Laibstain, and Erica’s treasured great-grandchildren— Wells Edison Woodward, Bridget Jolie Woodward, and Barett Roy Woodward— whose laughter and smiles were a beautiful reminder of the generations she has

nurtured, all added to the celebration. Adding to the emotion of the evening, the room was lovingly decorated with photographs of Erica and her beloved husband, Eddie, from years past, alongside more recent images displayed on a continuous loop capturing cherished memories. These moments—spanning decades of love, partnership, and family—served as a quiet, beautiful tribute to a life richly lived and deeply shared.

The room was filled with stories, laughter, and deep gratitude for 90 years of love, resilience, and unwavering devotion to family and friends. Surrounded by multiple generations and lifelong relationships, the celebration was a moving tribute to a remarkable woman whose legacy is not only measured in years, but in the countless lives she has touched with her warmth, strength, and love. Her beloved husband, Eddie, was felt in every smile and every memory, and there is no doubt he would be so proud of the extraordinary life Erica continues to lead and the beautiful family they built together.

Mazel Tov

Jonathan Zur honored at ODU’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance

The Hugo A. Owens

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Award was presented to Jonathan C. Zur at Old Dominion University’s 41st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance in January. Zur is president and CEO of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities.

Hannah Yasemsky joins UJFT in newly formed position

Sierra Lautman

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater recently established the position of NextGen Engagement coordinator, a re-imagined role designed to strengthen connection and community among Jewish young adults in Tidewater. Hannah Yasemsky is the first person to assume the position.

Yasemsky brings a strong background in education and experiential Jewish engagement to this position. A Special Education teacher, she is a recent graduate of George Washington University’s graduate program as an Israel Educator.

“I am excited to be stepping into the new role as the NexGen

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Engagement coordinator,” Yasemsky says. “With over five years of experience staffing Birthright Israel events and teaching abroad in Israel, I am eager to use my background in experiential learning to build lasting communal connections for the next generation of Jewish leaders.”

The Next Gen Engagement coordinator role reflects the Federation’s commitment to investing in Jewish young adults ages 22 - 40 and creating meaningful entry points into Jewish life, leadership, and philanthropy. In this

position, Yasemsky will plan initiatives that build relationships through one-onone outreach, community presence, and collaboration with partner organizations.

“I am looking forward to turning my education and engagement focus toward fostering a more connected and vibrant Jewish community at home in Tidewater,” Yasemsky says.

To learn more about upcoming NextGen opportunities, email Yasemsky at HYasemsky@UJFT.org.

CATERING

Bruce Waldholtz to receive a VCIC Tidewater Humanitarian Award Thursday, March 26, Westin Virginia Beach Town Center

The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities will hold its 62nd annual Tidewater Humanitarian Awards event this month. These awards honor individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the promotion of respect and understanding among people of diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds in South Hampton Roads.

Among the recipients is Bruce Waldholtz, M.D., a native of Pittsburgh who moved to Tidewater in 1988. During his 35 years of private practice in gastroenterology, he has taught hundreds of medical students and residents. He continues to precept weekly at the Hopes Clinic (an EVMS Medical Student Run Clinic) and volunteers at the Chesapeake Care Free Clinic. Waldholtz has been a member of the Community Faculty at EVMS and was the Rector of EVMS during the period that led to the creation of The Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU. For more than three decades, he has been an American Cancer Society Volunteer at the state, regional, and national levels. He played a critical role in the

pilot and launch phase of the ACS VOICES OF Black Women, a generational study of 100,000 African American Women to better understand health conditions and how to improve overall health among Black women.

Other Humanitarian Award recipients this year include Clyde T. Clark, Jr., Captain Janet H. Days, and Conrad M. Hall.

Jane P. Batten will receive the 2026 Tidewater Distinguished Virginian Award.

Tell Jewish Tidewater about your simchas and have a photo published in Jewish News to remember for years to come. Up to 100 words and photo at no charge. Send your listing and photo to speck@ujft.org with Mazel Tov in the subject line.

If you do not get a response or have a question, call 757-965-6100.

Sixty-two years ago, the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities – then called the National Conference of Christians and Jews – began a tradition in South Hampton Roads, “to honor the work of our friends, neighbors, and family members who gave to others the same rights, respect, and dignity that they sought for themselves.” Today, VCIC works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success through inclusion.

VCIC also provides professional development for many local educators, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, leveraging diversity and inclusion to achieve success. In 2018, VCIC opened an office on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan University.

For more information about VCIC or reservations for the Awards on March 26, go to www.inclusiveVA.org.

Learning and creating with Mizrach class and workshop

Sierra Lautman

The recent Mizrach class and hands-on glass workshop offered by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Konikoff Center for Learning provided a journey from learning to creating.

The experience began with a class led by Rabbi Ari Oliszewski, who explored the history and purpose of the Mizrach. Participants learned about the tradition of placing a Mizrach on the eastern wall and the deeper spiritual practice of directing one’s heart toward Jerusalem during prayer. The class grounded the new found knowledge in kavannah (intention), giving context to what participants would soon create with their own hands.

In the weeks after the class, participants gathered for hands-on glass workshops led by Sharon Serbin, an artist, educator, and education director at Congregation Beth El. With guidance, encouragement, and a healthy dose of humor, attendees translated what they had learned into stunning works of Judaica.

Esther Diskin, a workshop participant, says, “The Mizrach workshop brought people together for an activity that combined spiritual meaning, creativity, and fun. We had plenty of laughs as we assembled our creations, especially as we tried—sometimes clumsily—to cut glass. It is harder than it looks!”

Participants left with more than just beautiful handmade Mizrach pieces. They developed a deeper understanding of prayer and a stronger connection to Jewish tradition and the pride that comes from creating something meaningful together.

For information about Konikoff Center for Learning classes and workshops, contact Sierra Lautman, senior director of Jewish Innovation, at SLautman@UJFT.org or 757-965-6107.

Holocaust Commission marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Elka Mednick

The Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater hosted a moving community gathering in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27. Held on the Sandler Family Campus, the program brought people of all ages together to remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust and to reaffirm a shared commitment to safeguarding truth and combating hatred in all its forms.

