Jewish National Fund‑USA invites you to The
TREE OF LIFE ®
AWARD GALA
Honoring
Shelly Gerson & Jeffrey Zipkin
DR. WILLIAM L. BARRETT
Tree of Life® Honorees

Featuring
SHAHAR AZANI
Veteran Israeli Diplomat
CEO, Book Family Foundation
Former Senior Vice President, Jewish Broadcasting Service (JBS)

Wednesday, November 12, 2025
6:00 pm
Cincinnati, OH
Address Provided One Week Prior to Event
Online registration for this event has closed. For more information, sponsorship opportunities and to register please contact Eric Goldstein at egoldstein.cinci@jnf.org.


Ticket Pricing
General Admission • $360
JNFuture (ages 22-40) • $180


RSVP Required
Dietary Laws Observed
More information:
Eric Goldstein, Executive Director, Ohio Valley
egoldstein.cinci@jnf.org • 513.794.1300 x780

Jennifer Bain, Campaign Executive, Ohio Valley
jbain@jnf.org • 513.794.1300 x781
Honoring

Shelly Gerson & Jeffrey Zipkin
Shelly Gerson and Jeff Zipkin are lifelong Zionists and passionate advocates for Jewish life, culture, and continuity. Both are longtime supporters of Jewish National Fund-USA, and Gerson is a member of the organization’s Ohio Valley Board of Directors. They also co-founded Friday Night Shabbat and the Jewish Camping program in the Cincinnati community together, and actively support Hadassah, Magen David Adom, and AIPAC.

Dr. William L. Barrett
Dr. William L. Barrett is Professor and Chairman of the University of Cincinnati Department of Radiation Oncology, and Medical Director of the UC Barrett Cancer Center. A prominent figure in the local community, Dr. Barrett is a beloved friend of the Jewish community and an unwavering supporter of the Jewish people and land of Israel.
Featuring

Shahar Azani
Veteran Israeli Diplomat
CEO, Book Family Foundation
Former Senior Vice President, Jewish Broadcasting Service (JBS)
As a veteran Israeli diplomat having served for over 16 years in Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Shahar will join us at this critical moment to share his perspective on current affairs in Israel and beyond.
CHAIRS
Alana Gerson-Levi & Ari Levi
Dinner Committee
Rachel Gerson & Jacob Avraham • Elise Zipkin & Brian Mattes
Mollie & Jared Newman • Ariel & Dan Weiss • Molly & Derek Zipkin
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
EMERALD
Mariner Wealth Advisors • Western & Southern Financial
PLATINUM
Marcie & Nathan Bachrach • Pamela and Bernard Barbash
Jane & Drore Eisen • Trish & Scott Joseph • Nina & Edward Paul
Scot Perlman • Diane & Alan Weber • Shelly Gerson & Jeffrey Zipkin
GOLD
Rachel & Jacob Avraham • Shirley Bernard • Rosa & The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell
Cincinnati Cancer Foundation Inc. • Marjorie & Elliot Davidoff
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP • Shelly Gerson • Patti & Fred Heldman • William Hower
The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati • Marjorie & Chuck Kessel
Sylvia Shor • The Urology Group • Elinor Ziv
SILVER
Felice Shane

BRONZE
Carol Williams & Mike Barrett • Louis Beck • Linda & Andy Berger
Castellini Foundation • Kathy & Dr. Louis Claybon • Amy Diamond & Eddie Wolf
Rachel Gutbezahl & Ed Frankel • Rebecca & Norman Frankel
Beth & Louis Guttman • Wendy Saunders & Jim Heldman
Jewish Federation of Cincinnati • David Levy • Linda & Marty Mandel
Prestige AV & Creative Services • Abby & Dr. David Schwartz
Bev Shapero & Alan Glassman • Rabbi Eric Slayton • Sandra & Henry Spitz • Louise Wolf
in formation
Jewish national fund-USA Leadership
Ronald S. Lauder, Chair Emeritus
Jeffrey E. Levine, Chair Emeritus
Dr. Sol Lizerbram, Chairperson of the Board
Deb Lust Zaluda, President
Russell F. Robinson, Chief Executive Officer
Rick Krosnick, Chief Development Officer
Ellen Spira Hattenbach, National Campaign Director, Midwest
Eric Goldstein, Executive Director, Ohio Valley
Jennifer Bain, Campaign Executive, Ohio Valley
Bill Adolph, Director, Planned Giving Midwest