YIJE Anniversary Dinner

With a program that was both elegant and unique, the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates recently held its 44th Anniversary Dinner at Temple Beth Shalom in Roslyn. The synagogue at the center of the Jamaica Estates community used the occasion to highlight the talents of two couples who themselves have been integrally involved in the execution of the YIJE anniversary dinner for many years. Over the course of the last 10 years, the YIJE dinner has gone from typical a shul fundraising event to an anticipated evening-out filled with good food, good friends, and engaging entertainment.

In an appropriate twist for the month of Adar, this year’s honorees, Fran & Yeeshai Gross and Sandy & Edit Shmuelly, actually planned and executed the evening’s program. In her opening remarks, Dinner Chairperson Yael Schreiber thanked the atypical honorees for all of the time, effort and resources they put into the event, noting that “most honorees would take advantage of the fact that they are being honored and step back to let the committee and others do the work,” but as usual, the Grosses and the Shmuelys gave “their time, unique talent and expertise to help produce and entertain us at the dinner [as they do] each year.”

Although quite elegant, with red carpet entry and formal photos being taken, the evening’s program was set in a relaxed atmosphere furnished more like a lounge than a typical dinner venue. Guests enjoyed an endless buffet prepared by Colbeh and sat at café tables and couches all centered on a center stage with a giant LED wall. The mood for the evening was set during the buffet with a performance by Jeb Guthrie and Rob Taube and their incredible cover of music favorites from decades gone by.

Following remarks from YIJE President Dror Rosenfeld, Rabbi Emeritus Shlomo Hochberg and Mara D’atra Rabbi Dr. Dov Lerner, the crowd was treated to popcorn during a screening debut of “A Dinner Gone Wrong,” a hilariously funny mockumentary about the making of a YIJE dinner. The film was produced and directed by Gross and featured a cast of more than 75 YIJE members, including the rabbis.

The honorees were then presented with beautiful gifts from the Shul as well as proclamations from State Assemblymember David Weprin and New York City Councilmember Jim Gennaro. During his presentation to the honorees, Mara D’atra Rabbi Dr. Dov Lerner expressed that within the walls of YIJE lives a community of friends who feel like family, who sup - port each other in moments of grief and inspire each other in times of joy.” In addressing the Grosses and Shmuelys directly, he continued, “we are all so thankful for all that you have done and continue to do, to help make our community thrive and grow. You are, all four of you, exemplars of devotion to others and a commitment to a mission to lift the spirits of your peers through music and media, with humor and harmony. To be in your company is to feel seen and heard and embraced –as you all exude such grace and never fail to bring a smile to my face.”

The night concluded with a remarkable concert by Sandy Shmuely, where he entertained the audience with an array of Jewish music, including several of his popular hits. To everyone’s surprise, Sandy’s close friend, Yoel Sherabi, made an unexpected appearance on stage at one point. For over an hour, Sandy and the others had the audience singing along before the night reluctantly came to an end.