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Jewish Community News

Simchas: December 2003

by Donna Frankel

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

BABY NEWS

Stephanie & Gary Naillon are thrilled to announce the birth of Alexis Rose born at Community Hospital of Los Gatos on May 2, weighing 7 lbs. 12 oz. Zachary Alan, age 2 1/2, loves being a big brother. Grandparents are Janet and David Berg and Sally and Chuck Acelin, all of San Jose. Great Grandmother is Ruth Woron who lives at Chai House.

Melissa Goss & Tom Gattuso of Los Angeles announce the birth of their first child, Nathaniel Lawson Gattuso on July 19. Maternal grandparents are Eileen Goss (former editor of the JCN) of San Diego and the late Lawrence Goss. Paternal grandparents are John & Sue Gattuso of Falls Church, VA. The baby is named for his maternal grandfather, the name means, "gift from God" (Nathaniel) and son of Lawrence (Lawson).

Michele & David Myron of San Jose proudly announce the birth of their 3rd son, Nadav Zachary on July 29. Absolutely adoring their baby brother are Eitan 4 & Ari age 2. Marilynn & Arthur Segal and Phyllis & Stuart Myron all of Los Angeles, came for the bris which was officiated by Channen Feld at the parents home. Great Grandma is Sonia Beder of Johannesberg, South Africa.

Arriving August 26 is Max Mendel, younger son of Ellen & Josh Mendel of Los Angeles. Max was welcomed by 3-yr-old Samuel Dae with the happy grandparents, Joyce & Dr. Eric Mendel of San Jose and Mr. & Mrs. Don Woo Choi of Los Angeles. The very proud great grandma is Meta Mendel of Binghamton, NY.

Andrea & Joel Rubnitz of Los Gatos are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Samantha Allyn who was born on Sept. 20. Jessica and Jordan Levy are the proud siblings of baby Samantha. Lois & Harold Price of Cupertino and Riva Rubnitz of Los Gatos are the happy grandparents. Samantha is also the granddaughter of the late Alan Rubnitz.

First-time parents Anita & Aaron Levin of San Francisco are happy to announce the birth of their son, Jacob Michael Levin on September 28. The pleased grandparents are Loretta & Ed Levin, of Saratoga and Rose & Mark Sucharczuk of Mountain View. Mazel Tov to Jacob's great grandmothers, Bella Waxman of Saratoga and Maria Bergstein of Mountain View. The bris was held on Oct. 5 at Loretta & Ed Levin's home with Channan Feld officiating. Jacob's Hebrew name is Yacov, after his maternal great grandfather.
Daphna & Scott Sher of San Carlos happily announce the birth of their second son, Elliot Emet on Nov. 4. The new big brother is two-year-old Jacob Theodore Sher. The proud grandparents are Gerda Ben Zeev of Los Angeles, Yuri Ben Zeev of NY, and Leslie & Dennis Flamenbaum of NY. The bris took place at the parent's home on Nov. 10.

CALLED TO THE TORAH:

Deborah Beauchemin, daughter of Kathi Beauchemin of Cupertino, was called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on July 12 at Congregation Sinai. Michael Beauchemin, a UC Santa Cruz freshman, led P'zukei D'zimra at his sister's service. Kathi & her fiancé, Daniel Cohen both chanted Torah portions. Grandparents Sandi & Mortin Goffstein along with great Aunt Judie & Uncle Sig Goffstein all of Las Vegas were in attendance. Family arrived from Fresno, Burlingame and McKinney, Tx. for the simcha. Deborah's great grandparents, the late Mollie & Max Goffstein were longtime members of Sinai. Deborah's Mitzva project was fundraising for homeless teens at the Emergency Housing Consortium.

