At a time when the news is filled with future members of the Trump Administration, the most effective former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, spoke at the Great Neck Synagogue to a packed audience of almost 500 attendees. Organized by Marc and Davida Yehaskel, the nephew and niece of Ambassador David and his wife Tammy Friedman and grandchildren of philanthropists Jean and Eugen Gluck, the event featured a lineup of distinguished local figures, and underscored the pressing challenges and opportunities facing Israel and the broader Jewish community during these tumultuous times.
The evening began with a VIP meet-and-greet, where Ambassador Friedman mingled with the donors and supporters who made the event possible. Yehaskel emphasized the significance of hosting such an influential figure: “He’s an honored guest in our town, promoting amazing Jewish causes, always working for the Jewish people, whatever it is.”
Eli Cohen, President of the Great Neck Synagogue, who opened the program, described Friedman as a “hero for Israel” and lauded his pivotal role during the Trump administration. Speaking privately earlier, Cohen highlighted what he considered the unprecedented peace and security during those years. “The most peaceful four years in Israel,” he said, “with the least amount of Israeli and Palestinian deaths, occurred under their leadership.”
Rabbi Polakoff, who has served the synagogue for 37 years, spoke of his personal connection to Friedman’s family and praised the Ambassador’s courage and strategic acumen: “He is one of the most courageous supporters of the State of Israel. He understands the complexities of foreign policy and has made a tangible difference.”
Adding a political perspective, Assemblyman-elect Daniel Norber, who recently flipped a historically Democratic district, emphasized Friedman’s relevance amidst rising anti-Semitism in the United States. He underscored the importance of educating the broader public about Israel, Zionism, and combating ignorance: “It’s critical that people understand what it means to be Israeli, a Zionist, and the realities of modern history.”
A notable highlight of the event was the recognition of Boots for Israel, an initiative to support Israeli soldiers with much-needed footwear. Yakir Wachstock, who grew up in Great Neck, has worked tirelessly to spread the word about his organization. He has visited Jewish communities every Shabbos this year, going around the country and being away from home for the past 50 weekends. His efforts have led to distributions of over 70,000 pairs of boots. Yet, the need remains dire, with 7,000 soldiers still waiting. Wachstock’s call to action resonated with attendees: “Am Yisrael wants to help, but they don’t know where to give.” (For more information, go to www.BootsForIsrael.com .)
Prior to taking the stage, two quick questions were posed to the Ambassador while he was signing copies of his book, One Jewish State: The Last, Best Hope to Resolve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. First, would there be any breaking news? He answered that there would not be that night, yet there was no regret or bitterness about the lack of appointment at this point in the Trump administration. The Ambassador lobbied hard for the appointment of Governor Mike Huckabee as the next Ambassador for Israel, and has a lot of praise for Marco Rubio, the nominee for Secretary of State. As the Ambassador later quipped, “What would I do as Secretary of Agriculture?” There was little indication that he would not be pursuing his agenda, albeit closer to home rather than in Jerusalem.
That agenda was the second question I posed to the Ambassador. When asking if his book will become a reality, Friedman said, “We have a better chance now than when I was writing it” and “If it was up to me and Mike Huckabee, we’d be in very good shape.” For anyone hoping to move past the failed ideas of a “two-state solution,” which is astonishingly the only idea that most politicians are even aware of, this was welcome news.
After being introduced to the crowd by President Eli Cohen, Ambassador Friedman delivered remarks reflecting both his experiences as a diplomat and his deeply rooted convictions about Israel’s future. His book, written in just eight weeks following the tragic events of October 7, serves as both a reflection on past policies and a blueprint for the future.
Friedman outlined two key theses that he presented in his book. The first is rejecting the idea of a Palestinian state: “We tried it in Gaza after 2005, and what did it yield? Terror tunnels and destruction,” he stated, emphasizing that Israel’s sovereignty over the contested territories is the only viable solution. Second is planning for the future. Friedman cautioned against leaving a political vacuum in the Middle East, drawing lessons from the rise of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza: “A vacuum only invites chaos. Israel must assert complete sovereignty over these areas.”
Moderated by Rabbi Polakoff, the Q&A session provided an opportunity for attendees to delve more deeply into Friedman’s thoughts. Reflecting on his tenure as Ambassador, Friedman described his unique role as a bridge between the US and Israel: “We have more friends than we think, especially within the US military. They love working with their Israeli counterparts.”
On the question of Gaza’s future governance, Friedman revealed ongoing discussions between Israel and Gulf countries but acknowledged the complexity of the situation: “Who’s going to run Gaza? It’s very complicated.” He professed knowledge of meetings that Israel has had with Gulf nations on who will come in to help run Gaza. There have been too many failures for Israel to allow anyone to be in charge there without supervision.
Regarding Lebanon, the Ambassador admitted that the fear when he was serving was always Lebanon in the north, with their precision-guided missiles and extensive arsenal. “And then,” he said, “G-d took over. The beepers. The beepers!” A mere mention of this brilliant attack on Hezbollah operatives made the audience applaud.
They were not the only ones. Friedman recounted how President Trump was so disappointed in the Israeli military and intelligence apparatus after October 7, claiming that he expected more from such a powerful nation. But then, as Friedman tells, “I was with President Trump a week after the beepers, and he went, ‘Holy cow, they got their mojo back!’” Trump’s appointments prove that he intends to be an incredibly strong ally to Israel.
Friedman also shared his perspectives on geopolitics, including the Abraham Accords, the threat of Iran, and the chaos sown by Russian President Vladimir Putin. He predicted that Saudi Arabia and potentially Indonesia might join the Abraham Accords in the future but reiterated his belief that Israel should not make significant concessions to achieve this.
The evening concluded with a renewed sense of purpose. Friedman’s remarks underscored the importance of unity and resilience within Israel and the Jewish diaspora: “We’re living in a really unique time. Israel will emerge stronger, but we have to take care of those who have suffered: orphans, bereaved parents, and wounded soldiers.”
For many in the audience, the event was more than a speech; it was a call to action. A simple yet effective phrase by Ambassador Friedman encapsulated the mood. “We’re at an inflection point. We either go forward or backward, and we must move forward.”
From poignant reflections to bold policy prescriptions, Ambassador Friedman’s appearance left an indelible mark on the Great Neck community, reinforcing its unwavering commitment to Israel during a critical juncture in its history.
By Moshe Hill
