Global Gourmet
Discovering the diverse world of food, wine and Houston’s Jewish College Students and twentysomethings Honoring for their support of Houston Hillel’s work on campus and throughout Houston
The Jackson Family
Sandy & Richard Jackson, Emily Jackson, and Louis Gordon z”l
Tamara Siegel Featuring interactive food tastings and presentations by three Houston Hillel recent alumni who have established themselves as culinary professionals. Debby Benaim (UH 2009) currently featured on NBC’s Food Fighters Tova du Plessis (UH 2009) owner and chef of the newly opened Essen Bakery serving Jewish style breads and pastries Brad du Plessis (UH 2008) Wine Consultant for Winebow of Philadelphia
Executive Chef* Sandy & Richard and Emily Jackson
Ellen and Richard Lowe
Sous Chef* Joelle and Jeff Berlat Debbie Haynes
Karol and Daniel Musher
Station Chef* Eileen and Steve Lee Barbara and Barry Lewis Janet and Jeff Pozmantier Marlene Rubin
Lisa and Michael Sachs Susan and Ed Septimus Tamara and Adam Siegel Helen and Andy Spector Andrea Stolar and David Vener
Jeff Dorfman, Diane Lee Kraitman, Kari Stein and Rebecca Weiner Judy and Ronnie Yambra
Prep Cook* Rachel and Eric Bishop Sharon and Dan Brener Shirley and Alan Cohn Rabbi Gideon Estes Lisa and Larry Estes
Karen and Jay Harberg Joan Jackson Joan and Larry Katz David Mincberg, Lainie Gordon and Mallory Mincberg Allison and David Nagelberg
The Paeglis Family Dikla and Daniel Pickelner Aliza and Jason Plotkin Rabbis Amy and Kenny Weiss Elina and Brian Weissman
Leah and Eric Cohn *As of printing
Event Co-Chairs Julia Paeglis
Brian Weissman
Houston Hillel Board of Directors Eric Bishop President Jeff Berlat Eric Cohn Julia Paeglis Rozanne Rubin Vice Presidents Sandy Jackson Secretary Emily Jackson Treasurer
Max Blankfeld Rabbi Gideon Estes Lisa Estes Mark Hochstein Tracy Jacobson Matt Kahn Salomon Lahana Ellen Lowe Sharon Mellon Jesse Nagelberg Daniel Pickelner
Jason Plotkin Jeff Pozmantier Jeremy Reiskind Stefani Rozen Tamara Siegel Hershel Swartz David Vener Galia Weber Naomi Wittlin Bobby Wizig
Past Presidents Richard Brochstein Max Goldfield z�l Lenny Holzband David Jacobson Alan Levin
Daniel Musher Karol Musher Ron Nodler Jerry Paine Daniel Pickelner
Ed Septimus Marilyn Shaw Larry Smith Gary Swartz Alvin Zimmerman
Event Committee Michelle Blumenthal Sharon Brener Lisa Estes Erica Furman
Zoe Goldberg Susan Marblestone Sharon Mellon Marlene Rubin
Rozanne Rubin Tamara Siegel Gail Silver Jessica Starkschall
Houston Hillel Staff Rabbi Kenny Weiss Executive Director
Lena Lieb Development Director Houston Hillel and Hillel at Texas A&M
Michelle Blumenthal Director of Jewston
Zoe Goldberg Dir of Undergraduate Engagement
Barbara Dryer Administrator
Itiya Schnall Evelyn Rubenstein JCC Shlicha
Rabbi Amy Weiss Shabbat and Passover Chef
Featuring Debby Benaim (UH 2009) Chef Deborah Benaim was born in Caracas, Venezuela but her background is from Spain, Morocco, and Israel. Chef Benaim’s food is as eclectic as her heritage, and together with her culinary training she has developed a unique cooking style. Chef Benaim earned a BS in Hospitality Management from the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston. Upon graduation she landed a job at Wolfgang Puck’s flagship restaurant Spago in Beverly Hills. She has since worked in many acclaimed kitchens and now owns her own catering and events company. Chef Benaim has made several appearances on top cooking competitions including the hit primetime NBC show Food Fighters. Due to her extensive travels and family background, she has refined the craft of fusing different cuisines and flavors. A notable example of this was at this years SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas where she debuted the first ever Kosher Latin food truck showcasing Venezuelan cuisine with Middle Eastern influence. Chef Benaim is now working on several different projects including a cookbook that explores her rich family history. Stay Tuned.
