Fundraiser, 2009:
FUNDRAISER STILL RAISES FUN!
November 5, 2009 • Karen Hirsch
 Intrepid Lady Shofarniks Head Up the Mountain
Sunday, October 25th dawned bright, sunny and unseasonably warm with crystal clear visibility all the way to Mt. Diablo and farther. It promised to be a perfect day for the ladies. Eleven intrepid hikers: Elaine Levy, Ellen Tobe, Carol Tabb, Diane Zack, Patty Glatt, Jacki Grossman, Anna Oklan, Kathy King and Chris Hurwitz signed up for Shabbos Night Fever Auction item “Hike Mt. Tam”. Lorraine Harris and Karen Hirsch hosted the event, guided the hikers up the mountain and back for lunch in time for everyone to make it to the MOC convention in San Rafael at two!
 We met at 9 AM sharp at Karen’s home and started the morning with a quick continental breakfast, filled water bottles, slathered on sunscreen, packed up slices of Lorraine’s homemade banana chocolate chip bread for the road and drove up to Mt. Tam’s Pan toll parking lot where we set off up the Old Stage Road trail to the West Point Inn. The innkeeper shared fascinating historical information and gave us a tour of one of their cabins. We then continued up the trail to the Mountain Theater, looped farther up to a vista point and around and back down the Old Mine trail to our vehicles; a total of about 4+ moderate miles and lots of socializing. We all marveled at the beauty of the panoramic vistas while hiking our loop: the east bay, north and west Marin, the Pacific and Farralons, GG Bridge, Marin Headlands, all the way down the south coast to Pedro Point, and the jewel in the crown: San Francisco shining in the sunlight.
 We arrived back at Karen’s, washed up and sat down to a delicious lunch: poached salmon entrée accompanied by garden lettuces, green goddess dressing, asparagus vinaigrette, cracked wheat salad, sourdough bread and assorted mini cupcakes and fresh berries for dessert. We enjoyed each other’s personal stories and lots of laughs, and declared ‘what mazel!’ to have this glorious day to share with new friends and old –on the trail and at the table.
Right after lunch our community spirit moved us to bid each other farewell (temporarily), and then we met again 20 minutes later in the San Rafael High Gym to stand united with Kol Shofar and 1100 other participants!
The day was a huge success on all fronts, and we’re all looking forward to many more happy trails in 2010.
We’re more than Stay’n Alive, as a community on the move!
April 1, 2009 • Karen Hirsch & Debbie Levy
 Our disco ball, Shabbos Night Fever, on Sunday, March 22nd, turned out to be the ‘best ever’ fun-raiser.
Check out our video of event highlights! (Thanks so much to Laura Epstein-Norris). The video can be viewed here.
The Hoyt Theater at the JCC reflected the festive atmosphere of bygone disco nights with (of course!) a rotating mirrored disco ball, images of colorful stars projected on the walls and metallic star studded twinkling balloon bouquets floating above the dinner tables. Attendees arrived in the mood and ready to rock - decked out in glitz & glitter mimicking the disco kings and queens of the 70’s. Kolshofarniks and friends schmoozed and noshed on appetizers – sipping martinis and fine wines while performing tzedakah: bidding on and buying over 175 ‘best ever’ super bargain auction items. We then sat down to a sumptuous salmon dinner catered by Insalata’s Restaurant and chocolate pyramids donated by Galaxy Baking Co. After dinner our fearless Education Director, Orah Sholin sang her spirited and hysterical Beit Binah appeal to the tune of Gloria Gaynor’s “I will Survive”: But if you can, please give some more, because I really hate to schnoor… and thanks to you, our generous pledgers, we will survive!
 Our MC Jules Ehrlich introduced the spark that ignited the Live Auction and raised over $2000.00: item #10, Disco Havdallah performed by our very own Rabbi Chai Levy. People are still talking about her ‘burning the house down’. The Chailight paved the way for razzling dazzling Sheira Kahn and her Bet Gimmels “Burnin, burnin” up the stage. Their centerpiece Steve “Fever” Sockolov did a show stopping Travolta imitation, white polyester suit and all. The dance floor was soon packed with everyone and rockin’ out to Denon & Doyle’s DJ spinnin’ the disco beat and doing the disco havdallah. The dance contestants were hot – hard to pick the winners, but Illana Zauderer Parker in silver platform boots and mini dress definitely earned best costume award (she’s 9 months pregnant) and thanked Aaron for making it possible. The stage and dance floor remained crowded ‘til we closed it out to Donna Summer’s “The Last Dance” …
All seemed pleased with their purchases and party. Come again next year for more fun and surprises. A huge todah rabah to you our guests and shoppers, our generous sponsors and donors, and dedicated staff and fund raising committee for helping us Stay’n Alive. Working together we exceeded our fiscal goal. We netted over $58,000 which goes directly toward our Kol Shofar operating expenses.
For the photo gallery, click on the photo below, or the label beside, then click on the thumbnails to get the full size. See who you can recognize! (Video of highlights will be linked up soon!)
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