fc188.ph

fc188.ph GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich's Michael Olise netted a second-half double as they came back from conceding an early goal to win 5-1 against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday to earn their first away victory in this season's competition. Bayern's third successive win moves them up to eighth into the automatic qualification places on 12 points, while Shakhtar are 27th with four points, three points off the playoffs. Bayern had suffered defeats in both of their previous away games in the competition and went behind after five minutes when Oleksandr Zubkov's through ball found Kevin, who cut inside Kim Min-jae before sending his shot into the far corner. The German side were on level terms just six minutes later. Olise lost possession in the area but the ball fell kindly to his teammate Konrad Laimer who took a touch to control it and then smashed his effort into the roof of the net. Shakhtar had the chance to go back in front but Georgiy Sudakov put his shot wide after an excellent pass from Kevin had teed him up almost from the penalty spot. Bayern went down the other end, Jamal Musiala took the ball into the box and laid a pass off to Thomas Mueller who made no mistake with a simple slotted finish on the stroke of halftime. Shakhtar put pressure on Bayern at the start of the second half but were unable to find a second goal before the visitors eased to victory. Bayern thought they had extended their lead when Musiala volleyed home from a corner but the goal was chalked off for a foul on the keeper. However, minutes later the referee pointed to the spot for a foul by Alaa Ghram on substitute Sacha Boey. Olise stepped up in the 70th minute and although keeper Dmytro Riznyk went the right way the ball was powered into the top corner to put Bayern well and truly in the driving seat. Musiala got the goal he deserved for an excellent performance three minutes from time, collecting a loose ball in the box and firing past Riznyk. There was still time for some Olise magic in added time as he skilfully weaved his way through the Shakhtar defence before coolly finding the bottom corner with his shot. Sign up here. Reporting by Trevor Stynes; editing by Clare Fallon and Ken Ferris Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab3 Top Growth Stocks to Buy for December

A street slaying, a ghost gun and a six-day manhunt that ended at McDonald's

BUENOS AIRES — Argentine ex-president Alberto Fernandez appeared in court on Wednesday for questioning in a case of alleged corruption relating to insurance policies taken out by government departments during his 2019-2023 rule. Fernandez, 65, is suspected of fraudulent administration over his government's use of brokers, one of which had ties to his office, to contract insurance policies that could have been negotiated directly. The main broker was the husband of Fernandez's personal secretary. Fernandez, a senior member of the center-left Peronist movement led by polarising ex-president Cristina Kirchner, has not yet been charged in the case. He did not seek reelection after serving a single term in office and handed the keys of the presidential palace to self-described "anarcho-capitalist" President Javier Milei in December. The corruption allegations emerged when the court ordered an examination of his secretary's phone while investigating assault claims made against Fernandez by his ex-partner Fabiola Yanez. Yanez in August filed a complaint accusing Fernandez of having beaten her during their relationship, which ended after he left office. The insurance case involves policies taken out with Nacion Seguros, the insurance arm of state-owned Banco Nacion, which Fernandez chose to cover government departments against various types of risks. Nearly 40 people have been called to give evidence in the case, including the secretary, her husband and former officials from Nacion Seguros. Fernandez, a lawyer by training, had appealed against his summons to appear in court but it was rejected. The Peronist movement, which dominated Argentine politics for most of the country's post-war history, has been dogged by allegations of corruption. Earlier this month, an appeals court upheld Kirchner's conviction for corruption over the awarding of public works contracts while she was president from 2007 to 2015. She has been sentenced to six years in prison and declared ineligible to hold elected office but has not yet exhausted all avenues of appeal.1. Fuzzy memory foam slippers made for those blissful days they spend at home doing a whole lot of nothing. If they're having a lazy day, it might as well be a comfy and chic one! Promising review : "I absolutely love these! They honestly feel like you’re walking on a cloud. I’ve been using [them] for about one month and they feel just as great as the first use. I got the cream color which can get dirty easily but I think they’ll clean well" — Moojjse Get them from Amazon for $29.99 (available in women's sizes 5–12, two styles, and eight colors). 2. An extendable bathtub tray to make their nights spent soaking in the tub even more luxurious. They'll have enough room to enjoy their bubbles with a few extras, including a book, iPad, candles, and a glass of wine! Promising review: "I am so happy I ordered this! I can put my iPad or a book against the metal rest, have a drink, put my phone in the phone holder, and put some decorative candles on the sides. I am now a bath lover and would recommend this product to anyone looking to step up their bath or relaxation routine. I can now relax in the tub and multitask easily!" — Sierra Ritchie-Gruver Get it from Amazon for $37.97+ (available in three styles and five colors). 3. Plus, a SipCaddy wine holder that'll take their bubble bath experience to new heights — now they won't have to worry about their fave red falling into the tub! Phew, crisis averted. Promising review: "Such a simple idea, how is this just coming into my life now? I didn't think showers could get any better but now I have a brew/wine within reach at all times. Really helps take the edge off after a long day. The thing is way sturdier than you'd expect, I've tugged on it and it's not going anywhere. The slotted design allows you to use stemmed wineglasses, too. A truly perfect product. This piece of plastic is working as hard as my therapist and I stan." — Steven Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in six styles). 4. A dreamy 100% satin pillowcase so their bedroom will look and feel more upscale, not to mention they'll sleep more comfortably too! These have a cooling effect that's sooo soft on the skin. Many reviewers even credit this pillowcase with helping to clear up their acne! Kitsch is a woman-founded accessory brand that was founded in 2010. They also sell cute scrunchies, cloth face masks, satin pillowcases, and more. Check out a TikTok of the Kitsch satin pillowcase in action. Promising review: "I'm really liking this pillow. I woke up today with nice wavy hair, not dry tangled hair. I've been trying to grow out the layer of hair on the top back of my head and it's been so stubborn! Keeps getting tangled and breaks here and there from bleaching and dye damage, but with this new pillow I notice it doesn't tangle, which means it can grow right without rubbing and tangling/pulling! So I'm excited to see what happens by the end of summer! Also the pillow is soft and is so much prettier in person! 😍😍😍💖💖💖" — Amazon Customer 🌷 Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in three sizes and many styles). 5. Some seriously beautiful Porter Seal-Tight Glass Containers because even people who love nice things eat leftovers every once in a while. They'll be more than pleased to store 'em in these little beauts. The jars are BPA-free as well as microwave- and dishwasher-safe. BuzzFeed Shopping contributor Rachel Dunkel says: "Before working from home became the norm, I would use these handy jars to bring my lunch almost every day. They're perfect for things like fruit, salad, or something saucy — stuff you really don't want to get squished *and* want to ensure doesn't leak into your bag. *But* I have found that I use them just as much at home full-time! They are of course great for leftovers, but also for prepped ingredients for the week. Shredded cheese, prepped chicken, and chopped veggies usually live in these, ready to be utilized for a quick lunch or snack. They clean *super* well — I even have the cream color and it recovered from storing beets! 10/10 from me." Get them from Amazon for $25+ each (available in two sizes and nine colors). 