Everyone comes home from summer camp with memorable anecdotes, but Raphael Alcabes brought back a special memory from Sephardic Adventure Camp this year — it was there he celebrated his Bar Mitzvah on June 30.
Overlooking Lost Lake at Camp Bishop, near Shelton, and surrounded by trees, clothing hung out to dry, family, counselors, rabbis and a hundred of his closest friends dressed in their fanciest shorts and t-shirts, and despite suffering from camp-induced laryngitis (a common malady), Raphael read the parashah loudly and clearly.
From left to right: Hazzan Isaac Azose, Hayim Feuer, Raphael Alcabes, and Rabbi Simon Benzaquen. Photo by Meryl Alcabes.

Becky Hornsten and Greg Ewer were married on April 17, 2011, at The Canal in Seattle, Wash. Rabbi Marla Hornsten, sister of the bride, officiated.
Becky is the daughter of Tom and Jo Ann Hornsten of Mercer Island. She graduated from Mercer Island High School, and holds an undergraduate degree from Skidmore College and a graduate degree from Boston University. She is a graphic designer for the Mittleman Jewish Community Center in Portland and runs her own graphic design business, Silver Spot, ink.
Greg is the son of Michael and Jane Ewer of Houston, Tex. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Houston and a graduate degree from Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. He is a violinist for the Oregon Symphony and other ensembles. The couple resides in Portland, Ore.

Rachel Weissman and Jonathan Kopelovich of Iowa City, Iowa, announce the birth of their son Asher Simon on June 20, 2011, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Asher weighed 7 lbs., 3-1/2 oz. and measured 20 inches.
Asher’s grandparents are Marilyn and Wayne Weissman of Seattle, and Lenore and Levi Kopelovich of Virginia. Asher’s great-grandparents are Rosella Weissman of Rancho Mirage, Calif., the late Sidney Weissman, the late Merry Klass and the late Marvin Klass. The baby is named after his aunt, Nancy Sarles.

Suzanna Eller and Aron Demsky of Seattle announce the birth of their daughter, Lilah Genevieve, on May 7, 2011, at Group Health Capitol Hill in Seattle. Lilah weighed 8 lbs.,
9 oz. and measured 20-1/2 inches.
Lilah’s grandparents are Bobbi and Dick Eller of Phoenix, Ariz., Gary and Linda McCormack of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Bruce and Kathy Demsky of Waterloo, Iowa.

Jackson will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on July 18, 2011 at his home in Mazama, Wash.
Jackson is the son of Ron Lone and Jana Mohr Lone of Mazama and the brother of Will and David. His grandparents are Irene Mohr of Boca Raton, Fla., and the late Mel Mohr, Jim Lone of Vancouver, Wash., and Sharon and Jon Browder of Wenatchee.
Jackson will be a 9th grader at Liberty Bell High School. He enjoys basketball, music, golf, travel, cooking, reading, academic competitions, snowmobiling and snowboarding. His mitzvah project is enhancing his school’s college advising program and donating to Nothing But Nets, an organization that purchases mosquito nets for children in Africa to help combat malaria.

Jasmine (Bracha Eitana) celebrated her Bat Mitzvah on June 4, 2011, at Congregation Beth Hatikvah in Bremerton.
Jasmine is the daughter of Melinda and Anthony Balasa and sister of Sabrina. Her grandparents are Eunice and Don Albright of Sierra Vista, Ariz., Emery Balasa of Ventura, Calif., and Sue Balasa of Harper, Tex.
Jasmine is a 9th grader at Central Kitsap Junior High. She enjoys martial arts, basketball, music and learning about other cultures. She lived in Japan for three years and taught English to children. For her mitzvah project, Jasmine is volunteering at the Hasslewood YMCA.   

Daniel Sarles celebrated his Bar Mitzvah on June 4, 2011, at Temple Beth Am in Seattle.
Daniel is the son of Judy Bonicelli, Neil R. Sarles and Michele Meola of Seattle and the brother of Samuel and Aaron. His grandparents are Sherwood and Annette Sarles of Florida, and the late Bruno and Dahlia Bonicelli.
Daniel is a 7th grader at Eckstein Middle School. He enjoys basketball, friends, music, attending Camp Kalsman and playing cards. His mitzvah project is volunteering at Teen Feed in the University District.

Lara celebrated her Bat Mitzvah on May 14, 2011, at Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue.
Lara is the daughter of Suzanne and Joel Hakam of Sammamish. Her grandparents are Albert Goldstein of Newcastle and the late Libby Goldstein, and the late Helen and Louis Hakam.
Lara is a 7th grader at Pine Lake Middle School. She enjoys swim team, horseback riding and Girl Scouts. For her mitzvah project she is working with Purrfect Pets, a cat adoption and rescue agency, to sponsor unadoptable cats.

Natalie will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on May 28, 2011, at Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue.
Natalie is the daughter of Douglas Nugent and Misty Ellen Mondress of Kenmore and the sister of Matthew Nugent. Her grandparents are Honey Mondress of Mercer Island, Howard Mondress of Gig Harbor, Walter Nugent and Suellen Hoy of Highland Park, Ill., and Katherine Nugent of Gig Harbor.
Natalie is a 7th grader at Kenmore Jr. High. She enjoys soccer, basketball, volleyball, piano and flute. For her mitzvah project, she and a friend collected books for homeless teens and fed the homeless in Issaquah.

