What was billed as A Night of 60 Dinners turned out to be 100 celebratory meals taking place throughout Colorado, attracting 2,000 guests eager to get a head start on marking Israel’s 60th anniversary.
It was midnight May 14, 1948, when provisional government leaders signed documents declaring Israel an independent state, and it was the dinner hour in Colorado April 8 when 100 prominent Jews opened their homes for the first in a series of observances leading up to the actual anniversary.
The event was sponsored by the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, and each host was given a Party in a Box kit that included invitations, menu ideas, recipes, facts about Israel, suggestions for children’s activities and other goodies to help set the mood.
Each host was responsible for inviting the guests and setting the time and place for the dinner. Hosts also could ask the federation to put them in touch with an Israeli living in the metro area, who would attend the dinner and talk to the guests about life in Israel.
Among those opening their homes for the occasion were Elaine and Dr. Richard Asarch; Lisa Farber-Miller and David Miller; Amy and Steve Morris; Judy and Ken Robins; Leslie and Mark Sidell; and Nancy and Mickey Gart, who welcomed 50 friends to their home in Cherry Creek North. Susan Weinberger was the event coordinator.
What’s ahead?
Whirled Peas Catering is doing the food Saturday night for a dinner benefiting The Joshua School for children with autism. It’s at 2303 E. Dartmouth Ave. and the $150 donation includes hors d’oevures, open bar, comedy by Kevin Fitzgerald and dancing to Jakarta. Call 720-333-0063 … Colorado first lady Jeannie Ritter, along with such media personalities as Adele Arakawa, Gregg Moss and Kathy Walsh, are among those volunteering an hour of their time this week to help record a textbook for the Rocky Mountain unit of Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic … Lola Coastal Mexican Restaurant, 1575 Boulder St., will have several guest chefs in its kitchen April 30 to prepare a dinner benefiting Brent’s Place and the services it provides to young cancer patients. Sheila Lucero (Jax Fish House), Matt Selby (Vesta Dipping Grill), Goose Sorensen (Solera), Tyler Wiard (Elway’s) and Duy Pham (Aqua) will be preparing the food; tickets are $75 and $150. Call 720-570-8686.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also,blogs.denverpost.com/ davidson.
