Mazel Tov!

 

After months of studying, each student in Hillel Academy Jewish day school’s first and second grades received their own
Siddur (prayer book) from Director of Judaics Rabbi Levi Simon in a special ceremony May 3. Photo: Hillel Academy.

 

Daniel Kahn

Daniel Kahn, son of Neil and Gina Kahn, has graduated from Sinclair College. He was awarded two Associate Degrees of Applied Science: one in automation and control technology with robotics, the other in electro-mechanical engineering technology. Daniel plans to use his degrees working for a manufacturing concern.

Danielle Zeisloft

Danielle Zeisloft, senior program coordinator in the Division of Prevention & Early Intervention Services at the Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services Board, has been selected as a model for Girls on the Run of Dayton’s Cocktails in Kicks athleisure fashion show, June 20 at The Brightside. Girls on the Run is a nonprofit that seeks to “enhance participants’ social, emotional and physical skills to successfully navigate life experiences.” Its curriculum integrates movement and life skills education to promote affirming inclusion and overall healthy outcomes for girls.

Jese Shell

Jese Shell is the statewide winner of the Teachers Turn the Key Award from the Ohio Association of Agricultural Educators. The award recognizes one Ohio agriscience educator for dedication and innovation in the classroom, community, and student engagement. It honors teachers in their first four years of agricultural and career-technical education. Recipients receive additional professional development opportunities. He’ll represent Ohio in November at the National Association of Agricultural Educators Annual Conference in San Antonio. Jese is a middle school agriscience and career-technical educator at Global Impact STEM Academy in Springfield. He just completed his third year of teaching.

The Dayton Holocaust Resource Center has received a grant from the Leon Norman and Mildred Miriam Nizny Memorial Fund and the Eleanor and John Kautz Fund of The Dayton Foundation to develop a one-person play based on Renate Frydman’s book, Anschel’s Story, about her late husband’s survival as a teenage partisan in Nazi-occupied Poland. The play is now in development by Michael London of the Ohio Playwrights Circle. Initial readings of the play are planned for the Dayton Metro Library, Dayton Art Institute, local schools, and colleges.

Levi, Adina, and Donna Weiss

Good things have come in threes for the Weiss family this spring. Dayton Public Schools nominated Fairview Elementary ELL teacher Donna Weiss and five other teachers across the district as its nominees for State of Ohio 2025 Teacher of the Year. Adina Weiss graduated cum laude from Denison University with an English literature major and a philosophy minor. While there, Adina served as president of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and Denison’s Hillel. A member of Sigma Tau Delta English honor society, Adina also worked as a consultant for Denison’s writing center and was a political and advocacy intern with Ohio Jewish Communities. In June, she returns for her fourth summer with the JCC’s Camp Shalom, this time as assistant director. In August, Adina will begin her work as Hillel Academy Jewish day school’s fifth- and sixth-grade secular studies teacher, and with the JCC Early Childhood Education program. Levi Weiss completes his third year as an intervention specialist at Ruskin Elementary School in Dayton, and in August will begin his work as an intervention specialist with the Hilliard City School District. Cheering on the Weiss family teachers is proud husband and papa Marshall Weiss.

 

Celebrating our high school graduates

 

Alexis Becker
Parents: Annette Nathan, Albert Becker
Stepparents: Ann Becker, Marc Gilbert
Grandparents: Shirley and Paul Nathan, Margaret and Albert Becker
School: Centerville
Activities: BBYO President, Dance, Math Instructor, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society
Volunteering: Dance Student Ambassador at Epic Dance Academy, AP Mentors, Elk Connectors
Honors: Graduating Summa Cum Laude, AP Scholar With Honors Award, 5-Year Achievement Dance Award, BBYO Silver Star of Deborah, BBYO Gold Star of Deborah, National Merit Qualifier, Governor’s Merit Scholar
Congregation: Temple Beth Or and Temple Israel
After Graduation: Miami University, Biochemistry, Premed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brianna Becker
Parents: Annette Nathan, Albert Becker
Stepparents: Ann Becker, Marc Gilbert
Grandparents: Shirley and Paul Nathan, Margaret and Albert Becker
School: Centerville
Activities: Choir, Summit A Capella, BBYO, JCC Youth Theatre
Volunteering: Key Club, BBYO JServe, Temple Israel Jewish Cultural Festival, Chabad Camp Gan Israel
Honors: Graduating Summa Cum Laude, National Merit Scholar Finalist, College Merit Scholarship, Washington Township Community Service Award
Congregation: Temple Beth Or and Temple Israel
After Graduation: Miami University

 

Caitlyn Becker
Parents: Annette Nathan, Albert Becker
Stepparents: Ann Becker, Marc Gilbert
Grandparents: Shirley and Paul Nathan, Margaret and Albert Becker
School: Centerville
Activities: BBYO, JCC Youth Theatre, GSA, Stage Club, JCC Camp Shalom Counselor, Server with Bernstein’s Fine Catering
Honors: Graduating Magna Cum Laude, National Honor Society, AP
Congregation: Temple Beth Or and Temple Israel
After Graduation: Miami University, English

 

Tal Glazer
Parents: Elyssa Wortzman and Rabbi Aubrey Glazer
Grandparents: Cheryl and Raymond Morris, Barry and Ruth Wortzman, Esther and Bruce Glazer
School: Oakwood
Activities: Jr. Varsity Tennis Captain, Lead in Student Written Plays
Volunteering: Beth Abraham Synagogue, NCCJ Anytown, Dayton Foodbank, Pantry Packers (Jerusalem)
Congregation: Beth Abraham
After Graduation: University of Dayton, Biology, Save the Turtles and Sharks

 

Sofie Goodrich
Parents: Heather Goodrich and Robin Lensch, the late Mike Goodrich
Grandparents: Barbara Mendelson and the late Sandy Mendelson, Kathy Goodrich, Darlene and Tom Lensch
School: Bellbrook
Activities: Lacrosse, Working Out, Reading, Hanging with Friends.
Volunteering: Supportive Peers
Honors: Girls’ Lacrosse 2023 Eagle Heart Award
Congregation: Temple Beth Or and Beth Abraham
After Graduation: Ohio University, Accounting and Business Analytics

 

Zach Goodrich
Parents: Heather Goodrich and Robin Lensch, the late Mike Goodrich
Grandparents: Barbara Mendelson and the late Sandy Mendelson, Kathy Goodrich, Darlene and Tom Lensch
School: Bellbrook
Activities: Cycling Drone Club, Hanging with Friends.
Volunteering: Supportive Peers
Honors: Many Cycling Awards
Congregation: Temple Beth Or and Beth Abraham
After Graduation: Ohio University, Industrial and Systems Engineering

 

Samuel Jacob
Parents: Allyson and Marc Jacob
Grandparents: Deb and Jeff Wacksman, Frankie and Joe Jacob
School: Centerville
Activities: Cross Country, Track, BBYO, Camp Ramah New England
Honors: Magna Cum Laude Graduate
After Graduation: University of Pittsburgh, Athletic Training

 

Send your Mazel Tov announcements to jewishobserver@jfgd.net

 

To read the complete June 2024 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.

 

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