The 14th Annual JFS "Night at the Movies" presents

                                            Beaufort

         2008 Academy Award Nominee for Best Foreign Film

                                        May 22, 2008

                                              5:45pm

                       Reception @ Suitable for Framing

                                              7:00pm

      Raffle Drawing and Showing @ Westhampton Theater

                Tickets: $50 Movie, $65 Raffle, $100 Combo

Order tickets by phone at 282-5644, ext. 0, or by e-mail at information@jfsrichmond.org.

On Thursday evening, 22 May 2008, the JFS Annual Night at the Movies will bring Beaufort a film by Joseph Cedar to the Westhampton Theater. This will be the first and only time the film will play in a Richmond theater. Winner of the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 57th Berlin Film Festival, Winner for Best Film 2007 by Israeli Film Critics and Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Entertainment Weekly says Beaufort is “A movie of tremendous power!”

Built by the Crusaders in the 12th century, Beaufort (or the “Beautiful Fort”) was controlled by the PLO (the Palestine Liberation Organization) during the 1970s civil war in Lebanon.

However, the Israeli army captured the fort in June of 1982, in a battle that marked the beginning of the first Lebanon war. Israeli troops held the strategic Beaufort Castle, in Southern Lebanon, for 18 years (from 1982 to 2000), but internal debates about the occupation and grassroots protests eventually lead to their covert withdrawal. Based on a
novel by Rom Leshem, BEAUFORT revives the events that took place before Israeli troops withdrew from this famed military base.

In addition to presenting a great family film, JFS will hold an exciting raffle!

Movie and raffle ticket combos are $100 each.
Movie tickets sold separately are $50
Raffle tickets sold separately are $65.

A portion of each movie ticket is tax-deductible.

Tickets will also be sold by JFS Board Members and at the box office the night of the show.

A pre-theater reception at Suitable for Framing at 5:45 p.m.
Theater opens at 7:00 p.m.
Movie begins at 7:30 p.m.

For years, JFS’ movie fundraisers have supported JFS clients in need of subsidized fees for counseling, home health care, and other services. This year, the agency is proud to bring such an outstanding film to Richmond. Board president Kenneth Bendheim and Events chair Elizabeth Thalhimer Smartt say “This event is an excellent opportunity for our community to support JFS and to remember the past that unites us and the future that we are all working towards.”

Order tickets by phone at 282-5644, ext. 0, or by e-mail at information@jfsrichmond.org.

“JFS Israeli Wine Festival a Hit”

Robert Parker just declared over a dozen Israeli wines to be “World Class” giving them 90 points or higher! With this in mind, wine enthusiasts from the Richmond area braved the wintry mix to enjoy a unique experience with JFS on Saturday, January 19th at the Troutman Sanders Building in Richmond, VA.  Guests enjoyed an evening of sampling 15 of the hottest wines out of Israel, along with incredible food prepared by Richmond’s favorite chefs. The festival’s location, the 15th floor of the Troutman Sanders building, provided the attendees with beautiful and endless snow-kissed views of Downtown Richmond and the James River. The JFS Israeli Wine Festival is the largest showcase of Israeli wines this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Decanter Magazine tells us that “you shouldn’t underestimate Israel’s winemaking prowess,” and Richmond now agrees! Guests tasted red, white, and dessert wines from some of the best Israeli labels including Yarden, Gamla, Kinneret, Ella Valley and Recanti. They enjoyed pairing these great wines with food by Anything Goes Catering, A Sharper Palate, BlackFinn Restaurant and Saloon, Mise en Place, Old Original Bookbinders, Jay Frank, Rostov’s Coffee and Tea, The Melting Pot, and Three Monkeys.  Guests rounded out their evening participating in a silent auction and enjoying live Jazz by the J. Smith Trio.

If the snow kept you home, not to worry!  You can still taste these great wines.  Barrel Thief Wine Shop and Cafe is taking orders for wine that was showcased at the festival.  Call JFS or Barrel Thief for a wine list and order form.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit JFS.

