Vincent Viola (left) and
Larry Spiewak of
Chai Lifeline presidium |
CHAI
LIFELINE
Honorary Jews
Help Chai
Care for Sick Children
Story and Photo by Tim Boxer
 INCENT
VIOLA grew up in
Hasidic Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, where he was “an authentic
Shabbos goy” and made it to Wall Street where he presides over
the New York Mercantile Exchange.
About 1300 guests packed
the New York Marriott Marquis ballroom to honor Viola at Chai
Lifeline’s 16th annual dinner.
Viola said his employees
raised $700,000 of the dinner’s total of $2 million for the
organization, which provides vital support services for Jewish
children with life-threatening disease.
Last year former New York
Congressman Jack Kemp wore a yarmulke with an Israeli flag.
This time, when he introduced Viola, he had a yarmulke with the
American flag.
“I want you to know I’m
not just an honorary Jew,” Kemp said, “I’m also a Christian
Zionist.”
Also honored at the
dinner were Howard and Mina Millendorf, Laurence and
Daniela Schreiber, Moshe and Chani Turk, and Dr. Stuart
Ditchek.
Rabbi Simcha Scholar,
executive vice president, said he got a call from a supporter who
told him, “I got a baby girl and I want to name her Chai
Lifeline.”
“It could be worse,”
Scholar observed. “They could name her New York Knicks.” |