6. A Yonanas fruit soft-serve maker if frozen treats are their love language and they'd appreciate the ability to whip up a healthy, tasty snack in no time. All they gotta do is add their go-to frozen ingredients of choice and they'll have mouthwatering soft serve in a matter of minutes. Promising review: "Such an amazing product. My first recipe was bananas and cashew peanut butter. Super duper fab! I can’t wait for a party just to make the dessert. Already bought another as a gift. Great buy." — desiree Get it from Amazon for $36.99+ (available in six colors). 7. The viral Lululemon Everywhere belt bag they can easily take with them wherever they go *and* instantly feel super stylish, I might add. It can hold their essentials while they're out and about, like their phone, wallet, keys, and lip balm. Promising reviews: "This bag is so durable, looks good, and holds a lot! Perfect for vacations. I'm using it for a spring break cruise in a couple of weeks. It's so stylish while keeping everything I need safe and secure. I wanted one for a while, and they finally had it back in stock! Ordered one for my daughter too!" — Jules "I think this belt bag is great and very handy when it comes to walking in Walmart or walking around in general because it is so much better than lugging around a huge purse that takes up space and gets in the way!! What a great purchase this really handy belt bag was!! And it’s not that expensive!!" — karabelle Shipping info: Orders are typically processed within 1–2 business days. Free standard shipping is 2–7 business days. Expedited shipping is available for an additional cost at checkout. See full shipping info here . Get it from Lululemon for $38 (available in 20 colors/styles). 8. A Shark FlexStyle hair styling system to give 'em the gift of luscious locks — it'll look like they just paid a fortune at the salon whenever they use this thing! It's super versatile with the base functioning as a normal blow dryer that whisks moisture away. But they can also use any of the included attachments to create bouncy curls, smooth their hair straight, or diffuse it for shiny, springy tendrils. The tool comes with an oval brush, a paddle brush, a curl-defining diffuser, and a styling concentrator attachment. It also includes two 1.25" auto-wrap curlers to curl in different directions. Promising reviews: "I have fine hair, but a lot of it so my hair can be challenging to style especially since I have really hard water. The FlexStyle has been a game changer for me and I’ve had good hair days ever since using it. I love the round brush for every day and I use the curling wands to add bounce when I want to kick it up a notch. It’s so easy to use and is the best styling tool I’ve ever used." — MeganJ "I have never had an easier time styling my hair. This product is amazing. I have the paddle brush, curl wrap and oval brush. My hair is very long and curly and I get a smooth blowout in 17 minutes. " — Vvvr Get it from Amazon for $287+ (available in five versions) or Nordstrom for $299.99 . 9. Brightland's Duo Artist Capsule Set for a magical upgrade to any meal they make. These high-quality oils are perfect for roasting, sautéing, soups, stews, bread, salads, hummus, and more. This set includes Ardor chili olive oil, Rosette garlic olive oil, Lucid lemon olive oil, and Arise basil olive oil. Brightland is a WOC-owned small business that sources olives for their oils from a family-run farm in California. Promising review: "Ordered four different olive oils after trying the chili oil we received as a gift. We've used the basil in salad dressings, the lemon and chili oil in other various dishes, and can't wait to try the garlic oil. These are by far my favorite oils which I will gift to friends and family during the upcoming holiday season. We are hooked !" — Laura B. Brightland shipping info: Orders are typically processed within 1–3 business days. Expedited shipping is available for an additional cost at checkout. See Brightland's full shipping information here . Get it from Brightland (for gifts, you can also add a personalized message at checkout!) or Amazon for $150. 10. A ~dazzling~ whiskey decanter and glasses set that'll make their bar cart look *extra* enticing. It comes with a sleek decanter and two matching tumbler glasses. Promising review: "Simply beautiful...I received so many compliments on the set!! Everyone asks where we bought it and several offered to buy it outright!" — Theresa Hawkins-Garcea Get it from Amazon for $39.95 . 11. A classic bottle of Chanel's Mademoiselle Perfume because, in the wise words of Taylor Swift, it'll never go out of style! This citrusy-floral scent has stood the test of time and continues to be a cult-fave for a reason. It contains notes of orange, patchouli, and Turkish rose. Promising review: "My signature scent now after trying a few other high-end ones. I wear it daily and it feels amazing — not to mention the compliments I get from random strangers!" — ruchi4 Get it from Sephora for $108+ (available in four sizes). 12. An itty-bitty Theragun Mini that'll show 'em how much you care about their well-being. This can help relieve pain and tension, but it's also great for rest and recovery if they've been hitting the gym super hard. It comes with three different attachments for personalized treatment depending on their needs! BuzzFeed Shopping editor Melanie Aman loves her Theragun Mini for post-workout relief: "Exercising has been a huge boost to my mental health during quarantine, but the DOMS man — the DOMS hurt like hell!! I'm talking hurts to walk, hurts to lower myself and sit, hurts to stand up, hurts to lift things heavier than a stuffed animal, hurts to exist. I learned early on that this little gadget was suuuuuuuuper helpful in reducing my discomfort and loosening my tight, angry muscles. While jackhammering my calves and thighs is not an incredibly fun experience (TBH it hurts especially when I'm massaging already sore muscles), I know the next day I'll wake up with significantly less pain." Promising review: "I got one of these for my husband, 15-year-old son, and 75-year-old father-in-law. They ALL use it every other day! My son loves it after his basketball practices and husband after long days of work! It is the perfect size, fits right in your hand, and is super easy to travel with!! Comes with its own carrying case and charger! Just need a wall mount for the outlets!" — Kristin Conlon Get it from Amazon for $199 (available in four colors). 13. A Vahdam tea set , aka a dream come true for that one person whose ideal night is spent buried in a book with a hot cup of tea. They come in lovely gold tins and there are nine delicious blends to choose from! It comes with nine types of Chai and Black teas, including Roasted Darjeeling, Classic English Breakfast, Earl Grey Citrus, and more! Promising review: "All Vahdam teas are excellent. If you are a tea lover and you haven’t tried Vahdam, you’re missing out! This set is particularly nice for gifting. It’s beautiful." — Jen Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in three other options; additional assortments also available). 14. A splurge-worthy towel warmer they'll soon wonder how they lived without. All they have to do is toss a towel in before a shower, and they'll have a warm and toasty hug waiting for them in 15 minutes. It fits two large bath towels at a time (getting out of the shower will never be the same!) and they can program the heat in 15-minute intervals up to an hour. Promising review: "Absolutely love this warmer. I got this as a Christmas present for myself and use it every time I shower. It is definitely worth the price. I usually put clothing inside first, unravel a towel and place it in next, then turn the warmer on before I shower. In 15–20 minutes, the towel is HOT. If you’re contemplating purchasing this warmer, do yourself a favor and submit your payment ASAP!" — Brittvny Thomvs Get it from Amazon for $139.99 . 15. A charmingly curvy ceramic vase so they can top off their IG-worthy table decor with some faux flowers that'll *literally* never get old. Promising review: "Stunning! This looks like it could be sold at West Elm for sooo much more. It’s such a steal, feels quality, and gives your arrangement such a striking look." — Rachael S. Get it from Amazon for $13.45 (available in three colors). 16. A Nespresso Vertuo for the self-proclaimed coffee aficionado who has been talking *nonstop* about upping their home brew game. They'll become a bona fide barista with this sleek gadget in their kitchen! It can brew single-serve coffee and espresso, which can be fully customized to their strength and temperature preferences! Each machine comes with a free variety pack of Nespresso pods to get them started! Promising review: " This Nespresso machine is the best investment I have made in my kitchen . Since I tasted delicious coffee, I will never drink any other brand. I used to drink Starbucks daily, for which I would spend $6 a day, but now I ONLY spend a dollar or two (think of a long-term saving) . I would definitely recommend this coffee maker. Thank you, Nespresso, for making such a delicious coffee. I am in heaven each morning." — senada Get it from Amazon for $164.49+ (available in three colors, plus a bundle option with the Aeroccino , Nespresso's milk frother). 