Kudos and mazel tov

Raphael Bob-Waksberg

Gina Waldman of Tiburon will be awarded the 2015 Judith Chapman Memorial Women’s Leadership Award by the Women’s Philanthropy of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation. The award, which will be presented at the group’s annual Power of One event on April 1, recognizes outstanding Jewish volunteer leaders who go above and beyond in dedicating their time, energy and resources, as well as serving as mentors to others. Waldman was born in Libya and was among nearly a million Jews forced to flee their homes in Arab lands in the 20th century. She co-founded JIMENA (Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa) and has testified before the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in Congress, the Canadian Parliament and Israel’s Knesset to bring the history of Arab Jews to the global stage. For information about Power of One, contact [email protected]

Clergy news

Marsha Attie was installed at Congregation Emanu-El as second cantor on Jan. 30. (Roslyn Barak is the San Francisco temple’s longtime cantor.) Attie, who has led congregants in song since 1998, recently completed her studies and was ordained as a cantor … On the Peninsula, Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills is saying goodbye to Cantor Lauren Bandman at special Shabbat services on Friday, Feb. 6. She is leaving after nine years to be closer to her family. Donations in her honor can be made to the congregation’s Music and Art Fund.

Animal-ation

Raphael Bob-Waksberg

Raphael Bob-Waksberg, the 30-year-old son of Jewish LearningWorks CEO David Waksberg and Congregation Etz Chaim executive director Ellen Bob, is the creator of “BoJack Horseman,” an animated series (not for kids) featuring anthropomorphic animals, plus some human characters. BoJack, the star, is a horse voiced by actor Will Arnett. His girlfriend Princess Carolyn, a Persian cat, is voiced by Amy Sedaris. Check it out on Netflix, where it’s been picked up for a second season.

Short shorts

Rabbi Amy Eilberg

Chabad of Greater South Bay held an evening of appreciation on Jan. 11 for Sandy Abel, the group’s administrator, who retired after many years of service … Holocaust survivor Helen Farkas of Burlingame was interviewed by NBC Bay Area on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Farkas, 94, told viewers how she and her sister escaped a death march in 1945 … Proud mom Michele Zwerin of San Rafael writes that her daughter Rachel Needle, now living in Rockville, Maryland, has launched HopeRocksJewelry.com, featuring Needle’s handmade creations. Ten percent of the proceeds will benefit Generation Hope, where Needle is a mentor. The group provides support for teen moms to pursue higher education … Rabbi Amy Eilberg will be honored by T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights at the group’s annual benefit event on May 7 in New York City. The first woman to be ordained as a Conservative rabbi, Eilberg helped found the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center. She is now at Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning in St. Paul, Minnesota … And a little personal kvelling: My nephew Scott Rashap of Los Angeles (son of my sister Nancy Reich Rashap) is one of only 12 writers invited to participate in the 2015 Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab. The institute was founded by Robert Redford, and participants in the lab have a chance to work on their projects with established writers.

This columnist can be reached at [email protected]