Mark Spitz featured at Jewish National Fund dinner Dale Gribow, Special to The Desert Sun Published 10:01 a.m. PT Nov. 19, 2016
Chairman Michael Saywitz and 75 local members of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) enjoyed their gold medal 2016 Annual Dining, Scotch & Cigar celebration held at board member Joel Johnson’sRancho Mirage estate. Olympic swimming champion, Mark Spitz shared stories of his nine gold medals from the terrorist tarnished Munich Olympics. President Robert Sylk delighted the guests as he talked about his role as Coachella Valley chairman of Donald Trump’s campaign. He shared the multi-million dollar contributions to Israel from his Vegas pals, Larry Ellison, Sheldon Adelson and President Elect Trump. Dr. Andy Rubin and Burt Horowitz expressed their pleasure in learning of these contributions. Rick Krosnick, chief development officer, spoke of the early 1800’s Israel land purchases from the Ottoman Empire by JNF that created the State of Israel. Cultivation by planting trees was a strict requirement before any property could be developed. Rick Stein and Lewis Rosenberg knew of this historical fact but most did not.
JNF has since planted 250 million trees and erected 250 reservoirs. They are currently constructing major communities, aiding the country’s physically and mentally disabled citizens as well as promoting special education, water development and conservation programs. These all impact the daily lives of every Israeli. Spitz was the greatest Olympic swimmer of all time until this year’s Olympics. He delighted the crowd with untold stories of the 1972 Munich games. Everyone was shocked to hear
he had walked by the terrorist held building just minutes before they took over and slaughtered Israeli athletes. Spitz said he arrived at the Olympics wearing a mustache that he was going to shave. However the Russian team was watching him swim and trying to figure out why he was so fast. They asked if his mustache slowed him down and he explained he swam faster because it would break the water in front of him. The next year the Russian men (and some women) swimmers all had a mustache. Leonard Sherman, sporting a mustache, enjoyed this story. Spitz spoke of his many visits to Israel, as well as his pride and involvement with JNF and its many projects. Doctors Brian Mallindine and James Kholos enjoyed learning of Spitz’s world travels on behalf of JNF as were Rabbi Benny Lew and the other Chabad Rabbi’s in attendance. After Spitz spoke there were raffles of Vegas trips and cigars and humidors. JNF's next fundraising event will be the "Love of Israel" Dinner at Omni Rancho Las Palmas on Dec 15, 2016. For information: Donna Raider 760 864 6208.