Celebrations

Sheryl and Martin Rattner of Los Altos, Calif., announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Evan Rattner, on Saturday, Aug. 13, at Congregation Beth David in Saratoga, Calif. Evan is the grandson of Carol and Leon Kusnetzky of Leawood and Harold and Sylvia Rattner of Los Angeles. His great-grandparents were the late Joseph and Marsha Carr of Kansas City, Mo. Several of Evan’s special education classmates attended and special education teachers from his past were in attendance, as well as out-of-town relatives from Denver and Orlando, Fla.

Molly Levitt announces the Bat Mitzvah of her daughter, Jennifer Eden, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. Jenny is also the daughter of the late Thomas W. Levitt. She is the granddaughter of Jean Grossman of Scottsdale, Ariz., and the late Harold I. Grossman and the late Aaron and Louise Levitt. Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

Julie and Alan Schneider announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Ellie Hannah, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at Congregation Beth Shalom. Ellie is the granddaughter of Jack Goldberg of Columbus, Ohio, and the late Patricia Gurwin Segal and Estelle and Jerome Schneider. Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush following the service.

Angela Jeffers and Levi Gibian Fishman of New York City announce the birth July 24 of a son, Reuven Jeffers Fishman. Grandparents are Linda Gibian and Mark Fishman and Bonnie and Ed Jeffers of Eau Claire, Wisc. Great-grandparents are Evelyn and Marvin Gibian and Shirley A. Fishman. At his Brit Milah, Reuven was given the Hebrew name of Betzalel Eliyahu, honoring his great-grandfather, Charles Fishman, of blessed memory.

Barbara and Michael Katz of Prairie Village announce the engagement of their son, Seth Jeremy Katz, to Rachel-Lizbeth Wanasek Feldman, daughter of Carla and AJ Feldman of Topeka, Kan.

The future groom is the grandson of the late Ellen and Sam Ginden and the late Becky and Joe Katz. He graduated from the University of Kansas where he was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. He received a bachelor’s degree in health information management and a master’s degree in public health. He is currently employed as the corporate director of health information at the two Truman Medical Centers.

The future bride is the granddaughter of David Feldman and the late Blanch Feldman and the late Isabella and Carl Wanasek. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in health information management and a master’s degree in health services administration. She is currently employed by Cerner Corporation as a support analyst.

A Nov. 5 wedding at the Intercontinental Hotel is planned.

Dr. and Mrs. Norman Burk will celebrate their 50th anniversary on Aug. 27. The former Beverly Rae Hyken and Norman Burk were married on Aug. 27, 1961, by Rabbi Marshall Miller at the Muehlebach Hotel. Their children are Steven Burk of Bozeman, Mont., and Ronald Burk of Prairie Village. They have three grandchildren.

Shana Mara Weinberg and Douglas Michael Enns were married Saturday, May 21, at an intimate gathering with their immediate family members at their home in Forest Hills, N.Y.

The bride is the daughter of Steve and Judy Weinberg and the granddaughter of the late Morris and Rose Weinberg and Zelda Gallun of Silver Spring, Md., and the late Marvin Gallun. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., and a master’s degree in deaf education from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. She is currently employed as a teacher of the deaf at the Lexington School for the Deaf in Jackson Heights, N.Y.

The groom is the son of Dennis and Helga Enns of Kingsville, Ontario, and the grandson of the late Peter and Susanna Enns of Leamington, Ontario, and Henry and Valerie Penner of Leamington. He earned an honors bachelor’s degree in science from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and a bachelor’s degree in intermediate-senior education from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. He is currently employed as a curriculum coordinator and science teacher at the United Nations International School in New York City.

The wedding ceremony was officiated by Cantor Guy Bonne, New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Everyone attending shared a personal blessing during the ceremony including blessing from:
Steve and Judy Weinberg
Mark Weinberg
Matt, Christine and Noah Weinberg (Cambridge, Mass.)
Lauren Weinberg (Somerville, Mass)
Dennis and Helga Enns (Kingsville, Ontario)
Christine, Ali, Zinnedine and Sophia Moussa (London, Ontario)
Tom and Leanne Enns (London, Ontario)

In July they traveled through Fiji for their honeymoon.

The couple reside in Forest Hills.

Corey Iken and Michelle (Hammer) Iken of St. Louis, Mo., announce the birth July 15 of a son, Seth David Iken. Grandparents are Marcia and Robert Hammer of Overland Park and Barry and Sharon Iken of Chesterfield, Mo. Great-grandparents are Ruth and Dave Goodman of Creve Coeur, Mo.

The family of Lillian S. Greenberg is celebrating her 90th birthday with a reception at Rachel’s Café in Village Shalom on Sunday, Aug. 21. Soft drinks and light refreshments (fruit, cookies, cake) will be served from 2 to 4 p.m., and there will be live music. The entire Greenberg clan, plus many out-of-town nieces and nephews, will be coming in for the simcha. Jackye, Jerry, Dvora (Jody) and Esther Liba (Terry) invite all of Lillian’s friends and family to mark the date and stop by to help celebrate “Nachas at Ninety” for Lillian, whose actual birthday is three days later, on Aug. 24.

The University Academy recognized Marilyn L. Cohen as the 2010-2011 Volunteer of the Year. She has dedicated her time at UA for the past eight years and continues to be dedicated to serving UA staff and students, in spite of dealing with multiple sclerosis in the many forms it can present itself.

University Academy was built on the former site of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. The presentation of this honor was given by Barnett and Bush Helzberg, and Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Anderson.

Cohen can be found assisting at the front desk by greeting parents with a warm smile and a friendly hello, answering the phone, or walking the halls and giving an extra hug to students who are having a down day. She has also home-schooled students who were unable to attend UA due to illness, assisted the nurse and has spearheaded the Journal Project that is completed during Mitzvah Day at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

One of the greatest contributions that Cohen has made was to put into action the eyeglass program. She founded and continues to finance the Eyeglass Program, which enables students to be given eyeglasses if their families are unable to afford them. The students are taken by Cohen to the ophthalmologist for an eye exam, provided for free by partnering organizations, and then are fitted for frames and lenses at a discounted price. Currently, 61 students have benefited from this unique program.

Cohen is a member of the B’nai Jehudah Sisterhood Board of Directors, serves on the Social Justice Committee and was on the Hunger Banquet Committee this past year. She is also a kindergarten religious school teacher at The Temple and a substitute teacher at schools in the greater Kansas City area. Cohen believes that we all need to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves in any way possible; especially children, as they are her greatest passion.

University Academy officials said Cohen is truly altruistic in nature as she has tirelessly devoted her time and resources to the school and has never expected anything in return. She is greatly valued by students and staff and her spirit is a true blessing as she travels daily throughout the school.