Investment
Is Senior Living Worth the Gamble?
When families consider senior living, one question o en comes to mind: Will my money last? When it comes to balancing quality care with your preferences, do you hold your cards or take the chance?
e cost of senior living can vary depending on factors like the level of support you need and the size suite you select, while other aspects, like peace of mind, are hard to put a price tag on. Staying at home may seem like the safer bet, but is it worth the gamble?
Commonwealth Senior Living has been helping families navigate this journey for over 20 years. We’ll work with you to explore all your nancial options including savings, Long-Term Care Insurance, home equity, Social Security, and, for veterans, Aid & Attendance bene ts.
Investment
Dear Readers,
The current (at press time, anyway) volatility of the stock market and the overall economy is stressful at best. For investors, it certainly is a time for nerves of steel and/or trusted financial advisors. Personally, I’m working on my nerves and am grateful for the advisor.
Still, no matter the market condition – up, down, or lately seemingly sideways –having a financial plan with an investment strategy is critical to warding off sleepless nights and preparing for the future. Afterall, as the French writer, Antoine de SaintExupéry, best known for his novella, The Little Prince, said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
Several articles in this section speak to that philosophy.
On the adjacent page, for example, Rob Goodman discusses how to make charitable giving a component of a family estate with the client’s wishes preserved in a plan.
Marcia Brodie and Scott Alperin explain the importance of developing a financial plan that includes a power of attorney and a roadmap in the event of a dementia diagnosis. The article is on page 26.
Lois Einhorn and her late husband, Barry, made a plan with their investments for where they would live during their senior years. The plan is working. Page 30.
Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s Life & Legacy program helps both donors and organizations plan for their fi nancial futures. Read about the layered initiative that is all about connections, engagement, and Jewish Tidewater’s ability to move forward for years to come on page 27.
Another investment tool gaining traction is for funeral planning. Read about some of the options and reasons on page 31.
If you don’t already have a financial plan, now is as good of a time as any to develop one. And if you do, like Goodman suggests, it’s always an excellent idea to conduct a review as changes in one’s life might translate to changes in a will or trust.
In addition to many other articles, this section also features some advertisers who can offer suggestions and guidance for future investments and living options.
Thanks for reading,
7211 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23505
Terri Denison Editor Terri Denison
Investment
Family estate planning can include charitable giving
Stephanie Peck
Robert C. Goodman, Jr., an attorney at Kaufman & Canoles, has practiced law for more than 50 years. His knowledge and expertise cover an array of subjects, including the complexity of estate planning and charitable giving.
When consulting with clients about wills, trusts, and estates, Goodman takes time to consider multiple aspects of their lives. “It takes a lot of thinking, walking through what makes sense for each family,” he explains. He says he likes to touch base with clients every five years to potentially update an estate after changes in one’s life or family. “The focus is different with young children vs. older children.”
One benefit of a lifetime revocable trust is that a court does not oversee the estate, and, therefore, there is privacy and no cost of probate. The only time to probate a will, Goodman suggests, is when there should be a record for historical purposes. Goodman cites as an example a client who had papers dating back to the Civil War era that had been handed down through generations of the family. Goodman saw that these assets became public record.
When clients have significant fi nancial wealth, over-funding the kids may not be a good idea, according to
Goodman. After taking care of health and education and such additional amount as the client thinks appropriate, he recommends considering a donor-advised fund, leaving the family a charitable instrument. Money from the estate and retirement accounts can be moved into the fund, tax-free. “Don’t deprive your children of the pleasure of their own success. Every generation needs achievement and accomplishment,” he says. He offers an example where an estate may be rightfully subsidizing an heir who has a lower-paying job or raising a family, but the donoradvised fund also gives this child the fi nancial ability to join a board as a fully participating member.
adviser can sponsor the ball, but they still need to buy their own dress clothes.”
Goodman continues the discussion of charitable giving, adding the concept of break-through philanthropy. When
an annual gift of $75,000 instead, which the client found easy to embrace. During her lifetime, she was able to see the impact of her annual giving and opted to leave a much larger donation at her death.
Goodman considers a multigenerational donor-advised fund as a gift to children and future generations. It doesn’t diminish their work ethic. “The donor
a family has larger wealth, is there an opportunity where a gift can make a significant difference? One client was uncomfortable when asked to donate $1.5 million to jump-start a new initiative. The client resisted until Goodman suggested
“Estate planning can include investing in something today rather than just waiting until you’re gone,” says Goodman. “Why not see the benefits while living and decide whether to leave more upon death?”
Graduation season is almost here, and Jewish News wants to celebrate Jewish Tidewater’s students as the Class of 2025 graduates from high school, college, and graduate schools.
To help us acknowledge as many graduates as possible, please submit, along with a photo, this information by Friday, May 9:
Name
School
Awards, special notes
What’s next (college, grad school, job)
Parents names
Send to speck@ujft.org with Graduate in the subject line. You will receive an email acknowledging receipt. If you don’t, please call 757-965-6129. Thank you!
Robert C. Goodman, Jr.
Investment vehicle for Jewish community now on NY Investment
The groundbreaking JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. ETF (exchange-traded fund) is now trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TOV.
TOV was designed by ADL affiliate JLens to empower investors to combat antisemitism, support Israel, and embody Jewish values while investing in some of America's largest companies.
Why TOV? Why Now?
New challenges call for new tools and strategies. The TOV ETF is a timely response to the alarming rise of antisemitism and attempts to weaken Israel’s economy. It is also a recognition that anti-Israel activists are increasingly targeting corporations, while many Jewish employees find themselves in difficult workplace environments.
TOV is a new investment vehicle for the Jewish
community to directly address these challenges and hold corporations accountable to ensure their products, platforms, and workplaces remain free from antisemitism and all forms of hate.
