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Bay area
Shalom Bayit
BERKELEY
(866) 742-5667 • shalom-bayit.org
In celebration of 31 years of working to end domestic violence in the Bay Area, Shalom Bayit held its annual gala, “Creating Hope: Voices of Strength,” in May at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Beverly Upton, the executive director of the San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium, was honored with the 2023 Changing Lives Award.
EAST BAY
Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay
BERKELEY
(925) 927-2000 • jfcs-eastbay.org
The JFCS gala benefit featured a reception, a theater performance and social connection in March at Temple Isaiah in Lafayette. The Braid (formerly Jewish Women’s Theatre) performed “True Colors,” a collection of stories featuring “Jews of Color yearning for belonging and the rich and complicated question that is identity.”
SOUTH BAY/PENINSULA
Oshman Family JCC
PALO ALTO
(650) 223-8700 • paloaltojcc.org
The Annual 2023 — the biggest gala to date at the Oshman Family JCC — celebrated “Our Mazel Tov Milestone,” the JCC’s 13th year. Held in March, the event drew 750 guests, employed some 200 people in the live events industry and included “160 minutes of Constellation’s beautifully coordinated light and music.” Attendees enjoyed a pescatarian kosher-style dinner.
NORTH BAY
Brandeis Marin
SAN RAFAEL
(415) 472-1833 • brandeismarin.org
Delicious Israeli cuisine, two bands with school connections and the unveiling of a mural custom designed by Israeli street artist Judy Tal Kopelman exclusively for the Brandeis Marin community were highlights of “Simcha 23,” held in May at Brandeis Marin. The gala celebrated Israel’s 75th birthday and honored school volunteer leaders Sharon and Orr Shakked.