F Mazel Toy! Jewish Geography Game allows school friends to reunite as adults. Leonard Poger I Copy Editor ometimes, young singles can benefit from playing the game of "Jewish geography," in which friends ask about old contacts and what hap- pened to them. It was during such a game 21 years ago that Laurie Brown. crossed paths with a sister of Michael Gonte's roommate. In the conversation, Mike's name popped up. He was a close friend of Laurie after they met in 1974 while classmates in a Thompson Junior High School art course in Southfield. At the tender age of 14, they became fast friends, talking on the phone frequently after school; and Mike rode his Moped to her home. But the friendship was put on S Nov. 29 Jennifer Cohen and Gregory Bloom of Birmingham are thrilled to announce the birth of their son, Nathaniel Asher. Welcoming him home is his big sister Olivia, 18 months. Sharing in their joy are proud grandpar- ents Annie and Rob Cohen of Bloomfield Hills and Adrienne and Norman Bloom of Atlanta, Ga. Delighted great-grandparents are Bobbie Miller of Southfield, Shirley and Max Wayburn of Bingham Farms and Rose Norton of London, England. Oct. 20 Jennifer (Levin) and Ryan Golding of Chicago are so excited to announce the birth of their daughter, Jordyn Mia. Very proud grandparents are Denise and Bobby Levin of Orchard Lake and Lynne and David Golding of Northbrook, Ill. Also sharing in their joy are great- grandparents Aubry and Devora Smith, Alice Levin and Gerald 58 January 5 • 2006 hold when Mike went off to Southfield High and Laurie attended Southfield-Lathrup High. Years later, after Mike moved into Franklin Park Towers in Southfield,"Laurie bumped into my roommate's sister and they started playing Jewish geography and my name came up',' said Mike. "It was close to my birthday, which she remembered because we were born 15 days apart. So after not seeing each other for a decade, she decided on a whim to call me." "Hi, guess who this is?" she asked him. Mike didn't know and "was feel- ing a little impatient while she was coaxing me to guess. "Suddenly, the phone went dead. While I was thinking that I might not ever know who it was, Laurie was thinking that I rudely hung up on her?' Laurie debated what to do, but decided to call back. "On the second call," Michael said, "she quickly identified herself and after some conversation, she offered to take me out for a birth- day drink. I stumbled and told her that I had dinner plans with my family. Fortunately, she suggested that we make plans for another night. - "But when she saw the diner we were headed for, she wasn't partic- ularly impressed with my choice for a first date and only ordered a coffee?' Laurie was more blunt: "I couldn't believe it," she recalled. It was "a hamburger joint. We walked through vinyl vertical blinds. The owner-cook knew him Sussman. Her ecstatic great- great-grandmother is Sonia Glaser. She is also the grand- daughter of the late Maurice Levin and the late Judy Sussman. Jordyn is named in loving mem- ory of her maternal great-grand- father Maurice Levin. Jackie Fruitman Cohen and Art Cohen of Cupertino, Calif., are happy to announce the May 22, 2005, adoption of their son Gregory Zimin (Gershon), born May 22, 2004, and the Gregory birth of their son Natan Philip (Natan Peleh), born Oct. 6, 2005. Excited grand- , parents are Ron and Ilene Fruitman of Natan Farmington Hills and Barney and Hermia Cohen of Philadelphia. Zimin and Natan are named in loving April 8 Erica (Ellman) and Tal Izraeli of Chicago welcome with love the birth of their son, Zachary Marc (Nachum David). Sharing in their excitement are proud grandparents Peggy and Harry Ellman of Bloomfield Hills and Elana and Oded Izraeli of Rochester Hills. Happy great- grandparents are Donald Barris of Bingham Farms, Bluma and Irving Ellman of West Bloomfield and Aliza Izraeli of Jerusalem. Zachary is named in loving memory of his maternal great-grandmother Miriam Barris and his paternal great- grandfather Nachum Izraeli. Laurie and Michael Gonte by name and Mike talked to her more than me." Clearly, Laurie wasn't impressed by the first date. But she did agree to give him another chance and they had a romantic dinner at a downtown Detroit restaurant a week later. "Our second chance at love could have easily ended at that diner',' Michael said, "but we had the chance for a long talk and she realized it is not where you go, but who you are with. The spark was back. "By the third date, there was no looking back; and I knew that it memory of great-grandfathers Gordon Fruitman and Phillip Cohen. - Zachary Samuel Blumstein will read from the Torah Saturday, Jan. 7, at Congregation Shaarey Zedek Southfield. He is the son of Linda and Gershon Blumstein and brother of Dodi, Jordan Blumstein and Danielle. Sharing in the simchah will be his grandfather David Levine. He is also the grandchild of the late Evelyn Levine, the late Diana and the late Mannes Blumstein. was just a matter of time before we got married?' They did — nearly two years later. The wedding was Dec. 21, 1986, at Temple Emanu-El, Oak Park. Now, both are 45 years old and the parents of two teenage daughters. Last month, the Gontes, now of Farmington Hills, celebrated their 19th anniversary. On a family trip to Israel last summer, Mike heard others on the tour talking about their her- itage. Some traced their roots for many generations back to small villages in Russia or Poland. "Being adopted, I only trace my family roots back three decades to Southfield," he said. "But even though I don't have access to my family history, Laurie and I have created a lov- ing legacy for our kids?' ❑ Zach attends Orchard Lake Middle School in West Bloom- field. One of his most meaning- ful mitzvah projects was volun- teering at the Friendship Circle. Rachel Dina Klein will be called to the Torah Saturday, Jan. 7, at Congregation Shaarey Zedek Southfield. She is the daughter of Susan and Jeffrey Klein and sister of Joey. Proud grandparents are Pearl and Klein Larry Klein and Pearl Kozik. She is also the grand- daughter of the late Shimon Kozik. Bar/Bat Mitzvah In an attempt to keep the notices that mark youth on their path to maturity meaningful yet brief, we have decided to change the items to include. We have eliminated the reference to the school "honor" rankings because it differs from school to school. Since mitzvah projects have increased, we ask that only one be selectd to be representative of tzedakah. Thank you for your adherence to these changes.