JNF Dinner: ‘They Seek to Destroy, We Build’
search
NewsLocal

JNF Dinner: ‘They Seek to Destroy, We Build’

The annual Jewish National Fund Breakfast for Dinner event set a local record for attendance along with “ruach.”

After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.

  • The evening’s honoree siblings were Mark Kaufman, Karen Kaufman Senft, and Jeff Kaufman.
    The evening’s honoree siblings were Mark Kaufman, Karen Kaufman Senft, and Jeff Kaufman.
  • Aviva Postenik poses between two Atlantans, Ronnie Amrani and Romy Karin, who participate in the Scouts for Israel program.
    Aviva Postenik poses between two Atlantans, Ronnie Amrani and Romy Karin, who participate in the Scouts for Israel program.
  • JNF-Atlanta Executive Director Beth Gluck charged donors to find projects to support that connect with them emotionally.
    JNF-Atlanta Executive Director Beth Gluck charged donors to find projects to support that connect with them emotionally.
  • Keynote speaker, Rick Krosnick, Chief Development Officer, JNF-USA, rallied, “They seek to destroy, we build!”
    Keynote speaker, Rick Krosnick, Chief Development Officer, JNF-USA, rallied, “They seek to destroy, we build!”
  • Representing the younger “gal power” generation, Taryn Solomon, Arin Tritt, and Elana Street, came to support JNF. 
    Representing the younger “gal power” generation, Taryn Solomon, Arin Tritt, and Elana Street, came to support JNF. 
  • Carey Goldstein, Mike Levison, Mark Rosenberg, and Gerry Benjamin are JNF supporters.
    Carey Goldstein, Mike Levison, Mark Rosenberg, and Gerry Benjamin are JNF supporters.
  • Atlantan Mark Kopkin, Chair of the JNF-Atlanta Board, announced the formal renaming of this annual event to The Gladys and Jack Hirsch Breakfast for Israel.
    Atlantan Mark Kopkin, Chair of the JNF-Atlanta Board, announced the formal renaming of this annual event to The Gladys and Jack Hirsch Breakfast for Israel.

The theme of the annual Jewish National Fund Breakfast for Dinner Event was an uplifted testament to Jewish resilience and the good works of the organization.

A crowd of 500 gathered at the Atlanta History Center Overlook Ballroom on Sunday evening, Feb. 25, helping to establish a new record for attendance at the event.

Mark Kopkin, JNF President Atlanta Board of Directors, shared his appreciation and excitement, saying, “We were thinking we could never exceed the 287 mark a few years back, then last year was 400, and tonight, we topped that! Importantly, 100 of those are first timers and represent more geographical diversity.”

Aviva Postenik poses between two Atlantans, Ronnie Amrani and Romy Karin, who participate in the Scouts for Israel program.

Also, at the top of the program, Kopkin introduced the parents of slain Lone Soldier Rose Lubin, who then offered the Prayer for the State of Israel. Kopkin announced that since the recent passing of Gladys Hirsch, this annual event would be named The Gladys and Jack Hirsch Breakfast for Israel.

Keynote speaker, Rick Krosnick, chief development officer, JNF-USA, who began his speech with a review of JNF history dating back to 1901, stated, “We repurchased our homeland from the Ottoman Turkish Empire.” He showed a compelling slide of what a barren Tel Aviv looked like in 1903 when land was selling acre by acre.

He announced that, post-Oct. 7, JNF took immediate action. “We had operations centers, vans, busses … 15,000 were moved out of the Gaza Envelope … no one told us to do it. We just did it! JNF takes risks others won’t.”

Meanwhile he saluted the volunteers who stood with recognition, and who traveled to Israel to help with farms and repairing the landscape, “While others seek to destroy, we build!”

JNF-Atlanta Executive Director Beth Gluck charged donors to find projects to support that connect with them emotionally.

Adam Ginsberg, 33, member of the JNF-Atlanta Board of Directors, delivered meaningful statistics in real time. Since Oct. 7, 16,600 rockets have been launched, which translates to 1.3 rockets per day during his entire lifetime. He spoke of recent Jew hatred and pledged that his generation would “keep the torch burning brightly.”

Event chair Robin Feldman introduced honorees, Kaufman siblings Mark, Jeff, and Karen Kaufman Senft, who rotated to share how their parents left a legacy of giving, starting with the first scholarships to high school in Israel and continuing through donating a bomb shelter, and purchasing a fire engine. Father, George, led family pride starting with the Blue Box. Jeff stated, “JNF is a good steward in all our values.” They evoked the memory of late brother, Richard, who was a philanthropic mensch, and concluded reciting, “Ldor V’Dor,” in unison.

Atlanta Executive Director, JNF-USA, Beth Gluck, evoked the emotion donors feel when they contribute to the right fit for them. She said, “I see the emotion on your faces. So what? What’s next? Act on what works for you.” She spoke of an Atlanta couple who donated to a horseback riding therapy for PTSD patients. Gluck announced that a representative from Red Mountain Therapy would be available for one-on-one meetings after the event. Stella Galanti sang the “Star Spangled Banner,” and Yulie Maimon lead the “Hatikvah.”

Representing the younger “gal power” generation, Taryn Solomon, Arin Tritt, and Elana Street, came to support JNF.

The theme of the program was “Livnot B’yahad,” a strategic initiative to rebuild communities in the Israel Envelope to honor the memory of those lost, and to rebuild a beautiful haven for those returning, while increasing the population in this critical region to show the world the unity of the Jewish people.

read more:
comments