BYDS dazzles at diamond anniversary Gatsby Gala
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Gala honorees Melanee Weiser, Ruth Adler, Janice Bekker, Paula Singer and Harriet Bormaster accept their awards in order of the number of years worked at BYDS.
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Event raises more than $500K for school’s growth, initiatives
It was all diamonds and glitz Feb. 3 at Beth Yeshurun Day School’s annual gala. Gatsby Gala co-chairs Meg and Jacob Grossman and Rachel and Levi Strauss reminded everyone that life’s too short to have a boring gala. They hosted the ritziest party in town to support the school’s largest fundraising event of the year, raising more than a half million dollars to help ensure a bright future for BYDS students.
Inside Congregation Beth Yeshurun, more than 450 guests traveled back in time to a 1920s dazzling speakeasy. Complete with a 360-degree full premium bar in the center of the synagogue’s sky lobby, French 75s and Old-Fashioneds were served amidst black, gold and diamond decorations.
Gala revelers were jazzed up with sequins, fringe, feathers, gold and glitter as they surveyed available silent auction items, rang the bell for a glass from the sparkling champagne wall, glowed at the glitter bar and smiled with friends and family in the photo booth. Auction co-chairs were Leslie Itkin and Priya Surath.
Walking into the main ballroom for the gala program and dinner, guests were amazed by the chandelier-topped central dance floor, which would showcase the evening’s honorees, the school’s paddles up fundraiser and a live auction.
The sold-out gala honored BYDS’ employees with 20-plus years at the school. Ruth Adler, Janice Bekker, Harriet Bormaster, Paula Singer and Melanee Weiser received the Rabbi Jack Segal z”l Excellence in Education Award. Courtney and Eric Haas received the Robin z”l and Joshua Berry z”l Volunteer Award. Helene and Dror Zadok of Zadok Jewelers were celebrated as this year’s corporate honorees.
BYDS board chair Evan Weinberger opened the formal program. Senior Rabbi Brian Strauss delivered a prayer for the State of Israel and said the Hamotzi. Cantor Rachel Goldman led the audience in Hatikvah.
Abra Annes, one of the top charity auctioneers in the country, led the paddles up appeal, during which thousands of dollars were raised. The funds make it possible for BYDS to continue providing students with data-driven individualized instruction, an innovative Jewish education, as well as instilling a commitment to the State of Israel in the next generation of leaders.
During paddles up, BYDS head of school Jennifer LeVine shared her vision for the school’s future. Champagne bottle service lit with sparklers was delivered to diners whose tables had 100% participation for the spirited fundraising game.
BYDS parents, grandparents, faculty, alumni, clergy and friends partied and bid all night for their favorite cause – a strong, values-driven, competitive education for their children.
BYDS educates children 3 months through fifth grade and, over the past five years, has grown enrollment to near capacity. It launched an updated multimedia library equipped with a broadcasting area and a reader’s theater, and expanded the Student Achievement Team to provide a unique individualized experience for every child.
Like no other elementary school in Houston, BYDS developed a sensory space for tactile learning, built the BY Outdoor Education DiscoveryScape, added coding and robotics for the upper grades, partnered with the World Zionist Organization to bring in morim shlichim to enhance the Hebrew and Judaics program, revived parent programs and engagement and was the first day school in Houston to create an affordable tuition initiative to make Jewish day school and private school education accessible to the community.
Thanks to the success of the gala, BYDS is prepared to move forward with expanding classrooms to make room for more mission-appropriate students, new experiential learning opportunities, greater opportunities for faculty professional growth and an exciting overhaul of the elementary school playground, among other initiatives.
* * *
BYDS’ 2025 gala will be Feb. 1. Jackleyn and Zachary Silverman and their gala committees will chair “The Segal Era Gala” to honor Andrea and Shay Kuperman with the Rabbi Jack Segal z”l Excellence in Education Award and Lindsy Steinberg with the Robin z”l and Joshua z”l Berry Volunteer Award. This will be the first gala celebrated with the school’s new name: Jack Segal Academy of Beth Yeshurun.
The Rabbi Jack Segal z”l Award for Excellence in Education has been given at the annual gala each year since 2003. Named after Rabbi Jack Segal, z”l, to honor his lifelong commitment to Jewish education, this award is bestowed upon an individual(s) who has devoted outstanding efforts over time toward the school’s continued growth and prosperity.
The Robin z”l and Joshua z”l Berry Volunteer Award is a tribute to Robin and Joshua Berry, whose legacy of commitment and volunteerism touched and inspired not only the Jewish community, but the entire Houston community. This award serves to recognize one outstanding volunteer who has demonstrated initiative, creativity, leadership, responsibility and involvement at BYDS.
