Stars of David

April 05, 2007 - Michael Elkin, Jewish Exponent Staff
Seder, you with the "Stars" in your eyes: Quality is job one, goes the ad slogan; and who better to qualify for one major honor than two whose lives have been devoted to quality work since day one? Marciarose and Jerome Shestack will be busy -- not that they have much down time -- on April 11 accepting the 2007 M. Powell Lawton Quality of Life Award from the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, in ceremonies held at the Loews Hotel.
Wonder why Elijah didn't show up the other night? Maybe he was too busy getting ready for what is proving to be a hot ticket in town: Erin Gruwell, whose blackboard lesson plans took boredom out of education -- and whose "You go, teach!" technique inspired the film "Freedom Writers" -- is offering lessons on how to "Live It Up," serving as keynote speaker in an April 12 dinner/program of the Women's Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia at the Hilton City Avenue. This "evening celebrating Jewish women" may also be a good time to celebrate the teacher whose screen alter ego, Hilary Swank, may be nailing down an Oscar next year for her portrayal of the go-get-'em Gruwell.
Looking past the matzah madness? So is Dave Lieberman. The Philly native/national Food Network star has JCCers making brunch dates for his April 22 date at the Gershman Y, salivating over prospects of hearing him discussing his latest tasty tome, Dave's Dinners.
Google "Joseph Schorr" and sure enough, you'll find a whole screen filled with happy faces. Here's one "kid" who knows where the afikomen is hidden: Penn student Schorr -- somehow splitting the course load between its engineering school and Wharton -- has been named a software engineering summer intern at the mega-search engine's Research and Development Center in Haifa, Israel. Giddy with the Google news are parents Sarah and Alan Schorr, and grandparents Beverly and David Schorr, and Chaya and Arie Luksenberg. While he knows they're all extremely happy, "Stars" wonders if they'll be exclaiming, "Yahoo!"
Tales of Hofman? Ethel Hofman could make a meal out of this news: The nationally prominent foodie columnist and editor -- whose recipes help fatten up this newspaper's food section -- is also an author, whose just reissued Mackerel at Midnight: Growing Up Jewish on a Remote Scottish Island gives new definition to what it means to be Scottish at Yom Kippur. In that capacity, Hofman will be taking part as an invitee of the Edinburgh International Book Festival this August. Mmm, "Stars" is already salivating over the prospects of some savory Arbroath Smokie.
How about some music for Mother's Day? How about a preview? Philadelphia Orchestra principal trombonist Nitzan Haroz joins his Mom, Adina, a harpist, as the Duo Haroz, performing later this month at the Bala Cynwyd Library Concert Series.
If they build it, they will win it -- or at least that's how it seems as Toll Brothers tallied 17 major honors at the Home Builders Association Pinnacle Awards, with three Toll Bros. housing groups given a housewarming as "Community of the Year."
Dr. Julia Rafsky is the new director/Eating Disorders Program of the Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment.
Baby, it's you! William Pfeffer, M.D., Michael Glassner, M.D., and John Orris, D.O., MBA -- who run Main Line Fertility and Reproductive Medicine -- are reproducing a kashrut connection: The practice has teamed up with Puah Institute to introduce halachic supervision of its fertility services. A blessing on their heads -- and the babies' as well.
And some cheering up and cheers at this holiday date for those welcoming back honorary "Star of David" star -- and new mom -- Marcia Cross to "Desperate Housewives." After all, what better time to reintroduce a character named Bree than at Passover.