BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION LONG ISLAND GALA RAISES RECORD-BREAKING $2 MILLION, HONORING COMMUNITY LEADER JON HELD
Nearly 300 Attendees Gather at Glen Oaks Club to Help Send Hundreds of Jewish Young Adults to Israel
OLD WESTBURY, NY (June 12, 2026) – Nearly 300 community members gathered Thursday evening at Glen Oaks Club for the Birthright Israel Foundation Long Island Gala, which honored Jon Held, one of the founding supporters of Birthright Israel on Long Island and one of the region’s most respected business and community leaders.
Held was recognized for his longstanding commitment to Birthright Israel and his leadership in helping build support for the organization throughout the Long Island community.
“Birthright Israel’s mission is to build a generation of proud, confident, and resilient Jewish young adults, and every investment we make in a Jewish young adult sends ripples far beyond the trip itself. For more than 20 years, Jon has been a cornerstone of that work on Long Island, inspiring others to invest alongside him. The young adults who travel to Israel because of this community come home more grounded, more confident, more connected. Long Island feels that. The Jewish world feels that. That is what Jon helped build. That is a legacy worth celebrating,” said Elias Saratovsky, President and CEO of Birthright Israel Foundation.
The event, co-chaired by Steven Cooper and Scott Jaffee, raised over $2 million in total, including a record-breaking night that saw nearly $1 million raised and matched on the spot, enough to send more than 400 Jewish young adults to Israel. The vision and efforts behind the gala were led by Rachel Podell, Birthright Israel Foundation Long Island Cabinet Chair, and Amy Jaffee, Past Cabinet Chair, both of whom addressed attendees during the evening.
Featured speaker Michelle Rojas-Tal, a leader in the global Israeli and Jewish community and a Birthright Israel alumna, addressed attendees and spoke about the enduring impact of the program on Jewish young adults worldwide.
“We don’t have the luxury of standing on the sidelines. Every young Jew who boards a Birthright plane comes home more resilient, proud, and connected to their Jewish identity. That is worth fighting for, and worth celebrating. When I see demand for these trips at record highs, I know our investment is working. The urgency to raise funds has never been greater. Long Island is ready to fulfill its responsibility to the next generation. I hope every other Jewish community in the U.S. is, too,” said Held.
“The Long Island community chose to show up. Tonight, nearly 300 people came together and invested over $2 million to send hundreds more Jewish young adults to Israel, where right now, our participants are virtually the only visitors in the country. When Israelis see them on the streets, at the Kotel, they know the Jewish world hasn’t forgotten them. That is what this community made possible tonight. That is what this moment demands, and they delivered,” said Saratovsky.
About Birthright Israel Foundation:
Since its founding, Birthright Israel has provided immersive educational experiences in Israel to nearly one million Jewish young adults worldwide. Birthright Israel Foundation raises philanthropic support to enable Jewish young adults to experience Birthright Israel, a transformative educational journey that strengthens Jewish identity, builds community, and fosters lifelong connection to Israel. Through the Generations Campaign, Birthright Israel Foundation aims to sustain and expand this impact for generations to come.
