Migdal Ohr’s LeadOhr Young Professionals hosted another sold-out, successful Friday Shabbat dinner benefiting Israel’s most vulnerable children at the Moise Safra Center in Manhattan this April. The event raised $35,000 for children in need across Israel, galvanizing the next generation of philanthropists to connect with the cause on a personal level and building our shared future!

The strong turnout and warmth on Friday night spoke for themselves. Jonathan Hanus, who chaired the event, reflected that, “Beyond the numbers, the evening showed that we young professionals are proud of our identity and eager to connect to Israel despite the hate we’re experiencing. At a time when people want to intimidate us, we find strength in coming together. We double down on our values and our connection to Israel!”

Guests heard from American Friends of Migdal Ohr’s Director of Development, Mickey Flaumenhaft, who shared stories from his experiences as a commander and reservist in the IDF.

Mickey said, “Recent news from Israel bring my own experiences as a commander in the Second Lebanon War to mind. At that time, Nasrallah delivered a famous speech, known as the speech about the spiderweb. He described Israeli society as a spiderweb, strong on the surface but fragile and easily broken from within. 

However, Nasrallah misunderstood our essence. A spiderweb is five times stronger than steel! And so are we. When Jews are hurt, we come together. We are stronger than steel! Sadly, we need our enemies to remind us how strong and united we truly are.”

Committee member Chloe Brendlinger spoke up and addressed the room sharing Migdal Ohr’s mission:

“What makes Migdal Ohr stand apart is that it serves as a true beacon of hope, helping orphans rediscover their sense of worth, purpose, and inner strength,” shared Chloe. “Migdal Ohr, meaning ‘Tower of Light,’ brings light into people’s lives in the most meaningful way.

Our founder, Rabbi Grossman, didn’t wait for people to come to him. He went to them, into places most wouldn’t go. Where others saw darkness, he saw light! That belief, that every person has light within them, even when it’s hidden, is what Migdal Ohr lives every day.”

The message of the evening was for Jewish young adults to band together, get involved, and make a difference! As our enemies falsely underestimated, the web that binds us cannot be broken when we come together.

The success of the evening and the growth of the LeadOhr Young Professionals events is attributed to a dedicated committee spreading the word through their networks and bringing people from all parts of the tri-state area together. Special thanks to: Aaron Zelikovich, Celia Berman, Danielle Stiefel, Ellin Gurvitch, Daniela Amitai, Emma Teitelbaum, Jonathan Hanus, Hudis Moskowitz, Julia Schneebaum, Shaje Weiss, Lisa Akrish, Jaime Travers, Rick Saxe, Stephanie Soifer, Matthew Levine, Julia Zuckerman, Jordana Rehany, Will Eisler, Chloe Brendlinger, Laura Brown, Sam Shapiro, Melissa Klein, Avital Tenenbaum, Elina Sigal, and Chani Bernstein.

Their efforts reflect a growing commitment among young leaders to continue building and expanding Migdal Ohr’s impact. 

In fact, various couples and committee members have begun to host more intimate events in the city and Tel Aviv. In addition to raising significant funds for orphaned and at-risk, youth, they are engaging people in a more personal way and helping them connect to a truly inspirational and critical cause.

About Migdal Ohr

Migdal Ohr is one of Israel’s largest and most impactful nonprofit organizations. Its vast network of 24 social welfare and educational institutions cares for over 10,000 orphaned and underprivileged children each year. We provide children with the essentials, education, and empowerment to become engaged citizens and the next generation of Jewish leaders.

As the summer begins, you can sponsor a child’s camp experience and ensure that they have a fun, restorative break after a year of sirens and war. To get involved and sponsor a child, visit migdalohrusa.org. 

Reach out to our Director of Development, Mickey Flaumenhaft, at mickey@migdalohrusa.org or call 551.587.3595 with questions.

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