The evening began with Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer presenting a City Council resolution recognizing the Holocaust Commission, Jewish Community Relations Council, and United Jewish Federation of Tidewater for their ongoing work to educate about the Holocaust, counter antisemitism, and foster a more inclusive community. His presentation added a significant civic moment to the evening.

The featured program was Eric Joffe’s retelling of the four distinct journeys of members of the Gonsenhauser family. Drawing on extensive research compiled by Thomas Kemper, a family friend from Germany who was unable to attend, Joffe shared how Kemper’s work both preserved these histories and helped reconnect the family to its Holocaust past.

Joffe’s storytelling underscored a vital truth: the Holocaust was long ago, but its lessons are not distant. It lives in the memories and family histories of countless community members. The Gonsenhauser family’s journey is one of many stories woven into Tidewater’s communal fabric, reminding that the Holocaust’s impact touches individuals across generations and continents.

The evening emphasized that sharing accurate history and understanding a person’s experiences helps contemporary audiences learn, reflect, and strengthen their commitment to combating hatred in all its forms.

To learn more about the Holocaust Commission, visit HolocaustCommission.org or contact Elka Mednick at emednick@ujft.org.

VIRGINIA JEWISH ADVOCACY DAY HIGHLIGHTS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT

Virginia Jewish Advocacy Day once again brought voices from across the Commonwealth to the State Capitol, underscoring a simple but powerful truth: showing up matters.

Nearing the midpoint of the 2026 General Assembly session, Jewish community members representing the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Peninsula, the Jewish Community Relations Council of the United

Jewish Federation of Tidewater, the Jewish Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington gathered in Richmond to meet with lawmakers, share personal stories, and advocate for policies that protect Jewish life and strengthen the broader community.

Students, clergy, lay leaders, and longtime advocates

filled legislative offices throughout the morning, engaging in conversations about security funding for synagogues and nonprofits, efforts to confront antisemitism, and the importance of ensuring Jewish students feel safe and supported in K–12 schools and on college campuses.

During the afternoon program, Virginia’s newly inaugurated statewide leaders spoke, signaling a tone of partnership.

IT’S A WRAP

Governor Abigail Spanberger offered a clear commitment: her administration will stand up to antisemitism, protect Jewish neighbors and families, and show up for the community in moments of both remembrance and celebration. She emphasized that Jewish Virginians should feel safe and proud in every corner of public life and reaffirmed her longstanding support for a strong U.S.–Israel relationship grounded in shared democratic values and shared security.

Attorney General Jay Jones spoke about continuing and strengthening statewide efforts to confront antisemitism, including building on the antisemitism task force established by the previous administration as a vehicle for communication, accountability, and partnership with community stakeholders.

Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi echoed the call to confront hate in all its forms and stressed the importance of collaboration among Virginia’s diverse communities.

For many participants, Advocacy Day was about more than policy priorities — it was about relationships. “It’s a way for our voices to be heard,” says Kirk Levy, JCRC Legislative Action chair.

First-time attendees saw how accessible their elected officials can be. Veteran advocates deepened connections built over years of engagement. Legislators heard directly from constituents about the real-world impact of rising antisemitism and the importance of proactive measures to safeguard institutions and uphold civil discourse.

As the legislative session continues, the conversations begun in Richmond will carry forward. Advocacy Day serves as a reminder that civic engagement is not a one-day event but an ongoing responsibility. By showing up — respectfully, thoughtfully, and united — Virginia’s Jewish community continues to shape the policies that affect its future and to affirm its enduring role in the civic life of the Commonwealth.

Learn more about the Jewish Community Relations Council’s visit to Richmond, or add your name to the interest list for Advocacy Day 2027 by emailing Kyleigh Eyl at Keyl@ ujft.org.

Investing in Dignity at Every Age

For generations, Beth Sholom Village has cared for seniors across Tidewater/Hampton Roads.

Guided by tikkun olam (repairing the world), we’re now expanding that commitment through grantmaking, supporting nonprofit programs that help older adults age with dignity, connection, and purpose. 501(c)(3) nonprofits are invited to apply in this inaugural cycle.

A HEART-HEALTHY PRESIDENT’S DAY AT CAMP

Kate-Lynn Cipolla

While school was out on Monday, Feb. 16, campers spent Presidents’ Day getting active and inspired at Camp JCC’s School Days Out program.

To celebrate American Heart Month, the day’s theme was all about heart health. Campers began the morning by brainstorming ways to keep their bodies strong, highlighting the importance of eating colorful fruits and vegetables and staying consistent with exercise.

The group then transitioned from theory to practice, heading to the gym for a full-body stretch before diving into high-energy running games that kept everyone’s heart rates up and spirits high.

The afternoon balanced this physical activity with

creativity and play. During the art session, campers explored color theory by creating vibrant heart masterpieces. To make their art pop, they learned to distinguish between warm tones, such as the reds, oranges, and yellows of fire, and cool tones, such as the blues, greens, and purples of a calm ocean. This creativity carried over into ‘Camper’s Choice’ where campers made fuse bead designs and strung

together custom bracelets and necklaces with colorful pony beads, or participated in ‘Just Dance’.

The energy reached a peak back in the gym with a round of Musical Polyspots, a fast-paced favorite similar to musical chairs. Whether campers were splashing in the indoor pool or testing skills with tabletop games such as UNO, Spot It, and Hues and Cues, the day was a whirlwind of movement and laughter, as well as day of wellness and community, proving that a healthy heart is a happy heart.

FIRST PERSON

To learn more about Kids Night Out, School Days Out, children’s classes, and more, contact Kate-Lynn Cipolla, Camp JCC assistant director, at klcipolla@ujft.org or 757-321-2306.

Learning, leading, and connecting: Israeli Eagles in action

Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan

Over the past few months, we have had the joy of leading the Israeli Youth Movement, Israeli Eagles, in Tidewater. Each month, kids from across the community gather to learn about Israel, build friendships, and grow as confident, curious, and caring young leaders.

