"Shivers went down my spine and tears formulated in my eyes when the massive crowd joined the cantor in a song blessing the State of Israel," one participant said. "It was the most uplifting evening in my life."
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The keynote speaker for the 24th Annual Dinner of the American Friends of Bet El was former head of the IDF's Intelligence Analysis Division Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror [pictured above]. Addressing the assembly at New York City’s Marriott Marquis, Amidror highlighted the importance of Bet El as a major Jewish center, both in the times of the forefathers as well as today.
Amidror analyzed the mistakes of this summer's Lebanon/Gaza War and noted that the IDF's young officers and soldiers are of top caliber and are ready and willing to fight and vanquish their enemies. Amidror said that their superiors need only let them win.
As a case in point, Amidror noted that terrorism in Judea and Samaria has dropped to a minimum because the IDF's top units are working there freely day and night. "If you let Tzahal (the IDF) do its job, they'll do the job," he declared. Amidror said that motivation amongst soldiers remains high and new enlistees continue to volunteer for the top commando units.
Amidror follows a long list of previous distinguished keynote speakers at the Bet El dinner including former Prime Ministers Binyamin Netanyahu and Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, former Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, former Minister Natan Sharansky, and Chief Rabbi of Israel Yisrael Meir Lau. "While at the time that they addressed the Bet El dinner they were committed to building Judea and Samaria, not all of the speakers lived up to what they promised us," noted Bet El Institutions and Arutz-7 Executive Director Yaakov "Ketzaleh" Katz.
The dynamic force behind the dinner are Mr. Eugen and Mrs. Jean Gluck of Forest Hills, who have dedicated their lives to building up Torah and the Land of Israel. “It gives me great pleasure to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the founding of Bet El,” said Gluck on the occasion. “This bastion of the spirit of Judaism and Zionism in the heart of the Land of Israel represents the ultimate realization of Torah-true values and selfless commitment.”
Guest of Honor at this year’s dinner was Land of Israel Studies scholar and noted tour guide Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Bohrer, who resides in the modern town of Bet El. Dr. Bohrer and wife, Helen, were among the first seventeen families to reestablish Jewish life in the Biblical city in 1977.
Today, after 29 years, Bet El continues to flourish with a population of close to 8,000 Jews, including the 1,200 students at Bet El Institutions' high school and college-age seminaries. Bet El's youth and students are educated to pursue Torah study and army service with great personal sacrifice. Staff-Sgt. Ro'i Farjoun, a student at the Gluck Pre-Military Yeshiva Academy in Bet El, was killed during the Second Lebanon War.
Also honored at the dinner were Guardian of Israel Awardees Michael and Gail Weisbrod of Westhampton, NY, Young Leadership Awardees David and Shulamis Teiler of New Hempstead, NY, and Woman of Valor Awardee Nechama Kapelyus of Queens, NY.
Representing Arutz-7 IsraelNationalNews.com at the gathering were Senior Editorial Board member Rabbi Yedidya Atlas, and Radio Show Host Alex Traiman.
Coinciding with the New York dinner, Jews from across Israel and abroad arrived to spend the weekend in Bet El itself, as Jews worldwide read the Torah portion of Vayeitzei, which records Jacob’s prophetic dream in the town. The Biblical forefather Jacob came to Bet El approximately 3,600 years ago, where he dreamt that G-d promised him the land of Israel as an everlasting inheritance:
(Photos by Zvi Sebrow and Sholom Simanowitz)
The keynote speaker for the 24th Annual Dinner of the American Friends of Bet El was former head of the IDF's Intelligence Analysis Division Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror [pictured above]. Addressing the assembly at New York City’s Marriott Marquis, Amidror highlighted the importance of Bet El as a major Jewish center, both in the times of the forefathers as well as today.
Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yaacov Amidror speaking at the Bet El/Arutz-7 Dinner
Maj.-Gen. Amidror captivates his audience with his analysis of the challenges Israel faces today.
Amidror analyzed the mistakes of this summer's Lebanon/Gaza War and noted that the IDF's young officers and soldiers are of top caliber and are ready and willing to fight and vanquish their enemies. Amidror said that their superiors need only let them win.
