The Ambassador’s Ball, a celebration of Israel’s 65th year of independence, drew a packed ballroom at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Convention Center on Sunday evening.
Andrew Cooper served as campaign chair while Manette and Louis Mayberg were the Ambassador’s Ball chairs.
Jordan (Jody) Harburger, executive director of Israel Bonds’ Washington, D.C. area office, called the evening “exhilarating and exciting.
“People responded with such energy to the entertainment and to the message and show of support for Israel,” he said.
Ambassador Barukh Binah, deputy chief of mission at the Israeli Embassy, delivered words of greetings and he presented the Israel Cultural Award to Grammy Award-winning violinist Miri Ben-Ari, who was on hand to perform for the appreciative audience.
Rabbi Raphael Shore, founder and executive director of JerusalemOnlineU.com, introduced his acclaimed film Israel Inside.
Rabbi Jack Bieler of Kemp Mill Synagogue gave the invocation.
“This was a great showing of support for Israel,” said Harburger. “There were many young people in attendance. This was also the first time we’ve held the Ambassador’s Ball in Montgomery County, so it was wonderful to see a considerable number of embassies represented.”
Embassies from Argentina, Lithuania and Trinidad & Tobago were among the many with diplomats in attendance.
Also attending were Israel’s Minister of Home Front Defense and Minister of Communications Gilad Erdan as did Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett; Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler; and Israel Bonds CEO and President Izzy and Mrs. Regina Tapoohi.
