Sandy Melnick has started a company called Learn Baseball/Softball Fundamentals. He will conduct customized one-on-one instruction or clinics at the Jewish Community Center in Chesterfield, which focus on teaching the how and whys of the sport including hitting, fielding, throwing and running. Melnick, a member of Kol Rinah, has over 40 years of playing and coaching experience. He is also a University of Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee.

Nancy Lisker, a native of Mexico City, was one of four people honored with the “I Choose St. Louis Award” by the Metro Theater Company. This award was given to those individuals who have migrated to the U.S., chose to make St. Louis their home and are making a positive impact in our region. In her position as Regional Director of the St. Louis Office of American Jewish Committee (AJC), Lisker was honored for being a catalyst in building community between the Hispanics and Jewish people in St. Louis. Each honoree was mentioned during a performance of Metro’s new play “The New Kid,” which deals with issues of immigration, belonging and bullying.

 Eighth-graderand fourth-generation Girl Scout, Sarah Eisenman earned her Silver Award by filling the reading rooms at HavenHouse, a facility that provides lodging for families coming to St. Louis for medical care. Daughter of Joanne McAndrews and Larry Eisenman of Ladue, Sarah collected more than 1,000 books during a two-week drive at Ladue Middle School, where she attends. Sarah is also the school’s nominee for the 2014 Prudential Spirit of Community Award. This honors young people in middle and high school for outstanding volunteer service to their communities. For all her hard work, Sarah was one of 50 Missouri students to receive the Kohl’s Care award.

Seventeen-year-old Jennifer Rubin’s Rockin’ 4 Relief fundraiser raised more than $21,849 at its rocking-chair-a-thon event at area Dierbergs this past month. Monies were donated to the families of fallen first responders. Over the past five years, Jennifer has raised more than  $67,000 for BackStoppers, a non-profit organization that provides financial and other kids of assistance to families of police officers, firefighters, publicly funded paramedics, or EMTs. Daughter of Phillip and Sarah Rubin of Chesterfield, Jennifer started the program at age 12 after she realized the danger that police officers, firefighters and others put themselves in on a regular basis. A member of United Hebrew Congregation, Jennifer attends Parkway Central High School as a senior for half of the day and South County Technical High School the other half for Law Enforcement/Homeland Security.

Ladue Horton Watkins High School students, Shira Morosohk (senior), Yoav Kadan (junior)and Miriam Hauptman (junior)have been selected to the highly competitive St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Concert Band. Chosen to join the St. Louis Suburban High School Honor Jazz Band is Caleb Rosenthal (senior). Shira, daughter of Debbie and Bruce Morosohk of Creve Coeur, plays the flute. A trumpet player, Yoav is the son of Dafna and Ohad Kadan of Frontenacandreceived the Daniel K. Bruns Band Award/Scholarship for his passion and drive to succeed in music. Miriam, who plays percussion, is the daughter of Debbie and Paul Hauptman of Ladue. She is also one of only 12 students in the U.S. going to Chicago next week for the National German Language Olympiad. The winner of the national competition will travel in August 2014 to Frankfurt to compete with students from over 40 other countries in the international final round. Caleb, son of Laurie Furman and Dan Rosenthal of Olivette, plays jazz guitar and classical percussion. He and Shira were recently selected as National Merit Semifinalists.

Lee Hankin and Gabby Mesnier, of BBYO’s Shira Chapter, joined 80 other Jewish teens from around the country to raise awareness about hunger at BBYO’s three-day fall Issue Summit – Hunger is Not a Game: A Teen Issue Summit on Hunger Awareness and Advocacy. Held this past month in Detroit, Lee and Gabby participated in hands-on service projects with several hunger awareness organizations, heard from experts on the topic and gained new skills to be able to implement similar awareness and advocacy programs here at home. Lee, a sophomore at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, is the daughter of Terri Grossman of Olivette and the late Frank Hankin. Gabby, daughter of Stacy and Phillip Mesnier of Chesterfield, is a junior at Parkway Central High School.

Toni (Antonia) Kodner has been a volunteer for 15 years with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Gateway Chapter. Last month, in Denver, she was one of just seven people in the country to be inducted into the National Multiple Sclerosis Volunteer Hall of Fame. Having MS for over 30 years, Kodner became an advocate for wellness programs and for teaching people how to live a full life with MS. A member of United Hebrew Congregation, she has touched thousands of lives while being a first contact for people with MS through the telefriend program. 

St. Louis brothers, Jacob and Ben Mogerman will begin their service in the Israeli army on Dec. 10. After living in Israel for two years, Jacob, 26, received his Israeli citizenship this past January. He is currently living in Be’er Sheva and received his masters in Middle East studies from Ben Gurion University. Ben, 22, moved to Israel in June 2013 through the Garin Tzabar program and immediately applied for citizenship. They are sons of Dee and Cary Mogerman of Creve Coeur who are members of Temple Israel.

Dr. Anne Goldberg received the Neville Grant Award for Clinical Excellence. She is being honored as an international expert in clinical lipid research and the emerging specialty of clinical lipidology at Washington University School of Medicine. Goldberg was cited for her compassionate clinical care, the respect she shows colleagues and her mentorship of house staff.

St. Louis native, Major Justin Perryman, has been awarded the Bronze Star and earned the Afghanistan Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon and the ISAF ( NATO International Security Assistance Force)Medal. An attorney by trade, Perryman has served with the Texas Army National Guard since just after 9-11 when he felt called to defend his country. His first deployment in 2005-2007 was to Sinai, Egypt. He was later deployed in early July 2012 for one year for service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Afghanistan. 

Sara Levin is the new Community Engagement/Programming Director for the Convenant House/Chai Apartments. She is responsible for expanding programming, volunteer opportunities and outreach. The multi-generational programs are open to the St. Louis community.

Jews in the news

 A compilation of local Jews’ newsworthy professional and academic accomplishments. Submit your news to Elise Krug: [email protected]. Call 314-743-3671 for more information. Published the first edition of each month.  For sponsorship opportunities, contact Julie Schack: [email protected] or 314-743-3677.