Evening Honored Perry & Marla Birman, Dr. Richard & Alisa Cohen, The Lebersfeld Family With The Defender of Israel Award Presented To Alan Dershowitz

BOCA RATON, Fla. (March 10, 2016) — Celebrating ‘under the stars’ as The Addison was purposefully transformed in décor, visual effects and program to ‘bring Israel home’, more than 260 South Florida Jewish community and business leaders and steadfast advocates of Israel gathered to celebrate and official kick-off the MyIsrael Center (MIC) capital campaign.  To be built at 770 East Palmetto Park Road in East Boca Raton, the $6 million MIC will provide unforgettable, engaging experiences that bring Israel into the ‘minds and hearts’ of visitors in a positive, long-lasting way through an open, honest, and healthy environment for exploring and discussing the past, present and future of Israel and the Jewish people. The innovative, interactive, immersive and inspiring center for Israel education will feature an Innovation Lab, Explorium, Interactive Exhibits, Time Capsule Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality: Parliament of Opinion and more to serve as be a source of pride for the Jewish community as well as a perspective enlightening education game-changer for all people.

The ‘intimate evening with Alan Dershowitz’ – the inaugural Founders Club Gala – shared the vision, mission and significance of building MIC as area community, healthcare and business leaders were honored with inaugural awards for their love of community and tireless commitment to Israel and sharing its global impact. For their dedication to building strong, enlightened community unity locally and throughout the world, the MIC Community Award was presented to East Boca Raton residents Perry and Marla Birman. For their generosity of talent, donated healthcare services and volunteer time in tikkun olam (healing the world) the inaugural MIC Maimonides Award was presented to Dr. Richard and Alisa Cohen of Cohen Laser Eye Center.  The MIC L’Dor V’Dor (from Generation to Generation) Award was presented to Herman and Adele Lebersfeld and their children Ken, Eric and Joan for the five-generation business leadership at family-owned Capitol Lighting and their collective support of Jewish community missions in Florida and New Jersey and the state of Israel.

“Israel is the most misunderstood country on the face of the earth probably in the history of world. A country in which more falsities being spread about a country where there is more ignorance, bigotry, more deception, more dishonesty, more role reversal, where the best is called the worst, and the worst is called the best,” reported world renowned attorney and author of ‘The Case for Israel’ Alan Dershowitz, honorary co-chair of MyIsrael Center with US Senator Joseph Lieberman, during his remarks. “That is why this center must be built because we need to educate the world about the facts related to Israel. Facts are our friends, history is our heritage, and if people know the facts, they will understand.”

Following MIC Executive Director Rabbi Ruvi New’s presentation to Dershowitz of the MIC Defender of Israel Award, Dershowitz passionately affirmed that “You have my commitment Rabbi, you have my commitment to this community, we will not rest until the inauguration of this building.  Education on Israel is needed more than any other subject. It will be a game-changer. It will teach students and people of every background, every race, every gender, every religion, every ethnicity, every location the facts so they can decide for themselves. Then we can do what Jews do best: to teach, learn, converse and be a light onto the world.”

The evening program included an overview of MIC by Rabbi New and a call to action.  The vision for the MIC is for it to be replicated throughout the country and globe. Closing remarks and an invitation to join the MIC Founders Circle, were delivered by Perry Birman who serves on the MIC Advisory Board.

Master of Ceremonies Howard Kaye, reinforced that “It is our obligation and duty to see this important and monumental goal achieved, not only for our people, but for people around the world. It is so important and so needed to have a cultural center like the MyIsrael Center here in Boca Raton because it will connect Israel with South Florida in order to educate young and old and create a true experience of learning, living and breathing Israel.”

The MIC Founders Club Gala was chaired by Richard Egosi supported by table captains and gala event committee members that included Sid and Louise Banon, Dr. Kevin and Jamie Chaitoff, Laurent and Mati Cohen, Glenn and Lisa Edwards, Drs. Eli and Katia Friedman, John and Karina Hoffman, Marc Goldman, Glen and Risa Golish, David and Suzanne Goodis, Yaacov and Sue Heller, Jon and Bonnie Kaye, Daniel and Judith Mielnicki, Dr. Stuart and Bonnie Rubinstein, Art and Francine Siegel and Dr. Jeff and Beth Zipper.

Sponsors included: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd; 327 Royal Palm–Boca Raton; Greenberg Traurig, LLP; Goodwin Proctor, LLP; Howard Kaye Insurance; Golish Financial Group, LLC; Dr. Fischer; Cohen Laser And Vision Center and Capitol Lighting.

 

To learn more about MIC and its Founders Club and legacy/dedication opportunities, please visit http://www.micfl.org/ or call (561) 394-9770.