How Does It Work?
TOV tracks the JLens 500 Jewish Advocacy U.S. Index, which provides exposure to the 500 largest U.S. public companies and screens out companies whose activities do not align with Jewish values. The remaining companies are then assessed based on their performance on Jewish values scorecards. JLens uses this information to advocate for Jewish communal interests through engagement with management and boards of directors, proxy voting, and other forms of shareholder advocacy. The Fund aims to deliver performance comparable to
other US Large Cap index funds and amplify the Jewish voice in the corporate arena.
Learn more about the TOV ETF at investjewishly.org.
This article is provided by ADL, an affiliate of JLens. JLens is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.
Refer to the JLens ETF website for more information on ETFs and their respective risks and disclosures. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For more detailed information, review the prospectus or contact JLens directly.
HRCC celebrates 75th anniversary
Thoughout 2025, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation is celebrating 75 years of philanthropic service to the local community.
Since it began in 1950, the Foundation has grown to become the largest provider of grants and scholarships in the region, supporting nonprofits and students with more than $26 million each year.
Donors can create an endowed fund or leave a bequest for a gift that gives forever. The Foundation’s knowledgeable and experienced staff is always ready to discuss charitable giving options.
For more information, contact Kay Stine, HRCC’s vice president for development, at 757-622-7951 or KStine@ HamptonRoadsCF.org or go to HamptonRoadsCF.org.
Kay Stine, vice president for development, Hampton Roads Community Foundation.
Investment
TJF SEEKS ENDOWMENT FOR ONE HAPPY CAMPER®
Each summer, local Jewish children could be eligible for a one-time, One Happy Camper® grant to help cover some of the costs associated with Jewish overnight camp.
To secure the future of this opportunity, Naomi Limor Sedek, Tidewater Jewish Foundation president and CEO, wants to create a One Happy Camper endowment to help fund these summer experiences. “The Foundation is always looking for those who want to leave a legacy gift for programs or services that are critical to the tapestry of our community,” Sedek says.
“An endowed legacy gift of $500,000 would enable 20 kids from our community to attend Jewish summer camp with a One Happy Camper incentive grant,” she says.
Immersive Jewish residential summer camp experiences are critical to building a strong Jewish identity, according to Limor Sedek. TJF’s website explains the importance that a Jewish camp plays in connecting a child with Judaism. Ruach (spirit) is part of every activity— from dancing to hitting a home run— allowing campers to explore their connection to Judaism in a meaningful way while
having the summer of their lives.
“If you found Jewish residential summer camp to be a transformative experience in your life, consider a legacy gift that will provide this same opportunity for countless children in the Tidewater community in perpetuity,” Sedek says.
To learn more about this endowment opportunity, contact Naomi Limor Sedek at nsedek@tjfva.org.
To learn about applying for a One Happy Camper grant, see article on page 35.
Fun.Elevated.
Stephanie Peck
The Ben of Ben & Jerry’s is asking Unilever to free his ice cream brand Investment
Grace Gilson
(JTA) — In the latest bid to cleave Ben & Jerry’s from its parent company, Unilever, co-founder Ben Cohen is attempting to buy it back.
Cohen is making moves to gather investors for a potential buy-back, according to the Wall Street Journal, a step that would sever ties with Unilever 25 years after it bought the Vermont ice cream brand — and following a churning, years-long battle centered on Israel.
“In the year 2000, Unilever loved us for who we were,” Cohen told the Journal. “Now we’ve gone separate ways in our relationship. We just need them to set us free.”
The move is the latest in a saga of icy relations between the Jewish-founded creamery and Unilever. In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s announced that it would stop selling in “Occupied Palestinian Territory” — a boycott of West Bank settlements that prompted an outcry among many Jewish groups and a spate of legal challenges in
states with legislation against Israel boycotts.
Cohen and co-founder Jerry Greenfield called the accusation of antisemitism following the announcement “painful” and “absurd.”
About a year after the announcement, Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever reached a deal to continue selling their pints in Israel and the West Bank. But Ben & Jerry’s later came out against the decision, writing in a post on X that selling their products in Israeli settlements was “inconsistent with Ben & Jerry’s values.”
The independent board of Ben & Jerry’s advocates for a range of progressive causes, and the fight with Unilever
has periodically resurfaced in recent years. In November, Ben & Jerry’s sued Unilever, accusing it of censorship and intimidation over its stances on the war in Gaza.
Last month, Ben & Jerry’s accused Unilever in Manhattan federal court of axing its CEO Dave Stever over the brand’s social activism. The corporation denied the allegations, saying it had supported the brand but that its recent advocacy had evolved into “one-sided, highly controversial, and polarizing topics that put Unilever, B&J’s, and their employees at risk,” according to Reuters.
Cohen’s action comes one year after Unilever announced that it would spin off Ben & Jerry’s along with its other ice cream brands. But Unilever has rebuffed Cohen’s efforts, saying that it would not sell Ben & Jerry’s as a stand-alone business, according to the Wall Street Journal.
“Ben & Jerry’s is a company with a soul,” Cohen said to the Wall Street Journal. “Business is the most powerful force in our society, and for that, it has responsibility to the society.”
Investment LORI: LEAVING A LEGACY OF INCLUSION AND HOPE
she knows exactly what she would do: “I would speak about inclusion and how
Lori (who requested that her last name not be used) is passionate about democracy and inclusion and holds a deep appreciation for JFS’s mission to ensure that people with disabilities are not forgotten in the Jewish community. This is why she’s made a legacy gift to JFS.
