L’Dor V’Dor From Generation to Generation
New Congregants
Mazel Tov to Jeff Burstein and Jennifer Crowe on the birth of their son, Bryce King Burstein, on June 14, and his naming on July 12. Bryce joins big brother Jax (2). Joshua Feinberg and Jessica Pierce on the birth of their son, Noah Robert Feinberg, on June 25, and his naming on August 1. Noah joins big sister Sophia (3). Tyler and Alexa Hasman on the birth of their daughter, Madisyn Avery Hasman, on June 21, and her naming at the July 25th Shabbat on the Plaza service. Proud CBI grandparents and great-grandmothers are Stuart and Nancy Hasman, Arline Hasman, and Ruth Gassner. Susan and Stuart Shleifer on the birth of their first granddaughter, Vera May Shleifer, on July 3 in New York City. Proud parents are Scott and Elena Shleifer. Aunt and uncle are CBI members Mark and Lauren Goldstein. Susan and Stuart have seven grandsons. Robert and Leslie Peltz on the birth of their granddaughter, Freida Wonder Van Duser, on July 8. Proud parents are Tova Peltz and Patrick Van Duser. Gail and Irv Handelman on the birth of their grandson, Elias Archer Bezanson, on July 12. Proud parents are Thea Handelman and Phil Bezanson. Other grandparents are Jeffrey and Janie Bezanson.
Jill Lauren Demsey and David Mendelson on their June 22 wedding in the Temple, officiated by Rabbi and Cantor Cahana. David is the son of Dr. Robert Mendelson and the late Lottie Mendelson (z”l). Michelle Rosenbloom and Glen Collins on their August 15th wedding. Michelle is the daughter of Dr. Robert Mendelson and the late Lottie Rosenbloom (z”l). Deborah Kaplan, CBI’s Early Childhood Education Director, on the completion of a Master of Administrative Studies in Jewish Early Childhood Education through the Jewish Early Childhood Education Leadership Institute.
Condolences to Steve and Michelle Gradow & family on the death of his father, Jeffrey Gradow, on June 23 in Los Angeles, CA. Allan and Marney Pike on the death of his brother, Steven Pike and Allison Sneider-Pike on the death of his uncle, Jamie Pike on the death of her uncle, and Michelle Pike Guthormsen and Scott Guthormsen on the death of her uncle, Malcolm Pike, on June 24 in Michigan. Gail and Irv Handelman on the death of her mother, Charlotte Pearlman, on July 3 in Phoenix, AZ. Robyn Taylor Barbon and Howard Taylor and families on the death of their uncle, Michael “Mickey” Greenberg, on July 14, in Atlanta.
Sarah and Mac Barr on the birth of their son, Samuel Tilden Barr, on July 25. Samuel joins big brother John (2).
Ruth Sheinin and family on the death of her longtime companion, Thomas Barnett, on July 20.
Lauren Davis on the naming of her daughter, Lila Dawn Davis, at the July 11th Shabbat on the Plaza service.
Richard Garfinkle on the death of his mother and Judah Garfinkle and Paula Reed on the death of their grandmother, Henrietta Samuely Garfinkle, on July 25.
Sergio Toledo and Tamar Hajar on the naming of their daughter, Sofia Michelle Toledo, on July 19. May they grow in health and wisdom and be a source of strength to their family and all humankind.
Marcia Colton on the death of her nephew and Risa Colton-Feldman and family on the death of her cousin, Scott Colton, on July 26. Ralph London and family on the death of his wife, Bobbi London, on August 9.
Welcome, New Congregants! Both Randy and Debbie Geller are originally from New York, though they came to Portland individually, Debbie in 1994 after graduating college and Randy in 1995 to further his professional career. Randy works in HR Software Sales for Ultimate Software, and Debbie has recently launched Core Abundance Group, a business consulting and outsourcing company specializing in operations, process improvement, and bookkeeping. The Gellers enjoy exercise, travel, and spending time with their family. They have a fouryear-old son, Aaron, and Randy has two older children, Nick, 26, who manages Steve Alan Clothing here in Portland, and Olivia, 23, who lives in Los Angles and is pursuing a career in music. They will soon celebrate their five-year anniversary and look forward to deepening their connection with the CBI community. Debbie notes, “We were drawn to Beth Israel for the progressive nature in which Judaism can be understood in today’s world. We fundamentally believe in the oneness of all faiths and know Beth Israel is a community that supports our spiritual understanding.”
Dr. Melissa Fireside holds a PhD in Organization and Management with a specialization in Management Education. She relocated to Portland from Ohio in January and is an Associate Professor with the Forbes School of Business. Melissa also consults with University NOW on curriculum design and course content. She loves her job, particularly “guiding and assisting [her] students in achieving their academic and professional goals.” Melissa enjoys living in the Pacific Northwest with its wealth of opportunity for outdoor activities, as do her two dogs, Anastasia and Arabella. She enjoys travel, particularly to visit family in San Francisco, and has recently begun to play the piano again after a ten-year absence. She is excited about joining Congregation Beth Israel and finds “something very peaceful and renewing about having roots in the community based upon Jewish values, something [she holds] very dear to [her] heart.”
September 2014
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