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Serendipity

Series of connections lead to first date, wedding plans.

wife, Karolyn, asked Ruthie Maroko, her Hebrew
language teacher, if she knew someone who could
Copy Editor
"help show Keren around town" during her visit.
Maroko said her neighbor, Marlene Toby, had a
t took a series of serendipitous connections to
single
nephew who might be available. The
lead to the first date of Paul Toby and Keren
nephew,
Paul Toby, now 33, recalled he liked Keren
Dolev in December 2003. Even when they
from
the
start.
arranged for their first date, Karen admitted, she
Keren said the same thing about Paul, but admit-
"felt tired" that night and considered canceling.
ted that she was feeling tired when he called for
But she went ahead with the plans for a blind
that first date and she considered canceling. But
date anyway — and the rest is history.
The pair, both Bloomfield Hills residents, plan to she didn't. Several days later, Paul called her for a
second date and they began seeing each other on a
marry Sept. 5 in a Tel Aviv ceremony for 300-plus
regular basis.
guests who will have a view of the Mediterranean
Last August, eight months after they met, Paul
Sea. The ceremony follows a July 10 engagement
proposed to her in a series of carefully orchestrated
party in Novi. The party closely resembled a mar-
events that resembled scenes from a Hollywood
riage ceremony, including the exchange of rings,
the traditional breaking of the glass under the chup- romance movie. His actions were planned to keep
Keren, who expected something, in suspense as to
pah, special prayers and the presence of a rabbi.
when
he would pop the question.
Keren, 30, a native Israeli who attended at Open
They
were on a trip to Paris when Paul took her
University in Tel Aviv, returned to Israel July 20 to
to
dine
in
an Eiffel Tower restaurant, followed by a
help finalize wedding arrangements.
boat ride near the tower.
The engagement party was held largely for Paul's
The next day, there was tour of champagne
mother, Roseann Toby, who is wheelchair-bound
wineries in the French countryside.
with multiple sclerosis and is unable to travel to Tel
The climax came at the Euro-Disney amusement
Aviv for the wedding, as well as other relatives who
park
near Paris when Paul slipped away for a
can't make the trip. Paul's father, Mel, is blind but
moment
to buy large stuffed Mickey and Minnie
does plan to attend the wedding for his first trip to
Mouse
figures
— dressed in wedding outfits. He
Israel.
But first, let go back to the serendipitous connec- gave Keren those along with a gold key — "the key
in my heart" — said Paul, a vice president, retire-
tions.
ment planning specialist and financial adviser at
Keren's father, Avi Dolev, a former member in
the Rochester office of Morgan Stanley.
the Israel Defense Forces, maintained contact over
Paul was raised in West Bloomfield and graduat-
the years with a close IDF colleague, Arie
ed
Bloomfield Hills Andover High School before
Leibovitz, now a West Bloomfield resident and real
receiving
a bachelor's degree in finance and market-
estate agent. In recent years, the Leibovitzes met
ing from Central Michigan University.
Keren during one of her several trips to the United
Keren said she needs another eight classes to
States from her native Israel.
receive
a bachelor's degree in management and
During a late 2003 visit, Arie's American-born

LEONARD POGER

I

June 5
Dolly (Kerin) and Gary Weisserman
are delighted to announce the birth of
their son, Simon Herschel.
Welcoming him home is big brother
Drew. Proud grandparents are Jeny
and Nick Kerin and Deborah
Weisserman. Simon Herschel is named
in blessed memory of his greatly
missed paternal grandfather Harold
Weisserman.

May 7
Alicia (Erlich) and Andrew Russman
of Lyndhurst, Ohio, are thrilled to
announce the birth of their son,
Joshua Aaron (Tuvye Gavriel).

Welcoming Josh home with lots of
hugs and kisses is big sister Rebecca, 3.
Sharing in their excitement are bubbie
and zayde Ivajean and Milton Erlich
of Commerce Township and grammy
and papa Elaine and Paul Russman of
Southfield. Josh is also the great-
grandson of Sarah and Martin Switzer
of West Bloomfield. He is named in
loving memory of his maternal great-
grandmother Gertrude Erlich and his
paternal great-grandmother Anna
Tanzman.

April 19
Lisa (Cohen) and Michael Geller of
White Lake are thrilled to announce

With a Paris backdrop, Keren Dolev and Paul Toby
display the Mickey and Minnie Mouse figures, dressed
in wedding outfits, part of Paul's proposal while they
were in Paris.

human resources. She intends to take online classes
at her Tel Aviv university to complete her degree
requirements. Before moving to Michigan, she was
the comptroller for a lighting fixtures company in
Tel Aviv.
When the couple return to Michigan after the
wedding, Keren will look for a: position with a
Jewish organization. ❑

the birth of
their beautiful
twin daughters,
Samantha
Jordan (Sarah
Yocheved) and
Nicole
Paige(Chava
Ruta).
Welcoming
them home is
adoring and helpful big sister Olivia,
3. Proud and ecstatic grandparents are
Carol Cohen of Southfield, Murray
Cohen of Phoenix, Ariz., and Barbara
and Sydney Geller of Farmington
Hills. Sharing in the joy are excited

great-grandpar-
ents Donald and
Helen Coville of
Farmington Hills
and Elaine Sauve
of Southfield.
Samantha is
named in honor
and loving mem-
Samantha Geller
ory of her pater-
nal great-grand-
parents Sarah
and Joseph Berman. Nicole is named
in honor and loving memory of her
maternal great-grandparents Ruth and
Herman Cohen.

8/ 4

2005

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