JUNE 4, 2026
CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL
SPONSOR RECEPTION 4:45 PM
CONGREGATION MINYAN 6:00 PM
GALA DOORS 6:30 PM
Join us for a very special evening as we gather for the Fourth Annual Be The Light Gala Fundraiser celebrating Rabbi Jonathan Infeld & Lissa Weinberger on 20 years of leadership at Congregation Beth Israel.
Tickets | $270
Shape of the Evening
Exclusive Sponsor Reception featuring music by Jeff Stanfield, photo portraits by Clicked Portable Studio & watercolour portraits by Elena Markelova
Congregational Minyan with Rabbi Infeld
Be The Light Gala with plated BCK Kosher meal by Chef Ricci Smith & The Perfect Bite
Musical Performance by Gad Elbaz
Auction with Howard Blank
Rabbi Jonathan Infeld
Rabbi Jonathan Infeld was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Brandeis University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in Near Eastern Judaic Studies and was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in 2002.
He began his rabbinic career as Assistant Rabbi at the Marlboro Jewish Centre in New Jersey. In 2006, Rabbi Infeld moved to Vancouver with his family to become the Rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel, where he has faithfully served the community ever since.
Rabbi Infeld is married to Lissa Weinberger, and together they are proud parents to their three children, Avishai, Yair, and Naomi.
Throughout his tenure, Rabbi Infeld has been at the heart of the Jewish community, advocating passionately for Israel, supporting Jews in need, and strengthening Jewish education. Under his leadership, Beth Israel has experienced significant growth in membership, the creation of meaningful programs, and the development of a strong sense of community and family.
He has guided the congregation through challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Israel, with resilience, compassion, and vision. His steady leadership and dedication have been central to Beth Israel’s strength and success over the past 20 years.
We need your help!
To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Rabbi Infeld, Lissa Weinberger, and their family being part of Congregation Beth Israel, we are collecting messages to be included during the event.
You may leave a message of congratulations, or a story or anecdote about or including Rabbi Infeld or Lissa or their family.
You may also attach and submit any photographs you may have from special events that include the Rabbi or his family. Pictures can be from major life events at the synagogue, or from informal gatherings. We are celebrating 20 years so all eras would be appreciated.
Thank you for helping mark this important milestone!
Our Very Special Guests
Gad Elbaz
Gad Elbaz is an Israeli superstar who is currently the most recognized name and face in Jewish music world wide. With millions of hits on his YouTube music videos, Gad is a top recording artist whose songs are played and covered around the globe. Through his soulful and contemporary sound, Gad has brought Jewish music to a new level.
Gad began to sing and write music at age four. He first appeared with his father Benny Elbaz, a popular Israeli singer, and later broke out as a solo artist recording five albums of his own. His top singles on the Jewish music charts are Halayla Zeh Hazman, Or, Hashem Melech, Al Neharot Bavel, and Hava Nagila.
Gad's music intentionally captures both the observant and secular listener by mixing original and biblical texts with ballads, harmonies, middle-eastern rhythms and modern pop. Many of the songs are a collaboration between him and his wife Moran, where he composes the music and she writes the lyrics.
Isaac Elias
Dr. Isaac Elias is honoured to return this year as emcee for the Be the Light Gala. Isaac is a physician, pediatric specialist, and proud lifelong member of Vancouver’s Jewish community. Deeply committed to both medicine and Jewish tradition, Isaac brings compassion, wisdom, and warmth to every role he undertakes.
He holds degrees from Columbia, Yale, and Western, as well as the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he also received certification in Brit Milah through the Rabbinic Assembly. Isaac completed his residency in Pediatrics at BC Children’s Hospital and for more than five years he has worked in the NICU at BC Women’s Hospital. He sees children of all ages in his community practice where he is a national leader in early literacy.
Alongside his medical practice, Isaac serves the Jewish community as a mohel, guiding families through the sacred tradition of Brit Milah with sensitivity, expertise, and respect.
