Our sold-out event was a true testament to the evening's honorees and the impact of ZOA's incredible work! Support for Israel and Zionism is STRONGER THAN EVER IN SOUTH FLORIDA! Thank you to everyone who was part of it!
The evening started with the National Anthem and Hatikva, followed by the Prayer for the State of Israel, recited by Israeli Deputy Consul General Mike Driquez. Gala Emcee, ZOA Florida Executive Director Sharona Whisler welcomed and guests along with gala co-chair Lewis Stahl, who recognized elected officials and dignitaries in the audience.
ZOA National Board Co-Chair Dr. Paul Tartell made a compelling appeal for increasing support for ZOA, highlighting ZOA’s ongoing and successful Israel advocacy initiatives fights against antisemitism on college campuses, on Capitol Hill, and through the legal system with ZOA’s Center for Law and Justice. See more here.
Sharona Whisler invited Israeli Consul General Maor Elbaz-Starinsky to the stage to highlight one such local initiative, to recognize and thank the Florida municipalities that have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. See more here.
Rabbi Efrem Goldberg accepted the "Light Unto Nations Synagogue Award" on behalf of Boca Raton Synagogue. In his remarks, Rabbi Goldberg recognized the honor for the whole BRS community, and emphasized how proud and honored they are to partner with ZOA on the front lines of fighting for a strong Israel and a strong U.S. Israel Relationship. Rabbi Goldberg connected his remarks to the upcoming holiday of Passover as one of freedom for the Jewish people, but also of responsibility for Jews to fight on the front lines against antisemitism and for the safety and security of Israel, as ZOA does every day. Rabbi Goldberg pledged to continue and grow Boca Raton Synagogue’s partnership with ZOA to fulfill this mission.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy introduced and presented the "Zionist Hero Award" to “The Great One” Mark Levin, host of “The Mark Levin Show” and “Life, Liberty, & Levin”. Leading up to his introduction, Speaker McCarthy stated that the reasons for his visit to Florida and to the Heroes for Israel Gala had everything to do with the organization of ZOA and the honoree. He said that too many times, it is only ZOA that is standing alongside him and other pro-Israel Members of Congress to stand up for what is right and against what is wrong for Israel, without the worry of hurting people’s feelings. Speaker McCarthy praised ZOA for standing up every single time. Speaker McCarthy took a moment to praise Congressman Brian Mast, who was in attendance, for having volunteered his service to the IDF, after sacrificing his life and losing limbs in service to the United States.
In describing Zionist Hero honoree Mark Levin, Speaker McCarthy said there is no stronger voice for freedom, educating the public in America today than Mark Levin. He emphasized that Mark Levin’s unapologetic support for Israel has made many successes for Israel possible. Speaker McCarthy joked saying, “Most people win the speaker vote on the first round. Anybody can do it like that. A boxing match takes 15. Just like Israel that they have to fight to secure their freedom, Mark is fighting to educate the public.” Speaker McCarthy ended his intro by saying, “I get a lot of requests to be in a lot of places, but you made this a combination that I couldn’t say no to – your organization and the man who truly is deserving as a Zionist Hero, Mark Levin.”
The gala audience was treated to what felt like a live, in-person recording of “The Mark Levin Show”, with Zionist Hero honoree Mark Levin’s acceptance speech. He shared that his love for Israel came from his parents who taught him the history of Israel and the Judaism. Mark Levin proclaimed that in Israel we have Judea and Samaria and that we Jews are the indigenous people. He conveyed the grave concern for Israel and the U.S., with the Biden administration getting erroneously involved Israel’s internal affairs, sending money to groups working to overthrow Israel’s current democratically elected government. He talked about leftist groups in this country that are working, even with some Jewish groups, to destroy Israel, all while Israel is confronted with a potential nuclear Iran. He talked about the current administration reinstituting U.S. tax dollar funding that ends up as payments to Palestinian Arab terrorists who murder Jews. He criticized President Biden for not speaking out once about increasing antisemitic attacks. Mark Levin added that we need to be stronger than ever in our support for Israel because of the serious internal and external threats to its existence. He ended his remarks by explaining that the reason he is so honored to receive the Zionist Hero award is because ZOA “is the only organization that I know that actually speaks the truth and defends the core beliefs of both United Stated and Israel.”
ZOA National President Morton Klein was introduced to the stage with a standing ovation. He began by stressing that ZOA has been virtually alone as an organization in addressing the hostility from the Biden Administration towards Israel, pointing to the recent interference from the U.S. in Israel’s Judicial Reform efforts, which the U.S. should never do. Mr. Klein stated that while the U.S. is interfering with Israel’s democratic process, it has said nothing about the Palestinian Authority refusing to hold elections since 2005, turning it into a fascist terrorist dictatorship. Continuing to describe the current administration’s hostility towards Israel, Mr. Klein noted that the U.S. condemns Jewish building in the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria, while saying nothing about illegal Arab building in those areas. Similarly, he pointed out that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides has refused to meet with Jewish leaders in Judea and Samaria but has met with several Palestinian Arab leaders in Judea and Samaria. On the subject of the administration’s insistence on creating a Palestinian Arab state, Mr. Klein called out the Biden Administration for saying nothing about the PA’s lucrative incentive to murder Jews, paying terrorists to murder Jews – the more Jews they murder, the hire the pay. And saying nothing about PA Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh’s praise of these terrorists. Categorizing the double standard of treating Jews and non-Jews differently, Mr. Klein stated, “there is a name for this type of double standard. It’s called antisemitism.”
Mr. Klein ended his remarks with words from the Torah, saying that G-d promised the Holy Land of Israel to the Jewish people forever and "unlike politicians, G-d always keeps his promises!”
