Joel Kupperman, template for the smart Jewish kid
He lisped. He wore an intense and engaged stare in photos. And he knew just about everything. Joel Kupperman, the adorable child star who helped burnish the stereotype of the brainy Jew as a panelist...
View ArticleHyman Siegal taught young Leonard Nimoy to develop film
BOSTON (JTA)—As a teenager growing up in the West End of Boston in the early 1940s, Hyman Siegal was a regular at the West End House, a philanthropic club that offered programming for the sons of...
View ArticleBetty J. Weinstein
Fairfax—Betty J. Weinstein 89, died May 6, 2020 in Fairfax, Virginia. Born in Norfolk, she was the daughter of the late Julius M. Tischler and Helen Weisel Tischler. Mrs. Weinstein worked for the Naval...
View ArticleRonald “Ronnie” L. Levy
NORFOLK—On Friday, May 15, 2020, Ronald “Ronnie” L. Levy, loving husband and father of two children, passed away at the age of 79. Ronnie was born in Norfolk, Va. to Max and Goldie (Peltz) Levy. A...
View ArticleLillian T. Kozak
Virginia Beach—Lillian T. Kozak, 93, a retired U.S. Navy civilian and mother of an all-male “Brady bunch,” died May 11, 2020, at Beth Sholom Village. Mrs. Kozak was born in Norfolk to the late Benjamin...
View ArticleDr. Ronald I. Dozoretz
Washington, DC—Dr. Ronald I. Dozoretz passed away peacefully on May 8, 2020 at the age of 85. Ron, affectionally known as Dr. D, dedicated his entire life to helping people. He had a very gentle and...
View ArticleRita Semel Cohen
Norfolk—Rita Semel Cohen 86, of Norfolk, died May 16, 2020 at Beth Sholom Home in Virginia Beach. Born in Syracuse, New York she was the daughter of the late Jack Semel and Sarah Coplon Semel. Rita was...
View ArticleDolores Bartel
Virginia Beach—We are saddened by the passing of Dolores Bartel on May 7, 2020, after fighting a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Dolores was born in Miami Beach, Fla., the daughter of George and Alice...
View ArticleDonna Skwarlo Kootner
Norfolk—Donna Skwarlo Kootner, 77, a long time member of Ohef Sholom Temple, passed away on May 27. Donna was a cherished member of the Knitting Club at Beth Sholom Village, making treasured blankets...
View ArticleBarry Steven Comess
Richmond—Barry Steven Comess, one of life’s greatest characters, passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, following a prolonged battle with cardiovascular disease at the end of his 75th year. Cheers to...
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Simon Family JCC reopens Monday, June 8
Governor Ralph Northam announced on Tuesday, June 3 that he would move the portion of the Commonwealth that includes Tidewater into Phase 2 of reopening effective Friday, June 5. With his announcement,...
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Jewish Fellowship for young adults
Applications accepted beginning June 15 COVID-19 might have stalled summer plans, but that doesn’t mean that summer has to come to a standstill. Jewish Federations of North America just announced the...
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New Year. New Mikvah.
The final stages of the new mikvah project at 425 Washington Park are nearly complete, with late June as the projected opening. Then, with a little bit of mazel, and a lot of rain, the existing Norfolk...
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Fierce forces of human nature: Local congregations rise to the occasion
Community leadership calls for more than soliciting donors and volunteers who buy into your vision. Patti Wainger and Dorianne Villani recently passed an overnight crash course on the contact-free...
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At the J, contactless training is an exercise in reinvention
Tires on cars, in parking lots, is so 2019. Pandemic life touches just about everything and everyone. Some of the efforts to adapt produce marvel-inducing change. When COVID-19 struck and Virginia...
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2020 Community Campaign
Not quite what we’d envisioned As the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2020 Community Campaign draws to a close, many of us will look back on it as “one for the record books.” The 2020...
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A hero lost, but forever loved: Stan Smolen
When my sister Lynn and I were young, Daddy was our hero. As we grew up and learned his stories we realized he was an American hero, too. Our precious father, Stan Smolen, died last month at the age of...
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Mystery Wine Night a huge hit for YAD during quarantine
A Zoom chat room of Young Adult Division (YAD) members was filled with clinking glasses, generous pours, and lots of laughter on Thursday, May 21. That’s because YAD hosted its first-ever, Mystery Wine...
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Simon Family JCC Expands Hours
Monday–Thursday: 5 am–7 pm Friday: 5 am–6 pm Saturday–Sunday: 8 am–6 pm After the first successful week of operations during Governor Ralph Northam’s Phase Two of reopening, the Simon Family JCC made...
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Sandy Tabachnick: LIFE & LEGACY® donor
Sandy Finberg Tabachnick grew up in Ashland, a small town in northeastern Ohio that was also home to Ashland College, a college founded by the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The Finbergs were one...
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