Fearful of the rise in antisemitism, Lori doesn’t leave the house much these days. Her connection to the Jewish world now happens mostly through Zoom services for temple, and through the services she receives from Jewish Family Service. One of the small joys
JFS provides Lori is something many might take for granted: the chance to go out for lunch. It’s not just about the meal, it’s about feeling seen, included, and valued. For her, JFS is more than just an organization; it’s a place that brings people in and accepts everyone. JFS gives her a sense of belonging, something she wouldn’t have otherwise. “JFS keeps me connected to the Jewish community.”
Everyone deserves to feel included, valued, and remembered.
struggle to find acceptance and community. Her decision to leave a legacy gift speaks volumes about her personal values and her commitment to the Jewish community and inclusion for all.
With government cuts to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, Lori worries about what the future holds for people like her, people who already
Through her legacy gift, Lori is ensuring that JFS can continue its work long into the future, providing support and connection for people with disabilities who might otherwise be left out. She is turning her fears into action, leaving behind not just a donation, but a lasting message: Everyone deserves to feel included, valued, and remembered.
THE VALUE OF FAMILY.
After more than 100 years as a law firm, Kaufman & Canoles understands the importance of building a legacy that lasts. Our experienced Estate, Trust & Wealth Transfer team has had the honor of counseling families (sometimes even three and four generations of the same family) to strategically preserve wealth for the future. Now we can help you transform your personal goals into a holistic long-term action plan–one that merges business and financial advice with proactive planning and smart tax solutions. We can. And we will.®
THANK YOU
Today, we honor our Legacy donors whose contibutions will help secure a vibrant future for the Tidewater Jewish community. Your generosity will provide lasting support and help meet the needs and aspirations of our community for generations to come.
Names in BLUE signify those who have formalized a Life & Legacy gift through the Tidewater Jewish Foundation, thereby empowering our cherished organizations to pursue their missions with renewed vigor. Thank you for your dedication to shaping Jewish futures in Tidewater and beyond.
*of blessed memory | as of 3/21/25
Bertram* Aaron
Laurent Abitbol
Rachel & David Abraham
Rachel & Marc Abrams
Adelle & Herman* Adler
Helen & Warren Aleck
Janice Aleck
Kimberley & C. Earl Allsbrook
Benjamin* & Candace Altschul
Sylva B. Altschul*
Jasmine Amitay
Tamar & Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz
Karen Ashkenazi
Patricia* & Avraham
Ashkenazi
Leslie M. Auerbach
Rosalyn Levy August
Gail & Thomas* Bachman
Jody Balaban
Linda & Leigh Baltuch
Babbi & Brad Bangel
Bessie Banks*
Roslyn & Michael Barney
Elena & Gary Baum
Bobby & Jack Barr*
Helen Jayne & Melvin Barr*
Dolores & Alan Bartel*
Gary Bartel
Marlene Bass*
Susan & Jon Becker
Linda & Calvin Belkov*
Lisa Benjamin
Gail & Bill Berger
Marcia & Amos Berkovich
Beth Hirsch Berman
Carole & William Bernstein*
Richard Beskin
Roy Beskin
Frances Levy Birshtein*
Paula & Michael Blachman
Leyba & Herman Blumenthal*
Moira Wright Bodner
Bonnie & David Brand
Rashi & Rabbi Levi
Brashevitzky
Isabel & Louis Brenner*
Bernice & Percy Brill*
Elyssa Brinn
Joan Brock
Edmund Brodie*
Wendy Jo Einhorn Brodsky & Ronald Brodsky
Eleanor & Leonard Brooke
Marjorie & Robert Brotman
Beryl & Steven Brown
Carol & Allan Brum
Larry Bublick
Norbert Bublick
Kelly Burroughs
Aaron Busch*
Alice E. Buxbaum
Marilyn & Stuart* Buxbaum
Stephanie Calliott
Elyse & David Cardon
Rose & Armond Caplan*
Deborah Mancoll Casey
Marsha Chenman in Memory of Sol & Bertha Chenman
Jeffrey Chernitzer
Rita Cogan*
Charlene & David* Cohen
Leo Cohen
Ronnie Lynn Jacobs Cohen
Ruth & Aaron Cohen
Sol W. Cohen*
Barbara & Harvey Coleman
Barry Comess*
Jean* & Allan Comess
Raizy & Rabbi Velvel Cook
Allison & Jeff Cooper
Minette & Charles* Cooper
Monica & John Cooper
Ann & Robert Copeland
Robin & Todd Copeland
Edward Cross*
Stuart Davis*
Lisa & Mark Delevie
Renee & Arthur Diamonstein*
Esther & Glenn Diskin
Judy & Larry Dobrinsky
Susan & Allan Donn
Ronald Dozoretz*
