Scholars-In-Residence: This Shabbos, June 13-14: 1) BCMH in Seattle features Rabbi Laizer Brody, a disciple of Rabbi Shalom Arush of Garden of Emunah books fame; and 2) Beth Jacob Beverly Hills features Rabbi Steven Riskin, former rav of Manhattan’s Lincoln Square Synagogue and chief rabbi of Efrat, Israel… June 20-21: 1) EDOS in Denver features Rabbi Ari Sytner, director of community initiatives for Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future; and 2) Young Israel of Hancock Park in L.A. features Rabbi Mayer Twersky, RIETS rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Twersky will join Rabbi Raphael Stohl and Dr. Hindy Posy the next day, Sunday, June 22 for a yom iyun… June 27-28: Westwood Kehilla in L.A. features Rabbi Paysach Krohn, author, mohel and inspirational speaker.
Jews In The News: Yasher koach to Yossi, of Fountain Hills, AZ, for walking off the baseball field when an umpire said he couldn’t wear his tzitzis while at bat. And yasher koach to his non-Jewish teammates as well for following him off the field and offering to forfeit the game. Following a lengthy on-field meeting between the coaches and the umpire, Yossi was eventually allowed to bat while wearing his tzitzis… Two weeks ago in Beverly Hills, a well-known senior couple who regularly host a Friday night minyan in their home heard a knock on their door right after everyone had left. The couple opened the door, thinking someone might have left something behind. But they were confronted by three masked men who barged in, tied up the couple, dragged them through the house searching for valuables, and shot the woman in the leg. As a precaution, the couple was taken to Cedars Sinai for observation and treatment. Neither suffered a life-threatening injury.
Shul News: Od Yosef Chai Beth Midrash, withRabbi Ezra Douek, has moved from La Brea Blvd. to Beverly Blvd. (between Torah Ohr and the Los Angeles Kollel)… Rabbi Pinchas Gruman has been named rav of Kesher Torah, located in the Aish Tamid building in the Fairfax/La Brea area of Los Angeles. Kesher Torah grew out of, and takes its inspiration from, the Minyan at Aish Tamid, founded by Rabbi Avi Leibovic.
College News:The University of California Board of Regents has selected Avi Oved, a UCLA senior from Encino, as one of two student Board representatives. Oved, an Orthodox Jew whose parents hail from Israel, is active in student organizations and in the on-campus Hillel. As reported in the Los Angeles Times, the selection was noteworthy because last year the Regents chose UC Berkeley student Sadia Saifuddin, a selection that angered many Jewish organizations due to Saifuddin’s support for divesting UC funds from companies that do business with Israel’s military. Both students will serve during the 2014-2015 academic year.
Yeshiva News:A controversy is brewing among Orthodox Jewish high schools in L.A. about whether it is appropriate to award merit scholarships to students of wealthy families. In the competition for star academic and athletic students, schools such as YULA and Valley Torah have reportedly offered merit scholarships to attract such students. Shalhevet’s student paper, The Boiling Point, reports that the school has taken the position that scholarships should be reserved for needy students. The schools offering the merit scholarships insist that the funds come from a separate source and do not diminish the monies available to assist needy students.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
Mazel Tov – Births: Aaron and Minna Okin, a daughter… Daniel and Adena Friedman, a son.
Mazel Tov – Engagement: Andrew Gibbs, son of David Gibbs and Fred and Ellen Lemberg, to Rachel Fisher.
LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Birth: Raphy and Michal Shapiro, a daughter.
Mazel Tov – Wedding: David Goldenberg, son of Tsvi and Anne Goldenberg, to Brittni Rubin.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Births: Shmuel and Hindel Schlussel, a son (Grandparents Gershon and Sora Schlussel)…Drs. Jonathan and Rachel Kessler, a son (Grandparents Drs. Jonathan and Faye Kellerman; Great-grandmother Sylvia Kellerman)… Ben and Lea Lipman, a daughter…Rabbi Mendel and Rachey Simons, a son… Yossi and Sarah Melohn, a daughter (Grandparents Isaac and Joyce Weiss).
Mazel Tov – Bas Mitzvahs: Anna Weiss, daughter of David and Michele Weiss…Caroline Edry, daughter ofJack and Ronit Edry.
Mazel Tov – Engagements: Penina Gohary, daughter of Aaron and Feigie Gohary, to Chesky Klein of Monsey, NY… Chana Panitz to Shuey Thav of Baltimore.
Mazel Tov – Wedding: Yaakov Mirman, son of Dr. Julian and Linda Mirman, to Zeesie Markman, daughter of Rabbi Aryeh and Rochel Markman.
Graduation: Stern College for Women – Tamar Benzaquenby.
VALLEY VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA
Mazel Tov – Birth: Jarred and Jennifer Lyons, a son.
DALLAS, TEXAS
Mazel Tov – Bas Mitzvah: Sarah Liener, daughter of Robert and Liz Liener.
Mazel Tov – Engagement: Joshua Abramson, son of David and Karen Abramson, to Ophira Kopitnikoff of Elizabeth, NJ.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Mazel Tov – Bas Mitzvah: Esther Toban, daughter of Rabbi Richard and Sharon Toban.
EDMONTON, CANADA
Mazel Tov – Birth: Rabbi Dovid and Devorah Pinson, a daughter.