17. A Trtl neck pillow with more than 18,000 5-star reviews — need I say more? They'll be able to get some mandatory beauty sleep before arriving at their destination! Promising review : "WOW! Literally life changing; used it on my 11-hour flight to and from Norway to SF and I usually can never sleep on planes, but this did the trick! It’s also super packable and doesn’t take up too much space! " — Julie Cox Get it from Amazon for $64.99+ (available in four colors). 18. An aesthetically-pleasing Beast blender that'll make their kitchen look very fancy while simplifying their smoothie-making routine. It's super compact and comes with a drinking lid and carrying cap for on-the-go deliciousness with fewer dishes to clean! PS: The blending cup also doubles as a portable thermos and comes with a screw-on drinking lid, carry cap, and two straws. "I got this blender last summer, and wow, as someone who had firmly decided I was an 'I don't need a blender' person, I quickly changed my mind after the first use. For starters, it's not as large as those super industrial-strength blenders, and it's so aesthetically-pleasing that I have it out on my counter at all times. Plus, it couldn't be easier to use — just fill the bowl with your ingredients, pulse, and in a matter of ~moments~ you'll have a perfectly uniform blend of whatever you're trying to blitz. I first tried it out on a smoothie made with frozen bananas and peaches (see it in action on TikTok !), and it pulverized the icy fruit like a champ. Best of all? It's a total breeze to clean , which, if I'm being honest, was probably the biggest factor in my having waited so long to add a blender to my kitchen arsenal. I can't recommend it enough, 15/10, no notes." —Britt Promising review: "I have tried so many blenders and they all end up breaking or the blending power won’t be as strong within a few months. This blender has been so great the last few months! Before I purchased the blender, I was worried the blender cup would be too small for my husband's smoothie, but it was a perfect size for us. It’s super easy to use and super easy to clean. The blending power is amazing and the blender isn’t loud either! " — Vanessa Menendez Get it from Amazon for $164.95 (also available in additional colors/styles ). 19. A glorious foot-massaging machine because they should be able to pamper themselves with an at-home foot rub whenever they please. The detachable foot sleeves can be thrown into the wash to keep things from getting too smelly, and there are three kneading and three squeezing intensity levels to choose from. Promising review: "This is an incredible machine for foot pain. It ranges in pressure from 'firm, relaxing massage' to deep kneading. I have issues with my feet and a lot of pain as a result, so I use the medium setting with heat for 15 minutes and then the high setting with heat for 15 minutes. Best 30 minutes of my day. The pressure can be intense at times on the high setting, however, it is exactly what my feet need. Very impressed." — veber Get it from Amazon for $181.97 . 20. A gold-tone mirror tray so absolutely stunning, you may have to snag one for yourself, too. It's an elegant way to store perfume bottles, skincare products, or pretty much anything else they can think of! Promising review: "This tray is solid. Feels sturdy, heavy, and well-constructed. The gold shines well and the mirrored bottom is quality glass. It holds a decent amount of our perfumes, colognes, and bathroom accouterment." — RasBerrie Get it from Amazon for $24.13+ (available in four colors). 21. A Shaker & Spoon Cocktail Club subscription to ~shake~ up their beverage routine with some delicious new flavors. Each month, they'll receive three new recipes and the necessary ingredients (minus the alcohol) to make four servings of each. Bottoms up! What they'll get: Every month they'll receive three cocktail recipes and all of the ingredients with which to make them, aside from the liquor. Ingredients include syrups, bitters, mixers, garnishes, and more. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Shaker & Spoon features a different liquor every month to show just how versatile each one can be when paired with the right ingredients. Promising review: "Our son gave us a gift subscription and then renewed it when we said how much we enjoyed it. We have recommended the monthly box to so many people and intend to give subscriptions as gifts to friends. Not only are the boxes well crafted and detailed, but the company has amazing customer service. We have done an awful lot of subscription boxes ranging from wine, clothes, and personal items to snacks and bespoke gifts. This is the first one that we have wanted to stick with!" — Marta V. Shipping info: If you need a box by a certain date, reach out to Shaker & Spoon by clicking the Contact Seller button (at the bottom of the page) and they'll hook you up with a different box from their vault. For last-minute gifts, there's also an option to download and print out a PDF note to let them know it's on its way! Get a gift subscription from Shaker & Spoon on Cratejoy: a 1-month for $49.92/box, a 3-month for $56.33/box, a 6-month for $53.16/box, or a 12-month for $49.91/box. 22. A cuddly Barefoot Dreams throw blanket , which has a loyal cult following, including none other than Chrissy Teigen and the Kardashians. This comfy throw is bound to earn a permanent spot on their couch, and if you're lucky, they might even share it with you! The blanket is made from 100% polyester microfiber blend that makes it SUPER soft. It can be washed on cold and tumbled dry on low. Promising review: "This is the BEST, softest, coziest blanket. After having one for almost a year, we had to give in and buy another because it became the whole family’s favorite!" — simplysarahxo Get it from Amazon for $125.58 (available in four colors) or Nordstrom for $180 (available in two colors). 23. A cult-fave luxury-scented candle that'll upgrade their space with an upscale smell *and* feel. The divine scent features a blend of jasmine, oud, and sandalwood, so it's basically guaranteed to carry them away to a serene paradise whenever it's lit. Lulu Candles is a US-based small business that specializes in scented candles and perfumes. Promising review : "I enjoy having a scented candle burning in my house. But I don’t like heavy, floral scents, so finding the perfect scent is difficult. This scent is perfect. It doesn’t slap you in the face, it doesn’t cling to your clothes and hair hours after leaving the house. This candle is warm, inviting, and elegant." — Micknan Get it from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in six sizes, in gift box options, in packs of two, and in a variety of scents). 24. A pair of bedazzled safety pin earrings they'll be thrilled to add to their glamorous jewelry collection, especially if they're a fan of understated pieces that still have a decent bling factor! Promising review: "First of all, let me say that these are BEAUTIFUL and look even better in person. They look so expensive and I get compliments every time I wear them. Secondly, I have terribly sensitive ears and these don’t bother me at all. Love love love!" — Ashley Anderson Get them from Amazon for $20.99 . 25. A palm-sized hot stone massager to help them level up their self-care game. Fill it with hot water and they'll enjoy a soothing sensation so they can relax and unwind *without* an expensive trip to the masseuse. Lanshin is an Asian American-owned, Brooklyn-based small biz that was founded by Sandra Lanshin Chiu, who left her job in finance to pursue a degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her beautiful gua sha, massage, and skincare tools are intended to help us "feel present and reconnected to the environment, our minds, and our bodies." Promising review: "This tool is epic. I use it to get knots out of my muscles. It keeps hot to warm for a good 30 minutes. And it fits in your palm perfectly! I'm a hoarder of self-care tools and this little tool is at the top of my list!" — Kim R. Shipping info: Items typically ship within 1–3 business days, and expedited UPS 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air shipping options are available for an additional cost. See full shipping info here . Get it from Lanshin for $41 (originally $59; also available in additional styles ). 