Siddur Left In Harrisburg

Our shul in Harrisburg is only about 20 minutes from Hershey, PA. As such, we enjoy the many visitors who pass through around Sukkos time. Last week a traveler came to our minyan and left behind a small Metzudah siddur with the name Dani Schon in it.

Can anyone help me get in touch with Dani so that our shul can reunite him with his siddur?

I can be reached at 717-238-0763 or RabbiMales@Yahoo.com.

Thanks so much.

Rabbi Akiva Males
Kesher Israel Congregation
Harrisburg, PA

Nix On Olmert

While I have mixed feelings about Prime Minister Netanyahu and his reliability, I am horrified that former prime minister Ehud Olmert is planning a comeback (“Netanyahu Announces Early Elections in Israel,” front page news story, Oct. 12).

While I doubt that anyone would step aside to allow him to snare the top spot, I fear Olmert could succeed in insinuating himself into the government if he wins a seat in the Knesset. By any measure I think this would be detrimental to Israel. Separate and apart from his legal difficulties, as prime minister Olmert seemed all too ready to sell out Israel’s interests in making a deal with the Palestinians.

Richard Feldman
(Via E-Mail)

Terrorism In Benghazi

It is obvious to me that something went very wrong in Benghazi in terms of U.S. preparedness, and your comment that the significance of 9/11 seems not to have been considered by those in charge was right on point (Investigating Benghazi,” editorial, Oct. 12).

I am intrigued though by your suggestion that President Obama and his administration may have been motivated somewhat by a refusal to acknowledge the existence of a threat when they had already declared victory over the terrorists in the area. Certainly taking drastic precautions would have been inconsistent with this claim, as would acknowledging that terrorists rather than protesters against that infamous video were to blame.

I doubt the current congressional hearings will get to the bottom of this before the election, though new revelations are possible. At any rate, the hearings should continue even after the election, whoever wins. As you noted, a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed. No stone should be left unturned.

Patrice Mongello
(Via E-Mail)

Sanctions And Iran

Reader Mindy Abrams got it only partially right (Letters, Oct. 12). Not only will the Iranians refuse to knuckle under any time soon, but the sanctions that were imposed have been a farce from the beginning. Most of Iran’s trading partners are exempt and it was only this past week that the European Union seriously targeted the Iranian banking system. The mullahs know we are not serious and the Russians and Chinese have their back.

Moshe Zuckerman
Jerusalem

Jews’ Support For Obama

The late sociologist Milton Himmelfarb famously said, “Jews earn like Episcopalians and vote like Puerto Ricans.” In America, Jews were given the opportunity under free market capitalism to become the best educated and the most financially successful group in the nation. Despite that, most Jews will vote in three weeks for a president who is hostile to capitalism and rules like a dictator with executive orders, unelected bureaucrats and activist judges.

Obama told us he would “fundamentally transform America.” He told Joe the Plumber that he intends to redistribute the wealth of the achievers to the dependency class that is his voting base. The nation’s wealth will continue to go to Obama’s green energy crony capitalist friends and to government and private sector labor unions whose members’ dues are laundered and then sent to the Democrats.

Many Jews who think Obama will safeguard Medicare ignore his looting of billions from Medicare to help fund Obamacare. The resulting reduction of payments to hospitals and doctors will force them to turn away Medicare patients. Under Obamacare seniors will be denied medical and hospital care by a board of non-medical bureaucrats to reduce costs.

The blind support for Obama by a majority of Jews defies all logic and understanding.

George Rubin
New York, NY

The Eyes Have It

While watching the first Romney/Obama debate on Oct. 3, I pointed out to my wife how Gov. Romney was constantly looking directly at President Obama and making eye contact with him, whereas Obama kept looking everywhere except at Romney.

Obama And Jewish Voters (I)

Reader Robert Gelb is living in a parallel universe when he derides President Obama’s Jewish detractors, claiming they will never believe anything positive about him regarding Israel (Letters, Sept. 21).

