life cycles » Benkoff JAN. 20 Sarah and Marc Benkoff are overjoyed with the birth of their daughter, Brooklyn (Bracha) Agnes. Sharing in the excitement are grandparents Sharon and Dennis Green, Arleta and David Benkoff, Toni Feldmann, and Mary and Peter Cavataio. Brooklyn is named in loving memory of her paternal great-grandmother Betty Benson and her maternal great-grandmother Agnes Cavataio. She is also the great-granddaughter of the late Arthur Benson. Maya Anne Bassey will lead the congre- gation in prayer on the occasion of her bat mitzvah on Saturday, April 16, at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. Bassey She is the loving daughter of Jamie and Kenneth Bassey, and David Sarotte. Maya will be joined in cele- bration by her siblings Lexi, Charlie and Miki. She is the grandchild of Rosanne and Bennett Fienman, Joan and Ronald Bassey, and Beth Sarotte and Anthony Sarotte. Maya is a student at Berkshire Middle School in Beverly Hills. As part of her mitzvah project, she vol- unteered at Temple Israel for Betsy’s Art Adventures, where she truly enjoyed assisting the children with their projects. Noah and Jack Behrendt Noah and Jack Behrendt will be called to the Torah as b’nai mitzvah on Saturday, April 16, at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township. They are the loving sons of Shelley and Adam Behrendt. Their proud grandparents David Rubinstein, Barbara Rubinstein and Linda Behrendt will join them. They lovingly remember their late grandparents, John Behrendt and Barbara Berent Rubinstein. Jack and Noah are seventh-graders at Bloomfield Hills Middle School. Their mitzvah projects include volun- teering at food and animal shelters in the Detroit area. 90 April 14 • 2016 Joshua Evan Bertman will lead the congregation in prayer on the occa- sion of his bar mitz- vah on Friday, April 15, at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. Bertman He will be joined in celebration by his proud parents, Michel and Matt Bertman, and his siblings Jordyn and Andrew. Joshua is the grandchild of Elaine and Dr. Stephen Bertman, and the late Rosalyn and the late Robert A. Schwartz. He is a student at West Hills Middle School in Bloomfield Hills. As part of his mitzvah experience, Joshua vol- unteered for Miracle League Baseball, which he found to be a rewarding experience. Riley Elizabeth Gesund will read from the Torah on the occasion of her bat mitzvah at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Saturday, April 16. Gesund She will be joined in celebration by her proud parents, Monique and Todd Gesund, and siblings Brennan and Sage. Her proud grandparents are Nancy and Sheldon Satovsky, Janne and George Gesund, Darleen and Anthony Hastings, and Gordon Edwards. Riley is a student at Walnut Creek Middle School in Walled Lake. As part of her mitzvah project, she volunteered with Temple Israel for Jimmy’s Kids, delivering presents to children on Christmas Day, which she found to be very meaningful. Emily Rose Goldstein (Nechama Vered) of Royal Oak will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on Saturday, April 16, at Congregation Goldstein Beth Shalom in Oak Park. She is the loving daughter of Nancy and Avery Goldstein and sister of Max. Proud grandparents are Jean and Bernie Goldstein, and Karen and Jack Singer. Emily is a student at Norup International School in Oak Park. She participated in many mitzvah projects; the most meaningful was collecting gently used household items for Humble Design. Mikayla Homer (Shoshonna Ayella) of Franklin will become a bat mitz- vah at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township on Saturday, April 16. Homer Participating in this special day will be her proud father, Dr. Brian Homer; mother and stepfather, Trina and Brett Roberts; siblings, Zach and Olivia Homer; and stepsiblings, Kailey and Carson Roberts. Mikayla is a seventh-grader at Berkshire Middle School in Beverly Hills. For one mitzvah project, she worked with Project Healthy Community, providing underprivi- leged and unemployed people with access to healthcare and everyday necessities that these individuals would not routinely have access to. Samuel Franklin Kramer (Shmuel Chaim) of Bloomfield Hills will be called to the Torah as a bar mitz- vah on Saturday, April 16, at Kramer Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. Joining in the simchah will be his proud parents, Anessa and David Kramer, along with his brother Max Kramer. Sam is the grandson of Zina and Michael Kramer, Jannette Hockenberry, and Brenda and Randy Owen. Sam is a student at the Roeper School in Birmingham. Among his many mitzvah projects, he helped to buy holiday gifts for children served by Orchards Children’s Services. Matthew Justin Rochlen, son of Dana and Dr. Jeff Rochlen, will read from the Torah on the occasion of his bar mitzvah Saturday, April 16, Rochlen at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. He will be joined in celebration by his sister Abby and his proud grand- parents Illene and Gary Rochlen, and Jack Polsky. Matthew is also the grandchild of the late Joyce Polsky. He is a student at Clifford Smart Middle School in Commerce Township. As part of his mitzvah experience, Matthew organized a 5K event and raised more than $6,000 for the American Stroke Association in loving memory of his grandmoth- er Joyce Polsky. Chloe Alexa Schram will cele- brate her bat mitz- vah on Saturday, April 16, at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills. She is the Schram daughter of Jill Kofender, Anthony Schram and fiancee, Hilary Goodman. Chloe is the older sister of Adin Schram and stepsister of Austin, Griffin and Cameron Goodman. Proud grandparents are Marvin Kofender of Sarasota, Fla., and Sandra Schram of West Bloomfield. She is also the grand- daughter of the late Judith Kofender and the late Calvin Schram. Chloe is a student at Clifford Smart Middle School in Commerce Township. For one of her mitzvah projects, she volunteered at Fleece and Thank You making blankets for kids who are in the hospital.