“Yerushalayim has a guf and a neshama. Fifty years ago, the Jewish People physically reclaimed Yerushalayim. Ateret Cohanim makes sure that Yerushalayim flourishes spiritually too.”

On Monday evening, at Terrace on the Park in Queens, Duvi Honig, Founder and CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, and his wife Esther, were the Guests of Honor and Bonei Yerushalayim Awardees at the “American Friends of Ateret Cohanim” dinner. This year’s “Jerusalem Chai” dinner was particularly poignant, as it marked the 50^th anniversary of Israel’s victory in the Six Day War and the reunification of Yerushalayim.

In his remarks, Duvi Honig stressed the work that he and Ateret Cohanim have worked on together within the past year. In particular, Duvi worked closely with Mati Dan, Founder and Chairman of Ateret Cohanim in Israel, in his efforts to battle the Reform Movement’s efforts to change the “Status Quo” at the Kosel Hamaaravi. Among other initiatives, Mati organizes major events where Yeshiva students and seminary girls daven at the Kosel in droves to counteract the Reform Movement’s attempted “show of force.”

Additionally, Dr. Joseph Frager, Chairman of the Executive Council of American Friends of Ateret Cohanim; Dr. Paul Brody, a member of the Executive Council; and Mrs. Odeleya Jacobs, a pro-Israel activist who is close to the organization; serve on the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Public Policy Committee, which is chaired by Duvi Honig. Mrs. Jacobs serves as VP for Business Development and Public Policy at the Chamber.

In January, the Chamber led a high profile “U.S.-Israel Business Alliance” mission to Israel with Governor Mike Huckabee, which included a major Knesset symposium, roundtable meeting with Yerushalayim Mayor Nir Barkat, VIP business networking dinner at King David Hotel, and other events that had a significant impact on public policy. The mission reaffirmed the solid U.S.-Israel diplomatic relationship and the historical Jewish roots throughout the “disputed” Israeli territories; and flexed the global Jewish community’s financial muscle to fight the BDS movement.

While on the mission, and on other occasions, Duvi stressed to Israeli lawmakers the importance of the government respecting Shabbos, the Orthodox status quo at the Kosel, and other key aspects that define the character of Eretz Yisroel. His message of “If we don’t respect our own heritage, how can we expect the world to respect it?” reached the ears and hearts of the highest level Israeli policymakers. With the UN and UNESCO redoubling its efforts to deny the Jewish history of Yerushalayim, this message carried a strong sense of urgency.

Capping off Duvi’s honor at the dinner was a live “lights out” performance by Tal Vaknin, in which he sang “Av Harachamim…Tivne Chomos Yerushalayim,” a powerful new melody composed by Duvi in honor of this occasion and his efforts to ensure that Yerushalayim of today lives up to its eternal spiritual glory. The new song was an instant hit amongst attendees, the words and tune making an indelible impact upon all. The rendition at the dinner followed the song’s public debut a day earlier as the highlight at the Israel Day Concert in Central Park, also sung by Tal Vaknin.

As Dr. Frager surmised from the podium at the dinner, “You will be hearing a lot of this song!”