The good news; The Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Women’s Philanthropy, the organizers of L’Chaim 2023, say the event on Thursday night at the Ritz-Carlton is completely sold out. The bad news; if you don’t have a ticket to L’Chaim, you won’t be able to hear the inspirational words of keynote speaker Noa Tishby.  Last week, Tishby stepped up to become the featured speaker after organizers received the unfortunate news that actress Jennifer Grey would not be able to attend due to unforeseen personal circumstances.

But, not having a ticket to L’Chaim 2023 should not mean you can’t be inspired by Tishby. Last week, on Oct. 17,  the day after it was announced that Tishby was coming to St. Louis, she spoke at The Friends of Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) annual gala.  In front of more than 1,000 attendees, Tishby delivered the following impassioned speech, which has now been viewed more than 50,000 times.

Tishby said Hamas would be a footnote in history as another group that unsuccessfully tried to destroy Israel.  She also called out the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement as a criminal enterprise that incites murder under the guise of anti-Zionism-a euphemism for Jew-hating.

Who is Noa Tishby

Noa Tishby is an Israeli-American performing artist, producer, author and activist whose journey is one of remarkable resilience and achievement. From her roots in Tel Aviv, where she served in the Israeli army, to becoming a household name with starring roles in Israeli television, Tishby’s life was already a testament to courage and determination.

But it was her transformative work in the entertainment industry, including selling the Israeli TV show “In Treatment” to HBO and earning Emmy, Golden Globe, Writers Guild and Peabody awards, which showcased her ability to bridge cultures and create understanding through storytelling.

Tishby’s commitment to her heritage and her tireless efforts in advocating for Israel led her to found “Act for Israel,” Israel’s first online advocacy organization. Her passion for dispelling misconceptions about Israel culminated in her authoring “Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth.”

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