We came up with the idea to run a virtual dinner. Over the next few months, we concurrently planned every detail of this unique dinner and also ran a campaign to reconnect alumni all over the world with the yeshiva and encourage participation in the dinner.
Strategy for connecting and motivating alumni:
1. We themed the dinner “TOMO for life…now more than ever,” conveying the message that particularly during Covid, TOMO is here for all of its talmidim – and a TOMO talmid is a talmid for life.
2. We produced a glossy print newsletter for the yeshiva, updating alumni on the unique way the yeshiva was dealing with Covid, to foster a feeling of connection and pride.
3. We created a video, shared with all the alumni and donors, that portrayed how the yeshiva stayed open during Covid by transplanting the entire yeshiva to a northern resort.
4. In the weeks leading up to the dinner, we produced short trailers building up hype for the event, featuring fellow alumni, rebbeim and Baruch Levine, who would be singing at the dinner.
Strategy for virtual dinner:
1. The goal of the dinner was to provide a unique platform for the yeshiva to connect with their alumni across the world. The dinner needed to be next-level impressive, enough to wow the donor base and motivate them to participate.
2. The first step was to create a highly sophisticated digital platform to host the dinner. This platform included a “lobby” – an interactive room where attendees could see each other and chat. Search filters enabled attendees to find former classmates from their own yeshiva years. There was also an “event hall,” where the actual dinner program took place.
3. Every aspect of the dinner program was carefully planned for maximum audience appeal and interaction. Aside from the standard dinner speeches, the program featured:
a. An interactive game, featuring trivia questions about the yeshiva. The winning family won a trip to Israel.
b. An original song specially composed for the occasion, sung by Baruch Levine.
c. A Q&A panel by TOMO rebbeim, answering pre-submitted questions.
4. Registration for the dinner was free, with a VIP option. Those who chose this option received a L’chaim dinner package delivered to their door.
In addition to planning and executing every detail of the event, we also produced all print materials. Our goal was to upgrade their current branding, and to that end we created graphics that projected high-class elegance.
Subsequent Dinners
Following the incredible success of this Covid dinner, Toras Moshe asked us to help them produce their dinner the next year, when it was back to the standard in-person format. For all of their subsequent dinners, we created the concept, theme and all print materials, including a newsletter, invitation, ads and dinner journal, as well as a landing page for registration.
