B'nai Mitzva of 2004
Esther Mack
May 2004
Esther Fruma Mack is a 6th grader at Fuchs Mizrahi school. She loves to read (especially Harry Potter, in both English and Hebrew). She also enjoys outdoor activities and board games and word games with her family. She is a member of B'nai Akiva. Esther has sung in the Fuchs Makhela (choir); she performed on the group's CD in 2000. She is also a Junior Girl Scout. She is looking forward to a second year of Camp Stone this summer. Esther plans to be an active member of the Torah-reading corps now that she has become a bat mitzvah.
Esther's parents are Cheryl Birkner Mack and Eric Mack. Her sister is Aliza and her dog is Popcorn. Esther is also the niece of Shelley Birkner.
Leah Evans
June 5, 2004
Leah Hannah Evans is the daughter of Lisa Palevsky-Evans and Martin Evans and the granddaughter of Madelyn and Irwin Palevsky. She is a student at Gross Schechter Day School, where she enjoys her Hebrew studies and is learning to play the acoustic guitar. Leah enjoys outdoor activities such as roller blading, bicycling, and soccer. She has attended Camp Sternberg in New York for two summers, and hopes to go again this year. Leah is active in N.C.S.Y. and enjoys going on retreats with the group. She is really looking forward to traveling to Israel next year with her eighth grade class from Schechter. Leah also enjoys spending time with young children, particularly her cousins, and she does a lot of baby-sitting.
Eli Steiger
July 31, 2004
Eli "Wild Man" Steiger is the son of Deborah Michelson and Andrew Steiger, and the grandson of Michael and Susan Michelson and Karen and Leonard Steiger. Eli was born in Brooklyn, NY, on July 22, 1991, and moved to Cleveland Heights, OH, when he was nine months old. He is currently a seventh grader at the Ratner School, which he has attended since the third grade. Eli is an avid reader, sometimes polishing off as many as fi ve books a week; he especially enjoys fantasy novels. In school, his favorite subjects are history, science, computer and gym. Eli participates in a variety of sports, including soccer, basketball and baseball. He has played on both school and community teams. Eli also likes lacrosse and looks forward to playing that sport in high school.
Eli has rhythm and movement in his blood. He has taken music lessons since the age of fi ve, when he began with the violin, which, alas, was ill-suited to his rambunctious personality. For the past three and a half years, Eli has studied percussion; he has become quite profi cient on the drum set. Eli's favorite way to unwind is to curl up with his Game Cube or Game Boy. His interest in and excellence on the computer amazes his friends and family; he enjoys explaining to others how they, too, can proceed to the "next level" in whatever computer game may be stumping them.
Eli has a unique intellect and sense of humor. His family and friends are grateful that he is a part of their lives. Eli would like to thank all of his family members and friends for their endless love and support.
Devorah Shiffman
August 21, 2004
Devorah Shiff man, daughter of Karen and David Shiff man, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on August 21. Devorah will be in 8th grade at The Agnon School this fall, where she plays percussion in the band and is a member of the basketball team. While she lives in Beachwood, she travels extensively with her parents, siblings Sam and Lucie, having already visited 13 states in 2004. Devorah has a special love for small children, being an in-demand babysitter and a long-time volunteer at the pre-school camp at The Agnon School.
Emily Jennings
August 14, 2004
On July 14, 1991, in Albany, New York, Emily Jayne Jennings was born to her parents Bruce and Celia Jennings. She has two older siblings: Rick, who is now 19 and Allie, who is now 16. In 1995 they moved to Shaker Heights, Ohio.
A year later, Emily began school at Solomon Schechter Day School. At 7, she got her fi rst Siddur and at 9, her fi rst book of Torah. In fi fth grade, she began attending Woodbury, Shaker Heights' upper elementary school. At the same time, she also studied Hebrew and Judaic studies at Cleveland Hebrew Schools. She in now going into the eighth grade at Shaker Middle School.
Emily has many hobbies and interests. She likes to cook, help out at her school's special education classroom, walk her cat, and ride her scooter. She looks forward to another year at the SMS and beyond. She especially looks forward to her Bat Mitzvah on August 14, 2004.
Jessica Palevsky
October 16, 2004
Jessica is 12 years old and the third of six children. Both of her older sisters, Nicole and Marissa, had their B'nai Mitzvot at Beth El. Jessica attends Memorial Junior High and is in the seventh grade. Jessica loves to go horseback riding and has attended horse camp for the last two years. Jessica has also been a cheerleader, and loves sports and art.
Jessica has a huge heart and is great with small children and animals. She loves to help her younger brother and care for the family's pets.