Lynn Evans became part of the Ohef Sholom Temple staff in 1991 as a secretary to then Assistant, Rabbi Paul Cohen. She became the Administrator during the Presidency of Robert Goodman Jr. She has been a member of Ohef Sholom Temple since 1967 and is a life long resident of Norfolk. Lynn and her husband John, have two sons, Noel and Jamie. Lynn is privileged to be part of Ohef Sholom Temple and strives to make every member feel part of the Ohef Sholom Temple family.

Lynn Evans, Administrator
lynn@ohefsholom.org
Phone: (757) 625-4295

Gary Bernstein has a wealth of Jewish communal organizational and programming experience, having spent 29 years in the JCC system, including 14 years as Executive Director of Jewish Community Center’s in Louisville, KY, Albuquerque, NM and Marblehead, MA. Gary’s many skills and activities in the social service sector encompass programming and marketing, consulting and membership development, as well as leadership development, and event management.

Gary Bernstein brings to Ohef Sholom Temple, decades of practical programming and administrative experiences combined with a passion and love of Jewish life. Gary, originally from Oceanside, New York, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Physical Education & Recreation from Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania and a Masters of Science degree in Sports Administration from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.

In the newly created position of Director of Congregational Life, Gary will not only focus his efforts on helping integrate current members into the Temple community and attract prospective members to the Temple, but work cooperatively with the United Jewish Federation and Tidewater Jewish Foundation. These efforts will include special attention to supporting the many interfaith families in our congregation, and to attract unaffiliated interfaith families in the community to visit Ohef Sholom and become members. Gary will also be looking at some of the underserved demographic sectors of the congregation, and providing assistance to launching programming tailored to their needs. Garyis excited about working with the Ohef Sholom Temple congregants, enhancing and further developing the quality programs that currently exist. Before arriving in Norfolk this past summer, Gary served as an adjunct faculty member in the Sports Administration department teaching graduate and undergraduate classes at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. Gary has a wife Donna and two children Gehrig & Nikki who are both enrolled at Old Dominion University.

Gail W. Bachman is a life-long member of Ohef Sholom Temple. She attended Religious School from pre-kindergarten through Confirmation and she has seen many positive changes throughout the years. Gail started working at the Temple as a teenager when her mother was the principal and has only missed one year since the age of thirteen. She began as an assistant and then was a teacher for many years before becoming the Principal in 1994. Gail is proud to be the third generation of Principals in her family, following in the footsteps of her mother who worked for Ohef Sholom for many years and her maternal grandmother, who led the temple Sunday School in Charleston, West Virginia for over forty years.

Gail received, from the Jewish Education Council, both the Chai and Double Chai Awards for eighteen and thirty-six years, respectively, of service in local Jewish Education. She is honored that she was one of the first two people, along with Virginia Rosen, to ever receive the Double Chai Award. Each year, Gail also receives a Jewish Education Council Continuing Education certificate, recognizing her continuing growth as a Jewish educator.  In 2009, Gail was presented the Tidewater Jewish Educator of the Year Award, for contributions made during her 45 years of service to Ohef Sholom and the Jewish community.

Gail retired from Norfolk Public Schools in 2005 after 31 years of teaching. She is married to Tom and they are grateful to have three wonderful sons. Each son became a Bar Mitzvah and continued on to Confirmation here at Ohef Sholom. Gail and her family are actively involved in all aspects of Temple life.

If you have any questions regarding Religious School please contact Gail at gail@ohefsholom.org or by phone at (757) 625-42595.

Throughout the history of Ohef Sholom Temple, music has occupied a respected and honored place both in worship services and in special presentations: the dedication service of the sanctuary in the early 20^th century was celebrated with music; the congregation’s 150^th anniversary in 1994 was celebrated by the world premiere of a commissioned work by the renowned composer Richard Danielpour. Indeed, musical excellence has long been associated with Ohef Sholom.

