Valley Beth Shalom Annual Gala
Celebrating 75 Years of VBS
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Honoring
Ilene Berman, VBS Past President
In Honor and Loving Memory of
Yossi Dresner z'l, VBS Ritual Director
Presenting the Inaugural Yossi Dresner Ritual Award to
The Sass Family
Steve Hochstadt & Steve Sass
Stacey Sass Cooperman & David Cooperman
Debra & Larry Sass
Honorees
Ilene Berman, Past President
We recognize the outstanding leadership of VBS Past President, Ilene Berman (2022-2024). Ilene’s unwavering dedication to the community spans decades of participation, volunteerism and activism including VBS Day School President, VBSDS Parent Organization President, VBS Sisterhood President, service on the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles Sylvia Weiss Women’s Philanthropy Cabinet, the Jewish National Fund’s Los Angeles Young Families Chair and Community Campaign Chair, Solomon Schechter Day School Board Director, Encino Community Council Educational Representative, Milken Community High School Head of School Advisory Committee Member, member of March of the Living International Advisory Board, and participant in Women’s League for Conservative Judaism Leadership Institute. Ilene is the recipient of the VBSDS Rita Reznikoff Leadership Award and the Jewish Federation Valley Alliance Women’s Leadership Award. Ilene and her husband Dennis are proud parents of Rabbi Loren Berman, Micah and Samantha Ezrilov Berman and loving grandparents to Gemma Bea.
Yossi Dresner z'l, Ritual Director
A legend in the VBS Community, Yossi Dresner’s career at Valley Beth Shalom began in 1971. First hired as a Hebrew School and B’nai Mitzvah teacher, he became the Ritual Director in 1988. Yossi has touched the lives of thousands of students – some spanning over multiple generations! A master teacher, knowledgeable scholar, and accomplished Ba’al Kriya, Yossi’s style was focused and compassionate. His unique charisma has instilled a love of Judaism in so many. Yossi’s mission was to carry on the traditions that he was willing to fight for as a young soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces. This derives from what he considered his defining moment in life, when he stood with his family, at the tender age of 9, as Israel was historically called into statehood, vote by vote, at the United Nations. Yossi's family is incredibly important to him. His beloved wife, Dr. Maxine Newman-Dresner z’l, was a cherished partner in his journey. They have one wonderful daughter, Robin, and three beautiful grandchildren, Melanie, Joscelyn and Andrew. VBS has been, and will continue to be, blessed by Yossi’s innumerable contributions to our synagogue. May Yossi's memory always be a blessing for us all.
Inaugural Yossi Dresner z'l Ritual Award
Presented to The Sass Family
Steve Hochstadt & Steve Sass
Stacey Sass Cooperman & David Cooperman
Debra & Larry Sass
As one of the first families to meet Yossi Dresner z'l when he came to California from Israel, he quickly became a part of the Sass family. He stayed with them on the holidays so he could walk to synagogue and sat at an honored place at the Sass seders that lasted very late into the night and always concluded with Hatikvah–Yossi standing ramrod straight and proud even after (at least) four cups of wine!
Yossi prepared two Sass generations for their B’nai and B’not Mitzvah and has already been signed up to teach the third. In addition, he regularly “encouraged” everyone in the family — Steve & Steve, Stacey & David, Larry & Debra, Amanda, Jamie, Torie & Max, Maya, Aliza, Jessica and Kiva — to read Torah, Haftorah and participate in services.
Joining VBS was one of the best decisions made by their parents, Max & Pearl, z’l. Active as leaders and sustainers of Jewish life their entire lives (values shared by Debra’s, David’s and Steve’s parents), they inspired the entire family to serve as teachers, camp counselors and USY advisors, on VBS and Day School boards, and as volunteers in the Jewish and wider communities, engaging in Tikkun Olam, building a better world.
Valley Beth Shalom is honored to recognize The Sass Family with our inaugural Yossi Dresner Ritual Award. We continue to miss Yossi greatly, and we will continue to respectfully celebrate his life.