We both grew up in Israeli youth movements, where values such as teamwork, responsibility, and caring for others are a big part of everyday life. Bringing that same spirit to Tidewater

has been incredibly meaningful for us.

One of our recent sessions focused on Israeli leadership. The kids learned about Israeli figures such as David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin, Rona Ramon, Hannah Senesh, and Theodor Herzl, and explored what made each of them a leader. Through games, projects, debates, and creative activities, they discovered that leadership is not just about being famous; it’s about taking initiative, listening to others, and

working together.

Another favorite session was our Israeli inventions day, where we explored how Israel has influenced the world through creativity and innovation. The kids learned about inventions such as Waze, voicemail, cherry tomatoes, USB flash drives, Power Rangers, Rummikub, and drip irrigation, and then got hands-on time building models, playing games, and even designing their own inventions.

For us, the Israeli Eagles is about

more than activities. It’s about creating a place where kids feel welcome, proud of their ideas, and connected to Israel and to each other. We are proud of this group and can’t wait to keep growing and learning together.

To join the Israeli Eagles and share in the excitement, contact Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan are Tidewater’s Shinshinim.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

LAUNCH OF LEV SARA BIKUR CHOLIM SUNDAY,

A new initiative dedicated in memory of Shirley Farfel Berman a”h, Lev Sara Bikur Cholim is being created to extend a loving hand to individuals in the community—and beyond—who are in Norfolk for medical care.

This evening is an opportunity to learn about the program, hear from guest speaker Elise Wolf, as well as a tribute to Shirley Berman.

Lev Sara Bikur Cholim’s mission is to provide comfort, support, and practical assistance during challenging times, offering the following services:

• Shabbos kits – Complete kits including grape juice for Kiddush and Havdalah, challah, tea lights, hospital candles, and reading material.

• Stocked pantry and freezer at B’nai Israel – prepared and portioned lunches, dinners, and snacks for weekday and Shabbos.

• Hospitality for visiting families – warm accommodations and support for family members

visiting loved ones receiving care.

Visitation – thoughtful volunteers offering visits to hospitals, nursing homes, and homebound

Lev Sara Bikur Cholim is building its volunteer network. Volunteers are needed for cooking, driving, and visitation. Those who would like to be part of this effort are encouraged to reach out at

Berman was the beloved mother of Stuart, Bruce, and Douglas Berman, and Paula Berman Lefkowitz. She is remembered for a life quietly devoted to others, spending much of her time volunteering as a compassionate and supportive advocate and companion

Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse to screen at Chrysler

Sunday, March 15, 2 pm

Chrysler Museum of Art

Elka Mednick

Few works have transformed Holocaust storytelling as profoundly as the graphic novel Maus. When Art Spiegelman won the 1992 Pulitizer Prize, it was the first time a graphic novel earned that honor, signaling a cultural shift in the literary world, and new manner to convey memory, trauma, and history. Art Spiegelman: Disaster is my Muse is a documentary that explores the mind of Spiegelman, the artist who reshaped Holocaust literature and brought the graphic novel genre into public view. Art Spiegelman: Disaster is my Muse, is presented by the Chrysler Museum of Art in partnership with the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film and the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.

Through archival footage, interviews, and behind-the-scenes access, the documentary examines Spiegelman’s creative process, artistic influences, and the personal history that informs his work.

Published in two volumes beginning in the 1980s, Maus recounts Spiegelman’s father’s experiences during the Holocaust, portraying Jews as mice and Nazis as cats in a stark black-and-white visual style. Its impact extended beyond literary recognition, elevating the graphic novel form and expanding public understanding of how visual storytelling can convey complex historical trauma.

The documentary situates Maus within the broader arc of Spiegelman’s career, highlighting his experimentation in underground comics, his commentary on contemporary events, and his ongoing engagement with themes of catastrophe and memory. The film also addresses the complexities of his identity as the child of Holocaust survivors and how that generational inheritance shaped both his artistic voice and his lifelong engagement with history.

Following the screening, the documentary’s co-directors will participate in a discussion about the making of the film and the challenges of portraying Spiegelman on screen. Known for his intellectual rigor and unflinching perspectives, Spiegelman emerges in the film as an artist deeply influenced by personal and collective trauma, yet continually pushing the boundaries of his work.

Tickets for the screening are included for all full festival pass holders. Additional information is available at Jewishva.org/Muse.

KBH to kick off creative Shabbat services for families

Saturday, March 21,10:30 am

Sandler Family Campus

Danny Rubin

Members of KBH synagogue are excited to unveil a brand-new Shabbat services format designed for children and families.

Once a month, KBH, in partnership with Tidewater Shinshinim, will hold a special program designed to make services fun and incorporate its new home – the Sandler Family Campus – in a fresh way.

The first Shinshinim Kids Shabbat is called Escaping Egypt: Escape Room. Led by the Shinshinim, Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan, participants will solve puzzles, look for clues, and “find their way” out of Egypt over the course of an hour. The children will then return to Shabbat services for concluding prayers and a Kiddush lunch with all congregants.

“We are thrilled to begin the next chapter of our synagogue on the Sandler Family Campus with a dynamic set of Shabbat services,” says Rona Proser, KBH co-president. “The Campus gives us opportunities to draw on the entire building to foster Jewish learning and make every Shabbat memorable. We hope young families will join us!”

Future dates for Shinshinim Kids Shabbat are April 18, May 16, June 27, and July 18.

KBH membership is not required to attend the Shinshinim Kids Shabbat, and there is no participation cost. For more information and to register, visit JewishVA.org/Shinshinim or contact KBH Synagogue at KBHsynagogue@gmail.com. Be sure to register, so KBH has a headcount.