Abby & Mark Draluck
Leora & Nathan Drory
Bronia Drucker*
Barbara Dudley
Ingrid & David Edery
Susan & James Eilberg
Lois & Barry* Einhorn
Susan & Martin* Einhorn
Devorah & Morris Elstein
Dianne Epplein
Adrienne Lehman-Winkleman
Epstein & Edwin S. Epstein
Shayne R. Evans
Thelma Fantuch*
Jeffrey Feld
Mary & William Feldman
Freda & Jules Feuer*
Barbara & Andrew Fine
Jan* & Morris Fine
Karen & Matthew Fine
Hyman Fine*
Minnie S. Fine*
Nancy & Sheldon Fineman
Kim & Andrew Fink
Mandi & Ross Firoved
Gail & Joel Flax
Mona & Jeffrey Flax
Anne Fleder
Esther & Alan Fleder*
Gail Fleder
Joseph Fleischmann*
Nataly & Seth Fleishman
Barbara Fletcher*
Kristy & Adam Foleck
Sandra & Pete Forte-Nickenig
Colleen & Andy Fox
Helen Frank
Rita Frank
Edwin Franklin
Barbara Fried
Harry Fried
Cantor Wendi & Gigi Fried
Kathleen & Walter Fried*
Claire & Marvin Friedberg
Beverly & Alan Frieden
Jodie & Jack Frieden
Rosa Frieden*
Alicia London Friedman & Robert Friedman
Celia & Jay Friedman
Debbie & Mark Friedman
Jerome Friedman
Leslie Friedman
Shari Dozoretz Friedman
Ann & Louis Friedman*
Fannie & Milton Friedman*
Margaret & Leonard* Frierman
Penny & David* Gallo
Sidney Gates*
Karen Gershman
Helen G. Gifford*
Amy Ginsburg
Pam & Arty* Gladstone
Martha Mednick Glasser
Rose Frances Glasser*
Hara Glasser-Frei
Pearl Glassman*
Carly Glikman
Gail L. & Donald Gogan
William Goldback*
Farideh & Norman Goldin
Charles Goldman
Elaine Goldman
Jane Klein Goldman
Beatrice & Harry Goldman*
June & Joseph Goldman*
Bootsie & Morty* Goldmeier
Lawrence Goldrich*
Steven A. Goldstein
Laura & Keith Goldstein
Ann Goodman*
Martha & Robert Goodman
Victor Goodman*
Barbara S. Gordon
Janet* & Daniel Gordon
Paula & James Gordon
Freda & Tavia Gordon*
Joyce & Harry Graber
Helene & Bernie Grablowsky
Susan M. Graves
William Greene*
Carol & Ralph Greenhut
Helen & Yehudah Griffin
Laura & Fred Gross
Louis Grossman
Sharon & Michael Grossman
Rose Ann Grossman*
Carla O. Grune
Fay & Norris Halpern*
Jeri Jo & William* Halprin
Amie & Byron Harrell
Ellen & Jonathan Harris
Susan C. Alper & Steven J.
Harwood
Mickey & Stuart Held
Zena Herod
Denise & Jason Hoffman
Marcia & Thomas Hofheimer*
Marilyn & Stanley I.* Holzsweig
Brenda & Abbey* Horwitz
Susan & Howard Horwitz
Ellen Rostov Hundley
Shyrlee Hurwitz
Connie & Marc* Jacobson
Nancy Sacks Jacobson & Edwin* Jacobson
Beth & Nathan Jaffe
Michael Jaffe
Lee & Bernard Jaffe*
Rose & Joseph Jaffe*
Carol & Joel Jason
Gabriele Jiannas & Dr. Fred Pugh
Paul & Barbara Johnson
Sheila & Robert Josephberg
Dorothy & Howard Kahn*
Eileen & Stewart Kahn
Marcia Samuels & David Kamer
H. Lee Kanter*
Kathy & Jerry Kantor
Reatha & Barry* Kantor
Bruce Kaplan
Erica & Scott Kaplan
Bernice & Milton Kaplan*
Libbie & Albert Kaplan*
Phyllis & Arthur Kaplan*
Sue Ellen Kaplan
Roberta Joy Kaps
Mimi & Warren Karesh*
Betsy & Ed Karotkin
Florence Karp*
Melissa & Aaron Kass
Juliet A. Katz*
Ellen & Larry* Katz
Alene & Ron Kaufman
Linda Kaufman
Ted G. Kaufman
Marilyn & Steven Kayer
Debra Keeling
Reva & Lee Kelberg*
Marissa & Benjay Kempner
Arlene & Isidoro Kessel
Arlene* & Howard Kesser
Kay & Barry* Kesser
Janna & Arnold Kestenbaum
Jodi & Jay Klebanoff
Hanna & William Klebanoff*
Esther & Andrew Kline
Sofia* & David Konikoff
Wendy & Albert Konikoff
Melanie & Alex Kordis
Joyce & Jay Kossman
R. Mark & Brenda O. Kozak
Anne & Edward Kramer
Cindy & Ron Kramer
Milton Kramer*
Rabbi Marc Kraus
Celia Krichman*
JoAnn Kroll
Irwin Kroskin*
Sylvia & David Krug*
Adel & David Kruger*
Sue & Jeff Kurtz
Nichole & David Kushner
Alma & Howard Laderberg*
Harry Laderberg
Jody & David Laibstain
Phyllis* & David Lannik
Robert Lansing
Selma & Leon Leach*
Sharon Leach
Mavolyn B. & Sanford L. Lefcoe*
Edward Legum
Leslie* & Jay Legum
Lorna & Steven Legum
Ina & Martin Leiderman
Corrie Lentz
David Leon
Lisa Leon
Sandra & Miles Leon
Telsa & Arnold Leon*
Betty Ann & Scott Levin
Natalie Levinson*
Amy & Kirk Levy
Paula Levy
Gail & Joel Lewis
Mark Lipton*
Sara & Rabbi Gershon Litt
Elayne & Jeffrey Littman
Robert Liverman*
Rabbi Dr. Mordechai
Loiterman
Karen & Richard Lombart
Joan Kaplan London
Becca Lovitz
Jason Lovitz
Marcia Lovitz
Bernard Lubschutz*
Joseph Lust
Herman Mallick*
Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg
B. Thomas Mansbach
Raizel & Rabbi Shmuel
Margolin
Rychel & Rabbi Aron Margolin
Martin Marin
Brandy Martire
Paola & Noah Matilsky
Jordan Asher & Jody Mattison
Debra & Bernard Mayer
