Community

And The
Winner Is...

Synagogue brings Oscar to Academy Awards
celebration in West Bloomfield.

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN

StaffWriter

D

WEST MAPLE
WN BIRM.INGHAM

48.258.0212

4/7
2000

50

ecked out in their
glitziest formalwear,
nearly 100 guests
attending a March 18 .
"Academy Awards Dance Party," entered on a rolling red
carpet in the-glare of a bright, welcoming searchlight.
It wasn't the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium, where the
72nd annual "Oscars" presentations would be happening
the following week on March 26. This glamorous celebra-
tion took place locally at Congregation Shaarey Zedek
B'nai Israel.
In her elegant long gown, event co-chair Mindy
Shuback of West Bloomfield, enjoyed mingling with the
other synagogue members and friends. She said planners of
the event — the Cultural Commission, Men's Club and
Sisterhood — decided a movie awards theme would be
something different and fun to celebrate.
Doing his part, Joe Cornell Entertainment owner Steve
Jasgur showed guests how to swing dance and cha-cha.
During breaks on the dance floor, they socialized at tables
decorated with centerpieces of top hats, champagne glasses,
glittering stars and balloons. A shimmering
disco ball was on the ceiling above.
Contests were held throughout the
evening, Shuback said, including "guess the
Jewish movie stars based on their real
names." Movie passes were prizes.
Before leaving the party, guests checked
off their predictions for winners of the
Academy Awards for best actor, actress,
director and picture. After the broadcast,
committee member Sharon Berry scored
the ballots and declared Dr. Udi Kapen of
Southfield the big winner.
Shuback now sees the event as becoming
as annual as the Academy Awards cere-
monies themselves, though theirs may be
the only Oscar party able to brag of having
"three rabbis in the middle of the floor
doing a dance together." ❑

Clockwise, from top left..

Mike Gus of Farmington dressed for
the occasion in a formal white top hat.

The evening's festivities included
instruction in the cha-cha and
swing dancing.

Linda Zalla, co-chair of the
evening, displays an Oscar award
decoration.

Joyce and Dr. George Blum, co-
chairs of the Cultural Commission,
take to the dance floor.

Evelyn Kale, co-chair of the
Cultural Commission, and Mindy
Shuback, event co-chair, stand in
front of the searchlight.

