By Sharon Wisch-Ray

I have heard many wonderful stories of Forest Avenue High from the best mother-in-law ever, Jane Ray. Forest was a centerpiece of South Dallas’ Jewish life from 1916-1956.

The school’s active alumni association will hold its annual all-school reunion at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Doubletree Hotel, 4099 Valley View Lane in Dallas, near the Galleria.
Cost is $35 per person. Call 214-696-3844 or 214-724-3844 for further information or to make reservations.

Take a Jewish culinary journey with Tina Wasserman

Noted chef and cookbook author Tina Wasserman will present “Beyond Brisket and Bagels,” a presentation about the history of Jewish cooking and its effect on world cuisine, from 7:30-9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, at Congregation Shearith Israel, 9401 Douglas Ave. in Dallas.
Tina, author of “Entrée to Judaism,” will lead participants on a culinary journey around the world and across the ages, from Spain to India, from Russia to Tunisia, sharing the histories and recipes of the great Diaspora communities and the many wonderful ways they have told their stories through food.
What we eat says so much about who we are and from where we come. Do you like your matzah brie sweet or savory? Is your chicken soup matzah ball or mulligatawny? Wherever Jews have settled, they have adapted local tastes and ingredients to meet the needs of Shabbat and kashrut, creating a rich and diverse menu of flavors and styles, all still Jewish.
This is not a hands-on cooking program, but there will be some delicious food to taste that night! There is a discounted admission if tickets are purchased in advance. Register at https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=181275, or contact Lindsay Gray at 214-939-7303.

RikuDallas to hold annual workshop

Linda Kahalnik tells us that RikuDallas has scheduled its 2012 Israeli Dance Workshop for Oct. 25-28.
Ohad Attia, who is traveling here from Israel, will be the guest instructor. Ohad choreographed his first dance “Koko Jumbo” when he was 18 and danced with the Karmon dance group under the direction of the legendary Yonatan Karmon.
Ohad has many years of experience dancing and teaching both line dance and salsa. Today, he leads and programs and Israeli dance sessions in the Haifa area and Tel Aviv, as well as teaching at dance camps and workshops around the world.
Ohad’s recent dance creations include Ha’chiaim, Bishvilech, Boi La’Goren, Rikud Hashvatim, Simanim Shel Ohavim (which earned second place at the Karmiel dance competition in 2010), Perach Ba’aviv, Torero, Milim and At Lo Mevina. His energy is as contagious as his smile.
A full weekend of Israeli dance is planned for all who want to participate. To register or for more information, contact Linda Kahalnik at 972-867-7780 or rikudchik@gmail.com.

Berg receives Dedman Award for Ethics and Law

Mark S. Berg received the 12th annual Robert H. Dedman Award for Ethics and Law for his dedication to ethics in business and the law Oct. 2, from the General Counsel Forum at the Belo Mansion in Dallas.
The forum and the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University established the award in 2001 to honor the late Robert H. Dedman for his commitment to ethics. This award pays tribute to an in-house attorney who has demonstrated the highest ethical standards during his or her career.
Berg has served public companies for the past 15 years as chief legal officer and joined Pioneer Natural Resources Company in April 2005 as executive vice president and general counsel.
He serves on Pioneer’s management committee and oversees all legal and compliance activities at the company. Similar to his approach throughout his career, Berg places a priority on building a strong legal department at Pioneer with responsibility and accountability for the company’s operations and compliance functions. He also shares a deep commitment to Pioneer’s culture of respect and ethical behavior.
Berg has had a distinguished career, beginning in 1983, with the Houston-based law firm of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. He served as a partner and a leader of the firm’s energy, project finance and Asia practice groups from 1990-1997. He joined American General Corporation, a financial services company, in 1997 as executive vice president, general counsel and secretary.
After the sale of American General to American International Group in 2001, Mark was appointed senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of Hanover Compressor Company, which specializes in natural gas compression and processing.
Berg received a Juris Doctorate, with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law, and graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts in public policy from Tulane University. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and also serves as chairman of the board of Dallas CASA, a non-profit agency of volunteers who serve abused and neglected children.
Berg lives in Dallas with his wife, Fran, and children, Jared and Danielle.
The Robert H. Dedman Award Dinner is a premier annual event of the DFW Chapter of the General Counsel Forum. Dinner proceeds and scholarship contributions fund The Forrest Smith General Counsel Forum Scholarship, presented to a student at SMU Dedman School of Law to further promote ethics and law.