Internationally renowned wine critic Daniel Rogov of Tel Aviv, a frequent contributor to Hugh Johnson’s wine guides and Tom Stevenson’s Wine Reports, was excited for this one of a kind event.  He recently told JFS that he was “delighted that the event came off so well.” Rogov’s Guide to Israeli Wine 2007 can still be purchased for $10 from JFS with all proceeds benefiting JFS programming.

    To view pictures from the JFS Israeli Wine   

                 Festival, Please click HERE

13th Annual JFS Night at the Movies: A Great Fun Had by All

On Thursday evening, May 10, 2007, the JFS Annual Night at the Movies brought Ushpizin,  a film by Gidi Dar to the Westhampton Theater.  The film proved to be quite the comedy as evidenced by frequent laughter from the audience as everyone enjoyed this humorous look at the daily lives of ultra Orthodox Jews learning, living, and loving in modern-day Israel.

The evening began with a pre-theater reception held at Suitable for Framing.  Kenny Bendheim from Anything Goes Catering and other volunteers prepared a delightful array of delectibles and wine.  Community members, JFS staffers, and board members celebrated the important work JFS does to help individuals and families reach their full potential. 

In addition to presenting the film, JFS held a raffle, with eight great prizes.   This year: Bruce Perretz won a Dinner for 8 at Francis Lewis’ house catered by Jay Frank and Anything Goes Catering; Sydney Fleischer won a sterling silver Hidalgo pendant donated by Jack Kreuter Jewelers; Susan & Art Davis won a cooking class for 14 at Kitchen Design Works; Susie Byer won a Ceramic vase with flowers by Marianne Metzger; Mort Thalhimer, III won a week at a vacation home in Duck, NC; Carole Weinstein won a print by Sallie Thalhimer; Bob Rolfe won a dining package to area restaurants including La Petite France, Buckhead’s, Shackleford’s, Little Venice, Manakin Grill, and Graffiti Grille; and Bryan Kocen won four tickets to the 2nd Annual JFS Wine Festival to be held January 19, 2008.  Thank you to all the community members and local businesses that donated raffle prizes.

For 13 years, JFS’ movie fundraisers have supported JFS clients in need of subsidized fees for counseling, home health care, and other services.  This year was no exception!  Thank you to all who participated in this great event. 

JFS Holds its 158th Annual Meeting & Welcomes a New President

The Richmond Jewish and greater community installed the 2007-2008 Board of Directors for JFS at its 158th annual meeting held on April 12, 2007.  Kenneth Bendheim with Anything Goes Catering is President, Susan Craven with WKH Consulting LLC is 1st Vice President, Jerry Samford with Troutman Sanders is 2nd Vice President, Mike Eisenman, Director, Career Center for Schools of Engineering and Business, VCU, is Treasurer, Amy Burman with Markel Corp. is Secretary, and Linda O. Ferguson, Community Volunteer, is Immediate Past President. 

Board Members are:  Thomas Asch with Shockoe Development, Jennie Barrett Shaw with Keller Williams Realtors, Rabbi Martin Beifield with Congregation Beth Ahabah, Melissa Brownstein, Community Volunteer, David Buchsbaum with Anthem, Miriam Davidow with Richmond City Schools, Brian Greene with SeltzerGreene, Steve Gross with HCA Hospitals, Peter Kauffman with Wachovia Securities, Eileen C. Kitces, MD, with Richmond Dermatology Specialists, Andy Kline, is an Attorney, Bryan Kocen with Straus, Itzkowitz, and LeCompte Insurance, Sid Koerin, a Community Volunteer, Erica Mindes, a Community Volunteer, Jon Moss, Clinical Psychologist, Steven Richman with The Resource Group, Michael Schewel with McGuire Woods, Jane Schumann with Congregation Beth Ahabah, Elizabeth Thalhimer Smartt with Smartt Ideas, and Emily Vorenberg with Henrico County Public Schools.

Along with the installation of board members, JFS programs, staff, and volunteers were recognized for another year of innovative quality service delivery.  Special recognition was given to Amy Burman for her continued dedication and help as Secretary to the Board and for her success in writing grants and to Al Goldfine and Syral Specter FY 2006 Volunteers of the Year.

CLICK HERE for pictures of the festival as seen in

Richmond Magazine