Brandeis Magazine

Paul Bauer has been exploring China for the past 2 1/2 years. He teaches English at Hebei University of Technology and lives in Tianjin, a port city of 15 million people about 100 miles from Beijing. He writes, “I had one shy 8-year-old boy who really didn’t want to be at school — until he discovered music class. His mother called the school director one day and reported that he walks around the house singing ‘Home on the Range’ all day.” Bernie Gerson is celebrating many transitions. He is now grandfather to baby girl Naomi (born to son Elliot and daughter-in-law CM). He is set to receive his master’s degree in health-services management from Argosy University. And he will officially retire from his first career as congregational rabbi in July, upon the completion of 25 years at Congregation Rodef Shalom in Denver. Karen (Katz) Kahnis announces her son, Daniel, is engaged to Ellie Kaplan. A September wedding is planned. Phil Katzman was promoted to professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center. His specialty is pediatric and perinatal pathology. He lives in Rochester with his wife, Joanne, and their sons, Leo, 14, and Seth, 11. Amy Mager, P’21, has been advocating to get mandated insurance coverage for acupuncture in cases of pain, PTSD, nausea and opiate addiction. She serves as secretary for the Acupuncture Society of Massachusetts and vice chair of the American Society of Acupuncturists. She is pursuing a doctorate in acupuncture, Chinese medicine and integrative medicine. Son Eitan ’21 is a Brandeis freshman. Mark Meckler co-wrote the textbook “Crafting a Strategy,” which teaches business strategy and strategic management by looking at the battles between micro craft breweries and multinational brewing corporations. Gregory Newman is president of the Queens County Bar Association. David Podell is volunteering as a lawyer at Israel’s Hagar Affordable Housing Center at the Buchmann Faculty of Law of Tel Aviv University. He is a senior attorney at South Jersey Legal Services in Camden. Samuel Ramer is the principal deputy assistant attorney general for legislative affairs at the U.S. Department of Justice. He helps lead the Office of Legislative Affairs, which manages the department’s relationship with Congress. Abe Roth was promoted to full professor in the philosophy department at Ohio State University. He says he appreciates the support he got from his Brandeis philosophy professors, especially Eli Hirsch and David Wong.