“It’s the first time I’m playing the Shaarey Zedek. I’ve played the Sharon Home but never the Shaarey Zedek,” says well-known entertainer David Gale who will be performing with Randy Vancourt at the Jewish Foundation’s upcoming 2010 Endowment Book of Life Donor Recognition Event on October 14 at 7:00.

The always humourous Gale had this reporter laughing when he was asked whether he’d be performing on the bimah at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue on October 14.

“No, it might be a little sacrilegious to put us on the bimah. Our show isn’t all dirty, but it’s not a religious show.”

Gale, who is  best known as the Gemini and Galaxi award winning  host of  Loving Spoonfuls  says about the upcoming show that “people will have a blast…The audience will come away with sore mouths from smiling and laughing—but sore in a good way.”

He adds that in the show “I do Elvis Shmelvis—a Yiddish take on Elvis…and other Yiddishkeit numbers.”

When asked to sum up the show in a few words, Gale responds “ They’ll be a song and a dance and some seltzer down your pants….I’m a full service entertainer”

Not only is Gale performing but he, along with other ex-Winnipeggers Leonard Asper and Casey Chisick, is also a signer of the Endowment Book of Life this year at the event.

“Leaving an endowment with the  Jewish Foundation is a wonderful way of making sure that the community has ongoing support…What’s important is the idea of leaving a legacy...For me it’s important that that be in Winnipeg, because  that’s my home community even though I’ve lived in Toronto for more years of my life than Winnipeg.”

Gale quipped that although he is leaving a legacy, “I’m not planning to leave my legacy quickly…”

Marsha Cowan, CEO of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba says that in total since the first signing of the Endowment Book of Live “we’ve had over 600 people who have committed to leave a legacy…This is a very large number and we  put a lot of staff effort into making this happen.”

She adds that  “no minimum amount is required”, and donors are encouraged to  leave a legacy that reflects their sense of gratitude and appreciation for what  they  received growing up and living here, and as well it is a commitment and hope for the future…Donors can choose which charities they want supported…”

As for the $25.00 admission price to the event, Gale says “It’s bubkes.”

Gale first joined forces in 1989 with Vancourt, who is a Juno and Gemini nominated writer, composer and performer, and they performed many musicals as the singing comedy duo Gilbert and Glick.

“We have a mutual love of musical theatre,” says Gale.

The duo also will be performing some of the best numbers form their hit musical comedy “Chutzpah A Go-Go.

“Did you know that there’s about 50 ways to spell chutzpah ?” says Gale showing off his linguistic prowess.

One hit number  to be performed is “Kiss Your Butt-Mitzvah Goodbye” which Gale describes as a song “about the angst of 12 year olds and their confirmations.”  The duo will also perform the song CHA CHA CHA, a “song about the misuse of Yiddish’

The list of signers this year for the  Jewish Foundation of Manitoba’s Book Of Life are :
Leonard Asper
Casey Chisick
Lainey Danzker & Michael Werier
Ethel Dil
Marty Dveris
Ruth Carol Feldman
Myra & Arnold Frieman
David Gale
Brenda & Martin Gurvey
Elyse Halprin
Joanne & Sam Katz
Edith Landy
Judy & Bill Mahon
Marilyn Regiec
Eleanor & Ronald Rosenblat
Joan & Jack Rusen
Shelley Saidman
Esther & Marvin Samphir
Elaine Stern
Arlene Wiener