For information on submitting an announcement, see "Submission Guidelines" on the right side of the home page of JNOnline.com or call (248) 351-5147. A Pet Mitzvah Mara Rubin finds good homes for rescued animals. LEONARD POGER Copy Editor ara Rubin had an easy decision when picking a mitzvah project as part of her bar mitzvah studies. The 13-year-old decided to work with animal rescue groups to make sure animals are placed in good homes. Along with other volunteer activities, Mara loves animals, something she learned from her parents, Elaine and Ira Rubin of West Bloomfield. When Mara was considering mitzvah projects last fall, her mother put her in contact with Animal Pals, an Oakland County animal rescue organiza- tion in which Janice Smargon, a long-time friend of Mrs. Rubin, is a volunteer. Mara decided to do something she enjoys — "find- ing animals and getting them good homes," she said. Mara works with Animal Pals, performing tasks such as comforting pets and working in the office. An example of her long-time love of animals was related by her mother following a rescue during a 2003 summer vacation. "Mara found a kitten near the office of the motel where we were staying in Kentucky," Mrs. Rubin said. "She walked with the kitten back to our motel room and, through the door, told me that she found a kitten. I told her, 'Don't show it to me.' " But Mara did. The family loved it and decided to keep it. The rescue was timely. Six months later, the fam- ily pet, a 17-year-old dog, Buffy, died. The family named the kitten Daisy Lynn, reflect- ing the name of the Days Inn motel where it was found. Mara "loves all animals, particularly dogs, cats and rabbits." As part of her animal rescue mitzvah project, Mara and her parents contacted area busi- nesses for donations of pet food. Besides working with Animal Pals, Mara, a sev- enth-grader at Walnut Creek Middle School in the Walled Lake School District, collects and donates books for Detroit's Burt Elementary School. That school was picked through a contact with Temple Kol Ami member who works at the school. Mara also is a midracha (teacher's aide) at Temple qr.a27:ZWESNT'ESTM:715ZEZEI1iEMMESWZZ5MRS TRZNE:E%Ktaa?IWM.T2E2F,MRMEA13;ia2rx'ONMEIWD Dec. 9 Amy (Woronoff) and Jay Greenberg of Southfield welcome with much love the birth of their daugh- ter, Micayla Rose. Sharing in their joy are thrilled grand- parents Gail and Irwin Lorber, Lois and Franklin Greenberg, Norman and Janet Woronoff and Evelyn Friscia. Proud great-grandmothers are Esther Gluck and Sadie Barham. Micayla is named in loving memory of her great grandmoth- ers Mary Lorber, Claire Weisinger and Rose Michelson. Nov. 5 Kimberly (Gurecki) and Richard Kruger of Farmington Hills joyfully announce with love the birth of their son, Seth Mitchell (Shet Moshe). They are joined by proud grandparents Marvin and Arlene Gurecki of Farmington Hills and John and Geraldine Kruger of Chicago. Also sharing their joy are great-grand- parents Molly Levin of West Bloomfield, Lillian McKenzie of Waukegan, Ill., and Carl Stone of Pittsfield, Ill. Seth Mitchell is named in honor of his maternal great-grandfather 2/17 2005 64 Morris Levin. Hunter Paul Alpert will celebrate his bar mitzvah Saturday, Feb. 19, at Temple Beth El. He is the son of Wendy Alpert and the grandson of Marcia Alpert and the late Harold Alpert. Hunter is in the seventh grade at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit in Farmington Hills. For his mitzvah proj- ect, he participated in the Dor L'Dor and JARC programs through Hillel. He also volunteers at FAR, an art and recreation program for children and adults with special needs, helping with ice skaters and hockey players. Kayla Renee Kaplan will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah Saturday, Feb. 19, at Congregation Jewish Community North in Spring, Texas. Participating in this joyous occasion will be her parents, Sheri and Brad Kaplan; grandparents, Cynthia and Calvin Moss of Michigan, Geraldine and Robert Kaplan of Texas, Philip and Mara Rubin hugs the family cat, Daisy Lynn. Kol Ami religious school. Her bat mitzvah was held at Kol Ami on Jan. 29. In looking into a possible career, is Mara consid- ering being a veterinarian? "No, I may want to be a child psychologist," she said. ❑ Have a unique Mazel Toy? Notify Associate Editor Alan Hitsky at ahitsky@thejavishnews.corn ZZ.gaaIMSRZTMaEi'±EEEalgEZLEEK:Nt,S:MtMMEMSMELEL,aaM\A. Lee Ferber of Nevada; and great-grand- parents, Helen Ferber of Florida, Sam and Bea Kaplan of California. Kayla is also the great-grand- daughter of the late Lillian and Julius Lapp, the late Eli Ferber and the late Rose Kaplan. An honor student at Doerre Middle School in Spring, Kayla will donate half of her gifts to the Cat Rescue Organization. Jacob Steven Allen will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 19, at Congregation Beth Shalom. Jacob is the son of Alissa Pianin and James and Janice Allen and brother of Jayney. Proud grandmothers are Betty Pianin and Lila Allen. Jacob is the grandson of the late Sid Pianin and the late Jerome Allen. Jacob is a double honor student at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit. He has always been involved with many charitable organizations and recently led a seder at a JARC home. He is currently collect- ing new and used books for the Partnership 2000 Central Galilee region for its English language pro- gram. Jacob will continue to support Israel through his contributions to the IDF and ARMDI. Aaron Michael Resnick will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 19, at Congregation Ahavath Chesed in Jacksonville, Fla. He is the son of former Detroiters Wendy and Mark Resnick and the brother of Justin. Proud grand- parents are Arlene and Sam Freedman o West Bloomfield, and Miriam Resnick of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. He is also the grandson of the late Harry Resnick. Aaron is a seventh-grade honor stu- dent. He participates in the B'nai Tzedek and Chain of Memories pro- grams sponsored by the Jacksonville Jewish Foundation.