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StandWithUs-NY Celebrates 1st “Leaders of Tomorrow” Gala

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SWU – FOL Matisyahu performs. (Photo Credit: Perry Bindelglass)
Eric Mandel, co-chair StandWithUs-NY Presents Guardian of Israel Award to Congresswoman Grace Meng. (Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Perry Bindelglass)
EyewitnessNews and emcee Sade Baderinwa and Leadersof Tomorrow Ron Yakar and Jen Weintraub. (Photo Credit: Chen Serfaty)
Shahar Azani, Director SWU Northeast, Avi Posnick, Managing Director, SWU NY Region, honorees Dr. Eric Mandel and Robert French (Photo Credit: Perry Bindelglass)

A capacity crown filled the Museum of Jewish heritage on November 19, 2015, as more than 300 people gathered to celebrate StandWithUs (SWU) New York’s first “Leaders of Tomorrow” Gala Dinner. The event emcee was Sade Baderinwa, an anchor of WABC-TV’s top-rated “Eyewitness News,” who created a successful mentoring program, “Get ‘Reel’ With Your Dreams: The Inside Track,” exposing high school students to top professionals.

The event honored SWU-NY co-chairs Dr. Eric Mandel and Robert French. Both praised StandWithUs for “walking the walk,”, for standing up against the voice of intolerance and providing opportunities for others to do the same. They pointed to SWU’s leadership role in defeating the caustic Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in the community, whether its billboard campaigns or meeting with industry giants targeted by the movement and helping students explain Israel’s true narrative to counter the web of vitriolic falsehoods that permeate college campuses.

Special guest was the internationally renowned Reggae artist, Matisyahu, who also performed at the Young Professional after-party. He regaled the audience with his famous song “Jerusalem if I forget you”, only this time in front of a sea of flags of Israel and surrounded with love. This was very significant following the Spain controversy last August, when Matisyahu sang it in front of a hostile audience waving Palestinian flags. Shahar Azani, Executive Director of StandWithUs Northeast presented him with the “Pillar of light” award for standing tall against the Israel-haters in Spain.

Dr. Eric Mandel presented Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY, 6th district, Queens) the “Guardian of Israel Award” for her unwavering support of the state of Israel and its people against its detractors. Grace is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and its Subcommittees on the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia and the Pacific.

Eric lauded Grace for standing by Israel on many occasions along her political journey. She is the first Asian-American Member of Congress from New York State, and the only Congressional member of Asian descent in the entire Northeast, and her objection to the Boycott resolution of the Asian American Studies Association was particularly noteworthy. He expressed that Congresswoman Meng “represents the highest ideals of what a public servant should be by standing strong against the Iran deal on principle because it was the right thing to do, and not the politically expedient choice.” In accepting the award, Meng stressed her objection to any kind of boycott against Israel and emphasized how proud she was to play a part in increasing funding for Iron Dome and strengthening the strategic alliance between the US and Israel on many levels.

StandWithUs is a fourteen year-old international Israel education organization that supports people around the world who want to educate their campuses and communities about Israel. StandWithUs runs a high school internship program and a college Emerson Fellowship that empower student leaders with the facts and tools they need to educate about Israel and combat anti-Israel rhetoric.

Two student leaders were acknowledged for standing up for Israel at their schools and communities. Dinner co-chair Paula Blumenfeld presented Ron Yakar, the “Leader of Tomorrow in High School Award” praising his work as the president of the Israel club at Tenafly High School in New Jersey, among his many activities on behalf of Israel. Dinner co-chair Andrew Kligerman presented Jenna Weintraub, a senior at Manhattanville College in Westchester, a former SWU Emerson Fellow and now, StandWithUs Tri-State Campus Liaison with the “Leader of Tomorrow on Campus Award.”

Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York, sent greetings from Israel. Aharoni extolled the work StandWithUs has accomplished for many years, and specifically the organization’s nurturing of young leaders in the community. He commented on SWU’s ability to adjust and fight for Israel’s public image on all fronts: from standing up to the industries of lies to sharing Israel’s story and positive role in the world.

Roz Rothstein, CEO and co-founder of SWU spoke about its global mission and the long term impact of its work as a grass roots organization. She mentioned her personal commitment to the survival of the state of Israel as a daughter of Holocaust survivors and thanked the community for their continued support!

Shahar Azani enthused that, “This evening was all about coming together as a community and standing by the State and People of Israel. This we do every day, through education and the cultivation of Leaders of Tomorrow, who will be the ones ensuring that Israel is not alone – not now and not ever.”

Shahar Azani

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