
By Sharon Wisch-Ray
I am looking forward to speaking at the Professional Women’s Group of Hadassah at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 28 in the conference room at 7920 Belt Line Road, where the TJP is located in North Dallas.
I have done a number of these presentations over the years, and they are always fun for everyone involved.
JWVA installs officers for 2013
LuAnn Bergman, immediate past president of the Jewish War Veterans Auxiliary, shared that the group has new officers, which were installed Jan. 27 at the Wyndham Dallas Suites.
Past president Ethel Holiner installed Jo Reingold as the new president. The following members also were installed: Dottie Garment, executive vice president; Rosalie Budnoff, programming vice president; Phyllis Rifkin, fundraising vice president; Lynn Teitelbaum, membership vice president; Flora Robin, treasurer; Marcy Kramer-Kahn, recording secretary; Sandra Cantor, chaplain; Shirley Crane, historian; Sabra Klein, conductress; and Deanna Kasten, corresponding secretary. Doc Gibbs entertained at the luncheon.
The JWVA sponsors several programs, including Packages for Troops; bingo at the VA Hospital on the fourth Sunday of each month; the VA Clothes Closet, a place within the VA Hospital where veterans can go to get the clothing they need for job interviews, etc. free of charge; the annual Grant-A-Wish for a veteran in hospice at the VA Hospital; the semi-annual Poppy Drive; and the Teddy Bear Drive to collect bears to be donated to Children’s Medical Center and Scottish Rite hospital.
The large clothing donations from JWVA members and their families earned the auxiliary the title of sponsor on the door of the Clothes Closet. The group also takes a quarterly trip to Choctaw Casino for some gambling fun.
Incidentally, the latest issue of the National Jewish War Veterans Auxiliary newsletter saluted the Dallas affiliate and the “Packages for Troops” program, which sends necessities and goodies to Afghanistan and has been recognized by the troops themselves. A flag was flown on Mission KA 300 “Red Handed 97” in the women’s honor, and the flight crew sent a framed flag certificate to the group. The current national newsletter features a picture of Kramer-Kahn, initiator of the program, and Bergman showing the impressive certificate.
If you would like to join in the fun of helping the veterans, their families and the community, please contact membership vice president Lynn Teitelbaum at 972-233-8937.
Business Scene
William B. “Bill” Finkelstein, was recently named the office managing member at the Dallas office of Dykema, a national law firm. Finkelstein is a member of the firm’s corporate finance department and business bankruptcy practice. He succeeds Darrell Jordan.
Finkelstein focuses his practice on providing general business and strategic advice to clients in a broad spectrum of industries, including manufacturing, metals recycling, jewelry, retail, medical-dental equipment and real estate.
In addition to providing general business advice, Finkelstein also focuses his practice on counseling clients on commercial transactions, acquisitions and minimizing insolvency risks in structuring business transactions, representing clients in acquisitions of businesses and assets from troubled companies, and representing official committees in bankruptcy cases.
He also has substantial experience representing businesses, investors and financial institutions in workout transactions, restructurings, bankruptcies and litigation. He has represented lenders, exporters and importers, and technology-based firms in a variety of commercial litigation and insolvency matters
Previously, Finkelstein served as a law clerk for then-Texas Supreme Court Associate Justice Thomas M. Reavley. Finkelstein is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys. He is also a member of the Dallas Board of Israel Bonds and the Jewish Federation Greater Dallas, and serves on the advisory board of the University of North Texas Jewish Studies Program.
He received his juris doctor, cum laude, graduating second in his class, from Baylor Law School and a B.A. from the University of Texas.
More Business: Get networking
The Jewish Business Alliance continues to grow. The Jewish business networking group now meets at Savour on the N. Dallas Parkway at Frankford. JBA is a networking group of business professionals who meet the second and fourth Thursday of each month for lunch. Business members of the community are invited to attend.
If you want more information, contact Mark Lowey at 214-558-2727 or mark@marklowey.com.
Mazel Tov Mike Friedman
I have had the pleasure of serving on the University of North Texas Jewish Studies Advisory Board with Mike Friedman and know first-hand of the depth and breadth of his knowledge and his hands-on approach to community service. Mike will be honored tomorrow, Feb. 22, with the UNT’s Outstanding Alumni Service Award at the 2013 Annual Alumni Awards Dinner.
Originally presented in 1974, this award honors individuals who have provided exceptional volunteer service to UNT. In addition to the advisory board for the Jewish Studies program, Mike, a 1974 graduate of UNT, serves on the board of its alumni association and, as well as on numerous other boards. They include the Plano ISD board of trustees, the Cancer Foundation for Life, Jewish Family Service, The Legacy Senior Communities and Dallas Hebrew Free Loan Association.
We would love to hear from our readers. Send your news to me at sharonw@texasjewishpost.com or by snail mail to me at 7920 Belt Line Road, Ste 680, Dallas, TX 75254.