BJE Gala - February 25, 2024

FOR TODAY (2/25/2024 ONLY) 

IN CASE YOU NEED TO REACH US 

CONTACT 818-859-5252 OR [email protected]

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU!

SINAI TEMPLE
10400 Wilshire Blvd
5PM

Honoring 

Sharon De Mayo

Rachael Gordon MD & Donald J. Snyder

Alan S. Petlak

Co-Chairs
Gregg Bernstein | Adrian Miller | Allison Samek 

Honorary Chairs
Dr. Tamar and Edward Andrews | Ethie and Steve Hitter 

Sharon and Leon Janks | Sheila Baran Spiwak and Dr. Alan Spiwak 

 

 

Click here for Tickets and Tributes 
 

GALA FAQs

As parents, Rachael, Don, Alan, and Sharon reflect the many paths to a Jewish education. As community leaders, they each have a deep understanding of what it takes to build Jewish education across our entire city.

BJE Executive Director Dr. Gil Graff.

 

Sharon de Mayo grew up in Italy. Upon moving to L.A., Sharon and her husband, Luca, felt a warm welcome at Temple Isaiah, where they enrolled their 2 sons in preschool. Both have participated in Temple Isaiah’s Religious School throughout the years – one as a teaching assistant and the other as a guitar player during Tefillah. Sharon served as Temple Isaiah’s VP of Education for 6 years. She currently serves as VP of the BJE board of directors and chairs the BJE Board Member Education & Engagement Committee.

 

Alan Petlak is an alumnus of L.A. Jewish day schools. He and his wife Lisa chose Pressman Academy and Shalhevet High School for their 3 children and summers at Camp Ramah. Their children’s education began at Pressman’s Early Childhood Center. Alan serves on the Temple Beth Am board. At BJE, he is a Secretary of the board and chairs BJE's Planning and Budget Committee.

 

Don Snyder and Rachael Gordon joined the BJE Board after participating in BJE’s Adult March of the Living; each has served on several BJE committees. Don is a past member of the Board of Temple Beth Am and chairs BJE’s Audit Committee. Their son and daughter attended Pressman Academy through 8th grade, and both graduated from secular high school. Their son spent summers at Camp Ramah and now lives in Israel.

 

We hope you will join us at the gala, when we honor these four distinguished leaders in Jewish education.

BJE is the only organization in Los Angeles wholly dedicated to supporting and enriching Jewish educational experiences, from early childhood through high school, across the full Jewish religious and cultural spectrum.