Stars of David

July 12, 2007 - Michael Elkin, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Mark A. Aronchick

For the French Jewish community out there, may July 14 bring you matzah that tastes like brioche and a nondairy Napoleon so complex it's voted pareve pastry of the year. Of course, there are other things to celebrate, too -- and these "Stars" provide reasons why. Take Arthur M. Scherr, for example: The CPA has been certified as the new chair for the 2007-08 year of Martins Run Senior Residential Community, in Media, joined by new members Brian Dilsheimer, Philip Benditt, M.D., Fred Weinblatt, M.D., Kenneth Dash and Rabbi Barry Blum.

Bring out more chairs: Mark A. Aronchick, a founding member of the legal firm of Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin, has been named chair of the committee on the rules of evidence of the American College of Trial Lawyers; evidently, he's made quite an impression.

Arthur M. Scherr

To life, to life, to -- "Lifeline"! That's the theme of this fall's fund-raiser for the American Friends of Magen David Adom, which will be honoring Weight Watcher biggies Marilyn and Robert Birnhak. The AFMDA/ ARMDI dinner/fashion show -- with design duds provided by Joan Shepp Boutique and Frank Ventresca Ltd. (and abetted by the accoutrements of Bernie Robbins Fine Jewelry), will unfold Oct. 17 at the Cescaphe Ballroom, with funds raised earmarked for a new MDA emergency medical facility in Jerusalem.

Bring on the popcorn, Frank Goldstein; you deserve it! The Bensalem resident is exec producer of "Stroke Management Update Research Highlights '05," which was just named winner of the 2007 Award of Excellence in the International Videographer Awards contest. The video was made by Medicom Worldwide Inc., in conjunction with Corona Productions, Inc.

Walk on by -- not! Karen J. Sandler has been named team leader of the second annual Teen Intervention 5K Walk this Sunday in Abington, benefiting at-risk teens.

Good to know that someone's making big bucks off of Enron, whose collapse drained investors of so much of their energy (and money). Seems that the Blackstone Group is working on what remains of the scandalous Houston hellions, putting its assets into shape so that the remnants, when sold off, will at least realize some value for its luckless creditors, victims of the ultimate snake-oil schemes when the company went bankrupt. Kudos go to an Abington native who's leveraged some good ink for his amazing efforts when others would have given up the ghost: Steve Schwarzman, the magician of a CEO behind the acclaimed Blackstone Group which, by the by, has become a behemoth of a buyout firm.

Steve Schwarzman

For high school seniors, "See You in September" isn't a love song, but a mating ritual between kid and college as they await notice of where they'll be spending the next four years drinking. And learning, too, of course! To help un-puzzle the whole perplexing process comes Steve Metzman, the Wynnewood wonder who's devised collegesupplement.com, an online site that's outta-sight for those who need a little college guidance and better ways to answer the admissions officer's question of "What's your biggest weakness?" than with "I tend to study too much!"

"Stars" remembers worrying about losing his lunch money when it was a nickel. Wonder how careful the Stern and Forman Centers kids are when it's $100,000? It's not theirs, but it sure feels like it as the fifth-graders play the "Stock-Market Game." Giving them credit for a great balance sheet on being the Michael Jordans of their game -- hey, Jordan did okay financially off the court as well -- were recent school guests Richard Cooper, Eric Schneiman, Dr. Paul Prusky and Gretchen Carey, fiscal pros all. Talk about your returns: "Stars" is still hoping to get that nickel back he lent out to Sydney in sixth grade.

Hold that tiger! Jenna Weissman Joselit, a Princeton University prof, has been named a Visiting Scholar at the John W. Kluge Center, Library of Congress, where she's researching the role the Ten Commandments plays in this country's culture. Of course, Charlton Heston once played that role, but that was only on screen.