Archived Celebrations

Cindy Flick and Steve Bernstein announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 2, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.
Isabel is the granddaughter of Phyliss and Bob Bernstein of Kansas City, Missouri, and the late Velta and Elmer Flick of Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
She attends Pembroke Hill School, where she will be seventh-grade student in the fall. Isabel plays in the band and enjoys volleyball, soccer and basketball. She also attends Camp Sabra.
Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush Luncheon following the service.

Rabbi David and Annie Glickman announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Eliora (Ellie) Yaakova, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 2, at Congregation Beth Shalom.
Ellie’s grandparents are Kenneth and Karen Glickman of Lansing, Michigan, and David Kanofsky, Paul Rietmann and the late Sallie Kanofsky Rietmann of Tacoma, Washington. Her siblings are Gavriel and Daniela.
Ellie attends The Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy and she has a black belt in Taekwondo. She dances at the JCC, sings with the HBHA middle school choir, plays basketball for HBHA, and loves her summers at Camp Ramah Wisconsin. Ellie also volunteers in the Polsky Religious School on Sunday mornings.
Friends, family and the Beth Shalom community are invited to worship with the family and attend the Kiddush luncheon following services.
 

The Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago last month honored Matt Rissien with the LEAD award in recognition of his leadership, dedication and commitment to the Chicagoland Jewish community. Lead stands for Leader, Educator, Advisor, Dugma (example).
Rissien, a 2011 graduate of the University of Kansas and a graduate of the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, serves as director of youth activities at Congregation Beth Shalom, a Conservative congregation in Northbrook, Illinois. The day before he received the LEAD award, the congregation’s USY chapter was awarded CHUSY Chapter of the Year. CHUSY is the Chicago-based region of USY and includes local chapters from Chicago as well as Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Northwest Indiana.
A few days after the LEAD award presentation, Rissien received a congratulatory letter from Illinois State Rep. Carol Sente.
“I understand that this prestigious honor is given to one outstanding adult who goes above and beyond in their role in educating and caring for Jewish teens,” Sente wrote. “… you are in a unique position to encourage, teach and exemplify the values that make a strong Jewish community. That you were nominated by the teen members of your own USY chapter speaks volumes about the respect and gratitude they have for you.”
In a Facebook post, Rissien wrote that the two awards were “incredibly rewarding and humbling.”
“These awards are the culmination of lots of hard work with lots of really great people. I’m so proud, thankful and lucky to have worked with all of my amazing teen leaders over the years, and so thankful for the Jewish community of teen professionals in Chicago.”
Rissien, who was president of the Kansas City Council BBYO his senior year in high school, believes youth groups “really do make a difference in teen’s lives.”
“I’m so grateful that Congregation Beth Shalom has given me the platform to work with our amazing teens, and hopefully make a difference in their lives. I know they have made a difference in mine.”
He grew up at Kehilath Israel Synagogue where his parents, Shelley and Aaron Rissien, continue to be active congregants.

Amy Hyken and Blake Lande announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Julian Connor Lande, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 26, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.
Julian is the grandson of Linda Hyken of Overland Park and the late Harvey Hyken, and Lois and Richard Lande of Houston, Texas.
Julian is a seventh-grade student at Indian Woods Middle School. He participates in Kesher and BBYO. He will attend his third summer at Camp Sabra this year. Julian plays baseball for Nall Hills, participates in honors choir and takes parkour classes. He also helps his mom with foster/rescue and will be part of youth corps this summer. For his tzedakah project, Julian held fundraisers, collected donations and assembled friendship bags to deliver to Angel Hearts Rescue, an agency that provides for the homeless and their pets. He also served as a captain on B’nai Jehudah’s Mitzvah Day for this organization

Marc Krass considers helping troubled children to be his most important job. His commitment has been duly recognized.
As a volunteer for Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), Krass received the Teresa Rabideau Award for Volunteer Excellence. Krass was honored for his exceptional work advocating for the best interests of abused/neglected children under court protection.
The award was presented at the 18th Annual CASA Light of Hope Breakfast held in April at the Sheraton Hotel Crown Center.
Krass, who began volunteering as a CASA in 2015, works with teens ensuring they have a dedicated advocate as they navigate the child welfare and family court systems. A retired attorney who previously served as associate general counsel for Proctor & Gamble, Krass works on multiple CASA cases simultaneously.
Previously named Drug Court Volunteer of the Year for his work with youth whose parents’ cases are under the jurisdiction of Jackson County’s Drug Court, Krass also serves as a business mentor. The Teresa Rabideau Award recognizes Krass’s “tireless work on behalf of the teens for whom he advocates, speaking up for what he believes is right and relentlessly seeking resolutions in the youths’ best interests.”
CASA volunteers — with the support of the agency’s staff — work to provide critical information to judges, helping them make the best possible decisions regarding where the children should live and what medical, therapeutic and educational services they need. Children assigned a CASA volunteer are far less likely to be re-abused and far more likely to find a safe, permanent home. For the past six years, 95 percent of children with a CASA volunteer had not re-entered the Jackson, Johnson or Wyandotte County courts.
Children under court protection often face numerous changes ranging from the professionals assigned to their cases to where they live. They have only one CASA volunteer who often remains the single constant in their life while they’re in the system. In one of Krass’ cases, he has served as the teen’s CASA volunteer for two-and-a-half years and is now the only team member left who was there when the case started.
The Teresa Rabideau Award for Volunteer Excellence was established in memory of a CASA volunteer who, despite battling Multiple Sclerosis, over the years advocated for scores of abused/neglected children under court protection.
Krass and his wife, Sue, who is also a Jackson County CASA volunteer, belong to The New Reform Temple.

Allison Berey and Ronald Yurman announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Aaron Elliot Yurman, at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, May 19, at Congregation Beth Shalom.
Aaron is the grandson of Carol and Lewis Berey of Kansas City, Missouri, and Enid and Sigmund Yurman of Merrick, New York.
Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

A Kiddush luncheon in honor of Esther Rudnick’s 80th birthday will be sponsored by her children and grandchildren following Shabbat services Saturday, May 12, Esther’s actual birthday, at Congregation Ohev Sholom.
Friends are invited to attend services and the Kiddush with Esther’s family and help her celebrate this wonderful milestone.

Zalman Kohen, Summit Home’s chief operating officer, has been named to Ingram’s magazine’s 2018 40 Under Forty list.

Claudia and Richard Sophir announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Ava Sophir, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 5, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Lauren Nicole Gruenebaum and Daniel Lee Neuman were married Oct. 15, 2017, at the Hobbs Building in Kansas City, Missouri.