Tidewater BBYO updates website

When Courtney Krutoy took on the role of Eastern Region BBYO City Director - Tidewater last year, she noticed that BBYO’s digital presence on United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s website was both buried and outdated. Krutoy worked with Teresa Knecht, marketing manager, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC, to develop a new user-friendly interface that would help the community learn more about Tidewater BBYO and increase local participation. Check out the new website at JewishVA.org/BBYO.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

WHAT ’ S HAPPENING

Registration now open for Spring Break Camp

April 6 - 10, 9 am – 4 pm

Sandler Family Campus

Kate-Lynn Cipolla

When school is out, Camp JCC is in. Children currently in K-5th grade can look forward to a week filled with energy, friendship, and fun with a jam-packed schedule that includes free swim sessions in the indoor pool, creative arts and crafts projects, high-energy gym games, and plenty of time playing Gaga or exploring the incredible new playground.

Since every family has different needs during the break, the camp offers enrollment flexibility: choose individual days or dive into the full experience with the convenient 5-Day Package. In addition to the standard School Days Out program, an extended care option, 8 am - 6 pm is offered. Whether looking for a single day of reliable childcare or a full week of friendship and fun, Camp JCC provides a safe, vibrant environment where kids can truly be kids.

To make the week special, many beloved counselors from the summer will be there to lead the way, bringing that camp spirit and mentorship to every activity. These familiar faces ensure that campers feel at home from the moment they check in – surrounded by staff who know exactly how to turn an ordinary morning into an extraordinary memory.

Each day will feature an exciting theme, ensuring that no two days feel the same. Campers will have the

chance to embark on epic scavenger hunts, solving riddles and working as a team to uncover hidden treasures. Between high-energy activities, there will be time to make special snacks that are as tasty as they are fun to create, giving everyone a chance to express their culinary creativity. A variety of organized games to promote teamwork and sportsmanship will also take place. Whenever the weather permits, plenty of time will be spent outside, soaking up the fresh spring air and enjoying the sunshine.

Spring Break Camp serves as a social bridge, allowing kids to step outside their usual school circles and bond with peers through shared challenges and laughter. Whether strategizing during a game of Gaga or collaborating on a masterpiece in the art room, these moments are where lifelong bonds begin. This is the perfect opportunity for children to reconnect with their camp friends and make new ones. Every single moment is meticulously designed to be an unforgettable break from the classroom routine.

To secure a spot, visit www.campjcc.org.

To learn more about Kids Night Out, School Days Out, children’s classes, and more, contact Kate-Lynn Cipolla, Camp JCC director, at klcipolla@ujft.org or 757-321-2306.

Camp JCC presents Kids Night Out: Ultimate Bracket Bash

Saturday, March 21

5 - 9 pm, Sandler Family Campus

Kate-Lynn Cipolla

Get ready to hit the court and experience the madness! Children, ages 4–12, are invited to the Ultimate Bracket Bash Kids Night Out. The evening kicks off with basketball relays where campers can showcase their skills, followed by sports-themed arts and crafts. After working up a sweat, kids can cool down with a refreshing free swim before winding down for the night with a special snack and a movie finale.

Participants are encouraged to show their team spirit by arriving dressed in their favorite jerseys or team colors. Parents, remember to pack your child’s dinner to enjoy before the fun officially tips off. Space is limited. Register at JewishVA.org/KNO.

To learn more about Kids Night Out, School Days Out, Camp JCC, children’s classes and more, contact KateLynn Cipolla, Camp JCC director, at klcipolla@ujft.org or 757-321-2306.

BOOKS TO SHARE, STORIES TO LOVE

MONDAY, MAY 4 – FRIDAY, MAY 8,

Blake Sisler

A PJ Library book swap families won’t want to miss is about to begin.

Starting April 6, collection boxes located in the Sandler Family Campus lobby and at Strelitz

International Academy will accept children’s outgrown PJ Library books. Donations will be accepted through May 1. Then, starting Monday, May 4, all collected books will be displayed on tables in the Campus lobby for

SANDLER FAMILY CAMPUS

families to browse and take home. It’s all about sharing stories, passing along beloved favorites, and helping books find new readers. Whether donating a few titles or browsing, be part of this fun exchange that celebrates reading, community, and the joy of finding a next favorite story.

Information: jewishva.org/pj or Blake Sisler at bsisler@ujft.org.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

GOLDA DAY WITH THE SHINSHINIM

Tuesday, March 17, 6 pm

Sandler Family Campus

Children and families are invited to join Shinshinim Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan for a delicious evening of games, crafts, and an ice cream social to celebrate Golda Meir, Israel’s first female Prime Minister.

Kids will learn about Meir’s inspiring journey—from a young immigrant to one of Israel’s most important leaders—and how her courage, determination, and love for Israel helped shape the Jewish state.

This special kids’ program will take place at the same time as Partners in Jewish Life, so while parents are participating in PJL, children can have fun right down the hall. It’s a meaningful and engaging way for the entire family to take part in the evening together.

Information and registration: JewishVA.org /Shinshinim or contact Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

Dream Doctors bring humanity in action to Tidewater

Tuesday, March 24, 7:30 pm

Sandler Family Campus

Israel’s renowned Dream Doctors Project—professional medical clowns who bring healing, dignity, and emotional support to patients and families in hospitals and humanitarian settings around the world – will visit Tidewater.

For more than two decades, Dream Doctors have worked as part of medical teams in more than 30 hospitals, using empathy, humor, and nonverbal communication to provide evidence-based therapeutic care that reduces anxiety and supports recovery.

During the evening, Tsour Shriqui, Dream Doctors CEO, along with members of the team, will share their experiences in hospitals, emergency response, and their “No War Zone” initiative since October 7, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how compassion and creativity support healing in the most challenging environments.

The event is part of a five-day United Jewish Federation of Tidewater-organized residency with healthcare providers, students, and community partners across the area

Free and open to the community, this program is presented as part of UJFT, Simon Family JCC, and Community Partners’ 15th Annual Israel Today Series. For more information: JewishVA.org/IsraelToday or Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

Conversational Hebrew with the Shinshinim, Session 3: Around Town

Mondays, March 9 - April 13, 5:30 pm,

Planning a trip to Israel or just want to feel more comfortable getting around in Hebrew? If so, join the Shinshinim, Noga Yaniv and Yarden Lahan, for Session 3 of Conversational Hebrew: Around Town.