Has Mr. Gelb – and all the other Jews who in six weeks will once again vote for Obama in huge numbers – never heard about Obama’s self-proclaimed mission to reset the relationship between America and the Muslim world? Exactly who does Mr. Gelb think will have to bear the cost of the change in the status quo, if not Israel?

Leslie Miller
(Via E-Mail)

Obama And Jewish Voters (II)

If the polls are accurate, two-thirds of Jews will vote in November for a Democratic Party that no longer exists. The party of FDR and Hubert Humphrey that they knew has been hijacked by radical leftists who angrily opposed the decision to put recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital back in the 2012 party platform.

Two-thirds of Jews will vote for a president who insults Israel’s prime minister while bowing at the waist to Arab dictators with the blood of Israelis and Americans on their hands.

As soon as Obama was caught on an open microphone telling President Medvedev of Russia that he will be “more flexible” in his second term, there should have been no illusions about what he has planned for Israel and America in a second term.

For the sake of their children and grandchildren, Jews should end their mindless support of Obama, a post-Constitutional president who rules like a dictator with executive orders and Chicago-style thuggery.

George Rubin
New York, NY

Feeble Response

The feeble response of President Obama and his administration to the vile murder of our ambassador and to the violent demonstrations against our embassies has shocked all decent Americans.

It seems our president not only believes in redistributing U.S. wealth but also in relinquishing U.S. power. What a shame and a sham to project the farce that an insignificant movie galvanized such anti-American mob action.

Are we to apologize for our sacred belief in free speech? I still remember when Nazis marched in Skokie. Even Nazis – who epitomize bestial behavior –were protected by our Bill of Rights. Is the administration simply scared of standing up to Muslim terrorists? Was the president so certain that all is well that he did not ensure our embassies were sufficiently protected on the anniversary of 9/11? Or was he too busy to care for such matters as he prepared for his appearance on the David Letterman show?

I was born in America. I love America and am proud of its ideals. This president does not understand how hurtful is the feeling when our leader seems to shy away from championing basic American values.

Obama blew his opportunity to manifest true presidential leadership. What a terrible embarrassment for our people. This is not the type of courage and leadership needed in a president.

Rabbi J. Simcha Cohen
West Palm Beach, FL

Editor’s Note: Rabbi Cohen writes the weekly “Halachic Questions” column for The Jewish Press.

Government And Metzizah B’Peh

I think the brouhaha over metzitzah b’peh is artificially driven. While I suppose that restricting the practice could conceivably – though this is really a far-fetched scenario – result in restrictions on bris milah per se, how can one take the position that the government has no role in protecting a newborn from the transmission of disease?

This is not a contrived concern or subterfuge. Do supporters of metzitzah b’peh really believe that the rampant presence of herpes and other viruses in the population has no relevance at all to physical contact with a baby’s open wound?

Aaron Michaels
(Via E-Mail)

Critiquing The Times

Re “Déjà vu All Over Again? (editorial, September 21):

The Jewish Press performs an important service to the community with its incisive critiques of New York Times editorials, columns and news articles. The Times often informs as well as reflects the public debate over significant issues, and the leaps of logic and lack of balance that are carried in its pages are often not all that apparent.

For years I treated the Times almost as the purveyor of the revealed word. Not anymore. Keep it up.

Free Seating Policy

Kehilas Mevakshei Hashem, 3011 Avenue K (between Nostrand Avenue and East 31st Street) in Flatbush, is pleased to reiterate our free-seats policy for the Yamim Noraim.

Seats are available on a first come, first served basis for men, women and children who wish to abide by our no talking policy.

Our doors are open each Shabbos (with no charges for membership, aliyos or seats). All who abide by the “No Talking During Davening” rule are welcome. We also accommodate year round mispallelim with a well-appointed simcha venue. For further information, please call (718) 469-6999.

Wishing Klal Yisrael a Kesivah v’Chasimah Tovah.

Rabbi Yehuda Levin

Kehilas Mevakshai Hashem

Brooklyn, NY

Obama And Israel (I)

Reader David Fass’s suggestion (Letters, Sept. 7) that the Obama presidency has not been a disaster for Israel, and that another term would not be even more of one, needs a reality check.