Mazel, mazel to Blanche Weiberger

Blanche Weinberger celebrated a special birthday weekend last month.
Children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws joined her from all over the country — San Antonio, Austin, Florida, California, Washington, Kansas City, New Orleans and New York.
Sadly, Blanche’s brother Jacob Kassed passed away just a few weeks before her celebration.

CJE presents Houdini program Sunday

Escape artist Harry Houdini’s connection to Judaism and a magic show will highlight a “Jewdini” program from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at the Mankoff Center for Jewish Learning at the Aaron Family JCC, 7900 Northaven in Dallas.
The Center for Jewish Education, a programming arm of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, is organizing the event.
Houdini was born as Erich Weiss in 1874, and was the son of an orthodox rabbi.
“Erich Weiss could have stayed in Budapest, attended Yeshiva and become a rabbi like his father,” said Linda Blasnik, librarian of the Tycher Library. “Luckily for generations of children, he moved to America, changed his name to Harry Houdini and became the world’s greatest escape artist.”
This free event is appropriate for all ages, but tailored for ages 6-12. The program offers children an opportunity to learn how to become an escape artist, a magic show, a photo booth, discovery stations and much more.
For information, contact, Tycher Library director Nina Golboro and ngolboro@jfgd.org or 214-239-7132. RSVP’s are encouraged but not required.

Survivor Glauben to speak after film

Dallas Holocaust survivor Max Glauben will speak following the screening of his film “Plagues of the Soul” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21.
The 30-minute film will be followed by a 45-minute lecture and question and answer session with Glauben in the theater of the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance, 211 N. Record St. in Dallas.
Glauben is well-known to the Dallas Jewish community. He was born in 1928 in Warsaw, Poland, and attended an ATID school until his education was interrupted in 1939, when he and his family were forced into the Warsaw Ghetto.
He lived there for three years until the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. After the Nazis destroyed the ghetto, he and his family were transported via boxcars to the Majdanek gas chambers and crematoriums, where most of his family perished.
Only Max and his father were selected for slave labor at the Budzyn Concentration Camp. After three weeks, his father was killed. Max was sent to the Mielec, Wieliczka and Flossenburg concentration camps.
On April 23, 1945, while Max was on a death march to Dachau from Flossenburg, he wasliberated by the United States Army. In December 1947, at age 19, he came to New York, then later to Atlanta.
He was drafted into the United States Army in 1951. He received basic training at Fort Hood, where he served his two-year tour of duty during the Korean War. In 1953 he received an honorable discharge and settled in Dallas, where he married Frieda Gappelberg.
Glauben worked at Nieman Marcus and Southwest Toys until he became a partner at Imperial Garment Supply and National Embroidery Inc. He retired at the age of 75.
He is an active member of Congregation Shearith Israel and a life member of its brotherhood. He was honored by Shearith Israel in February 2011 at its Torah Fund event. In 1989, he received Hadassah’s Myrtle Wreath Award for his humanitarian work on behalf of the Holocaust.
A member of the Jewish War Veterans, he is an associate member of the Dallas Chapter of Hadassah and a life member of the board of directors of the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance, of which he is a founding member.
He continually lectures on the Holocaust in schools, churches, colleges and various organizations and institutions.
Always available to educate others on the Holocaust, Max has accompanied Yavneh Academy students for many years on their March of the Living trip each spring.
Max and Frieda have two sons, a daughter and seven grandchildren.
Got news? Send it to me at sharonw@texasjewishpost.com.