A fantastic accolade

Barbara Kaufman stopped abruptly when the second “fantastic” came up in a tribute from Gov. Schwarzenegger that she was reading at the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award luncheon. “It’s one of his favorite words, but I’ve never seen him use it twice,” she told the crowd. Kaufman is the director of the governor’s San Francisco office.

At the Sept. 15 event, Lauren Safier introduced her grandmother, Helen Diller, then she and brother-grandson Josh Safier passed out awards to the five teen winners, including Sarah Van Zanten and Eric Heimark, both of Palo Alto. Rabbi Micah Hyman of Congregation Beth Sholom in San Francisco emceed the event; community leader and noted philanthropist Barbara Rosenberg chaired the selection committee for the second year; and Lisa Alcalay Klug, whose new book “Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe” was given to each guest, was the keynote speaker. For information on the winners and the award, visit www.sfjcf.org/diller/teenawards.

Wedding hats and tails

The ring bearer at the wedding of Nina Kaufman and Daniel Kaplan had two more legs than usual. Nina and Dan’s very well behaved dog, Al, carried their rings in a nicely-ribboned little box attached to his collar.

Kaufman’s friend and colleague at American Jewish World Service, Heidi Winig, was licensed to perform the wedding and delivered a moving and personal ceremony. Besides Al, two long time friends, San Franciscans Mark “Goldie” Goldman and Debbie Calder Yost (she had Al in tow), stood up for the couple. Kvelling parents, whose smiles almost matched those of the bride and groom, are Susan and Gene Kaufman of San Rafael and Margie and Bob Kaplan of Orinda.

Meanwhile, Marin’s Claudette and Richard Greenblat gave away hand-knitted presents in celebration of their 50th anniversary. Says Claudette: “I started in February knitting hats, hand mitts and baby caps. At the anniversary party, I asked everyone to think of someone less fortunate than themselves and give one of my knitted items to them.” The couple celebrated with a Dixieland band and 100 of their closest friends, kids and grandchildren. The Greenblat’s children, who planned the party, are David and Angeline Greenblat of Fairfax, Lori and Bob Wick of San Mateo and Leah Greenblat of Berkeley.

Short shorts …

Lois and Gary Marcus of Berkeley hosted a group of Jewish Music Festival enthusiasts last month; the gathering was treated to an impromptu concert by Frank London, Jewlia Eisenberg, Glenn Hartman and Jessica Ivry, all musicians from last season’s 2008 Artist Residency, the Ark … Debby Stadtner reports that her son Josh Stadtner, a Brandeis Hillel Day School alum, has landed a part in “The Prankster,” a teen comedy-coming of age film scheduled for release in 2009 … Erin Lann-Clark of Soquel is a featured storyteller at the National Storytelling Festival this weekend in Jonesborough, Tenn. She’s done shows at local JCCs and other Jewish venues.

The Jewish Community Relations Council will be honored by the Interfaith Chapel at the Presidio on Sunday, Oct. 5. The event, a celebration of interfaith efforts and community advocacy around the Bay Area, was initiated by Rita Semel many years ago … Amy Friedkin of Oakland has been named to the board of the Hadassah Foundation, which is dedicated to fostering social change for women and girls … Betti Miner is a new ambassador for Sar-El Volunteers for Israel in San Francisco. The group arranges three-week volunteer programs at army bases or hospitals in Israel. For more information, contact Miner at [email protected]

This columnist can be reached at [email protected].