Celebrations

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.

Kathryn and David Fehr, formally of Kansas City, Missouri, announce the birth of their daughter, Nicola Malin Fehr, on Oct. 3, 2018, in Chicago. Big sister Naomi is very excited to have a new family member.
Grandparents are Nancy and David Bartholomew of Granger, Indiana, and Stephanie and Donald Fehr of Rye Brook, New York, formally of Kansas City, Missouri. Great-grandparents are Irene “Dolly” Fehr of Overland Park, the late Louis Fehr and Sylvia Ruth Eveloff Feldman of Overland Park, and the late Janet and Wade Whitman and the late Dorothy and Alfred Bartholomew of ­Indiana.

Julye and Mark Rose announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Nathan Aaron, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at Congregation Beth Shalom.
Nathan is the grandson of Barbara and Phil Hodes and Phyllis and Allen Rose.
Nathan is interested in basketball, baseball, golf, video games and being with his friends. For his mitzvah project he donated supplies and food to Jewish Family Services. He has a brother, Daniel.

Sally and Brennan Hensley announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son Jackson at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at Congregation Beth Torah.
Jackson is the grandson of Charles (Bud) Weneck and the late Nancy Weneck. He has two siblings: Cooper, 10, and Maddie, 7. He is interested in theater, acting and singing.

Lainie and Jim Decker announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Gabriel Diamond Decker, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at Congregation Beth Torah.
Gabriel is the grandson of Harry Krop and Dawn Burgess-Krop of Gainesville, Florida; Janet Krop and Larry Davis of Hollywood, Florida; and Orian and Betty Decker of Overland Park, Kansas. He is the brother of Isaac Decker.
He enjoys piano, drums, bass, composing, baseball, tennis and board games. He is a student at Leawood Middle School, where he serves as a student ambassador. For his mitzvah project, Gabriel is collecting cooking and baking supplies to stock the Beth Torah kitchen. Extra supplies will be distributed to other organizations including reStart and JVS.
Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.