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Honoring
 Rosita Retelny Joseph Handleman Light of Philanthropy Award Recipient
Rosita Retelny (nee Stavisky), born in 1937 in Managua, Nicaragua, was deeply influenced by her father Benjamin Stavisky's efforts, alongside Ambassador Moshe Tov, to garner Latin American support for Israel, instilling in her a profound dedication to the Jewish cause. Rosita married Saul Retelny in 1957 and they were forced to flee Nicaragua together with her family, during the Sandinista Revolution, in 1979. They settled in Miami where Rosita swiftly joined Wizo Florida, leveraging her financial acumen to oversee the organization's treasury. As a key advisor to then WIZO Florida Chairperson, Mercedes Ivcher, they laid the groundwork for substantial growth and success within the chapter. Rosita was elected WIZO USA Senior VicePresident and World WIZO International Council Member. Her leadership and philanthropy have left an indelible mark on Wizo's national and international endeavors, embodying her commitment to strengthening Jewish life worldwide.
Keynote Speaker
 Yechiel Leiter, Dr.
WIZO Falic Family Bonei Israel Award Recipient in loving memory of Moshe Leiter z’lb Yechiel M. Leiter, PhD, is a Kohelet Policy Forum senior fellow, a political theorist and public policy expert. He has served in senior Israeli government positions and has advised foreign government leaders on their political campaigns and policies. His path breaking book on the political theory of John Locke was published by Cambridge University. The Yechiel Leiter Award is a prestigious honor in Israeli academia, given annually to outstanding researchers in the humanities and social sciences. Established in 2011, the award is named after Yechiel Leiter, PhD who is a leading figure in the field of Jewish Studies. The award is granted by the Israeli Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports and is considered a significant recognition of academic excellence in Israel. WIZO is honored to bestow upon Yechiel Leiter the WIZO Falic Family Bonei Israel Award Recipient, in loving memory of his son Moshe z’lb, a medical school graduate and IDF Major who served 15 years in Air Force Special Operations. He was recently killed after leading the first army division to battle with Hamas in Gaza.
DETAILS:
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
FUNDRAISING GOALS:
Unity and Hope: Rebuilding Israel Together through WIZO
Help WIZO Florida create the WIZO Nachlat Yehuda Youth Village Multipurpose Center. The renovation and modernization of our current gymnasium into this vital facility will provide early mental health intervention for trauma and PTSD for the vulnerable youth in our care, especially after the devastating attack of October 7, 2023. This safe space will offer expanded therapeutic activities, art, music, and sports to our 460 at-risk teenagers, including new immigrants and children who have escaped conflict zones. The renovated facilities will include two bomb shelters and a social hall for events and community gatherings.
Your Contribution Will Fund Resilience and Emotional Healing Programs for Children and Youth in Israel:
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