Algemeiner’s 6th Annual J100 Gala

Oct 9

Oct 9 Algemeiner’s 6th Annual J100 Gala

Photos courtesy of PMC/Sean Zanni for The Algemeiner

I may not have met my Nice Jewish Boy but that was not what the evening was about (thought I would’ve been an added bonus.) This night, billed as the Jewish answer to the TIME 100, was the Algemeiner’s 6th Annual J100 Gala 1where significant individuals influencing Jewish life are recognized. Held in New York at Gotham Hall, there was a large turnout from supporters in the Jewish community who understand the importance of these new 100 inductees.

Now celebrating its 47th anniversary, The Algemeiner has been labeled the "fastest growing Jewish newspaper in the US" and been described by former Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor as “the voice of the Jewish people and Israel. It is fitting that a prestigious and empowering paper hosted an event honoring those with the same qualities advocating for the Jewish people. The just announced 2019 list included Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sacha Baron Cohen, Julian Edelman, Karlie Kloss and Jared Kushner, Jake Tapper, Lachlan Murdoch. The full list, and a description of why they were chosen, can be found at Algemeiner.com/the-top-100-people-positively-influencing-jewish-life-2019

Editor in Chief and CEO, Dovid Efune, and Publisher Simon Jacobson welcomed guests including Actor Sir Ben Kingsley and U.K. Channel 4 TV star Rachel Riley who were specially honored at The Algemeiner’s at the September 26th gala. Themes of the evening included Efune’s question about how the tragic story of antisemitism ends and how they are determined that it shall never be said that under their watch the beast of antisemitism reawakened and did so unopposed.

Holocaust survivor Halina Silber, number 16 on Oskar Schindler's list, presented Kingsley the newspaper’s illustrious Warrior For Truth award for his 1993 portrayal of Itzhak Stern in the movie, Schindler's List. Riley’s award was presented by Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart, President of the World Jewish Congress Diplomatic Corps. The U.K. star told her story on how just a year ago she thought “antisemitism wasn’t a ‘thing’ anymore” and now, she says it’s one of the probably the biggest honors of her life to be there tonight because of her voice.

CEO of Talent Resources, Michael David Heller, was also honored, receiving the award from dear friend Kelly Bensimon The evening's Master of Ceremonies was CNN journalist Bianna Golodryga. Speakers included Consul General of Israel in New York Ambassador Dani Dayan, David Sterling and Ben Newhouse. Guests included Ira and Ingeborg Rennert, the Mayor of Beverly Hills John A. Mirisch, Sima and Morad Ghadamian, David Steinmann, George Farmer, Joseph and Deborah Aronow, Sam Herzberg, Shalom and Iris Maidenbaum, Gail Propp, Michael and Dana Cohen, Richard Miller, Mark Moskowitz, Ariel and Aleta Grunberg, Michael and Tanya Grunberg, Martin Sanders, Sol and Meri Barer, Jeffrey H. Rosen, Jonathan Holtzman, Ron Agam, James Taranto, Rickie Freeman, Buck Sexton, Dominic Green, Marty Peretz, Jere Van Dyk, Sir Clive Gillinson, Tuvia Tenenbom, Tunku Varadarajan, and Erwin Pearl. Event Chairs were Robert H. and Amy Book, and Neil and Sharon Book. Honorary Chairman was Bernard-Henri Levy.

Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour on the Gotham Hall balcony overlooking the main ballroom. The rest of the evening was spent watching the ceremony from tables and served a plated dinner.

Photos courtesy of PMC/Sean Zanni for The Algemeiner