In the Egyptian revolt, Obama supported the Muslim Brotherhood rather than Hosni Mubarak, who had a good relationship with Israel and the U.S. Can anyone say with certainty that Obama would not turn his back on Israel under any circumstances? Highly doubtful.

What’s worse, in this case Obama supported an enemy of the Jews, Israel and the U.S.

During Obama’s presidency, Iran has lost all fear of and respect for the U.S. Not seeing that turn of events as potentially disastrous for Israel, not to mention for the rest of the region, is shortsighted and naive.

Then there was Obama’s infamous assurance to the Russians that after the election he’ll have “more flexibility.” This clearly indicates he has a greater fear of voters than allegiance to his party. If our missile defense system is not safe from a shift in policy, can we be certain Israel is?

There is every indication that four more years of Barack Obama could have disastrous consequence on more than one front.

Josh Greenberger 

Brooklyn, NY

Obama And Israel (II)

Re “U.S.-Israel Military Exercise Downsized” (news brief, Sept.7):

The downsizing of the planned joint military exercise is the latest evidence that Israel does not loom large in President Obama’s thoughts and that the situation will be even more serious should he be reelected. He had already kept Israel out of international conferences on combating terror.

When will all the mindless Jews who vote Democrat no matter who is on the ticket finally wake up?

Deborah Wender

(Via E-Mail)

Democrats And Israel

The Democrats’ decision to remove the 2008 plank affirming that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital city from the party platform could never have happened without Obama’s approval. The decision to put back the plank was rammed through over the angry objections of a majority of delegates who do not want Jerusalem recognized as Israel’s capital.

It should be perfectly clear to every Jew that the pro-Israel Democratic Party of Senators Henry “Scoop” Jackson and Daniel Patrick Moynihan is dead.

George Rubin
New York, NY

UN Boss’s Bias

The bias of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon always appalls me. He just issued a statement about the plight of the poor Palestinians in Gaza who are ruled by Hamas. He does not seem to feel that the poverty they are experiencing is due to Hamas’s habit of continually allowing rockets to be fired at Israel`s civilian population. That, of course, is the cause of Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

Why is it so difficult for him to say to Hamas that Israel cannot be expected to stand idly by while its people are under constant threat of death, and that in order to ease the blockade the rocket attacks on Israel must stop? By his words the secretary-general is telling the world that Israel is of no account; that only the Palestinians matter and they can do anything they want.

Toby Willig

Jerusalem

Local Politics (I)

Your endorsement last week of Assemblyman Dov Hikind left out an important piece of news. Not only did an unknown candidate with an Irish-sounding name get 40 percent of the vote in Hikind’s overwhelmingly Jewish district in 2010, which you indeed pointed out, but Brad Lander, who ran in 2009 for City Council with Hikind’s very strong support, got only about 20 percent of the vote in areas overlapping Hikind’s Assembly District.

Corrie Decision

I’m gratified that the Israeli Supreme Court resisted what had to be strong international pressure to come down hard on Israel in the Rachel Corrie prosecution (“Israeli Court Dismisses Charges in Corrie Suit,” news brief, Aug. 31).

So-called peace activists can choose to flout Israeli law and push Israel’s security envelope, but the world now knows that there can be serious consequences for such choices.

Leah Kaufmann
Jerusalem

Tischler Bros. Pro

I was really taken with the article on Avraham and Moshe Tischler, who are challenging, respectively, New York politicians Dov Hikind and Simcha Felder in the upcoming Democratic primaries (“The Tischler Brothers Tout Their Commitment to Public Service,” Aug. 31). It was a breath of fresh air.

The traction their efforts are getting seems to me to reflect a broad disillusionment with entrenched politicians who have long been able to bamboozle the community and orchestrate their own reelections. That these two young men would attract the kind of attention they have leads me to believe the needs of the community rather than the interests of the politicians may soon predominate.