Tova du Plessis (UH 2009) South Africa-born du Plessis grew up in a kosher home, braiding challah every Friday for weekly, multi-coursed Shabbat feasts. She received a biology degree from the University of Houston with plans to become a doctor, but instead attended the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley. After a series of prominent roles Tova became pastry sous at Philadelphia’s Le BecFin (before it closed), and most recently, she worked for The Rittenhouse Hotel, handling all things dessert and pastry at Lacroix. Now the mother of a baby girl, Lily, Tova recently opened Essen Bakery (“essen” is Yiddish for “to eat” or “food”), also in Philadelphia.
Brad du Plessis (UH 2008) Brad writes, “I started my wine career as a ‘cellar-rat’ for the 2009 Harvest at Palmaz Vineyards, in Napa Valley. I immediately fell in love with wine and winemaking but quickly realized that early harvest mornings, days of dragging around hoses and barrels and wine-soaked socks was not for me. So I transitioned over to the tasting room, where I moved up the ranks and eventually became the Hospitality Manger. Tova and I then relocated to Philadelphia where I was promoted to East Coast Sales Manager, managing the Palmaz Vineyards brand in 13 states. After the birth of our daughter, Lily, I took a position with The Winebow Group managing the Philadelphia territory where I represent fine wines from all over the world.
Honoring Sandy Jackson Sandy Jackson graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with degrees in Education and Mathematics. During her freshman year she lived half a block from Hillel and made Hillel her “second home,” spending time regularly visiting with friends, the rabbi and attending services. In her junior year she was president of Kappa Delta Pi, an international education honorary fraternity. After careers as a computer programmer, math teacher, and an assistant in the finance division for The Woodlands Development Corporation with Mitchell Energy developing the new town, Sandy moved to Japan with her husband Richard (Fuzzy) where he served in the Air Force as chief of Internal Medicine at the Tachikawa Air Base Hospital. At that time she taught conversational English to Japanese children and co-led a therapy/ support group on the base. Her eldest daughter Tracey was born at the hospital. Upon returning to Houston in 1976 Sandy enrolled in the University of Houston where she received her Master’s degree in Social Work. After a fellowship in family therapy, she began her private practice as a psychotherapist. Sandy is an active member of the Houston Group Psychotherapy Society and has served as president. She is also a lifetime member of PTA, Hadassah and Amit Women. Sandy is currently Houston Hillel’s Secretary, and has served on the Board since 2011. She also enjoys volunteering at the Emergency Food Pantry at the Houston Food Bank doing intakes for low income clients. Sandy has been married to Richard for 46 years. They have two daughters, Emily, and Tracey who is married to Eddie Kane. Tracey and Eddie have two children, Jackson and Shayley. Sandy’s hobbies include duplicate bridge with her favorite partner (Fuzzy) and she is a Bronze Life Master. She spends the rest of her leisure time watching movies, traveling, playing piano, reading and hanging out with her grandkids.
