Celebrations

Stephen and Elizabeth Sobel Blum of Dallas announce the birth Sept. 11 of their daughter, Ava Sobel Blum. They are also the parents of Hannah Sobel Blum.

Grandparents are Carol Sobel of Denver and Jenifer and Dr. Michael Blum of Overland Park.

Rabbi David Stern of Temple Emanuel in Dallas officiated at the naming ceremony where Ava was given the Hebrew name Ahava Maya Sara in memory of her great-grandmothers, Miriam Sherman and Sally Blum, her grandfather Dr. John Henry Sobel, and her great-grandfather Leon A. Smith. Ava is also named in honor of her great-grandmother, Margaret Smith, also of Dallas.

Kurt and Stephanie Kavanaugh announce that their daughter, Molly Joy, will be called to the Torah at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at Congregation Beth Shalom. Molly became Bat Mitzvah in Israel in June.

Molly is the granddaughter of Sandy Aaron and the late Dr. Harvey Aaron, St. Paul, Minn.; Deanie Collins, Wooster, Ohio; and Dr. Ed Kavanaugh.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush following the service.

Barbara and David Wolock announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Anna Sybil, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at Congregation Beth Torah.

Anna is the granddaughter of Thelma Dolginow and the late Newton Dolginow, and Isabel and Melvin Wolock, Metuchen, N.J.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

Howard and Charmian Zurovsky of Lenexa announce the engagement of their daughter, Megan Leigh Zurovsky, to Bradley Jacob Klein, son of Richard and Betty Klein of Overland Park.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Jean and Arthur Zurovsky and Helen and James Semmons. Megan is the great-granddaughter of the late Esther and Sam Daniels and Josephine and George Tichacek. She graduated magna cum laude from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and is currently a third-grade teacher in the North Kansas City School District.

The future groom is the grandson of the late Dora and Sam Levy and Doris and Eugene Klein. He graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and is currently a market development manager for Coca Cola Refreshment.

A June wedding and reception are planned at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Michelle and Eric Cole announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Zachary Andrew, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at Congregation Beth Torah.

Zachary is the grandson of Carol and Shel Reznik of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Lana and J.C. Cole of Overland Park.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush following the service.

Staci and Michael Kahn announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Noah Aidan, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at Congregation Beth Shalom.

Noah is the grandson of Helene and Jerry Ginden, Overland Park, and Phylis and Eugene Kahn, St. Louis.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush following the service.

Stacy and Allen Wright announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Owen Thomas, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Owen is the grandson of Linda and the late Louis Strassberg, Rockville Centre, N.Y.; Olive Beaham Lansburgh, Eagle Point, Ore.; and Purd B. Wright III.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

Jeremy and Ashley Alpert of Overland Park announce the birth Nov. 28 of their son, Jonah Doni.

Grandparents are Nanci and Steve Hirschorn of Overland Park, and Cathy and Jeff Alpert of Leawood.

Lauren and Mitchell Tulper announce the birth Oct. 5 of a daughter, Josie Marlow.

Maternal grandparents are Elyse and Jerry Morris of Lonetree, Colo., and Mark and Gayle Eskanos of Aurora, Colo.

Paternal grandparents are Norma and Robert Tulper of Aurora. Great-grandparents are Nancye and Lenny Frankenthal of Denver, Jean Karner of Denver (formerly of Kansas City) and Leon Tulper of Denver (formerly of Kansas City).

Jonathan Scharf, an Assistant District Attorney with the Queens County (NY) District Attorney’s Office and a Johnson County native, was named Prosecutor of the Year by the New York Metro Chapter of the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators on Dec. 6 in New York City.

Scharf was honored for his work as the supervising attorney for “Operation Swiper,” an 18-month investigation with the New York City Police Department’s Financial Crimes Task Force into an organized credit card fraud and identity theft ring that reached all four corners of the United States, as well as Europe and the Middle East, and resulted in more than $13 million dollars in loss to individuals and businesses.

The investigation culminated in the arrest and prosecution of more than 100 defendants, making it the largest single identity theft prosecution in United States history. Scharf was quick to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the New York City Police Department and his colleagues at the District Attorney’s Office.

“I’m really humbled by this award. A case like this is not made by the efforts of one individual. It is the result of the work of an exceptional team of investigators, attorneys and support staff. I am accepting this award on behalf of everyone who played a part in this monumental case,” he said.

Scharf has been a prosecutor for seven and a half years with the Queens District Attorney’s Office, and is a member of the elite Investigations Division, Economic and Environmental Crimes Bureau. Prior to joining the Queens DA’s Office, he served at the United States Department of Justice and the Philadelphia Police Department. Scharf received his undergraduate degree from Tufts University in Medford, Mass., and his law degree from the Temple University Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia. Scharf also holds a master’s degree in governmental administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

Scharf is the oldest son of Dr. Daniel and Miriam Scharf.