TORONTO — The Birthright Israel Alumni Community (BAC) held its second BAC2FASHION event, a runway and dance show, on June 3 at Six Degrees.
Models strike a pose at BAC2FASHION event. [Noah Gano photo]
Hundreds of Birthright Israel alumni, family members and friends gathered at the nightclub to support the charity event which raised $33,000 for the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s seniors initiatives.
“Seniors comprise one of the largest vulnerable groups in the community,” said Melissa Lass, a co-chair of BAC2FASHION. Noah Zatzman, Ehren Gluckstein, Jessica Taylor and Jen Weisz, all past Birthright Israel alumni or trip leaders, were fellow chairs.
“Many of us have been privileged to share wonderful relationships with our grandparents. They are our teachers, our role models and our heroes. We feel deeply connected to our cause and look forward to giving back to a generation who has given so much to us,” Lass said.
Today, many seniors live alone and lack connections to or awareness of social, recreational, educational and wellness support. BAC2FASHION aims to enhance this support through UJA initiatives that provide portals for isolated seniors to access vital services and programming, as well as increase assistance for the poverty stricken.
This year’s theme, the Remix, displayed how modern fashion, music and dance have been influenced by previous generations. “With the idea that everything old is new, and that trends come back, we wanted to honour our grandparents and loved ones through the show. That is why much of the music was modern remixes from classic songs,” said Zatzman.
BAC2FASHION was born from a vision to showcase talent and encourage young people to make a positive impact on society, Zatzman said. “We wanted to pay tribute to ‘the greatest generation’ and so that became the show’s cause and a theme that was woven through the visuals and dance.”
Zatzman said it’s essential that younger Jewish community members come together to help the older generation. “As the baby boomers begin to retire, we all have to be aware of our responsibilities to them. They took care of us, and now the time has come for us to take care of them.”
One of the evening’s highlights was a series of video clips interspersed throughout the show of Birthright participants and their grandparents reflecting on their memories and relationships. “I think they really touched everyone and brought the theme and cause full circle,” Zatzman said.
Lionel Robins, chair of the UJA Seniors Task Force, congratulated the Birthright Israel Alumni Community on their efforts to combine “the passion for fashion with the passion for giving back to the Jewish community.” He said he looks forward to working with the leaders and participants of the show “to put the funds they have raised to use through engaging marginalized and socially isolated seniors.”
The show featured fashion from boutiques such as American Apparel, Over the Rainbow, Sense of Independence, Boa and Quagmire Golf. It also highlighted collections from up-and-coming Canadian designers, including Jay Godfrey and Erin Kleinberg, whose lines are gaining traction in the New York fashion scene.
With an eco-friendly twist and hand-sewn beading and embellishments, Kleinberg provides the ultimate in luxury while maintaining comfort in her line. Recognizing her design esthetic from the start, Barneys New York picked up her first collection and has since been a strong supporter of her brand.
Godfrey’s collection targets the fashion-forward and glamorous woman and has been featured in Elle, Cosmopolitan and the New York Post. His designs have also attracted a celebrity following, including Eva Longoria Parker, Jennifer Lopez, Eva Mendes and Petra Nemcova.
“The evening was an incredible success,” said Weisz, who founded BAC2FASHION in 2008 with Jordan Morra and was the show’s model choreographer. “We had a packed house, great feedback to the raffle prizes and every person in the audience loved the event.”
