Events in the West: From December 15-18, the OU West Coast Convention in L.A. hosts scholars from all over the country… Holocaust survivors, who for more than three decades have been the Museum of Tolerance’s most effective ambassadors of memory and hope, speak every day – every hour on the hour – between 12 noon and 3 p.m.
Kosher Updates: Barilla Montanara has been reformulated, and will once again bear an OU symbol. Only the product bearing the OU symbol should be used.
Women Only: On Monday evenings, Beth Jacob Beverly Hills offers a beit midrash for women. The program presents a 15-minute talk by a guest speaker, followed by a private chavrusah for all participants.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Mazel Tov – Births: Rabbi Zev and Michal Goldberg, a son… Matt and Judie Risman, a daughter (Grandparents Neil and Ruth Miller)… Rabbi Akiva and Chaya Fox in Yerushalayim, a son (Grandparents Dr. David and Debby Fox)… Jonathan and Darcy Praw, a son (Grandparents Albert and Heidi Praw; Wayne and Sally Marsh of Scottsdale, AZ; Great-grandmother Tamara Praw)… Alex and David Kahn, a daughter (Grandmother Nellie Kahn)… Moshe and Shira Hecht, a son (Grandparents Uri and Elizabeth Hecht; Rabbi Moshe and Natalie Amster)… Zachariah and Odit Oliner, a daughter (Grandparents Walter and Esthie Feinblum; Great-grandparents Rabbi Joseph and Dr. Leila Bronner)… Davidi and Rivka Teichman of Lakewood, a son (Grandparents Haim and Miriam Teichman)… Dovi and Eynat Blonder, a son (Grandparents Zvika and Leah Brenner; Great-grandmother Toby Bitterman)… Sammy and Tahli Harkham, a daughter… Babak and Sherri Rashididoust, a son.
Mazel Tov – Bar Mitzvahs: Sammy Schoen, son of Joel and Beth Schoen… Jesse Hyman, son of Mark and Sheryl Hyman… Alexander Wiesel, son of Charles Wiesel and Lisa Wiesel… Yonatan Khalil, son of David and Denise Khalil… Bennett Schneier, son of Michael and Rebecca Schneier… Samuel Flicker, son of William and Josette Flicker… J.J. Helperin, son of Robert and Joanne Helperin… Nathan Benyowitz, son of Marc and Clair Benyowitz… Leon Levy, son of Gil and Rosette Levy.
Mazel Tov – Bas Mitzvah: Yael Marcus, daughter of Jeffrey and Eliana Marcus.
Mazel Tov – Engagements: Goldy Weisz, daughter of Rabbi Mordechai and Monika Weisz, to Eli Teitelbaum… Talia Kandel, daughter of Allan and Judy Kandel, to Elly Cole of Columbus, OH… Yonkie Schulman, son of Motty and Miriam Schulman, to Rachel Matthew… Binyamin Fine, son of Martin and Linda Fine, to Racheli Teichman… Michael Friedman to Shirley Lechtman.
Mazel Tov – Weddings: Pinchas Krause, son of Rabbi Yaakov and Frumie Krause, to Tova Berkowitz of Monsey, NY… Tzemach Rosenfeld to Devory Saks.
Congratulations: Bryna (Wincelberg) Kranzler for receiving the best historical biography of 2011 award from Books USA for The Accidental Anarchist.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA Mazel Tov – Births: Dan and Jessica Minkoff, a daughter (Grandparents Stephen and Terry Friedkin)… Eli and Liora Malul, a son (Grandparents Yaakov and Frida Sredni).
Mazel Tov – Bar Mitzvah: Jordan Marcus, son of Ben and Melanie Marcus.
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA Mazel Tov – Birth: Ken and Rachel Hartman, a daughter.
Mazel Tov – Bar Mitzvah: Nathaniel Wilnai, son of Guy and Ilanit Wilnai.
VALLEY VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA Mazel Tov – Births: Ben and Michelle Andron, a son… Yehuda and Yocheved Remer, a daughter (Grandparents Allen and Debbie Remer; Great-grandfather Sol Remer)… Menachem and Sara Stulberger, a son (Grandparents Rabbi Avrohom and Peshy Stulberger).
Mazel Tov – Bas Mitzvahs: Alexi Reich, daughter of Ken Reich… Benji Halpern, son of Michael and Marc Halpern.
Mazel Tov – Engagement: Haskel Ash, son of David and Peggy Ash, to Tanya Grossman.