26. Beats Studio Pro x Kim Kardashian noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones when the audiophile in your life could use a break that involves some solo time and a soothing playlist or podcast of their choosing. These babies boast up to 40 hours of battery life *and* personalized spatial audio for a premium listening experience. Promising review: "These are the most comfortable over-the-ear headphones I have ever used. Sound quality and noise cancellation is amazing . I can sleep with these on for hours. I work the night shift and drown out the surrounding noise from the kids in order for me to sleep before work! Well, let me tell you, these will give you the quietness you need." — Suecarla Adams Get it from Amazon for $349.95 (available in eight colors). 27. A radiant wine-chilling bucket — it'll make their beloved hosting duties a tad more luxurious. Trust me, they'll be beyond proud to bust this out at the next holiday gathering! It can fit practically any 750-milliliter bottle of wine. Promising review: "Top marks! This wine/bottle cooler is both an elegant AND practical addition for any occasion where you want cooled wine, champagne, or other beverages close at hand. I used it at Thanksgiving for the first time and my company remarked how nice it looked. I like its 'clean' elegant design and it’s more effective than what I’ve used in the past. I also think it would make a lovely hostess or holiday gift!" — Bev Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in stainless steel or a copper finish). 28. And! A VoChill stemless wine glass chiller because their Pinot Grigio should always be precisely chilled without having to resort to ice cubes that'll just water their drink down. They can store this nifty gadget in the freezer and take it out when it's time for an evening ~wine~ down sesh. VoChill is an Austin, Texas-based small business started by a husband and wife after not being able to fully enjoy white wine because it warmed up too much in the heat. Former BuzzFeed Editor Abby Kass LOVES this glass chiller: "I wanted a nice glass of white wine because it paired nicely with my dinner, but realized I didn't have any chilled. Luckily, I remembered that I had put the VoChill in the freezer, so I was able to grab it, attach it to the base, and set my glass of wine in it. It chilled it and kept it cold the whole time I was drinking it. It was so nice. Plus, it was super easy to grab my wine glass when I wanted a drink, and I never felt like the glass would tip or wobble in the "cradle" because there's actually a bit of rubber in it that helps keep glasses of all sizes in place. I was seriously surprised how cold it kept my drink to the last drop. If you like a nice cold glass of white wine (or even a chilled red), I highly suggest keeping this in your freezer because you never really know when you're going to need it." Get it from Amazon for $44.95 (available in three colors and in a pack of two). 29. Fluffy shearling-and-suede lace-up Ugg Neumel boots for anyone with a flawless footwear game who would love to ~step~ it up even more. In typical Ugg fashion, these are next-level warm and comfy but have a chic design that's a bit more elevated than the classic slip-on. Promising review: "So cute. So comfortable. True to size. Love them. Easy on and off. I have worn them a few times, even dressed down with some sweatpants and dressed up with some jeans and a cute shirt. I also have the Ugg jacket that is the same color as the shoes. I love them! If you are on the fence, do it. They are pricy but def worth it. You get what you pay for ." — Samantha Get them from Amazon for $139.95 (available in women's sizes 5–12 and 12 colors). 30. A best-in-class KitchenAid stand mixer to justify the countless hours they spend in the kitchen whipping up baked goods. This thing can do it all: it mixes, it fluffs, it kneads. Basically, it's a baker's dream come true. In addition to whisk and paddle attachments, it comes with a dough hook for all of the bread lovers out there, as well as a pouring shield, which keeps flour from getting all over their counter (and them!). Promising review: "I really debated on spending so much money on a mixer. Would it really be worth it?? For sure it is! I can't say enough great things about this mixer. First of all, love the color! It's a great accent piece in my kitchen. I have made cookies, bars, cakes, and mashed potatoes in the few weeks that I have had it. It mixes the batter so much better than I ever could with my hand mixer! And I think the food actually tastes better! For a busy mom, it almost seems to be saving me time, because it mixes while you can gather other ingredients, etc. It takes me less time to bake and the clean up is easier since it's just one bowl and mixing paddle. Well, worth the money, I wish I would have decided to get one sooner! " — Prof. G Get it from Amazon for $329.95+ (available in 21 colors). 31. A personalized serving tray , which is pretty much the perfect gift for that special someone who *loves* to entertain. This will add such a unique personal touch to all the goodies they whip up for parties that all the guests will ask, "Where did you get that?!" Left Coast Original is a family-owned small biz based in Florida that makes a variety of personalized products, including serving trays, cutting boards, wallets, coasters, and more. Check out everything else the shop sells here . Promising review : "Beautiful platter. Exceeded expectations. We gave this as a gift, and they absolutely loved it." — Jen Shipping info: The shop offers free standard shipping on domestic orders and items typically ship within 1-2 business days. Expedited shipping options available at checkout. Get it from Left Coast Original on Etsy for $59.26+ (originally $84.66+ available in two sizes). 32. A set of marble salt and pepper bowls if you just know they'll love anything with chic but minimalist vibes. It'll complement their decor while also being practical, which they're sure to appreciate! This set also includes a salt spoon and a mango wood tray base. Promising review: "I love this little salt and pepper server. The quality is sturdy and beautiful and for the price, it is a beautiful statement as a gift or for your home. The price point is perfect and makes it truly a wonderful housewarming or host/hostess gift. I am very picky about quality and this product I give 5 stars. Will be buying many more." — Sancha88 Get it from Amazon for $15.99 . 33. A Bean & Bean coffee subscription to permanently win the heart of the coffee snob you love so much. These USDA organic, fair trade, and direct trade beans are freshly roasted prior to shipping, so the quality is *chef's kiss* top-notch. What they'll get: Every month for three months they'll receive a 12-ounce or 3-pound bag of USDA organic, fair trade, and direct trade coffee beans (you select the type of beans, size, and grind type). Based in NYC, Bean & Bean is an Asian mother and daughter-owned small biz focused on bridging the gender gap in coffee. Promising review: "I love Downtown Blend and have gifted it to my parents a few times, they loved it too. So I decided to gift them this prepaid subscription. They think of me every day while brewing Downtown Blend! This made for such an awesome gift!! I'm so happy with it." — Sarah P. Shipping info: Ground Shipping is 3–7 days and Priority Shipping is 1–3 days. Orders placed before Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. Eastern arrive before Christmas (see Bean & Bean's full shipping information here ). Get a three-month gift subscription from Bean & Bean for $76+ (available in two sizes, four types of beans, and two types of grinds). 34. A sleek fountain pen so their most tedious tasks will suddenly be something they look forward to. Writing "thank you" cards with a swanky pen in your hand just hits different. This pen does *not* come with ink, but it does include a converter to fill it with bottled ink, as well as a storage case. Ink cartridges are sold separately. 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ATLANTA — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. In this Nov. 3, 2019, file photo, former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” FILE - Jimmy Carter gives his acceptance speech after accepting the Democratic nomination for president on the convention floor, July 15, 1976, at New York's Madison Square Garden. Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. FILE - President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter are pictured with their daughter Amy at the first of seven inaugural balls in Washington, Jan. 20, 1977, at the Pension Building. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. FILE - President Jimmy Carter leans across the roof of his car to shake hands along the parade route through Bardstown, Ky., July 31, 1979. The president climbed on top of the car as the parade moved toward the high school gym, where a town meeting was held. