Jay Leno and Hollywood Celebrities Unite to Honor Israel's Emergency Responders

Raphael Poch : Oct 28, 2014
Breaking Israel News

Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) spoke about the global threat of terror, and the challenges that Israel faces. "Hamas has only one purpose and that is to kill as many Israelis as possible," he said.

(Israel)—On Thursday, October 23, high profile Hollywood celebrities came together to toast Israel's emergency medical, ambulance, disaster and blood bank service. (Photo: Michelle Mivzari/ AFMDA Facebook)

Hosted by comedian Jay Leno and American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA), the second annual Red Stars Ball in Beverly Hills included a number of celebrity appearances, including Canadian singer-songwriter Paul Anka.

Celebrity guests that attended the event included Toni Braxton, J.R. Martinez, Tracey Bregman, Pat Boone and Amy Paffrath. Close to 900 people in total united to support Israel.

The event raised close to $6 million towards, which qualifies it as the most money ever raised at a single event for AFMDA, Red Carpet Report TV stated. The money will be used to support Israel's blood bank, as well as purchase mobile intensive care units, emergency response motorcycles and fully equipped ambulances.

Leno kept the momentum of donations going with quick witted jokes. As people simultaneously stood up to make donations, Leno joked, "We want to make sure every Jew in Israel has their own ambulance," followed by, "Does anyone have land in Israel where we can park all these ambulances?"

The evening got off to a bang as Christian Pastor Robert Stearns sang Hatikvah, Israel's national anthem, and spoke of his enormous love for Israel.

One of the evening's highlights was the honoring of MDA first responders from Operation Protective Edge and their reunion with two of the people that they had saved. (Photo: via MDA)

16-year-old Yarin Levy was almost killed when a rocket exploded near him in Ashkelon. Jehan Berman was at his son's third birthday party in Kibbutz Nir Oz when a mortar hit the kindergarten.

The three paramedics who came to their aid, Einav Auslin; Neomi Zvi, Israel's first full-time MDA female paramedic; and Oren Wacht, then emerged onto the stage to greet Levy and Berman. After the heartfelt reunion, more donations came in as the audience responded to seeing a firsthand account of just how important the work of MDA really is.

Read more by clicking here.