Heidi Straus was born in 1966 in Las Vegas, Nevada to Jay and Joyce Sarno, and spent much of her childhood in the gaming establishments founded by her father: Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino and Circus Circus Hotel and Casino. Early in her career, Straus followed in her father’s footsteps into hotel management. However, she soon switched gears, first owning and operating Las Vegas Flowers, and later becoming a gemologist, her current profession. Straus and her husband, David, have two children named Jaye and Sander.

Temple Sinai is a Jewish Reform congregation in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was founded in 2007 when Temple Beth Am and Congregation Adat Ari El merged. Temple Sinai has over 300 member families and its sub-groups include a Sisterhood, Men’s Club, Chavurah, Youth Group, and committees. Kenneth Segel was the first rabbi of Temple Sinai and was succeeded by Rabbi Malcolm Cohen in 2009.