Toronto women gathered for a Chinese Auction event to benefit Bais Chomesh, enjoying comedy by Marc Weiner and raffle drawings.

A capacity crowd gathered in Toronto on 26 Teves to enjoy an evening of entertainment and excitement at the annual Bais Chomesh Chinese Auction.

This highly-anticipated event provided a welcome break during the long winter and featured a hilarious performance by the gifted Jewish comedian Marc Weiner, who kept the audience laughing steadily with his funny and insightful anecdotes about becoming religiously observant.

Guest speaker Mrs. Ahava Spillman spoke eloquently on the topic, "Eight Ways to Make a Good Life Great" - offering effective techniques to improve our attitudes and our lives. Wise explanations about change, control, life's tests, the power of women, and humility were interspersed with Chassidic tales, modern miracle stories, and funny comments to emphasize her points. Accenting the benefits of positive thinking and increasing in acts of goodness, Ahava Spillman affected the audience with a resolve to change and grow.

As a seasoned college educator who values the importance of tests in the classroom as a means to truly integrate and absorb what has been learned, Ahava reminds us that, "Tests are good for us. They are one way for Hashem to tell us He cares about us and loves us. That He has high expectations for us and is giving us an opportunity to grow."

Understanding what we gain from life's tests, and approaching them with the proper attitude, is one way to elevate a 'good' life to greatness.

Close to 50 women were delighted to win valuable prizes at the auction, such as a diamond necklace, a trip to Israel, electronics, cameras, clothing, an Allegria wig, seforim, household items, and lavish gift packages for men, women and children. All proceeds support Bais Chomesh High School of Toronto - a school with a sterling reputation for 'educating the leaders and illuminating the homes of tomorrow'.

Prize Winners
Split the Pot – Shelly Rabins
Jackpot #1 – Regina Shapiro
Jackpot #2 Yael
Prize #1 Trip for Two to Israel – L. Berger
Prize #2 Stunning Diamond Necklace – Ahava Spillman
Prize #3 Allegria Wig – Shneur
Prize #4 Laptop – R. Zaltzman
Prize #5 The New iPad – Esther Grossbaum
Prize #6 iPhone 5 – Tatiana Rose
Prize #7 Proform Treadmill – Leeat Swartz
Prize #8 Canon Rebel T3i – Mushkie Chayempour
Prize #9 Necklace – Yael Harrouch
Prize #10 Video Camera – Shoshi Janowski
Prize #11 Nechama Laitman Photography – Asia Kreichman
Prize #12 Pearl Necklace – Leeat Swartz
Prize #13 Lekovod Shabbos Kodesh – C. Hildeshaim
Prize #14 Stroller Bugaboo Bee – Sarah Kramer
Prize #15 Painting by Bina Cole – Alina Miriam Kalantarov
Prize #16 $500 Gift Certificate at Kehot – T. Shoshan
Prize #17 Baby Package – Tatiana Rose
Prize #18 Men’s Package – Steinmetz Family
Prize #19 Painting by Rochelle – Joanna Davids
Prize #20 Mishpacha Resort – Mrs. Leah Mann
Prize #21 Ladies Package – Jackpot #1
Prize #22 Midrash Says – Korf Family
Prize #23 Earrings – Shayna Bortunk
Prize #24 Camera – Elke Shepherd
Prize #25 Luxurious Linen – M. Yarmush
Prize #26 Kol Menachem Library – Grunblatt
Prize #27 Restaurant Package – Risa Cohen
Prize #28 $300 at ToysRus – Jenny Chernick
Prize #29 Necklace by Rebekah Price – Neely Antebi
Prize #30 Bedding – L. Ostfeld
Prize #31 Women’s Fitness – Mandy
Prize #32 Great Expectations – Anonymous
Prize #33 $300 Teeth Whitening – Yitzchok Shubov
Prize #34 GPS – Shira Wellman
Prize #35 Cordless Phone System – Rochel Gelman
Prize #36 Amazon Kindle – Chana Stevens
Prize #37 Get Cooking – Esther Dukesz
Prize #38 Professional Steam Mop – Joanna Davids
Prize #39 Children’s Clothing – Alona Burman
Prize #40 iTouch 16gb – Shophie Dudans
Prize #41 Lamps – Akiva Wagner
Prize #42 Book and Toys for Kids – Luba Kabacznik