Rabbi Nati and Sarah Stern welcomed Ephraim Simcha into the world at 8:58 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Rabbi Stern, who is the Kansas City director of NCSY and JSU, said he’s “very excited” to have had the first Jewish baby in the greater Kansas City area in 2021.
Asked if Ephraim cries a lot or is pretty quiet, Rabbi Stern replied, “He’s been pretty good; he’s good natured. We’re happy with him.”
Ephraim weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces and measured about 21 inches long. He has brown hair and brown eyes.
The name Ephraim Simcha in Hebrew means to be fruitful and happy. In Genesis it says Joseph named his son Ephraim saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Rabbi Stern explains that Ephraim comes from the word “pri” in Hebrew, meaning fruit.
“Every action we take, word we speak and even thought we think have so much potential within them to channel goodness and create more positivity, just like every fruit has the seeds to create more and more fruit,” the rabbi said.
The Ephraim in Genesis grew up in the toughest of times and in a harsh environment and yet maintained his Jewish identity, living his life as a proud Jew, Rabbi Stern said. “We need this blessing in our life today more than ever, the blessing of resilience.”
The Sterns, who have been married for 12 years, have four other children, ranging in age from 10 to 3. The couple moved here about three years ago. Rabbi Stern is originally from New York and Sarah is from New Jersey. They belong to Congregation BIAV.
Update on 2020
First Jewish Baby
We thought our readers would also like to know how last year’s first Jewish baby is coming along.
Nathan Benjamin Mayer was born Jan. 4, 2020, and according to his parents, Brian and Tiferet Mayer, he’s “awesome.”
“He’s healthy, he’s growing, he’s a sweet kid,” said Brian. “He’s got a lot of things that resemble his great-grandfather, who he’s named after. It’s amazing. He’s developing things just like his great-grandpa Nate.”
Tiferet said they are noticing numerous traits that are the same as his great-grandpa.
“He actually has a dimple! No one in either of our families has a dimple except Grandpa Nate,” she said. “He has the same demeanor that my grandpa had — a very calm, gentle little soul. It’s so interesting to see random things, like Oh, my God, my grandpa used to do that.”
Little Nathan loves is older brother Mason, who is now 3 ½. He loves to play with him and “be silly” with him. Tiferet said Nathan loves to give kisses, which Mason calls slobber kisses.
“It’s cool to watch the relationship really grow. They love each other so much,” she said. “Nathan’s a really good little boy. Mason has a lot of energy and is a wild child and Nathan is the opposite; he’s the calm one. So he’s the perfect little addition to our family.”
Being home quarantined with them for nearly a year has made the boys’ relationship stronger because they just have each other Tiferet pointed out.
Prior to the pandemic, Mason attended Beth Shalom’s Rose Family Early Education Center, so he’s acclimated to being around other children explained Brian. But Nathan has only been around his parents and brother. He hasn’t seen any other family members since a week after his birth.
“It will be interesting how Nathan reacts [to others] because he only knows being quarantined; he doesn’t know anything else,” said Brian.
Tiferet said Mason is a huge help to her with Nathan. Since Brian goes to work every day, she’s home with the kids and Mason wants to do everything — bathing, diaper changing, feeding, etc.
Nathan isn’t quite walking or talking yet, but he manages to get all over the house by scooting, the couple said. He babbles a lot, and understands commands like waving, kisses, hugs. And when told “don’t put that in your mouth,” he obeys. If you ask him to dance, he’ll shake his little bottom.
And he absolutely loves his food — the more flavor, the better. He likes lots of garlic and seasonings. Whenever Brian make meatballs, he puts in extra garlic just for Nathan.
“He’s all about food,” Brian said.
