Yudi and Aviva Zuller
Young Israel of Staten Island, NY
Israel Solidarity Award
A magnificent example of chessed is demonstrated by Yudi (Jay) and Aviva Zuller of the Young Israel of Staten Island, who have worked tirelessly founding and running the Israel Solidarity Fund of America, a private tzedaka organization. It was established in Willowbrook, Staten Island, NY in 2002 under the auspices of the Young Israel of Staten Island, after a rash of terror bombings in Israel. ISFA is unique because virtually every dollar it receives is distributed directly to Israeli victims of Arab terror and/or their families. Yudi and Aviva and other sponsors cover almost all of the overhead expenses. Yudi travels to Israel at his own expense every few months for several days with the sole purpose of meeting with terror victims and their families and distributing monies to them. He meets directly with families that have been victimized by Arab terror in their own homes or hospital rooms. While enduring the shock and pain of the immediate loss is an initial concern of the family members, their next priority is dealing with dire financial situations due to the loss of income and additional medical expenses. Continuing support is needed for their long-term recoveries. Yudi feels he must personally meet all of the families of the victims to ensure that all the funds are used properly. The Zullers value these inspirational visits in which both the recipient families in Israel and the US donor families form lasting bonds through ISFA.
The Shirei Shalom Concert Series has been the main source of revenues for ISFA. These sold-out concerts were staged at the Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Staten Island from 2003-2006 and in 2007 at the Colden Center at Queens College. Jewish music’s most popular performers have been featured, and the concerts have raised about one and a half million dollars -- Close to 2000 terror victim families have received assistance through these concerts coordinated by Yudi and Aviva Zuller and the ISFA.
During the summer of 2006, the citizens of northern Israeli cities suffered under a constant barrage of terror attacks by rocket. Yudi and Aviva felt an urgent need to raise funds specifically for these new victims of terror, and they hosted an emergency Siyum/BBQ in their backyard in Staten Island during the Nine Days. Members of the Jewish community of Willowbrook have always been overwhelmingly supportive of the Zuller efforts, and over 600 people gathered and generously supported their brothers and sisters in Israel. In one evening $120,000 was raised for the victims of Hezbollah rockets! This tradition continued and the following summer, the Zuller backyard was the venue for a second very successful emergency BBQ fundraiser two days before Tisha B’Av. The proceeds provided much-needed relief for the beleaguered citizens of Sderot, who live under the constant threat of Kassam rockets launched from Gaza. A third BBQ was hosted this past summer to raise additional funds for these struggling families. Mrs. Rivkah Moriah, mother of Avraham David Moses, a"h, one of the martyred boys of Yeshiva L’Tzeirei Yerushalayim, spoke on the Zuller’s front steps at the event to a crowd overflowing into the street.
On March 23, 2008, “Jerusalem United! – A Rally and Concert to Keep our Eternal Capital Undivided” was coordinated by the Israel Solidarity Fund of America, in cooperation with both the National Council of Young Israel and Jerusalem Reclamation Project/Ateret Cohanim. Approximately 5,000 people from throughout the greater New York/New Jersey metropolitan area attended the historic event, which was held at The Armory in the Washington Heights section of New York City. All proceeds from the event went to benefit victims of terror in Israel, displaced families of Gush Katif, and future projects in Jerusalem’s Old City. For three hours, the capacity crowd joined together in unison to voice its opposition to the division of Jerusalem. The event also served as a tribute to the eight young students of Yeshiva L’Tzeirei Yerushalayim, who were brutally murdered on March 6, 2008 by an Arab gunman.
Yudi (Jay) Zuller, 37 years old, is the owner of a small printing business in Brooklyn, NY. Aviva Zuller is the Assistant Director for Development and Public Relations of Reishit Yerushalayim. They are the proud parents of four children, Navah, age 14, who has accompanied her father on many of his tzedaka missions to Israel, Binyamin, age 10, who just participated in his first tzedaka mission this winter, Kayla, age 7 and Gilad, 2½ years (Gilad is named in tribute to missing Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit). The Zullers have made the welfare of their brothers and sisters in Israel victimized by Arab terror their life’s work and primary mission and are proud to be making aliyah this summer, with G-d’s help, to Maale Adumim.
National Council of Young Israel is proud to acknowledge Aviva and Yudi Zuller for the amazing work they do for those victimized by terror. NCYI is delighted with its growing relationship with the Zullers and wish the family hatzlacha on its upcoming move to Eretz Yisrael. It is a pleasure to acknowledge their efforts tonight with the presentation of Israel Solidarity Award Award.
Dear Family and Friends,
For the past seven years, we have come to you to support our efforts on behalf of Israeli Victims of Arab Terror. In every case, you have answered our call and have generously donated to Israel Solidarity Fund of America. Because of your assistance, we have been able to collect more than $1,500,000 which we have given directly to families in needs. You have participated in our concerts and BBQ’s and have stood with us in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel.
Along with each one of you, the success of ISFOA has also been due to the openhanded organizational support of the National Council of Young Israel. Whether it has been the personal counseling of Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Executive Vice President and Mr. Shlomo Mostofsky, President, or the financial support of the NCYI as our partner in our largest concert last March, JerusalemUnited, we have always been able to turn to the NCYI.
Most recently, we have been encouraged by the strong position the NCYI has taken to demand the immediate release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit and the campaign they have embarked upon to mobilize the entire Jewish community on his behalf. As many of you know, the fate of Gilad Shalit is of the utmost concern to us as we have cultivated a special relationship with his parents in the one thousand days since Gilad’s abduction.
To demonstrate our personal Hakarat Hatov to all that the NCYI has done for ISFOA, we have agreed to participate in the upcoming NCYI Annual Dinner in May, as the recipients of the Israel Solidarity Award. To us, this award is not merely a celebration of our specific efforts, but also the acknowledgement of what two individuals can do for Am Yisrael when supported by family and friends.
The National Council of Young Israel, recognizing that ISFOA has become our life’s work, has agreed to earmark a generous portion of the funds that are generated through our acceptance of this award towards victims of terror that we will be able to distribute directly to the families, in accordance with the ISFOA mission.
With our impending aliya this coming July, BeH, we find ourselves unable to devote the time to our own fundraising event for ISFOA. Therefore, we hope that we can count upon you to participate in this dinner to once again support our efforts. We look forward to seeing you there.
Tizku L’Mitzvot,
Yudi (Jay) and Aviva Zuller