Berkeley’s Congregation Beth El held its annual gala event, Saharan Sunset. The guests, many of whom are parents of the congregation’s young children, had a great excuse to dress up and have an adult time out complete with music, dancing, open bar, great food and a live auction. The event raises funds for youth and family education programs including: Beth El Nursery School; the amazing Camp Kee Tov (my boys went there every year of their childhood) and religious school scholarships. This year’s Saharan Sunset theme’s decorations transformed the sanctuary into a lavish tent complete with camels at a photo-booth, and a middle eastern band, MWE, with belly dancing.
Bacheeso catered the amazing spread of Middle Eastern food.
Silent auction items included: dinners out, wine, entertainment, lessons and a Shoey Sindel portrait session.
After guests have been photographed a number of times, some have the need to photograph the photographer! I never complain. Do you like my orange/pink hair experiment?
Rabbi Reuben Zellman started off the event with a Havdalah service, followed by dinner, and a little after-dinner belly dancing led by MWE Belly Dancers/musicians and Albert Magid.
Of course, no event is complete without its camel photo-booth. Here’s some of Beth El’s staff and volunteers yucking it up for the camera.
Big ticket items went up for a live auction. People generously donated and bid for fantastic items with all the proceeds going to kids’ programs.
Come next year. It’s always a blast.
Venue: Congregation Beth El,
Catering: Bacheeso
Music/belly dancing: MWE