Jewish News Supplement - Women & Moms (April 2024)

Dear Readers,

Every single person on this massive planet has them. Beyond politics, teams, and everything else that divides us, this is something we all have in common. We all have mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers. Even if they’re no longer living, they’ll always be who our thoughts turn to the moment we hear “mom” or “grandma.”

Mother’s Day will be celebrated in America on Sunday, May 12, but why wait until then to applaud these women who have given so much of themselves to their children, from infancy through adulthood? Starting on page 22, six area mothers are praised by their appreciative children. All are beautiful homages to beautiful women.

As those tributes convey, most women tackle multiple roles today, offering topics for other articles in this special section.

Consider Barbara Dudley, for example. Barbara devotes many hours to volunteer work, spurring her to establish a couple of endowment funds to assure her favorite causes have future dollars. Page 28.

Myrna Teck is an example of someone who constantly takes on new projects. . . all in a big way. Now, Myrna’s working on a cemetery in Poland near where her grandmother lived, and she’s organizing a 10-day trip to explore the country. The article is on page 29.

It didn’t matter that Lisa and Wayne Richmon didn’t know a thing about roasting coffee beans or running a shop of any kind when they opened Roast Rider in Virginia Beach 10 years ago. Like Lisa, the coffee shop is constantly evolving. Page 30.

Of course there’s more, including an article on Beth Sholom Village’s Auxiliary, a thriving group of volunteers whose dedication to area seniors is highlighted in the piece on page 27.

To all the special women in our lives – moms, grandmoms, daughters, aunts, cousins, friends – all of us at Jewish News wish you a happy Mother’s Day! And a happy every other day, too! You deserve it.

WOMEN & MOMS

CELEb*ating MomS

Stephanie Peck

Nothing prepares a woman for motherhood, a role which requires on-the-job training. Parenting books and podcasts abound, if she has the time and energy to read and listen; after all, she has just spent the day…cooking, driving, bathing, feeding, hugging, entertaining, planning, scheduling, sympathizing, tutoring, praising, explaining, rushing, encouraging, spoiling, cheering, understanding, exploring, playing, disciplining, volunteering, cleaning, coordinating, worrying, celebrating, loving…

These six women are appreciated and celebrated by their children for myriad reasons. . . big and small.

M arilyn Bux Bau M

Shari Friedman and Renee Strelitz

Growing up, birthdays were always big in our family; the birthday girl would be showered with love and affection by those celebrating her. However, Mom always made the “unbirthday girl” feel equally special and included by giving her a gift, too. She still does it to this very day!

This story exemplifies how Marilyn Buxbaum is the most thoughtful and kind woman we know. Without fail, she sends meaningful notes and gifts to all of her family and friends on special occasions. She is known for making her chicken soup for those under the weather and preparing her mother’s honey cake recipe for Rosh Hashanah –even mailing it to her out-of-town grandchildren.

Our mother taught us the value of music from a young age. She is a talented pianist, having played the piano since the age of five. Her passion for the arts inspired her to start the Frailache Klezmer band and create the ODU “Opera for Everyone” course that she taught for more than 40 years.

Family always comes first to our mom. She proudly adds charms to her Gramie bracelet for each grandchild and great-grandchild who enters her rapidly expanding family. We are blessed to have the most loving, supporting, and caring mother in our lives!

Gail Flax

Amy Murphy and Scott Flax

Our mother is the matriarch of our family. She is loving and kind and has always been there for us. The strength, devotion, and adoration she shows our family is pure gold.

Our mother never hesitates to help her children, grandchildren, husband, and community. She strives to make this world a better place. She looks for the best in others and her glass is always half full. She is a problem solver and always has the best advice. Her patience and understanding make her a pillar of strength in our family and community. Our mother is the most thoughtful, caring, loving person we know. She has taught us to be upstanders and work hard to help our families as well as those in need.

We are grateful she is ours.

Renee Strelitz, Marilyn Buxbaum, and Shari Friedman.

Amy Murphy, Gail Flax, and Scott Flax.

WOMEN & MOMS

Betsy K arotK in

Jesse Karotkin, Hallie Segerman, and Jennifer Adut

Our Mother is the Golda Meir of Tidewater.

It is one thing to know from first-hand experience that your mother is special. But, if you are Betsy Karotkin’s child, people are constantly reminding you of this fact. “Ohhhhh, you’re Betsy’s daughter/son!”

Our mother is beloved by family, friends and members of her community. Exemplifying “Eishet Chayil,” a Woman of Valor, she is intelligent, artistic, strong, and righteous, and dedicates her life to Tikkun Olam. Our mother lives her Jewish values, looking at each day as an opportunity to bring more light and goodness into the world.