It was all diamonds and glitz Feb. 3 at Beth Yeshurun Day School’s annual gala. Gatsby Gala co-chairs Meg and Jacob Grossman and Rachel and Levi Strauss reminded everyone that life’s too short to have a boring gala. They hosted the ritziest party in town to support the school’s largest fundraising event of the year, raising more than a half million dollars to help ensure a bright future for BYDS students.
Inside Congregation Beth Yeshurun, more than 450 guests traveled back in time to a 1920s dazzling speakeasy. Complete with a 360-degree full premium bar in the center of the synagogue’s sky lobby, French 75s and Old-Fashioneds were served amidst black, gold and diamond decorations.
Gala revelers were jazzed up with sequins, fringe, feathers, gold and glitter as they surveyed available silent auction items, rang the bell for a glass from the sparkling champagne wall, glowed at the glitter bar and smiled with friends and family in the photo booth. Auction co-chairs were Leslie Itkin and Priya Surath.
Walking into the main ballroom for the gala program and dinner, guests were amazed by the chandelier-topped central dance floor, which would showcase the evening’s honorees, the school’s paddles up fundraiser and a live auction.
The sold-out gala honored BYDS’ employees with 20-plus years at the school. Ruth Adler, Janice Bekker, Harriet Bormaster, Paula Singer and Melanee Weiser received the Rabbi Jack Segal z”l Excellence in Education Award. Courtney and Eric Haas received the Robin z”l and Joshua Berry z”l Volunteer Award. Helene and Dror Zadok of Zadok Jewelers were celebrated as this year’s corporate honorees.
BYDS board chair Evan Weinberger opened the formal program. Senior Rabbi Brian Strauss delivered a prayer for the State of Israel and said the Hamotzi. Cantor Rachel Goldman led the audience in Hatikvah.
Abra Annes, one of the top charity auctioneers in the country, led the paddles up appeal, during which thousands of dollars were raised. The funds make it possible for BYDS to continue providing students with data-driven individualized instruction, an innovative Jewish education, as well as instilling a commitment to the State of Israel in the next generation of leaders.
During paddles up, BYDS head of school Jennifer LeVine shared her vision for the school’s future. Champagne bottle service lit with sparklers was delivered to diners whose tables had 100% participation for the spirited fundraising game.
BYDS parents, grandparents, faculty, alumni, clergy and friends partied and bid all night for their favorite cause – a strong, values-driven, competitive education for their children.
BYDS educates children 3 months through fifth grade and, over the past five years, has grown enrollment to near capacity. It launched an updated multimedia library equipped with a broadcasting area and a reader’s theater, and expanded the Student Achievement Team to provide a unique individualized experience for every child.
Like no other elementary school in Houston, BYDS developed a sensory space for tactile learning, built the BY Outdoor Education DiscoveryScape, added coding and robotics for the upper grades, partnered with the World Zionist Organization to bring in morim shlichim to enhance the Hebrew and Judaics program, revived parent programs and engagement and was the first day school in Houston to create an affordable tuition initiative to make Jewish day school and private school education accessible to the community.
Thanks to the success of the gala, BYDS is prepared to move forward with expanding classrooms to make room for more mission-appropriate students, new experiential learning opportunities, greater opportunities for faculty professional growth and an exciting overhaul of the elementary school playground, among other initiatives.
* * *
BYDS’ 2025 gala will be Feb. 1. Jackleyn and Zachary Silverman and their gala committees will chair “The Segal Era Gala” to honor Andrea and Shay Kuperman with the Rabbi Jack Segal z”l Excellence in Education Award and Lindsy Steinberg with the Robin z”l and Joshua z”l Berry Volunteer Award. This will be the first gala celebrated with the school’s new name: Jack Segal Academy of Beth Yeshurun.
The Rabbi Jack Segal z”l Award for Excellence in Education has been given at the annual gala each year since 2003. Named after Rabbi Jack Segal, z”l, to honor his lifelong commitment to Jewish education, this award is bestowed upon an individual(s) who has devoted outstanding efforts over time toward the school’s continued growth and prosperity.
The Robin z”l and Joshua z”l Berry Volunteer Award is a tribute to Robin and Joshua Berry, whose legacy of commitment and volunteerism touched and inspired not only the Jewish community, but the entire Houston community. This award serves to recognize one outstanding volunteer who has demonstrated initiative, creativity, leadership, responsibility and involvement at BYDS.
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