International Dignitaries From Around The World Congratulate And Honor New York Socialite Tova Leidesdorf As 'Woman Of The Year' Tonight At Hospital Gala NEW YORK, NY., November 18, 2003 -- Dignitaries from throughout the world will honor Israeli beauty Tova Leidesdorf Tuesday night as Shaare Zedek Medical Center's "Woman of the Year." Among the dignitaries attending the Second Century Dinner is Moroccan-born Ambassador Mokhta Lamani, the permanent representative to the United Nations, head of the organization of the Islamic Conference Office to the UN. Prospective U.S. Senate candidate Jeffrey Saull will be among the guests tonight at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, where Congressman Tom Lantos will also be honored by the hospital with the International Israel Humanitarian Award. Mrs. Leidesdorf's family name is well-known in Manhattan where four streets are named after her late father-in-law, the legendary philanthropist Samuel D. Leidesdorf, who helped strengthen the birth of the State of Israel by personally guaranteeing $500 million to Chase Manhattan Bank to institute the creation of Israeli bonds. He was chairman of one of the Big Eight accounting firms that bore his name. Today it is known as Ernst & Young. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani congratulated Leidesdorf and praised her for a generous gift to the trauma center in Jerusalem. Giuliani said he signed the bill naming four streets between East 30th Street and East 34th Street in Manhattan, "Samuel D. Leidesdorf Way" in recognition of her father-in-law Sam Leidesdorf and his family's great contribution to the city of New York. Mrs. Leidesdorf's husband, the late Arthur D. Leidesdorf created the 92nd Street Y. His father created the United Negro College Fund, built University Hospital in New York, and helped create the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton. Mrs. Leidesdorf also supports the charitable works of United Jewish Appeal, Israel Bonds and other hospitals in Israel, including Bikur Cholim. She is also involved with United World Colleges with Prince Charles. Jack Bendheim, Co-Chairman of the International Board of Directors for Shaare Zedek, praised Mrs. Leidesdorf for recent gifts, which he said "will enable Shaare Zedek to help make a life-saving difference to the people of Jerusalem." Tova's second husband, the late Erwin Herling, a Holocaust survivor, was an internationally renowned philanthropist and financier who supported Shaare Zedek, the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Emanuel Foundation. # # # CONTACT: Michelle Rosen, +1-561-750-9800, ext. 14, or MRosen@transmediagroup.com