Celebrations

Pearl and Jeffery Ratz of Woodmere, N.Y., (formerly of Kansas City, Mo.) announce the engagement of their daughter, Tara Blair Ratz, to Sean Jeffrey Hirschhorn, son of Roz and David Hirschhorn of St. Louis (formerly of Winnipeg, Ontario).

The kallah-to-be is a graduate of CUNY, Queens College in New York as well as Touro College; she earned her Master of Science degree in education and special education and is currently a lead special-education teacher for first and second graders at Manhattan Day School in New York City.

The chatan-to-be is a graduate of Yeshiva University; he earned his Master of Social Work degree from the University’s Wurzweiler School and is currently the assistant Director of University Housing for Yeshiva University in New York City.

The couple and their families and friends are excited for the wedding which will be, I”yh, on Sunday, Jan. 29, at Temple Hillel in North Woodmere.

Teala and John Engle announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Davis Reed, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Congregation Beth Torah. Davis is the grandson of Susan and Irwin Levine, Nancy and the late Earl Engle, and the late Mary Lou and the late David Rosen. Relatives and friends are invited to join Davis and his family for worship followed by a Kiddush luncheon.

Sheryl and Andrew Kaplan announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Matthew Jacob, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. Matthew is the grandson of Phyllis and Rudy Green and Ruth and Phil Kaplan of Little Rock, Ark.

Natalie and Stephen Rosenberg announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Rachel Alexandra, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. Rachel is the granddaughter of Sandra and Jay Rozen of Mission Hills and Rosanne and Andrew Rosenberg of River Vale, N.J.

Richard and Melissa Taylor Standridge announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Anna Rachel, at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 22, at Congregation Beth Torah. Anna is the granddaughter of Martha and Herb Friedson, Richard and Jean Taylor, and Stan and Elizabeth Standridge. Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

Richard and Melissa Taylor Standridge announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Clinton Willis, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Congregation Beth Torah. Clint is the grandson of Martha and Herb Friedson, Richard and Jean Taylor, and Stan and Elizabeth Standridge. Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush luncheon following the service.

Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Tiechtel of Lawrence announce the birth Sept. 25 of a son, Yisroel. They are also the parents of Mina, Mendel, Yosef Meir and Levi. Grandparents are Rabbi Shlomo and Shana Tiechtel, Brooklyn, N.Y., and Rabbi Sender and Chana Kagan, North Miami Beach, Fla.

Jeff and Susan Horen of Overland Park announce the engagement of their daughter, Melissa Elizabeth Horen, to Jacob Lehman Kaplan, son of Rosalee and Andy Kaplan of Roanoke, Va.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Freda Saphier of Sarasota, Fla., and the late H. Solomon Horen of Louisville, Ky., and the late Edith and Seymour Chellin of Cranbury, N.J. She attended the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a minor in Jewish studies. During her time at KU, she served as student body vice president and president of KU Hillel. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and named a KU Woman of Distinction. At graduation, she was a Chancellor’s Student Award recipient. She is currently employed as Atlanta leadership management director for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Atlanta.

The future groom is the grandson of the late Sylvia and Marcus Kaplan of Roanoke, Va., and the late Rhea and Seymour Lehman of Pittsburgh. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy and Brandeis University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics with minors in Spanish and business. He played varsity basketball, graduated with honors and hosted a sports radio show. He is currently in his second year of a joint degree program in law and business from Emory University in Atlanta.

A July 1 wedding at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo., is planned.

Edward and Irene Blend will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 15. They were married in Omaha, Neb., and resided there until moving to Kansas City in 1967.

Ed and Irene have one daughter, Marlene, who lives in Lenexa with her husband, Ari, and children, Sam, Alessandra and Rachel Lubowicz.
Ed retired from Puritan Bennett Medical Gases where he was a project engineer. He still works part time at the Marillac Psychiatric Hospital for Children. Irene is retired from Halls Merchandising where she worked as an assistant buyer for 21 years.

Ed presently enjoys driving and showing his 1978 Triumph Spitfire. Irene is an actress in community theatre throughout the city. Both Ed and Irene are active members at Kehilath Israel Synagogue.

Matthew and Tamar Pratt of Olathe announce the birth Sept. 12 of their son, Isaac Jonah Pratt. Grandparents are Sylvie Radvinsky and the late Israel Radvinsky of Overland Park, Marilyn Pratt of Olathe, and Jim Pratt of Greenbush, Minn. At his Brit Milah, Isaac was given the Hebrew name of Yisrael Yonah, honoring his grandfather Israel Radvinsky, of blessed memory.