event
Gabe and Daniella
Mechnikov
By ESTHER ALLWEISS TSCHIRHART
Photography by Bob Benyas
Gal Mailer and
Bonnie Torgow
B
Roger, Andrea, Bill and Harriet Sherr 11110
rd Isakow
idding on a ritual circumcision is not the typical item at a silent auc-
tion. But who's talking typical? Guest Jennifer Silverman of Franklin
said Yeshiva Beth Yehudah arranged a "very well-organized, world-
class event" with their first benefit auction May 18, at Dearborn's
Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
Some 350 supporters raised scholarship funds for students attending the
Yeshiva's day schools in Southfield and Oak Park.
"No speeches tonight — we're here to have fun," said Elana Berlin of
Southfield. She co-chaired the evening with husband Max, a Yeshiva board
member and former student. The handsomely dressed crowd, most
in formal black, perused more than 100 auction and raffle
items. Chayala Levitz of Southfield and her decora-
tions committee artistically arranged the tables.
A patio set, spa pampering, Slurpees for a
year and Manhattan by private jet were list-
ed for the silent auction. Live bids were
Winner of car Abe Schwartz
taken on items like Passover. in Palm
Springs, a Viking grill and trip to
Spain.
The dining room set and
Caribbean cruise notwithstanding;
the biggest raffle prize was a two-
year lease of a Saab convertible,
donated by Glassman Automotive
Group. Abe and Esther Schwartz of
Oak Park were the lucky winners.
Also fun was the $20 "Mystery
Rose," bringing a gift certificate worth
up to $150.
Southfield guest Yehuda Stebbins
praised the "level of excellence" in the
strolling dinner and dessert buffet with crepes.
Among the choices, Phil Tewel of Jewell Kosher
Caterers provided pepper steak teriyaki, grilled
Portobello mushrooms, sushi and salads.
Yeshiva staffer and auction coordinator
Rachel Lea Groundland said the dedicated par-
ents were "helping to set up last night as soon as
Shabbos ended and here today from 10 a.m. to
5:30."
"For a first-time event, we are very pleased
with the results and hope to build on it," said
Rabbi Eli Mayerfield, executive director of the
Tzvi and Becky
800-student
yeshiva.
Friedman
An unidentified grandfa-
ther bought the circumcision
for a future grandson.
ennifer Saka
Ruven
and Aliza
Lerner
1,1 2o
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re
Rob Newman, A
Newman, Judy
Newman and
Carol Levitsky
\
Ceil and Jerry
Liebman
Esther and
Joel Ross