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Message: <br /><br /> If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/59085/full/59085/jews-for-fun-hosting-rosh-hashanah-bash-at-s.f.-fairmont/ <br /><br /> <b>Jews For Fun hosting Rosh Hashanah bash at S.F. Fairmont</b> <br /> Thursday, August 26, 2010 | by amanda pazornik <br /><br /><p>Rosh Hashanah may not be known for a ball drop or glittery party hats, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go a little wild.</p> <p>Jews For Fun founders Michal Tavrovsky and Jenny Belotserkovsky are throwing a party to kick off the Jewish New Year in high style. The second annual Rosh Hashanah Ball is Sept. 4 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Guests can expect dancing, entertainment, food and more.</p> <p>“This is not your typical religious get-together at a synagogue,” Tavrovsky, 29, said. “People enjoy having a good time, even though it’s a religious holiday. We wanted to do something that was different and fun.”</p> <p>Tavrovsky and Belotserkovsky, 26, are the team behind Jews For Fun and Jews For Entrepreneurship, a set of social networking organizations for young adults.</p> <p>“As Jews we share a lot in common and connect well with each other,” the duo says on the Jews For Fun Facebook page. “Let’s celebrate our rich, cultural heritage and share what our ancestors gave to us.”  </p> <p> <div class="capDivLeft" style="width: 216px;"><img alt="baball_216" class="left" height="144" src="http://www.jweekly.com/images/uploads/baball_216.jpg" title="Jenny Belotserkovsky (left) and Michal Tavrovsky party at last year’s Émigré Gala." width="216" /> <div class="caption">Jenny Belotserkovsky (left) and Michal Tavrovsky party at last year’s Émigré Gala.</div> </div> Jews For Entrepreneurship is the business side, with an online space for Jewish entrepreneurs to connect their ideas. The group hosts regular happy hours and panel discussions with local Jewish CEOs. It also welcomes professionals to expand and promote their businesses through its website, <a href="http://www.jfenetwork.com">http://www.jfenetwork.com</a>.</p> <p>Jews For Fun is the entertainment side — the name behind parties such as the Rosh Hashanah Ball, Valentine’s Disco party and the Sapphire Ball. Its Facebook page boasts nearly 1,200 members. </p> <p>The duo agreed that they want partygoers to “relax and know the Jewish community has the option for high-quality entertainment.”  </p> <p>“We felt like we could bring something new and valuable to the community,” Tavrovsky said. “At Jewish events, it’s always hard to meet people. Guests come with their friends and don’t always intermingle.”</p> <p>Added Belotserkovsky: “When you come to enjoy yourself, those are the moments when you can actually meet people. That’s when you’re in your best shape.”</p> <p>This year’s Rosh Hashanah Ball is co-sponsored by the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame of Northern California. Together, the organizations will auction art and sports memorabilia. Proceeds from the silent auction will go toward scholarships for Jewish student athletes.</p> <p>Future Hall of Fame inductee Sam Warburg, a four-time All-American tennis standout at Stanford University, is scheduled to appear at the event. The Sacramento native turned pro in 2005, breaking into the top 200 a year later. Warburg retired in 2009.</p> <p>Tavrovsky said additional star athletes have been invited, but guests will just have to be surprised upon arrival.</p> <p>This is not the first time that the Jews For Fun duo has planned a party of this magnitude. Last year’s Rosh Hashanah Ball at San Francisco nightclub Ruby Skye drew hundreds.</p> <p>Tavrovsky, a graduate of Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and Belotserkovsky, a U.C. Berkeley graduate, launched Jews For Fun in May 2009. What started as a Facebook group and a few happy hours has grown into a self-funded, for-profit organization.</p> <p>Planning events, networking and maintaining their websites is a full-time job for the Russian natives, who both came to the United States in 1995. At this point, Belotserkovsky said Jews For Fun is breaking even, allowing them to expand their ventures to Southern California.</p> <p>With more than 200 people expected to attend, the Rosh Hashanah Ball will be a chance to promote the group and its other events to newcomers.</p> <p>Says Belotserkovsky, “Rosh Hashanah is something people want to celebrate and we’ve had a very positive response so far.”</p> <p>The second annual <strong>Rosh Hashanah Ball</strong> is 8 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason St., S.F. Guests must be 21 and over; black tie optional. Tickets: $50 until 12 p.m. the day of the event; $60 at the door. Information: <a href="http://www.jewsforfun.org/calendar.php">http://www.jewsforfun.org/calendar.php</a>.</p>

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