Cathy Distelburger

Meeting Extraordinary Women

In reflecting on my Israel Bonds involvement, what I find most rewarding are opportunities to meet extraordinary women. Each of the women I have met on Bonds delegations have had a unique, often heroic story to share. Women’s Division delegations have enhanced my love for Israel and enriched my life with lasting friendships. Among my goals is to bring friends and family on delegations, providing the chance to meet women who make up the fabric of our only Jewish state. I was delighted to meet Lesley Simpson, author of the children’s book Yuvi, which I have read to my grandchildren numerous times. Lesley’s story of resilience is a testimony to how Israel bond investments are vital to the development of Israel. Sharing this legacy with my children and grandchildren is my mission. L’dor v’dor.

(Photo credit: Cathy Distelburger)

Jason Schwartz

Visit with a Visionary

In 2014, I had the privilege of joining an incredible international Israel Bonds delegation to Israel. We met with high-tech leaders, toured beautiful Ariel Sharon Park, heard from the prime minister, president and other government officials, and enjoyed so many special activities only an organization like Israel Bonds could arrange. Among the most memorable was a visit (not even on the official program) with Esther Herlitz, a participant in the 1950 meeting at which Israel Bonds was established. A distinguished diplomat, Israel Prize winner, hero of the Haganah and confidant of Golda Meir and Eleanor Roosevelt, the then-92-year-old Ambassador Herlitz hosted six of us in her Tel Aviv home, sharing firsthand stories of her remarkable life and the many historic events in which she took part. Having the opportunity to sit with someone who played such a significant role in the founding of both Israel and Israel Bonds was just one of many unique, enriching experiences I've enjoyed through my Israel Bonds involvement.

Chuck Berk

I Realized We Were Family

Although I have been involved with Israel Bonds for many years on both the regional and national levels, perhaps my most cherished memory was the night I formally accepted the chairmanship of the National Campaign Advisory Council. The transition ceremony took place at the International Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. As I accepted the chairman’s gavel from Ken Goldberg and looked out at the audience, my pride in my association with Israel Bonds grew exponentially. At that moment, I realized we were more than dedicated advocates for Israel – we were family.

Hadassah Backman

I Found Israel Bonds Unique

About seven years ago, my sister pushed me to attend an Israel Bonds New Leadership event, hoping I would meet a nice Jewish boy. As a native New Yorker, I was no stranger to causes related to Judaism and Israel, yet I found Israel Bonds unique, as it’s not a cause, but a community; not charity, but an investment. I was intrigued by the concept that I could hold a stake in Israel through an investment directly supporting the economy of the Jewish state. Six years and two delegations to Israel later, plus a trip to Poland, an international leadership conference in Phoenix, a New Leadership boot camp in Austin, and countless pop-ins to cities around the country to attend local New Leadership activities, I served as one of New Leadership’s first female co-chairs. I took great pride in encouraging common goals and our shared belief in supporting Israel, one bond at a time.

Bobbie Goldstein

I Have Led the Most Extraordinary Bonds Life

For 40 years, it has been an honor and privilege to be involved with Israel Bonds. I rose from addressing envelopes to becoming national Women’s Division chair and, ultimately, national chair. After approximately 70 trips to Israel - meeting presidents, prime ministers and chairing the 70th anniversary delegation - I have led the most extraordinary Bonds life.  Early on, I came to understand what it meant to be part of the Israel Bonds family. From getting up at 3AM to greet arriving Russian immigrants at Ben-Gurion Airport; to wearing a gas mask during the Gulf War; and getting off a plane with a Women’s Division delegation and going straight to the Rabin residence for dinner with Leah Rabin, I have made lifelong friends.  Perhaps it’s best explained by one of my daughters, who introduced me to a group of women in her community with these words: “My mother has six children - the five of us, and, of course Israel!” (Photo: Doron Golan

Laura Orzy

It has been an Honor to be Involved with Israel Bonds

I have spent most of my life in the Diaspora, building and increasing my connection, and that of my children, with Israel, because I know how important it is to our lives as Jews, our shared culture, and the history that saw our ancestors truly yearn for Israel and suffer greatly for not having it. It has been an honor to be involved with Israel Bonds as a key part of those efforts, a way to show others how to create that bond, demonstrate tangible support and involve families and friends. Delegations are the “icing on the cake” of the Bonds experience. Spending an eye-opening week with other women, both new and veterans, observing what most don’t get to see, and sharing intellectually and emotionally the intensity of the experience, is a real life-changer, creating life-long friendships. I know firsthand that we return home far wiser, with the opportunity to have an immediate, long-term impact on the next generation.

