Dallas Jewish Historical Society’s Harold A. Pollman Lecture Series presents Exploring Jewish Films and Jewish Themes in Films

The Dallas Jewish Historical Society will present another “Harold A. Pollman Lecture Series,” with guest speaker, Bart Weiss, at the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center on Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 10:00am. Weiss will focus his talk on Jewish films and Jewish themes within film.  He is an expert on the subject, and his talk promises to be both insightful and interesting.  Since the lecture falls during Passover, kosher for Passover refreshments will be served.
A Dallas resident since 1981, Bart Weiss is an award-winning independent film and video producer, director, editor and educator. Well known as the director and founder of the Dallas Video Festival, he also produces the KERA-TV program, Frame of Mind in Dallas. He is the artistic director for 3 Stars Cinema.
Weiss has taught film and video at Texas A&M University’s Visualization Lab, Southern Methodist University, The University of Texas at Austin and West Virginia State College, and he is currently an Associate Professor of Art at The University of Texas at Arlington.
He has served as President of the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), as a founding board member of Dallas Artists Research and Exhibition (DARE), and is the founder and current president of the Video Association of Dallas.  He has written columns on video for The Dallas Morning News, Dallas Times Herald and United Features Syndicate.
Some of the venues where his films and videos have appeared are: the San Francisco Jewish Film Fest, South by Southwest, the Other Cinema, the Kennedy Center, American Film Institute’s National Video Festival, the Berlin Media Operative Festival and film festivals in Sidney and Melbourne.
Bart holds an M.F.A. in Film Directing from Columbia University and a B.A. in Radio, Television, and Film from Temple University.
The Dallas Jewish Historical Society’s Pollman program is part of a continuing series graciously sponsored by Harold Pollman for the purpose of bringing to Dallas national experts on topics of interest to the Dallas Jewish community.  Admission is free and the program is open to the public.  To RSVP or for more information, call 214-239.7120 or e-mail the Society at dtobias@djhs.com.
Three Levine Academy eighth graders inducted into American Hebrew Academy Honor Society
Levine Academy eighth graders Blair Altman, Jacob Herstein and Jacob Weiner have been inducted into the esteemed American Hebrew Academy Honor Society. The Academy, America’s premier Jewish pluralistic college-prep boarding school, recently extended invitations to 100 students nationwide for admittance into the exclusive organization. Now in its second year, the American Hebrew Academy Honor Society is an international honor society that acknowledges exceptional eighth and ninth grade students, like this trio, who have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, the arts, leadership and service to their communities.
The Honor Society is modeled after the National Honor Society, receiving recommendations, applicant questionnaires and transcripts in an effort to identify the most outstanding young Jewish students in the United States and beyond. Blair Altman is a straight-A student at Levine Academy, where she is captain of the volleyball team, vice president of Social Action for Student Council and a member of the band. An inductee of the National Junior Honor Society, Blair also competes on the Aaron Family JCC’s gymnastics team and coaches gymnastics for young children there during the summer.  Blair is the daughter of Dr. Barb and Arthur Altman. Jacob Herstein receives excellent grades in school, where he has been a yearbook editor, student ambassador and Vice President of Social Action for the Student Council. He is also a member of Student Congress and the National Junior Honor Society. Jacob takes local hip-hop dance classes and is a member of Levine’s Gabbai Club. He is the son of Berta and Scott Herstein. Jacob Weiner earns excellent grades at Levine, where he is a leader as the drum major for the marching band and the vice president of fundraising for Student Congress. Jacob also plays for the school basketball team and a local baseball team and is a member of Levine’s Gabbai Club. Jacob is the son of  Debbie and Jonathan Herskovitz and David Weiner.
Along with the other students who have been inducted into the Honor Society, the Levine students were invited to attend a Scholars Weekend at the Academy over the weekend of March 25-27. However, they were unable to attend since they were in Israel on Levine’s annual eighth grade trip. At the Academy’s beautiful 100-acre campus, located in Greensboro, NC, the inductees who attended were presented with an award certificate as they participated in exceptional leadership programming. They also have the opportunity to compete for one of five renewable, $20,000 annual merit-based scholarships that will be applied toward the cost of tuition to attend the Academy. Students nominated and accepted into the American Hebrew Academy Honor Society are not required to attend the Academy.
“To be named a member of the American Hebrew Academy Honor Society is a great achievement,” says Mark Spielman, Director of the Honor Society. “We enjoyed meeting each of the honorees and look forward to following their successes as they make great contributions to our society.” Academy Director of Admissions Leslie Grossman added, “The Academy is an exceptional institution with an outstanding faculty and student body. Identifying stellar students follows our mission of mentoring the Jewish leaders of tomorrow.”
To learn more about the American Hebrew Academy Honor Society, please visit our website at www.AHAHonorSociety.org.

Mayoral candidate forum to take place May 5

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Dallas invites the community to a candidate forum for the office of mayor of Dallas. The session will feature candidates David Kunkle, Ron Natinsky, Edward Okpa and Mike Rawlings, and will be moderated by Cal Jillson, professor of political science at SMU. It will take place Thursday, May 5, at 7 p.m., in the Zale Auditorium of the Aaron Family JCC, 7900 Northaven Road, Dallas. The event is open to the entire community. For more information, please contact the JCRC at 214-615-5261 or jcrcdallas@jfgd.org

The Legacy Senior Communities names Louise Dunkerley director of sales and marketing

The Legacy Senior Communities, Inc. has named Louise Dunkerley director of Sales and Marketing. Michael Ellentuck, president of The Legacy Senior Communities, Inc., made the announcement.
Dunkerley has more than 10 years of experience in senior living sales, marketing, and community relations. Prior to joining The Legacy, she was regional director of sales for Sunrise Senior Living, where she oversaw sales and marketing activities for 15 senior communities across the country. Previously, Dunkerley served Sunrise Senior Living as director of community relations for Sunrise at Sterling Canyon in Valencia, California, and as director of sales and marketing for Pueblo Norte in Scottsdale, Ariz.
She gained additional senior living experience with American Retirement Corporation as the community relations coordinator for Freedom Inn in Scottsdale. She also served Marriott Senior Living as director of sales for Village Oaks in Mesa, Ariz., and Sunterra Resorts as marketing manager.
“Louise has a wealth of experience in all aspects of senior living, which makes her ideally suited to the role she will play with The Legacy Senior Communities,” said Ellentuck. “She is an invaluable asset to our corporate team as well as to both of our communities — The Legacy at Willow Bend and The Legacy at Preston Hollow. We look forward to the leadership she brings to her position.”
The Legacy Senior Communities, Inc. is the parent company of The Legacy at Willow Bend and The Legacy at Preston Hollow.
The Legacy at Willow Bend, Plano’s first and only life care retirement community, is situated on a 28-acre site at Spring Creek Parkway between Preston Road and Ohio Drive. It offers resort-style services and amenities for active, independent seniors, as well as all levels of health care services on-site. The community features 103 independent living apartment homes, 12 custom independent living villas, 40 assisted living apartment homes, 18 memory support suites and 60 private skilled health care suites. The Legacy at Willow Bend is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit retirement community owned by parent company, The Legacy Senior Communities, Inc. The only Jewish-sponsored life care retirement community in Texas, it is open to people of all faiths. For information, call 972-468-6208, or visit www.thelegacywb.org.