Andrea McGuinness
Thomas McGuinness
Deborah & Jerry Meltsner
Shaina Ettel & Rabbi Menda
Janet W. Mercadante
Ellen & Bryan Mesh
David Metzger & Alicia
Willson-Metzger
George Metzger
Laura & Jerry Miller
Hallie Miller*
Tanya Miller
Heather & Doug Moore
Betty Moritz
Melvin Morrison*
Marcia & Burton Moss
Alyssa & Jonathan Muhlendorf
Evelyn Munden
Rena & Michael Myers
Judith & Stuart Nachman
Sara & Norbert Newfield
Mimi & Frederic* Nicholson
Alan Nordlinger
Rosalind & Harry Norkin*
Joan Nusbaum*
Lois & Bertram Nusbaum*
Robert Nusbaum*
Marlene Nusbaum
Nancy & Charlie Nusbaum
Sharon & Bill Nusbaum
Carolyn & Charles Osman*
Kelli Anne & Bryan Pace
Abbey Pachter
Barbara & Joseph Patish*
John Patton
Pincus Paul* Charitable Trust
Linda R. Peck
Nancy & Stanley Peck
Stephanie & Paul Peck
Alex Pomerantz
Erinn & Felix Portnoy
Rona & David Proser
Eleanor & Julian Rashkind*
Ann & Allen Richter*
Zelma & Bernard Rivin*
Gina & Neil Rose
Joan Rose & Peter Sharpe
Rose & Kurt Rosenbach*
Diane & Malcolm* Rosenberg
Estate of Carol Rosenberg*
Carol Rosenblatt
Judith Rosenblatt
Barbara Rosenblum*
Ellen Rosenblum
Sharon & Gene Ross
Beverly & Louis Rostov*
Jane Rostov
Joanne & Philip Rovner
Miriam & Arthur Ruberg
Judy & Robert Rubin
Mark Roesen*
Abraham Rubin*
Sara Jo & Joel R. Rubin
Malka & Rabbi Gavriel Rudin
Paula Russel
Sarita & Bert Sachs*
Karen & Warren Sachs
Annabel & Hal* Sacks
Ada S. Salsbury
Linda & Stanley Samuels
Annie & Art Sandler
Harry Sandler*
Reba & Sam Sandler*
Toni Sandler
Judy Saperstein
Terri & Lonny Sarfan
Laure & Richard Saunders
Natalie & Larry Saunders*
Margaret & William Sawyer
Marge & Steve* Schechner
Edie & Louis Schlain
Lynn Schoenbaum
Rachel Schoenbaum
Joanna & Craig Schranz
Elaine & Joash Schulman
Peter Schulman
Helen & Buzzy Schulwolf*
Ruby & William Schwarzschild
Ruth Schwetz*
Naomi Limor Sedek
Miriam & Bob Seeherman*
Patti & Paul Seeman
Deborah & Peter Segaloff
Lynn & Robert Seltzer
Sandy & Norman Sher
Carol & Louis Sherman
Annette Shore*
Laurie Goldsticker & Gary Siegel
Leslie & Lawrence Siegel
Marilyn & Kenneth Siegel
Barry Simon
Carin & Mike Simon
Marilyn & Marvin* Simon
Shelly & Britt Simon
Simon Family Foundation
Cheryl & Harris* Sloane
Jill & Larry Smith
Pamela & Louis Snyder
Harry Snyder*
Helen & Daniel Sonenshine
Spigel Family
Linda & Ron Spindel
Dorothy and Ron Spitalney
Deborah E. Stadlin
Alan Stein
Herbert & Ronda Stein*
Jane Stein
Michal & Rabbi Yisroel Stein
Robert Stein
Stuart Stein
Jean & Ira Steingold
Joseph Steingold
Lawrence Steingold
Neal Stern
Robert Stern*
Randi Strelitz
Renee & John Strelitz
Joyce & Leonard Strelitz*
Burle Stromberg
Steven Suskin
Sandra Tabachnick
Kevin & Gary Tabakin
Marcy & Paul Terkeltaub
Marian Bear Ticatch*
Linda & Alan Troy
Hilary Truman
Nancy Tucker
Jody & Alan Wagner
Patti Wainger
Mark Haris & Diane Sutton Waitsman
Nancy & Alvin Wall
Doris Waranch
Trudy & Martin Waranch
Carol & Stanley Waranch*
June & Oscar Warner*
David Warsof
Joel Warsof
Lisa & Steven Warsof
Herbert L. Weinberg*
Amy & Eliot Weinstein
Barb Gelb & Kenny Weinstein
Carol Downing & Lawrence Weinstein
Matthew Weinstein
Miriam & Harry Weisberg*
Diane & Sam* Werbel
Adam White
Eric White
Matthew White
Harriet & Samuel White*
Matthew & Valeria Williamson
Danica & Josh Wnuk
Dorothy & Manuel Wyron*
Syvia Yavner*
Steven Yetiv*
Tina Yomtob
Amy Zelenka
Harold Zedd
Betty & Henry Zetlin*
Dorothy Zimmerman*
Ashley & Greg Zittrain
Ann* & Herbert Zukerman
To formalize your commitment or discuss donor opportunities, contact Naomi Limor Sedek at nsedek@tjfva.org.
If you have already formalized and your name appears in black, contact us to ensure we have the formalized documents.
Early financial planning helps ease ramifications of cognitive impairment diagnosis Investment
Stephanie Peck
Rarely does a day go by that Marcia Brodie doesn’t have a conversation with people who are unprepared for the unknown.
Through her business, Marcia Trains, Brodie teaches caregivers and family members the best practices for working with someone with cognitive impairment. As she explains how to care for an individual on a day-to-day basis, she often finds that family members are at a loss regarding financial decisions on behalf of their loved one.
“I see situations where someone has been recently diagnosed with dementia and they have nothing in place,” she says. “Sudden cognitive issues arise and there’s no control of the money.”