This fun and interactive class, will teach how to order at a restaurant, travel between

Sandler Family Campus

cities, and navigate everyday situations like a local. Israel’s regions and geography will also be explored, while practicing useful Hebrew phrases through real-life conversations. Each session is completely standalone, so it is possible to jump in at any time—no need to have attended previous classes.

Whether a beginner or want to build confidence, this session is a great way to make Hebrew feel practical, approachable, and fun.

Free for JCC members, $36 each session for potential members. For information or to register: JewishVA. org/Shinshinim or Nofar Trem at NTrem@UJFT.org.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Two opportunities to learn and laugh with Miriam Anzovin

Wednesday, March 11, 7:30 pm and

Thursday, March 12, 12 pm, Sandler

Sierra Lautman

The community has two options to experience Jewish learning through the voice of Miriam Anzovin, the creator behind the beloved #JewishLoreReactions series on TikTok and Instagram. Known for her sharp wit, warmth, and contemporary lens, Anzovin brings ancient Jewish texts into conversation with modern identity, culture, and lived experience — making Torah feel accessible, relevant, and deeply human.

Across two programs on consecutive days, Anzovin invites attendees into Jewish learning that is

thoughtful, funny, and meaningful.

On March 11, Anzovin will discuss Jewish Learning as Jewish Identity. In this evening program, Anzovin explores how Jewish texts and traditions shape who we are today. Through humor and insight, she reimagines what Jewish learning can look like in the modern world and why it remains such a powerful tool for connection, meaning, and self-understanding.

The conversation continues March 12 with The Song of Serach: Jewish Lore, Memory, and Storytelling, a midday workshop. Often described

Family Campus

in midrash as immortal, wise, and ever-present, Serach bat Asher is a keeper of collective memory and a witness to Jewish history from the Exodus onward. In this interactive session, Anzovin digs into the rich legends surrounding Serach—her role in revealing Joseph’s fate, her connection to music and storytelling, and her enduring presence across generations.

These programs offer a rare chance to engage with Jewish learning that feels both ancient and urgently contemporary. Attend one or both sessions to be inspired, challenged, and connected.

Learn more or register: JewishVA.org/KCL or contact Sierra Lautman, UJFT senior director of Jewish Innovation, at SLautman@ujft.org or 757-965-6107.

Partners in Jewish Life: Discussing the new antisemitism

Tuesday, March 17, 6 –7:15 pm, Sandler Family Campus

Sierra Lautman

The upcoming evening of Partners in Jewish Life will center around a conversation about The New Antisemitism: Roots and Responses, inviting participants to explore how antisemitism has evolved over time—and how Jewish unity, relationships, and shared values can be part of the response today.

How it works

Partners in Jewish Life is a guided, one-on-one learning experience. Participants are thoughtfully paired with one other person for an hour-long conversation, working through a curated booklet of short readings and reflection questions. Participants have the opportunity to think about the text, learn from the person sitting across from them, and maybe even make a new friend along the way. Before the program, participants complete a brief form to privately share learning preferences and comfort levels, helping ensure that everyone comes in feeling confident, supported, and ready to engage.

This month’s theme

Drawing on Jewish texts and modern thought, the conversation will explore antisemitism as a force that adapts and mutates over time—from its earliest expressions to its newest form, often experienced today as antiZionism. Partners will reflect on what it means to live as a diverse yet unified Jewish people, and how shared habits, relationships, and responsibility can help a response contain strength and purpose.

Dinner and childcare

To make it easier for families to attend, dinner will be available for prepurchase, and children’s activities will be offered for ages 4 and up during the program. This month, the kids will join Shinshinim Noga

Yaniv and Yarden Lahan for games, crafts, and an ice cream social as they celebrate Golda Meir, Israel’s first female Prime Minister. Children will learn about Meir’s journey from a young immigrant to a national leader, and how her courage, determination, and love for Israel helped shape the Jewish state. The kids’ program takes place right down the hall, so the whole family can take part in the evening together.

Come for the learning. Stay for the connection. Leave feeling more grounded, more connected, and part of a larger story we are building together.

For more information or to register, visit JewishVA.org/Partners or contact Sierra Lautman, senior director of Jewish Innovation at SLautman@ ujft.org or 757-965-6107.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

BABY & ME IS BACK THURSDAYS, 9 –10 AM

SANDLER FAMILY CAMPUS

Judaica Shop opens in Virginia Beach

The Blue Dove was “created out of love for my Jewish community,” says shop owner Lauren Broudy.

Blake Sisler

Parents, guardians, and their little ones are invited to participate in an hour of connection and fun every Thursday.

Join for coffee and a sweet treat while babies enjoy age-appropriate activities and playful games designed to engage. This is also an opportunity to connect with other caregivers, share stories, swap tips, and enjoy some much-needed adult conversation.

Baby and Me is open to all guardians with babies up to 24 months. Free to attend. No registration or JCC membership is required. Be ready to enjoy a morning of community.

Information: jewishva.org/pj or Blake Sisler at bsisler@ujft.org.

A middle school event with friendly competition and a creative activity

Sunday, March 29, 12:30 – 2:30 pm

Pinboys, Virginia Beach

Blake Sisler

A fun afternoon of bowling and beading is planned for middle school students this month. Participants have the choice to hit the bowling lanes with friends, spend time creating beaded crafts, or enjoy a mix of both throughout the afternoon.

This is a time where middle schoolers can socialize, try something new, and connect with peers in a welcoming environment. Bring some energy, creativity, and maybe even a friend or two. This will be an afternoon filled with conversation, and a touch of friendly competition.

$5 per person.

Registration and more information: Jewishva.org/bowling or Blake Sisler at bsisler@ujft.org.

A Tidewater native, she says she was shopping at The Painted Tree in the shops at Hilltop and noticed there were no Jewish-themed items. After some thought, she decided she was the person to fill this meaningful need – a dedicated Judaica shop.

“That vision,” she says, “lead me to open a booth at The Painted Tree,” where more than 200 vendors combine to create an upscale boutique-styled marketplace.

