Harvey Citerman has joined Gatewood-Spalding Wealth Management as director of business development to assist with business development and consulting on complex business succession and estate planning for the firm’s client families. Citerman also spearheads developing strategic relationships with other professional service providers as quality resources for the firm and its clients.

Marlene Hammerman will be honored at the 2017 Women of Achievement Luncheon on May 16 for her volunteer service and leadership in the area of social justice. A volunteer with the National Council of Jewish Women-St. Louis Section for more than 35 years, she is working to improve the lives of women, children and families and to protect individual and civil rights. Hammerman created NCJW’s Project Renewal, in which  volunteers work one-on-one with women recovering from domestic violence and addiction. She also established the national Higher Ground Initiative to increase women’s economic security.

J Associates has announced the lineup of performers for its Lip Sync Live community fundraising event April 22 at the Pageant in the Delmar Loop. The St. Louis Stars are Susie Berg, licensed therapist and co-owner of Sound Mind Therapy; Suzy Bloch, community volunteer; Sam Broh, executive director of the Central States Bottled Water Association; Toby Chod, community volunteer; Darryl Cohen, pediatrician at Mercy Clinic Pediatrics; Ken Cohen, financial adviser; Renee Sigel-Hearst, VP of sales and development for the Thoughtful Home; Rachel Katzman, owner of Sweet Somethings and spinning instructor; Mike Lefton, chairman and CEO of Metal Exchange Corp.; Scott Mannis, senior VP of human resources at Hussmann; Lynne Palan, coordinator of Sharsheret Support Group; David Pereles, managing director at Accenture; Joe Pereles, VP and general counsel for Drury Hotels; Andy Sandler, certified business adviser at Insperity; Monte Sandler, entrepreneur in health care IT and revenue cycle outsourcing; Judi Scissors, community volunteer; Danny Soshnik, senior VP at Stifel; Jennifer Soshnik, lawyer at Growe, Eisen Karlen and Eilerts; Julie B. Stern, part-time student teacher supervisor at Webster University; Ricki Tischler, independent consultant with Isagenix; Steve Tucker, employed at Bank of America; and Greg Yawitz, commercial real estate broker and developer. 

Michael Mandel recently started a tutoring business for students in elementary school through college. The subjects offered are math, chemistry and physics. Mandel is available in person or online, via Skype, at reasonable rates. He is a member at Congregation Neve Shalom.

Brian Isele was recently named the 2016 recipient of the Ida Stack Award at Congregation Shaare Emeth’s religious school. The award and a scholarship are given annually to an incoming sixth-grader who has demonstrated dedication and enthusiasm for Jewish learning. These attributes epitomize the essence of Ida Stack, who inspired generations of students in her 50-plus year career at Shaare Emeth. Brian is the son Colleen and George Isele and attends Parkway West Middle School.

Susie Gitt, who has more than 33 years of experience as a real estate agent, has been inducted into the Coldwell Banker Gundaker Hall of Fame. This honor is bestowed each year to one deserving company member who exemplifies continuous dedication, professionalism, integrity and outstanding production. Gitt attends Congregation B’nai Amoona.

The Men’s Clubs of Congregation B’nai Amoona and Kol Rinah honored their respective Man of the Year and Youth of the Year at a luncheon Sunday, April 2, at B’nai Amoona. All honorees demonstrate a commitment to a primary objective of the Men’s Club: the involvement of Jews in Jewish ritual practice.

Rabbi Josef Davidson is the B’nai Amoona Men’s Club chaplain and teaches introduction to Judaism classes for adults. He is also active in assisting with the World Wide Wrap among other Men’s Club programs. A member of the Klei Kodesh since 2009, Davidson will retire at the end of June. Jessie Goldberg, a senior at Parkway Central High School, is the daughter of Pam Wilson and Kenny Goldberg. She is president of the United Synagogue Youth (USY) EMTZA region. Jessie also participates in many ways on a local level at B’nai Amoona, including reading Torah at Shabbat services.

Kol Rinah Men’s Club is honoring Donald Pearline for his many contributions over the past 25 years, including working to successfully merge the BSKI and Kol Rinah’s Men’s Clubs. He is serving as treasurer. Ladue Horton Watkins High School student Pardes Lyons-Warren is very involved in her USY chapter, KRSTL, and other community activities. She has been on the board for two years and serves as Membership Kadima co-VP. She also volunteers at the Magic House and with Planned Parenthood and is a graduate of the Cultural Leadership program.

Clayton High School junior Sophie Bernstein is the recipient of the Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation. Honored by Operation Homefront, Sophie is passionate about food and social justice and is committed to improving the health of her community. She has built, planted, maintained and harvested 22 raised vegetable gardens at low-income day care centers and shelters in the St. Louis area with her Go Healthy St Louis program.  Daughter of Moira and Navy Capt. Brad Bernstein, Sophie has donated more than 13,500 pounds of produce to local food banks and to families in need. She will be rewarded $10,000 at the April 6 gala in Washington, D.C.

A commentary written by former St. Louisan Ariana Tobin, a reporter for ProPublica, was co-published Feb. 23 by The New York Times on its opinion pages under the headline “When Hate Haunts a Graveyard.” The article is about vandalism at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in St. Louis. The Times Opinion section is a partner with ProPublica in its “Documenting Hate” project. Tobin is an engagement reporter and works to cultivate communities to inform their coverage. She is a former St. Louis Jewish Light intern.