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People in the news

EILEEN WARSHAW, Ph.D., executive director of the Jewish History Museum, has been elected to the board of directors of the Arizona Historical Society-Southern Division. Established in 1864, the Arizona Historical Society is Arizona’s oldest historical agency.

LAURIE WETTERSCHNEIDER was inducted as an emeritus board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson at the organization’s annual meeting Jan. 26, honoring her for 20 years of service on the board and her fundraising accomplishments, including co-founding “THE EVENT,” held annually since 2002. She has won several other community awards, including United Way Outstanding Volunteer of the Year and YWCA Women on the Move.

Engagement

Michael and Barbara Heisler of Tucson announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah, to Keith Singer, son of Danny and Paula Singer of Tucson. Sarah is a graduate of Tucson Hebrew Academy, University High School, Tulane University and Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School.  She is employed by Ernst & Young in New York City. Keith graduated from Sabino High School, the University of Arizona and Creighton Law School.  He is a family law attorney in private practice in Tucson. The couple plans to marry in Tucson on May 30, 2010.

Wedding

Lori Licter and Jeffrey Heisler were married on Dec. 27, 2009, at the Westward Look Resort in Tucson, with Rabbi Robert Eisen and Cantor Ivor Lichterman of Congregation Anshei Israel officiating.
Daniel Kleiman of Los Angeles was best man and Sarah Higgins of Woodbridge, Va., was matron of honor.  Beth Licter, Sarah Heisler and Laura Heisler, sisters of the bride and groom, were bridesmaids.
Lori is the daughter of Phil and Faylene Licter of Tucson and the granddaughter of Harry and Rose Offenberg of Tucson. Jeffrey is the son of Michael and Barbara Heisler of Tucson.
Lori graduated from Catalina Foothills High School and the University of Arizona.  She is a teacher at Buckland Mills Elementary School in Gainesville, Va.  Jeffrey is a graduate of St. Gregory College Preparatory High School and George Washington University, Washington, D.C., and is employed as technical lead for a government contracting company in Fairfax, Va.
The couple resides in Centreville, Va.

B’nai Mitzvah

LUCILLE RACHEL GOLDMAN HELLER, daughter of Lisa Goldman and Andrew Heller, celebrated becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 6 at Temple Emanu-El.
She is the granddaughter of Irene and William Heller of Philadelphia, Pa., Marian Wilcox of Tucson and James Donally of Alaska.
Lucille attend Paulo Freire Freedom School. She is a vegetarian and enjoys reading and computers. For her mitzvah project, she has collected donated items to furnish apartments for African refugees through Lutheran Social Services.

JOEL DAVID BERKSON, son of Randi and Larry Berkson, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Congregation Anshei Israel.
He is the grandson of Les Berkson and the late Marilyn Berkson of Tucson and the late Frances and Michael Moross of Scottsdale, Ariz.
Joel attends Emily Gray Junior High where he is an honor student. He enjoys golf, drawing and computer games. For his mitzvah project, he is donating to The First Tee, an organization that helps underprivileged children learn to play golf. He is also participating in CAI’s Gilo Twinning Project.

Business briefs

The University of Arizona is one of six colleges and universities to receive a Jewish Studies Expansion matching grant from the Foundation for Jewish Culture. The grant will permit the ARIZONA CENTER FOR JUDAIC STUDIES to hire a two-year postdoctoral teaching fellow to expand the number of courses offered and help raise the profile of Jewish studies through cultural programs and other activities.

Four alumni of TUCSON HEBREW ACADEMY who are now high school seniors, Eli Alster, Alon Devorah, Ezra Spiro and Aviel Steinberg, have been named National Merit Scholarship finalists for 2010.

A travel article in the Dec. 29 issue of the New York Jewish Week highlights several of Tucson Jewish attractions, including the JEWISH HISTORY MUSEUM and the TUCSON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL, and lists JEWISHTUCSON.ORG as a resource. 

Students at TEMPLE EMANU-EL KURN RELIGIOUS SCHOOL recently voted on how to disperse tzedakah money they have collected so far this school year. The students decided to give $600 to the Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund at American Jewish World Service, $300 to the Tucson Community Food Bank and $150 to the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation.