Dr. Elan Simckes has been appointed to the International Board of Directors of Women’s and Orphans Welfare Society of Kenya. Simckes is medical director of the Fertility Partnership in St. Peters and a member of Congregation B’nai Amoona. 

Jeremy Hellman was ordained in late March by the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), a part of Yeshiva University. Hellman, son of St. Louisans Judy and Dr. Bob Hellman, was part of the school’s largest-ever class of musmachim (ordained rabbis). This year, more than 205 men were ordained from the classes of 2011-2014, joining the more than 3,000 men who have received their semicha from the seminary. The Hellmans are members of Young Israel of St. Louis. Bob and Judy Hellman were recently chosen as one of the Jewish Light’s 2014 class of Unsung Heroes (see Page One).

Ladue Middle School eighth grader Sarah Eisenman was named the 2014 Missouri middle level honoree for the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. One of only two Missouri state honorees, Sarah is the daughter of Joanne McAndrews and Larry Eisenman of Ladue. She will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. in May.  

Jonathan Bloom has joined Brädo Creative Insight, a marketing research company, as a creative strategist. A member of Temple Israel, Bloom previously was the director of account planning at advertising agency Osborn & Barr.

Alan Kohn has joined the law firm of Sher Corwin Winters LLC as of counsel. Kohn is a trial lawyer with extensive experience in business litigation. He was a founder and partner of Kohn, Shands, Elbert, Gianoulakis & Giljum, LLP. 

Joel “Joey” Boime is the new director of business development at Home Care Assistance of St Louis, a provider of in-home care for seniors. Boime, who holds a master’s in social work, will play an integral role in developing key partnerships with healthcare and senior care professionals in St. Louis, fostering the growth of Home Care Assistance of St. Louis. Boime is a member of United Hebrew Congregation.

Matt Litwack and Karen Polishuk, along with two other real estate professionals, have established Land/Litwack & Associates, within Prudential Alliance’s Ladue/Frontenac office. Heading up the group with Litwack is Berkley Land and joining them is realtor Kendra Downs. Litwack recently received the Prudential Real Estate network’s Chairman’s Circle Award for outstanding achievement and has been selected as a 2014 Millstone Fellow. Polishuk and Litwack are members of Congregation B’nai Amoona.

St. Louis native Rivka (Rivi) Feinberg, 23,is one of 25Jewish graduates worldwide to be accepted to the elite Israel Government Fellows Program, which screens suitable candidates aged 22-30 for professional work experience in key ministries and government authorities. A graduate from Washington University, Feinberg is the first graduate from Missouri to secure a spot in the program. She is now midway through a yearlong placement at the Terror Financing and Money Laundering Department in Jerusalem. She conducts legal-based research and is a point person for some of the English-speaking international bodies monitoring the department’s work. Daughter of Drs. Rachel and Barry Feinberg of Ladue and a member of Congregation B’nai Amoona, Rivi Feinberg plans to study law upon her return to the United States.

Dr. Steve Goldberg, owner of American Eyewear Center, has relocated his business to 10275 Watson Road in Sunset Hills. Previously located in Webster Groves, American Eyewear Center provides eye examinations and offers same-day service for most prescriptions. Goldberg is a member of Tpheris Israel Chevra Kadisha. 

Jamie Goodman, daughter of Laurie Katzman of St. Louis and Dr. Rick Goodman of Florida,recently published “Jamie’s Journey: Travels With My Dad.” The book is a compilation of the journal she kept on the 24-day trip she took with her father traveling throughout Europe and Israel. Jamie, a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth, is a senior at John Burroughs School and plans to study journalism at college in the fall. An Amazon Kindle download of the book is being offered free from April 9-11.

Sanford (Sandy) Jaffe received the Lifetime Giving Award at the Alzheimer’s Association annual gala, Affair to Remember. He was honored for his continued financial and volunteer support. Jaffe has been known as a full mission supporter since 2000 and is an advocate in Jefferson City and Washington D.C. for critical funding and support for all those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Jaffe currently chairs the development committee and serves on the board of director’s executive committee. He was recently named one of the Jewish Light’s 2014 Unsung Heroes (see related story on Page One).

Linda Goldstein, Lee Kling and Mont Levy have been named to the Shakespeare Festival St. Louis board. Goldstein served as mayor of Clayton for six years and recently founded Linda Goldstein Consulting, a firm specializing in government relations, public policy and communications. She is a member of United Hebrew Congregation. Kling, president of the Kling Company, is a member of Temple Emanuel. Principal and wealth advisor at Buckingham Asset Management, Levy is returning to the board, having served as chair for several years. He is a Temple Israel congregant. 

Congregation B’nai Amoona welcomes member Melissa Alper as a practicum student intern from the Washington University’s George Warren Brown School of Social Work. Alper attended Indiana University and graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Daughter of Ellen and Steve Alper, Melissa Alper is earning her master’s in social work in policy, philanthropy, and management.

Ben Packman, son of Diane and Michael Packman, recentlywon a gold medal in the USA Nationals for high school racquetball representing Parkway North High School. His team overall placed ninth out of 32 teams. Ben is a member of Temple Israel and plans to participate in the entrepreneurship program at Bradley University in the fall.  

Ted Kraizer has joined Pulaski Bank as senior vice president, community lending in the newly expanded small business lending platform within its commercial lending division. Kraizer will be responsible for developing and growing Pulaski’s small business banking efforts. A member of United Hebrew Congregation, Kraizer was previously Executive Vice President, Senior Lending Officer with Midwest Regional Bancorp, Inc. 

Fred Bronstein, president and chief executive officer of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra since 2008, is leaving his position May 16. On June 1, he will join the oldest music conservatory, Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, as its dean, a title that hasn’t been used for the top job in 40 years.

Madeline Kaufman has been named chair of the 65^th Greater St. Louis Book Fair. Having volunteered with the organization since 1999, she is the second generation of her family to chair the event. Kaufman, whose family attends Kol Rinah, currently works as a circulation assistant at the St. Louis County Library. In her spare time she sings with the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, is a member of the Ladies Friday Musical Club and is a voice teacher. The Book Fair begins at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 and continues through the evening of Sunday, April 27 at Macy’s West County Center in the Lower Level of Macy’s East Parking Garage. 

St. Louisan Alex Freedman made his Major League Baseball broadcasting debut Friday, March 21, calling the game between the Houston Astros and the Miami Marlins during Astros spring training at Kissimee, Fla. The 2002 Clayton High School graduate has been in the sports broadcast business since his college days at Northwestern University. Freedman, a member of Central Reform Congregation, is currently the manager of media relations and broadcasting for the Oklahoma City Redhawks, the Triple A affiliate of the Houston Astros. He is entering his third season behind the microphone. On March 28, he was honored by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters for “Best Play by Play” at its annual awards ceremony.