David and Debra Magerman being honored at The Algemeiner’s 11th annual “J100” gala in New York City on Jan. 14, 2025. Photo: Screenshot

At The Algemeiner‘s 11th annual “J100” gala on Tuesday night, philanthropists David and Debra Magerman appeared as honorees.

After expressing appreciation to The Algemeiner‘s leaders, David said, “I also what to thank my wife, Debra. Her support for me, through all aspects of my life, enabled me to do all the things that I do. She is an equal partner in the merit of all the projects we do to support Torah education in Israel. But most of all I want to thank God. God is the source of all blessing. Baruch Hashem. Round of applause for Hashem, thank you!”

David said that one thing he had learned was “how much God runs the world and how much we are living through the realization of his plan.”

Recalling visiting Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 during Sukkot, David said that, afterward, “as we were flying back to America, I deeply regretted leaving. I had to get my kids back to America and I didn’t expect any of us to be particularly useful to Israel as the attack became a war. Frankly, being there we were a liability. But on the flight back to America, I booked my return trip to Israel and I committed myself to figuring out how I could be useful.”

David spoke about how the anti-Israel animus at the University of Pennsylvania inspired him to cease donations. “I called them out for revealing their true nature,” he said. “They were actively supporting evil and proving time and again that through that support they were showing their true selves. You can’t change your essence. I started a movement to push donors and students away from schools like Penn and that effort has led to a growing number of students and families considering college in Israel.”