Scott N. Alperin, the principal attorney at Alperin Law, agrees. A lawyer
for 30 years, Alperin has spent the last 20 years focusing on estate planning and elder law. “Timing is critical when it comes to a dementia diagnosis. There’s a limited time period when you have the cognitive ability to make decisions.”
In many cases, adult children who are not involved in their parents’ finances discover that the parent with mild cognitive impairment, dementia, or Alzheimer’s is succumbing to scams or moving money between accounts. With
Trey Kelleter represents and advises defendants, witnesses, and victims in federal and state criminal investigations. Put his decades of experience as a trial lawyer and skilled negotiator to work for you.
no mechanism in place, such as a power of attorney, what happens to the assets? “This person with cognitive decline can no longer speak for themselves.
And no one has the power to manage the estate,” Brodie says.
“There’s a lost opportunity when they wait too long.
There are more legal hurdles,” Alperin adds. Without plans in place, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings are required. “Then the court is making decisions instead of you,” Alperin says.
Mild cognitive impairment often precedes a more serious diagnosis, and a family may think there’s time to make these decisions.
However, Brodie says, this is a progressive disease – so as the parent ages, it advances. She suggests acting sooner rather than later to determine what will happen to personal assets.
“Don’t wait for the unknowns. Don’t be left second-guessing.”
The legal definition of capacity, or the mental ability to understand personal decisions, has several components, according to Alperin. An individual must know who the natural objects of one’s bounty are (the likely recipients of the estate), understand the nature and composition of their assets, and understand the nature and consequences of their decisions. While a neuropsychologist may be part of this evaluation, Alperin says that a lawyer can also make the determination. “There’s
no litmus test for capacity,” he adds, though he often sees clues or red flags that don’t meet the threshold ability to make informed decisions.
The most important document to create is the general durable power of attorney (POA); all other planning can be done later even if the cognitive impairment gets worse. However, Alperin notes, an online POA does not comply with Virginia law. Two key powers in a well-drafted, elder law POA are often not included in a more general durable POA. Specifically, these powers include the right to unlimited gifting and the ability to create irrevocable trusts (where someone is given the authority to make decisions, enter into contracts and generally act on the behalf of the person granting the power).
In many cases, Alperin suggests engaging an attorney who practices elder law to draft the POA. “Many attorneys not practicing elder law are not dealing with Medicaid recipients or veterans, people who will run out of money if they need to pay $10,000 per month to a nursing home,” Alperin says. The goal is to protect the assets to pay for things not covered by Medicare or Medicaid. Planning keeps a pot of money for these expenses.
Many of Alperin’s clients with mild cognitive impairment don’t meet the definition of incapacity, but they are experiencing diminished or waning capacity and do not qualify for guardianship. However, they are prone to financial exploitation and their assets need to be repositioned to avoid scams. Like Brodie, Alperin suggests communicating with family members before losing this mental capacity. “Create a road map for them,” he says.
Marcia Brodie.
Scott N. Alperin.
Life & Legacy helps future look brighter
TJF staff
When “Judy” sat down with her daughter over Rosh Hashanah dinner, their conversation drifted from brisket to legacy. She had just learned about the Life & Legacy program and felt inspired to share her own hopes for the future of Tidewater’s Jewish community. “It’s not just about money,” she told her daughter. “It’s about making sure what matters to me lives on — through you, through our values, and through the community that shaped us.”
That quiet conversation is exactly the kind of ripple Life & Legacy Plus aims to create. This initiative, in partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, builds on the success of the original Life & Legacy program to ensure the sustainability of Jewish organizations and causes.
Life & Legacy focuses on more than just enrolling participants; it prioritizes donor education, cultivation, and maturation. Through tailored guidance, comprehensive resources, and a focus on relationship-building, Life & Legacy Plus empowers organizations to engage
donors in meaningful conversations about their legacies. Eleven partners, including synagogues, schools, and human services agencies, are part of the program, reflecting a shared commitment to securing the future of Jewish life in Tidewater.
Since Tidewater Jewish Foundation relaunched the Life & Legacy program in May 2024, participating organizations have experienced growth in several areas, including donor engagement, interest in legacy giving, and strengthened connections within the Jewish community. Five new legacy gifts have been formalized, valued at nearly $1.4 million. Five presentations have been delivered to boards and stakeholders of TJF’s affiliate partners, planting seeds for future growth. Over the High Holidays, more than 2,000 marketing pieces were distributed, reminding that the future of Jewish Tidewater is something that is built together.
Beyond the numbers, a cultural shift is taking root—one that embraces storytelling, multigenerational planning, and thoughtful stewardship. From synagogue leaders to school administrators, lay leaders are
We are happy to meet with you to make suggestions for preparing your home for sale, explain the transition process, and discuss available downsize options, both for sale and for rent. Whether you are looking to move in the next few months – or in the next few years- we serve clients throughout Hampton Roads.
engaging in dozens of meetings with TJF’s Legacy Teams, learning how to talk about impact, articulate values, and plan boldly for what’s next.
The initiative is also creating meaningful conversations with community members about what legacy means to them. For some, it’s a way to honor family traditions. For others, it’s a chance to involve the next generation in building a future they’ll one day inherit.
“This program is about more than commitments,” says Amy Weinstein, development strategist at TJF. “It’s about nurturing a culture of giving that reflects who we are and what we hope to pass on.” Four stewardship events are being planned across several agencies this spring and fall. On May 20, TJF will welcome back Kathy Sarlson, national director of Life & Legacy at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, for an evening dedicated to the “why” and “how” of stewardship— because celebrating impact is just as important as creating it.
– To learn more or get involved, visit https:// foundation.jewishva.org/life-legacy or contact Amy Weinstein at aweinstein@tjfva.org or 757-965-6114.
