Jewish Community News

Simchas: March 2004

by Donna Frankel

We are pleased to announce Births, B'nai Mitzvahs, Engagements, Marriages, and Happy Events.

BABY NEWS

Proud grandparents Lois & Bill Hubka of Los Gatos announce the birth of Isabelle Rose Dauderman born Nov. 28, 2003, to Debra & Jason Dauderman of Newport Coast, CA. Isabelle was welcomed by her 20-month-old sister Jasmine who held her for the first time at one day of age. Maternal great-grandparents are Rena & Herbert Preis of Cupertino, CA. The paternal great-grandmother is Anna Vishney of San Francisco.

Thelma & Hy Ramm happily announce the birth of their granddaughter, Annabella Elizabeth, who was born on Jan. 3. The parents are the Ramm’s daughter and son-in-law, Laura & Warren Mazer of Oakland. Mom, dad, baby and big sister, Meredith Sage, 3, are all doing well. Annabella, who is named in Hebrew, Amiella Ayla, after her paternal great-grandfathers, is also the granddaughter of Trudy & Dr. Elliot Mazer of Carmichael, CA.

Maya & Hagay Orgil of Sunnyvale happily announce the arrival of their son Ezra Benyamin, who arrived on Jan. 9. The big brother is Aaron Amichai, 18 mos. Pleased grandparents are Amalia Orgil of Fremont and Leonid Komanovsky of Foster City. The brothers are also the grandchildren of the late Bella Komanovsky and Aaron Orgil. Rabbi Daniel Kermaier officiated at Ezra’s Brit Milah.

Congregation Sinai President Phil Kipnis & “bubbie” Diane Kipnis are proud to announce the birth of their first grandchild, Gillian Michelle Ennis, on Jan. 11 to Phil’s oldest daughter, Rachel & Hugh Ennis of San Francisco. Gillian’s new aunt Sara Kipnis and uncle Daniel Kipnis were delighted that Rachel and Gillian are doing well. This is the first great-grandchild for Toni Kipnis of San Francisco.

CALLED TO THE TORAH:

Devora Fine, daughter of Renee & Howard Fine of Saratoga, was called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on Dec. 13, 2003, at Congregation Beth David. Devora, a graduate of the JCC Pre-school and Yavneh Day School, is a student at Miller Middle School and Beth David Hebrew School. She is also on the board of Senior Kadima and sings with her school choir. The entire family participated in the service with her parents and three brothers, Jacob, Elliot and Ari all chanting Torah and her sister Gavriela, leading Ashrei. As part of her tzedaka project, Devora purchased and distributed toys to a family shelter in San Jose, as well as made donations to Magen David Adom and Mazon.

Amy Lanctot, daughter of Rachel Schwab & Chet Lanctot of Sunnyvale, was called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on Shabbat Vayiggash, Jan. 3, at Congregation Beth David. Amy’s family, including her younger sister Julie, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, all participated in the service. Her grandparents are Bernard Schwab from Silver Spring, MD, and Judy & Frank Lanctot from West Bloomfield, MI. For her mitzvah project Amy collected books for the San Jose Mercury News Gift of Reading book drive. Amy is a 7th grader at Castilleja School in Palo Alto. In addition to attending religious school at Beth David, she enjoys reading, horseback riding, ballet, and Girl Scouts.

Ruthie Heller, daughter of Dorothy & David Heller of Sunnyvale, celebrated her bat mitzvah on Jan. 31 at Bar Yohai Sephardic Minyon with Rabbi Avi Mansura conducting the service. Ruthie’s brothers, Adam and Jacob were given aliyot. Ruthie is a 6th grader at South Peninsula Hebrew Day School where she enjoys art, dance and creative writing. She loves all animals, especially cats. Ruthie spoke of the challenges of the Jewish people leaving Egypt and the challenges of becoming a bat mitzvah in her Drash.

Davida & Charles Adelberg of San Jose announce with pleasure the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Janine Esther on, Shabbat Bo, Jan. 31, at Congregation Beth David. Ashrei was chanted by Janine’s brother Daniel, and Adon Olam was led by Mayer, age 4. Attending the simcha were Janine’s grandparents, Merwin & Barbara Adelberg, of Boynton Beach, FL. Janine is the granddaughter of the late Evelyn & Milton Wittman. In her speech, Davida told her daughter “Judaism asks us to use our head, heart and hands to connect with Torah, G-d and community.” Janine did this through three Mitzvah projects, earning her the 613 Mitzvot Award: she donated 10 inches of her hair to “Locks of Love” which uses the hair to make wigs for children with hair loss; she is continuing her regular visits to elderly Beth David member, Irene Gronich, at her retirement home; and she made and donated 31 gift baskets to local hospitals and shelters. Janine hand made the toy bears and selected all the books and art materials for the baskets.

ENGAGEMENTS

Joyce & David Wies of Cupertino are delighted to announce the engagement of their eldest son, Edward, to Kimberly Fraind, daughter of Susan Spivock of Lafayette, CA and Jack Fraind. Edward is an information technology administrator for ATS Systems CA, Inc. Kimberly has a BA degree in ethnic studies from Cal State Hayward. The couple met through “JDATE” Internet Dating Service. They are planning their June 27 wedding in Santa Clara.

WEDDINGS:

The wedding of Don Fernandez of Saratoga and Harriet Jacobs of San Mateo took place on Oct. 26 at Congregation Beth David in Saratoga. It was a family-only wedding with all of the bride’s children, Hilary Jacobs of San Mateo and Jill Jacobs of Boston and all the groom’s children, David Fernandez & Lori Krauss of Saratoga, Scott and Stacy Fernandez of San Jose and grandchildren as well as relatives from Denver and Los Angeles attending. Don is past president of the APJCC and a past financial VP and treasurer of Beth David. The newlyweds are residing in The Villages in San Jose.

MAZEL TOV:

Rabbi Lauren Silverstein Cohn, daughter of Marti Wachtel of San Jose, has been named principal of Judaic studies at The Alfred and Adele Davis Academy, Atlanta, Georgia’s only Reform day school. Her husband, Seth Cohn, who will receive his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Ohio State University in June, has become a board-certified veterinarian in the state of Georgia. The couple are the parents of Micah, 4, and Tali, 16 months.