We were honored to host 2024 Israel Prize Laureate Menachem Kalmanson for an event with our partners at the Israel Chesed Center and Beth Shalom Synagogue. Menachem was recently awarded the Israel Prize for Civilian Heroism.

During the event, Menachem shared his tragic and incredible story. He told us how, on October 7th, he, his brother Elhanan, and their nephew Itiel Zohar left their home in Otniel to save people at Kibbutz Be'eri. The brothers went door to door saving nearly 100 people who were trapped in their homes during the massacre. Upon entering one house, a terrorist shot Menachem’s brother Elhanan and he died in Menachem’s arms. It was a story that profoundly affected everyone in the room and left us thinking about what we would do in the same situation. It was an emotional night that inspired all of us.

All the money raised from the event went to Migdal Ohr's Sunrise Fund, which is caring for the needs of 10,000 orphaned and neglected children as well as newly orphaned children from October 7th.