Many locals among guests at Jacob Wiese’s recent
bar mitzvah in Houston
From the start to the sentimental farewells, Jacob Rubin Wiese’s recent bar mitzvah in Houston will be remembered as one filled with love, caring, music, warmth and tradition. Dozens of ourtowners attended the recent simcha at Brith Shalom Synagogue in Houston. Jacob is the son of former Fort Worthian Janice Rubin and Charles Wiese. He is the grandson of Barbara Rubin of Fort Worth and Sherwin Rubin of Arlington and great-grandson of early Fort Worthians, the late Gertrude and Bennie Rubin.
Fort Worth guests included Ellen and Bernie Appel; Sara Baker; Cari, Steve and Bradley Chatman; John Eastman; Karen Kaplan; Drs. Bruce and Etta Miller; Debra and Morton Rubin and their son Ben; and Allen and Elaine Schuster. Dallas guests included Susan Held; Bernice and Sam Raden; Buddy and Irene Raden; Ella, Kevin, Jennie and Aiden Ross; Robert and Felicia, Rachel and Mark Rubin; Joel and Frances Steinberg; and Larry, Karla and Oliver Steinberg.
Former local residents who were also there were Bill and Davida Applebaum Avery; Dr. Alan and Sandy Rubin and their son Noah, who will become a bar mitzvah in October; and Stanley and Barbi Garsek Topek and their two sons, Jared and his wife, Tammy, and Seth and his wife, Lauren.
Other out-of-town guests included Jacob’s grandmother Helene Wiese of Southfield, Mich.; Mark and Susie Rubin Ballew, Tulsa, Okla.; Dr. Chuck and Beth Raden Brummer, Mountain View, Calif.; Bob Chmara, Southfield, Mich.; Judy Goldman, New York City; Dr. Amnon Goodman, San Francisco, Calif.; Sam Hudson, Austin; Harold Igdaloff, Los Angeles; Nancy Igdaloff and Monica Levin, San Francisco; Dr. Susan and Michael Igdaloff, Los Angeles; Marcia and Jay Menuskin, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Nina Rubin and Ron Vaughan, Fort Collins, Colo.; Paul, Jewel and Joshua Rubin, Roswell, Ga.; Robert Seidel, Austin; and Nick Vaughan and Jake Margolin, New York City.
Mazel tov to the entire Rubin-Wiese families.
Jan. 14 solidarity gathering draws packed house at Beth-El
On Jan. 14, a community-wide event to support Israel took place at Beth-El Congregation in Fort Worth.
The Great Hall was packed with people of all faiths who came to show their support and to listen to a briefing from Gil Elan, Southwest Region executive director of the American Jewish Congress and former Lieutenant Colonel in the Israel Defense Forces. Gil talked about the reasons for the operation and the outlook for the next 48 hours. He described briefly the history of Gaza since 1949 and how Hamas took over brutally in 2007, forcing out the moderate Fatah. He stressed the fact that Israel would not agree to a cease-fire without a guaranteed way to stop the smuggling of arms across the tunnels along the Philadelphi route in southern Gaza. He talked about the money, people and ammunition being sent from Iran to support the Hamas forces in Gaza through the tunnels, and showed how Hamas uses private homes to access the tunnels and to store ammunition. Gil answered many questions from the enthusiastic audience despite the late hour.
Many families with children, dressed in Israeli flag shirts, attended the event.
Local attorney, Marvin Blum, named to Top 100 list
In its December 2008 issue, Worth magazine, a New York photo publication edited for high-net worth individuals and their advisors, named Marvin Blum to its prestigious annual “Top 100 Attorneys” list. Board certified in estate planning and probate law and a CPA, Blum is the founding partner of The Blum Firm, P.C., a specialty law firm with offices in Fort Worth and Dallas, devoted exclusively to estate, business and tax planning for individuals and closely-held businesses. Having devoted more than three decades to practicing law in FortWorth, Blum said, “I am so honored to be included among this select group of attorneys.”
Worth’s “Top 100 Attorneys” list honors those lawyers across the United States who possess the rare combination of skill, experience and listening ability that allows them to counsel clients on their most critical, personal decisions. From the hundreds of nominations received from the magazine’s readers, financial advisors, accountants and other professionals working and interacting with the attorney nominees, the final selections are a result of a year of exhaustive research by the magazine’s editorial staff. “The detailed process is designed to ensure that those we honor are really the leaders in their respective fields,” explains Worth’s Senior Features Editor Emily DeNitto.
In addition to the national recognition he received by Worth magazine, Blum has been honored by Texas Monthly as a “Top 100 Super Lawyer” for the state of Texas and has been consistently chosen by his peers as one of Tarrant County’s top attorneys in tax law and in trusts, estates and probate.
WRJ Donor Brunch set for Feb.1
For some years now, Beth-El Women of Reform Judaism have chosen Sundays for their annual Donor Brunch. The dedicated committee of Leigh Schultz, Laurie Barker James, Hollace Weiner, Carolyn Bauman Cruz, Margie Zentner and Linda Hochster selected Feb. 1 for this year’s event, which they promise will bring a little bit of New Orleans and jazz to brighten your day. Mark your calendars from 10 a.m. to noon, as WRJ offers you splendid food, an opportunity to win some wonderful raffle items, and the Mario Cruz Trio!
The menu includes a real “taste of N’awlins,” including chicken etoufee in bread bowls, mufaletta, red beans and rice, and bread pudding with bourbon ice cream from a popular local caterer.
Mario Cruz, bandleader, composer and tenor saxophone player, was born and raised in Fort Worth. A TCU graduate and a member of UNT’s famed 1 O’Clock Lab Band, Cruz moved to New York, where he toured and recorded with an impressive list of some of music’s biggest luminaries, including Lou Rawls, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker and Linda Ronstadt. Mario was featured in the horn section for Bruce Springsteen’s Tunnel of Love world tour. He has arranged and composed many pieces of music that were performed and recorded, including one piece by the Fort Worth Symphony. He recently moved back to North Texas, where he’s currently performing with his group.
Silent auction items include priceless experiences, like a day in the kitchen with Louise Lamensdorf at Bistro Louise. Additionally, there will be more tangible items including jewelry, autographed books, a stationery basket from Susie’s Personalized Creations, Judaica and more.
Tickets are $30 for non-Beth-El members. The money raised at WRJ’s only major fundraiser goes to support Beth-El’s religious school and to scholarships for Beth-El students to attend Greene Family Camp.
Tickets will not be sold at the door for this event. Please contact Laurie Barker James ASAP at 817-994-4781 to purchase tickets in advance. There is a deadline for ticket purchase.