Anita Geller
(Via e-Mail)

Tischler Bros. Con

It is sad that The Jewish Press has become an enabler for those who are trying to make a joke out of the campaigns of Dov Hikind and Simcha Felder. These are two serious, seasoned and well-qualified politicians who have produced so much for our community. They – and we – deserve better than the quixotic whimsy offered by the Tischler Boys no matter how cute it all seems.

Aaron Rosen
(Via E-Mail)

Ahmadinejad Trumps Obama

I totally agreed with your take on the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (“Iran’s Tet Offensive?” editorial, Aug. 31).

Sapping U.S. will was certainly one of the things Iranian President Ahmadinejad had in mind in when he succeeded in having the summit held in Tehran, where he would host most of the countries of the world as well as the secretary-general of the UN. It certainly put the lie to President Obama’s claims about the efficacy of sanctions to isolate Iran and force it to change course on nuclear development.

I think it is clear that Ahmadinejad is calling Obama’s bluff, believing he has no stomach for military action.

David Earle
New York, NY

Chizuk From Op-Ed

Re Meir Weingarten’s Aug. 24 op-ed article “Is ‘Gotcha!’ a Jewish Value?” about those who took advantage of the El Al pricing mistake:

Though I did not personally buy a ticket, I think I would have if I had been able to plan a trip to Israel right now. I am embarrassed to say I never thought about the points made in the article, and it has opened my eyes. Yasher Koach for bringing attention to this; hopefully others will be as affected as I was.

Coincidentally, a close friend called me before I read the article to say he had purchased an item at Home Depot. He used the self-checkout register and it rang up one cent. He asked me what I would have done. I actually paused for a second before answering him. I guess I really needed the chizuk provided in Mr. Weingarten’s article.

Fortunately, my friend did the right thing and went to the manager, who looked up the right price – $19.99 – which my friend then paid. He said he never could have walked out of the store knowing he had taken advantage of the mistake.

Jack Becker
(Via E-Mail)

Obama And Israel

A number of recent columns and letters to the editor threaten grave consequences to Israel if Obama is elected to a second term. Interestingly, I recall hearing the same ominous predictions prior to Obama’s first term, and in most regards those predictions were wrong.

President Obama, while lacking any notable warmth toward Israel or its leadership, has pursued policies that have been largely favorable to Israel when judged by the standards of previous administrations.

So now there is a new argument as to why a continued Obama administration would be disastrous for Israel. The argument goes that in a second term, with no further need to court voters, Obama would be free to reshape his Middle East policy into something more toxic to Israel’s interests. As reader Misha Gold put it most recently, “I have yet to hear from anyone why a reelected President Obama will continue to act as a friend of Israel when there is no longer a political reason to do so.”

Customers at a Hasidic bakeryat the Fialkoff bungalow colony in Monticello, New York, were accosted by two men on Sunday who yelled ethnic slurs at the them and attempted to run them over with their car.  The men, Esai Diaz, 21 and Brandon Morales, 20, finally punched a man in the face before being arrest by local police.

Diaz tried to hit people in the bakery parking lot, while Morales yelled “Go home; go back to your (expletive), Jews,” witnesses said, according to a report in the local Times-Herald Record.

The suspects conducted a first attack, left, and came back to further accost the customers.  Yet when the suspects tried to escape in their vehicle, the car would not start.  They attempted to flee on foot, but were chased by bakery patrons.

Diaz has been charged with reckless endangerment, a felony, and aggravated unlicensed operation, Morales was charged with aggravated harassment, a felony, and harassment.

The pair was arraigned by Monticello Justice Josephine Finn, who set bail at $2,500.  They were placed in custody at the Sullivan County Jail.

Siyum Editorial

Kudos for last week’s editorial on the Siyum HaShas at MetLife Stadium. You really succeeded in capturing the moment. I only hope you are right and that it did put a positive face on our community, which has suffered all too much in the image department in the last couple of years.

The various Daf Yomi celebrations were truly remarkable. I attended the one at MetLife Stadium and will never forget the achdus I saw and felt as tens of thousands danced, sang and davened in unison.

