We’re not sure if it’s because the families send special kids to Denver Jewish Day School or JDS sends them back home even more special, but in any case, it’s clear that the end result is a student and person who is confident, prepared to face, succeed and excel in the world and become a dedicated contributor to Jewish society. This premise was exemplified in the annual Denver JDS dinner Wednesday night.
Jodi Asarch, Gabriela Gottlieb and Michal Peleg Uziyahu were honored for their contributions to the JDS mission and their exemplary way of life in general. Their kids took the stage to give anecdotes about their Moms and it was evident that each is a cohesive, respectful family with lots of humor and camaraderie mixed in.
Each year a graduate of Denver JDS returns for a keynote speech, and this year that speaker was Shoshana Leftin, class of 2008, who is currently an MD candidate at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She talked to the audience about her endeavors, including starting the Einstein Science High School Mentoring Program when she saw a gap in need and services. Her family, friends and community are extremely proud of her.
Denver JDS inspires Jewish youth to think critically about the world in which we live, and prepares them for the role they will play in affecting it. As the Rocky Mountain region’s only K-12 community Jewish day school, Denver JDS provides Jewish youth with a:
- rigorous, college preparatory curriculum
- pluralistic, inclusive approach to Judaism and Judaic Studies
- warm and caring learning environment steeped in Jewish values
-
- Honoree Michal Peleg Uziyahu, top left, with her husband Amir and kids Ron, Shira and Ofri
-
- The Peleg Uziyahu kids Ron, Shira and Ofri
-
- Michal and Amir Peleg Uziyahu
-
- Ari, Emi, Eli and honoree Jodi Asarch
-
- Michal Peleg Uziyahu and her father, in from Israel for the event, Amnon Uziyahu
-
- David, Peter, honoree Gabriela, Yael and Yoni Gottlieb
-
- Sara and Harley Rotbart
-
- Rob and Kaitlin Hahn, left, Sam Balogh, Chris Pickens and Andrea Thomas
-
- Terry and Cindy Boger, business manager for DJDS
-
- Lee Mendel, left, Emi Asarch, Barbara Mendel, Ari Asarch, Amy and Leonard Slosky
-
- JFS CEO Yana Vishnitsky and Rabbi Steven Foster
-
- Joel and Tiffany Appel
-
- Edie Newmark, left, Donna Martin, Rochelle Newmark
-
- Harriet Greenstein, left, Shelley Krovitz, Leslie Sidell
-
- Henry and Renee Reckler, left, Board Chair Lisa Reckler Cohn, Avi Cohn, Rich Cohn
-
- Boaz and Susie Sigman
-
- Barbara Nieder, left, and Sara Nieder
-
- Staci Zimmerman, left, Krista Boscoe (DJDS director of development), Lola Zussman
-
- Lisa Gergely, left, Jennifer Wiener, Rana Kark
-
- Daniel Bush, left, Ben Babakhanov, Jacob Kark
-
- Phil and Debi Bush
-
- Cheryl and Art Katzer
-
- Dana Friedman, left, and Kathi Cramer
-
- Meredith and Ben Levy
-
- David Brown (past board chair), left, chats with Jordan Seharg
-
- Steve and Rosie Obrand, left, Marilyn Bogan, Cindy Silverman
-
- Peter Gergely, left, Mark Sidell, Whitney and Chad Wolz
-
- Carla Muller, left, David Olds, Deb Barwick
-
- Vicki Trachten-Schwartz, left, Melanie Siegel, Jackie Sprinces Wong
-
- Dave McNeil, left, Matt Winter, Bryan Rowe, Tony Pizzichini
-
- Mona Jacobson, left, Sara Megibow, Jessica Ozar
-
- Sandy Feld, left, Jonathan Fishman, Lisa Feld (The Felds were honorees last year)
-
- Michael Marcus, left, and Michael Rudnick
-
- Willie Recht, left, Sue and Doug Seserman, Susan Kramer
-
- Brian Friedman, left, Frank Schneider, Gadi and Sharon Eisner, Dena Schneider
-
- Brian and Dana Friedman
-
- Barry Ogin kids Kendall and Brandon Ogin, (unidentified) and Sandi Ogin
-
- Evi Makovsky, left, and Rabbi Bruce Dollin, Tamra Dollin
-
- Honoree Gabriela Gottlieb, left, chats with Linda Siegel-Richman
-
- Nancy and David Kaufman (honorees last year)
-
- Aaron and Carrie Weiker, left, Silvi Bitton, Nikki Hatch
-
- Elaine Kauffman, left, Sheryl Feiler, Carla Kutnick
-
- Alana Kaufman, left, Aviva Dollin, Leah Sidell
-
- Sheryl and Benjamin Last
-
- Children of honorees with the Ha Motzi
-
- Brandon and Kendall Ogin lead the National Anthem and Hatikvah
-
- Head of School/CEO Avi Halzel welcomes everyone
-
- Avi Cohn helped his mother Lisa Reckler Cohn with emcee duties
-
- Honorees Gabriela Gottlieb, left, and Michal Peleg Uziyahu with Doug Seserman of JEWISHcolorado
-
- Honorees Gabriela Gottlieb, left, Michal Peleg Uziyahu and Jodi Asarch
-
- Eli, Ari and Emi Asarch talk about their mother Jodi
-
- Jodi Asarch on stage with her kids
-
- David, Yoni and Yael Gottlieb proudly talk about their mother Gabriela
-
- The Gottlieb kids share fond memories of their mother Gabriela
-
- Gabriela Gottlieb on stage with her kids and congratulated by Lisa Reckler Cohn
-
- The Uziyahu kids Ron, Shira and Ofri on stage
-
- Michal Peleg Uziyahu hugs her kids
-
- Michal Peleg Uziyahu accepts her award as her kids proudly look on
-
- Michal Peleg Uziyahu on stage
-
- Michal Peleg Uziyahu talks about her times in Israel and at JDJS
-
- Marc Soicher served as auctioneer
-
- Michal Peleg Uziyahu with her Dad Amnon
-
- David Fararhi, left, and Amir Peleg Uziyahu
-
- Alum Shoshana Leftin, class of 2008
-
- Shoshana Leftin talks about her medical school experiences
-
- Shoshanna Leftin has fond memories and thankful for her education at DJDS
-
- The Leftins: Solomon, Shoshana, Patti and Marni
