Special Section: Mazel Tov (2026)

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 Tal 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 Tals’ 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.”

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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.