A dedicated member of Congregation Beth Israel, Isaac has generously shared his leadership with the community. He was a long-time member of the ritual committee, and during the COVID-19 pandemic he helped develop and guide the synagogue’s response.
Howard Blank
Howard Blank has an extensive background in the Entertainment, Media and Not For Profit sectors and serves as director and or advises on many public boards in BC. He also acts as ambassador for ZLC Financial, Innovative Fitness, and The Cerebral Palsy Association of BC. Howard is founder and CEO of Point-Blank Entertainment Ltd. Over the past 25 years Howard has helped to raise over 1 billion dollars for charitable organizations across North America.
Howard has received many accolades and awards and is recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, the British Columbia Community Achievement Medal and the Order of Canada Sovereign’s medal for volunteerism. He recently received the King’s Coronation Medal for his service to Canada at Government House in Victoria.
Thank You To All of Our Generous Event Sponsors
NER TAMID CIRCLE נֵר תָּמִיד ETERNAL LIGHT
TITLE SPONSOR
PRESENTING SPONSOR
ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR
The Lutsky Families
ZOHAR זֹהַר ILLUMINATORS OF THE COMMUNITY
DIAMOND SPONSOR
AMUDEI OR עַמּוּדֵי אוֹר PILLARS OF LIGHT
PLATINUM SPONSORS
BONEI KEHILLAH בּוֹנֵי הַקְּהִלָּה BUILDERS OF THE COMMUNITY
GOLD SPONSORS
Judy & Isaac Thau
SHOMREI OR שׁוֹמְרֵי אוֹר GUARDIANS OF LIGHT
SILVER SPONSORS
Gary Averbach & Family
Marlene & Norman Franks
Mark James Family
Doug and Lana Pulver Family Foundation
CIRCLE OF LIGHT מַעְגַּל הָאוֹר
BRONZE SPONSORS
Rabbi Jonathan Infeld & Lissa Weinberger
Helen Pinsky & Isaac Elias & Christie Menzo
Alan & Candace Kwinter
PATRONS OF THE KEHILLAH חֲבֵרֵי הַקְּהִלָּה
COMMUNITY PATRONS
Darlene & Richard Ames
Heather & Jonathan Berkowitz
Wolf Family
Jessica & Julian Forman
Marty & Janet Braverman
Jody & Harvey Dales
Ethel & David Frankel
Megan & Elliot Laskin
Arturo & Marcela Manes
Lori Satov & Rob Kraft
Bob Markin
FRIENDS OF BETH ISRAEL | יְדִידֵי בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל
SUPPORTING FRIENDS
Rochelle Levinson
Darlene & Richard Ames
Mark Liedemann & Diane Friedman
Myrna Koffman
Shari & Stephen Gaerber
Larry Rice & Joanne Sheps
Ken & Leah Levitt
Gerri & Mark London
LYN
Marcy Schwartzman & Larry Vinegar
Leah Pomerantz & Mark Gurvis
Bette-Jane Israels & Steve Simon
Miri and Larry Garaway
Dr Erik & Paige Swartz
Keren & Phil Gertsman
Dr Perry & Karen Trester
Nassa Selwyn, Cheryl Burnstein & Debbie Burnstein
Elspeth Flood & Harry Satanove
Rabbi Adam & Tamar Stein
Sponsorship
Be The Light has sponsorship opportunities at every level.
All sponsors who support us with $1,200 or higher will be invited to an exclusive sponsor reception before the gala along with other perks including ticket packs, premium seating, and advertising.
Check out all the details below.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 GALA COMMITTEE
Kerry Benson
Vanessa Diamond
Fai Gelfand
Carol Konkin
Gaynor Levin
Lisa Romalis
Hedy Rubin
Jacci Sandler Head of Development
Juliette Sandler
Leatt Vinegar Savinkoff
Paige Swartz
Jennifer Wolf President of the Board