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. FILE - Former President Jimmy Carter uses a hand saw to even an edge as he works on a Habitat for Humanity home in Pikeville, Ky., June 16, 1997. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. FILE - President-elect Jimmy Carter waves to the crowd as he and his wife Rosalynn arrive at the Plains Baptist Church to attend services in Plains, Ga., Nov. 22, 1976. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Former Associated Press journalist Alex Sanz contributed to this report. Jimmy Carter is shown at age 6, with his sister, Gloria, 4, in 1931 in Plains, Georgia. (AP Photo) This is a 1932 photo of Jimmy Carter at age 7 in Plains, Ga. (AP Photo) Lt. Jimmy Carter peers at instruments on submarine USS K-1 in a 1952 photo. Directly in front of Carter, smoking a cigar, is Don Dickson. He had forgotten he ever served with Carter until he came upon the photo during Christmas, 1977. A friend got it to the White House where Carter wrote: "To my friend Donald Dickson - Jimmy Carter, USS K-1 to White House." (AP Photo) FILE - In this Sept. 15, 1966 file photo, then Georgia State Sen. Jimmy Carter hugs his wife, Rosalynn, at his Atlanta campaign headquarters. Jimmy Carter, winner in Georgia's runoff primary in the Democratic Party to determine the party's candidate for the November election for governor, 1970. (AP Photo) Former State Sen. Jimmy Carter listens to applause at the Capitol in Atlanta on April 3, 1970, after announcing his candidacy or governor. In background, his wife Rosalyn holds two-year-old daughter Amy who joined in the applause. Carter, 45, of Plains, Ga., finished third in the 1966 Democratic Primary behind Gov. Lester Maddox and Ellis Arnall. (AP Photo/Charles Kelly) Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn clutch the microphones as he claims victory in a runoff election at campaign headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, September 24, 1970. Carter beat former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders for the nomination and will face Republican candidate Hal Suit, veteran television newsman, in the general election Nov. 3, 1970. (AP Photo/Charles Kelly) Former state Sen. Jimmy Carter breaks into a broad smile after early returns gave him a lead of almost 2-1 in the Democratic runoff against former Gov. Carl Sanders, Sept. 23, 1970, in Atlanta, Ga. The winner will meet the Republic Hal Suit for the governorship of Georgia on the Nov. 3 general election. (AP Photo/Charles Kelly) Governor-elect Jimmy Carter and his daughter Amy, 3, walk about the grounds by the fountain at the Governor's Mansion in Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 10, 1971, as they get to know the place where they will live for the next four years. Carter will be sworn in as governor of Georgia Tuesday. (AP Photo) Judge Robert H. Jordan administers the oath of office to Gov. Jimmy Carter during ceremonies at the state capitol in Atlanta. Ga., Jan. 12, 1971. Next to the judge is former Gov. Lester Maddox, who will take over as lieutenant governer of Georgia. (AP Photo) Jimmy Carter of Georgia, seen here Feb. 6, 1971, already described as a symbol of a new breed of moderate southern politician, says that the race question has ceased to be a major issue "between or among candidates" running for office in the old confederacy. (AP Photo) Jimmy Carter, Governor of Georgia, is shown at his desk in Atlanta, on February 19, 1971. (AP Photo) Georgia's Gov. Jimmy Carter reaches for pen February 25, 1972 to sign a Georgia Senate House resolution opposing forced busing to achieve integration in the classrooms of the United States. Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter joins a half-dozen Rockettes in a high kick, September 21, 1973, at Radio City Music Hall in New York, while visiting backstage before an afternoon performance. Carter is in New York to induce the film industry to make pictures in his state. (AP Photo/stf) Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter, right, and Delaware Gov. Sherman Tribbitt say hello to Atlanta Braves Hank Aaron, left, following a rain canceled game with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Sept. 27, 1973, Atlanta, Ga. The cancellation slowed Aaron’s opportunity to tie or break Babe Ruth’s home run record. (AP Photo) Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter spoke to 18,000 messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention on Thursday, June 13, 1974 in Dallas, Texas. He urged Baptists to use their personal and political influence to return the nation to ideals of stronger commitment and higher ethics. He said "there is no natural division between a man's Christian life and his political life." (AP Photo/Greg Smith) Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter tells a gathering, Saturday, Oct. 5, 1974 at the National Press Club in Washington about his ideas concerning energy conservation. (AP Photo) In this Thursday, Aug. 14, 1975 file photo, former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter announces in Washington that he qualified for federal matching funds to help finance his campaign for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination. Former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter, right, drew about 5,000 people to Youngstown's Federal Plaza in Youngstown, Ohio, in his quest for support in Tuesday's Ohio Democratic primary, June 7, 1976. The presidential hopeful waded into the crowd, shaking hands and signing autographs. Carter, speaking to the largest crowd to assemble during his Ohio campaign, said 1976 would be a Democratic year because of the Watergate aftermath and other national ills. (AP Photo) In this Monday, Aug. 23, 1976 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter gives an informal press conference in Los Angeles during a campaign tour through the West and Midwest. On Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015. (AP Photo) Democratic Presidential nominee Jimmy Carter, left, eats some freshly roasted barbecue chicken with his brother Billy Carter at Billy's gas station, Sept 11, 1976, Plains, Ga. The nominee had returned the night before from a week of campaigning, and planned to hold an impromptu press conference at the gas station. (AP Photo/Jeff Taylor) Democratic presidential nominee, Jimmy Carter, is all smiles as he talks with his brother Billy at the Carter Family Peanut warehouse, September 18, 1976. (AP Photo) Jimmy Carter stands in a large mound of peanuts at the Carter Peanut Warehouse in Plains, Ga., September 22, 1976. The Democratic party presidential nominee took an early morning walk through the warehouse to inspect some of the harvest. (AP Photo) FILE - In this Oct. 6, 1976 file photo with his wife Rosalynn Carter looking on at center, Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter, center left, shakes hands with President Gerald Ford at the conclusion of their debate at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater in San Francisco, Calif. (AP Photo, File) Jimmy Carter, Democratic candidate for president, is joined by his daughter, Amy, as he waves from the rostrum at Fort Worth Convention Center, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 1, 1976. Carter and his family have been campaigning Texas, making a last minute bid for the state's 26 electoral votes. The others are not identified. (AP Photo) U.S. President-elect Jimmy Carter waves to supporters as he is surrounded by family members at a hotel in Atlanta, Ga., on Nov. 3, 1976. Carter won the presidential election by 297 electoral votes to 241 for Ford. Standing next to him is his wife, Rosalynn, and their daughter Amy Lynn, far right. The others are unidentified. (AP Photo) President-elect Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn wipe tears from their eyes after returning to their home town in Plains, Ga., Nov. 3, 1976. The Carter family was greeted by local residents after returning from Atlanta. (AP Photo) President-elect Jimmy Carter leans over to shake hands with some of the people riding the "Peanut Special" to Washington D.C., Jan. 19, 1977. They will travel all night, arriving in Washington in time for Carter's inauguration as President tomorrow. (AP Photo) Jimmy Carter takes the oath of office as the nation's 39th president during inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 1977. Carter's wife, Rosalynn, holds the Bible used in the first inauguration by George Washington as U.S. Chief Justice Warren Burger administers the oath. Looking on at left are, Happy Rockefeller, Betty Ford, Joan Mondale, Amy Carter, and outgoing President Gerald Ford. Behind Carter is Vice President Walter Mondale. At far right is former Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. (AP