Andrew C. McCarthy, a prolific writer who is one of the nation’s leading authorities on both jihad and jurisprudence, and a straight-talking Patriot, will be the keynote speaker and an honoree at Greater Philadelphia ZOA’s 2016 Gala taking place the evening of Thursday, Sept. 15 – two weeks from today. McCarthy, who is supportive of Israel in his writings, speeches and frequent media appearances, will receive our Ben Hecht Award for Outstanding Journalism during this uplifting event celebrating America and Israel.

 

During the Gala we will also honor Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick with our Friend of Zion Award, South Jersey Jewish communal leaders Amy and Eric Clayman with our Pillars of the Community Award, and Wilmington’s Rabbi Steven Saks with our Guardian of Israel Award. This festive event featuring delicious glatt-kosher food and an opportunity to mingle with hundreds of like-minded others takes place at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue. A copy of the invitation and response card are below.

Purchase your tickets to this great event now at our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/greater-philadelphia-zoa-2016-gala-tickets-26452924409

Or you can pay by check made payable to ZOA – send to: P.O. Box 56, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. Seats are $180 each.

We advise that you call the Greater Philadelphia ZOA Office at 610-660-9466 before sending in your check to make sure that seats are still available.

Also making remarks during the evening will be National ZOA President Mort Klein. Talk-radio host Dom Giordano will be master-of-ceremonies and keep the streamlined event moving at a brisk pace.

McCarthy’s keynote address is a rare local opportunity to see and hear in-person a man who is truly a national treasure and a national resource. McCarthy is always enlightening as he clarifies complex issues related to national security and foreign policy.

See more on all of our honorees below.

We look forward to seeing you in two weeks. If for some reason you are not able to attend, please consider making a donation to support Greater Philadelphia ZOA’s educational, advocacy and outreach initiatives. You can donate by check or via Eventbrite.

Amy and Eric Clayman are our Pillars of the Community Award honorees. Amy is 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. Amy is the principal of Financial Fluency, LLC. Eric is immediate past president of Congregation Beth El Voorhees. He is a partner in the law firm of Jenkins & Clayman. Under the Claymans’ leadership, both JCRC and Beth El have had a steady stream of pro-Israel programs. Amy’s parents, Barbara and Bill Hoffman, are ardent Zionists. Eric’s maternal grandfather was a ZOA member.

U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick is our Friend of Zion Award honoree. Congressman Fitzpatrick, a Republican, represents Bucks County. He has served four terms and is not seeking reelection. The congressman has introduced legislation and has been a solid co-sponsor of bills and resolutions to benefit Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship. Before serving in Congress, he was a member of the Bucks County commissioners.

Andrew C. “Andy” McCarthy is our Ben Hecht Award for Outstanding Journalism recipient. He is a bestselling author, a senior fellow at National Review Institute and a contributing editor at National Review. McCarthy often writes about the Middle East and is a staunch defender of the Jewish State. 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 our Guardian of Israel Award recipient. He is religious leader of Adas Kodesch Shel Emeth Congregation in Wilmington. Rabbi Saks formerly was the pulpit rabbi at Adath Zion Congregation in Philadelphia. He has twice participated in Volunteers for Israel. He regularly leads pro-Israel events at his shul. Rabbi Saks heads the Delaware Association of Rabbis and Cantors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greater Philadelphia is elated to announce the honorees for our 2016 Annual Gala, as well as opportunities for you – our members, friends and supporters – to help make this our best and most successful Gala yet (please see below for details).

Our 2016 Greater Philadelphia ZOA Gala honorees are:

• Andrew C. McCarthy, best-selling author and contributing editor at National Review, will receive our Ben Hecht Award for Outstanding Journalism and he will be our keynote speaker for the evening.
• Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, who represents Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, will receive our Friend of Zion Award.
• Amy and Eric Clayman, will receive our Pillars of the Community Award. Amy is president of the Jewish Community Relations Counsel of Southern New Jersey. Eric is immediate past president of Congregation Beth El in Voorhees.
• Rabbi Steven Saks, religious leader of Adas Kodesch Shel Emeth Congregation in Wilmington, will receive our Guardian of Israel Award.

