new israel fund guardian of democracy invitation 2008
TRANSCRIPT
The New Israel Fund (NIF) is the leading organization committed
to democratic change within Israel. For twenty-nine years,
NIF has fought for social justice and equality for all Israelis.
We believe that Israel can live up to its founders’ vision
of a state that ensures complete equality of social and
political rights to all its inhabitants, without regard to religion,
race or gender.
Widely credited with building Israel’s progressive civil society from
scratch, we have provided more than $200 million to more than 800
cutting-edge organizations since our inception. What’s more, through
our action arm, SHATIL, we mentor, train and lead Israeli civil society
in an ongoing struggle to empower the underprivileged.
NEW ISRAEL FUND SAN FRANCISCO STAFF:
Steven Rothman
Regional andLeadership Gifts Director
Becky Buckwald
Associate Director
Orli Bein
Associate andNew Generations Director
Marina Javor
Development Associate
Thursday, June 19, 20086:00 PM Cocktails / 7:00 PM Dinner
Julia Morgan Ballroom at the Merchants Exchange
465 California Street, 15th floor (at Montgomery Street)
Dinner at the Julia Morgan Ballroom
at the Merchants Exchange in San Francisco
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14th
Ann
ual
Thursday, June 19, 2008
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14th
Ann
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To register online, please visit:www.nif.org/guardian
HonoringSteve Abel, Guardian of Democracy Award
Robin Mencher, New Generations Leadership Award
Special Guest SpeakerIlana DayanIsrael’s premier investigative journalist
Dinner ChairsCandice Gold, Hilary Kushins, Lee Pollak, Diane Rosenberg
Dinner CommitteeJoanne Abel, Susan and Greg Abel, Howard Brodke, David Coltoff andDebra Perrin Coltoff, Matthew Dimond, Abby Friedman,Susan and Bill Heller, Doris and George Krevsky, Elroy and Dee Kursh,Ellen Lefkowitz, Betty Ann Polse, Linda Popofsky,Joan and Russell Pratt, Michael Simon, Alexandra Wall and Paul Bosky New Israel Fund
785 Market Street, Suite 510 San Francisco, CA 94103
415.543.5055 (phone) 415.543.6066 (fax) [email protected] www.nif.org
Dietary Laws Observed
Ilana DayanIlana Dayan is Israel’s foremost television and radiojournalist. She is the anchor of Uvda (Fact), one ofthe most important programs in the history of Israelitelevision. Often called Israel’s 60 Minutes, it hascovered all of the critical issues facing Israeli society,and has made Dayan a household name. She alsorecently launched a second interview program for
Israel’s Channel 2, and hosts a popular weekly news program called As of thisMorning for Israel Defence Forces (IDF) radio.
At the end of the first Lebanon War, Dayan was the first female soldier to becomea news correspondent for IDF radio, and was the first woman anchor of thetelevision interview program New Evening, at age 23. She has a law degree fromTel Aviv University, interned at the Supreme Court of Israel, and earned a doctoratefrom Yale Law School. While in the United States, she was a contributor to YediotAharonot, Israel’s most popular newspaper.
HONORARY DINNER COMMITTEEGUARDIAN OF DEMOCRACY AWARD
Steve AbelSteve Abel has been a uniquely productive memberof the New Israel Fund (NIF) Regional Board since2002, and active in Jewish affairs for over 40 years.A native San Franciscan and East Bay resident since1965, he has been involved with the Jewish CommunityFederation of the Greater East Bay, the Contra CostaJewish Community Center, and especially the
Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living. Steve was first introduced to theNew Israel Fund in September 2000, when he traveled to Israel on an NIFStudy Tour. What was, at first, a pretext to visit Israel again, became a focusfor Steve to direct his time and energy. He has demonstrated true leadershipin guiding the last three Guardian of Democracy dinners, and is dearlycommitted to NIF’s principles, ideas, and programs, and the influence theyhave on making Israel the best that it can be.
NEW GENERATIONS LEADERSHIP AWARD
Robin MencherRobin Mencher gives the New Israel Fund a powerfulvoice among emerging Jewish leaders. This is Robin’sfifth year serving on the board of New Generations,NIF’s young adult leadership group. She is alsocompleting her second year as a representative onNIF’s Regional Board. Raised in a progressive Jewishhousehold in Southern California, Robin grew up
committed to the principle of Tikkun Olam, and has always connectedJudaism with social justice and action. She was first introduced to theNew Israel Fund during her junior year at Hebrew University. Whenshe later returned to Jerusalem for a second year of study, Robinvolunteered for NIF grantee Nisan: Young Women Leaders, whichbuilds the leadership skills and self-esteem of Arab and Jewish Israeliyoung women. At Nisan, Robin helped develop the organization’s
administrative infrastructure and curriculum for its after school youthdevelopment program.
Fran and Hillel AbelFred Altshuler and Julia CheeverEileen Auerbach and Lawrence BurgheimerAlvin BaumAnn and Irwin BearJeanine BeckerRalph and Gail BernsteinRachel and David BialeMichael Bien and Jane KahnElizabeth Friedman Branoff and
Steven BranoffMeryl BrodMarvis and Howard BrodkePamela BurdmanRabbis Micah and Karen CitrinAdi CohenJanice CorranSandra CurtisDiane and Richard EinsteinDr. David S. FankushenIrwin and Concepcion S. FedermanSandy and Dan FeldmanLeah Frei and Dan KolkowitzDr. Jonathan D. Fuchs and Steven GlomstadMichael D. GeschwindRabbi George GittlemanNancy GoldbergMarcia and John GoldmanJane Gottesman and Geoffrey BiddleEvelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. FundScott HerscherGrace Hughes and John LevinsohnRobert and Ellen JasperLinda and Thomas KalinowskyLeslie Kane and Manuel FishmanRebecca KatzWendy and Howard KlecknerAsher Kotz and Robyn LiebermanHannah KranzbergLinda KurtzMarvin LangsamMadeleine LanskyAdele and Mark Lieberman
Jeremy LiztMartin Lowenstein and Inbar TelemRabbis Janet and Sheldon MarderBarbara J. Meislin / Purple Lady FundSherry Morse and John MaccabeeDan NewmanMartha and Richard PastcanLinda PolseLinda and Larry PopofskyRabbi Oren PostrelRabbi Larry Raphael, Congregation
Sherith IsraelAndrea ResnickSusan W. and Carl W. RobertsonDavid RosenhanRaine RudePeter Rukin and Sharon DjemalThe San Francisco FoundationGerry and Lela SarnatDavid SaxeLynn and Paul SedwayRita R. SemelConnie and James ShapiroLarissa SiegelRichard SinkoffSeth SkolnickGary B. Sokol and Paul BlancJoelle SteefelVera and Harold S. Stein, Jr.Judge Edward Stern (Ret.)Ingrid Tauber and Frank TaforoSusan and Paul TeicholzBonnie and Marty TenenbaumSydney Kapchan and Steven TulkinDorothy and Paul WachterMurry and Marilyn WaldmanMark WarnickMarilyn and Ray WeisbergHarmony WilliamsDrs. Carol and Terry WinogradSusan and Robert WolfeVincent WormsAlan and Monica Zimmerman
Children from theBedouin town ofLakiya participate ina grassroots publicinitiative to tackle localenvironmental problems.