Lubavitch celebrates 30th

A sold-out crowd of almost 500 people, dressed in all their evening finery, came out to the River Rock Resort and Casino Nov. 6 to celebrate 30 years of Lubavitch in British Columbia.

The Chai! Gala 2005 included a reception featuring the live music of the Cherry Classics, as well as a silent auction, wine and hors d’oeuvres. The main event featured renowned radio talk show host and author Dennis Prager, who spoke about the amazing influence of the Lubavitch movement worldwide. This idea was localized in a moving video that discussed the inclusivity of Lubavitch through interviews with Chabad rabbis and other leaders from the Lower Mainland, including former Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell, who said that he hoped he’d come back as a Jew in his next life.

Uri Ariel, who conceived of the Chai! Gala, said he “wanted something that would give people a good time, but would also raise the awareness of Lubavitch in our community.”

And indeed, it was an exciting event. Tzimmes provided the entertainment as guests ate a delicious catered meal, and Red Robinson and Howard Blank emceed the evening. The highlight of the event was a live auction featuring such prizes as a walk-on role in the upcoming X-Men sequel, which was personally offered by film director Brett Ratner; a Picasso lithograph donated by Sergio Patrich of Simone Patrich Galleries; and two first-class tickets to Palm Springs, provided by Harmony Airways. The auctions raised more than $35,000 for Lubavitch B.C.

“The Chai! Gala will be an annual event, featuring a major performer, video presentation and much more,” said Rabbi Yitzchak Wineberg, director of Lubavitch B.C. “There was a need to change our annual gold plate dinner. It had served us very well, but people lost interest. And making another ‘dinner’ was the last thing anyone in Vancouver wanted.”

Planning for the 2006 gala is already underway, said Brent James, chair of the Lubavitch board and of this year’s event.

For more information, or to participate in the organizing of the Chai! Gala 2006, call Lubavitch B.C. at 604-266-1313.

– With material from Lubavitch B.C.