Photo) Rosalynn Carter, left, looks up at her husband Jimmy Carter as he takes the oath of office as the 39th President of the United States at the Capitol, Thursday, Jan. 20, 1977, Washington, D.C. Mrs. Carter held a family Bible for her husband. (AP Photo) Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter walk down Pennsylvania Avenue after Carter was sworn in as the nations 39th President, Jan. 20, 1977, Washington, D.C. (AP Photo) FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 20, 1977 file photo, President Jimmy Carter waves to the crowd while walking with his wife, Rosalynn, and their daughter, Amy, along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House following his inauguration in Washington. (AP Photo/Suzanne Vlamis) In this Jan. 24, 1977 file photo, President Jimmy Carter is interviewed in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. In this file photo dated May 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter, right, and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II with French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, at Buckingham Palace in London. In this Feb. 20, 1978, file photo, President Jimmy Carter listens to Sen. Joseph R. Biden, D-Del., as they wait to speak at fund raising reception at Padua Academy in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Barry Thumma, File) President Jimmy Carter tucks his thumbs into his jeans and laughs as he prepares to head down the Salmon River in Idaho August 1978 for a three day rubber raft float. (AP Photo) United States President Jimmy Carter, on a visit to West Germany in 1978, rides with Chancellor Helmut Schmidt during a review of United States Forces at a base near Frankfurt. (AP Photo) Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, left, U.S. President Jimmy Carter, center, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin clasp hands on the north lawn of the White House after signing the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel on March 26, 1979. (AP Photo/ Bob Daugherty) President Jimmy Carter, left, and Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev, right, sign the documents of the SALT II Treaty in the Vienna Imperial Hofburg Palace, Monday, June 18, 1979, Vienna, Austria. President Jimmy Carter leans across the roof of his car to shake hands along the parade route through Bardstown, Ky., Tuesday afternoon, July 31, 1979. The president climbed on top of the car as the parade moved toward the high school gym, where a town meeting was held. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty) In this April 25, 1980 file photo, President Jimmy Carter prepares to make a national television address from the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, on the failed mission to rescue the Iran hostages. President Jimmy Carter applauds as Sen. Edward Kennedy waves to cheering crowds of the Democratic National Convention in New York's Madison Square Garden, Aug. 14, 1980. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty) President Jimmy Carter raises a clenched fist during his address to the Democratic Convention, August 15, 1980, in New York's Madison Square Garden where he accepted his party's nomination to face Republican Ronald Reagan in the general election. (AP Photo/stf) Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy greets President Jimmy Carter after he landed at Boston's Logan Airport, Aug. 21, 1980. President Carter is in Boston to address the American Legion Convention being held in Boston. (AP Photo) President Jimmy Carter, left, and Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas enjoy a chuckle during a rally for Carter in Texarkana, Texas, Oct. 22, 1980. Texarkana was the last stop for Carter on a three-city one-day campaign swing through Texas. (AP Photo/John Duricka) In this Oct. 28, 1980 file photo, President Jimmy Carter shakes hands with Republican Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan after debating in the Cleveland Music Hall in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Madeline Drexler, File) Former US President Jimmy Carter, who had negotiated for the hostages release right up to the last hours of his Presidency, lifts his arm to the crowd, while putting his other hand around the shoulders of a former hostage in Iran, believed to be Bruce Laingen, at US AIR Force Hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany, Wednesday, January 21, 1981. Former Pres. Jimmy Carter, center, is joined by his wife Rosalynn and his brother Billy Carter during session of the Democratic National Convention, Tuesday, July 19, 1988, Atlanta, Ga. Billy had been recently diagnosed with cancer. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks to newsmen as PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, right, looks on after the two men met in Paris Wednesday, April 4, 1990. Carter said he felt some leaders did not represent the region's yearning for peace. (AP Photo/Pierre Gieizes) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, center, introduces his wife Rosalynn, right, to Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin, April 14, 1991 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Avery) Former President Jimmy Carter gestures at a United Nations news conference in New York, April 23, 1993 about the world conference on Human Rights to be held by the United Nations in Vienna June 14-25. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Former Presidents George Bush, left, and Jimmy Carter, right, stand with President Clinton and wave to volunteers during a kick-off rally for the President's Volunteer Summit at Marcus Foster Stadium in Philladelphia, PA., Sunday morning April 27, 1997. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia) President Bill Clinton presents former President Jimmy Carter, right, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during a ceremony at the Carter Center in Atlanta Monday, Aug. 9, 1999. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter adjusts his glasses during a press conference in Managua, Nicaragua, Thursday, July 6, 2006. The former president and 2002 Nobel Peace Prize winner is heading a delegation from the democracy-promoting Carter Center, based at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, to observe preparations for Nicaragua's Nov. 5 presidential election. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) In this Friday, Dec. 8, 2006 file photo, former President Jimmy Carter signs copies of his book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ric Feld) Former President George H.W. Bush, left, watches as Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton chat during a dedication ceremony for the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, May 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Former President Jimmy Carter poses for a portrait during the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Former President Jimmy Carter poses on the red carpet for the documentary film, "Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains" during the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Former President Jimmy Carter, right, and his wife Rosalynn wave to the audience at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Former President Jimmy Carter, right, and former first lady Rosalynn Carter are seen on stage at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Former President Jimmy Carter waves to the crowd as he goes on stage at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008.(AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Former President Jimmy Carter, right, is seen with Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) President-elect Barack Obama is welcomed by President George W. Bush for a meeting at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, with former presidents, from left, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) In this photo taken Saturday, May 29, 2010, former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, right, reacts with former US president Jimmy Carter, during a reunion with The Elders, three years after he launched the group, in Johannesburg, South Africa. (AP Photo/Jeff Moore, Pool) Former US President Jimmy Carter, center, one of the delegates of the Elders group of retired prominent world figures, holds a Palestinian child during a visit to the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010. (AP Photo/Menahem Kahana, Pool) Former President Jimmy Carter, 86, leads Habitat for Humanity volunteers to help build and repair houses in Washington's Ivy City neighborhood, Monday, Oct. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 22, 2010 file photo, former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, background right, looks at former U.S. president, Jimmy Carter, center, while visiting a weekly protest in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. The protest was organized by groups supporting Palestinians evicted from their homes in east Jerusalem by Israeli authorities. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, his wife, Rosalynn, and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan conclude a visit to a polling center the southern capital of Juba Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Pete Muller) Former President Jimmy Carter signs his name in the guest book at the Jewish Community center in Havana, Cuba, Monday March 28, 2011. Carter arrived in Cuba to discuss economic policies and ways to improve Washington-Havana relations, which are even more tense than usual over the imprisonment of Alan Gross, a U.S. contractor, on the island. C (AP Photo/Adalberto Roque, Pool) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter pauses during an interview as he and his wife Rosalynn visit a Habitat for Humanity project in Leogane, Haiti, Monday Nov. 7, 2011. The Carters joined volunteers from around the world to build 100 homes in partnership with earthquake-affected families in Haiti during a week-long Habitat for Humanity housing project. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, sits prior to a meeting with Israel's President Shimon Peres at the President's residence in Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. Peres met two of 'The Elders', a group composed of eminent global leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter watches baseball players work out before Game 2 of the National League Division Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) Former President Jimmy Carter speaks during a forum at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. Among other topics, Carter discussed his new book, "A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power." (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) President Jimmy Carter, left, and Rosalynn Carter arrive at the 2015 MusiCares Person of the Year event at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 6, 2015 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) In this July 10, 2015, file photo, former President Jimmy Carter is seen in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) In a Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015 file photo, former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday School class at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown, in Plains, Ga. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) Former President Jimmy Carter answers questions during a news conference at a Habitat for Humanity building site Monday, Nov. 2, 2015, in Memphis, Tenn. Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, have volunteered a week of their time annually to Habitat for Humanity since 1984, events dubbed "Carter work projects" that draw thousands of volunteers and take months of planning. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Former President Bill Clinton, left, and former president Jimmy Carter shake hands after speaking at a Clinton Global Initiative meeting Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter holds a morning devotion in Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, before he and his wife Rosalynn help build a home for Habitat for Humanity. (AP Photo/Alex Sanz) Former president Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter arrive during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) In this Feb. 8, 2017, file photo, former President Jimmy Carter speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony for a solar panel project on farmland he owns in his hometown of Plains, Ga. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) Former President George W. Bush, center, speaks as fellow former Presidents from right, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter look on during a hurricanes relief concert in College Station, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. All five living former U.S. presidents joined to support a Texas concert raising money for relief efforts from Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria's devastation in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (AP Photo/LM Otero) Former President Jimmy Carter, 93, sits for an interview about his new book "Faith: A Journey For All" which will debut at no. 7 on the New York Times best sellers list, pictured before a book signing Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis) Former President Jimmy Carter speaks as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams listens during a news conference to announce Abrams' rural health care plan Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, in Plains, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter are seen ahead of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Former President Jimmy Carter takes questions submitted by students during an annual Carter Town Hall held at Emory University Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis) Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, left, meets with former President Jimmy Carter, center, at Buffalo Cafe in Plains, Ga., Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Former President Jimmy Carter reacts as his wife Rosalynn Carter speaks during a reception to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary on July 10, 2021, in Plains, Ga. In this Nov. 3, 2019, file photo, former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga. FILE - Former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church, in Plains, Ga., Nov. 3, 2019. Well-wishes and fond remembrances for the former president continued to roll in Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, a day after he entered hospice care at his home in Georgia. (AP Photo/John Amis, File) Former President Jimmy Carter, arrives to attend a tribute service for his wife and former first lady Rosalynn Carter, at Glenn Memorial Church, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Former President Jimmy Carter arrives for the funeral service for his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter at Maranatha Baptist Church, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in Plains, Ga. The former first lady died on Nov. 19. She was 96. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) A sign wishing former President Jimmy Carter a happy 100th birthday sits on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

Mazel Tov Bar/Bat Mitzvah Featured Stories Headlines Israel Local Community Miriam's Advice Well Arts Performance Lifestyle Philacatessen Judaism Ritual Life Society The hit Netflix series “Fauda” drew widespread acclaim when it debuted nearly a decade ago. The action-packed show, which has aired four thrill-filled seasons thus far, chronicles the adventures of an elite Israeli counterterrorism unit that conducts covert missions that often keep viewers at the edge of their seats. Fauda’s leading star, Lior Raz, not only plays the main character, Doron Kabilio, he also co-wrote and co-produced the popular series. Raz was one of the headliners at a Nov. 21 event in Philadelphia to benefit American Friends of Magen Adom, the American arm of Israel’s national emergency services organization. A crowd of approximately 225 came to pay tribute to several well-deserved honorees — Hilary Sennett, Jim Showers and Gershon Trimpol — and support an organization whose sole mission is saving lives. The event was emceed by Emily Austin, a TV personality who has extensive experience interviewing athletes and stars in the entertainment industry. With a social media following of over two million, Austin has become a well-known influencer who often speaks about her strong support for Israel and the importance of combatting antisemitism. In an interview with the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent, Austin, who became an Israeli citizen the week before Oct. 7, 2023, talked about why she feels it’s so important to be outspoken in support of the Jewish state. “I consider myself an advocate for the truth and for what’s right ... I always take the moral high ground,” Austin said. “And I find it really unfortunate that everyone’s on the same page, except when it comes to the Jews. Christians can have a country. Muslims can have a country ... But when it comes to the Jewish people, after enduring a massacre, the world turns a blind eye, or even worse, sides with evil. So, I’m just trying to open people’s eyes. “I go by a saying — don’t tell people they’re wrong but show them why you’re right. And I believe Israel has so many ‘rights’ to show the world that we have, and if I can be the one to show them the truth, then what