2024 Life & Legacy Kick-off event with Amy Weinstein, TJF development strategist, Kathy Sarlson, national director of Life & Legacy at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and Eddie Kramer, TJF board chair.
$181,818,181.80
Ben Sales (JTA) — A venture capital firm co-led by Arielle Zuckerberg has announced a new $181.8 million fund that will back “magically weird” tech startup founders and seek to support “life and creation.”
The number — it’s actually $181,818,181.80 — is no accident. Two of the three main venture capitalists behind the new fund at the fi rm, called Long Journey, are Jewish: Zuckerberg is the sister of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Lee Jacobs, Long Journey’s managing partner. The third is Cyan Banister.
Jacobs wrote that the new fund, announced last month, is inspired in part by his reaction to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
“What’s up with all the 18s? In Jewish numerology, 18 represents ‘chai’ or ‘life.’ Growing up, I was often given gifts in increments of 18; it was a blessing for life,” Jacobs wrote. “The horrific attacks in Israel on October 7th awakened something dormant at my core—a deep inner knowing of my purpose and what I’m willing to fight for. This fund, with its repetition of 18s, embodies my commitment to supporting life and creation.”
Zuckerberg tweeted that the number is a “a symbol of life, health, and prosperity.”
Long Journey has a reputation for quirkiness: It is housed in a large Victorian house with tropical wallpaper, per Bloomberg, and people often walk around barefoot. Jacob’s announcement seemed to signal the same mood.
“The magically weird are founders with independently derived insights, the courage to pursue ideas no one else has considered, the will to tackle problems others won’t touch. They’re the ones who arrive at unique conclusions through their own path, not by following the crowd,” he wrote.
Investment
Weeks after selling NYC building, Hebrew Union College sells part of LA campus to USC
Asaf Elia-Shalev (JTA) — Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is selling part of its Los Angeles campus to the nearby University of Southern California, in the latest in a series of cost-cutting moves for a legacy Jewish institution facing years of declining enrollment and fi nancial stress.
The agreement between HUC and USC will fund a major renovation of the Jack H. Skirball Campus and boost HUC’s endowment. The fi nancial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
HUC students, faculty, and staff will continue to occupy the campus’ west wing, but the majority of the property will belong to USC. The two academic institutions have been neighbors since HUC opened its Los Angeles campus in 1954 and partners in joint academic programs since 1972.
The downsizing in Los Angeles is part of a larger strategy that has also affected two other U.S. campuses of
• 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
the Reform movement’s academic and leadership training institution, in New York and Cincinnati.
“The decision to reinvest in the Los Angeles campus…accomplishes the college’s goal of aligning its real estate footprint with academic program and operational needs across all its campuses,” HUC said in its announcement.
The sale comes weeks after HUC announced it was selling its downtown Manhattan campus for about $75 million to New York University and relocating to a smaller $32 million building on the Upper West Side. Recent years have also seen the Cincinnati campus lose its rabbinical program and graduate programs in Jewish studies as part of the restructuring plan.
The Reform movement is not the only Jewish denomination downsizing its educational real estate in Los Angeles amid enrollment declines. American Jewish University, one of Conservative Judaism’s two major educational centers, last year completed a deal to sell its hilltop
Approved by all area Rabbis and Chevrah Kadisha
campus after announcing plans to relocate its rabbinical school to a leased space in an urban Jewish neighborhood.
Renovation plans for the HUC campus include upgraded technology infrastructure and more natural light for the building’s interior, but the project is still being shaped with input from a community-led task force.
Leading the renovation work is Israeli-born, California-raised architect Hagy Blezberg. Among Belzberg’s previous projects are the Los Angeles Jewish Federation’s BAR community center that is currently under construction in Venice
Beach and the Holocaust Museum LA.
The HUC sale puts the institution in a better position to fulfill its mission of educating future rabbis and Jewish communal leaders, according to Rabbi Joshua Garroway, the dean of HUC in Los Angeles.
“This sale allows us to invest in our future here in Los Angeles and make much-needed renovations and improvements to the Jack H. Skirball Campus – as we continue to evolve alongside our community and expand access to Jewish leadership education,” Garroway said in a statement.
Chris Sisler, Vice President, Member of Ohef Sholom Temple, Board member of the Berger-Goldrich Home at Beth Sholom Village, James E. Altmeyer, Jr., President, James E. Altmeyer, Sr., Owner
Investment INVESTMENT PLANNING FOR SENIOR LIVING
Lois Einhorn and her late husband, Barry, moved to The Talbot in 2019. The senior, independent living community in Norfolk opened more than 20 years prior to their move, in the same neighborhood as the couple’s long-time home.
A random solicitation in the mail offering to buy houses “as is,” convinced the Einhorns that it was time to sell. “We loved our house, but it was a mess with flooding,” Einhorn says.
Retired since 1994, the couple invested the proceeds from the sale of their home, and, along with their Individual Retirement Account and other investments, moved into the same rental apartment that Einhorn admired when The Talbot was fi rst built. With its many amenities, including dining, housekeeping services, and exercise classes, residents pay one monthly fee to cover all costs. As a bonus, the on-site physical therapist is recognized by Medicare.
Residents are driven to medical appointments and weekly grocery store visits by the facility’s bus or station wagon. Other outings include excursions to the Chrysler Museum or area restaurants. Among The Talbots’ in-house events, an activity director on staff plans ice cream get-togethers.
Einhorn reflects on how times have changed. Years ago, people didn’t live as long. “You didn’t anticipate you’d be alive at age 95,” she laughs. Since people now live longer, she says, they need to think differently about many things – especially money.
“It’s getting so expensive,” Einhorn says. “People are afraid of running out of money.”
