18-year-old beauty Mor Maman was crowned Miss Israel in March of this year. On May 19, she visited Rockland on her very first trip to the United States.

Maman was the inspirational guest speaker at the Women’s Philanthropy Spring Gala, held at The Rockleigh on May 20. She spoke about her journey to becoming Miss Israel, which started when she was an obese 13-year-old living in Beersheba, in the southern part of Israel.

Mor Maman’s weight problems as a young teenager had started to take a toll on her health. But she learned to lose weight in a healthy way, using strategies she now shares in an online support group.

“I make sure that girls with eating disorders know there are healthy ways to lose weight,” Maman said of her work with the group. “I give them tips and hope. The most important thing is that even when you go through hardships in life, you should never give up on yourself. You can accomplish whatever your dream is.”

Maman will join the Israeli Air Force this month – they are being very accommodating about her duties as a beauty queen, she says – and later this year, she will represent Israel in the Miss Universe pageant.

Rockland Federation would like to thank the Women’s Philanthropy Event Committee for putting together an outstanding Spring Gala: Paulette Viana, Andrea Weinberger and Bonnie Werk (co-chairs) and committee members Roberta Aaronson, Lauren Abraham, Gretta Berman, Renee Exelbert, Sandi Jacobs, Risa Gorelick, Amy Kanarek, Lisa Ann Kessler, Susan Liebergall, Lisa Price, Rachel Shinder, Shari Reffsin, Danya Rogers-Cohan, Harriet Spevack and Charna Weissman.

We are grateful for the support of our sponsors:

Platinum: TD Bank

Gold: Harrington Press, Riviera Produce

Silver: Arrowpoint Worldwide Group, Children's Dentistry of the Palisades

Bronze: Bon Secours Charity Health System, Capital One Bank, Comfort Inn and Suites, Israel Bonds, Leader & Berkon, Macabee Foods, M&T Bank