Goldman’s Scherr, Centerview’s Pruzan Preside at Masked Gala

(Bloomberg) -- The masks were out -- but not the ones you've been ordering on Amazon to protect against coronavirus.

With sequins and glitter, ribbons and silk, the face and eye coverings at the Jewish Museum's Purim Ball were decorative, part of the tradition of celebrating the religious holiday, which this year begins March 9.

They were certainly a fit on a night when $2 million was raised for the museum located in a former mansion at Fifth Avenue and 92nd Street. Designer Marc Jacobs indulged in crystals, while artist Rachel Feinstein wore variations of her own face.

Not everyone got into the masquerading, namely those un-fun finance and lawyer types.

Stephen Scherr of Goldman Sachs and Robert Pruzan of Centerview Partners showed up clean-shaven in suit and tie without further adornment, which gave them one advantage as the museum's president and chairman, respectively: it made it easier for them to see and be seen by guests.

Scherr said he was “keeping calm” about the possibility of exposure to the virus. Both he and Pruzan kissed cheeks and shook hands with guests including Laura Blankfein, Betty Levin and Morris Offit.

To be sure, germs were top of mind. On the vanity in the woman's bathroom at the Pierre hotel sat a bottle of Purell that was well-depleted by the time dessert arrived.

For the Jewish Museum, however, it was a night to put aside the worries of the day, and Purim was truly helpful.

Guests could all agree on their common enemy, Haman, who sets out to kill Jews, a plan that Queen Esther foils.

In her honor, giant playing cards loomed over a roulette wheel. At the slot machines, guests vied to get three of a kind of hearts, Queen Esther or King Ahasuerus. (Note to event designer David Stark: How about cherry hamantaschen next year?)

The ultimate spectacle was the princely poodles posted on either side of the honorees. Little did these pooches know who they were flanking: Feinstein draws on “dark resonances of luxury” in her painting and sculpture now on view at the Jewish Museum. Rivka Saker founded Artis to bring museum directors and curators to Israel. Claudia Gould, the Jewish Museum's director, has taken such trips, and the institution is starting a fund to buy Israeli art.

To contact the reporter on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Pierre Paulden at ppaulden@bloomberg.net, Steven Crabill, Peter Eichenbaum

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