Agam Berger Inspires at Friendship Circle Banquet
The sound of a violin cut through the silence, rising like a prayer. Not a word was uttered as Agam Berger drew her bow across the violin’s strings, her music carrying notes of strength, faith and hope.
More than 600 guests at the Friendship Circle Banquet sat awe-struck, taking in a performance marked by quiet strength in the face of adversity. Berger, the young Israeli soldier and former hostage whose courage has inspired people around the world, came from Israel with her mother to attend the banquet on Wednesday evening, April 29. Her performance gave the evening a tone that was deeply personal and profoundly moving, mesmerizing a packed audience.
Berger was 19 when she was abducted by Hamas from the Nahal Oz outpost on October 7. She was held hostage for 482 days, during which she remained deeply connected to her Jewish identity and was determined to observe Shabbat and keep kosher under unimaginable conditions.
“We are so honored that you came from Israel with your wonderful mother to be with us tonight,” said Rabbi Zalman Grossbaum, CEO of Friendship Circle. “Your courage, faith and spirit have touched everyone here and everyone around the world.”
The performance gave the banquet meaning that went far beyond a traditional dinner program. Berger’s music served as a powerful opening to a night focused on friendship, inclusion and the impact of Friendship Circle, with moments of courage and connection reflected throughout the program.
The evening highlighted a year of growth at LifeTown, which has welcomed 12,000 special education students over the past year, many from Title I schools. The center is also home to 900 teen volunteers and more than 1,000 adult volunteers, who help create meaningful experiences for children, teens and adults with special needs.
“Every day, the halls of LifeTown are alive from morning until night,” said Grossbaum. “Tonight is not only about what has been built. It’s about the people who make it possible. Because in this circle, the more you give, the more you receive. With your partnership, we will reach even more children, more teens, more adults, and more families in the coming year.”
After a heartfelt welcome from Rabbi Mendy Herson, Dean of the Rabbinical College of America, Hannah Herbert and Jeffrey Shoengold, two Friendship Circle adult participants, spoke about the impact of LifeTown’s programs on their lives. With huge smiles, they detailed their experiences cooking, creating art projects, woodworking, and swimming. It was evident to the audience that the two friends had formed a strong bond through their shared experiences at Friendship Circle.
“The best part is we are building friendships, we are learning confidence, we are part of a community,” said Herbert. “Friendship Circle gives us a place to grow, a place to belong, a place to be ourselves, and a place where we can give back. That is why it means so much to us.”
Friendship Circle is building toward a future of more learning, more connection and more belonging. Grossbaum formally announced the newest addition to the Friendship Circle campus: an all-new center geared specifically toward adults.
“The Soul Center will be a vibrant, inclusive hub with opportunities for meaningful job training, work, volunteering, life skills, social connection, and creative expression,” said Grossbaum. “It will include a restaurant, a kindness kitchen, a studio, greenhouse, and other dynamic spaces. Just as LifeTown has transformed what inclusion looks like for children and teens, the Soul Center will open new doors for adults, creating a place of belonging and growth.”
The banquet also recognized supporters whose partnership has helped Friendship Circle continue expanding its programs and impact. Mandelbaum Barrett PC, the family of Steven Elbaum, Neeli and Michael Margolis, and Marlene and Larry Ritter were presented with awards for their dedication to creating a warm, meaningful and inclusive environment for those with special needs.
“You can’t find this community anywhere else,” said Marlene Ritter. “There’s no place like it. We need to pay it forward and tell people about it.”
Barry Mandelbaum commented, “It’s a remarkable experience working with Friendship Circle. It’s a fabulous organization and you’ve done an incredible job here. We look forward to the next chapter.”
The widow of Steven Elbaum, Judy, also spoke and said, “Steve lives on in all the good that he initiated during his sojourn here on Earth. He lives on in the hearts and minds and in all the influence and inspiration to continue his acts of loving kindness to make the world a better place.”
Neeli and Michael Margolis have instilled that sense of empathy in their three children, who have all volunteered at LifeTown.
“Through Friendship Circle, our children are learning something very powerful,” said Neeli Margolis. “They’re learning to seek out and celebrate the uniqueness of every individual. And just as importantly, they’re discovering that they have the ability to make somebody else’s life better. Every single person in this community is enriched by the work going on in this building.”
At the conclusion of the evening, guests were handed beautiful gift bags filled with branded summer beach towels and more information about the Soul Center.
What began with Berger’s violin became an evening centered on faith, resilience and answered prayers: children finding confidence, teens discovering purpose, adults building friendship and dignity, and a community coming together to expand the circle of belonging to its next chapter and beyond.
