Temple Judea, one of Miami’s largest Reform congregations, is pleased to announce that world-renowned Holocaust survivor David Schaecter, and his wife Sydney Schaecter, are the synagogue’s 2019 Honorees at their premier fundraising gala to be held April 13, 2019 at 6:30pm. Entitled L’Chaim, To Life!, the Gala will celebrate the lives of these two unique individuals who continually inspire, lead by example and take personal responsibility for ensuring the well-being of others. The L’Chaim, To Life! Gala Co-Chairs are Linda & Michael Bittel and Bella & Jay Newmark.

David Schaecter, a founding member of the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, speaks globally recounting his ‘Choose Life’ story. Schaecter is the subject of the 2017 documentary, ‘A Call to Remember’, by Holocaust scholar, Michael Berenbaum. Born in a small village in Czechoslovakia, Schaecter was a young boy when the Nazis rose to power in Germany and is the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust. The film illustrates his struggle for survival in Auschwitz, his escape, and how Schaecter pieces his life back together following the war.

Sydney Schaecter’s contributions to the South Florida Jewish community have been recognized for more than 40 years dating back to her board leadership positions at the South Dade area office of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and the Alper JCC. Her more recent contributions came notably through her roles as Associate Director of Major Gifts for the Greater Miami Jewish Federation as well as the Employment & Business Development Specialist for ParnossahWorks Miami (now known as J-Works Miami).

Individual Gala tickets are $250 per person for a “L’Chaim” ticket and $180 per person for a “To Life!” ticket. To RSVP and review a variety of sponsorship levels and benefits, see: https://bit.ly/2RsOBaN. For more information on the Gala including sponsorship, email Danielle Spiegelman, Temple Judea’s Senior Director of Advancement at d.spiegelman@judeagables.org or call 305-667-5657 x 2119.

Now celebrating 70 years of Jewish Learning and Living in Coral Gables, Temple Judea is one of Miami’s largest Reform synagogues with approximately 600 member families. Temple Judea's mission is to enrich member’s ever-more complicated lives with the new insights of ancient Jewish heritage. For more information, visit www.JudeaGables.org.