Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh, of Temple Emanuel, received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati. HUC-JIR honors distinguished alumni for 25 years of service as preservers and teachers of Judaism – its faith, its culture and its communal ethics. 

Dr. Stuart Kornfeld was honored with the 2018 Peter H. Raven Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Science – St. Louis at its 24^th Annual Outstanding Scientists Award ceremony. The award recognizes a distinguished career of service in science, engineering or technology. Kornfeld, a hematologist, is the David C. and Betty Farrell Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry, Washington University School of Medicine, and one of the founders of the field of glycobiology.   

Michael and Barbara Newmark and Cheryl Adelstein will be honored at the 2018 JCRC Tzedek Award Celebration on May 31. The Newmarks will receive the inaugural Batya Abramson-Goldstein Legacy Award. According to the JCRC, the award recognizes “those whose exceptional leadership and vision have had an enduring impact on the JCRC and its community relations mission.” Together with Abramson-Goldstein, the Newmarks created the JCRC’s Michael and Barbara Newmark Institute for Human Relations to underscore the work of the JCRC in supporting a diverse and pluralistic community. Adelstein, of Washington University’s Community Relations & Local Government Affairs division and a JCRC board member, will receive the Michael and Barbara Newmark Emerging Leader Award. She attends Central Reform Congregation. The Newmarks are members of United Hebrew Congregation.

Martin Israel, professor of physics in Arts & Sciences at Washington University, received the Dean’s Medal at the 2018 Arts & Sciences Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony. The Dean’s Medal honors a friend whose dedication and support have been exceptional and whose leadership, advice, and inspiration have served to place Arts & Sciences at the heart of one of the world’s premier universities. Israel attends Kol Rinah.

Dee Mogerman was one of seven honored with a West County Pillar of Parkway award. A member of Congregation Temple Israel, she is a 20-year Parkway North-area volunteer and former board of education member. Mogerman has earned the award not only for her leadership but also for her deep and abiding commitment to the welfare of all Parkway students. 

At the recent Brown School Awards of Distinction, Emily Gallop Coen received the Distinguished Volunteer Award. She is active on the Brown School Alumni Board, the Washington University Alumni Board of Governors and the Clark-Fox Policy Institute Advisory Committee. An adjunct faculty member of Washington University, Coen attends CRC.   

Harvey Brandvein has been appointed as vice president of Wealth Management for the Anheuser-Busch Employees’ Credit Union, Purina Credit Union and American Eagle Credit Union. In this newly created position, Brandvein will be responsible for wealth and insurance product positioning, new product development, and enhancing the strategies, performance and distribution of wealth initiatives throughout the membership nationally. Brandvein is a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth.

Alice Handelman was honored by the Missouri Professional Communicators (an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women) with five first-place awards in its 2018 Communications Contest. Handelman, a Jewish Light board member, was recognized for articles printed in the Ladue News. She attends Temple Israel.

Torah Prep School of St. Louis will recognize Rabbi Menachem and Tova Greenblatt as guests of honor at its annual dinner on June 3. Michael Staenberg will receive the Heart of Gold Award for his generosity and for being instrumental in the school’s recent renovation campaign. Michael and Stacy Kass will be honored as Parents of the Year and Sherri Bloch will be recognized for her 25 years of service. The Greenblatts and Kasses attend Agudas Israel. Bloch is a member of U. City Shul. 

Maxine Weil was recently sworn in as Mayor of Olivette for a one-year term. She is director of congregational learning at CRC, where she is a member. Weil also attends Congregation B’nai Amoona. 

Nikki Goldstein, executive director of Crown Center for Senior Living, received the 2018 Harvey A. and Dorismae Hacker Friedman Award for Excellence in Service to Older Adults.  The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who has made outstanding contributions in the field through practice, education, advocacy, or research. The award is supported by the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital from the Harvey A. and Dorismae Hacker Friedman Fund and was presented on behalf of the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging at the Friedman Lecture. Goldstein attends Traditional Congregation.

Business and real estate attorney, Brian Sabin, was elected as a shareholder of the law firm of Capes Sokol. He is a member of Shaare Emeth.

Dr. Steven Strasberg received the Medallion for the Advancement of Surgical Care from the American Surgical Association. This medallion recognizes seminal contribution in clinical surgery or surgical education that established new benchmarks or paradigms. Strasberg is the creator of The Critical View of Safety, a technique taught in every general surgical training program in the world and has become a standard of care. It allows surgeons to avoid bile duct injuries resulting in the prevention of disability and death. Strasberg is currently the Pruett professor of surgery in the HPB section and serves as the Carl Moyer teaching coordinator in the department at the Washington University School of Medicine.

Larry Opinsky started a new business as a professional advocate for people with disabilities. He provides consulting and advisory services in areas including school systems (IEP, 504 plans), funding sources, inclusion and employment. Opinsky also offers presentations and workshops to school groups, first responders, caregivers and administrators. A former Jewish Light Unsung Hero, Opinsky owned and operated Gateway Shoes LLC for more than 30 years. He is a member of B’nai Amoona.