With Rachel Haug Gilbert, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer

Dr. Martha Moody Jacobs began her two-year term as president of the Dayton Woman’s Literary Club at its 125th anniversary dinner on Oct. 2. Marti was also a speaker at the 2014 Ohio Library Council Convention and Expo held in Columbus on Oct. 8. She talked about history as inspiration, how local history can help us think about the future, and how libraries can play a role in responding to unanticipated problems in a community.

Beth Abraham Synagogue Sisterhood has announced the recipients of its 2015 Women of Valor Awards: Maryann Bernstein, Connie Blum, Carol Finley, Irene Fishbein, Shelley Goldenberg, Rochelle Goldstein, and Sandy Zipperstein. The sisterhood will present the awards at a luncheon this spring.

The locally-produced documentary Take Us Home had its Israeli premiere on Nov. 15 at Tel Aviv’s Cinematheque. Directed by former Yellow Springs filmmaker Aileen LeBlanc and edited by Wright State University Prof. Jim Klein, Take Us Home follows the journey of the Falash Mura — Ethiopians of Jewish descent — and their dreams of making aliyah (immigrating) to Israel. Initial support for the film came from The Levin Family Foundation.

Chloe Rose Greenfield, granddaughter of Dr. Art and Joan Greenfield, recently studied for 10 weeks in Israel as part of her education at The American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro, N.C. Currently in her junior year, she has received the president’s scholarship for all four years of high school based on academic performance. She also won the annual Hebrew studies award for the 2013-14 school year. She and her classmates lived in Hod HaSharon, Israel and studied at the Alexander Muss High School there. Chloe’s brother, Alex Greenfield, lives in Israel, studying at yeshiva Ohr Somayach and is pursuing his development as an artist. Their parents are Dr. Dwynn and Aimee Greenfield of Sparta, N.C. Grandparents Leo and Shirley Katz reside in Sarasota.

Alex Frank was elected prince of the sophomore class for Springboro High School’s 2014 Homecoming Court. Alex is the son of Debbie and Larry Frank, brother of Abby Frank, and grandson of Caryl and Don Weckstein, and Geri and Bruce Frank.

Temple Israel is now certified through 2016 as a Green Business by Montgomery County Dayton Regional Green 3. The certification was made possible through the temple’s Greening the Synagogue, Greening the World Committee.

To read the complete December 2014 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.