IHF Joins President Trump at Mar-A-Lago
left to right: Sam Nahmias, IHF Exec. Pres. Dr. Stephen Soloway, Harley Lippman, President Donald J. Trump, IHF Exec Director Rabbi David Katz & IHF Exec VP Dr. Joseph Frager
2/28/2024, 10:54:48 AM
In an expression of gratitude and solidarity, a Jewish delegation, led by Israel Heritage Foundation, met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago this week. The meeting, which took place on Monday, February 26, demonstrates the foundation’s outreach towards those who support the Jewish people, advocate for Israel and combat antisemitism.
Israel Heritage Foundation Executive Director Rabbi David Katz and Executive Vice President Dr. Joseph Frager were joined at Mar-a-Lago by Executive President Dr. Steven Soloway, Chairman Commissioner of the Nassau County Bridge Authority Samuel Nahmias, philanthropist Lewis Topper and Genesis10 CEO Harley Lippman.
The group presented President Trump with a beautiful silver menorah, with an attached proclamation that reads, “Hineni nosen lo es brisi shalom”, “Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace” (Bamidbar 25:12). They thanked the president for his ongoing and steady support for the Jewish State and the Jewish people, specifically citing the U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem, official recognition of the Golan Heights as being under Israel’s sovereignty, and the creation of the Abraham Accords, which maintained and strengthened peace in the Middle East and the world.
Rabbi Katz emphasized the cordial and positive tone of the meeting. He mentioned that President Trump recalled the private dinner that the Israel Heritage Foundation hosted in his honor this past summer at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Bedminster, New Jersey.
“The president was in a good mood and very excited to see us,” Rabbi Katz said. “We had a very productive conversation. He remembered me from July and was happy to see us again. We spoke about the difficult situation that Israel is in now, and we thanked him for everything he did for Israel.”
As an organization with 5013c status, Israel Heritage Foundation does not endorse political candidates and political discussion on the topic of the upcoming elections was mute. However, Rabbi Katz relayed that during their conversation, President Trump spoke of how Orthodox Jews in both America and in Israel are overwhelmingly pro-Trump. The president specifically acknowledged support and appreciation from Chassidic Jews in the U.S. Indeed, a recent Siena College poll points to a stunning 53% of Jewish voters in New York who plan to vote for the former president.
Dr. Frager stressed that President Trump seemed very worried about the war in Israel and the dangers facing the Jewish State. “The president is strongly in favor of Israel winning the war. He is very pro-Israel and spoke of the need to destroy Hamas. The president also talked about the growing antisemitism that Jews are facing now.”
President Trump was also very proud of commuting the prison sentence of Sholom Rubashkin. Rabbi Katz recounted the president’s outrage at the unprecedented harsh verdict against Rubashkin. “President Trump was astounded that Rubashkin got 28 years and insisted he did not deserve to be incarcerated for so long. The former president spoke of how the government has allowed millions of illegal migrants into the country and nothing is being done, yet Rubashkin was sentenced to sit for 28 years in jail for employing a few illegals.”
In a gesture of enduring friendship, President Trump told the Israel Heritage Foundation group that he hopes for continued meetings in the future.
