AZ Jewish Post » B’nai Mitzvah

Gavin Cohen

PHYLLIS BRAUN - AJP Executive Editor — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:57:15 +0000

GAVIN STARR COHEN, son of Lori and Russell Cohen, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Jan. 7 at Temple Emanu-El.

He is the grandson of Janice and Jerry Hungerford of Tucson, and Desmond Cohen of Irvine, Calif.

Gavin attends Esperero Canyon Middle School, where he is an honor student and enjoys math. He plays competitive baseball with the Tucson Titans and golf. For his mitzvah project, he is raising funds for the Arizona Make A Wish Foundation. He chose this organization because a cousin who was diagnosed with lymphoma at age 6 was granted her wish, and his goal is to make another child’s wish come true.

Emily Peters

PHYLLIS BRAUN - AJP Executive Editor — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:55:27 +0000

EMILY MORGAN PETERS, daughter of Karen and Eric Peters, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 31 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center with Congregation Chaverim.

She is the granddaughter of Ron and Richard Wagner of Albuquerque, N.M. and Eleanor and Daniel Peters of Brookville, N.Y.

Emily attends Emily Gray Junior High School, where she is an honor student and a member of student council and the student wellness committee. She plays basketball and volleyball and enjoys acting, singing and cooking. For her mitzvah project, she focused on improving nutrition through the Tucson Village Farm, an urban seed-to-table program designed to reconnect youth to real food and encourage adoption of healthy lifestyle habits. Emily will be donating to the Tucson Village Farm and teaching a nutrition workshop during a family conference in January. She will also teach the nutrition portion of the program to her Hebrew school class during a field trip to the farm.

Rachel Richter

grace — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:19:39 +0000

RACHEL ANNE RICHTER, daughter of Allison and Michael Richter, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Monday, Dec. 19 aboard the Oasis of the Seas cruise ship. She is a member of Congregation Chaverim.
She is the granddaughter of Leah and the late Fred Richter, and Sandra and Sid Lachter, all of Tucson.
Rachel attends Miles Exploratory Learning Center, where she is an honor student and is on the yearbook committee. She plays volleyball and enjoys reading, art, swimming and traveling. For her mitzvah project, she is working with Habitat for Humanity, helping to build a home for a local family.

Yaphet Felix

grace — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:16:53 +0000

YAPHET FELIX, son of Margarita and Simcha Felix, celebrated becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Congregation Anshei Israel.
He is the grandson of Daniel P. Dias and Julia Rocha, both of El Dorado, Mexico.
Yaphet attends Tucson Hebrew Academy, where he is a member of the basketball team. He plays the saxophone and enjoys track, drawing and race cars. He is also a member of United Synagogue Youth. For his mitzvah project, he did yard work and window cleaning for seniors.

Benjamin Nathan Deitch

grace — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:12:00 +0000

BENJAMIN NATHAN DEITCH, son of Valerie and Michael Deitch, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 10 at Congregation Anshei Israel.
He is the great-grandson of Lillian Schultz of Apopka, Fla. He is the grandson of Dr. Nicholas Limberis of Vero Beach, Fla., Victoria Limberis of Melbourne Beach, Fla., the late Georgia Smith of Tucson, and the late Melvin Deitch of Cape Coral, Fla.
Benjamin attends St. Gregory College Preparatory School, where he is an honor student and plays on the flag football and soccer teams. He also plays trombone and piano. For his mitzvah project, he participated in the Tu Nidito Ride for a Child in El Tour de Tucson. He is also participating in the Gilo Twinning Project in Israel.

David Joseph Aguila

grace — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:09:37 +0000

DAVID JOSEPH AGUILA, son of MeMe Aguila and Daniel Aguila, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.
He is the grandson of the late Marilyn and the late David Drogin, and Patricia and the late Joseph Aguila, all of Chicago, Ill.
David attends Magee Middle School. He is a first-class boy scout and is interested in the military. For his mitzvah project, he is cooking monthly dinners for local fire stations and DUI deployments.

Maxell Ian Cohen

grace — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:07:36 +0000

MAXWELL IAN COHEN, son of Andrea and Greg Cohen of Scottsdale, Ariz., celebrated becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Friday, Nov. 11 at Temple Chai in Phoenix.
He is the grandson of Susan and Michael Cohen of Sun Lakes, Ariz. (formerly of Tucson) and Ellen and Burt Pressman of Peoria, Ariz.
Max attends Cheyenne Traditional School in Scottsdale, where he is a member of the varsity baseball team. For his mitzvah project, he volunteers with the Miracle League of Arizona as a baseball buddy and at St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.

Eliana Boling

grace — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:14:50 +0000

ELIANA BOLING, daughter of Kim and Tim Boling, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 19 with Congregation Chaverim at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.
She is the granddaughter of Marcia and Ken Light of Tucson, Carmen and John Boling of Bloomington, Ind., and the late Judy Williams of Shirley, Ind. She is the great-granddaughter of Betty Light of Gunnison, Colo.
Ellie attends Orange Grove Middle School. She enjoys cooking, baking, gardening and working out at the JCC. For her mitzvah project, she volunteered at Casa Maria Soup Kitchen; raised funds for MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger; wrote letters to elected officials asking them to protect SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) funds; and with her grandmother compiled a cookbook of Jewish recipes, “Kugels and Latkes and Briskets, Oh My,” on sale through Congregation Chaverim, with proceeds benefiting MAZON.

Kayla Joy Tilicki

grace — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:11:33 +0000

KAYLA JOY TILICKI, daughter of Niki and Phil Tilicki, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 19 at Congregation Or Chadash.
She is the granddaughter of Sandie and Joe Bolze of Sayville, N.Y., Carol and Roger Tilicki, and Mary Jo Grebeck, all of Cleveland, Ohio.
Kayla attends Wilson K-8 School, where she is an honor student. She enjoys performing, acting, singing, dancing, reading and art. For her mitzvah project, she is raising funds to help a child join Kids Unlimited to get an opportunity to perform. Kayla has raised $900 by babysitting, doing yard work, and soliciting friends’ help. See the Youtube video she made with her friends to build awareness (youtube. com/watch?v_0udZ2ZnXN_c&noredirect=1).

Sydnie Elana Grabell

grace — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:08:29 +0000

SYDNIE ELANA GRABELL, daughter of Ellen Eichler-Grabell and Lawrence Grabell, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 19 at Congregation Anshei Israel.
She is the granddaughter of Lisa and the late Allan Grabell of Tucson, and Bernard and the late Molly Eichler of Milburn, N.J., and Tucson.
Sydnie attends Tucson Hebrew Academy and enjoys basketball and soccer. For her mitzvah project, she is donating clothing, books and toys to Casa de los Niños.