Article and Photographs: Lieba Nesis
On Tuesday evening, $13 million were raised by the Miami community at Friends of United Hatzalah’s gala, which took place at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort. The exhilarating and unforgettable evening was headlined by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli who gave a special performance that wowed the crowd, with Bocelli and his wife Veronica honored for their commitment to lifesaving.
Beginning at 5:30 PM the cocktail reception, sponsored by internationally renowned fashion designers Dolce and Gabbana, was wall-to-wall food as hungry guests got their $1,000 per ticket worth within the first hour.
Among the 1,200 attendees at the event were Israel’s Consul General in Miami Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, Miami-based artist Romero Britto, Howard Goldstein Chairman of the Israel Bonds, former U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman, and United Hatzalah International Committee Board Members and Chairman Erica and Mark Gerson.
This year’s gala, which was chaired by Tila Falic Levi and co-chaired by Robin Jacobs, featured Israeli DJ David Edry who entertained guests at the after-party. Falic Levi spoke about the symbolism of holding this year’s gala on the third night of Hanukkah and said: “United Hatzalah is an organization that brings light to the darkest situations and even to the darkest of places, be it Surfside, Puerto Rico, or even Ukraine. United Hatzalah lights up the world like the lights of Hannukah and its volunteers are like modern-day Maccabees.”
Eli Beer, the 49-year-old founder of United Hatzalah of Israel and President of the US Friends of United Hatzalah, has taken the organization to stratospheric heights with his warm demeanor and effortless fundraising ability. Beer nearly lost his life from Covid in March 2020 as he remained dying in a coma for nearly a month-he recalled saying goodbye to his family the Shabbos he was diagnosed.
Every year the Miami gala outdoes itself with former Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg speaking in 2021, and this year’s honorees included Margo and Yoram Cohen as well as Andrea and Veronica Bocelli. The night was one long “WoW” as the dinner sold out a week in advance and guests were clamoring for extra tickets.
Hatzalah and its lifesaving missions from Israeli terror attacks, the Meron tragedy, the Surfside building collapse and dozens of other medical emergencies were recounted on film and through co-chair Robin Jacobs who remarked on the aid provided to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. Honorees Margo and Yoram Cohen who donated $2 million in honor of Yoram’s cancer doctor at Weill Cornell, spoke of their journey after Yoram’s diagnosis with the hereditary form of lung cancer 8 years ago at the early age of 58. He and his beautiful Carolina Herrera clad wife Margo met when they were teenagers and are currently struggling as Yoram appeared on video remarking that the only way to beat cancer is through love as he was in New York receiving treatment.
Their three children are equally involved in philanthropy starting an Israel Engagement Fellowship to teach teen leaders to explore their connection with Israel. The Cohen family received their bittersweet award with tears knowing their heroic father was too sick to attend. The fundraising portion started off with Beer playfully remarking that they had the $12 million needed for medical supplies but it was in people’s pockets. As guest after guest donated $225,000 ambulances Beer proceeded with the most anticipated portion of the evening-the unrivaled Andrea Bocelli.
Thanks to Orthodox Jewish promoter Bruce Gelb, who has worked with Bocelli for more than 30 years guests were treated to a 40-minute spellbinding concert. We even saw a video of Bocelli arriving at the Western Wall with a kippah. Having seen Bocelli live numerous times his performance tonight was unparalleled as he sang favorites “The Prayer,” “0 Sole Mío” and even accompanied his ten-year-old daughter Virginia on guitar for a breathtaking rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”. The signed guitar was later auctioned for close to a quarter of a million with the lucky recipient meeting the Bocelli family backstage. At 10:30 PM the overflow crowd was treated to a delectable dessert table and a singles DJ’d afterparty with more food-the best value for $1,000 I have witnessed as a regular on the gala circuit.
Among the organizers of the event were National Major Gifts Director Danielle David and Florida Development Associate Rivky Meyer, who were instrumental in arranging a special auction of two of Bocelli’s guitars that raised $720,000 from anonymous donors.
During her speech at the event, David praised the gathered crowd for their partnership in the lifesaving activities that the organization’s volunteers undertake in Israel. “There is a powerful bond between all of our 6,200 volunteers, the people whose lives they save, and the generous supporters in this room who make every life-saving story possible. At a time when so many things divide us, I know we can all agree that the lifesaving mission of United Hatzalah brings us together.”
President and Founder of United Hatzalah Eli Beer thanked the Miami community for its support saying: “We are really grateful for the special relationship that has developed between United Hatzalah and this incredible community. United Hatzalah volunteers were an integral part of the response to the tragedies that unfortunately struck Florida over the past few years and this has created a sense of shared fate. Special thanks go out to board member Bruce Gelb and his wife Amy for all they have done to make this event happen. I also want to thank our close friend Israel Schachter at Charity Bids and our incredible team at United Hatzalah that put together this event as well as our board members and all of our guests. Everyone who came demonstrated incredible generosity and become partners with us in our mission to save lives.”
