By Seth Mandel

The Jewish State

 

More than 100 major donors from Ocean and Monmouth counties gathered with local Jewish federation leadership on Sept. 9 to kick off the 2008 campaign season and get unique access into Israeli current events and politics.

Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer, immediate past U.S. ambassador to Israel, past U.S. ambassador to Egypt, and current commissioner of the Israel Baseball League, was the keynote speaker at the Family Circle Major Gifts function, which took place at the Locust home of Eunice and Andy Melnick. The co-chairs from Ocean County were Annabel Lindenbaum and Charlotte Krupnick.

"Certainly a beautiful venue," said Ocean County resident Frederick Rosenfeld, who attended the event with his wife, Muriel. "And the speaker was exceptionally interesting, well informed, and very insightful in the reality of what's going on."

It was the first Major Gifts event for the couple, Rosenfeld said.

"It was very impressive," he added.

Bob St. Lifer, president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County, said he was pleased with the turnout.

"People care about Jewish continuity, they see what goes on in the world, they see what goes on with terrorism," St. Lifer said. "People want to show their support for Israel, and federation is the way we show that support. I'm really proud of everyone who's here tonight."

Howard Gases, Monmouth's executive director, added that the event is a great opportunity to get the communities' most generous contributors together, thank them, and also an exciting way to kick off the 2008 campaign.

While meeting guests before the dinner and speeches, Kurtzer said the night had a joyful atmosphere, and though there were urgent concerns to address, he was also going to share in the optimistic nature of the Family Circle event.

"The needs of the two communities are always pressing, be they education or services for the elderly, and of course Israel's requirements are not getting any less problematic," Kurtzer said. "But I'm here also to share some good news."

That good news included a strong Israeli economy and some encouraging prospects for peace in the region, on which he elaborated in his speech.

Ocean County resident Debbie Abrahamovic-Kay said it was nice to have both federations come together, as they did last year in Red Bank, for such an important event.

"I've always loved tonight," Abrahamovic-Kay said. "It's a very nice gathering of people, all committed, all with similar thoughts on caring and what is needed."

She said that now more than ever it's important to give, and said she was heartened by the number of younger people that give at this level, carrying on the charitable traditions of their parents and grandparents.

"With the younger generations, it means they get it," Abrahamovic-Kay said.

Krupnick, who introduced Kurtzer's speech, spoke of the miraculous history of the Jewish people and the state of Israel, citing the miracles at Sinai, the reunification of Jerusalem, and Entebbe.

"Have you ever wondered how miracles happen?" Krupnick asked. "Some people think it's through divine intervention. Others know that divine intervention needs a lot of help from people who really believe in miracles."

Kurtzer, Krupnick said, is a believer in and a facilitator of miracles, and is currently presiding over another miracle.

"In a country as complex, as resilient, as optimistic as Israel, there's another miracle happening right now," Krupnick said. "We know it as the Israel Baseball League."

Dr. Bernie Grabelle, president of the Jewish Federation of Ocean County, said Kurtzer provided valuable insight that was appropriate for an event as significant as the Family Circle Major Gifts function.

"It's important to have such special events in order to learn about how the federation can help Israel, the local Jewish community, and Jewish communities around the world through its essential donors, volunteers, and campaign activities," Grabelle said.

Through events like the Family Circle, Grabelle added, federation leadership and major contributors become messengers of key information and, in so doing, become ambassadors of their own communities.

Manny Lindenbaum said after Kurtzer's speech that he was relieved to hear someone in-the-know give a pragmatic outline of the geopolitical situation that shows that there is always an opportunity for peace.

"Anytime we say that peace is not possible, we contribute to the fact that it doesn't happen," Lindenbaum said. "So his speech was absolutely great. In the end, there will be peace, it's just a matter of how much suffering we have to endure, how many years or tens of years we have to wait to see it."