The Bernard Zell Chesed Committee wants to share in your joy or express sympathy when appropriate. If you have news to share, please email all the details to chesed@bernardzell.org for inclusion in the next issue. 

February 12, - March 11, 2026

Births:

• Mazel Tov to Amy and Chris Welgarz, and big sister Olivia Anderson (2nd grade), on the birth of Stanley Jeffrey Welgarz on February 13!

• Mazel Tov to Debbie, 3rd grade teacher, and Max Barack, big sisters Daria (Senior Kindergarten) and Sari, on the birth of Adam Elliot Barack on February 25!

• Mazel Tov to Lydia Malkin, Lower School Learning Specialist, and Chris Smiciklas, on the birth of Robert Christopher Smiciklas on March 2!

B’nai Mitzvot:

• Mazel Tov to Levi Grazman who became a Bar Mitzvah on February 28, 2026!

• Mazel Tov to Saul Garthwaite who became a Bar Mitzvah on March 7, 2026!

Engagement:

• Mazel Tov to Hannah Taussig (Nurse) on her engagement to Jacob Bokor! 

Condolences:

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Cooper Family on the recent loss of Elliot Schnitzer, father of Debbi (Aaron) Cooper  and grandfather of Gabe ('21), Judah ('23), and Noah (8th grade).  

January 29 - February 11, 2026

Births:

• Mazel Tov to Mitchell '99, Incoming Head of School, and Gillian Daar, big sister Gemma, on the births of Cameron "Cam" and Isabel "Izzi" Daar on January 28, 2026!

B’nai Mitzvot:

• Mazel Tov to Alexa Guttman who became a Bat Mitzvah on January 31, 2026!

• Mazel Tov to Emmett Brown who became a Bar Mitzvah on February 7, 2026!

Condolences:

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Barack family on the recent loss of Yetta Barack, grandmother of Max (Debbie) Barack and great-grandmother of Daria (Senior Kindergarten) and Sari. 

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Ronay-Schlictman Family on the recent loss of Donald (Don) Coller, grandfather of Mike Schlictman (Michelle Ronay) and great-grandfather of Jack Ronay-Schlictman (Junior Kindergarten). 

January 15 - January 28, 2026​​

B’nai Mitzvot:

• Mazel Tov to Noa Jacoby who became at Bat Mitzvah on January 17, 2026! 

• Mazel Tov to Amit Cohen who became at Bar Mitzvah on January 24, 2026! 

Condolences:

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Sheahan Family, on the recent loss of Arlene Murphy, grandmother of Kyle (Heather) Sheahan, Athletic Director, and great grandmother of Jameson (4th grade). 
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December 11, 2025 - January 14, 2026

Births:

• Mazel Tov to Emily and Jason Jacob, big sisters Sadie (JK) and Harper, on the birth of Maya Rose on January 6, 2026!

B’nai Mitzvot:

• Mazel Tov to Izzy Estell who became a Bar Mitzvah on December 13, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Tavi Gershfang who became a Bar Mitzvah on January 10, 2026!

Condolences:

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Andrea Stone Zuckert, Operations Specialist, on the recent loss of her father, Joseph L. Stone. 

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Eileen Wasserman, Interim Head of Middle School, on the recent loss of her brother, Nathan Abraham Semel.

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Jacobs Family, on the recent loss of Richard L. Jacobs, father of Peter (Deanna McBeath) Jacobs, and grandfather of Bonnie (6th grade). 

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Valkovsky/Wallk Family, on the recent loss of Ilya Valkovsky, husband of Mimi Wallk, and father of Simone '13 and Gabi '14. 

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Silverstein Family, on the recent loss of Adrienne Shufro Silverstein, father of Marc (Arla) Silverstein), and grandmother of Claire '17, and Rebecca ' 20.

November 20 - December 10, 2025

Births:

• Mazel Tov to Nikki and Matt Riskin, big brothers Graham (1st grade) and Elliott (JK), on the birth of Benji Micah on November 20, 2025!

B’nai Mitzvot:

• Mazel Tov to Adam Auerbach who became Bar Mitzvah on November 22, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Brooks Breslow who became Bar Mitzvah on December 6, 2025!

Wedding:

• Mazel Tov to Sara Wineburgh '10 and Max Emmerman who were married on November 22, 2025!

Condolences:

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Leah Frydman, Lower School and Early Childhood Social Worker, on the recent loss of her grandmother, Phyliss Steinberg. 