We should not, however, allow the euphoria to make us forget that learning Daf Yomi is not a one-size-fits-all thing. Those who can put together the time and have the training are obligated to probe more deeply into the richness of the Gemara and more fully into Rashi and Tosafos.

Chaim Blau
(Via E-Mail)

Crime And Political Correctness (I)

Political correctness has not been limited to opponents of the NYPD’s stop and frisk policy (“When Political Correctness Gets in the Way of Fighting Crime,” editorial, Aug. 10). It is now known that the fanatical Muslim army psychiatrist who opened fire on his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood was known as a disaster waiting to happen for a long time prior to his rampage but was not dealt with out of a fear of being accused of racial profiling.

Congressman Peter King has been attacked by Muslim groups and assorted civil liberty types because of his efforts to uncover possible illegal anti-American activities in the Muslim community. This is serious business and we’d better wake up.

Charles Grossman
(Via E-Mail)

Crime And Political Correctness (II)

For all of the yelling and screaming about how effective a crime-fighting tool stop and frisk is, we should never lose sight of the fact that this is America and we do not take our civil liberties lightly. In fact, it has been the bedrock of our nation since the beginning of our breakaway from England.

I am reminded of an American commander during the Vietnam War who was quoted as saying that a town in which Vietcong soldiers were hiding “had to be destroyed in order to save it.” Let us take care that in our efforts to save ourselves we don’t destroy ourselves in the process.

Ellen Schwartz
(Via E-Mail)

Olympic Pride

I would like to acknowledge the tremendous Kiddush Hashem made by American gymnast Aly Raisman upon winning two gold medals (and one bronze) at the London Olympics. Instead of trying to hide the fact that she is Jewish, she proudly performed her gold medal winning routine to “Hava Nagilah,” saying, “I am Jewish. That’s why I wanted the floor music.”

She then stuck it to the IOC by invoking the massacre of the Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich games. It is the 40th anniversary of that outrage and the gutless International Olympic Committee, led by Jacques Rogge, refused to honor the slain athletes with a moment of silence at the opening ceremonies.

I do not know how observant Ms. Raisman is, but as Jews we must all be very proud of her and we all must thank her.

Barry Koppel
Kew Gardens Hills, NY

Ballot Blues

I found it fascinating that Assemblyman Dov Hikind was kicked off the Republican ballot for November’s election (“Judge Boots Hikind from GOP Line,” news brief, Aug. 10) for not having the required number of supporting signatures from Republican voters in the district.

This could well present an image problem for such a longtime and well-known incumbent, who will still be running on the Democratic line and will doubtless win the Democratic primary and the general election.

Michael Rothstein
(Via E-Mail)

Why Are We So Quiet?

As a child of survivors, I heard “never again” over and over again. Yet anti-Semitism is again rearing its ugly head in much of the world.

In the wake of the Mumbai massacre, the Toulouse shootings, and the recent deaths of Israelis in Bulgaria, why are Jews and our leadership not more vocal? The dead are buried, Kel Moleh is said, and then all is forgotten.

Are we repeating the mistake of the generation prior to Hilter’s rise? Why are we so reticent? Why are we so quiet? Where are the protests? Where is the activism needed to make sure that this indeed never happens again?

This year marks the 80^th anniversary of the influential paper published by a Mount Sinai physician, Dr. Burrill Crohn, and his colleagues that for the first time characterized a disease associated with severe inflammation of the intestine. Patients with what was later named Crohn’s disease develop diarrhea, fever, stomach pain, and often lose weight. Crohn’s is now classified as an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks its own healthy tissue in the gastrointestinal tract, causing chronic inflammation. It affects young individuals, and, even though it is not curable, it can be treated and controlled by medications and surgery.

Epidemiology and origination of Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s is considered to be a complex disease with both genetic and environmental risk factors. There is extensive evidence to support the role of genetics in the development of Crohn’s disease. Having a relative with Crohn’s disease is the greatest risk factor for other family members. Also, studies of twins have shown that identical twins, who share almost 100% of their genetic information, were more likely to both have the disease than fraternal twins.  The differences in the prevalence of Crohn’s in various racial and ethnic groups further indicate that genetic factors contribute to the risk, even though shared cultural factors, such as diet and lifestyle, might also explain these differences. Specifically, the prevalence of Crohn’s disease in European countries ranges between 1 and 12 per 100,000 individuals, whereas this disease was until recently virtually unknown in the developing countries.

