|
Irina Lust glamorizes cocktail reception with
hubby Herbert Lust
of Nomura Securities
|
Elie Tahari makes a fashion statement with
a
contribution to FIDF |
Dr. Ruth raises the morale of U.S. Marines
Steve Stewart, Lee Weiner and Paul Pinaud |
Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi conferring with U.S. marine |
Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the
Conference of Presidents of
Major American Jewish
organizations, and Ambassador Ron Lauder |
Maj. Gen. Uri Bar-Lev, Senior Israel
Police & Public Security Attache for North America, and
Gabriel Erem,
Publisher of Lifestyles |
Nuriya of the army’s K9 unit (from left);
Netsanet of the army’s education unit; unidentified pilot, and
Major Efrat Tene,
IDF spokesperson |
Singer Shai Terry (from left), with IDF
band members Maya Itzkovich, trumpet, and
Shiri Frumkin, clarinet |
FRIENDS OF IDF
Chief Of Staff Introduces
Dream Team In New York
HIEF
of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Lt. Gen. Gabi
Ashkenazi, brought 30 of his top troops with him when he came to
New York in March. He introduced his Dream Team at a Friends of the
IDF fundraising dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria, which was emceed by
syndicated radio host Monica Crowley.
"Shalom, y’all," said Daniel, one
of the Dream Team members.
"I’m originally from Houston, Texas. Eight
years ago I made aliyah and joined the IDF. Today I am a captain in
the air force. I operate unmanned drones in the sky, watching over
Israel."
Netsanet, also of the Dream Team, said
she was born in Ethiopia. "I’m proud to wear this uniform. I’m a
member of the education unit of IDF where I help members of my
community."
Another member said he became a helicopter
combat pilot in 1986. He went o medical school and became a
pediatrician. He was part of the IDF medical mission in Haiti
following the disastrous earthquake.
"In 12 days," he related, "we treated
1,000 patients, performed 300 life-saving operations, and delivered
16 babies in our field hospital. They named one baby Israel in honor
of the IDF.
"We trained to save the state of Israel
but I much prefer to save the lives of newborn babies in the name of
the IDF."
For the 12th year, Benny
Shabtai served as dinner chairman. He called for contributions
from the audience of 1,400. Fashion designer Elie Tahari
responded with $100,000. The Iranian American Jewish Federation of
New York donated $500,000. The Genesis Philanthropy Group added
$750,000. The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
pledged $4 million. It went like that until $20 million was raised
for the welfare of Israel’s soldiers.
Guy Banai, an Israeli guest at the
dinner, who is deaf and spoke through a sign language translator,
tearfully related how his son was so happy to join the IDF’s Givati
Brigade combat unit even though, as the son of deaf parents, he was
exempt.
Liran was struck down by Palestinian
terrorists who attacked his jeep on the Gaza border.
Sgt. Todd Bowers of the U.S.
Marines was so moved that he lifted himself from his plate of prime
ribs to announce a personal donation of $1,000 in memory of the
fallen son, Staff Sgt. Liran Banai.
Speaking by video from Jerusalem, Prime
Minister Benyamin Netanyahu said he is ready to talk peace
with Syria. "If the leader of Syria wants peace like Egypt’s Anwar
Sadat," he said, "then yes, we can have peace."
