Family and friends fill a special place in my heart, and this week, I was so happy to celebrate with them.
Jonah, my 16-year-old grandson, was selected to be part of the national Junior Scholastic program. His initiation was so special after his spectacular chorus performance the week before.
His high school, St. Anthony’s, brings 600 students together to sing ancient and modern songs and remarkably change “costumes” and necklaces to match the theme of the song. How Brother Joshua brings these young people together with every eye glued on him and singing spectacularly is an extraordinary accomplishment. Jonah loves being part of that — and his lacrosse team, too.
His sister, Addy, had her concert, too, brilliantly singing with her middle school choir.
On the weekend, my 9-year-old granddaughter Sloane performed in seven different dance acts. A star was born!
Her parents and all of my children were there to cheer her on! Her room must look like a flower shop with all the flowers we presented to our star!
Another star in my life is Mona Gora Sterling, whose moniker is “The Golden Lioness.” She was honored by the UJA-Federation at the Woodbury Jewish Center with a luncheon, where she, her husband and her sister, Bonnie Greenfield broke a fundraising record, having raised more money than any previous luncheon honoree.
And there’s a reason Mona is adored and respected by her family, friends and colleagues.
Her sister Bonnie spoke eloquently about their being “miracles” because their parents were Holocaust survivors coming to America and beginning a life of hard work and giving back.
Her father worked in construction, where his daughter Mona tagged along. It stuck, and today her Golden Lioness Corporation is leading the way in real estate investment management and construction.
When her dad Jack, a founding member of the Hampton Synagogue, passed away, Mona and her husband David Sterling created Jack’s House, a building for children’s arts, music, dance and prayer. She managed the property and it was built in record time; now, it has become a gathering point for the community.
Mona’s passions have supported multiple Jewish causes in New York and Israel, making her an extraordinary role model for her children, family and community.
I adore, cherish and respect her because she’s a woman who has learned to juggle many balls with grace and success. She is a role model for all of us.
A bonus at the luncheon was a conversation with Tovah Feldshuh, a member of the Hampton Synagogue, and Lynne Kanner, an executive with the UJA-Federation of New York | Long Island.
Tovah spoke about her journey and struggles becoming a major success on stage, TV and the movies, ironically all with little support from her mom, Lily, who Tovah wrote about in her hilarious book, “Lilyville: Mother, Daughter, and Other Roles I’ve Played.” It’s a must-read book about the complicated world of family.
Finishing the week was a celebration of my friend Juliana Terian’s “commitment” ceremony with her beloved Jack Donohue.
I had a “shower” at my house for them and the sun came out to warm our hearts and souls.
I’m a big believer that when good things happen, we should celebrate them, and so we did with her friends and family. It doesn’t get better than that!
What a week it was!
New shop at The HUB
A new shop is opening at The HUB in Bridgehampton featuring my favorite designer Alex Vinash, along with 10 other clothing designers.
Furniture and interior designers, along with those in the fitness world, were also among the mix, bringing back to the Hamptons Isaac Boots’ classes after a two-year hiatus.
Love to you, my dear readers.