As a case in point, Amidror noted that terrorism in Judea and Samaria has dropped to a minimum because the IDF's top units are working there freely day and night. "If you let Tzahal (the IDF) do its job, they'll do the job," he declared. Amidror said that motivation amongst soldiers remains high and new enlistees continue to volunteer for the top commando units.
The head table as Amidror speaks
Amidror follows a long list of previous distinguished keynote speakers at the Bet El dinner including former Prime Ministers Binyamin Netanyahu and Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, former Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, former Minister Natan Sharansky, and Chief Rabbi of Israel Yisrael Meir Lau. "While at the time that they addressed the Bet El dinner they were committed to building Judea and Samaria, not all of the speakers lived up to what they promised us," noted Bet El Institutions and Arutz-7 Executive Director Yaakov "Ketzaleh" Katz.
The dynamic force behind the dinner are Mr. Eugen and Mrs. Jean Gluck of Forest Hills, who have dedicated their lives to building up Torah and the Land of Israel. “It gives me great pleasure to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the founding of Bet El,” said Gluck on the occasion. “This bastion of the spirit of Judaism and Zionism in the heart of the Land of Israel represents the ultimate realization of Torah-true values and selfless commitment.”
Dinner Honorary Chairman Mr. Eugen Gluck addresses the audience.
(From L-R) Chairwoman Mrs. Jean Gluck, Mrs. Marilyn Wenger, Mrs. Gloria Grossman and Dinner Chairman Mr. Eugen Gluck
Guest of Honor at this year’s dinner was Land of Israel Studies scholar and noted tour guide Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Bohrer, who resides in the modern town of Bet El. Dr. Bohrer and wife, Helen, were among the first seventeen families to reestablish Jewish life in the Biblical city in 1977.
Today, after 29 years, Bet El continues to flourish with a population of close to 8,000 Jews, including the 1,200 students at Bet El Institutions' high school and college-age seminaries. Bet El's youth and students are educated to pursue Torah study and army service with great personal sacrifice. Staff-Sgt. Ro'i Farjoun, a student at the Gluck Pre-Military Yeshiva Academy in Bet El, was killed during the Second Lebanon War.
(From L-R) Arutz-7 Exec.-Dir. Yaakov Katz), Guest of Honor Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Bohrer, American Friends of Bet El Exec. VP Sholom Simanowitz
"Young Leadership" Awardees David and Shulamis Teiler
Also honored at the dinner were Guardian of Israel Awardees Michael and Gail Weisbrod of Westhampton, NY, Young Leadership Awardees David and Shulamis Teiler of New Hempstead, NY, and Woman of Valor Awardee Nechama Kapelyus of Queens, NY.
Representing Arutz-7 IsraelNationalNews.com at the gathering were Senior Editorial Board member Rabbi Yedidya Atlas, and Radio Show Host Alex Traiman.
Arutz-7's Yedidya Atlas couldn't stop dancing.
Coinciding with the New York dinner, Jews from across Israel and abroad arrived to spend the weekend in Bet El itself, as Jews worldwide read the Torah portion of Vayeitzei, which records Jacob’s prophetic dream in the town. The Biblical forefather Jacob came to Bet El approximately 3,600 years ago, where he dreamt that G-d promised him the land of Israel as an everlasting inheritance:
And he [Jacob] came to the place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; …And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, 'I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants.' …Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said…, "This is none other than Bet El [the house of God], and this is the gate of heaven."
The Glucks (2nd and 3rd from left) stand with Mr. Seymour Wigod, a previous Guest of Honor, and members of his family
David Weiss (left) and attorney Steve Savitt
Associate Dinner Chairmen David and Bernice Weiss
Guest of Honor Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Bohrer with his wife Helen
Helen Bohrer (left) and Sheila Simanowitz, both who work hard behind the scenes
Joyous dancing accompanied the evening.
...And the dance floor was filled to capacity.
...and yet more dancing.
The audience listens attentively to dinner speakers.
(Photos by Zvi Sebrow and Sholom Simanowitz)