Abby Sparks is offering a private challah baking lesson to a lucky bidder at the Wild Wild West End’s Silent Auction. 

By Debby Wiston 

The return to an in-person fundraiser on Sunday May 1st  at West End Synagogue is shaping up to be a night Nashvillians won’t want to miss, and includes a little something for everyone. In the West End Saloon, attendees will enjoy delicious goodies provided with love by Goldie Shepard Catering including options for vegans, and mouthwatering smoked brisket, chicken and salmon prepared by Jason Sparks and his pit crew. To wash all that delicious food down, there will be signature cocktails and tastings of West End Synagogue’s very first private label signature Tennessee Whiskey. If they don’t sell out in advance, bottles will be available for sale to take home. 

 But the food is only a small part of the fun planned for the evening. No Saloon would be complete without an opportunity to gamble the night away. There will be Casino games including Roulette, Blackjack, Texas Hold ‘Em, and more. Each guest will receive Casino cash and a winner’s circle opportunity ticket. Additional winner’s circle tickets will be given out with each purchase of additional casino cash. At the end of the evening, Winner’s Circle tickets can be used to win various prizes. 

 But the most interesting part of the evening will be the first silent auction at West End in many years. In describing some of the auction items one will find in the "General Store," Helen Crowley, co-chair of the event, said, “The silent auction promises to bring in a variety of bidding opportunities including items related to health and wellness, music memorabilia, local sports merchandise, art Judaica, and delicious home baked goodies.” Jessi Kullock shared that, “As a member of the silent auction committee for this event, I’m not only excited for all the great items we are getting for our very generous donors, but I’m also looking forward to bidding on some of those items- many are really tempting.” 

 But there is a twist, Helen explained, “When planning the event, we wanted to make sure that the silent auction was more than just a typical auction offering items only. There are so many talented members of our community we want to showcase their talents and offer a chance for others to benefit from those talents.” In addition to items for bid, there will be an experience section including a variety of different services offered by congregants. These experiences range from exclusive one-on-one runs and hikes, including one with Rabbi Joshua Kullock, to challah baking lessons. Abby Sparks is one of several bakers offering a private lesson and she explained, “I love baking challah every Friday and sharing it with family and friends. Making my own challah roots me in tradition while also giving me a creative outlet. I have fun experimenting with new braids, shapes, and flavors. I can't wait to share this experience with a lucky winner, who will receive a hands-on challah class with me!” There will be a wide range of other opportunities from a Sunday morning schlep to flying lessons. The chance to bid on these unique experiences along with all the other amazing silent auction items is one you won’t want to miss. 

 So, grab your boots and corral your friends for a night to remember on Sunday, May 1st from 6-10 p.m. Tickets and patron packages are available now on the West End website at https://westendsyn.org/wildwildwestend In addition to purchasing your tickets, bottles of West End’s Signature Tennessee Whiskey are also available at the same link. These bottles may sell out, so act quickly if you want one for your liquor cabinet.