Celebrations

Randy and Elyse Block of Leawood, Kan., announce the engagement of their son, Phillip Jason Block, to Melissa Jill Kanter, daughter of Robyn Rennard of St. Louis, Mo., and Ray Kanter of San Antonio.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Rita and Leon Rennard, St. Louis, and the late Sylvia and Bernard Kanter, San Antonio. She attended Indiana University, earning a degree in business marketing. She is a member of Sigma Delta Tau sorority. She is currently employed in market research.

The future groom is the grandson of Jay and Charlene Pollack, Janice Block, Blossom Block and the late Irwin Block. He attended the University of Wisconsin, earning a degree in business. He received his law degree from Loyola University in Chicago. He is a member of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity.

A March 6 wedding at Galleria Marchetti in Chicago is planned.

Beverly and Bernie Jacobson of Overland Park, Kan., announce the upcoming marriage of their son, Tony Jacobson, to Julie Swartz, daughter of Georgean Swartz and Allen Swartz of Minneapolis, on Sunday, Feb. 6, in Minneapolis.

The future groom is the grandson of the late Pearl and Jack Rosen, Wichita, and the late Paul and Frieda Jacobson of Kansas City. He is a Healthcare IT consultant.

The future bride is the granddaughter of the late Abbott Swartz and Martin Hellman. Her 92-year-old grandmothers, Bess Swartz and Hilda Hellman, will be in attendance at the wedding. She is a mortgage banker in Passaic, N.J.

The couple will reside in Passaic after the wedding.

Larry Grunspan and Ilene Grunspan announce the engagement of their daughter, Shira Gail Grunspan, to Jonathan Caleb Hurst-Sneh, son of Daniel Sneh and Susie Hurst.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Jack and Barbara Bornstein and Mira Grunspan and the late Roman Grunspan. She attended the University of Kansas, earning an exercise science degree. She is currently attending Kansas University Medical Center attaining her doctorate in physical therapy.

The future groom is the grandson of Harold and Phyllis Hurst and Avigdor and the late Adina Sneh of Tel Aviv. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the University of Kansas School of Business. He is presently employed at US TOY as their marketing coordinator.

A July 10 wedding at Deer Creek Golf Club is planned. The couple resides in Overland Park.

Todd and Stacy Hollander announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Dillon Hollander, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at Congregation Beth Shalom. Dillon is the grandson of Tina and Alan Chapman and Cookie and Ron Hollander of St. Louis. Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddush following the service.

Jack Jacobsen and Allison and Thomas Paxton announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Elliott Reid, at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at Congregation Shearith Israel in Dallas. Elliott is the grandson of Barbara Bograd, Boynton Beach, Fla., and Anne and Steve Music, Dallas.

Marvin Dunn and George Lieberman will be called to the Torah at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 1, to mark the 70th anniversary of their B’nai Mitzvah, which were held at Beth Shalom in December 1940.

Dunn is the son of Ida and Louis Dunn and the great-nephew of CBS Past-Presidents Benjamin Feinberg (1932) and Hyman Gordon (1937).

Dunn has two children, Jonathan Louis Dunn and Marilyn Paulette Dunn, and two grandchildren.

Lieberman is the son of Myer and Ella Lieberman and the grandson of CBS’s Rabbi Max Lieberman and Past-President I.J. Cohen (1907). He has been married to Floriene for 61 years. Together they are the parents of Craig and Beth Lieberman, Marti and Tony Oppenheimer, Amy and Hal Pollack. They have eight grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Dunn and Lieberman grew up together and have been the best of friends since they were four years old. Both men attended religious school at Beth Shalom and earned their Eagle Scout awards from Troop 61. They have led remarkable lives impacting the Jewish and secular Kansas City community. As a physician, Dunn has held the position of dean of the KU School of Medicine, while being active in the Jewish community. Lieberman spent his professional life in real estate, while being entrenched in the Jewish community and raising funds for cancer research. He was one of the founding fathers of the Jewish Community Campus.

Stephen and Monica Rachbauer Naron announce the birth Nov. 8 of a daughter, Alma Elisabeth Beate Naron. Grandparents are Eugene and Marsha Naron of Leawood, and Werner and Inga-llil Rachbauer of Falun, Sweden. Baby Alma is named after her late great-grandparents, Alice Schick and Bertha Hartman Naron.

Lindsay Sarah Rubin and Chad Harrison of Topeka were married Sept. 25 at The Sheraton Hotel in Overland Park.

The bride is the daughter of Linda and Ron Rubin and the granddaughter of Helen Shalinsky and the late Marvin Shalinsky and the late Audrey and Eugene Rubin.

The groom is the son of Linda and Greg Laird of Topeka and Wes Harrison of Topeka and the grandson of Anne Berndt, Topeka.

The maid of honor was Katie Savage of Overland Park. Bridal attendants were Rebecca Rubin, Overland Park, and Rachel Rubin, Dallas.

The best man was Joel Rondash, Topeka. Groom’s attendants were Paul Harrison, John Dechand, TJ Currie and Joe Housholder, all of Topeka.

After a honeymoon in London, the couple reside in Topeka.

Beth and Les Schwartz, Lenexa, Kan., announce the engagement of their daughter, Stacy Rebecca Schwartz, to Michael Constantine Foxman, son of Sophie and Constantine Foxman, San Francisco.

The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Shirley and the late Harold Schwartz and the late Bernice and Stanley Brozen. She attended the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history. She is currently completing her thesis for a Master of Arts degree in art history from San Jose State University and is working for the Bureau of Jewish Education in San Francisco.

The future groom is a grandson of the late Mark and Albina Yevzovitch and the late Mikhail and Hannah Fuksshimov. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a writer and editor with Trion Worlds, Inc., in Redwood Shores, Calif.

A June 5 wedding in The Presidents Room at The Clubhouse on Baltimore (Kansas City) is planned, with Rabbi Adam Stein of Congregation Beth Shalom officiating. The reception, immediately following, will be held in the Tudor Room at The Clubhouse. The couple will continue to reside in the San Francisco area.

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