At The Blue Dove, Broudy says, “you’ll find unique gifts appropriate for minor to High Holidays, ceremonial pieces, everyday Jewish life, books, thoughtfully curated pieces from Israel, and a few fun surprises, too.

An expanding inventory brings Judaica from across the globe to Virginia Beach, with new items coming weekly.

The Blue Dove is open seven days a week at Booth S10.

NextGen Happy Hour Shabbat

Friday, March 27, 5 – 7 pm Sandler Family Campus

Hannah Yasemsky

Jewish adults between ages 22 and 40, are invited to begin the weekend with “Shabbat mode” at a NextGen Happy Hour Shabbat.

Leave the stress of the work week behind and unwind in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere filled with laughter and community. Come in work or favorite casual attire, ready to mingle and welcome Shabbat. The event will include a variety of games to play, appetizers to nosh on, and kosher wine or juice to raise a glass for a heartfelt L’chaim.

In the Jewish tradition, Shabbat is centered around joy, a theme that is highlighted each week. This joy isn’t just an emotion, but a spiritual practice of “Oneg Shabbat” (Delight in Shabbat), where the “doing” of the work week is intentionally set aside to focus on the “being” of community and connection.

Reconnect with old friends or meet new ones at this evening of relaxation and connection, celebrating this joyous occasion gathering to nourish spirits and create a foundation for many more gatherings to come.

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s NextGen programs are for Jewish adults between ages 22 and 40, and their partners. For more information or to register, visit JewishVA.org/NextGen or contact Hannah Yasemsky, NextGen engagement coordinator, at HYasemsky@ujft.org.

CALENDAR

MARCH 5, 12, 19, THURSDAYS

Baby & Me. A relaxed hour of coffee, treats, and playful activities for babies up to 24 months. Connect with caregivers while little ones explore and play with friends. Free, no registration or membership required. 9 –10 am. Simon Family JCC JewishVA.org/PJ or contact Blake Sisler at BSisler@ujft.org.

MARCH 5 AND 19, THURSDAYS

Roundtable Conversation. Join community members of all ages for conversations involving current events, politics, and more. Meets every first and third Thursday of the month at 1 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information: www.jewishva.org/Adults or contact Sarah Cooper at SCooper@ujft.org.

MARCH 7, SATURDAY

Improv Night. Rick Krupnick is bringing a crew of the region’s funniest improvisors to the Sandler Family Campus for a fast paced, laugh out loud Whose Line–style show. These performers will take audience suggestions and spin them into hilarious scenes right on the spot. Free. Drink tickets available for purchase. 7:30 pm. Registration required at JewishVA. org/Improv or contact Sarah Cooper at SCooper@UJFT.org.

MARCH 11, WEDNESDAY

Jewish Learning as Jewish Identity with Miriam Anzovin. The digital creator behind the beloved #JewishLoreReactions series on TikTok and Instagram, Anzovin brings her sharp wit and contemporary lens to Jewish learning. Known for her humorous and thought-provoking reflections on Jewish texts, identity, and culture, Anzovin reimagines how ancient wisdom can speak to modern life. 7:30 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Register: JewishVA.org/Anzovin. See page 33.

MARCH 12, THURSDAY

The Song of Serach: Jewish Lore, Memory, and Storytelling with Miriam Anzovin: Often described in midrash as immortal, wise, and ever-present, Serach bat Asher is a keeper of collective memory and a witness to Jewish history from the Exodus onward. In this workshop, Anzovin explores the rich web of legends surrounding Serach. Lunch is free. 12 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Register at JewishVA.org/Serach. See page 33.

MARCH 15, SUNDAY

Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse. This powerful documentary offers an intimate look at the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of Maus. A conversation with the film’s directors will follow. Chrysler Museum of Art. 2 pm. Tickets are included in the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film full festival pass. Standalone tickets are $8 for Chrysler Museum of Art members and $16 for non-members. Register at JewishVA.org/Muse. See page 30.

MARCH 16, MONDAY

Book Club. This month’s book is The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar. Club meets every third Monday of the month at 1:30 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information: Jewishva.org/Adults or contact Sarah Cooper at SCooper@ujft.org.

MARCH 17, TUESDAY

Partners in Jewish Life (PJL) explores New Antisemitism, Roots and responses. PJL was created to unite Jewish communities worldwide through the power of shared Jewish values and heritage. 6 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information and registration: JewishVA.org/partners or contact Sierra Lautman at SLautman@ujft.org.

MARCH 18, WEDNESDAY

Senior Club. Join active seniors to find out what is going on in the community and how to can get involved. This meeting will include Israeli Dancing with Pati Oliszewski. Meets every third Wednesday of the month. 12 pm. Sandler Family Campus. Information: www.jewishva.org/Adults or contact Sarah Cooper at SCooper@ujft.org.

MARCH 24, TUESDAY

Dream Doctors: Humanity in Action. At a time when the world feels fractured and overwhelming, Israel’s Dream Doctors offer a powerful reminder of what brings people together. They will provide firsthand insight into their innovative, evidence-based approach to healing that blends medicine, humor, creativity, and empathy. See Israel through a human lens and connect with the enduring power of compassion and human connection. Sandler Family Campus. 7:30 pm. Information: JewishVA.org/IsraelToday or contact Nofar Trem at NTrem@ujft.org. See page 32.

MARCH 29, SUNDAY

Middle School Bowling and Beading. Participants can hit the lanes, create fun beaded crafts, or enjoy a mix of both while spending time with friends. 12:30–2:30 pm. Pinboys at the Beach. $5 per person. Information and registration: JewishVA.org/bowling or contact Blake Sisler at BSisler@ujft.org.

APRIL 13, MONDAY

Yom Hashoah. Honor Holocaust survivors and remember those who perished. 6:45 pm. Congregation Beth El. Information: Holocaustcommission.org or contact Elka Mednick at EMednick@ujft.org.

Employment Opportunity

Camp Manager – Camp JCC

Camp JCC is seeking a full-time Camp Manager to help lead the day-to-day success of our summer camp program.

This is a hands-on leadership role for an organized, peoplecentered professional who enjoys supporting staff, working with children, and being part of a mission-driven Jewish community.

