Michael Bloomberg |
UJA-FEDERATION
Dip Into
Deep Pockets
Of Wall Street Players
By Tim Boxer
 HE
Wall Street community sent one resounding message to the terrorists
who struck at the brick and mortar symbol of American capitalism. As
Bear Stearns’ Alan (“Ace”) Greenberg put it so
colorfully: “Osama Bin Laden, kiss our collective asses.”
His remark came minutes
before Michael Bloomberg dropped into the Wall Street dinner of UJA-Federation
at the New York Hilton.
The mayor-elect said that
when he worked at Salomon Bros., he was asked to solicit gifts for
an upcoming UJA-Federation fundraiser. The dinner took place on a
Monday night at the height of the football season.
Ace Greenberg, who presided
over the event, told the audience, “If you set a record, I’ll
get you out of here in time for the game.”
That did it. “You get to
reach into your pockets more than you ever did,” Bloomberg said.
As John Mulheren,
ceo of Bear Hunter Holdings, came up to receive the Gustave L. Levy
Award at the annual Wall Street dinner, he displayed a keen sense of
humor.
“I’m not much of a
public speaker,” he began. “Last time I stood up was when they
said, ‘Will the defendant pleased rise.’”
Mulheren said he’s not
Jewish but his late father taught him to be diverse with his
friends. His family is involved in more than 150 charities.
“I’m not Jewish but I
believe in the work of UJA-Federation,” he said. “It’s the
same union, but different locals.”
Mulheren helped raise a
record-breaking $19 million for the Wall Street dinner.
He asked Ace, “What’s
the singular of goyim?”
“In your case,” Ace
replied, “it’s a mensch.”
Not to be outdone by Ace,
Mulheren declared, “Osama Bin Laden, you can kiss our ecumenical
asses.”
|
