LOCAL | JFED - WOMEN'S CONNECTION

'Couture and Cocktails' draws sold-out crowd

BY JILL KASSANDER, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

They came to see their friends. They came to enjoy dinner. They came to see the fashions. They came to support Israel.

The Women's Connection of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis 'Couture and Cocktails' was a sold out with 540 people attending the event at the Frontenac Hilton Hotel. The evening of "celebration, fashion and bling" was held in honor of Israel's 60th anniversary. Toby Chod, Heidi Silberman, and Stacy Siwak chaired the festivities.

"We are here to highlight the Jewish Federation's ongoing relationship with Israel," Siwak said.

The film Just One More Thing was shown on two large screens to highlight some of the ways Jewish Federations make a difference in Israel and around the world. Women of all ages from throughout the community were seated at tables named for cities, sites and organizations in Israel such as: Tzfat, the Tower of David and the Israeli Defense Forces. One of the goals of the evening was to show participants a sample of Israel's history and cultural life not often seen in newspapers or on television or portrayed in movies.

"Israel is a small country at the crossroads of the world," Chod said. "It inspires and connects us to our Jewish roots."

Rick Recht and the Beit Israeli Choir opened the program. The Israeli vegetarian meal was catered by Kohn's Kosher Market.

Honorary chair Galia Movitz was joined by her great nieces and nephew, Sophie, Lili and Jeremy Toledano who walked down the runway wearing Israeli children's couture. Movitz led everyone in the Hatikvah and the Hamotzi.

"It's all about celebrating Israel," Movitz said.

Washington University (Wash U) student Ariel Garber said she was "having a great time." She was part of two full tables of students from the school. Garber is active in the Wash U Students for Israel and the Israel Public Action Committee. She is leaving next week as part of the Mayanot Birthright Israel trip.

Wash U student Robyn Michaelson was also happy to be at the event and excited about going to Israel on the Mayanot trip.

"I was supposed to go to Israel the summer after my bat mitzvah," Michaelson said. "But that was the start of the Second Intifada."

Chana Novack of Chabad on Campus alerted the students to the Women's Connection program. She said 114 students are participating in the Mayanot Birthright Israel from Washington University this summer.

"It is very exciting for the students to be here," Novack said. "They rarely get the opportunity to interact with the St. Louis Jewish community. They are actually in the middle of finals this week but they chose to take time out of their studies to be here and celebrate Israel."

...