Ideal candidates bring:

• Experience working with children or youth programs

• Strong organization and communication skills

• A calm, collaborative leadership style

Competitive compensation and benefits offered

Complete job description at www.jewishva.org

Submit cover letter and resume to: resumes@ujft.org

OBITUARIES

Ashley Brooke Coleman

VIRGINIA BEACH – Ashley Brooke Coleman, age 46, passed away peacefully on February 18, 2026.

She was born in Norfolk, Virginia to Barbara and Harvey Coleman.

Ashley was a proud graduate of Norfolk Academy, University of Maryland, and Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. She dedicated her career to public service and was a strong advocate for helping others. She began her career as a prosecutor in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach Commonwealth Attorneys’ offices. She later served as Pro Bono Managing Attorney at Legal Services of Northern Virginia where she worked tirelessly to expand legal access to those in need.

Ashley was known for her big, beautiful smile and her generous spirit. She consistently placed the needs of others before her own and approached her work and personal life with compassion, kindness, and quiet strength. She was a

devoted daughter, a loving and very close sister to her brother Stefan, and a caring and attentive aunt to her eight nieces and nephews, who brought her enormous joy.

Ashley was an observant Jew who found great meaning in her faith and community. She loved attending services at Congregation Beth El and cherished celebrating Jewish holidays with her family and friends, especially preparing special and delicious dishes for Passover. She particularly enjoyed vacations and holidays spent with her Aunt Karen and Uncle Warren, their children and families — Matthew and Jenny, Scott and Jillian, Benjamin and Emily — creating lasting memories together.

Ashley is survived by her parents, Barbara and Harvey Coleman; her brother Stefan, his wife Tova, her beloved nieces and nephews, Avigayil, Ezra, Tamar, Rena, Moshe, Eliyahu, Elisheva, and Gavriel and her Aunt and Uncle Dr. Warren and Karen Sachs. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Rabbi Samuel and

Shirley Sobel, and Dora Friedberg Coleman and Phillip Coleman. Ashley’s warmth, generosity, contagious smile, and genuine concern for others will be deeply missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and all whose lives she touched. Her memory will always be a blessing.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Ashley to Congregation Beth El. A memorial service took place at Congregation Beth El. Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com.

Helen Cohen Laibstain

norfolk – After a brief illness, Helen Laibstain, 96 years old, died Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at her home.

Born March 3, 1929, Helen was the daughter of Julius and Celia Shulman Cohen.

Seventy-two years ago, Helen married the love of her life, Harry. Throughout their marriage they had been inseparable and very much in love. They shared a lifelong love of music, the arts, travel, and socializing with an array of close friends. Helen loved bowling, tennis, antiquing, old movies, fashion, reading, sweets, and card games. Most important to Helen was her family. Nothing made her happier than when everyone was together for special occasions.

Helen is survived by her brother Harris Cohen; daughter Dr. Alice Werner and husband Dr. Eric Werner; son David Laibstain and wife Jody; daughter Shelley Caplan, and grandchildren Jacob Werner (Caroline), Dr. Abby Werner (Josh), Andrew Werner, Claire Laibstain (Villey), Julia Laibstain, Hillary Sefcik (Griffin) and Carter Caplan. Helen is also survived by six great grandchildren, as well as many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her parents, Helen is predeceased by her husband Harry, and by her brothers Sol Cohen, Ramon Cohen, and Jack Cohen. Helen will be greatly missed by all that knew her and loved her.

A private burial was held. Memorial donations may be made to Congregation Beth El, Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, or the charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be sent to hdoliver.com.

Sylvia Bernstein Wagner

OMAHA, NEBRASKA – Sylvia Bernstein Wagner, a pioneering civic leader, accomplished actress, and champion of social progress in Omaha, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2026, at the age of 100.

Her life was defined by principled leadership, artistic creativity, intellectual curiosity, and deep devotion to community.

Born to Jewish immigrants from Latvia and Belorussia, Sylvia grew up in a household that valued hard work, education, and civic responsibility. Her father, a skilled metalsmith, built a successful transport trailer tank business, while her mother became a respected local dress designer. These early influences shaped Sylvia’s lifelong commitment to service, culture, and public engagement.

Sylvia’s love of the arts found expression through the Omaha Community Playhouse, where she performed in numerous productions. She brought warmth, humor, and poise to the stage, delighting audiences for decades and developing the confidence and presence that would later define her public career.

Her entry into politics was sparked by the League of Women Voters, where she was inspired by the intelligence and rigor of her peers. Sylvia’s early work in civic education included a regular KFAB radio segment, delivering informative discussions on elections and civic issues three times a week before the 10 pm News, earning her name recognition and trust in the community.

Encouraged by mentor Tim Rouse, she ran for the Omaha City Council, representing the Sixth District. In a maledominated body, Sylvia earned respect through careful preparation, thorough research, and collaborative leadership, often noting that having fellow council member Connie Finley helped foster women's influence in city government.

Her tenure was marked by principled leadership and courageous decision-making:

• She championed Nebraska's first group homes for adults with mental challenges, standing firm despite public fears and opposition.

• She oversaw major infrastructure projects, including the widening of

OBITUARIES

90th Street, balancing practical city needs with community concerns, and pioneered making “alfresco” dining possible in Omaha.

• She opposed the recall of Mayor Mike Boyle, emphasizing constructive governance over political expediency.

Sylvia’s political ambitions extended further. She sought the mayoral position within the council and considered a run for Governor of Nebraska, demonstrating both ambition and strategic insight. She understood the societal and cultural barriers women and Jewish candidates faced at the time, reflecting a pragmatic, principled approach to leadership.

Her faith was central to her life and work. Colleagues respected her Sabbath observance, and her Jewish identity informed her ethical perspective. She also maintained a lifelong commitment to Omaha’s Jewish community, supporting educational programs, cultural initiatives, and local leadership development.

Beyond politics and culture, Sylvia was a nationally ranked Life Master bridge player, known for her strategic thinking, patience, and competitive spirit. Her intellectual curiosity and love of games mirrored the careful, analytical approach she brought to civic and civicrelated endeavors.

