By Sharon Wisch-Ray
sharonw@texasjewishpost.com

A number of important, not-to-be missed events are lined up for October:

• The Dallas Jewish Community Foundation will hold its first Community Annual Meeting at 7 p.m., Oct. 19 at Temple Shalom. The meeting will be dedicated to all DJCF fundholders. Since the original planned fundholder’s reception was canceled due to Yitzhak Perlman’s emergency surgery, DJCF wanted to reschedule this important event as soon as possible.
  The Dallas Jewish Community Foundation has experienced an exceptional year of growth and new initiatives.  It is thanks to the generosity of our numerous supporters and fundholders that has afforded us the opportunity to make this world a better place.
  In appreciation of its philanthropic fundholders, DJCF invites the community to join them to toast the tremendous impact it has achieved, and welcome its new leadership team. Most importantly everyone will show their appreciation to our generous fundholders.
  Please RSVP by Oct. 16 by calling 214-615-9351 or email nshovar@djcf.org.
• On Oct. 13, Shearith Israel will begin its yearlong Embracing Judaism adult education class. The course meets every Tuesday evening from 7-9 p.m at Shearith 9401 Douglas Ave. in Dallas.
  Over the years, Embracing Judaism has been an extremely popular and important class for interfaith families and those considering conversion to Judaism.
  It has also proven deeply meaningful and helpful to those who grew up in Jewish homes but who are seeking greater insight and connection to the rituals of Jewish life. Embracing Judaism introduces the basics of Jewish thought, practice, holidays and history through lectures, discussions, hands-on experiences, reading and meaningful personal sharing along the way.
  Committee members have been hard at work planning the 2015 Dallas Shabbat Project. Key events will be a communitywide challah bake from 7-9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Aaron Family JCC. Men, women and children 10 and over are invited to attend. To register for the event, visit http://bit.ly/1PgW7ky.
  On Shabbat, Oct. 23-24, synagogues throughout the Metroplex will have special programming. The grand finale of the 2015 Dallas Shabbat Project will be a communitywide Havdallah concert at from 8:30-11 p.m., Saturday Oc.t 24 at the Aaron Family JCC. Renowned Jewish musician Eitan Katz and his orchestra will perform. General admission is free and sponsorships are available at $36 and $100. To register for the Havdallah concert visit http://bit.ly/1OWtWbc.

The Dallas Chapter of Hadassah will honor Nicole G. Small, CEO of LH Holdings, Inc. and president of the Lyda Hill Foundation, at its annual fundraising event, Saving Lives: One at a Time, from 6-8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015 at the home of Jodi and Seth Weisblatt.
Small served as the inaugural Eugene McDermott CEO of Dallas’ Perot Museum of Nature and Science.  Joining the Dallas Museum of Natural History in 2001, she first served as a member of the museum’s expansion team from 2001 until she was named CEO in April 2002. In 2006, Ms. Small spearheaded the merger of the city’s three then-existing nature, science and children’s museums into a sole museum, which later became the Perot Museum.
Featured speaker will be Stewart Greenberg, accomplished trial attorney in both Miami and New York.  In 2012, Greenberg was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma and was told there was no treatment that could save him.  In spite of the devastating news, Greenberg met with Hadassah specialist Dr. Michal Lotem at the Center for Melanoma and Cancer Immunotherapy at Hadassah’s Sharett Institute of Oncology in Jerusalem and was accepted into a personally tailored melanoma vaccine trial.
Mr. Greenberg will speak about the treatment that reversed his grave prognosis.
For more information about this event or to become a sponsor, please contact Ruth Hendelman at rhendelman@hadassah.org.