Class Correspondent

Caryn (Regen) Banchek gave birth to Max Gabriel on May 26, 2013. Max joins big brother Reid, 2, who is adjusting to his new status. The family lives in Manhattan. David Weisz and his wife, Julia, had their first child, Noam Daniel, on July 10, 2013. Jane Kohuth’s fourth children’s book, “Anne Frank’s Chestnut Tree,” was published in September 2013. Her previous book, “Duck Sock Hop,” was named a Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year, a Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Children’s Book and a New York Public Library Top Ten Picture Read-Aloud. She enjoys visiting schools to give author workshops in person; she also does workshops via Skype. For more information, visit janekohuth.com. Jane’s husband, Michael Stepansky ’00, is the new director of employment at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. Daniel Fisher and his wife, Sheryl, welcomed son Michael Stanley into the world on June 7, 2013. Valerie Glassman had a baby, Raphael (“Rafi”) Efraim, on Aug. 10, 2013. Sharon (Gross) Altman and her husband, Jason, had a son, Benjamin Parker, on July 27, 2013. Big brother Jordan was excited to welcome the newcomer. Elizabeth Kraft married Adam Korngold on May 26, 2013, in Newton, Mass. Brandeis alumni in attendance included Elizabeth’s brother, Jonathan Kraft ’96; Adam Menzel; Johanna (Silver) Menzel ’00; Alison (Shreefter) Jensen; Elizabeth’s cousins, Noah Kaplan ’09 and Emma Kraft ’17; Sharon (Gross) Altman; and Gayle Gordon ’08. Ariel Ahram and Marni Ahram are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Matilda (“Tillie”) Sarah. She was born in May 2013 in Alexandria, Va. Baht Weiss married Todd Cohen on June 23, 2013, at the Hotel Monaco in Washington, D.C. Baht is the associate rabbi at Temple Beth Ami in Rockville, Md. After graduating from Brandeis, she received a master’s degree in Hebrew literature from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Todd is the environmental health and safety compliance officer at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. Michelle Greenfield married Benjamin Gliszinski on April 26, 2013, in Estes Park, Colo. They are both middle-school teachers in Fort Collins. Deb (Eisner) Joffe and Joe Joffe, MAT’09, welcomed twin daughters Leah Anne and Zoe Esther on June 13, 2013. The girls’ grandparents are Martin Joffe ’75, P’01, and Ruth Mindick ’75, P’01. Rachel Davis married Christopher Stockton on May 4, 2013. They eloped to Gatlinburg, Tenn., since their wedding day was the same day as the Kentucky Derby and they wanted to get out of Louisville, Ky. Rachel owns her own dental practice. Christopher started working in the practice in January 2013 as office manager. Melani Friedman and her husband, Mark Saltzman, welcomed their third child, Brian Noah, on May 20, 2013. Big sisters Jenna, 5, and Marissa, 2, are overjoyed to have a baby brother. Rita Cherian Dulgarian and her husband, Greg, are happy to announce the birth of their son, Mark Avedis. Mom, dad and big brother Andrew are thrilled to welcome the family’s newest addition. Scott Bleiweis is teaching high-school English in Vidin, Bulgaria, through a Fulbright scholarship. Ellie Stein and her husband, Daniel, had a son, Lior, on July 11, 2013. He joins big brother Natan, 5, and big sister Beatrice, 2. Ellie works as a data analyst at the University of Chicago Charter Schools. Many Brandeisians live near Ellie, who has enjoyed reconnecting with old friends. Lisa Cagnacci lives in London, where she works as associate artistic director at Theatre503 in Battersea. Meera Reynolds and her husband, Rob, welcomed Lakshmi Patricia on July 27, 2013. Mom, dad, baby and big sister Priya are all doing well. Melissa Assenzio became a certified base programmer for SAS 9 in April 2013 after passing the certification exam. She and her husband adopted a puppy in March from a local rescue shelter. Rebecca Smerling and Charlie Marcus had their second daughter, Ruby Bess Smerling Marcus, on April 30, 2013. Beth Goldstein is the new director of B’Yachad: South Area Religious School, a partnership between two synagogues — Temple Beth Am and Temple Beth Emunah — south of Boston. She previously worked as the director of teen education at the Agency for Jewish Learning in Pittsburgh and director of lifelong learning at Congregation Sinai in Milwaukee.

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SHARING THE JOY: Many alumni joined Elizabeth Kraft ’01 to celebrate her marriage to Adam Korngold. From left: Jonathan Kraft ’96, Elizabeth’s brother; Adam Menzel ’01; Johanna (Silver) Menzel ’00; Alison (Shreefter) Jensen ’01; Adam; Elizabeth; Noah Kaplan ’09; Emma Kraft ’17; Sharon (Gross) Altman ’01; and Gayle Gordon ’08.
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