First elected to Congress in 2000, Kirk served Illinois’s 10th Congressional District before winning an open US Senate seat in 2010. And throughout his time in both the House and Senate, Kirk was a staunch defender and advocate for the Jewish state.

A vocal opponent of the Iran nuclear deal, Kirk never minced words over President Barack Obama’s harsh treatment of Israel and the president’s desire for detente with Iran. Kirk coauthored legislation to promote human rights and democracy in Iran, as well as to strengthen and expand sanctions against the Islamic state.

The August 27 political event featured two prominent guests who attested to Kirk’s achievements and leadership in Washington on behalf of Israel.

Gil Hoffman, the chief political correspondent and analyst for the Jerusalem Post, was the evening’s featured speaker. He opened his remarks by telling the former senator, “I voted for you as many times as I could, in accordance to the law here in Chicago.” He added, “I wrote your name in for president of the United States. I was the guy who did that.”

Hoffman’s comments took a more serious tone when he voiced concern about America’s current divisiveness.

“When I grew up here in Chicago, I don’t remember people as they are in America today. I don’t believe people knew what ‘red state’ and ‘blue state’ was back then. Now, everybody knows; and everybody dislikes the people from the other [side],” he said.

Hoffman continued, “I wish America would be more united again, and I’ve gotten to see enough that if there is one issue that still unites Americans, it’s Israel.”

Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon also told the audience in Chicago that, “I can think of no one more deserving of such an occasion than Mark. I’m lucky enough to call him a colleague — a personal friend whose advice and wisdom I continue to cherish. The bond that we have is one of brothers in arms. We are both military men who have fought in some of the world’s darkest corners. Mark understands what it is to risk everything for the sake of your country and for the sake of freedom.”

Referring to Kirk’s level of understanding of the conflict in the Jewish state, and the threats arrayed against the US and Israel, Ya’alon remarked, “He gets it.”

Noting Kirk’s “genuine love for Israel,” Ya’alon reminded the crowd that the retired intelligence officer has done things for the Jewish state that still cannot be discussed publicly.

Rising from his wheelchair, Kirk, 57, grabbed his cane and walked to the podium. It was hard to discern that he had suffered a stroke five years ago.

Kirk made the crowd laugh and cheer as he recounted how he had checked into the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago under the name “Moshe Ya’alon.”

While the evening was more personal than political, Kirk took the opportunity to plug Jeremy Wynes, a GOP candidate for Congress in Kirk’s old district.

“The thing you need to know is that Jeremy was against the Iran agreement. His opponent, Congressman Schneider, was for the Iran agreement. And that’s all you need to know!” Kirk exclaimed.

In what can be described as the surprise of the evening, Kirk revealed his future plans, announcing that at the request of former Senator Joe Lieberman, he will be joining United Against Nuclear Iran, a non-partisan, non-profit, pro-Israel advocacy organization.

In the immediate future, Kirk will be traveling with Ya’alon to New York to lobby the UN General Assembly against Iran. He has also penned an op-ed on the North Korea-Iran alliance that is slated to be published in the Chicago Tribune.

“A point that cannot be said often enough by our current administration — and a point I make in this op-ed in the Tribune — is that the missile program of North Korea and the nuclear program of Iran are the same program,” said Kirk. “When you send money to Iran, you’re basically sending money to North Korea’s biggest partner in the nuke and missile business. You cannot do that.”

The evening closed with remarks by Rabbi Victor Weissberg, co-founder of To Protect Our Heritage, who expressed his “love, respect and gratitude” for Kirk, saying the former Senator was worthy of “a 21-gun salute to honor you for your courage, your honesty, your dignity and your diligence.”

As attendee Sharyn Trachtenberg noted, “[Kirk] has done wonderful things for Israel and to hear him speak, you can feel the love. It was beautiful.”

Paul Miller is president of the news and public policy group Haym Salomon Center. He was granted exclusive media access to this event.