There are basic rules of life, really. Treat people with respect. Have dignity, pride and focus in what you do. Strive to be the best that you can be.
While not automatically followed in the world, these guidelines are basic principles at Denver Jewish Day School. And the result was extremely evident, as proud families, supporters, school administrators and sponsors gathered for the Denver Jewish Day School Annual Tribute Dinner on Thursday.
Denver Jewish Day School began as Theodor Herzl Jewish Day School (Herzl) and was founded in 1975, serving 14 students in grades 1-5. Four years later, in 1979, Rocky Mountain Hebrew Academy (RMHA) was established, with ten students in grades 9-12. Although the size, name and mission have grown, those basic tenets of dignity and respect have been the cornerstone, and the families honored at the annual Tribute Dinner were perfect examples.
Sandy & Lisa Feld, David & Allison Foster and David & Nancy Kaufman illustrated the epitomy of Judaic values as their families joined them to pay tribute. There were lots of “Masel Tovs” heard during the evening and a special surprise came when the Felds’ daughters Devra, Shana and Katie arrived from Israel, unbeknownst to their shocked and delighted parents.
Board Chair Lisa Reckler Cohn superbly navigated the program through the evening, calling it a “business dinner,” and the packed ballroom at the Grand Hyatt indeed “got down to business,” including the presentation of the Star Spangled Banner, Hatikvah and Ole Ole by the Denver JDS Glee Club, a welcome by Head of School Avi Halzel, a video of school activities, presentation of the Neshamah Yeteirah awards to the honorees,a stirring keynote by Snapchat developer Daniel Smith (class of 2008) and a lively auction mastered by Paul Borrillo.
At Denver Jewish Day School, academic excellence goes hand-in-hand with inquiry-based pluralistic Jewish education. Their K-12 curriculum combines rigorous college preparatory classes, powerful Judaic values, and an individualized and supportive environment that stimulates intellectual, spiritual, physical and social success.
For more information, look on their website, denverjds.org. And don’t forget to use your Snapchat.
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- Honorees David and Nancy Kaufman with their kids Simon, Alana and Sam
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- Honorees Nancy and David Kaufman
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- Honorees Sandy and Lisa Feld
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- Sandy and Lisa Feld with their daugthers Shana, Katie and Devra, who surprised them by flying in from Israel
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- Allison and David Foster with their kids Aiden, Abby and Bo
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- Honorees Allison and David Foster
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- Rosetta Steinberg, left, and Ida Goldberger
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- Steve and Rosie Obrand
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- Jack and Millie Zerobnick, left, with Wallie Halper
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- Jason Hearn and Lauren Lautenschlager
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- Henry and Renee Reckler, left, with their daughter, Board Chair Lisa Reckler Cohn and Al Lewis
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- Annabelle Reader walked on stilts during the reception
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- Melissa and Joe Schweid
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- David and Molly Fried
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- Donald and Henny Kaufmann
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- Danielle and Richard Ledezman, left, with Antonio and Melissa Ledezma
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- David and Nancy Kaufman, left, with Hadassh and Rabbi Ahron Wasserman, Jewish Experience
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- Dan and Michelle Shapiro
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- Rabbi Yossi, left, Brian Friedman, Mary Fabrikant and Aaron and Roberta Linkow
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- Don Esstman, left, Head of School/CEO Avi Halzel and David Brown
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- Leslie and Mark Sidell
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- Sam Goss, left, Esti Shapiro and Ari Shapiro
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- Gene and Lee Kay, left, with Stuart Senkfor
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- Elka and Ed Haligman
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- Scott Levin of ADL, left, Rabbi Steven Foster and Hal Applebaum, Jewish Agency
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- Allied jewish Federation’s Doug and Sue Seserman
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- Aiden and Bo Foster, left, with Pam Schaefer and Jeff Young
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- Aimee and Gary Wagner
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- Louann and Micky Miller with Katie Feld (center)
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- Michael and Cynthia Lowinger, left, with Michael and Susan Schwab
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- Jewish Family Service’s Yana Vishnitsky, left, and Louann Miller
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- Carla Muller and David Olds
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- Three generations: Alana Kaufman, Berta Naiman and Nancy Kaufman
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- Bernie and Berta Naiman, very proud of their daughter, honoree Nancy Kaufman
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- Margaret and Arthur McDermott
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- David Kaufman, left, with cousins David and Marcia Naiman
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- Dr. Larry Spivak and Lisa Williams
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- Kim Schneider Malek, left, and Susan Kramer
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- Herzel Melmed, left, with Michael Schaffer
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- Amy and Gerardo Topelson
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- Aundra and Brian Howard, librarian at Denver JDS
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- Harvey and Sue Allon, left, with Michael Opatowski
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- Lee Kay, left, Gary and Joyce Lozow and Harvey Milzer
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- Event planner Amy Toltz-Miller, left, with Robyn Naiman
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- Cindy Levin, left, and Jacki Cooper Melmed
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- Auctioneer Paul Borrillo, left, and Rabbi Levitt
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- Barry and Mindy Knaster, left, and Larry and Sharon Berkowitz
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- Michael and Nicole Milstein
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- The Denver JDS Glee Club before the program
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- Rob, Robyn, Nikki and Noah Naiman
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- Andy Bernstein and Evan Zuckerman
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- Adam and Dan Smith (Dan was keynote speaker) with their folks Clive and Candy
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- Noah Williamson with the Shofar Call
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- Noah Williamson on stage with emcee, Board Chair Lisa Reckler Cohn
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- Noah Williamson
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- Ruth Malman and Michael Opatowski
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- Rabbi Jeffrey and Rhonda Kaye
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- Ha Motzi with children of the honorees
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- The Denver JDS Glee Club sings the Star Spangled Banner
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- The Kaufman/Naiman family
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- Denver JDS Glee Club
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- Head of School/CEO Avi Halzel welcomed everyone
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- Mickey and Nancy Gart
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- Julie Malek and Rick Kornfeld
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- David and Vicki Dansky
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- Ken, Melyssa and Sheryl Feiler
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- Susan Resnick, left, Lower Division Co-Principal; Bryan Hay, Upper Division Head of School, and Elana Shapiro, Lower Division Co-Principal
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- Rabbi Mark Goodman and Josh Lake
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- Head of School Avi Halzel introduces the Felds
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- The Feld daughters say a few words about their parents
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- The Feld family on stage
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- Hugs around for the Feld family
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- The Foster family on stage
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- Allison and David Foster accept their Neshamah Yeteirah award
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- The Fosters on stage
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- The Foster family listens as Rabbi Steven Foster reminisces about sending his son David to what was then Herzl Jewish Day School
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- Rabbi Steve Foster greets Lisa Feld
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- The Kaufman family on stage
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- The Kaufman kids talk about how their parents have many friends in the community “even without things like Facebook!”
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- Proud parents David and Nancy Kaufman listen as their kids introduce them
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- Hugs from the Kaufman family
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- Gabi and Peter Gottlieb
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- Snapchat Inc. developer Daniel Smith, Denver JDS Class of 2008
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- Daniel Smith giving his keynote speech
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- Daniel Smith is a good example of the calibre of students that graduate from Denver JDS.
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- The ballroom crowd listening to Daniel Smith’s speech
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- Auctioneer Paul Borrillo begins the live auction
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- Paul Borrillo, right, lassos a guest during the live auction
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- Paul Borrillo wratcheting up bids
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- Sarah and Benny Levy with future Denver JDS student Ori