As long as we can remember, our mother has lovingly cared for everyone around her, including strangers, just as she has taken care of us. From shuttling people in need to synagogue to visiting with the elderly and infirm, she is an empathetic and unstoppable force. Even today, at nearly 80 years old, she is busy cooking and delivering meals to the sick and the elderly. Over the past 45 years, Betsy Karotin has probably shuttled enough platters of brisket and trays of her famous rugelach across Tidewater to fill a small stadium.

Following the example of Abraham, her table is always surrounded by an array of family, friends, and newcomers to the community. When we were children, you were as likely to find an elderly Holocaust survivor seated across our Shabbat table, as a non-Jewish friend, or as a person in need of a surrogate mother. With seemingly boundless energy, she never seems burdened by caring for so many, so often. Whenever we ask if she might be pushing herself a bit too much, she responds matter-of-factly, “I’m grateful that I am in a position to deliver assistance rather than being on the receiving end.”

In addition to her routine acts of gemilut chasadim, our mother has dedicated much of her time, energy, and professional skills to the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, the Holocaust Commission, Congregation Beth El, and Be a Reader Program.

As children, we remember our mother spending hours each night after dinner, reading books on Jewish ethics or the Holocaust, in preparation for her weekly Sunday school or Confirmation classes.

Like every “job” she took on, nothing could be done half-heartedly. With so much of her time invested in the Jewish community, our father would jokingly refer to her as Tidewater’s “Golda Meir.”

As a mother, she has constantly nurtured her family with love, outstanding food, and intellectual stimulation. Nothing for her family was too involved or too mundane. How many mothers hand sew miniature outfits for Barbie dolls for their daughters or create elaborate Halloween costumes?

When we had just moved to New Orleans in the 1970s, she agreed to be ‘room mother’ at our new school. Around Easter, she wowed our elementary school class with homemade cupcakes, topped with green-dyed coconut “grass” and mini jelly beans as Easter eggs. Who knew that our Jewish mother, master of the Passover Seder, could also create perfect Easter cupcakes?!

Rather than speak from a soapbox, our mother chooses to lead by example, always believing that there are many paths towards righteousness. Her refrigerator remains dotted with an array of quotes and life lessons from the likes of Elie Wiesel. In particular, she emphasized that we must never remain silent in the face of injustice and that tzedakah is an obligation, not a choice.

In addition to these many commitments, our mother is deeply engaged with her eight grandchildren, sharing her boundless love with each of them. She has a way of making each one of us feel safe and deeply loved. She has frequently said that she is fortunate to have such a wonderful husband, children, and grandchildren, but it is we who are so uniquely blessed.

Betsy Karotkin, Jen Adut, Jesse Karotkin, Hallie Segerman, and Ed Karotkin.

Betsy and Ed Karotkin.

WOMEN & MOMS

Cathi l ader Ber G

Rochelle Aviv, Nicole Bowers, and David Laderberg

Our mom, now referred to as Mimi, has always been a strong presence in our lives. Not only does she continue to be an amazing and supportive mother to her three children, but she has become a source of love, comfort, and fun to her seven grandchildren.

When we became parents and quickly learned how hard it can be to juggle the demands of life, we asked our mom, “How did you do it?!” Her answer, “I don’t know.” However, reflecting back on our childhood, tumultuous adolescence, and stumbles into adulthood with her by our sides, we can see how she did it. She did it all, because that’s who she is; it is in her nature to care and to take care of others.

She is a true example of Jewish values, through her work as a dedicated speech pathologist, the countless hours volunteering for local and international communities, and always showing up to the family events and milestones. Though every Jewish mother has her quirks, we can all say without a doubt that we would not be the successful people we are today if it was not for her.

Thank you, Mom, for showing us the how.

Cathi Laderberg and her seven grandchildren.

Cathi Laderberg and family.

WOMEN & MOMS

linda sa M uels

Marcia Samuels, Suzanne Samuels, and Karen Samuels

There are many lessons and values that our mother passed down to us over the years. One of the main ones is responsibility. She (and our father) instilled the importance of responsibility for ourselves, our families, our community, and the greater world. Mom showed us in words and actions that we are responsible for participating in and building the community we want. If we would not be willing to do something, why should we expect anyone else to be willing to do it?

Time and again she has stepped into leadership positions in the Jewish community in order to build and maintain strong Jewish institutions. She has supported many community arts organizations in the area, not just with donations but by annual memberships and attendance at performances throughout Hampton Roads. She volunteers her time in support of community institutions.