Richard Jackson Richard Jackson graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with an AB in Zoology. While at Wash U he attended services at Hillel and helped found Phi Sigma Delta fraternity, a Jewish fraternity, and was elected president his junior year. He attended the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and while on summer break he met his wife Sandy. Richard developed a passion for volunteerism in 1980 when he and his brother would take the drug samples from their office closet to Eastwood Clinic where they would volunteer once a month seeing indigent patients. Richard has served on a variety of boards and committees including Temple Emanu El’s Board of Trustees, Budget Committee and the Social Action Committee; Board of Houston Community Voicemail and two terms on the Medical Executive Committee of The Methodist Hospital. In 2000 he joined the Board of Trustees of the Emergency Aid Coalition later becoming vice president and then serving 8 years as president. The board honored him with Volunteer of the Year Award in 2010. During that year he was recognized by the Texas Chapter of the American College of Physicians with the Volunteer of the Year Community Service Award. Richard has participated in five medical missions to Peru helping to care for indigents at the Hospital Cinco de Mayo. Recognizing a need in his own community, he organized four Community Health Fairs in the Third Ward of Houston from 2009-2012. During this time, Rabbi Walter of Emanu El asked Richard to give the Shabbat Shuvah sermon on what volunteerism meant to him. Richard, along with his father Dr. Daniel Jackson, started a fund in memory of his mother through which they award public funds to public schools in need of supplies, computers and extracurricular projects. In 2010, Richard created the charity Mali Nieta Foundation to help a young man educated here at The University of Houston give back to his country Mali. A clinic in Bamako, Mali, is named for him: Cabinet Medical Dr. R. Jackson. Currently, he is working with U of H technology students on a project to develop a self-contained solar powered classroom to be shipped to Mali. Richard’s spiritual well-being is firmly implanted in tikkun olam. He is happy to serve people through altruistic endeavors in the community.
Emily Jackson Emily Jackson, a native Houstonian, graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a BS in Business Administration with a focus in finance and human resources management. During her time at Wash U, Emily was involved with St. Louis Hillel attending services regularly and helping organize their databases. After graduation Emily spent a few years working in Chicago before deciding to transition herself and her job to Houston to be closer to her family (and warmer weather). A year later Emily took advantage of a great opportunity to teach English in Ecuador for 10 months and then to study Judaism at Pardes in Jerusalem. Soon after returning to Houston, Emily started at ExxonMobil in the Controller’s department and has been there ever since. Most recently, Emily received her Master’s in Business Administration at the University of St. Thomas. Emily currently serves Houston Hillel’s Treasurer. She also volunteers with various non-profit organizations including Undies for Everyone and the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC. Emily enjoys spending time with her family and friends and traveling the world. She’s been to every continent except Antarctica and Australia though she’s hoping to hit the latter one this year.
Louis Gordon z”l Louis Gordon, father of Sandy Jackson and grandfather of Emily Jackson, was the son of Polish immigrants and a native Houstonian. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1941-1945. While serving on the Pacific front, he was an expert at riflery and earned numerous awards including the Purple Heart and Bronze Medal. After receiving his honorable discharge from the Army, Louis returned to Houston and married Frances Stein from Lockhart, Texas. Together, they owned and managed Gordon’s Man’s Store on Broadway Street, side by side, 6 days a week, for 52 years. Louis was a generous man, donating to numerous charities, but never wanting recognition. Hence, his family gave him the title “Quiet Philanthropist”. His passions were his family, sports and the stock market. He was a numbers savant, having the uncanny skill of citing sports statistics, historical data, birthdates, stock market quotes and, much to people’s dismay, guessing their weight within a pound. He also enjoyed bowling, playing poker, traveling to Las Vegas, betting on the horses, and from the comfort of his recliner, watching every sports event on TV. He was a lifelong member of Congregation Beth Yeshurun, B’nai B’rith, Hadassah and Amit. He lived until the age of 94 and died November 12, 2014.
