The Algemeiner newspaper, identified by CNBC as “the fastest-growing Jewish newspaper in the U.S.” hosted its 10th annual J100 Gala in New York City on Wednesday evening. This year’s event honored actor Dean Cain, recognized for his outspoken support for the State of Israel, Natan Sharansky, who was imprisoned by the Soviets as a refusenik for nine years before becoming an Israeli politician, and journalist Irit Tratt, honored for her coverage of Israel and the Middle East. Dana Arschin, an Emmy Award-winning TV journalist, hosted the evening’s event.
The J100 gala marks the release of the newspaper’s J100 List of the top 100 individuals positively influencing Jewish life worldwide. The list is often referred to as the Jewish answer to the Time100 list.
This year’s list featured several prominent names from the entertainment industry. These include actress Helen Mirren, Jewish chef Ina Garten, model and author Elizabeth Pipko, Israeli MMA fighter Natan Levy, Actor Ben Platt, Musician Nissim Black, and even the daughters of industry icons Adam Sandler and Steven Spielberg.
This year’s Gala took place during a crucial moment for Israel and Jewish people worldwide. The tragic Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7th and Israel’s declaration of war in response has already resulted in thousands of deaths in the region. The evening’s program focused heavily on the events of the last three weeks in Israel and the current ongoing conflict.
Honorees at the gala spoke of the overwhelming rise in antisemitism and the terrified reactions of people around the world to what has been unfolding in the Middle East.
This year’s J100 list also included prominent politicians like Benjamin Netanyahu and Nikki Haley, Holocaust survivor and author, Lucy Lipiner, Journalist Evan Gershkovich who is currently being held in Russia, as well as all of the hostages who were taken from Israel on October 7th, and who are currently being held in Gaza.
Past honorees and J100 lists have included Sacha Baron Cohen, Warren Buffett, Kim Kardashian, Gal Gadot, Larry King, Barry Manilow, Robert Kraft, Meghan McCain, Debra Messing, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Volodymr Zelensky, Melissa Rivers, Adam Sandler, Sharon Stone, Elie Wiesel and William, Prince of Wales.
The Algemeiner is now also celebrating its 51st anniversary. The Algemeiner journal is a global newspaper published online and in print, which covers the Middle East, Israel, and matters of Jewish interest around the world.