Bob Diener

Sharing a Love and Passion for Israel

One of my first delegations was with New Leadership in 1996, joining more than 200 young professionals from throughout the U.S. who wanted to see Israel through the eyes of Israel Bonds. Not only did I make lifelong friends and learn about Israel’s economy and society, I also had amazing opportunities to meet so many leaders, including the new prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. I was given the opportunity to introduce the Prime Minister and sit with him on the dais. I was so excited and humbled to chat with him one-on-one. I also met Ariel Sharon, Ehud Barak, Silvan Shalom, Dan Meridor and Ezer Weizman, gaining unique perspectives on Israel from these leaders. Israel Bonds not only connected me financially to Israel, it connected me to others sharing a similar love and passion for Israel, and to the great leaders that shaped the nation into the powerhouse that it is today.

Andrew Hutter, MD

Every Delegation is Exciting

My Israel Bonds involvement began 20 years ago, when my father and I were co-honorees for Metro New Jersey's Medical Division dinner. I subsequently became local Medical Division chair and then general chairman of the Metro campaign. Currently, I'm treasurer of the U.S. board of directors, and serve as National Medical Division co-chair. In 2009, I asked the then-president & CEO of Israel Bonds for a medical delegation to Israel, and he agreed. That first delegation consisted of only 12 people. We have continued every two years, and now have over 40 participants, visiting research facilities and local hospitals while interacting with Israeli peers. We have watched Israeli doctors treating Syrian refugees; viewed underground operating rooms; and witnessed emergency responses to terror attacks. We have also toured Israeli biotech companies, and seen cutting-edge medical innovations. Although every delegation is exciting, nothing is more inspiring than seeing Israel through the eyes of first-time participants. I thank Israel Bonds for allowing me to be part of these memorable journeys.

Didi Nishlis

It's Good to Know Someone has Your Back

Being elected to the Israel Bonds national board in November 2019 was the highlight of my year. It was a great source of pride to have made a contribution to such an important organization. It was only recently, however, that I fully grasped the true significance of what Israel Bonds has meant to the State of Israel. When I explain to my Israeli friends and colleagues how the organization provided worldwide record investments of $1.8 billion in 2020, even in these difficult times, people are speechless. I feel their strong appreciation when words such as "wow!" and "amazing!" dominate the conversation - and this is coming from Israelis, who are not easily impressed and sometimes find it hard to express gratitude. Israel Bonds, with its global network of lay leaders, staff and supporters, has a real impact, both financially and psychologically. It's good to know someone has your back.

Ken Goldberg

I Was Proud to be Representing Israel Bonds

Thirty years ago, I joined with 50 Israel Bond leaders on a solidarity delegation to Israel during the height of the Gulf War. Upon landing, we received gas masks, syringes and the antidote for poison gas. During the week-long delegation, we traveled throughout the country, met with Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, future prime ministers Yitzhak Rabin, Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu, and Tel Aviv and Jerusalem mayors Shlomo Lahat and Teddy Kollek. We also received firsthand accounts from Israelis sharing the trauma of what they were enduring. They were grateful that Israel Bonds had come to offer solidarity and support. We saw Scud missile destruction to schools and apartment buildings, and survived a Scud attack just after Shabbat. It was the most meaningful trip to Israel in my lifetime, and I was proud to be representing Israel Bonds. Thirty years ago, my eyes were opened to the vital work and significance of this wonderful organization.

Susan Weikers

Remembering a Giant

I became involved with Israel Bonds in my 20s and, although I was recruited by New Leadership, I also became active with the Women's Division. I was invited by Sam Rothberg, one of the founders of Israel Bonds, to participate in the Prime Minister's Conference in Jerusalem. Sam was the ultimate leader. As he spoke the last evening in the Knesset's Chagall Hall, emphasizing the importance of investing in Israel bonds, I was in awe of his dignity, presence and fierce belief that we were privileged to participate in this magnificent effort. I shared this with him years later, after becoming the first woman appointed national chair of our great organization. In the letter Sam wrote, he gave me a treasured compliment: "You are among the most involved, hardest working chairs in the history of Bonds. For you Bonds is not a sideline." I am so proud to have been mentored by the best, and now, it's my turn to mentor future leaders.

