(Courtesy of One Israel Fund) Supporters of the One Israel Fund gathered from near and far for the organization’s 23rd Anniversary Gala Dinner at Terrace on the Park this past Sunday. This year’s event was especially festive as it marked the 50th year since the reclamation of Judea and Samaria, the Biblical Heartland of Israel.
Led by Master of Ceremonies Nachum Segal, the evening showcased speakers and videos to highlight the magnitude of the miracle that we are experiencing every day in Israel and specifically in Judea and Samaria. Cantor Joel Kaplan of Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence led the crowd in the anthems and Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, morah d’atra of the Young Israel of Queens Valley, gave divrei bracha. Scott M. Feltman, executive vice president of One Israel Fund, pointed out the incredible relationship One Israel Fund has developed with various Israeli government divisions to produce significant matching grants, stretching each donor’s investments that much farther.
The special video presentation vividly depicted life in the land which was barren and devoid of any Jewish presence just three generations ago but is now teeming with life and vitality. Within the next decade, it is estimated that there will be one million residents in these formerly desolate areas. That growth is due in major part to the commitment and support of donors to One Israel Fund who have made fledgling towns safer and more viable for families to settle. Whether it is with hi-tech thermal security systems, medical equipment and ambulances, community centers, mikvaot, or playgrounds, the upgrades made by One Israel Fund have made Judea and Samaria a safe and secure place to live and raise a family. Nobody could have imagined such a development 50 years ago.
The dinner also celebrated the involvement of three families in the organization – Susan and Steve Orlow, Zena and Marty Cohen, and Rena and Bentzy Chill – who have dedicated themselves to One Israel Fund and have made an indelible impact on Israel’s future. Most notably, the Orlows have led One Israel Fund since its inception. Steve was the founding president and currently serves as chairman.
The evening was capped off with a Hachnasat Sefer Torah in memory of Yaakov, Chaya and Elad Salomon HY”D who were brutally murdered by terrorists in Neve Tzuf. The Torah will now make its way to Israel to be housed at the very shul where Mr. Salomon served as gabbai.
To view the dinner video, “Celebrate the Miracle” and get a first-hand look at Judea and Samaria’s growth, go to Oneisraelfund.org.
