Celebrations

Melissa Horen Kaplan and Jake Kaplan were married Sunday, July 1, at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center.

The bride is the daughter of Dr. Jeffrey and Susan Horen and 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.

The groom is the son of Andrew and Rosalee Kaplan of Roanoke, Va., and the grandson of the late Sylvia and Marcus Kaplan of Roanoke and the late Rhea and Seymour Lehman of Pittsburgh.

The maids of honor were Jennifer Bloom of New York City and Rachel Snyder of Washington, D.C. The best man was Marcus Kaplan, brother of the groom, of Carrboro, N.C.

Bridal attendants were Dana Kaplan (sister of the groom), Washington, D.C., Yael Epstein (cousin of the bride), New York City, Nicole Lindenbaum (friend of the bride), New York City, Jessica Schwartz (friend of the bride), Washington, D.C., Rachel Waas (friend of the bride), Washington, D.C., Anne Kristol Continetti (friend of the bride), Washington, D.C., Allee Burka (friend of the bride), Atlanta, Jamie Marks Stopke (friend of the bride), St. Louis, Mo., and Jaci Rooney (friend of the bride), Nashville, Tenn.

Groom’s attendants were David Horen (brother of the bride), San Francisco, John Paul Branisteanu, Washington, D.C., Drake Bushnell, Norwalk, Conn., Thomas Jenkins, Beaufort, S.C., Robert Katz, Boston, Joseph Sahid, Washington, D.C., and Stephen Hill, Dallas.

Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel officiated. Witnesses were Rabbi Daniel Rockoff and Rabbi Mendy Wineberg. Greeters were Justin Fensterman and Rebecca Whitehurst (brother and sister-in-law of the groom). Junior bridesmaid was Jessica Glaubiger (cousin of the bride). Flower girls: Olivia Glaubiger and Sylvia Kaplan (cousins of the bride and groom). Ring bearers: Asher Epstein and Spencer Epstein (cousins of the bride).

After a honeymoon in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, the couple reside in Atlanta.

Alison and Adam Kaye announce the birth Jan. 10 of a daughter, Amelia Esther. They are also the parents of Abigail and Asa. Amelia is the granddaughter of Charlotte Slemp of Tulsa, Okla., Dr. Arthur and Leah Kaye of Belle Harbor, N.Y. She is the great-granddaughter of Helen Kaye of Belle Harbor.

Jason and Shayna Kerschner announce the birth Jan. 10 of a son, Samuel Alexander. Samuel is the grandson of Lester and Lynn Kerschner of Tuxedo, N.Y., and Patti Kroll of Overland Park.

Lisa and Steve Ruben announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Julia Ruben, at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Congregation Beth Shalom.

Julia is the granddaughter of Rod and Gerre Minkin and Bill and Charlotte Kessler and the late Bernard Ruben.

Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family.

Erika and Javier Velasquez announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Mia, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Mia is the granddaughter of David Feingold and Trudi Galblum, Marilyn Morgan and Kurt Schnakenberg, and Sonia Carvajal of New Orleans.

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

Jeannie Russell Frank and Norman Frank of Overland Park announce the engagement of their daughter, Molly Jeanne Frank, to Daniel Reuven Brystowski, son of Dr. Henry and Rose Goldman Brystowski of Oak Park, Mich.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Helen Russell Reece and the late Pete Russell, Roeland Park, and the late Molly and Morris Frank, St. Louis, Mo. She is completing her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and will become licensed as a registered nurse at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, New York City.

The future groom is the grandson of the late Rabbi Dr. Leo Yehudah and Sonia Goldman and the late Morris and Sarah Brystowski, all of Oak Park. He is a graduating senior at Yeshiva University, New York City, soon to begin pursuit of his doctor of dental surgery studies at City University of New York.

A June wedding is being planned for the couple.

Stephen and Elizabeth Sobel Blum of Dallas announce the birth Sept. 11 of their daughter, Ava Sobel Blum. They are also the parents of Hannah Sobel Blum.

Grandparents are Carol Sobel of Denver and Jenifer and Dr. Michael Blum of Overland Park.

Rabbi David Stern of Temple Emanuel in Dallas officiated at the naming ceremony where Ava was given the Hebrew name Ahava Maya Sara in memory of her great-grandmothers, Miriam Sherman and Sally Blum, her grandfather Dr. John Henry Sobel, and her great-grandfather Leon A. Smith. Ava is also named in honor of her great-grandmother, Margaret Smith, also of Dallas.

Kurt and Stephanie Kavanaugh announce that their daughter, Molly Joy, will be called to the Torah at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at Congregation Beth Shalom. Molly became Bat Mitzvah in Israel in June.

Molly is the granddaughter of Sandy Aaron and the late Dr. Harvey Aaron, St. Paul, Minn.; Deanie Collins, Wooster, Ohio; and Dr. Ed Kavanaugh.

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

Barbara and David Wolock announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Anna Sybil, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at Congregation Beth Torah.

Anna is the granddaughter of Thelma Dolginow and the late Newton Dolginow, and Isabel and Melvin Wolock, Metuchen, N.J.

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

Howard and Charmian Zurovsky of Lenexa announce the engagement of their daughter, Megan Leigh Zurovsky, to Bradley Jacob Klein, son of Richard and Betty Klein of Overland Park.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Jean and Arthur Zurovsky and Helen and James Semmons. Megan is the great-granddaughter of the late Esther and Sam Daniels and Josephine and George Tichacek. She graduated magna cum laude from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and is currently a third-grade teacher in the North Kansas City School District.

The future groom is the grandson of the late Dora and Sam Levy and Doris and Eugene Klein. He graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and is currently a market development manager for Coca Cola Refreshment.

A June wedding and reception are planned at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.