Scholars-In-Residence: This Shabbos Rabbi Asher Lopatin, president of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah – at Congregation Beth Israel in Berkeley; and Rabbi Dr. Daniel Lerner, a psychologist, scholar and orator – at Emek Beracha in Palo Alto… On Shabbos, February 15 Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, founder and dean of Yeshiva Darchei Noam of Monsey, NY and founder and director of The Center for Jewish Family Life/Project YES – at Young Israel of Hancock Park; and Zvi Zohar, a professor of Sephardic Law and Ethics at Bar-Ilan University in Israel and a noted writer, halacha scholar and teacher at the Shalom Hartman Institute – at Westwood Village Synagogue in West Los Angeles.
Shul News: Rabbi Daniel Grama is now the Ashkenazic rabbi at Congregation Mogen Dovid, a shul that has both Sephardic and Ashkenazic minyanim… This Shabbos the Calabasas Shul will feature a Shabbos of Music with Chazzan Yanky Lunger and Rabbi Meshulom Weiss… On Wednesday, February 19, The Jewish Learning Exchange hosts Rabbi Menachem Nissel, a renowned speaker and author of Rigshei Lev: Women and Prayer. His topic: “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, and Rabbis are from Pluto.”
Women Only: On Sunday morning, February 23, Rivi Poupko Kletenic will speak on behalf of the OU Women’s Torah Network at YULA Girls School. The deadline for reservations is February 14.
LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Births: Noam and Efrat Freeman, a son… Leon and Avishag Kaplan, a son. Mazel Tov – Bas Mitzvah: Sarit Kaplan-Nadel, daughter of Russell and Renee Kaplan-Nadel.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Births: David and Shoshana Homami, a son… Naftali and Goldie Weingarten, a daughter… Chaim and Malkie Gurman, a son (Grandparents Zalmy and Chavi Gurman)… Tzvika and Sarah Nissel, a daughter… Rabbi Zalman and Chani Friedman, a son… Rabbi Tzemah and Ada Cunin, a daughter… Yossi and Mushka Shusterman, a son… Rabbi Aaron and Molly Katz, a daughter (Grandparents Dr. Ernie and Frieda Katz)… Shmuli and Mimi Rieder, a son… Oren and Aliya Atias, a daughter… Efraim Shmuel and Yocheved Deutsch, a son… Michael and Pammy Talansky, a daughter and son (Grandparents Meir and Robin Gelman; Great-grandparents Bernice Gelman, and Sanford and Hannah Deutsch)… Aaron and Carli Becker, a son… Eliyahu and Chana Lebovics, a son (Grandparents Rabbi Yehuda and Chaya Lebovics)… Charlie and Kyla Stein, a daughter.
Mazel Tov – Bar Mitzvahs: Ushi Blonder, son of Duvie and Eynat Blonder… Daniel Wyszynski, son of Dr. Carolien Wyszynski… Avremi Schochet, son of Alti and Dini Burston… Nicholas Deutsch, son of Sander and Lisa Deutsch.
Mazel Tov – Engagements: Eli Atri, son of Mauricio and Tere Atri, to Aviva Silberstein… Noa Gross, daughter of Aaron and Jody Gross, to Nosson Schwartz of Kew Gardens Hills, NY… Isser Kluwgant to Mushka Greene… Rachel Hakimi, daughter of Amir and Sharona Hakimi, to Daniel Ben Porat of NY… Yitzi Kempe, son of Joe and Revital Kempe, to Elisheva Lehmann of Monsey, NY… David Nathan to Hela Zadaka… Shalom Kraft, son of Rabbi Shimon and Elizabeth Kraft, to Ariella Schachter of Passaic, NJ.
Mazel Tov – Weddings: Chani Engel, daughter of Shaya and Libby Engel, to Duvi Lemmer of Boro Park, NY… Shoshana Sieger, daughter of Ronnie and Jennifer Sieger, to Akiva Weisinger of Teaneck, NJ.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Birth: Jerry and Nancy Rauch, a daughter (Grandparents Adam and Elizabeth Leftik).
Mazel Tov – Engagement: Daniel Cohen, son of Sam and Maria Cohen, to Maya Guendelman.
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Birth: Michael and Elana Schwab, a daughter (Grandparents Michael and Deborah Wenocur).
VALLEY VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA Mazel Tov – Births: Yaakov and Dina Zellman of Israel, a son (Grandparents Dean and Nanci Zellman)… Michi and Jasmin Kahn-Rose, a daughter (Grandparents Bob and Lilli Kahn-Rose).