By COLlive reporter
President-elect Donald J. Trump on Thursday announced the nomination of his long-time business counselor and election-time advisor David Friedman to serve as the United States Ambassador to Israel.
“He has been a long-time friend and trusted advisor to me,” Trump said in a statement. “His strong relationships in Israel will form the foundation of his diplomatic mission and be a tremendous asset to our country as we strengthen the ties with our allies and strive for peace in the Middle East.”
The nomination was practically received with an applause by the frum Jewish community in the Five Towns of New York’s Long Island, where Friedman lives and to which he has donated charitable funds over the years.
“It’s wonderful and great news,” said Dudi Farkash, an associate at the Brooklyn Financial Group who has taught Friedman’s children at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR).
“David is a warm Jew,” Farkash told COLlive.com on Friday. “His door is always open and he has helped many people and institutions. I know him as a very kind and charitable person who loves Israel with all his heart.”
Friedman is a founding partner of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP, a national law firm with approximately 350 attorneys and was one of Trump’s principal advisors on the US-Israel relationship during the campaign.
He has been a generous philanthropist to Jewish causes, including various Chabad centers, United Hatzalah of Israel, and Aleh Negev in Israel, one of the world’s most advanced facilities for the care of severely disabled children.
For close to 17 years, Friedman has been learning on a regular basis with Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, Director of Chabad of the Five Towns in Cedarhurst, NY. Friedman has been regularly attending the gala banquet of the International Kinus Hashluchim in New York.
“He’s at the Kinus with us every year and he would not miss it for anything,” said Sholom Jacobs, a real estate owner and an active member of Chabad of the Five Towns. “He’s a big supporter to many organizations in the Five Towns.”
Friedman, an observant Jew who maintains a part-time residence in Israel in addition to Woodmere, had his bar mitzvah celebrated at the Kotel in Jerusalem 45 years ago. He is a fluent speaker of Hebrew and a lifelong student of Israel’s history.
On Thursday, Friedman expressed his resolve to be a rock-solid partner with the Israeli leadership as our two countries seek to advance our mutual interests and keep our people safe, Trump’s transition team said.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by the confidence placed in me by President-elect Trump to represent the United States as its Ambassador to Israel,” said Mr. Friedman.
“I intend to work tirelessly to strengthen the unbreakable bond between our two countries and advance the cause of peace within the region, and look forward to doing this from the U.S. embassy in Israel’s eternal capital, Jerusalem.”
With Mr. Friedman’s nomination, President-elect Trump expressed his commitment to further enhancing the US-Israel relationship and ensuring there will be extraordinary strategic, technological, military and intelligence cooperation between the two countries.
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this is a taste of how the world will change in an instant with the coming of Mashiach…. we can now see it with our own eyes
Of course this fine man knows the Jewish left will savage him. That is why we should be even more grateful that from the start he is standing up to what is right, versus what is popular leftist non-realism. He has already stood up to the left, as has the Donald, and they will, we hope and pray, do so for the next eight year.
What are you talking about?
Would you prefer some J Street lefty?
Recognize a gift of real hope from the Almighty!
Wonderful news!
Torah celebrates life, but the Constitution of the United States celebrates freedom first and foremost, and assumes life. I just learned the difference from this election. With life there is always hope for a beautiful future, even if a slave, but freedom’s worth comes from serving life. Thus, the standard by which the worth of freedom, or the worth of everything we do is determined, is established through life. Here is where America’s founding fathers went wrong. Here is where America’s Supreme Court went wrong. Thus I conclude, Hashem, Torah, may have just saved America, and the world.
Such amazingly wonderful news! Hashem should guide Mr. Friedman, along with Mr. Trump. Most of all, Hashem should guide the Israeli government to stand up bravely for Eretz Hakodesh by following the Torah’s views of Shlaimus Haaretz.
What a kiddish hashem and what a great pick for our brothers and sisters in Israel. Let’s pray that hashem gives trump the energy he needs to stand up to all the anti semites.
When you read how totally freaked out the liberal press is over this appointment, then you see that our President elect Trump really hit the Emes bulls eye. Every single activity, quote, or tzedaka that the press lists as proof of how “awful” Mr. Friedman is serves as further proof to thinking people of what a real smart mench he is – and how UNAFRAID of the opinion of uneducated lefties. One request – could someone please supply him with a copy of the book “Eyes on the Land” ( if they haven’t already) Clearly, Mr. Friedman does not need… Read more »
The Jewish left is going to savage this guy. Will Chabad keep quiet or take the rare but justified step of openly endorsing him and encouraging the U.S senate to approve his Ambassadorship.