By Sharon Wisch-Ray
For the past several years, we have been very fortunate here at the TJP to have some very talented summer interns, and this year is no exception. We’ve had two outstanding young women on board throughout the summer, and I want to take a second to introduce you to them and thank them for their yeoman service.
Molly Aaron is a vibrant incoming senior at Parish Episcopal School. She comes from a long line of University of Texas alums and hopes that next year at this time she will be awash in burnt orange.
Molly was captain of the junior varsity cheer squad her freshman year, and varsity captain her remaining three years of high school. Molly is a passionate volunteer at CHAI House. She dreams that one day she will have made such a contribution to the organization that one of the community residences will be named after her.
Molly is a member of the Teen CONTACT board, with which she spreads awareness of problems faced in school and community environments. She is the president of the Amnesty International Club at her school, a student ambassador and the public relations coordinator for the peer counselors. Molly says she enjoys romantic walks to the fridge and top-down car rides with country music blaring.
Molly is the daughter of Dawn and Todd Aaron, the sister of Morgan and Bennett Aaron and granddaughter of Carol and Steve Aaron of Dallas and Barbara and Norman Schneidler of Houston.
This summer, Molly has been instrumental to the TJP’s success in a number of ways. A computer whiz, Molly helped compile the data for this year’s “Guide to Jewish Life” with efficiency and accuracy. She has also helped with several back office projects.
Perhaps Molly’s greatest talent is her eye behind the camera lens. You may have seen her terrific fireworks pictures in last week’s TJP, as well as her outstanding pictures from various day camps around town.
It has been a true pleasure to have her here this summer.
After spending 15 years at Greenhill School in Addison, Elizabeth Fields decided to leave her close-knit family and venture up east to Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. A rising senior, Elizabeth has been extremely busy academically, pursuing a double major in English and creative writing with minors in Near Eastern and Judaic studies and Hispanic studies.
In her free time, Elizabeth heads an organization at Brandeis called Brandeis Buddies, an after-school program that seeks to build friendships between Brandeis student volunteers and adults with developmental disabilities who work on campus.
Additionally, Elizabeth has held several positions on Brandeis’ Student Union, most recently serving as the coordinator of university committees and as a senator of her dorm’s quad.
Elizabeth, daughter of Julie and David Fields, sister of Andrew Fields and granddaughter of Helaine and Gerald Ray and Bobbie and Leo Fields, hopes to pursue a career in writing. Her favorite things to write are fictional short stories because she enjoys exploring the lives of other people.
This is Elizabeth’s third summer interning for the TJP. She says she just cannot get enough! You can read one of Elizabeth’s many amazing stories on Page 11 of this week’s issue.
ATID now enrolling
Academy for Torah in Dallas is now enrolling current juniors and seniors in high school for its 2012-2013 academic year. ATID meets on Sunday mornings at Levine Academy (the southwest corner of Frankford and Hillcrest in far north Dallas) and begins with breakfast at 10:15.
Afterward, teens are engaged in thought-provoking discussion and debate from rabbis, community educators and other guest speakers. Among the highlights last year was a talk delivered by Israeli Lone Soldier, Jules Kramer, son of federation president/CEO Susan and Brett Kramer, and students from UT-Austin who discussed being Jewish on college campuses today.
Though sponsored by the community’s three conservative shuls, Plano’s Anshai Torah, Richardson’s Beth Torah and Dallas’ Shearith Israel, ATID is open to all 11th- and 12th-grade students regardless of affiliation.
Cost for members of congregations Anshai Torah, Beth Torah, or Shearith Israel is $545 if paid in full by Aug. 1; $595 if paid in full by Oct. 1. For non-members, the fee is $645 if paid in full by Aug. 1 and $695 if paid in full by Oct. 1.
ATID is run by well-known Dallas educator and former Grinspoon Steinhardt award-recipient Gail Herson. Gail tells me that if your teen is uncertain about whether or not ATID is for them, they can come to an introductory class for free. For information, contact Gail at 972-248-3032 or atid@levineacademy.org.
Synagogue news
• Richardson’s Beth Torah Congregation will hold an ice cream social for its Chai Lights group at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 12, at the synagogue, 720 Lookout Drive. Chai Lights is Beth Torah’s group for couples and singles ages 55 and above. In addition to making your own sundaes, Shawn Mash, a clinical hypnotherapist and handwriting analyst will entertain.
Make reservations by sending $5 per person attending (made out to Chai Lights) to the Beth Torah, 720 Lookout Dr., Richardson, TX 75080 no later than Wednesday, Aug. 1. For information, contact Beverly and Larry Broman at chailights@congregationbethtorah.org.
• Temple Shalom will begin an adult b’nai mitzvah class from 7-9 p.m. on Mondays beginning Aug. 20.
Taught by Cantor Don Croll, no previous Hebrew or Torah knowledge is required. A b’nai mitzvah service is planned for May 2013.
Cost is $180 per student for temple members.
For information, or to register by Aug. 15, contact Debbie Massarano, director of lifelong learning, at dmassarano@templeshalomdallas.org.
News and notes
• Allyson Beth Bazarsky of Dallas was among the 256 graduates awarded the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) at the college’s 121st commencement.
The ceremony was held at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, June 3.
Bazarsky is the daughter of Judy and Howard Bazarsky of Dallas. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Wilkes University in 2007 and a Master of Science degree in neuroscience from Tulane University in 2008. Bazarsky is continuing her medical training in neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C.
• Rachel Wolfson will graduate from Tel Aviv University next month with master’s degree in security and diplomacy. She has studied at TAU since making aliyah in April 2011. Rachel moved to Israel for her aliyah experience and attended Ulpan in Haifa prior to beginning her studies at Tel Aviv University.
Rachel attended Akiba Academy, Booker T. Washington High School of Visual and Performing Arts and earned her Bachelor of Arts from University of Texas-Austin. (You can read about another talented Wolfson, Rachel’s sister, Deborah, on Page 19 of this week’s issue.)
Rachel makes her home in Tel Aviv where she is employed as an English-language content developer for an Israeli arm of a international Internet company. Her parents are Steve and Kerrie Wolfson, and in addition to sister Deborah, she has a brother, Avi.
• Dr. Keith I. Robins was recently honored by the Pediatrics Society of Greater Dallas with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his 40 years of service to the children of Dallas.