The major genetic risk for Crohn’s disease identified so far is conferred by 3 rare mutations in the NOD2 gene. NOD2 plays an important role in the immune system, as it enables immune cells to recognize bacterial molecules and stimulates an immune reaction. While the frequency of these mutations ranges between 1% and 4.5% in the general population, about 40% of Crohn’s disease patients carry at least one copy. This translates to a 2 to 4-fold risk of developing the disease in carriers of one copy and a 10 to 40-fold risk in those who carry multiple copies of these mutations. Recent advances in the field of genetics have allowed identification of an additional 160 genetic variants associated with Crohn’s disease in individuals of European ancestry. However,  a sharp increase in the occurrence of the disease in children of immigrants from the developing countries who move to Western countries, as well as the well- established effect of smoking on Crohn’s disease risk, suggest a prominent role for environmental factors as well, most likely diet and lifestyle.

Crohn’s Disease in the Ashkenazi Jewish Population

Interestingly, Jews of European descent (Ashkenazim) have a 4 to 7-fold increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease compared to non-Jewish Europeans. Genetic risks alone could not explain why the prevalence of Crohn’s disease is so much higher in Ashkenazim than in surrounding populations. To investigate this phenomenon, researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine have recently conducted the largest study which compared 1,878 Ashkenazi Jews with Crohn’s disease to 4,469 Jews without the disease, using DNA samples to evaluate their genetic make-up. They discovered five new genetic risk regions associated with Crohn’s disease in Ashkenazim. Armed with this new information, they can begin to pinpoint additional causal genetic mutations, discover the nature of the malfunctions they create,  and hopefully eventually develop new treatment approaches. That study also demonstrates the value of genetic studies in isolated populations, like Ashkenazi Jews.

The Role of Commensal Bacteria in Crohn’s Disease Risk

One possible explanation for the origination of Crohn’s disease is the hygiene hypothesis which suggests that a lack of early childhood exposure to infectious agents causes the immune system to wrongfully recognize its own non-pathogenic microorganisms as imminent risks and to act against them, causing substantial damage. This notion is particularly interesting in light of accumulating evidence suggesting that the identity and relative abundance of members of bacterial communities, or microbiota, normally residing in the human body and referred to as “commensal”, or non-harmful, bacteria, can be associated with different disease states. Microbial cells that live on (skin, eyes) and inside the human body (digestive system) may outnumber the quantity of human cells by 10-fold. This means that we may be carrying more bacterial genes than our own. Some commensal bacteria are essential for our health and provide a wide range of metabolic functions that the human body lacks. They help break down, absorb and store nutrients that otherwise cannot be digested, fight pathogenic bacteria, and play an important role in the development of the immune system.

Events In The West: On August 12, in the Hancock Park area of L.A., the Puah Institute hosts its 4th West Coast Brunch honoring Dr. Michael Fineman. Dr. Gideon Weitzman, the Puah Institute’s director, will be the guest speaker… On August 18, Kids of Courage L.A. is hosting a free concert at the Sheraton LAX. The group 8th Day will perform.

Community News: Is your teen or young adult in trouble? Aish Tamid of Los Angeles, now under the leadership of Rabbi Gavriel Hershoff, is a drop-in center with a non-judgmental environment that is an alternative to street activities. The social workers and rabbis provide crisis intervention, active outreach, evaluations and therapy referrals, substance abuse counseling, one-on-one and group Torah learning, a twice-weekly GED class, and job placement.

Shul News: The Boulder Bet Midrash is a new shul in Boulder, Colorado. Rabbi Zechariah Goldman of EarthKosher.com founded the shul to create a more Torah- enthused and infused culture and community in Boulder.