Sylvia’s final campaign was challenged by a hip injury, yet she left office with dignity. Her farewell was celebrated as a “graduation,” attended by both the mayor and the governor, reflecting the esteem she had earned. She remained thoughtful about the future of women in politics, mentoring younger leaders and emphasizing preparation, integrity, and service over ambition alone.

She is survived by her three sonsByron Wagner, Keith Wagner (Pat Chudomelka), and Alan Wagner (Jody Wagner), as well as eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Wagner, and her siblings.

Sylvia Bernstein Wagner leaves a lasting legacy as a trailblazing woman in politics, accomplished performer, bridge champion, and ethical leader. She will be remembered not only for her public accomplishments but for the warmth, insight, humor, and integrity with which

she approached every challenge and opportunity to serve. Her life remains an enduring inspiration to the Omaha community and beyond.

A funeral service took place at Beth El Synagogue Chapel in Omaha.

Gilda Weber

VIRGINIA BEACH – Gilda Weber, aged 99, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2026, in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Born on June 5, 1926, she lived a long life devoted to her family.

Gilda was born in the Bronx, N.Y., and graduated from Beth Israel School of Nursing just as WWII ended. She worked briefly until she met her husband, George. She then dedicated her life to marriage and family in Westbury, N.Y. There, she was an active member of the Community Reform Temple. Later in life, she returned to work as a team member of the jewelry service department at Fortunoff’s Department Store.

She is remembered fondly by family for her special meals and especially her baking. Gilda enjoyed traveling with George and visiting grandchildren. She was an avid reader and loved the movies. She enjoyed trips to New York City for the theatre and museums. Eventually, George and Gilda moved to Virginia Beach to be closer to family.

Gilda was preceded in death by her beloved husband, George Victor Weber. She is survived by her loving children: daughter JoAnn Dervay and her husband Dana; son Don Weber and his wife, Robin; son Kenneth Weber and his wife, Ellen. She also leaves behind cherished grandchildren: Jacob Weber and his wife, Hannah, Joseph Weber, Riede Dervay, Russell Dervay, and one greatgrandchild, Marcus Weber.

A graveside service will be held at a later date, where she will be laid to rest alongside her husband at Albert G. Horton, Jr. National Veteran's Cemetery. The family invites friends and loved ones to share their memories and condolences online at www.altmeyerfh.com. Donations may be made in Gilda’s memory to Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, Westminster Canterbury on the Bay Home Hospice, Virginia Beach, or Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Virginia Beach..

• Family owned and operated since 1917

• Affordable services to fit any budget

• Advance funeral planning

• Professional, experienced, caring staff

• Flexible burial options

• Flexible payment options

Approved by all area Rabbis and Chevrah Kadisha

May the Source of Peace send peace to all who mourn, and comfort to all who are

SANDLER FAMILY CAMPUS HIRES NEW FACILITIES DIRECTOR

Terri Denison

Joseph Alex Frissora joined the Sandler Family Campus late last year as Facilities Director, working with Glenn Saucier until his retirement in December.

Prior to joining the Sandler Family Campus, Frissora spent 14 years with the United States Coast Guard, where, in addition to serving in an active-duty capacity, he held a wide range of roles. “I started off as a technician, completely hands on, working on ships where maintenance is a whole different world compared to a land based facility. As I progressed in my career, I took on more responsibility and leadership,” says Frissora.

Eventually, Frissora moved into command-level roles where he managed budgets, departments, boats, and multiple facilities — all while supporting a very high operational tempo. “The Coast Guard’s primary mission is life saving, so even while managing infrastructure, I was balancing that with operational readiness and mission execution,” he says.

“Working on this campus is obviously

a different environment, but a lot of the core skills translate directly: leadership, planning, being proactive, and making sure people have a safe and reliable place to do their work,” says Frissora. “The biggest difference is that now I get to focus fully on supporting a community instead of supporting an operational mission, and I’m really enjoying that shift.”

His goal for the Sandler Family Campus, he says, is to “maintain the high standard of excellence we already have here. This campus is an amazing place for families and our members, and I’m committed to keeping it that way while continuing to improve wherever we can. I plan to use the feedback and input we receive from our community to make sure we’re always meeting their needs.”

to break or become issues. By staying ahead of potential problems, he says, “we can ensure our members always have the best facilities possible.”

The Shrewsbury, Mass. native and his family (wife, Kellie; daughters, Sawyer and Peyton; and son, Declan) arrived in Virginia Beach in August 2025 with the Coast Guard and decided to stay when he left the service.

Frissora says he focuses on a proactive approach to maintenance and leadership, rather than waiting for things

“One of the things I really like about this area is the balance it offers — it has the feel of a close, welcoming community, but it’s also surrounded by everything you could want: the ocean, great food, and plenty of places to explore. I also really appreciate the climate. We still get all four seasons, but none of them are too extreme. It’s a good middle ground, and it makes the area an easy and enjoyable place to live and work,” he says.

JFS VOLUNTEER HONORED AS FOOD BANK SUPERHERO OF THE MONTH

Brooke Rush

Laura Goldstein, a volunteer for Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, was recently honored by the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore as their Superhero of the Month. Goldstein was nominated and recognized for her dedication, compassion, and unwavering support of the JFS Food Pantry.

Goldstein consistently steps in wherever needed— whether picking up food orders from the Foodbank, taking initiative in the pantry, or offering steady leadership with confidence and care. Always greeting with a smile, she is quick to ask, “What can I do to help?” Her warmth and positivity help create a welcoming, supportive environment

for every client who walks through the pantry doors. Goldstein’s commitment to service extends beyond her volunteer hours. This past Thanksgiving, for example, her daughter organized a fundraiser to support JFS, reflecting the values of generosity and community that Goldstein models every day.

Jewish Family Service of Tidewater is grateful for Goldstein’s dedication and is proud to see her recognized for the meaningful difference she makes in the community.

If interested in volunteering with JFS, contact Julie Kievit at jkievit@ jfshamptonroads.org.