Mom also stressed the importance of personal responsibility. We are responsible for our actions, and all three of us are in tune with how our actions and words may affect others. She helped us learn that taking responsibility for mistakes and apologizing is not that difficult and can make such a big difference in relationships with others. We cannot recall mom saying a negative word about others, although she may call out negative behavior, which is an important distinction.

What the three of us have been unable to replicate is the energy level at which our mother operates. You would think that raising three daughters and working full-time would be a lot, but not for Mom!

She also volunteered in organizations throughout the area and decided it would be fun to pursue a master’s degree at the same time. In her “retirement,” she started another career, teaching students at ODU to become medical technologists like her. Add in more volunteer work, leadership positions in the community, book club, stock club, canasta, Lunch and Learn, and more – she has been busier than when she was working.

Mom also values her family and friends and makes time for the important people in her life. None of us would be the people we are today without her love and support – and a large dose of her stubbornness. We have aspired to instill her values in our own children.

*yChel M arG olin

Rashi Brashevitzky and Yossi, Mendy, Levi, Shmulie, Yisroel, Zalmy Margolin

If we had to describe our mom in three words, GIVING, CARING, and LAUGHTER come to mind. As young children, and still today as adults, we see our mom as a pillar of the local Jewish community and watch in awe as she helps people in a wide variety of ways. Sometimes lending someone a listening ear as they go through a tough time, sometimes ensuring a family in need has food for Shabbat.

As young children, our Shabbat table was always filled with a host of different types of guests, each one welcomed with a huge smile and a kind word.

Our mom cares about everyone; most of all, she cares about her family. Always ready to listen to our worries and applaud our accomplishments. Always at the ready with words of encouragement or gentile advice. Our mom truly embodies kindness and giving, and this is something we have each implemented in our own lives.

A super fun side of our mom is listening to – and watching – her laugh! When our mom finds something funny, her laugh is contagious; she laughs to the point of tears, encouraging all around her to join in! This reminds us all to laugh easily and laugh often in life.

Linda and Stanley Samuels and family in 2016.

Rychel and Aron Margolin and family.

Linda and Stanley Samuels and their daughters in 1972.

Camp Art Stars

With behind-the-scenes access to a world-renown art collection, there’s no limit to what your young artists will make!

Youth ages 6 to 17. Space is limited. chrysler.org/art-camp

KEEPING A MOTHER’S MEMORY ALIVE

Helen Murphy Addington’s four children gave her a forever gift: a “mom fund ” Long after her death, the scholarship in her name has helped to support dozens of female graduates of Maury High School go to college

To honor a special person in your life with a gift that gives forever, visit us at Leaveabequest.org.

# 1

The new Harbor’s Edge River Tower has not only redefined the Norfolk skyline—it’s also set a new precedent for luxury senior living nationwide. With 24 stories of sophisticated architecture and breathtaking waterfront views, our residents come home to a truly exceptional lifestyle.

A team of industry experts judged numerous national and global projects on their design aesthetics, community integration, amenities and lifestyle. Harbor’s Edge River Tower rose to the top.

The Auxiliary of Beth Sholom Village: A beacon of support for Jewish seniors

Lauren Krajesky, LNHA, CDP

Standing as a shining example of community service and support for Jewish seniors in Tidewater, The Auxiliary of Beth Sholom Village’s membership exceeds 600 dedicated women. The Auxiliary is a non-profit organization that takes great pride in backing Beth Sholom Village’s mission to enhance the lives of area seniors.

For decades, the Auxiliary has been a pillar of strength, providing essential resources, funding, and volunteer support to Beth Sholom Village. Their unwavering commitment has enabled Beth Sholom Village to offer exceptional care and services to seniors, ensuring they live with dignity and comfort.

“At the core of our mission is the desire to serve our community, especially its seniors,” says Edie Schlain, Auxiliary president. “As we look to the future, we see endless opportunities to expand our impact and give back even more.”

One such opportunity lies in the support of Aviva Pembroke, the new senior living community set to open this fall. The Auxiliary is excited about the possibilities this new venture will bring, as it aligns with their goal of providing top-notch care and support to seniors in need.

Through their dedication, compassion, and tireless efforts, The Auxiliary of Beth Sholom Village continues to be a beacon of hope and support for seniors, enriching lives and spreading joy wherever they go. Membership in The Auxiliary is open to all who share their passion for serving seniors. For information on joining this remarkable group of women, call 757-282-2384.

When you envisioned your golden years, you likely dreamt of living your best life - days filled doing exactly what you want to do, with little worry of what you have to do. In order for your vision to become a reality, it requires you to plan ahead.