Tamara Siegel Tamara grew up in New York State and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from The University of Massachusetts Amherst. After college, she spent a year as the Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow at Oklahoma Hillel. Tamara then moved to the great City of Houston to become the Director of Jewish Life at Houston Hillel, where she engaged undergraduate students and Jewston twentysomethings for five awesome years (2008-2013). At Houston Hillel Tamara created innovative programs, connected with Jewish students, and grew the GAP (Grad & Professionals) group into what is now known as Jewston. Tamara serves on Houston Hillel’s Board of Directors and co-chaired Houston Hillel’s Vintage Vegas Casino Night in 2015. She has a passion for the amazing work that Houston Hillel does in the community for Jewish undergraduates, graduate students, and young professionals. Tamara met her husband Adam at Houston Hillel’s Shabbat 118 in 2010! She has seen many lifelong friendships, relationships, and meaningful Jewish experiences transpire through the work she has done with Houston Hillel and Jewston. Tamara currently works as an Event Designer for Ideal Party Decorators, has served on the International Special Events Society Houston Chapter Board, and enjoys traveling with Adam and experiencing new places, foods, people, and cultures across the globe.
On Campus Connections to Jewish life on Houston’s campuses take many forms. For Jeremy Penner, Gary Swartz, Hershel Swartz, John Blumenthal and Bob Livitz, it means providing invaluable help with the grills during Houston Hillel’s Welcome Back BBQ. Students at Rice University and the University of Houston enjoyed a unique diversion from studying when Houston Hillel held campus wide afikoman hunts at both campuses. Three afikoman were hidden on each campus each day. Students who found an afikoman were treated to two prizes – a $10 gift card to Amazon.com, and Houston Hillel made a $10 donation in the student’s honor to a charity of his or her choice. Rabbi Kenny Weiss, Houston Hillel’s Executive Director, explained, “The charitable donation is very much in keeping with the message of Passover: Let all who are hungry come and eat. This is Hillel’s way of giving back to the community at this important time in the Jewish year.” Tatiana Uklist, a UH freshman pictured to the right with Michael Scheinthal, said about the afikoman hunt, “My family was never super religious but we also had an Afikoman hunt so it brought back a lot of the memories of me trying to find it before my cousins and brother. It is a fun experience to have with friends and family and it means a lot that Houston Hillel made a donation to the charity of my choice – Autism Speaks. The donation gives students even more of an incentive to find an Afikoman on campus.” Below, Rice University students enjoy their weekly campus lunch. Houston Hillel holds weekly lunch at Rice and the University of Houston, in addition to monthly lunches for graduate students on six campuses.
Around Houston Creating community is second nature for UH Hillel president Galia Weber and Rice Hillel president Jeremy Reiskind, pictured wearing t-shirts from each other’s colleges (the UH t-shirt says “Go Coogs!” in Hebrew). Students from those two colleges and a dozen others come together for Shabbat dinners, often preceded by challah baking. Houston Hillel envisioned and each year organizes Interfaith SermonSlams at Rice and UH. The Interfaith SermonSlams include students of all faith communities including those with no faith at all. The sermons are actually five-minute plays, poems, narratives, songs, stories and other snippets of wisdom. It’s a moderated evening during which around ten students present less than five minute sermons on a prearranged topic. Sermons are judged and awards given for Best Overall, Best Delivery and Most Inspiring. Junior Sharon Ghelman, pictured below to the right, won Best Overall at this year’s Rice Interfaith SermonSlam. AEPi represented Houston Hillel’s undergraduates at the Houston Kosher Chili Cook Off. Houston Hillel and AEPi work closely together to build Jewish life at UH and throughout Houston. Houston Hillel promotes Israel on campus through engagement, education and advocacy. Our students combat BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) through innovative programs and strategic partnerships, such as joining with the Baptist Student Association to sponsor journalist Kay Wilson’s visit to the University of Houston (pictured below). This year Houston Hillel will take seventeen students to the AIPAC Policy Conference, seven of whom are members of the University of Houston’s student government, including the President, Chief Justice and Speaker of the Senate.
