18th Annual Southampton Chabad Gala Draws Moguls, Socialites, and Philanthropists to the Mugrabi Estate
By Lieba Nesis for easthampton.com
The Chabad of Southampton Jewish Center held its 18th Annual Dinner at the estate of Libbie Mugrabi with cocktails beginning at 5:30 PM. The glamorous Libbie opened her magnificent home to over 450 people who came to pay tribute to Rabbi Rafe and Chany Konikov as well as honorees Herschel Bonchek, Lieba Nesis and Jane Scher.
Being one of the honorees, I had the opportunity to experience firsthand the effort that goes into preparing this epic dinner where each detail is meticulously executed by the Rabbi and his wife-ranging from the magnanimous tent to the phenomenal entertainment of singer Yossi Azulay and comedian and emcee Keith Barany.
This center, which has been around for 25 years, is the first and only Synagogue in the historic Village of Southampton, and contains a diverse crowd from all walks of life and varying levels of observance. Located on 214 Hill Street Rabbi Konikov and Chany, welcome all to their home for Friday night dinner where you can hang out with their eight children while gorging on delicious chocolate chip cookies. Moreover, Chany runs Camp Gan, the only Jewish Summer Day Camp in the Hamptons for children ages 2-14 with Sports, Tennis, Swimming Instruction, and Torah Learning all under one roof.
Tonight’s multifaceted crowd was comprised of those who are regulars of the Chabad dinner including moguls: Howard Lorber, Richard and Amy Miller, Ken, Maria and Brad Fishel, and the Kupfermans as well as some luminaries who are new to the Chabad family such as: Fern Mallis, Dolly and Jenny Lenz, Ruth Miller, Karina Tatarski, Joseph Fichera, the Nesis and Weiss family, Bunny and David Ben Hooren, Jean Shafiroff, Robert and Nelli Hantman, Katlean De Monchy, Paola Bacchini, Arnie Rosenshein, Lucia Hwong Gordon and dozens of others.