Whether it’s for yourself or a loved one, we invite you to attend one of our educational events and learn why it’s best not to wait for life to happen to you. Start making the most of your golden years today.

Lauren Krajesky, LNHA, CDP is vice president of administration for Beth Sholom Village.

A scene from the Auxiliary’s Janet Gordon Mah Jongg Day and Luncheon.

Edie Schlain, Auxiliary president.

WOMEN & MOMS

Barbara Dudley’s story of love, loss, and a path to legacy

TJF staff

“I found her under a rock!” This tongue-incheek remark by the late Noel Dudley about his first encounter with his wife, Barbara, set the foundation for a lifelong partnership filled with love, laughter, and an enduring legacy. Sitting on a mountainside rock with her college friend, Barbara couldn't have anticipated how this chance encounter with Noel would evolve into a deep connection, leading to marriage, a loving family with two daughters, Amelia and Elizabeth,

and a journey of shared challenges, values, dreams, and goals.

This bond, notably tested and strengthened through Noel’s battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s, became part of the impetus for Barbara’s philanthropic aspirations. While Barbara faced Noel’s illness with determination, this period of adversity prompted a reassessment of their finances to meet Noel’s care needs and ensure financial stability.

Barbara credits much of this success to

the guidance of her financial planner, Scott Saal of Virginia Wealth Management. “The partnership with my financial advisor empowered me to navigate the complex waters of healthcare costs and long-term planning, ensuring our financial security,” she says. “Their expertise and guidance allowed me to concentrate on what truly mattered: our family and our future.” Strategic financial management gave Noel the quality end-of-life care he deserved and laid the groundwork for Barbara’s future philanthropic endeavors.

For Barbara, serving as Noel’s caregiver was an arduous and, at times, lonely journey, marked by the overwhelming responsibility of making crucial care decisions. The Jewish community served as Barbara’s refuge and pillar of support, providing emotional encouragement and practical assistance. “Walking into Noel’s memorial service and seeing it was ‘standing room only’ left me completely overwhelmed. In that moment, I truly understood the depth and strength of our community. It was a profound reminder of how our community comes together in times of sorrow, offering support and solace. I was deeply moved by their outpouring of love — it was a comfort I will never forget.”

her community bond. This connection, forged in the face of personal tragedy and the loss of the love of her life, invigorated Barbara’s resolve to give back, leading to her decision to establish two funds through Tidewater Jewish Foundation.

Inspired by her father's charitable legacy and fueled by her own experiences, Barbara wanted to make a meaningful

impact. With TJF's guidance, she established the Barbara Dudley Lion of Judah Endowment Fund and the Barbara Dudley Unrestricted Fund. “Working with Naomi and the TJF team was the best decision,” Barbara says. “Their seamless collaboration with my financial advisor turned my vision into reality, showcasing the power of collective effort and commitment.”

Volunteer work, including serving in chair positions for United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Women’s Cabinet – now Women’s Philanthropy, Israel & Overseas Committee, and currently Jewish Community Relations Council, as well as serving on committees at Ohef Sholom Temple, including the Executive Committee, offered Barbara a muchneeded sense of normalcy and deepened

Through her fund housed at TJF, Barbara was the first contributor to the UJFT Israel & Overseas Endowment Fund, a testament to her commitment to fostering a strong, educated, and resilient Jewish community worldwide and in Israel. TJF's role in facilitating Barbara's legacy planning mirrors her love and passion for community engagement and philanthropic giving. Through her established funds, Barabara is ensuring that her vision for a caring, compassionate, and connected Jewish community ¬– much of what she experienced during life's toughest challenges – will be available to provide for future generations.

Noel and Barbara Dudley in the Naftali Mountains of northern Israel in Feb 2016.

Bomb shelter at the Children’s Wish Garden, Sedrot, Israel.

WOMEN & MOMS

MYRNA TECK TO LEAD TRIP THIS FALL TO GONIADZ, POLAND

Stephanie Peck

During a trip to Poland in 2018 to attend a meeting of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies, Myrna Teck and her sister visited the shtetl where their grandmother lived in Goniadz. As part of this guided tour, they also visited the abandoned and overgrown Jewish cemetery. Realizing that no Jews are left in Goniadz to care for this cemetery, Teck asked herself, “What can I do?”

For Teck, posing that question in preparation for another life chapter, is what she does. . . what she’s always done.

Teck was three years old when her family moved from Malone, N.Y., to Blackstone, Va., where her father opened a bowling alley and ice cream parlor for the soldiers at Camp Pickett. Teck remembers running through fields of daffodils, a fortuitous experience considering her current involvement with The Daffodil project.

