RJDS celebrates No. 10

The reward for all their efforts surrounded them as the founders of the Richmond Jewish Day School (RJDS) gathered with more than 200 of their friends to celebrate the school's 10th anniversary.

The gymnasium in the school's five-year-old facility was decorated by pictures, candles and other memorabilia that showcased 10 years of considerable growth as the RJDS choir kicked off the evening.

After a brief introduction from co-presidents Sheryl Morris and Jonathan Kallner, the school's first president, Shael Wilder, who travelled from California to attend the celebration, recalled the institution's first days.

"I remember driving home from the inaugural board meeting held in September 1991, thinking to myself how we all feel strongly that the Richmond Jewish community needs a local day school but we have no experience establishing a school, we have no land or building, no teachers or students, and no money," he said. "But our group of eight pioneers had energy and enthusiasm, determination, commitment and hope. So we found ourselves asking the Richmond Jewish community to get behind what essentially was a dream."

The pioneers Wilder was referring to were members of the first RJDS board, which included Faye Elias, Bev Davis, Marilyn Jordan, Cindy Rosen, Rabbi Martin and Joan Cohen and Marilyn Berger.

He also acknowledged the school's first employee, Bev

Immerman, who is still involved with the school as a Grade 2 teacher.

Opening its classrooms in 1992 with 55 students, the Richmond Jewish Day School was originally located in a portable building on the back lot of Beth Tikvah Synagogue. Today, with more than 150 students, the school is thriving at its location on No. 5 Road.

The 10th anniversary evening also featured speeches and presentations by RJDS alumni, a Powerpoint presentation and a birthday candlelighting and cake-cutting ceremony.

Dignitaries at the event included Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver (JFGV) executive director Mark Gurvis, JFGV director of community planning David Berson, Fred Hurst, the head of the Federation of Independent Schools Association, and RCMP constable Micky Mansoor, the liaison officer for RJDS.