ENGAGED:

Pnina & Michael Rothenberg of San Jose, happily announce the engagement of their son Jonathan Rothenberg to Tracey Polito, daughter of Margaret & Vincent Polito of Commack, NY on Aug. 11. The couple met through mutual friends. Jonathan is a partner in Emancipation Capital, NY and Tracey is an attorney with Thelen Marin of NY. A spring nuptials is slated most likely on the east coast.

WEDDING NEWS:

Judy & Rick Rowe happily announce the marriage of their daughter, Tabatha to Mike Garcia on June 28, in Las Vegas, NV. Tabatha graduated from Western Illinois U. and is manager of a veterinary clinic in Houston. Mike works at the same clinic and the bride and groom have made their home in Sugarland, TX.

Selma Zinker of Santa Clara happily announces the marriage of her daughter Bobbie Zinker on June 29 to Warren Robinson, son of Sally Warren of Los Angeles. Bobbie is also the daughter of the late, Norman Zinker. The wedding ceremony took place in the mother of the bride's home in Santa Clara. Bobbie is a financial analyst with Hewlett Packard in Rancho Bernardo and Warren is an attorney in the State Attorney General's Office in San Diego. The couple has made their home in San Diego.

Kathi Beauchemin & Daniel Cohen stood under the Chuppa in an outdoor wedding in the backyard of their Cupertino home on Sept. 14. Rabbi Eitan Julius of Congregation Sinai officiated at the ceremony. Daniel's parents, Sarale & Jay Cohen of Jerusalem and Kathi's parents Sandi & Morton Goffstein of Las Vegas were in attendance. Kathi's children are Deborah and Michael Beauchemin. Witnessing the Ketubah signing were Sol Aber and Steven Dombro both of San Jose. Kathi is an executive assistant to Chuck Toeniskoetter of Toeniskoetter and Breeding, Inc, a real estate construction management development and property management company in San Jose.

TWO JEWISH MOTHERS BEGIN LEGAL CAREERS:

After four years of studying law at night while working at their jobs and keeping their families together by day, Patricia Uro-May and Derryl Molina are thrilled to have attained their goal. Bedecked in black gowns with purple velvet trim and the official Juris Doctor hood hanging on their backs, the two women received their J.D. degrees from Lincoln Law School of San Jose on June 14. Both Uro-May and Molina sat for the July 2003 California Bar Exam and await results on Nov. 21, 2003.

Uro-May plans to be a partner in husband Howard May's worker's compensation firm while Molina plans to enter into general practice with an emphasis on employment and elder law. "It's amazing," says Molina, "how the day I graduated from law school people start asking me for advice. I can only refer them to other lawyers until I pass the bar, but when I do, I do want to help whoever I can. Derryl Molina was the religious school principal for Temple Emanu-El and then for Congregation Shir Hadash during her four years of law school. During those same four years, Patricia Uro-May not only worked in Howard May's law office, but she and her husband volunteered for congregational events such as transporting high holy day items for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and for school classroom activities.

50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY:

Rita & Jerry Jacobson, San Jose, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August at Mountain Thunder Lodge in Breckenridge, CO. The Jacobson's gathered their 3 sons and daughters-in-law, Mark & Joanne of Potomac, MD, Dr. Jeffrey & Michelle of Hashmonaim, Israel and Rabbi David & Emily of Los Angeles along with all 13 grandchildren for a wonderful week's vacation together in a spectacularly beautiful setting. What made this simcha special for the Jacobson's was having their children & grandchildren all together for a relaxed and unforgettable experience. The Jacobson's were very pleased with all the arrangements made through Kosher Expeditions with activities appropriate for ages 9 months to 70 plus years to enjoy. Rita and Jerry, who were married on Nov. 1 in WA. DC, marked their actual anniversary date with a Kiddush at Congregation Sinai.

Simchas Submissions

If you have news to include in this column, please contact Donna Frankel by the deadline date. You can call Donna at (408) 257-3455.

Photos may be submitted by email or by mail to JCN, marked "Simchas."

Photos must include the names of the people pictured, and the date of the event.

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