Teck’s family moved to Norfolk in 1945. After graduating from Syracuse University, she returned to Norfolk and taught at her alma mater, Granby High School, for 13 years, before joining the staff of The Chrysler

Museum. In 1999, she finished her PhD in visual arts education with a research focus in Jewish art at University of Kansas. In June 2021, Teck returned to Tidewater to be closer to her daughter, Meril Amdursky.

Teck founded Jewish Art Education in 2007. She continues to serve as its president, whose mission is “dedicated to educating the wider world on the contributions of the Jewish visual arts to Jewish civilization.”

In 2019, still pondering the question about what she could do with the cemetery, she returned to Poland, and with a group of 50 Polish Catholics from this same village, cleaned up the cemetery. Absent Neighbors, a 48-minute documentary on YouTube, was filmed to capture this event, including interviews with 12 people who still live in Goniadz. One elderly man remembers his

"Recently my mother required 12 hour per day personal care assistance. On short notice, Changing Tides Home Care provided the necessary assistance. They have been responsive to my mother's needs and have kept the family informed by telephone, text and portal. I am very pleased with their services.”

-Andrew H. Hook, President of Hook Law Center

mother forbidding him from playing with Jewish children. His mother believed that Jews killed Catholic children and used their blood to make matzah, an antisemitic accusation referred to as blood libel.

This fall, Teck will return to Poland to dedicate an information signboard at the cemetery’s entrance. The dedication will be preceded by a 10-day trip, August 22 – Sept. 2, to include stops in Warsaw, Krakow, Auschwitz, Tykocin, and Bialystok. This trip is open to the public. Including airfare, hotel, meals, and venue tickets, Teck expects the trip to cost $2,000 - $2,500, depending on the number of travelers and group rates.

For more information about the trip and dedication, contact Myrna Teck at teck.jarted@gmail.com or 757-515-9359.

Myrna Teck at the tombstone of Chaim Tykocki in 2019 in Goniadz.

WOMEN & MOMS

Lisa Richmon adds a new kind of flavor at Roast Rider with its Cocktail Lab and jazz nights

Stephanie Peck

“Coffee shop owners are Gen X; we are their grandparents age!” says Lisa Richmon, as she tells the tale of opening Roast Rider at Hilltop with her husband, Wayne, 10 years ago. With no retail experience between them, they had every reason to fail – they don’t roast their own beans, nor does Roast Rider have a dedicated kitchen for meal prep.

How, then, do they explain their success? “I think there are two foundational reasons, and the credit is split right down the middle. Wayne and I are both native curators, but he knows coffee and numbers while I know people and words,” Richmon explains. He has a reputation for his wine palette which translated to coffee. She is a storyteller, which translated to

branding. Together, they discovered unknown culinary talent and brought their goods in-house.

“We are not bakers or roasters. We don’t want to run a kitchen. So, Wayne’s ability to build relationships with three of the top roasters in the country is a foundational win for Roast Rider,” says Richmon.

Besides their extensive coffee menu, Roast Rider serves a full menu of coffee-infused cocktails daily and jazz every third Thursday. Breakfast and lunch are served, including a partnership with Azar’s to create meze plates and other fresh, from-scratch Mediterranean dishes. “Prosperity Kitchen & Pantry and My Vegan Sweet Tooth are also partners who bake for us and make us look and smell good,” says Richmon.

“One of the interesting things about our evenings is that we always introduce talent from Governor’s School and nearby schools and rarely hire established, adult talent,” says Richmon. “We really enjoy giving these rising stars a platform to launch from.”

Besides tasting the coffee (some options come from their award-winning, ethically farmed green beans), two additional reasons should encourage a visit. Not only are dogs welcomed in the outdoor café, but the Visitor’s Booth at the bar showcases 10 years of personalized handwritten post-it notes, including doodles, poems, rants, and raves. And, according to Richmon, “Wayne has saved every single one them.”

When Richmon’s not supporting Wayne’s coffee dreams, she is a healthcare and thought leadership writer who recently helped develop and market a riddle app for teens called WhoRiddle

To see the menu and jazz schedule, go to roastridercoffee.com.

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A COLLABORATION BETWEEN BETH SHOLOM VILLAGE AND PEMBROKE SQUARE ASSOCIATES Expected Opening Fall 2024! PEMBROKE

• Pickleball Courts

• Rooftop Venues

• Indoor Aquatic Center

• Top-of-the-line Appliances

• Life Enrichment Programs

• Hair & Nail Salon

• Fitness Center

at (757) 961-3046. AvivaPembroke.com

• Bistro and Café

• Housekeeping Services

• Concierge Services

• Dog Washing Station

Lisa Richmon at Roast Rider.