Jason Langsner

L'dor V’dor

The ROI I receive from Israel Bonds is greater than the interest on the bonds I buy for my family, and I'm proud to make all of my annual tzedakah in the form of Israel bonds. By doing so, I know that with each bond, I'm doing a double mitzvah. As National New Leadership co-chair, the Bonds organization and my fellow lay leaders have been a part of my family for the last seven years, and I cannot wait to introduce my new daughter, Mia, born October 11, to our Bonds family. I look forward to sharing with her why I believe purchasing Israel bonds is the most tangible thing we can do to support the State of Israel and Jewish peoplehood, outside of making aliyah. Carly and I look forward to sharing stories about why we love Israel, why we invest in Israel's development, and regularly bringing Mia to Israel. (Photo: Jason Langsner)

Sebastian Hoffmann

A Small Part of Something Big

Among the most meaningful and unforgettable experiences of my involvement with Israel Bonds was participating in the 2019 International Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. I was honored and proud to represent the young generation of Israel Bonds lay leaders when, together with U.S. and International Chairman of the Board Howard L. Goldstein, I delivered remarks at the opening event of the conference.

In that moment, I felt as though I was a small part of something big ― a long-lasting tradition of leadership passed down from generation to generation - l'dor v'dor. Throughout the four-day conference, this beautiful legacy also transcended borders and oceans. Personally, I came from Berlin, Germany to attend, and I received the valuable opportunity to exchange ideas with devoted Israel Bonds lay leaders from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Israel. For me, this was the true meaning of Israel Bonds. (Photo: Studio No. 5)

Teri, Helene and Burt Herbstman

The Truest Manifestation of L'Dor V'Dor

In April 2018, we spent an amazing week as a family participating in the Israel Bonds International Delegation commemorating Israel's 70th anniversary, along with hundreds of Bonds leaders from cities spanning three continents. We celebrated Israel's Independence Day by marching in a parade down the Tel Aviv promenade along the Mediterranean Sea, dancing and waving Israeli flags. It was an incredible memory for the three of us to experience together.

Israelis sitting at the beach were cheering and clapping with us! We had tears in our eyes thinking of the sacrifices and historic moments that Israel had gone through to reach this extraordinary day - a day when the country was stronger than ever. A moment like that reinforced our love and passion for Israel, and provided a legacy for our family. It was the truest manifestatin of l'dor v'dor - from generation to generation.

Shira Lewis

Partaking in Extraordinary Experiences

Through participation with Israel Bonds, both locally and nationally, I've had the privilege of partaking in extraordinary experiences. I have met prime ministers, presidents and numerous other remarkable people. I've had so many opportunities to travel to Israel that security and passport control at Ben-Gurion Airport almost always asks for my Israeli passport (which I don't have - yet). What I find most rewarding, though, are the bonds that are formed. I've made lifelong friends, both in the U.S. and Israel.

And, being able to connect individuals to Israel through Israel Bonds, or by bringing them to Israel, as I did when I chaired or co-chaired four Women's Division delegations, are experiences that can't be matched. I feel an incredible sense of fulfillment whenever I can be the catalyst for connecting or reconnecting someone to Israel. My involvement with Israel Bonds gave me the tools to do this, and now I am paying it forward.
(Photo: Yossi Zamir)

Israel Maimon

Carrying Hopes, Dreams and Aspirations

My service as president & CEO of Israel Bonds has afforded me unique opportunities to bear witness to history. Over the course of more than four years of impactful moments, among the most moving was being present on the South Lawn of the White House for the signing of the landmark Abraham Accords between Israel. the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. As I watched the emotional ceremony on that extraordinary September afternoon.

I understood that in representing the global Bonds enterprise. I carried with me the hopes. yearnings and aspirations of every individual who has ever been associated with Israel Bonds - from the founders who could only dream of such a moment, to the collective Bonds family of today I reflected on the fact that after decades of war and chaos, a hopeful path was being forged and every Israel Bonds lay leader, staf member and investor was now part of a remarkable new era.