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i Israeli-born pilot leads the way Eastern soars to Israel’s aid by Tracey Kidaw Born in 1937, near the lake of Galilee, Ifal Fink (icventeenth generation Israeli) is the personification of rugged individualism, and perseverance. Having arrived in the U.S. in 1961, Fink has been a pilot for Eastern Airlines for twelve years, soon to become captain. Now an American citizen, his home is Miami. In 1966, he received his B.S. in biochemistry and human engineering. He was hired by the airline after an Eastern recruiter fountf him on the University of Minnesota campus. Having served in the 1936 Sinai campaign as a paratrooper, and ultimately as a fighter pitot, Fink possessed experience, and personal qualifications which Eastern has, from the beginning, appreciated. The pilot’s involvement, and Eastern’s, in events during the Yom Kippur War are illuminating and intriguing enough to warrant his extraordinary popularity as a public speaker, sought after by organizations, and groups throughout the country. For a corporation that at one time projected an anti-Semitic image. Eastern airlines has since eradicated this perception through its behind the scene, unpublicized, yet munificent cooperation during the most recent October War. Fink who, from the beginning, experienced friendly and cordial relations with employees and employers alike, has taken the initiative to relate the story involving himself, Eastern and the Yom Kippur War. Following the outbreak of hostilities in 1973, Fink’s request for a leave of absence from Eastern eras granted. However, as be was soon to learn, those in the upper echelon of the Israeli Military had “other plans” for him. At 2 o’clock one morning, Fink received a telephone call from an Israeli general, then in charge of acquisition of materials. The general proceeded to inform Fink that Israel was in desperate need of five freight planes, capable of IFOODI GIANT, Hwy. 41 at , Akers MM Road across from ^CunribertandMaJl 274$ Clahmont Road' 5925 Roswell Road.l25B1 Piedmont Road. N.E.Next to K-Marti N.E. Next to K-Mart 493$ Lower Roswell Rd., Parkaire Triangle. Marietta Prices good at these addr—» shortly 1402 North Highland Ave. 3788 RosweN Road, N.W 6336Roswe» PriciwjoodJromiDarJJFJaaJK^Th Quantity rights reserved STARKIST CHUNK LIGHT Tuna , IN OIL OR WATER YOUR ' FAft CHOICE *|UV HELLMANN'S Mayonnaise ! OZ. JAR Ifal Fink transporting medical supplies from U.S. military bases to various undisclosed destinations in Europe for several days, non-stop. Fink’s dubious reaction to the unlikely request was manifested by his hanging up the receiver. Thirty seconds later the phone rang once again, only to have the military attache inform Fink that the request from the general was in earnest and urgent. Reasoned Fink “If the man phones me at 2 o’clock in the morning with such a request, the least I can do is try.” At 8 o’clock the next morning, the pilot phoned one of Eastern’s vice-presidents, .Paul Saunders, who was then responsilbe for overseeing Eastern’s Military Conicagqp Division (the company flew American soldier* all over the world.) Saunders, sensing something serious was up, offered PARTYLAND Has Everything To Make Your Party Successful Completely stocked with a variety of PARTY. BANQUET, and tiECORATIOhi SUPPLIES. Wholesale Bulk Pack Disposable: Cups, Plates and Bowls— available in both paper and plastic! Come and visit us— you will be pleasantly surprised! 636-5781 Centrally Located 3406 Clairmont Rd. NE In Skyland Shopping Center Clairmont & Buford Hwy. Mon.-Fri. 10-6 Sat. 10-4:30 to have Fink meet him at his office. Once there, Fink told him of his “night-caller” and the latter’s request, to whch Saunders unhesitatingly replied “Let’s call the State Department.” Four hours of telephone calls ensued and finally Saunders and Fink learned of the State Department’s policy: so long as civilian aircraft were not flown into combat areas, there presented no problem. This was encouraging, as the planes were to fly solely to Europe. Next, the two men contacted the Pentagon to ascertain its position; three hours later, they received the ‘o.k.’ While Eastern does not, nor did it at the time, possess freighters, it nevertheless—through tireless efforts—succeeded in obtaining three such aircraft elsewhere. And so, at 4 o’clock that same Sunday afternoon in October, 1973, Fink contacted the military attache and said: “I have some bad news—I couldn’t obtain five planes; I have three DC8s, where do you want them?" The man replied that he was in no mood for jokes. Once convinced that Fink, through the officers of Eastern, had veritably obtained the planes, he burst into tears with “This is the first good news I’ve had in the last 36 hours." This had occurred on Sunday, with the official American airlift not to begin until the following Wednesday. The three DC8s, manned by Eastern crews, flew non-stop, day and night—for three days—from U.S. military bases to Portugal and West Berlin. It is to be noted that the rental of a DC8, per diem, is $250,000 bringing the cost of the three planes—each day—to three- quarters of a million dollars. To Fink’s knowledge, no money ever changed hands. Eastern neither requested nor received any material compensation, all the while donating its crews, time and equipment. Eaktern has never sought to publicize and/or capitalize on its involvement during the war, although such would have been feasible. Rather, Fink has elected to disseminate this story, on his own. And, from the interest and enthusiasm jhat is generated wherever he speaks, it would seem that Fink is not alone in viewing this account as significant, and worthy of attention. This story, a dramatic example of Eastern’s efforts to assist Israel is, however, not the only act of concern the airline has exhibited. When Fink was in Israel, on a leave of absence from the company, during the Six Day War, the airline placed a guard in his home, here in the U.S. (unbeknownst to him at the time) for the protection of his wife, Carol and their children. Additionally, a chauffeur and a limousine, courtesy of the airline, were placed at Carol’s disposal. The motivation behind Fink’s explication of Eastern’s efforts is his belief that Jews throughout the country perceive reciprocation as being fundamentally necessary. As Fink’s father (living in Israel) has said: “American Jews will want to know of this story.” He was right, and Ifal Fink is to be admired for pursuing the path of informing us. ' Jewish Her.Id-Voice Taratoot attends solicitor seminar Louis Taratoot of Atlanta, a ‘ member of the United Jewish Appeal’s executive committee, was one of 12 “special students” who attended a concentrated two-day advanced solicitor seminar conducted by UJA at the Harvard School of Business in Cambridge, Mass. Under the supervision of Professor Benson Shapiro of Harvard, the “students” were trained to refine, sharpen and expand their existing skills in the area of major gift solicitation. The primary focus of the program was to train the participants to pinpoint and appreciate the many different motivations of the major contributors they solicit in the course of UJA/Federation annual campaigns. Following lectures and discussions, the seminar students were able to observe themselves At studious attention, Louis J. Taratoot learns new techniques in major gift solicitation. practicing and demonstrating their new skills by using video tape facilities. 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