Dayton’s own Flying Klezmerians, led by Rich Begel, performed in the lobby of Cincinnati Music Hall before Cincinnati Opera’s production of Fiddler on the Roof in July.

Mike Jaffe will present a photographic retrospective of his works, 2-4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12 in the Creative Arts Center at Otterbein SeniorLife Lebanon.

Cantor Andrea Raizen will lead High Holiday services at Beth Boruk Temple in Richmond, Ind.

Temple Beth Or has hired Elizabeth Woosley as its education director. A longtime Jewish educator, Elizabeth is also a financial wellness coach at Cincinnati Works. She’s also served as Mayerson JCC’s community educator.

Melanie Barrett, CEO of Bailey Bug, was honored by the CEO of the Year Awards Midwest USA 2025 for mission-driven innovation in wheelchair-accessible design. Bailey Bug manufactures capes for wheelchair users.

Elyssa Wortzman led the Be a Blessing workshop for The Contemporary Dayton as part of Art in the City, Aug. 2. With a focus on art, compassion, and collective action, the workshop blended mindful artmaking, reflection, and community connection.

Among the recipients of The Miami Valley School 2025 Alumni Awards at homecoming on Sept. 27 are Ralph and Fran Schwartz, and the late “Aunt” Shelley Lazar, “The Ticket Queen,” for alumni parent impact.

Eliana Bloom graduated from Boston University with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She’s the daughter of Amy and Dr. Mike Bloom.

Lily Aviva Hadassah Fullenhull graduated with honors from The Ohio State University in May, with a major in biology and a minor in business. She is the only child of Shlomoh and Batsheva Fullenhull and the only grandchild of the late Jerry and Lorraine Kotler. While at OSU, she volunteered 126 hours at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, worked as a research assistant for three semesters, volunteered as an organic chemistry mentor for three semesters, worked three years as a computer literacy tutor for an elderly student, served as a volunteer note taker for disabled students, and was an active volunteer for the Magical Moments Foundation. She also served on the fundraising committee for the Columbus-based MMF, where she helped organize and run fundraisers for its OSU chapter. Lily was an author on a publication for OSU’s Center for Life Sciences Education. She also shadowed an OSU physician for 20 hours. When she came home from Columbus on breaks, Lily enjoyed working for Kettering Health as a patient access representative in multiple emergency and outpatient departments throughout the greater Dayton area. Lily is a 2015 graduate of Hillel Academy and a 2021 graduate of Oakwood High School. She plans to apply to medical schools in 2026, with the goal of becoming a physician in clinical practice, specialty to be determined.

Isabel Kolodesh graduated from Indiana University with a degree in public health and will attend Kettering College in the accelerated bachelor’s of science in nursing program in August and will receive her second bachelor’s upon completion. She is planning to get her nurse practitioner’s license. Her parents are Shayna and Alex Kolodesh.

Rikki Mangel completed her master’s degree in social work from Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work in partnership with the Sara Schenirer Institute. Her parents are Devorah Leah and Rabbi Nochum Mangel.

Oscar Waldman graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in English creative writing and environmental studies. He moves to Washington, D.C. in September for an immersive year with the Avodah Jewish Service Corps and will work with Food and Water Watch. Oscar’s parents are Julie and Dr. Adam Waldman.

Send your Mazel Tov announcements to mweiss@jfgd.net.

To read the complete September 2025 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.