Best bat mitzvah gift ever
San Francisco teens Lizzie Halper and Ellie Wessinger had an up-close encounter with teen heartthrob Justin Bieber when Wessinger’s dad wangled backstage passes to a Bieber concert as Halper’s bat mitzvah gift.
The two girls have channeled their passion for the pop star into a book, “Got Bieber Fever? A Fan’s Guide,” that chronicles the stages of Bieber fever, and includes a lot of never-before-seen photos of the star (which the girls got from a photographer, according to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle). That article also defined some of the stages of “Bieber Fever,” including: heartache, secret obsession and overboard.
The girls are donating profits from their book to Pencils of Promise, a charity run by Bieber’s agent’s brother that builds schools in Guatemala and Laos. They got to present the book in person to Bieber at a fundraiser for the charity last month in New York.
Sculpting Hadassah
Los Gatos sculptor Joyce Steinfeld has created a bronze sculpture for Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem using the Hebrew letters that comprise the word Hadassah. A lifetime member of the group, Steinfeld conceived of the idea of presenting a gift to the hospital’s new tower after visiting there on a Hadassah trip to Israel last summer.
Steinfeld plans to show the sculpture, along with some of her other pieces, at a reception at the Addison-Penzak JCC in Los Gatos, where she also hopes to raise funds for the hospital. For information about the reception, write to Steinfeld at [email protected].
A Jewish deli in Marin
Mouths are watering in Marin County with the announcement by Robby Morgenstein of Novato that he is opening a San Rafael outpost of his Miller’s East Coast Deli. According to the website, “San Francisco’s venerated eatery brings its inimitable menu of Old World Jewish delicacies to the Montecito Shopping Center.” The opening is pending, due to construction and permit delays.
Short shorts …
Liz Newman of Los Altos has written “An Affinity for Shadows,” a romance novel about a broadcast journalist who is caught in the tragedy of the World Trade Center attacks … Ava F. Kahn and Marc Dollinger’s “California Jews” is now out in paperback … Harry Saal of Palo Alto has been named board chair of ZERO1: The Art and Technology Network. The group presents the ZERO1 Biennial, a showcase of work at the nexus of art and technology, according to a press release … Mill Valley’s Rita Abrams composed an original show honoring clergy for the 70th anniversary gala of San Francisco Congregation Ner Tamid last month, reports Charlotte Hyman … Nir Wittenberg, who served as the Jewish Agency for Israel’s shaliach here, is moving to New York City, where he will serve as the group’s executive director. “I had the honor to guide 327 people who have decided to move to Israel and make it their home,” he writes … San Francisco physician Thomas G. Sampson was elected president of the International Society for Hip Arthroscopy at the group’s annual scientific meeting in Paris last month … Maya Bernstein of UpStart Bay Area, Sarah Lefton of G-dcast.com, and Susan Lubeck and Sam Ruben of Progressive Jewish Alliance/Jewish Funds for Justice will be guests on “Mosaic,” airing at 5 a.m. on KPIX–Channel 5 on Sunday, Dec. 25 … Comic Lisa Geduldig is directing some of the proceeds from her Kung Pao Kosher Comedy nights to the S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ L’Chaim Adult Day Health Care Center and Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. The shows are Dec. 23-25; visit www.koshercomedy.com.
This columnist can be reached at [email protected].