Danielle will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on May 14, 2011 at Herzl–Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation on Mercer Island.
Dani is the daughter of Larry and Shelley Bensussen of Bellevue and sister of Seth and Josh. Her grandparents are Saul and Marion Rothstein of Spokane, Isaac Bensussen of Seattle, and the late Revella Bensussen.
Dani is a 7th grader at the Overlake School. She enjoys soccer, basketball, shopping and spending time with family and friends. Dani is collecting donations for the Humane Society and has started a Youth Mitzvah Fund at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle to donate to nonprofit organizations.

Maddie will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on May 14, 2011, at Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation on Mercer Island.
Maddie is the daughter of Robin and Jim Parsons of Bellevue and sister of Ali. Her grandparents are Barbara Springut of Boca Raton, Fla., the late Max Springut, and the late Elmer and Louise Parsons.
Maddie is a 7th grader at Chinook Middle School. She enjoys volleyball, basketball, Japanese, music and animals. For her mitzvah project she is conducting a supplies and food drive for the Humane Society of Bellevue.

Noah will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on May 21, 2011 at Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation.
Noah is the son of Barry Stulberg and the late Gail Stulberg and the brother of Hannah Stulberg. His grandparents are Dr. H. Jerome and Elaine Stulberg and Yoram Stav and Naomi Stuchinsky, all of Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Noah is a 7th grader at Pacific Cascade Middle School. He enjoys snowboarding, spending summers at B’nai Brith Camp and hanging out with friends and family. Noah is developing “Carving for a Cure,” a fundraiser for skiers and snowboarders to raise money for ovarian cancer research.

Gillian will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on April 30, 2011, at Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue.
Gillian is the daughter of Tim Dewhurst and Rebecca Fox of Mercer Island and the sister of Ben Dewhurst. Her grandparents are Renee I. Fox of Seattle, Margaret Dewhurst of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and the late William Dewhurst.
Gillian is a 7th grader at Islander Middle School. She enjoys drawing, anime and manga, cooking, singing, animals and playing flute. She is collecting comfort items for homeless, abandoned and abused children for Project Night-Night and the My Stuff Bags Foundation as her mitzvah project.

Danielle Rothman and Eliyahu Zaychik were married on March 31, 2011 in Jerusalem.
Danielle is the daughter of Ivan and Elizabeth Rothman of Seattle. She is a graduate of Seattle Jewish Community School, the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle, and Phillips Academy. She currently attends Michlala Jerusalem. 
Eliyahu is the son of Malka Zaychik and Alex Baranchuk of West Roxbury, Mass. He is a graduate of Gann Academy in Boston and McGill University. He currently studies at Bircat Mordechi in Beitar Illit, Israel. The couple resides in Beitar Illit.

David and Neva Ayn Magalnick of San Diego, Calif. announce the birth of their son Henry on March 22, 2011. Henry weighed 6 lbs., 10 oz.
Henry is the grandson of Uri Ayn and Sarah Rovner of Denver, Colo. and Elliott Magalnick of Denver and the late Diane Magalnick.
Henry is named after his maternal great-grandfather and his maternal grandmother.

Jenna will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on April 16, 2011, at Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue.
Jenna is the daughter of Keith and Lisa Oratz and the sister of Joshua Oratz. Her grandparents are Howard Saunders of Renton and the late Rose Saunders, and the late Steve and Hella Oratz.
Jenna is a 7th grader at Redmond Junior High School. She enjoys drama, singing and shopping. Her mitzvah project is collecting supplies and money for Friends of Youth, an organization that helps homeless teens and adults throughout greater Seattle.

Audrey will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on April 9, 2011 at Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation on Mercer Island.
Audrey is the daughter of Russ and Tracy Immel of Redmond and the sister of Reid and Madison.
Her grandparents are Dale Ruis of Claremont, Calif. and the late Karen Ruis, Carolyn Ruis and Eddie Johnson of Claremont, Calif., and Dick and Penney Immel of Lakeside, Mont.
Audrey is a 7th grader at the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle. She enjoys piano, volleyball, basketball and writing music.

Brett and Dana Stellman of Everett announce the birth of their son, Nathan Isaac, on January 16, 2011, at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. Nathan weighed 5 lbs., 11 oz. and measured 19-1/2 inches.
Nathan’s grandparents are Sue and Phil Miller of Kirkland and Linda and Michael Stellman of New York, N.Y.
Nathan is named after family friend Mitchell Nathan and his maternal great-grandfather Irving Klachuk.

Aliya will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on March 12, 2011 at Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation on Mercer Island.
Aliya is the daughter of Cindy and Jeff Droker. Her brothers are Zach and Matthew. Her grandparents are Hilde Droker of Bellevue, Everett and Valeria Blanchard of Nevada City, Calif., the late Wayne M. Droker, and the late Richard Koch.
Aliya is a 7th grader at Tillicum Middle School. She enjoys gymnastics, volleyball, soccer, and dance. For her Bat Mitzvah project, she is volunteering at the Jewish Family Service food bank and the Teen Feed program.

