AJF Gathers 1200 Attendees to Sold-out Lincoln Center Gala

Report and Photos: Lieba Nesis

The Iranian American Jewish Federation (IAJF) of New York held its annual gala at the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center on Tuesday October 29th 2024 with a buffet dinner beginning at 6 PM.  Since its establishment in 2001, after the second Israeli intifada, IAJF has collected over $85 million towards helping IDF soldiers with emergency support and relief, combating antisemitism on college campuses and addressing the needs of Iranian Jewish communities globally.  Last year $10 million was raised, the largest amount in its history, due to the exigencies of October 7th, which led to a last minute cancellation of this momentous dinner.  The 2024 sold-out evening had bargain basement prices of $500 for general admission and $150 for young leadership; truly noteworthy considering the copious amounts of food prior to and after the program, the magical venue of Lincoln Center, the meticulously planned program, and the once in a year opportunity to fraternize with 1200 of the best and brightest in the Iranian Jewish community-most of whom reside in Great Neck.

IAJF and its dinner are the best kept secrets in town, the likely reason being the deliberate decision to remain under the radar as the extremely secretive community prefers anonymity. As Fauda actress Rona Lee Shimon emceed the evening a magnificent Hatikvah and prayer for the soldiers was performed by singer and actor Omer Shaish.  Consul General of Israel in New York Ofir Akunis said this year was about celebrating victory as the tide is turning in Israel as it effectively fights on 7 fronts warning the world “not to test us.”  Governor Hochul, made a surprise appearance to extol her decision to be the first politician to head to Israel after October 7th despite her father’s death as she was en route.  She described her blood soaked shoes after visiting Kibbutz Kfar Aza and said she was doing her utmost to make sure Holocaust education is included in every school’s curriculum while touting her efforts at combating antisemitism at New York State schools-a claim belied by her overriding inaction.

The tragedies of the Hamas massacre are almost too much to bear as multiple expertly crafted films were shown during the evening depicting the atrocities of October 7th and how IAJF has provided centers for Nova survivors and combat soldiers as well as equipped field hospitals.  We heard firsthand from heroic returned hostage Nili Margalit who spent 55 days in Hamas captivity after being captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz where 57 in her community were slaughtered, while 76 were abducted with 29 still in captivity. Upon being dragged to Gaza, Nili saw two 5 and 15 year old Gazans in her father’s ATV as she found out after her release her father was murdered.  As a 41-year-old ER nurse at Soroka Hospital, Nili’s raison d’etre became assisting the injured captives as they nearly suffocated in tunnels forty meters underground.  Her time with hostage Yarden Bibas included his inquiring as to the fate of his wife Shiri and children Kfir and Ariel not knowing they had been brutally kidnapped.  The IAJF was working to help displaced communities in both the South and North of Israel according to President Steven Khadavi who thanked young leadership chairs Ashley Yadidi and Daniel Mahfar for gathering 500 millennials for the program and afterparty. With over 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the past year alone, a more than 200 percent increase, pivotal evenings like these shouldn’t be underestimated.

The question and answer portion between IAJF President Steven Khadavi and the honorable Naftali Bennett was captivating.  Bennett, a 52-year-old father of four, was Israel’s 13th Prime Minister in 2021 after selling two tech companies for $145 and $130 million in 2005 and 2009.  As a combat soldier in Sayeret Matkal as well as a Company Commander in the Maglan Special Forces he knows Israel’s capabilities inside and out and was highly critical of the government’s failure in protecting its people on October 7th.  He extolled the youth of Israel as a “nation of lions” comprised of the best, brightest, least materialistic and most militarily capable of any other generation. He said now was the time to topple Khameini and his regime by striking Iran’s nuclear facilities. Israel, Bennett remarked, had “full legitimacy” after Iran fired 200 ballistic missiles along with an “urgent need”since Iran was hastily enriching uranium. Finally and most importantly it currently has the capability since Hezbollah and Hamas are temporarily neutralized.  Israel’s recent destruction of 5 Iranian air defense systems is only effective as a stepping stone, Bennett remarked, to eradicating a nuclear Iran. The US, said Bennett, should thank Israel for doing its job against Iran as he blamed October 7th on the pernicious internal divisions in the country which he said prevented him from targeting Sinwar in 2021. Bennett urged Americans to visit Israel as often as possible, and to never be silent when others condemn the Israeli government.  At the late hour of 10:30 PM attendees headed for dessert while young professionals gathered for a separate 3rd floor afterparty.  Before Bennett exited he was asked one more pressing question by President Steve Khadavi: “How Mr. Prime Minister does your kippah rest on your mostly bald head?” “That,”Bennett responded, “is one of Israel’s national security secrets.”