Robert Kraft

The other day I was privileged to meet Mr. Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and philanthropist with a heart of gold. 

I was not supposed to know of his visit to United Hatzalah headquarters in Jerusalem as the VIP visit was carefully kept to avoid fanfare. The encounter, with a 5 minute window of opportunity, was orchestrated entirely by divine intervention. 

Mr. Kraft has long been someone I have looked up to in my life. Throughout my marketing career and fundraising efforts, I wished to give back to the world and to humanity with the same care, dignity, leadership and emotion as he brings forth. When both my parents passed away, at a young age, I continued to wish to make somehow, somewhere, a mark and bring meaning to my life. 

While working at Brandeis University, I was in awe of his wife, Myra z'l. The story went (if I am not mistaken) that he met her at the Brandeis Library, where I served for the Brandeis National Committee. And when I took on a side community effort to raise funds for a Mikvah building project, I remember writing a letter to Mr. Kraft, sealing the envelope and asking my two children at the time to blow on it for good luck. We drove to Foxborough and put it in a mailbox as close as possible to the stadium. With a committee of 3, in 6 months time I worked with every fiber of my being to raise over $500,000. It was in so many of those moments I wished I could be even half of what Robert Kraft could do and what I was trying so hard to prove on my own. Friends and colleagues encouraged me that I have skill. But I didn't feel it would ever measure or be enough. 

When years later we found ourselves moving to Israel, and I accepted a job as the Media Team Head at United Hatzalah, I never thought things would circle back. In fact, my first media meeting was with a sheet of paper I composed of Bill Belechick's  philosophy we'd follow for what defines a team. 

- "On a team, it's not the strength of the individual players, but it is the strength of the unit and how they all function together." - 

We spoke about consistency and accountability. 

A few months into my new role, the war in Ukraine, which is still raging, took the world by shock and horror. United Hatzalah went into full swing by sending humanitarian aid. Within a few days, I proposed the campaign name Operation Orange Wings (thank you to those who helped with bouncing ideas - - you know who you are and kept me calm under pressure). I spent the bus ride to Jerusalem thinking of all different names and options while deep into the irony being in the Holy Land far from a disaster zone. This one campaign phrase identifier resonated, and was approved. To match something beautifully to Hebrew was also not an easy mission! My next goal was to make sure that every news outlet within 3 days would pick up the name. I reminded the PR representative to put it into every article. That spokespeople would use it both internally and externally. I edited Facebook posts and reminded the social media core to make sure the name and tagging was included. It was a puzzle to piece together and required tremendous parts to make everything whole. 

The morning I listened to the 8 am news and heard the name of United Hatzalah's operation announced, my mind became at ease. The media started to roll and handled everything organically. Meanwhile, every day our team met in the early morning to review and solidify an ongoing new strategy. The Vice President reviewed the plan, approved and we executed every detail. Content was built one on top of the other. Donations started to pour in. Those weeks were the hardest I've ever had in my career. I watched as some nearly buckled to the pressure and I reminded them to "Do their Job." Our team became like a ship, rowing against many waves and finding overlap of skills and support where another person would be exhausted. We became united and toughed so much together. 

Mr. Kraft donated to the effort and about a week or so ago, I was asked to help facilitate with graphic designers I manage to create a photo album of the Operation's efforts. I didn't think much of it, just that perhaps the founder of United Hatzalah would visit Mr. Kraft in the United States. I watched as a plaque was being made (I even photographed it thinking it would be the closest I'd get), glued to a model airplane by the Stewardship team and processed by another designer. A photographer on my staff handled a VIP session and I still didn't connect the dots. Until at noon, when she entered my office and said to me "you should have seen the man I photographed. His name was Kraft. He must own a food company or something." I looked at her, bewildered and replied, "do you mean THE Robert Kraft? Owner of the New England Patriots?" She explained she's from Argentina and soccer is more popular. 

After showing her an image on Google she confirmed it was him. I asked her if she knew where he was or if still in the building. He was right next door to our office suite. With a guard out front. I knew I had to thank him for being such an inspiration to me and for his kindness in supporting such an important life saving organization and for his love of Israel. Above all, caring for its citizens and for their safety. 

The guard listened to my appeal, agreed and as Mr. Kraft walked out, I noticed him nod. As I approached him, and explained my story, even collecting my words and how I feel so connected to him, I started to cry, shook his hand and embraced him for being such a role model (despite whatever challenges, because boy do I too have them) not just onto me - - but to the world. I felt grief release within me and validation for such hard work. My meeting donors does not happen often and not on the level of the day to day responsibilities. And yet, it happened on its own. Some looked to see, tried to understand my reaction and asked how it was so deep. The feeling was like meeting a family member. And he understood. 

Mr. Kraft, if web crawlers find your name on Google connected to this blog. Thank you.

Thank you for your love of Israel.

Thank you for supporting United Hatzalah. 

Thank you to United Hatzalah for being our vehicle. 

Thank you for caring for the next generation. 

Thank you for giving hope to humanity. 

Thank you for showing how to give back. 

Thank you for being a leader. 

Thank you for educating others. 

Thank you for teaching me teamwork. 

Thank you to my team. Love beyond words. 

Thank you for reminding me of my strong connection to Boston, even 6,000 miles away in a new country and for filling my heart that we are all Patriots. In those very moments, you made me feel incredibly valued and that what I do, very much matters. Thank you for coming back to give me a special pin to never forget it. 

Sincerely, 

Tamar Vogel