Yom Yerushalayim was celebrated by Ateret Cohanim/Jerusalem Chai with a remarkable dinner at Terrace on the Park in Queens on June 1, led by Rabbi Dr. Joseph Frager, chairman of the board; and his team of Daniel Luria, executive director and international spokesman; Chaim Leibtag, director; and Shani Hikind, executive vice president. Guests of honor Josh Nass, Dr. Gene and Polina Berkovich, Michal Harris, and Amalie Heching all partook in accepting their honor for celebrating the heart of Israel and strengthening Jewish roots in Yerushalayim. The program featured remarks by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and New York City Council Member Inna Vernikov, as well as a tribute to Reb Zerach Epstein, z”l, and Mel and Mildred Wadler, founders.
As Yaakov Serle, advertising manager for The Jewish Link, and I took the elevator up to greet Pompro, the enormity and reach of Ateret Cohanim’s work became reality. Much of their efforts ensure that Jews have the right to live side by side with Muslims and Christians in any and every single neighborhood in the heart of Jerusalem, as the Yemenite Jews of 1882 did in the Yemenite Village, Kidmat Zion and Kfar HaTeimanim – Shiloach along the slopes of Maalei HaZeisim, and the Old City.
To cheers, Dr. Frager raised a bottle of Psagot Pompeo Special Edition 2020 that was created during a historic trip where the Secretary of State, as the first top American diplomat, visited Yaakov Berg’s West Bank winery where wine is made in legality. “It does harden me and strengthen me knowing that there are people working in Judea and Samaria selling what is Israel’s product from that place,” Pompeo said in his opening remarks at the dinner.
“We came to understand the world as it was,” Pompeo said of his 1,000 days served in the Trump White House. “I, as an Evangelical Christian, came to know this place [Judea and Samaria] as the rightful homeland of the Jewish people for 3,000 years. We knew this as a fact. I knew it from reading the Bible.” Pompeo just returned from a visit to Eretz Yisrael where he traveled with former Ambassador David Friedman along Rt. 60, Derech HaAvos, from Nazareth to Jerusalem to Chevron, Bethlehem, Shilo, and all the way down to Be’er Sheva. “It is not possible to visit the tomb of Abraham and Sarah. It is not possible to go see the places where Jesus of Nazareth walked and not know that 3,000 years of Jewish history is real, serious, and important,” Pompeo said.
“When it came to the deep connection between the United States and Israel, we were fearless—we never gave an inch. We were fearless of anyone who challenged the central underpinnings of Zionism,” he said.
“We knew God could not continue to let this man continue to terrorize and threaten,” said Pompeo of the killing of Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist. “It is a blessing that he will not threaten another Israeli or American again. The nation of Israel is not an apartheid state and is not an occupying force. The Jewish people are the right heir to every part of this land.
“What we believed we could do is acknowledge that the Palestinians were never going to make a deal for peace, and that we were not going to wait,” Pompeo continued. “We were prepared to build, with Arab friends, with Muslim friends, peace and stability that would last a lifetime for all of us. And we did it,” he declared on the creation of the Abraham Accords.
Pompeo closed with a direct message for elected officials: “Fearlessly call out antisemitism wherever you are and work to serve and protect this most important city of Jerusalem.” Shani Hikind read the award: “Provide for yourself distinguished people who are wise, understanding, and respected, and I should appoint them as your leaders.” Additionally, Luria presented Pompeo with a rendering of Mark Twain’s Bible emblazoned with the Hebrew name Yerushalayim, an understanding that God should be seen, feared and revered. “It has both a Jewish aspect and a worldly aspect,” said Luria.
Josh Nass, Bonei Yerushalayim awardee, was introduced by Pompeo’s spokesperson Heather Nauert for his work to advance the Israeli American relationship. “Ateret Cohanim has the convictions to stand up for what is right regardless or what might be popular,” said Nass. “When a Jew is exposed to the Torah for the first time, there is a spark within them that exists. My pintele Yid was first ignited when I landed on the ground in the State of Israel.”
Nass, who lived during his yeshiva year in the Old City, took on those claiming that Israel has no right to dwell there: “They are being intellectually dishonest. We need to be doing a better job making sure that our lawmakers hear us. It is only then that we will be make an impact in terms of number of lawmakers that will really stand unequivocally with the State of Israel.” On campus antisemitism, Nass called for more support morally and otherwise for those who are pro-Israel on campuses and ensure that truthful, accurate info is provided to college students.
Gene and Polina Berkovitch originally settled in Kew Gardens Hills, and are currently members of the Young Israel of Woodmere. Gene, born in Russia, and Polina, born in Ukraine, established early appreciation and love for Israel. Today, Gene feels a tear well in his eyes when he begins his descent on Highway 1. Polina said her full appreciation for Eretz Yisrael came about when she landed there and saw people kissing the land. “It is the central part of our lives,” said Gene, whose family also spoke of their love for Israel. The couple dedicated the award to their own parents who are refuseniks and widely denied immigration rights to Israel.
The dinner also marked the return of Paul Brody to public events. I extend heartfelt wishes of refuah to Dr. Brody, who continues to recover from a fall. He was joined by his daughter Limor, representative of the next generation of young professionals, within whom he embedded the essence of the omnipresent Flag of Jerusalem that he proudly carries in his pocket.
The event drew many friends of Israel. I appreciated the camaraderie of longtime friends Chaplain Rabbi Tzvi Berkowitz, Zvika Bornstein of Far Rockaway, Rabbi Duvid Katz of the Israel Heritage Foundation, Rabbi Marty Katz of Just One Life, NYPD Inspector Richie Taylor of the Community Affairs division, Joel Eisdorfer, senior adviser to New York Mayor Eric Adams, Commissioner Fred Kreizman of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, and the many others who brightened the night.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
