There are dinners you can go to, events you can go to. But few will shape the future of our beloved Israel like the 36th annual Bet El dinner on December 2.

In past years, those who attended this great dinner were privileged to be alongside impressive honorees and dynamic speakers—dignitaries who became honored, historical leaders and celebrities. Many are great leaders today. As Bet El’s beloved Chairman Eugen Gluck says, “We are honored to have so many future world leaders as our guest speakers over the years… Maybe appearing at this event is a prerequisite for greatness.”

This year, a true Jewish hero is Bet El’s guest speaker, MK Yuli Yoel Edelstein, the esteemed Speaker of the Knesset. Here is a man who stood up to a modern-day evil, the Soviet Union. He did more than survive; he triumphed. They did not. Because he was proud to be a Jew, he had a mission to teach others to be proud and learned about being Jewish. When he secretly taught Hebrew in Moscow, the KGB created a phony case and sentenced him to three years in prison. That was his start, not his finish. After being released, he immigrated to Israel. Over the years, Speaker Edelstein is responsible for integrating over one million immigrants into Israel life, thus making them part of our life’s blood.

As a leading advocate and spokesman for all of Israel, he was and is responsible for heralding the Israeli government’s positions to the world. One of his top priorities is improving Israel’s image abroad and fighting global anti-Semitism, which is rearing its ugly head again. He is a tough, compassionate, brilliant leader and his words are electrifying. Don’t miss this opportunity if you can help it.

The Bet El Story Is a Modern-Day Miracle

If Eugen Gluck is the patriarch of Bet El, then Jean Gluck is definitely the matriarch of Bet El. The entire world lost a great woman this year on the passing of Jean Gluck. Many of the great Bet El institutions were funded by Jean and Eugen, in effect, transforming a small settlement into a town of Jewish neighborhoods that are home to 10,000! Jean and Eugen Gluck have brought vision and warmth to the world, promoting social justice and compassionate values we can all be proud of.

Bet El’s extraordinary story began 4,000 years ago, when the patriarch Abraham established it as camp along his divinely inspired trek through the land of Canaan. Two generations later, Bet El became the site of Jacob’s famous dream and dramatic wrestling match with an angel—the site where the name “Israel” was coined.

Today Beth El has transformed from a tiny community of eight families in 1977 to a vibrant Jewish center that now houses an ethnically diverse Jewish population of over 10,000. Bet El is home to the world-renowned Bet El Yeshiva Center, which provides a comprehensive education to students from preschool through post-college.

Their graduates have become the leading teachers in yeshivas and high schools across Israel, bringing the spirit of Torah to all.

The Raaya Girls High School Academy is celebrated as one of the premier learning centers in all of Israel and can’t accommodate all the girls who want to attend.

The National Media Network Arutz Sheva, with parallel websites in Hebrew, English and Russian, brings a message of optimism and hope to supporters of Israel worldwide. It is a major force in the media today combating the delegitimization of the State of Israel—which is so terribly important to our way of life and in fact our existence.

BeSheva Newspaper: the third-largest-circulation newspaper in all of Israel, with engaging articles and focus on accomplishments of outstanding individuals and institutions throughout Israel. It encourages all Israelis to be better citizens and live their lives the way we all should.

The People of Bet El are also blazing a trail for the military struggle for the defense of the land and people of Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces Gluck Preparatory Academy did what many thought was impossible. Their mission is to strengthen the adolescent spirit and character before young adults enter the Israeli army. There are hundreds of students who changed their lives for the better at Bet El and go on to serve Israel filled with spiritual strength and their desire to serve in elite units and as officers.

So you see, Bet El isn’t just a settlement. It is a microcosm of the very essence of Israel and all we love.

How was this spiritual oasis created? What makes it thrive?

We have to go back to over 36 years ago, when Yom Kippur War hero Yaakov “Ketzale” Katz, along with a few families and yeshiva students, had a vision of what Bet El could be. With three decades of tireless help from Jean and Eugen Gluck and the American Friends of Bet El, the town is now a vibrant center of Jewish life that nurtures all of Israel in a way that no other center of learning matches—because Bet El is not just a learning center, it is a way of life.

The story of Bet El is the story of the heart of Israel. It is where Abraham first proclaimed the Oneness of God, and it is where Abraham’s children now nurture the passion of Israeli life. When you look at the people of Bet El today, you see the people of 4,000 years ago in spirit, and all the generations in between with the glow of God around them. You see people smiling with knowledge of the meaning of existence: to help one another, to further the teachings of the Torah, to help Israel live and be the foundation of Jewish life in the entire world. The establishment and flourishing of this community is a tremendous accomplishment for the entire Jewish people. All who support Israel should support the heart of Israel—Bet El.

You can be part of the pillar that ensures Israel’s future!

On December 2, at the Marriott Marquis Ballroom in Manhattan, American Friends of Bet El will honor the residents and supporters of the northern Samarian town who have toiled selflessly for the survival and growth of their community and the State of Israel. Now in its 36th year, the American Friends of Bet El dinner has become one of New York City’s largest and most prestigious Jewish events, with last year’s dinner attracting an astounding 1,500 attendees.

In addition to hearing the guest speakers, Bet El will honor these well-deserved supporters: The Shomer Eretz Yisrael Awardees are Thomas and Debbie Herman. The Keter Torah Awardees are Yair and Chana Matan. Building of Eretz Yisrael Awardees are Daniel and Razie Benedict.

The event will begin with a 6 p.m. buffet dinner. Tickets are $500 per couple. To make your reservation, call 718-268-8291 or BetEldinner.org.

Bet El today is living up to its legacy established thousands of years ago, a Divine home, where Godly lives are being built and flourishing. Beth El today serves as a reminder of Jewish pride and perseverance—prevailing over all our current enemies.

Israel will survive, prosper and grow because of the brave souls who inhabit it and its friends and supporters all over the world who will never turn their backs on it.

Come join building Bet El today, and continue the tradition established by Abraham and Jacob over 35 centuries ago.