ZOA Phila. 2025 Gala Dinner Attended by Almost 300 Cheering Zionists

Steve Feldman, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), released the following report:

The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Zionist Organization of America paused from our tenacious educational, advocacy and outreach work and initiatives to show our gratitude to four outstanding pro-Jewish/pro-Israel advocates and to come together as a community for the rich camaraderie that ZOA is known for at our annual Night of Appreciation event on Sept. 17 at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue.

Almost 300 Zionists came together to celebrate Patriotism and Zionism and to strengthen the mutually beneficial bond between the U.S. and Israel.

Almost 300 Zionists – from those not even in their teens to those in their 90s – came together for our gathering to celebrate and advance Patriotism and Zionism and to strengthen the mutually beneficial bond between the United States and Israel. Since our event coincided with Constitution Day, we also celebrated one of America’s most important documents and the blueprint of our nation. We gave out copies of the Constitution on each table, and as part of our ceremony and presentations, we featured a live reading of the Preamble to the Constitution.

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein

The highlight of our Night of Appreciation is to show our appreciation to some of our region’s leading pro-Israel/pro-Zionism advocates. This year we honored Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity with our Defender of Israel Award; Dr. Victoria Coates, Former Deputy National Security Advisor in the Trump administration and Vice President of the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., where she directs the Esther Project to combat antisemitism and anti-Israel propaganda, with our Ben Hecht Award for Outstanding Journalism; and communal leaders Steve and Elaine Crane with our Pillars of the Community Award.

Each honoree shared why they support Israel and about the importance of the mutually beneficial U.S.-Israel relationship, the fight against Jew-hatred, and the importance of ZOA.

Each of our honorees had an opportunity to speak and to share why they support Israel and their individual insights and observations about the importance of the mutually beneficial U.S.-Israel relationship; the fight against the scourge of Jew-hatred; and the importance of ZOA.

“I stand strong with Israel and the Jewish People in the face of violence and aggression, and as Pennsylvania’s treasurer it’s been my duty and my honor to continue our commonwealth’s commitment of supporting Israel, our country’s greatest ally in the Middle East,” Garrity affirmed.

Noting that treasurers from both parties have been investing in Israel since 1988, Garrity said, “Why? Because it’s smart. And Pennsylvania will always stand with Israel.”

Noting that treasurers from both parties have been investing some of the commonwealth’s funds in Israel since 1988, Garrity asked rhetorically: “And you know why? Because it’s smart. And Pennsylvania will always stand with Israel.” Today, the commonwealth has about $65 million invested in Israel bonds.

“We continue to fight for a strong, independent Israel and you know what: for the safety and respect of the Jewish People in our great commonwealth and across the globe,” the treasurer said.

Noting the key role ZOA plays in fighting for the safety and respect of Jews throughout our region, Garrity said: “The education and advocacy work of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Zionist Organization of America is needed now more than ever to combat anti-Jewish activities at increasing levels which go directly against the values our nation and our commonwealth were founded on.”

Coates, who was also the keynote speaker, combined elements from her recent book, The Battle For The Jewish State: How Israel—And America—Can Win, and her wealth of foreign policy and national security experience, to review questions adversaries raise and her essential answers about the Middle East, America’s alliance with Israel and Islamism here in the United States.

One question she said she is asked is: “Why (support for) Israel?” – to which she answers: “It goes back to our Founders, and it is so life-affirming to go back to what George Washington said about Jews, about Israel; what John Adams said, and the profound nature of that connection, and we need to remember: We are both the nations founded on Judeo-Christian values. And these things are real. Our enemies in academia: They’re going to tell you no such thing even exists – ‘There is no such thing as Judeo-Christian values.’ Guess what? There are. That’s why both of our countries are thriving, successful, prosperous democracies – while so many of our enemies are literally dying in darkness.”

Coates said, by telling the Palestinians they will be rewarded with a “state,” it “perpetuates the situation.” Instead, to achieve actual peace, “There has to be a victory [for Israel] in this war.”

Coates noted that the question that often follows the previous question is: “What’s the alternative if we don’t partner with Israel, who do we have?”

“There are two alternatives,” she said, referring to suggestions by those who oppose or question the U.S.-Israel relationship: “The Palestinians and the Iranians. There is a long, unfortunate bipartisan series of attempts to partner with the Palestinians, and to try to make them into an equivalent of Israel.”

Of that, Coates noted: “… They have no trappings of modern statehood; they don’t have anything that you could define as a state, and they have failed for 50 years to build anything that looks like that. So, it’s just not realistic.” Coates added that, by telling the Palestinians that they will be rewarded with a “state,” it “perpetuates the situation,” referring to the Palestinian war against Israel. Instead, Coates said, to achieve actual peace, “There has to be a victory [for Israel] in this war.”

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