Starry Nights Gala 2009
The event may be over, but the celebration continues with Ve’ahavta’s annual Starry Nights Gala!
Beautiful testimonials from our guests, volunteers, and sponsors have been pouring in, accompanying wonderful photos that depict the celebratory nature of this memorable event.
On these pages, you will find these testimonials and images, as well as speech transcripts (from our honorees) and video footage. We hope that, whether you were in attendance or not, through these materials, you will be able to embrace and reflect on the magic of Starry Nights!
Watch address made by Ve’ahavta Director Avrum Rosensweig.
Testimonials
“In a nut shell, Starry Nights 2009 blew away Starry Nights 2008 – and I thought 2008 was pretty damn good! If the goal was to “WOW” the attendees, mission accomplished!” — Sponsor
“Undoubtedly, great things are possible when there is unity in action and spirit. The event last night was yet another opportunity to raise people’s consciousness about the needs of those who are suffering, and the impact they can personally have in the area of tikun olam. Evenings like last night act to reaffirm one’s belief in the goodness of human nature.” — Guest
“As a non-Jew, I want to take the opportunity to demonstrate the tangible impact you make on people of other groups and faiths. I happen to be Baha’i and as such we have always been friends of Israel since they give our Faith a home inside your Home, in the beautiful city of Haifa. Our grandfather (whom we never met) stationed in Germany just at the outbreak of WWII, as some of you know, issued hundreds of escape visas to Jewish people with the authority of Ambassador to the tiny country of El Salvador in that country. Yet even with that history – as Hispanics we had never been so familiar with the Jewish Faith and people until we met Avrum and your Ve’ahavta family. We are honoured and thankful to have gained insights into the Jewish people and your wonderful values of Tzedaka and Tikun Olam, and even better – to see how the Jewish people of Toronto successfully apply these in concert to transform their community and the World via Ve’ahavta.” — Production Team Member
“Avrum, just a brief note to you and the organizing committee of last night’s Starry Nights…what an amazing evening! It went off without a hitch and was so emotional and inspiring. You chose well with your award winners and, above all, with Mia Farrow who spoke from the heart and with such passion. I cannot remember a night when I was almost moved to tears.” – Guest
“What an outstanding night! I think the message, besides the continued work that needs to be done in Sudan, is that Jews cannot be insular. However, because of this movement in Canada and elsewhere, the genocide in Darfur could be much worse (as Mia cited in her speech). This is little consolation as many other lives hang in the balance. My wife joins me in wishing you a hearty mazel tov and our deep gratitude for being invited guests. Many thanks!!” — Guest
“Starry Nights was perfect!!! Elegant, tasteful, inspirational, motivational, educational and humbling. It was a perfect balance of celebrating Ve’ahavta, the tikun olam honourees, as well as encouraging us all to respond to Mia Farrow’s statement that ‘Knowledge is Responsibility’. It was so evident during the evening that Ve’ahavta, as a ‘small’ organization, takes on that responsibility in such a ‘big’ way.” — Volunteer
Speeches
One of the most significant and memorable aspects of Starry Nights is the roster of tikun olam honorees, who are tirelessly giving back to our community and our world, that we celebrate each year. To read the speeches given by our honored guests in 2009, click on their names below:
Photos
See photographic evidence of the beauty and success of the Starry Nights Gala below!
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