Dallas Doings
By Sharon Wisch-Ray

Mazel tov to Walter Baroff, who will celebrate his 90th birthday on Monday, Aug. 20.

Soon to be a nonagenarian, Walter Baroff celebrated his birthday with family and friends on Aug. 4. Seated on either side of him are his son, Charles Baroff, and his daughter, Elise Donosky. They are surrounded by four generations of his nieces and nephews. | Photo: Courtesy of Elise Donosky

Earlier this month, Elise and Robert Donosky and Lynda and Jeff Markowitz hosted a weekend full of events to celebrate Walter’s 90th.
Relatives came from as far away as Washington, California, Colorado, Maryland and Tennessee to join his family from the Metroplex.

Plano teen makes aliyah, joins Israeli Defense Forces

Eve Bar Knaan, 18, of Plano made aliyah to Israel Monday on a Nefesh B’Nefesh charter aliyah flight that left from JFK Airport in New York.
Immediately after becoming an Israeli citizen, Eve will join the Israel Defense Forces. She boarded the flight Monday along with 350 other olim, among them a record high 127 soon-to-be IDF soldiers.
The special Friends of the Israel Defense–Nefesh B’Nefesh flight was organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel and Tzofim Garin Tzabar.

Eve Bar Knaan, left, with other Texas olim at JFK Airport before boarding the Nefesh B’Nefesh charter flight to Israel. | Photo: Shahar Azran

The soon-to-be soldiers, along with the other olim, were greeted in Israel by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of a special ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport.
“My grandparents fought in the independence war of 1948 and I want to contribute my time to the army as well,” said Knaan. “I am the first generation to be born out of Israel and I don’t want my children to follow in my footsteps. I want them born Israeli. I want them to live the Israeli life.”
Nefesh B’Nefesh is celebrating its 10th anniversary this summer, marking a decade since its inaugural charter Aliyah flight in 2002. The milestone comes as the organization prepares to welcome more than 2,500 North American and British Jews making Aliyah this summer on two charter and seven group Aliyah flights.
Nefesh B’Nefesh will bring 4,800 newcomers to Israel this year.

JSI’s third-year kickoff

The Jewish Studies Initiative will kick off its third year at a dessert reception and class at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26 at the home of Myra and Stuart Prescott, 11743 Valleydale. Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger, the evening’s honoree and JSI director, will offer a class on the “The Global Politics of Rosh Hashanah and What it Means to You.”
In addition to the Prescotts, hosts for the evening are Celia and Earl Bills, Suzanne and Gary Booth, Rhonda and Todd Cohen, Carole Ann and Jay Hoppenstein, Janine and Charles Pulman, Barbara and David Radunsky, Jaynie Schultz and Ron Romaner, and Carole and Joram Wolanow
To RSVP, contact Carole Wolanow at carole.wolanow@sbcglobal.net or 214-890-7583.
Contributions will be solicited for Jewish Studies Initiative of North Texas 2012-13.

Connecting Our Faiths event slated for Aug. 29

Rav Schlesinger also tells us that the public is invited to join Connecting Our Faiths at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug 29 at Temple Shalom. The impact of Moses on Judaism, Christianity and Islam is discussed.
Guests will hear three religious leaders, including Schlesinger, who will explain the Jewish perspective. Rev. Doug Skinner will explain the Christian standpoint and Imam Yahya Abdullah, who will explain the Islamic point of view on the birth and life of Moses.
They will explain various aspects of the life of Moses, including his life with the Pharaoh of Egypt, the Exodus, the parting of the Red Sea, delivery of the Ten Commandments and various other aspects of his life as understood by these three faiths.
Robert Hunt (from the SMU School of Divinity) and Newell Williams (from the TCU Brite Divinity School) will present commentary on the words of the three speakers.
The audience can ask questions of the speakers after the discussion for further clarification.
The goal of the evening is to promote understanding and harmony between members of the three faiths and therefore work toward tearing down the barriers of misunderstanding and distrust that often separate the faith communities, Schlesinger said.
Refreshments will be served following the lecture.
For information, call Marzuq Jaami at 972-998-4240 or Tricia Harris at tharris98@hotmail.com or 214-808-2082.

James Reisman named Dentist of the Year

Dr. James Reisman of Dallas was named Dentist of the Year by the Dallas County Dental Society during its recent officer installation dinner and ceremony.

Dr. James Reisman, with his wife, Karen, after he received the Dentist of the Year award from the Dallas County Dental Society. | Photo: Courtesy James Reisman

Reisman is a former president of the organization and has served in all DCDS leadership positions.
Among his accomplishments, he spearheaded the establishment of the Dallas County Dental Foundation, which focuses on enhancing access to oral-health care, education and research in the area.
He remains on the DCDS Foundation board and is working on new fundraising ideas.
He was chair of the society’s nominating committee and is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.
An avid rancher and outdoorsman, Reisman and his wife, Karen, have two children, Courtney and Brett.

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