Jewston
Houston’s Jewish twentysomethings find a home with Jewston, Houston Hillel’s community for graduate students and young professionals between the ages of 21 and 29. Jewston participants enjoy monthly Shabbat dinners, regular Jews & Brews happy hours, intramural sports teams, book clubs, and various other events. The Jewston website - jewston.org - serves as a portal for new arrivals, while the Jewston Facebook Group enables participants to keep in touch with each other and learn about Jewston events and opportunities in the Houston Jewish community. Jewston creates opportunities for Houston’s twentysomethings to give back to the community. Jeff Sturman joined Jewston for a day of volunteering with Plant It Forward, an organization that offers economically disadvantaged refugees a path to self-sufficiency through urban farming. Jewston participants welcome Shabbat together each month with a dinner at a participant’s home. In addition, once each month Jewston brings twentysomethings together for Shabbat Chill, an opportunity to spend Shabbat in a creative social environment. Gabbi Hauser shares the challah she learned to braid and bake during one session of Jewston’s Jewish cooking series. Last year the series focused on Jewish holidays, while this year the menus highlighted international Jewish cuisine. Jewston also sponsors a Kosher Chili Cook Off team each year.
Thank you! Through your vision and planning you make a commitment to Jewish life on Houston’s college campuses, and to the future of the Houston Jewish community. Anonymous (4) Amy Altchuler Joelle & Jeff Berlat Deisi & Max Blankfeld Sandra Weiss Borak Ilyne Burke z”l Shirley & Alan Cohn Debby & Gary Cortes The Danan Family Marian & Art Daum Frieda & Melvin Dow Barbara & Richard Dryer Lisa & Lawrence Estes Rabbi Gideon Estes Aubrey & Sylvia Farb Karina & Carey Gates Katherine Gomer Michele & Bob Goodmark Louis Gordon
Joelle & Jerry Hamovit Emily Jackson Sandra & Richard Jackson Tracy Jacobson Rabbi Samantha & Matt Kahn Anita Karbelnig Salomon Lahana Laura & JD Leonard Cantor Mark Levine Beverly & Leon Levinson Lena & Eric Lieb Ellen & Richard Lowe Muriel & Marcel Meicler Ione & Sidney Moran Karol & Daniel Musher Carol & Barry Myones Josh Ozer Julia Paeglis Yako Nesim Polikar z”l
Dikla & Daniel Pickelner Janet & Jeff Pozmantier Nancy Rapoport & Jeff Van Niel Meredith & John Roach Barbie & Lennie Roth Lisa & Josh Rothstein Stefani Rozen Marlene & Bob z”l Rubin Rozanne & Howard Rubin Lisa & Michael Sachs Marilyn Shaw Tamara Siegel David Stern z”l Andrea Stolar Kendall Toarmina David Vener Louise Weinstein z”l Rabbis Amy & Kenny Weiss Edith & Bob Zinn
Please remember Houston Hillel in your will, estate plan or beneficiary designation. • Houston Hillel is Houston’s only organization solely dedicated to serving Jewish college students and twentysomethings. • Houston Hillel creatively engages and empowers Jewish students through personal interactions and compelling programs. • Houston Hillel nurtures spiritual growth in a pluralistic community. • Houston Hillel links the campus community to the Houston Jewish community. • Houston Hillel links the campus community to the Houston Jewish community.
Your bequest will provide for the most critical needs at the time the money is received. Or, your bequest can benefit an established endowment fund, and will provide a permanent annual source of income for Houston Hillel. You can also establish a new endowment fund at this time or in the future.
To explore the impact of a legacy gift, please contact Rabbi Kenny Weiss at 713-526-4918 or kweiss@houstonhillel.org.
Thank You to Our Global Gourmet Wine Pull Donors Rachel & Eric Bishop Max Blankfeld Michelle Blumenthal Leah & Eric Cohn Brad du Plessis Emily Jackson Sandy & Richard Jackson Ellen & Richard Lowe Howard McCollum Stefani Rozen
Palmaz Vineyards of Napa Valley Rozanne & Howard Rubin Lindsey Schechter George Starkschall Andrea Stolar & David Vener Fred Wahrlich Rabbis Amy & Kenny Weiss Carol & Gar Willis Joe Williams Naomi Wittlin
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