Immediately after morning services on Shabbat Parshat Vayishlach, December 14, Beit Boyer will celebrate our new members who joined during the past year with a festive kiddush given in their honor. Our honorees include:

• Avigdor and Laia Ben-Dov - Originally from pre-war Poland, the Ben-Dovs made Aliyah from Chicago over 40 years ago. They moved to our neighborhood last year to be close to friends. Officially retired, they translate and edit Yizkor booklets, and are expert in the field of genealogy.
• Dr. Ruth Gershen - Ruth is a pediatrician in a large multi-specialty medical office. She made aliyah in September, following her 6 children who made Aliyah between 18 and 36 months ago. Her two oldest children are working; two are at Hebrew U; one is in Hesder - finishing his army service this month - and the youngest just finished her Sherut Leumi, and now works at Midreshet Lindenbaum.
• Judy Grossman - Judy moved from Male Adumim about 7 months ago, having made Aliyah from Chicago 47 years ago. Prior to her retirement she worked in a hesder yeshiva helping rabbis, faculty and students with their day-to-day needs and concerns. While she initially chose to join our shul because of her friendship with a specific member of our congregation, we hope that she has already begun to experience the warm camaraderie that makes our shul so special.
• Rabbi Vernon and Bryna Kurtz - Rabbi Vernon and Bryna moved from Toronto to Chicago where they lived for 43 years before making aliyah in June, 2019. They chose to join our shul to join friends who are members, and because of their special relationship with Rabbi Melchior. Vernon was a pulpit rabbi in Chicago, where Bryna worked as a CPA for almost 25 years. The Kurtzs have a married daughter and 4 grandchildren in Modiin. They were involved in communal organizations in Chicago and we invite them to share their expertise with our community.
• Rabbi Eliad and Nechama Pivko - Eliad and Nechama, both native Israelis, moved to our community about three years ago from Kiryat Hamivtar, to be closer to Nechama’s brother and other relatives. Eliad, an ordained rabbi, is completing his training in a government management program affiliated with the Prime Minister’s office. They have five children, four girls and one baby boy. Eliad and Nechama, who both speak English fluently, chose to join Beit Boyer because of the shul’s special atmosphere - and because it’s close to their home!
• Meir Radnovich and his daughter, Naomi - Meir and his 12-year-old daughter, Naomi, moved from Hong Kong to Israel and our neighborhood in July 2019. Meir is a programmer working remotely for a Hong Kong mobile application company. Naomi celebrated her bat mitzvah at Beit Boyer in September and attends Evelina Tehilla High School. They do not have family in Israel.
• Michael and Dana Rainsbury, and their daughter Hadar (aged 7 months) - Michael, originally from London, England, and Dana, from Melbourne, Australia met in Israel, married in 2017 and moved into our neighborhood. They are both involved in education, with Michael working at Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi and Dana teaching Jewish Studies online and at Midreshet Amit. Michael has shared Divrei Torah at Beit Boyer.
• Barbara and Joel Rich - Our newest Olim, Barbara and Joel Rich emigrated from West Orange, NJ, on December 5. !הבאים ברוכים Like many of Beit Boyer’s members they anticipate making multiple trips to the Old Country during the foreseeable future, because not all their children live here. Yet…! Like many of our other new members, they chose to live in Arnona to be close to friends and family. They joined Beit Boyer because they “found the kehilla warm and friendly”. Barbara is a retired preschool director and continues to tutor children. Joel describes himself as “a (mostly) retired consulting actuary, volunteer adult Jewish educator and author of the Audio Roundup on the Torah Musings blog.”
• Mimi and Marvin Schecter - Mimi and Marvin moved to Teaneck New Jersey and lived there for 39 years before making Aliyah in August, 2018. Marvin worked in International Business Economic Development for the State of New York, while Mimi was the Director of Academic Advisement at Stern College. They have 4 sons, the oldest of whom lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his family, while the other three, two of which are married, still live in the US. Mimi and Marvin are waiting patiently…..
• Jeremiah Unterman - Jeremiah moved from Rechavia approximately 8 months ago, having made aliyah from New Jersey 21 years ago. After many years of involvement in Jewish education, notably at Yeshiva University in New York, Professor Unterman describes himself as a semi-retired professor of Tanach.