“A BEACON OF LIGHT
– DEFYING ANTISEMITISM AND HATE”
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 7TH, 2026
6:00 PM Reception & Dinner | 7:30 Program
Panthers FTL War Memorial
800 NE 8th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
About Gala 26 - Going & Growing
With G-d’s help, Chabad UF is proudly celebrating its 26th year of serving Jewish Life and Learning at the University of Florida and S. Fe College.
As a true home away from home for our students, faculty, and community, and a beacon of light defying antisemitism and hate, Chabad UF is consistently recognized as the #1 campus for vibrant Jewish life. Torah classes and education, Shabbat and holiday meals, Israel advocacy, immersive trips, Kosher access on and off campus, Holocaust education, care and support, social action, and countless events, are all dedicated to strengthening Jewish continuity, engagement, and pride.
Gala Celebration 26 is a special opportunity to honor our remarkable partners; parents, alumni, students, and friends, whose commitment makes all of this possible. With distinguished honorees and meaningful tributes, the evening will celebrate our shared achievements and unveil exciting new initiatives as we continue to Go & Grow Together. And we are only just getting started.
Hosted at the newly renovated, Panthers FTL War Memorial, Gala 26 will be a spectacular and unforgettable evening. The program is produced by Dovid Weinbaum of DW Productions, with audiovisual excellence by Michael Behar of PressPlay Productions, and an exquisite dinner by Eric Kaufman Executive Catering.
We hope you will join this meaningful celebration together with parents, alumni, students, and friends.
We look forward to welcoming you. Go Gators!
Gala Chairs
RONNIE AND RACHEL ANTEVY
DAVID AND ILANA DRESCHER
Honorees
eric and cynthia stein
Pillar of Leadership Award
kevin and mary kaye ross
Exemplary Parents Award
rami and johanna boaziz
Champion of Jewish Life Award
darren and brooke heitner
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Tributes
Jewish Gator Pioneers
Ilan Nieuchowicz
Rebecca Schoonover
Presidents Tribute
Myriam (Kramer) Prager
Amy Yehudis (Rumbak) Smith
Jacquelyn (Ginzburg) Farzad
Davita (Mabourakh) Hodges
Eric Bassan
Rachel (Benson) Goodson
Elias Benarroch
Orli (Ben-Horin) Sasson
Esther Benchimol
Gil Ben-Ezra
Ernesto Mandowsky
Spencer Greenfeder
Isaac Epstein
Jessica (Zank) Greenberg
Lirun Ronen
Fara (Moscowitz) Dillon
Michal (Paniry) Greenspan
Andrea Essenfeld
Shanie Elkarif
Nicole (Buenavida) Fried
Joseph Bensabat
Daniel Mundlak
Lexi Szafranski
Gala Committee
Albert and Sylvie Abitbol
Alan and Nicole Ackermann
David and Nofit Amar
Jason and Deborah Amsellem
Marc and Miriam Anidjar
Jonathan and Valerie Azar
Michael and Angela Behar
Josef and Bela Barnes
Josh Ben-Shoaff
Michael and Kathleen Ben-Shoaff
Michael and Jenifer Bernstein
Mario and Mayte Bick
Sergio and Mytyl Bister
Brandon and Dani Cohen
Brett Cohen
Stephen and Vicky Cohen
Shane and Rachel Decker
Tzvi and Reyna Dominitz
Zevi and Estie Drizin
Boruch and Yonit Duchman
Rod Danan
Daniel and Jennifer Ehrlich
Eden and Ariel Elkarif
Alex and Esti Epstein
Ryan and Ayelet Faerman
Steve and Donna Feig
Jesse and Mazal Fine
Robert and Rochelle Finvarb
Stephen and Denise Fiske
Ira and Elsa Fox
Joshua and Shterna Friedman
Sean and Hodaya Gabay
Fredric Garvett
Lev and Tamila Gershoyg
Shayna Glickfield
Yakir and Shiran Gola
Levi and Bassie Goldman
Jose and Dalila Gonzalez
Jonty and Yael Hack
Reuven and Iris Herssein
Brett and Beth Hodes
Scott and Cecilia Holtz
Salomon and Brigitte Horowitz
Elliot and Shir Achkandazi
Robin Jetter
Daniel and Marissa Katz
Mitchell and Amy Kaye
Ephraim and Zisi Kaufman
Israel and Gaby Kopel
Barry and Rachel Lapides
Marc and Jean Kim-Lehmann
Roberto and Shirley Leoni
Gregory and Veronica Levine
Martin and Lisa Loewinger
Adam and Alexandra Mait
Brian and Karen Mermelstein
Natan and Shiri Milgram
Diana Mundlak
Josh and Andrea Novick
Mark and Audrey Nesser
Alan and Jessica Nessim
Jeffrey and Patricia Meldon
Eli and Jamie Oppenheimer
Jeff and Dana Pasternack
Devin and Leny Plefka
Eli and Mushkie Posner
Matthew and Bella Cohen
Philippe and Ariela Revah
Eliott and Jennie Rimon
Jacob and Ellie Rimon
Isaac and Aliza Sapoznik
Blanca Schoonover
Ryan and Dina Shapiro
Dovi Snipelisky
Uriel and Jana Spak
Lawrence and Ann Spector
Aaron and Veronica Stolear
Emilio and Fortuna Suster
Michael and Elana Szafranski
Marcel and Claudia Calef
Charles and Dalia Wajsbrot
Isaac and Mariana Wakszol
Eli and Jourdan Burdeinick
Jerome and Rachel Wilkerson
Frank and Marsha Wolland
Jordan Wolland
Jacob and Emily Stein
CHABAD UF JEWISH STUDENT CENTER
Rabbi Berl & Chanie Goldman | Rabbi Aharon & Pessie Notik
Rabbi Meyer & Mushka Brook | Rabbi Mendel & Chaya’le Goldman
2021 NW 5th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32603
(352)336-5877 | JewishGator.com | Office@JewishGator.com
Chabad UF Jewish Student Center is a not-for-profit corporation and federally approved 501(c)(3) organization.
All contributions are tax-deductible.
“A BEACON OF LIGHT – DEFYING ANTISEMITISM AND HATE”