Jewish Connection NOVEMBER 2025
DEDICATED TO ENGAGING, INFORMING, & INSPIRING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
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Standing Boldly for Truth, for Justice and for Israel ZOA Celebrates Distinguished Honorees At Justice Louis D. Brandeis Award Dinner Superstar Gala In New York City ZOA National President Morton A. Klein, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Amb. Rabbi Dr. Yechiel Leiter, Rita Cosby Political, diplomatic and civic leaders gathered against the backdrop of rising global antisemitism and intensifying efforts to delegitimize Israel, at a sold-out event Sunday at the Zionist Organization of America’s (ZOA) Justice Louis D. Brandeis Award Superstar Gala urging them to mobilize and continue the fight against Jew hatred. This year’s honorees included Representative Elise Stefanik, House Republican Conference chair and newly announced New York gubernatorial candidate, who received the ZOA Maccabee Award; Amb. Rabbi Dr. Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, who received the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Defender of Israel Award; Leo Terrell, Esq., Chair of the U.S. Department of Justice Task Force on Antisemitism, who received the Robert Kasowitz Defender of Jewish Civil Rights Award; Amb. Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, who received the Steve Sass Outstanding Diplomat Award and Irit and Jonathan Tratt, Philanthropists and Zionist activists, who received the evening’s highest honor, the Justice Louis D. Brandeis Award. Presenters and participants included Dr. Miriam Adelson, Marc Kasowitz, Steven Sass,
acclaimed radio host Sid Rosenberg, Ambassador Ofir Akunis and ZOA National President Morton Klein. The evening was emceed by Rita Cosby, Emmy-winning TV and radio broadcaster. Among other high-profile
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guests were U.S. Representative for U.N. Management and Reform Ambassador Jeff Bartos; the Administration’s choice for Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat antisemitism Ambassador Designate Yehuda Kaploun and
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Professor Alan Dershowitz. “At this moment in history, we face a grave danger: Jew-hatred and Israel-bashing have been Continued On Page 18
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