Members of the congregation are actively involved in maintaining our musical traditions. The Temple Quartet and the Adult Choir, conducted by Music Director Charles Woodward, participate at the High Holy Days services and at Shabbat services throughout the year. Yad b’Yad, Ohef Sholom’s youth choir, is directed by Cantor Jennifer Bern-Vogel and Marilyn Johns, and sings at services during the school year. Ohef Sholom hosts musical events by musicians of national and international renown. Recent concerts have included performances by conductor JoAnn Falletta and the Virginia Symphony, the Virginia Opera, the Virginia Arts Festival, pianist André-Michel Schub, clarinetist David Shiffrin, violinist Ani Kavafian, violist Amadi Hummings, the Miami String Quartet, the Feldman Chamber Music Society and Young Audiences of Virginia.

Rabbi Forman was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and received his B.A. from the University of Washington, in Seattle, and an M.A. from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, Rabbi Forman received an M.A. in Hebrew Letters, and Rabbinic Ordination from the Seminary. His Rabbinic Thesis is titled: "Some Philosophical, Psychological and Ethical Elements in the Writings of Erich Fromm". In 1987 he was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. In 1993, the Rabbi received his earned doctoral degree from Boston University's School of Theology in Philosophy and Religion. His Doctoral Thesis is titled: "Those who make Teshuvah are called the Children of Abraham and Sarah," and deals with the issues of Conversion, Intermarriage and Finding a place for the non-Jew in today's Synagogue.

Rabbi Forman has served Ohef Sholom Temple with distinction as Senior Rabbi for more than three decades. He has held Emeritus status since November of 2000. He has been active on many community boards and Governor's Commissions and has received numerous awards and honors, including the National Conference for Community and Justice Award for outstanding Interfaith and Communal Service. Both the Congregation and the Rabbi have worked hard on educational, liturgical, ethical, theological and communal projects, not only for members of the Temple, but also for the entire Hampton Roads community and the Commonwealth of Virginia, including the Eastern Virginia Medical School and the Howard and Georgeanna Jones In-Vitro Fertilization Ethics Committee. The Temple Religious School has been named in his honor.

In 2001, and 2002, Rabbi Forman served congregation Ner Sholom in Woodbridge, Virginia, in a one-year position as Interim Rabbi, ministering to their special needs as employees, friends and relatives of the September 11, 2001 horrific attack on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center by Muslim fanatic terrorists, guiding their religious school, adult education and interfaith programs.

In 2002, the Rabbi returned to the Veteran's Hospital in Hampton, Virginia, as an intermittent Chaplain. At this time, he also concluded negotiations with Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, regarding the establishment of the Institute for Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding. With the help of key individuals, including Charles Cooper and Dr. Roseann Runte, President of ODU, he assisted in raising $750,000 to begin the program. Currently, the Institute is embarking on ways to draw the Christian Community and others into the Institute's programs and activities. A goal of $3 Million has been proposed so that permanent positions can be established in the areas of Jewish and Christian Studies, lecturers brought in, a tele-tech-net program and web site can be implemented, and outreach can be further extended to the current faculty and into the community. ODU already has a Middle-Eastern and Islamic Studies program, and it is felt the Institute for Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding will complement such other programs.

In 2003, the Rabbi was named Director of the Institute for Jewish and Interfaith Studies at ODU. His position draws him into Recruitment, Fund Raising and Teaching. His popular course, "The Evolution of Jewish Thought" draws many students of all faiths. The Rabbi also teaches Philosophy 150, "World Religions" and Religion 311, "The Hebrew Bible in English."

In June 2004 Rabbi Forman was asked to return to active ministry at Ohef Sholom, where he served as Interim Senior Rabbi for thirteen months, until the arrival of Rabbi Mandelberg. On July 1, 2005, he resumed his status as the Congregation's Rabbi Emeritus. Rabbi Forman is proud to be part of this excellent team and to continue his dedicated and devoted service to the Congregation and its members. Rabbi Forman can be reached at the Temple office (757) 625-4295 or on his cell at (757) 339-0721.