Thirty years ago, adults hoped they had enough retirement money and social security; all that has changed. “You need more money when you retire,” says Einhorn, adding that she sees people working longer to avoid running out of funds.
residents. “Often, people decide it’s time to move in, and once they get here, they wish they had done it 10 years earlier,” she says.
Hartway views senior living as an investment in brain health through socialization. “Isolation leads to brain deterioration,” she adds. She recalls the outlook of one resident at The Talbot, who said, “I can basically have as much privacy as I want but I don’t have to eat alone.”
Hartway is aware of the fear of running out of money, although in her six years at The Talbot, she has not asked anyone to leave because of fi nances. Preparing for senior living should be part of a retirement plan, she notes, so an individual can age in place. Some residents hire outside care for 24 hours each day; a senior living environment allows for the resident and the aide to sit in the lobby and be social.
By choosing senior living, people are investing in security and safety, which are essential as individuals age and face challenges in mobility or health.
Vicki Hartway, area manager of Five Star Senior Living, owner of properties such as The Talbot, The Reserve at Greenbrier, and The Gardens of Virgina Beach, remembers when the Einhorns became
“By choosing senior living, people are investing in security and safety, which are essential as individuals age and face challenges in mobility or health,” says Stephen Boyd, executive director at Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine. Care is personalized, ensuring that an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional needs are met.
“Many families may not have the time or resources to offer that level of attention, but senior living provides a structured environment with skilled professionals ready to meet those needs, 24/7,” says Boyd. Planning for the future requires time and research, and this process can feel overwhelming and fi lled with uncertainty. According to Boyd, families often ask, ‘How
will we pay for senior living?’ Many facilities, including Commonwealth, offer various experts to help potential residents explore all the options, including long term care insurance, home equity, savings, and veterans’ benefits.
“It’s important to recognize that it’s not just about securing a place to live but ensuring a higher quality of life for your loved one in the future. Many families may not plan for senior living when thinking ahead, and it often becomes a reactive process, full of stress and uncertainty,” Boyd says. Investing in senior living offers far more than just a roof over someone’s head – it provides a well-rounded, holistic approach to care that benefits the resident in multiple aspects of their life.
“Ultimately, senior living is more than just an expense—it’s an investment in the well-being, happiness, and future of your loved one,” says Boyd, “offering them the resources and support they need to thrive during their later years.”
Stephanie Peck
Lois Einhorn with her great grandchildren, Talia and Noah Schulman.
Investment
Funeral pre-planning benefits grieving loved ones
Stephanie Peck
Estate planning prepares assets for future generations, while advanced funeral planning prepares for another inevitable future, diminishing some of the stress for grieving loved ones.
“You can face it now and take care of it or let it fall on your family at that time,” says Roger Seay, funeral director and manager of the pre-planning department at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, about the benefits of prearranging a funeral.
Tracy Bradshaw, advanced planning specialist, funeral director, and certified life celebrant at Altmeyer Funeral Home, says that the average age of those planning their future funeral is between 60 and 70 years old. “Sometimes there’s a catalyst or event that causes people to think about it themselves. Maybe the death of a loved one or a sick friend – a scare that gets someone thinking.”
Although Bradshaw says that seven out of 10 Jewish clients choose cremation as part of their planning (Seay says that less than 1% of his clients mention the idea), Altmeyer follows the rubric of faith when consulting with a Jewish individual or couple. These conversations include elements such as bathing and shrouding, burial garments, and the presence of a rabbi or cantor at the service and burial. “Advanced planning keeps it simple.
Someone can choose what they want or don’t want, but they also take fi nancial responsibility for their future funeral,” Bradshaw says.
A contract with Altmeyer includes three parts: information for a death certificate, decisions about details such as a graveside or synagogue service, and the option to pre-pay in full or upon death. “Knowing one of life’s biggest expenses is the death of a loved one, why not pre-plan?” Bradshaw suggests.
Altmeyer’s agreement reflects today’s prices for services and merchandise, guaranteed in a funeral trust where the money is growing until death occurs, and a cash advance to cover future external expenses such as the opening and closing of the grave at the cemetery. “Would you rather pass on more money to your family when you die or give more money to the funeral home?” Bradshaw asks, saying that he expects the infl ation of funeral expenses to outweigh
any growth from an investment.
According to Seay, preplanning relieves families of the burden of having to make several immediate decisions and gives them more time and energy to focus on healing and remembrance. If a client moves out of state, H.D. Oliver’s record of preplanned arrangements and prepayments are easily transferable to any funeral home in the United States. “We look for small, family-owned funeral homes who belong to the same organizations that we do,” when recommending a funeral home outside of the area. Under their Return Assured Travel Plan, should a death occur anywhere in the world, H.D. Oliver will bring back the body at no expense to the family.
“We’re all going to leave this world one day,” Altmeyer’s Bradshaw says. Preplanning offers peace of mind to the client and their family.
-Andrew H. Hook, President of Hook Law Center
“The values of tzedakah, building Jewish community, and caring for those in need were clearly passed down from our parents, and we are committed to imparting these values to our children. It is our hope and dream that our children will pass the same values of Jewish philanthropy onto their children as were instilled in us. Signing this pledge strengthens our link in the Jewish chain of generations dating back thousands of years and helps to ensure its future.”
— Renée and John Strelitz
Secure the Jewish Future. Start with a Promise.
Over the next 25 years, $68 trillion will pass from one generation to the next—$6.3 trillion to charity. By signing the Jewish Future Promise, you commit that at least 50% of your charitable giving in your will or estate plan will support Jewish causes or the State of Israel.
This non-binding pledge is a powerful step toward preserving our heritage, culture, and values. Join Tidewater Jewish Foundation and others in making this moral commitment to future generations. Together, we can ensure a vibrant Jewish tomorrow.
