To launch the Jewish National Fund of Toronto's new young leadership group, JNF Future, the organization hosted a rock 'n' roll-themed event for more than 500 guests at the Thompson Toronto on Thursday, called simply the JNF Future Party. "Our entire theme is Israel and the future," said Jian Magen of Magen Boys Entertainment, who co-chairs the group along with Jessica Fenton. (Magen and his brother Page also planned the fund-raiser in conjunction with four event co-chairs, including Michael Kimel, Alana Konopny, Darren Slavens, and Candace Zwicker.)
Magen arranged for a DeLorean (the futuristic car seen in Back to the Future) to be parked at the entrance to the hotel, where a Bruce Springsteen look-alike (from the tribute band Glory Days) performed in front of a step-and-repeat as guests arrived at the event. "I'm a big connoisseur of nostalgia," Magen said. "I feel that when you bring nostalgia to the table at special events, it triggers an emotion in people."
The evening's main entertainment included a performance by Max Weinberg of the E Street Band and Late Night With Conan O'Brien. Weinberg, a drummer, played with a 10-piece band on a stage set up in the hotel's lower-level ballroom, one of four rooms used for the event. "He's one of the most famous Jewish musicians ever," Magen said. "With this being the first event for the organization, we felt we needed to pull something out of the bag."
Magen worked with Luxe Modern Rentals to design an upscale rock 'n' roll lounge in the ballroom. Guests played the Rock Band XBox 360 game, sang karaoke in the theatre, and mingled in a lounge area called Club 1812. "It's meant to be fun. These things are simple. My brother Page and I don't like to think too hard about things. If it's simple and it's fun and brings some colour to the party; that's what we like to do," Magen said.
PR Creative Caterers set up a kosher kitchen in a meeting room beside the theatre to cater the event. "We created a fun, playful menu," said Joe Elmaleh of PR Creative. Hors d'oeuvres included items like beef satay shooters, mini falafel, mini hot dogs, vegetarian beignets, and wild rice, potato, and cranberry mini knishes.
The Jewish National Fund is a charitable organization specializing in the development of Israeli land and infrastructure. Money raised at the event will support the construction of a new playground in Moshav Rehov, Israel.