Andrew C. “Andy” McCarthy, one of America’s most in-demand commentators and pundits and one of the most prolific, will be the keynote speaker as well as an honoree at the 2016 Greater Philadelphia ZOA Gala taking place on Thursday, September 15, at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue, 4200 City Avenue. Dom Giordano, host of 1210 AM’s “The Dom Giordano Show,” will emcee our streamlined event which will feature great glatt-kosher food and drink, inspiring speeches, the presentations of awards to our honorees and a sumptuous dessert buffet. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by credit card online at our Eventbrite site: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/greater-philadelphia-zoa-2016-gala-tickets-26452924409  or by check to the ZOA Office: 1 Belmont Avenue, Suite 601, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. Each ticket is $180 and all proceeds support Greater Philadelphia ZOA’s pro-Israel educational, advocacy and outreach initiatives and activities – right here in our region.

 McCarthy will receive our Ben Hecht Award for Outstanding Journalism, due to his strong support for Israel in his writing, media appearances and speeches. We will also honor Amy and Eric Clayman, Jewish communal leaders in South Jersey, with our Pillars of the Community Award; Rabbi Steven Saks, religious leader of Adas Kodesch Shel Emeth Congregation in Wilmington, with our Guardian of Israel Award; and Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, R-PA, with our Friend of Zion Award.

The Greater Philadelphia ZOA Gala is always an evening filled with great patriotic spirit and warmth for Israel and Zionism. It offers an opportunity to network and mingle with like-minded others from throughout the region and a chance to recognize and thank those in our area who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the well-being of Israel.

See more on our honorees below.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please call our Office at 610-660-9466.

We look forward to seeing you on September 15!

Click the Eventbrite logo below for tickets:

 

 

 

 

ZOA Needs Volunteers

We are looking for several volunteers to make calls on behalf of Greater Philadelphia ZOA during the next two weeks. Calls can be made from the comfort of your home or office – or even from pool-side or the beach.

If you are able to help with this project, please phone our Office at 610-660-9466.

Our Gala Honorees:

Our honorees this year are:

Andrew C. “Andy” McCarthy is an author, columnist and commentator who understands the historical and contemporary importance of Israel to America, and he frequently incorporates these into his work. McCarthy will receive our Ben Hecht Award for Outstanding Journalism.

In addition to his bestselling books, Andy is a senior fellow at National Review Institute and a contributing editor at National Review. He is a frequent guest on both TV and radio programs. McCarthy perhaps first rose to prominence while leading the prosecution against the Blind Sheik and other jihadists for waging a terrorist war against the United States – including the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Rabbi Steven Saks is the religious leader of a congregation, Adas Kodesch Shel Emeth in Wilmington — Delaware’s pro-Israel anchor.

Rabbi Saks will receive our  Guardian of Israel Award. Under Rabbi Saks’ leadership, Adas Kodesch regularly has pro-Israel educational and advocacy programs, and he has participated in Volunteers for Israel – serving on military bases to supplement the non-military work of the men and women of the Israel Defense Forces.

Rabbi Saks formerly was the pulpit rabbi at Adath Zion Congregation in Philadelphia.

He heads the Delaware Association of Rabbis and Cantors.

Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick realizes that not only is Israel a key ally of America’s, but also that a strong and secure Israel helps strengthen the United States in the Middle East – particularly in the war against Islamic terrorists.

Representative Fitzpatrick will receive our Friend of Zion Award.

Through the legislative process — including introducing legislation, co-sponsoring legislation and voting for bills and resolutions — Representative Fitzpatrick has shown himself to indeed be a friend of Israel’s and the Jewish people’s. The Bucks County native is not seeking re-election.

Eric and Amy Clayman are a husband and wife who have made sure that the Jewish institutions that they have led as volunteers are pro-Israel, and that those institutions instill in the communities they serve a deep understanding of Israel and the issues the Jewish State faces. The couple will receive our Pillars of the Community Award.

Eric is the immediate past president of Congregation Beth El Voorhees. He is a partner in the law firm of Jenkins & Clayman.

Amy is the current president of the Jewish Community Relations Counsel of Southern New Jersey and serves on both the Executive Board and Finance Committee for the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey. She is the principal of Financial Fluency, LLC.

Amy is the daughter of longtime ZOA members Barbara and Bill Hoffman, while Eric’s maternal grandfather was a ZOA member during the pivotal period immediately after Israel was re-established.