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Silvestro and Kaplan Families on the recent loss of Gloria Rosing, grandmother of Natalie (Michael) Silvestro, Class of '98, and Max (Rachel) Kaplan, Class of '01, great-grandmother of Leo (3rd Grade), Mason and Vera Silvestro, and Jordan (1st Grade) and Sammy (JK) Kaplan. 

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Zuckerman Family on the recent loss of Sherwin Zuckerman, father of Danny (Julie) Zuckerman and grandfather of James (8th Grade), Andrew ('21) and Caroline ('23). 

November 5 - 19, 2025

B’nai Mitzvot:

• Mazel Tov to Max Yaffa who became a Bar Mitzvah on November 8, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Eliana Laragh who became Bat Mitzvah on November 15, 2025!

Condolences:

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Barack Family on the recent loss of Arlene Margolin, grandmother of Debbie (Max) Barack (3rd grade teacher) and great-grandmother of Daria (SK) and Sari (2 years old).

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Adler Family on the recent loss of Anthony "Tony" Adler, father of Emmett (Sara) Adler and grandfather of Augie (JK) and Leo (2 years old).  

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Dorfman Family on the recent loss of Barbara Norma Nudelman, grandmother of David (Jennifer) Dorfman and great-grandmother of Lilah (2nd), Sadie (SK), and Jake (Nursery). 

October 22 - November 5, 2025​​

B’nai Mitzvot:

• Mazel Tov to Ezra Stevens who became a Bar Mitzvah on October 25, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Liv Goodman who became Bat Mitzvah on October 25, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Gus Griffin who became a Bar Mitzvah on November 1, 2025!

September 18 - October 22, 2025​​

Births:

• Mazel Tov to Mor and Gal Skarishevsky, big brothers Ari (4th grade) and Rani (2nd grade), on the birth of Gur on September 18, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Ashley and Shane Massel, big brothers Cody (Senior Kindergarten) and Sonny, on the birth of Marley Jade on September 24, 2025!

B’nai Mitzvot:

• Mazel Tov to Benjamin Braun who became a Bar Mitzvah on September 20, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Stevie and Goldie Shalit who became B'nai Mitzvot on October 4, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Chloe Solow who became a Bat Mitzvah on October 18, 2025!

Engagements & Weddings:

• Mazel Tov to Dani Glass (Senior Kindergarten teacher) and Shanna who were married on September 20, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Callie Howard (Nursery teacher) and Benji who were married on September 28, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Turhan Karabey (Junior Kindergarten teacher) and Mike who were married on October 14, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Ashley Johnson (PE teacher) and Jaime who recently got engaged! 

Condolences:

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Schiller Family on the recent loss of Marvin Newman, father of Alissa (David) Schiller and grandfather of Sophia (Senior Kindergarten), Ezra (Nursery), and Noah (Nursery). 
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September 4 - 17, 2025

B’nai Mitzvot:

• Mazel Tov to Reid Pollak who became a Bar Mitzvah on September 6, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Jacob and Samuel Roth who became B'nai Mitzvot on September 13, 2025!

Engagements & Weddings:

• Mazel Tov to Turhan Karabey (Junior Kindergarten Teacher) who got engaged to Mike Rogers!

Condolences:

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Benizri Family on the recent loss of Amram Corcos, Uncle of Lionel (Merav) Benizri and great-uncle of Elon (Junior Kindergarten). 

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Riskin Family on the recent loss of Molla Salzenstein, grandmother of Matt (Nikki) Riskin and great-grandmother of Graham (1st grade) and Elliot (Junior Kindergarten). 

August 21 - September 3, 2025​​

B’nai Mitzvot:

• Mazel Tov to Izzy Singer who became a Bar Mitzvah on August 9, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Raffi Ellis who became a Bar Mitzvah on August 23, 2025!

• Mazel Tov to Liv and Riley Sandler who became a B'nai Mitzvot on August 30, 2025!

Condolences:

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to the Ruthman Family on the recent loss of Ida Ganz, grandmother of Merav (Mark) Ruthman (Middle School Jewish Studies Teacher) and great-grandmother of Liam (6th grade) and Haley ('24). 

• The Chesed Committee, on behalf of the entire Bernard Zell community, extends heartfelt condolences to Joey Shapiro (Director of High School Counseling and Middle School Teacher), on the recent loss of his grandmother, Rheta Shapiro.