Celebrations

Michelle Leigh Hammer and Zachary M. Ruchman were married Sunday, Oct. 7, at Mount Ida Farm near Charlottesville, Virginia.
The bride is the daughter of Linda and Steve Hammer and the granddaughter of Adela Dagerman and the late Jack Dagerman and the late Alice and Morris Hammer.
The groom is the son of Amy Horbar and Allan Ruchman of Cos Cob, Connecticut, and the grandson of Rita Horbar of New York City and the late Stanley Horbar and the late Rita and Ernest Ruchman.
The maid of honor was Becky Wardell of Princeton, New Jersey. Best man was Gus Ruchman of New York City.
Bridal attendants were Rachel Myers of Dallas, Diana McCue of Austin, Texas, and Joy Li of Washington, D.C. Groom’s attendants were Joseph Hammer of Overland Park, Rashad Badr of Arlington, Virginia, Ryan Flynn of Washington, D.C., Henry Skelsey of New York City and Josh Grehan of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
Ushers were Sarah Hirsch of St. Louis, Sydney Hirsch of Columbia, Missouri, Jordan Levitt of Chicago and Zoe Levitt of Chicago.
The couple lives in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Mindi and Jamie Squire announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Samantha Jordan Squire (Sammi Jo) at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.
Sammi Jo is the granddaughter of Kitty and Hal Novicoff of Overland Park, Lynn Squire of Cary, North Carolina, and John Squire of Rockville, Maryland. She has one sibling, Drew.
Sammi Jo plays volleyball and basketball and enjoys baking. Her Mitzvah project was assisting the residents of Village Shalom during weekly bingo games.

Frank and Tracy Tankard of Prairie Village announce the birth July 3, 2018, of their son, Jacob Alan Tankard. Grandparents are Alan and Barbara Schwartz of Lenexa and Timothy and Valerie Tankard of Overland Park. Great-grandparents are Betty Hodges of Chicago and Delia Tankard of Leawood.

Marcie and Richard Komaiko of Los Angeles announce the birth Nov. 12, 2018, of Efraim Yitzchak Komaiko. Grandparents are Harryette and Ron Cooperman of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Sandra Lee and Bill Komaiko of Chicago.

Stephanie Kolb and Josh Maker announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Eli Morris Maker, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at Congregation Beth Torah.
Eli is the grandson of Sharon and Milton Katz, Overland Park, and Pauline and Larry Maker, Toronto. Great-grandparent is Jerome Inger, Los Angeles.
Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.
Eli has five siblings — Asa Maker, Shia Kolb, Ezra Maker, Noa Maker and Hannah Maker. He is a junior thespian and loves acting and performing. He has been in many plays and musicals at The Culture House and Lakewood Middle School. Eli represented Kansas City in the arts fest for Maccabi last summer and competed in improv. He also enjoys art, cooking, playing video games and spending time with his family and friends.
Eli decided to give back to Congregation Beth Torah for his mitzvah project and with the help of his step-grandpa Natan Kolb he built two picnic benches for Beth Torah.

Howard and Sarah Shalinsky announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Ariana Freydl, at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at Congregation Beth Shalom in Seattle.
Ariana is the granddaughter of Arlene and the late Leo Shalinsky of Kansas City, Missouri, and Marcella and the late Irving Kaplan of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.
Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush lunch following the service.
Ariana is an avid tennis and volleyball player, and enjoys hip hop dancing, piano, swimming, ceramics, reading, hanging out with her friends and eating pickles. She loved her time at Camp Ramah NorCal the last two summers where she was joined by five of her Shalinsky/Stein cousins. Ariana is regularly found visiting family members in New Jersey, Kansas City, California and Jerusalem.
For her mitzvah project, Ariana donated toys for the holiday season to Children’s Mercy Hospital and participated in the Twinning Project of the Holocaust Center at Yad Vashem, Israel.

Diana and Victor Hurst, residents of Leawood, celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on Oct. 7. Rabbi William Silverman officiated at their wedding in 1973 at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.
A family celebration, including relatives who will travel from out of town for the event, will take place during the Thanksgiving vacation.
Victor and Diana are the parents of a daughter, Hedi (Anthony) Heinz; twin sons, Austin Hurst and Zach Hurst; and a granddaughter, Victoria Heinz.

Beth and Mike Sherry announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Leah Gayle Sherry at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Congregation Beth Shalom.
Leah is the granddaughter of Helen and Henry Katz of Ada, Oklahoma, and Judy and Steve Sherry. She has one sibling, Gabe.
Leah is interested in playing soccer, reading and spending time with friends. For her mitzvah project, she collected books for the JFS Food Pantry so they are able to provide books to their clients.

Dana and Neal Schwartz announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Melanie Grace Schwartz, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at Congregation Beth Shalom.
Melanie is the granddaughter of Carol and Lewis Berey of Kansas City, Missouri, and Judi and Harvey Schwartz of Boynton Beach, Florida. She is the great-granddaughter of the late Ann and Abe Radetsky, Edythe and Gordon Berey, Edie and Harry Mandell, and Fay and Irving Schwartz.
Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Oneg Shabbat following the service.
Melanie has one older sister, Lydia.
Melanie enjoys playing piano, swimming and spending time with friends and family. She describes Camp Herzl as “home away from home.”
Her mitzvah project is collecting women’s interview clothing and accessories for the organization Dress for Success, which empowers women to achieve economic independence. Visit kansascity.dressforsuccess.org.

Gertie Epstein of Leawood is thrilled to announce the arrival of her 15th great-grandchild.
Yair Shlomo was born Oct. 12. He is the son of Dr. Eli and Tamar Miller and brother to Eitan of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. His grandparents are Dr. Roberta and Brian Miller of Northbrook, Illinois, and Avie and Elana Rock of Pikesville, Maryland. He is a nephew to Hannah Miller, New York City, and Ben Rock, Baltimore.