Archived Celebrations

Susan and Paul Himmelstein announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Emily Alexandra Himmelstein, at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 6, at the Jewish Community Campus. Emily is a member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Emily is the granddaughter of Gail and Harry Himmelstein of Leawood and Jillian Brandt and the late Kenneth Brandt of Fairway. She has two sisters, Abigail and Megan.

Emily enjoys participating in many different sports, spending time with her friends and puttering around the house working on multiple DIY projects. She volunteered at Village Shalom for her Mitzvah Project this year.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

Gilli Gerson, son of Dr. Jeffry and Karen B. Gerson, will become a Bar Mitzvah on Thursday, April 4, at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. Gilli is a freshman at HBHA and will lead services and read Torah in the Social Hall at the Jewish Community Campus beginning at 7:55 a.m. There is a light brunch to follow. The Gersons are members of Congregation Beth Shalom.

Gilli is a competitive soccer player and plays for Metro Fusion, training with former pro Andy Gruenebaum.

He has earned community service hours and has gifted money through his B’nai Tzedek fund. He is a member of Nordonian AZA and plans to attend BBYO’s Chapter Leadership Training Conference this summer. Gilli will also attend Indiana soccer camp for the third year in a row.

Tamara and Brian Goldstein announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Marisa Erin, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 30, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah at the Jewish Community Campus.

Marisa is the granddaughter of Martin and Irene Goldstein and Teri Joy Eisen and the late William Eisen. She has two sisters, Leah and Julia.

Marisa plays competitive soccer, volleyball and enjoys middle school track. She is active in BBYO Connect and loves going to Camp Sabra at the Lake of the Ozarks for a month every summer.

For her mitzvah project Marisa made no-sew blankets to donate to ReStart homeless shelter, where she also prepared and served meals.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

Laura Gilman and Dr. Danny Sucher announce the birth of a daughter, Arya Ronan Gilman Sucher on Feb. 28, 2019.

Grandparents are Drs. Dora and Erwin Sucher of Jerusalem, Israel, and Drs. Lynn Murray and Richard Gilman of Overland Park, Kansas. Great-grandmothers are Frieda Sucher of Tel Aviv, Israel, and Claire Murray of Overland Park, Kansas.

Jeff and Corrine Blackman announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Rachel Blackman, to Neal Louis Cotton, son of Mark Cotton of Fort Lee, New Jersey, and Charlene Ilkowitz of East Brunswick, New Jersey.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Mary and Irv Blackman and the late Berton and LaVonne Kettler. She is currently employed as an emergency trauma nurse at Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Florida.

The future groom is the grandson of Arlene Cotton and the late Barton Cotton and the late Hyman and Natalie Dorfman. He is currently employed as a corporate IT software manager at Advent Health in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

An early 2020 wedding in Orlando, Florida, is planned.

Eve and Paul Marsh announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Joshua Benjamin Citron, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah at the Jewish Community Campus. Josh is also the son of the late Craig Citron.

Josh is the grandson of Ellen and Edward Rose of Leawood and the late Barry Citron; Michelle and Charles Heller of Lawrence; and Barbara Gossett of Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

Josh has three siblings: Alex Citron, Ben Marsh and Wil Marsh.

He plays basketball and participates in track and field for Chisholm Trail Middle School. He also plays competitive soccer for Sporting Blue Valley Premier soccer club.

Josh was selected by his middle school teachers this year to serve as a peer leader in the Sources of Strength Program, one of the first suicide prevention programs that uses peer leaders to impact multiple issues including suicide.

For his Mitzvah project, he has been volunteering at KidsTLC Olathe Campus on a wide variety of projects. Kids TLC provides children with a continuum of care through innovative and successful psychiatric treatment, outreach to homeless teens, outpatient behavioral health, autism and parent support programs.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

Roberta and Sam Goller of Prairie Village and Stuart and Donene Pollack of Overland Park announce the engagement of their son, Jordan Samuel Pollack, to Leah Sara Levy, daughter of Sam and Rhonda Levy of Skokie, Illinois.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Leo and Bette Levy and the late Meyer and Florence Cohen. She attended the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in education history and government. She is currently employed as vice president at Advanced Benefits Corporation LLC in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

The future groom is the grandson of Rena and Leonard Dolins of Sun Lakes, Arizona, and Harold Pollack of Leawood and the late Beverlee Pollack. He attended the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and Judaic studies. He is currently employed as a tax accountant at The Dolins Group LTD in Northbrook, Illinois.

The couple met at Chabad KU. A June 2019 wedding at The Ravinia Green Country Club in Riverwoods, Illinois, is planned.

Dr. Scott and Pamela Talpers announce the engagement of their daughter, Heather Lauren Talpers, to Daniel Floyd Stucky, son of Cindy and Tom Stucky.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Merrill and Soni Talpers and Peggy Klemm and the late Jerry Klemm. She attended Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. She is currently employed as an information services nurse educator at Saint Luke’s Hospital.

The future groom is the grandson of Janet Stucky and the late Tom Stucky and Bonnie Carlson and the late Jerry Carlson. He attended Kansas State University, earning a Master of Science degree in molecular genetics; and University of Missouri-Kansas City, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. He is currently employed as a software engineer at Red Nova Labs in Westwood.

A May 25 wedding at Oakwood Country Club is planned.

Brian and Christa Balanoff announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Simon Joseph, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Congregation Beth Torah.

Simon is the grandson of Arnold and Diane Balanoff, Leawood, and Charles and Sylvia Ruble, Umatilla, Florida. He has a sister, Olivia.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

Simon loves computer programming and gaming, art, music and spending time with friends. He is active in Boy Scout Troop 61 and loves being outdoors, camping and learning. He also loves skateboarding and has combined his love of skating with his Mitzvah project. He will be collecting items for donations to Skate for Change, an organization of volunteers who travel the city on skateboards distributing care packages to those who need them.

Jane and Joseph Martin announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Leah Dafna, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Leah is the granddaughter of Michael and Sharon Blumenthal and Linda Martin and the late H. Nelson Martin, Leavenworth, Kansas. She has one brother, Daniel.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

Leah is a high green belt in karate, plays guitar and volleyball, and enjoys cooking, crafting and spending time with friends. Her community service project included raising money from a bake sale for the Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope homeless shelter, and volunteering her time to organize the shelter’s storage area.