Ambassador Michael Oren Headlines Jewish National Fund Legacy Luncheon

Philanthropists in Long Branch joined Jewish National Fund-USA at its Stand With Israel Legacy Luncheon at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa on Monday, September 23, to hear from historian, politician, and former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren. The event also served as an opportunity to thank those who have committed to, or who are considering, leaving a legacy gift through flexible gift planning during life or through their estate plan to Jewish National Fund — ensuring a strong, secure, and prosperous future for the land and people of Israel. Planned gifts with Jewish National Fund enable people to earn lifetime income, save taxes and achieve other financial benefits while helping Israel.

Ambassador Oren, who grew up in New Jersey, shared how pleased he was to be back where he grew up. “It’s good to be back as a Jersey Boy,” he exclaimed while reflecting on the somber mood in Israel.

“It’s a hard morning,” remarked Oren. “Israel is at war. As we sit here, millions of Israelis are under rocket fire. And it didn’t start this morning. It has been happening for 11 months straight. People often ask me, ‘What war is this most like?’…and I answer them that this war is most like Israel’s War of Independence, which was fought on multiple fronts….this really is Israel’s second War of Independence.”

Guests also heard from high school student Ben Leeds, a senior at Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, who was in Israel studying at the Alexander Muss High School on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas’ terror attacks took place. “On the morning of October 7, Simchat Torah, I woke up to red alert sirens in Jerusalem,” he shared. “While we were all fearful, I believed in the strength of the Israeli people and had faith that everything would be okay. After six or seven sirens and running to the hotel bomb shelter, one of our counselors was called to the reserves. That's when we knew the situation was quite serious. My mom asked me if I wanted to go home, and I answered, almost with a laugh, that I was not interested in leaving. Little did we know or understand what would unfold over the days and weeks ahead.”

Addressing the audience, Northeast Director of Planned Giving, Allison Zinbarg Nagelberg, Esq. added, “On October 7, when Israel was attacked by a regime bent on death and destruction, Jewish National Fund-USA was already on the ground. Why? Because we have always been there working side by side with the land and people of Israel. We immediately began supporting countless evacuees and the communities that absorbed them.”

Over the past 12 months, Jewish National Fund-USA has raised $200 million and, through its Israel Resilience Campaign, is leading efforts to provide immediate and long-term relief to the Israeli communities hardest hit by terror. The organization has, and continues to, help displaced Israelis while providing firefighting and civil defense equipment, food, mental health services, school supplies, and more. Jewish National Fund-USA has also brought almost 4,000 people to Israel on its volunteer missions.

To learn more about the many meaningful ways you can leave a legacy for Israel, contact Allison Zinbarg Nagelberg, Esq. at 888.731.8823 or anagelberg@jnf.org.