Miles Lerman, former chairman of the
United States Holocaust Memorial Council
(center), presents William Ungar (holding
award) with the 2002 Elie Wiesel Holocaust
Remembrance Award. Looking on are
Ambassador Daniel Ayalon, (left); Israel
Bonds president/CEO Joshua Matza,
(behind Ungar), and Ungar’s wife, Jerry. | ISRAEL BONDS
Ambassador Gets Advice
From Speechwriter and Wife By Tim Boxer  T proved to be less is more as dinner co-chair Les Stern promised to adhere to the three Bs of public speaking: Be clear, Be brief, Be seated.
That’s the way it went at the 18th annual Israel Bonds International Elie Wiesel Holocaust Remembrance Award Dinner at the Grand Hyatt in New York. Israeli Ambassador to U.S. Daniel Ayalon said that when he assumed his post in Washington in July, he got the same advice from everyone: get a speechwriter. He hired someone who called himself a speech adviser. He advised the ambassador that in the U.S., especially in New York, you have to start with a joke. On the way to New York to address the Israel Bond dinner, the ambassador took out his speech…and froze! He reached for his cell phone: “Jordan, where is the joke?” “I gave you advice, it’s up to you to follow through.” Ayalon’s wife Anne offered her own advice: “Tell the joke about God and the lottery.” 
Al Pilchik (right) presents the 2002
Elie Wiesel Holocaust Remembrance
Award to his nephew, Alan J. Pines.
Looking on are (left to right) Ambassador
Daniel Ayalon, Pines’ wife, Elisa, and Israel
Bonds president/CEO Joshua Matza. | At the dinner Ayalon told about the pious Jew who prayed every day for 10 years to win the lottery. Finally on a visit to the Western Wall he wailed, “God, I prayed to you for 10 years – why haven’t I won the lottery?” A voice said, “Buy a ticket.” Ayalon gave good advice to the 500 dinner guests on investing in Israel’s economic health. He deftly made the case for Israel Bonds in improving the country’s infrastructure. His powerful speech spurred a frenzied purchase of $15.5 million worth of bonds. That’s what good advice can bring in. Holocaust survivor William Ungar received an Elie Wiesel Holocaust Remembrance Award. A founder of the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington and the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, Ungar created National Envelope Corporation in 1952, which today is the largest privately owned envelope manufacturer in the country. Alan J. Pines was honored as a leader of the second generation. He is a partner in the real estate development firm of BNE Associates in New Jersey. | 
