NEW YORK – American Friends of ELEM hosted its annual Ray of Hope Benefit on November 5, 2025, at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City to honor leaders dedicated to supporting vulnerable youth in Israel. The event recognized Ari Ackerman with the Ray of Hope Award and Jonah Platt with the LifeSaver Award for their exceptional contributions to youth empowerment and social justice.
Ari Ackerman, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, social media activist, and co-owner of the Miami Marlins, received the Ray of Hope Award for his dedication to fighting youth suffering and social inequality. Ackerman expressed his commitment, stating, “What they do every day, like me, is fight for children. They give young people safe spaces, mentors, and a chance to see a future for themselves. This is not just charity, this is hope”.
Jonah Platt, host of the acclaimed Jewish podcast “Being Jewish with Jonah Platt,” was honored with the LifeSaver Award, a distinction given since 2010 to those confronting abuse and protecting vulnerable youth. Platt highlighted the importance of advocacy and Jewish identity in his remarks: “Be an ambassador of Jewish people, of goodness. You can invite somebody over for Shabbat who’s never had Shabbat… We have to advocate for ourselves as people, taking up space in public, normalizing that Jews are here”.
The benefit emphasized ELEM’s four decades of work supporting Israel’s youth at risk, addressing crises such as domestic violence, sexual exploitation, homelessness, substance abuse, depression, and family system failures. The organization serves diverse communities, including Jewish, Druze, LGBTQIA+, Orthodox, and secular youth. American Friends of ELEM CEO Liora Attias-Hadar remarked, “ELEM gives them a safe space to start over, to find stability, and to believe in themselves again. That transformation is why our work is so urgent and why every moment counts”.
The event also reminded attendees of the urgent challenges Israel’s youth face. American Friends of ELEM President Lenore Ruben recalled the loss of Roei Shalev, a previous LifeSaver honoree who survived trauma but recently died by suicide. Ruben said, “So many of the young people we work with carry heavy trauma and often feel they are falling through the cracks. Still, we do not have the privilege to give up or break down”.
Funds raised during the benefit support ongoing programs and emergency interventions, such as care for displaced youth in hotels, kibbutzim, and schools, including survivors of the Nova Music Festival, young people with friends hostage in Gaza, and those who have lost relatives. Programs aim to provide stability, reduce school dropout rates, and lower depression, anxiety, and substance abuse among youth.
The Ray of Hope Benefit highlights commitment to Israel’s future by empowering its most vulnerable youth and combating the crisis of trauma and social inequality with hope and healing.
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This article is based on verified information from American Friends of ELEM and related sources.