School News: Starting in September, Yeshivat Yavneh in Los Angeles is bringing back its KinderFlex program for ages 18-30 months. You can drop off your child or children, or stay with them; they’re FLEXable! … Kudos to Bnos Devorah High School for Girlsfor hosting an evening SAT prep class for the last month of the summer.

LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA

Mazel Tov – Birth: Noam Freeman and Efrat Klein, a son.

Mazel Tov – Engagement:Daniel Bortz, son of Antony and Hayley Bortz, to Rina Roll.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Mazel Tov – Births: Mordy and Bracha Winkler, a son (Grandparents Dr. Sheldon and Brenda Kishineff)… Leibe and Daniella Leichter of Brooklyn, NY, a daughter (Grandmother Veronica Leichter)… Wayne and Francine Pariser, a son… Donny and Amira Tashman, a daughter (Grandparents Harold and Brenda Walt; Abe and Eva Tashman)… Chaim and Yael Woolf, a daughter… Aryeh and Elisheva Wincelberg, a son (Grandparents Rabbi Yaakov and Gittel Wincelberg; Rabbi David and Bina Zargari)… Yussi and Sora Leah Rose, a daughter (Grandparents: The late Rabbi Rafael Rose and Glenda Rose)… Yany and Miriam Hollander, a son (Grandparents Rabbi Dov and Sara Osina)… Michael Novack and Dr. Ariella Morrow, a son (Grandparents Barry Novack and Dr. Anna Baum; Dr. David and Linda Morrow)… Yehuda and Devorah Zeffren, a daughter (Grandparents Gary and Bashie Shulman)… Jack and Batya Cate, a daughter… Doni and Rivka Westreich of Toronto, a son (Grandparents Benny and Joyce Westreich).

Mazel Tov – Bar Mitzvah: Joseph Mordecai, son of Dr. David Mordecai.

Mazel Tov – Bas Mitzvah: Shana Lunzer, daughter of David and Lauren Lunzer.

Mazel Tov – Engagement: Tzivya Isaacs, daughter of Yaacov and Rayme Isaacs, to Yehuda Newman of Lawrence, NY.

Mazel Tov – Weddings: Yosef Goldberg, son of Menachem and Golde Goldberg, to Dassie Cohen of Baltimore, MD… Shmuel Schlussel, son of Gershon and Sara Schlussel, to Hindel Sofer of Melbourne, Australia… Faiga Lehman, daughter of Kenneth and Libby Lehman, to Shmuel Werner of Toronto…Yosef Mayerfeld, son of Uri and Esther Mayerfeld, to Shani Kaplan of Monsey, NY… Sara Bina Czapnik, daughter of Rabbi Avraham and Rivky Czapnik, to Shmuel Gottesman… Josh Friedman, son of Steve and Sara Friedman, to Miriam Ciner of Philadelphia… Jessica Jacobowitz, daughter of Ben and Dr. Ellen Jacobowitz, to Eric Weinberg of NJ… Ilan Reiner, son of Tom and Nechama Reiner, to Neda Zarabi, daughter of Aron and Lida Zarabi.

Congratulations:Rabbi Elazar Muskin on his election as national vice president of the Rabbinical Council of America.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Congratulations:Fourteen-year-old Jonah Kohn of the San Diego Jewish Academy for winning a science prize at the second annual Google Science Fair competition.

VALLEY VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA

Mazel Tov – Births: Yoni and Sivan Tuchman, a son… Aharon and Nechama Lenchitz of Lakewood, a daughter (Grandparents Rabbi Shelaim and Ester Furst)… Eliott and Elise Trencher of Riverdale, NY, a son (Grandparents Ralph and Laura Kostant).

Mazel Tov – Engagement:Anat Weiner, daughter of Yochanan and Hadassah Weiner, to Mark Bovit of Chicago

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Mazel Tov – Engagement: Chana Adatto, daughter of Larry and Sharon Adatto, to Yonathan Shefa.

Mazel Tov – Wedding: Tamima Oganyan, daughter of Asya and Jim Ilson, to Avraham Perton.