No more planning

Jane Post

Jane Post says she’s really looking forward to the idea of “not planning.” She’s retiring after 50-plus years of making plans in the Jewish world, including 37 years at the Peninsula JCC — the last 20 as associate executive director. “I have always felt extremely fortunate to spend my life working in an organization that truly makes life better, especially for children,” Post commented. She was honored at a Shabbat celebration last week at the PJCC.

Cinderella story

San Carlos teens Eli Melmon, 17, and Pyper Hayden, 18, have written “Asher Child,” a musical they call a modern-day Cinderella story addressing issues of teen depression, bullying, sexuality, love and friendship. It will premiere in a concert and staged reading with a cast of 10 Peninsula teens at Dragon Theatre in Redwood City on Jan. 7 and 8. Melmon, who wrote the music and lyrics, said he did so after seeing a friend in tears and realizing her life mirrored a classic fairytale. Hayden, who wrote the book, will direct the show. Visit elimelmon.com/asherchild for information and tickets.

Short shorts

David Green

David Green has been named the new executive director of Kevah, succeeding Sara Bamberger, who founded the organization in the Bay Area eight years ago. Green most recently served as director of the Taube Koret Center for Jewish Peoplehood of the JCC of San Francisco. Kevah is a pluralistic network of home and office-based Torah study groups. It has expanded to more than 60 groups in the Bay Area, Boston and Colorado … Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, co-founder of Amcha Initiative, which combats anti-Semitism at institutions of higher education in America, has won a 2016 Cohon Award. It is presented annually by the Tuscon-based Rabbi Samuel S. and A. Irma Cohon Memorial Foundation to individuals for accomplishments that benefit klal Yisrael … Jewish Vocational Service’s annual Strictly Business Awards Luncheon co-chairs are Nancy Grand and Greg Morgan. The event is slated for May 9 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in San Francisco … Robert and Dana Blum are chairing Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ annual Fammy Awards Gala, to be held April 1 at San Francisco’s Ritz-Carlton. Co-chairs include Tammy and Bill Crown (South Peninsula), Michael Rolnick and Linda Himelstein (North Peninsula), Suzanne and Elliott Felson (San Francisco), Deborah and Larry Stadtner (Marin County), Barbara Sachs Senn (Sonoma County), Lily Kanter and Marc Sarosi (auction) and David and Susan Dossetter (business).

On a personal note

Suzan Berns

It’s with bittersweet feelings that I want to let you know this will be my final Faces column. Some 13 years ago, former editor and publisher Marc S. Klein and managing editor Woody Weingarten dreamed up the idea of a column noting the accomplishments of our Jewish community members and asked me to write it. I want to thank them, as well as my many copy editors — most recently Andy Altman-Ohr, Sue Barnett and Janet Silver Ghent — plus editor Sue Fishkoff and the rest of the J. staff (current and past) who have provided leads and otherwise helped make Faces happen every other week. It’s been great fun and a privilege to peek into the lives of so many people — some of whom I know (a little or a lot) and others I’ve met via email or telephone. People have told me all along how much they enjoy Faces, and that feels good! Now what’s left is to wish you, the readers, for the last time, a joyous Hanukkah and Happy New Year. L’hitraot … see you around!

This columnist can be reached at [email protected].