an honor,” she added. As for her huge social media following, Austin doesn’t shy away from using her platform to voice her pro-Israel views. “I’m very blessed to have a platform that’s not preaching to the echo chamber of Jewish people who already support Israel. I work in sports. I work in entertainment. And I would even argue that my audience is mostly non-Jews. And ... I don’t want to be proselytizing. I don’t want to shove Israel down your throat to the point that it’s nauseating, like the pro-Palestinians do. They shut down bridges and tunnels and they make you almost nauseated by the cause. I try to show a positive light and the truth without completely overwhelming my [social media] feed with it — like I know you follow me for sports, and you’re still going to get it. But I also love Israel, and I’m going to show you why I love Israel. And I think I try to balance the two.” American Friends of Magen David Adom CEO Catherine Reed introduced one of the evening’s honorees, Gershon Trimpol, noting that Trimpol, who serves as chairman of the International Magen David Adom Committee and vice president of American Friends of Magen David Adom, has 26 years of experience working with the organization. As he addressed the crowd, Trimpol, a resident of Southampton, quoted the famous Talmudic passage “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh” (All Jews are responsible for each other), noting that “few organizations embody that principle more than Magen David Adom.” In addition to Magen David Adom’s efforts to supply blood to the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli hospitals, Trimpol underscored the Herculean efforts of the organization’s first responders. “The heart and soul of Magen David Adom are its paramedics,” he said. “On Oct. 7, while others were running from the danger, the brave paramedics of Magen David Adom ran into the danger to help others.” Attendees watched an emotional video that spotlighted the bravery of Magen David Adom paramedics as they responded to various terrorist attacks, including Oct. 7 and in July 2024, when a rocket hit a soccer field in Majdal Shams, a city in northern Israel, which left 12 children dead. During the event, Sue and Bruce Epstein of Margate City, New Jersey, stood up and pledged to make a sizable donation that Magen David Adom could use to buy a new ambulance for its fleet in Israel, drawing applause from the crowd. The evening’s keynote speaker was Ambassador Gilad Erdan, who assumed the role of global president of Magen David Adom in September 2024. Prior to his new role, Erdan served for four years as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, where he vigorously defended Israel on the world stage. Erdan also served as a member of Knesset for 17 years and had a tenure as Israel’s ambassador to the United States. In an interview with the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent, Erdan spoke about the challenges currently facing Israel and the heightened role that Magen David Adom plays post-Oct. 7. “Our enemies know that they cannot defeat the IDF. You see what’s happening in Gaza and Lebanon — we are destroying them. So, what’s their strategy? It’s a twofold strategy. They are focused on attacking our civilians ... They want to terrorize our kids, frighten them, make sure that they maybe drive us out of our homeland in fear for the long term,” Erdan said. “And then the other part, how do they plan to survive? They are trying to exploit my last battlefield, the U.N., to pressure us to a cease-fire, to tie our hands, to portray us as baby killers. So, this is why it’s twofold. Now focusing on the civilian side, they’re attacking the home front. As [there are] many more people that they will be able to kill there, it most likely will succeed to terrorize our citizens.” Erdan cited those challenges to make the case that Magen David Adom is indispensable. “The Israeli resilience, it is dependent on us [Magen David Adom]. So yes, I believe that the Jewish world came to the understanding that of course the IDF is the most important organization, but other than the IDF, when it comes to the first responders like Magen David Adom ... we cannot afford for Magen David Adom not to be the No. 1 emergency medical service in the world. I feel that the Jewish communities really came to this understanding, and they’re behind us. “There’s only one national organization in Israel, which is Magen David Adom — this is the emergency national organization that is obligated to supply services everywhere, be it rural areas, Judea and Samaria, the Golan Heights. We are the ones that the resilience of Israel is dependent upon,” Erdan added. Erdan had much to say about what sort of strategies could be employed to try and counter the anti-Israel animus that is prevalent at international bodies such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, which recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of “crimes against humanity” relating to the war in Gaza. “Always be on the offensive. That’s what I did at the U.N. — never be apologetic. I knew I represented the most moral military and country in the world, so I exposed their lies, their hypocrisy,” Erdan said. “I need to preserve our allies’ support for us, and that’s what we’re doing by always being there on the offensive, fighting and exposing the lies.” In his remarks to the audience, Erdan focused on the threat posed by the U.N. to Israel, opening with a line that drew laughs from the Philly crowd. “It’s really great for me to be here in Philadelphia, a city that cherishes so much both liberty and loyalty, though I must confess that being here during Eagles’ season without being an Eagles fan feels almost as lonely as defending Israel at the U.N.,” he said. “Today, dear friends, the U.N. is not just biased, it’s a weapon in the terrorist arsenal to help them survive,” Erdan said. “What would the U.N.’s founders say if they saw their creation today, an institution founded after the Holocaust to prevent genocide has been hijacked by those who plot it?” Erdan noted that although Israel represents less than one-tenth of 1% of the world’s population, it receives 70% of the U.N.’s condemnations every year. “We receive more condemnations than Syria, Russia, North Korea and Iran combined,” he said. After declaring that the “U.N. has become a stain on humanity,” citing the U.N.’s $75 billion annual budget and noting that the United States, as the biggest funder of the U.N., is “literally financing an institution controlled by dictators that works against our values,” Erdan emphatically declared that “the time has come for us to understand that the U.N. is lost” and stated that, “The U.N. must be defunded. Completely defunded,” which drew rousing applause from the crowd. Referring to Magen David Adom, Erdan painted a far more positive and promising picture than he did when speaking about the U.N. “We are in the life-saving business. It’s sometimes very hard, very sad, very challenging, but the future is bright, I promise you ... Our sages, as you know, teach us that whoever saves even one life, it is as if they saved an entire world. So many lives have been saved, thanks to you. So many worlds have been saved, thanks to you ... I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Erdan said, asserting that “a stronger Magen David Adom means a stronger Israel.” The crowd watched excitedly as Raz and Austin engaged in an armchair conversation, in which Austin interviewed the “Fauda” star about his upbringing and the hit series. Noting that his father was born in Iraq and his mother was born in Algeria, Raz said that Arabic was frequently spoken in his home. Raz’s father served in Shin Bet, Israel’s security agency, and Raz’s military service consisted of service in Duvdevan, an elite counterterrorism unit. “What you’ve seen in ‘Fauda’ is what I used to do,” Raz said, referring to his time in the IDF. After his army service, Raz said he went to the United States, where he served as a bodyguard to Arnold Schwarzenegger and actress Nastassja Kinski. He then returned to Israel and began pursuing an acting career. Raz, who was experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder following his IDF service, eventually met journalist Avi Issacharoff. Together, Raz and Issacharoff began writing the script that ultimately became ‘Fauda.’ “So many things that you see in ‘Fauda’ are from our real lives,” Raz said, referring to Issacharoff and himself. Event organizers said it was a successful evening for Magen David Adom, which Erdan proudly referred to as “the backbone of Israel’s resilience.” [email protected] TAGS American Friends of Magen David Adom Catherine Reed Emily Austin Fauda Gershon Trimpol Hilary Sennett Israel Israel Defense Forces Jim Showers Lior Raz United Nations