See more on each of them below.

Our Gala will take place on Thursday, September 15, at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue, 4200 City Avenue, in Philadelphia.

As always there will be our 90-minute cocktail “hour” featuring a substantial, full buffet dinner consisting of glatt-kosher items from a variety of stations; our streamlined award ceremony featuring inspiring remarks from our honorees on the subjects of Israel, patriotism and Zionism; and a sumptuous dessert buffet. Plus an opportunity to mingle with our honorees and network with like-minded others from throughout the region and beyond.

Tickets will be on sale shortly for this grand event. You can reserve space now in our Gala Tribute Book and Ad Journal to thank and congratulate our honorees and/or promote your business or service. Please see images of our Ad/Notice Form below. Click on each image to enlarge. You can then print them.

There are a number of ways you can participate in making sure that our Gala is a wonderful, celebratory evening and also that it is a financial success to help nourish the many pro-Israel educational, advocacy and outreach activities and initiatives that we hope to offer the community in the coming year.

• You can help us with any of the several mailings we will have over the next month, including our first significant mailing this Friday in the Bala Cynwyd vicinity. For location and time, please contact our office by email ([email protected]) or by phone at 610-660-9466.
• You can help us by placing an ad in our combination Tribute Book and Ad Journal – particularly if you own a business or are a service-provider. You can also invite businesses and service-providers whom you patronize and have a relationship with to help promote their business or service to potential new customers and clients while funding Greater Philadelphia ZOA’s vital work with an ad in our Ad Journal. Some ads include Gala tickets, so that you or they can also attend and enjoy this wonderful event. For the Ad Form, email us ([email protected]) or call us at 610-660-9466. .
• You can volunteer at the Gala itself, helping us set up and distribute literature that afternoon, or helping to register and check-in Gala attendees.

For more details regarding ads and notices, and/or to volunteer at the event, please email us at [email protected] or call our Office at 610-660-9466.

Greater Philadelphia ZOA appreciates each and every volunteer and donation.

More on our honorees:

Andrew C. McCarthy is a much-in-demand commentator and a former chief assistant U.S. Attorney in New York best known for leading the prosecution against “the Blind Sheik” and 11 others for waging a terrorist war against the United States – including the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and a plot to bomb New York City landmarks. He is a senior fellow at National Review Institute who writes frequently about Israel.

U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick was first elected to Congress in 2004. He was re-elected in 2010 and has term-limited himself. A lifelong resident of Bucks County, before being elected to Congress, he served on the Bucks County Board of Commissioners for 10 years. While in Congress, he has been a staunch supporter of Israel.

The Claymans reside in Cherry Hill and have two sons, Garrett and Joshua. Both sons attended Kellman-Brown Academy where Amy was a trustee and served as treasurer. Amy is the principal of Financial Fluency, LLC a boutique firm which provides outsourced accounting and CFO advisory services. She serves on both the Executive Board and Finance Committee for the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey. Eric is a partner in the law firm of Jenkins & Clayman assisting debtors in bankruptcy cases. Amy’s parents, Bill and Barbara Hoffman, are longtime supporters and members of ZOA. Eric’s mother, Natalie, remembers her father, Max Kanfer, attending ZOA meetings in the 1950’s. The family are members of Congregation Beth El in Voorhees.

Rabbi Steven Saks heads the Delaware Association of Rabbis and Cantor’s as well as the Vaad HaKashrut of Delaware. Before his current pulpit, he was the religious leader of Adath Zion Congregation in Philadelphia. He serves on the board of the Albert Einstein Academy, has done two stints with Volunteers for Israel and has participated in the Jewish Big Brother/Sister League as a Big Brother. He holds a black belt in Jiu Jitsu.