Avi and Christine Tanners of Long Beach, Calif. welcomed their daughter Elizabeth Shoshanna to the world on December 15, 2010.
Elizabeth is the granddaughter of Dina Tanners of Seattle and Paul Tanners of Spokane. She is the great-granddaughter of the late Sid and Jeanette Nelson.
Elizabeth’s middle name is for her great-grandmother Jeanette, whose Yiddish name was Shendl, and her great-great-grandmother Anna Klemptner.

Evan celebrated his Bar Mitzvah on February 19, 2011 at Congregation Kol Ami in Woodinville.
Evan is the son of Allison Heber of Bellevue and William Crites of Bellevue. He is the brother of Zachary Crites. His grandparents are Judy and Jim Heber of Bellevue.
Evan is a 7th grader at Odle Middle School. His interests include math, science, aviation, building with Lego, skiing, camping, reading, swimming, chess, and spending time with his dogs.

David will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on February 26, 2011 at Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle.
David is the son of Don and JoEllen Loeb of Seattle and the brother of Adam. His grandparents are Frankie and Dick Loeb of Seattle, and Jolene and Thomas Gehl of Seattle.
David is a 7th grader at Seattle Academy. He enjoys baseball, music, and skiing.
For his mitzvah project, David is raising money to purchase adaptive ski equipment for the Outdoors For All Foundation, which provides outdoor experiences for disabled individuals.

Evan will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on March 5, 2011 at Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue.
Evan is the son of Cynthia and Dan Hemphill and the brother of Nathan. His grandparents are Phil Flash of Mercer Island, Hellen Wilson of Bellevue, the late Claire Barley Flash, and the late Dale Hemphill.
Evan is a 7th grader at Tyee Middle School. He plays saxophone, enjoys lacrosse, soccer, swimming, and attending Camp Solomon Schechter. For his Bar Mitzvah project, Evan is helping lead a team raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Big Climb on March 20, 2011.

Aaron will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on February 26, 2011 at Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue.
Aaron is the son of David and Lisa Halfon and the brother of Tawni Halfon. His grandparents are Lionel Rivers of Sherman Oaks, Calif., the late Louise Rivers, and the late Sultana and Isaac Halfon.
Aaron is an 8th grader at Dimmitt Middle School. He enjoys basketball and swimming. For his Bar Mitzvah project, Aaron is volunteering at Children’s Hospital.

Famed violist Emanuel Vardi, whose life story encompasses nearly a century of politics, art and music, died at his North Bend home on Jan. 29 at the age of 95. Born April 21, 1915 in Jerusalem, Vardi was accepted to New York’s The Juilliard School when he was 12 years old. He went on to be considered one of the greatest violists of the 20th century. He had a long concert career; worked in early television; and as a conductor, producer, arranger and commissioned fine artist.
“He was a true individual — musically and artistically — and he had a dose of ‘rebel’ in him, so he was always trying new things,” said Lenore Vardi, his wife of 26 years.
Vardi’s father was a respected violinist and violin teacher who started Emanuel on the violin when he was 2-1/2. He attended Juilliard, where he studied violin and viola under Edouard Dethier, but left when he was offered a job with the NBC Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini.
During World War II, Vardi joined the U.S. Navy Band. At one point, Eleanor Roosevelt heard Vardi and whisked him to the White House to play viola for FDR. He is one of only two violists in the world to have given a solo recital at Carnegie Hall.
Fine art was a lifelong interest, so Vardi used his GI Bill to study at Florence’s Academia de Belle Arte from 1950-52. After his return to New York, he attended The Art Students League and the Brooklyn Museum Art School, but music was his primary focus.
Throughout his long solo career, Vardi recorded and performed with some of classical music’s biggest stars — Itzhak Perlman, Arthur Rubenstein, Van Cliburn, Vladimir Horowitz — as well as with popular musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone and Barbra Streisand. Vardi conducted orchestras for live performances, movie scores and television and was the South Dakota Symphony’s music director and conductor in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
After a wrist injury, then a fall that hurt his shoulder, Vardi stopped performing in 1993. He gave master classes throughout the world and served as music director of several festivals.
The music-themed paintings of Emanuel and Lenore Vardi surrounded the Greta Matassa Quartet at the 2009 Bellevue Jazz Festival, shortly after they moved to North Bend. Emanuel acted as musical advisor to the Vardi Chamber Players at this past summer’s Snoqualmie Valley Festival of Music while Lenore served as musical director and violinist.
Their art was the centerpiece of two recent shows in Waikiki and is currently featured at the Laurel Tree Gallery in Duvall and Revolution Gallery in Issaquah.
Along with his wife, Vardi is survived by his daughters, Andrea Smith of Fairfield, Iowa and Pauline Normand of Bonsecours, Quebec. Memorial gatherings are expected in the Seattle area in the coming weeks and in New York later this year.