THEJEWISHFEDERATIONOFGREATERLOSANGELES2020VIRTUALTRIPTOISRAELJULY7–AUGUST12,2020
YISHAISABAG(OURTOURGUIDE)YishailivesinMoshavAvigdor,justoutsidethecityofKiryatMalachi.HeservedintheIDFspecialforcesunit“PalsarGivati”from2001-2004,ultimatelydischargingfromactivedutywiththerankofKirstsergeant.YishailovestheoutdoorsandhasbeeninvolvedasaguideandvolunteerwithTheSocietyfortheProtectionofNatureinIsrael(SPNI)sincethelate1990s.AfterhisIDFserviceYishaiworkedasabeekeeperat“KanotBeeFarm,”thelargestbeehiveoperationinIsrael.Additionally,inthattimeheworkedasaneducatorandtourguideforhighschoolsinIsrael.YishaicompletedhisTourGuidetrainingcourseby
Israel’sMinistryofTourismin2007andhasguidedgroupsfromallovertheworldaroundIsraelasalicensedguideeversince.HeholdsanadditionalcertiKicationinRappellingandRockClimbingfromtheWingateInstitute,Israel’spremiersportsauthorityandtrainingcenter.InhistimevolunteeringandguidingforSPNIhereceivedtheEducationMinistry’stourguidingpermitwherehegainedadditionalskillsinorienteering,survivalanddeeperknowledgeaboutIsrael’sgeography.YishaihasworkedwithmanytourcompaniesinIsraelandhasbeenaveteranguideformanyBirthrightgroupsoverthelastdecade.HespeaksHebrewandEnglishKluentlyandlovesAmericanKilms.
YoucancontactYishai:[email protected]+972-52-3214981
VIRTUALISRAELJULY7-12,2020WEEK1-JEWISHHOMELAND&DEMOCRACY
July7–TheOldCityofJerusalem
TheOldCityiseasilyidentiKiedasthewalledcityofJerusalem.Withinitsboundariesthereare4quarters:TheJewishQuarter,TheMuslimQuarter,TheChristianQuarter,andtheArmenianQuarter.Therearealsomanyotherancientandreligioussitesthatwewillbothvisitandoutline.TheJewishQuarterliesinthesoutheasternsectorofthewalledcity,andstretchesfromtheZionGateinthesouth,borderingtheArmenianQuarteronthewest,alongtheCardotoChainStreetinthenorthandextendseasttotheWesternWallandtheTempleMount.Thequarterhasarich
history,withanearlycontinualJewishpresencesincetheeighthcenturyBCE.In1948,itspopulationofabout2,000Jewswasbesieged,andforcedtoleaveenmasse.ThequarterwascompletelysackedbythearmiesofthesurroundingArabnations,withancientsynagoguesdestroyed.TheJewishquarterremainedunderJordaniancontroluntilitsrecapturebyIsraeliparatroopersintheSix-DayWarof1967.
ThesectionoftheJewishquarterdestroyedpriorto1967hassincebeenrebuiltandsettledandhasapopulationofapproximately2,400(asof2004).Manylargeeducationalinstitutionshavetakenupresidence.Beforebeingrebuilt,thequarterwascarefullyexcavatedunderthesupervisionofHebrewUniversityarchaeologistNahmanAvigad.Thearchaeologicalremainsareondisplayinaseriesofmuseumsandoutdoorparks,whichtouristscanvisitbydescendingtwoorthreestoriesbeneaththelevelofthecurrentcity.
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TheWesternWallorKotelislocatedintheOldCityofJerusalematthefootofthewesternsideoftheTempleMount.ItisaremnantoftheancientwallthatsurroundedtheJewishTemple'scourtyardandisarguablythemostsacredsiterecognizedbyJudaismoutsideoftheTempleMountitself.Justoverhalfthewall,includingits17courseslocatedbelowstreetlevel,dates
fromtheendoftheSecondTempleperiod,commonlybelievedtohavebeenconstructedaround19BCEbyHerodtheGreat,butrecentexcavationsindicatethattheworkswerenotKinishedduringHerod'slifetime.Theremaininglayerswereaddedfromthe7thcenturyonwards.TheWesternWallrefersnotonlytotheexposedsectionfacingalargeplazaintheJewishQuarter,butalsotothesectionsconcealedbehindstructuresrunningalongthewholelengthoftheTempleMount,suchastheLittleWesternWall–a25ft(8m)sectionintheMuslimQuarter.IthasbeenasiteforJewishprayerandpilgrimageforcenturies;theearliestsourcementioningJewishattachmenttothesitedatesbacktothe4thcentury.Fromthemid-19thcenturyonwards,attemptstopurchaserightstothewallanditsimmediateareaweremadebyvariousJews,butnoneweresuccessful.WiththeriseoftheZionistmovementintheearly20thcentury,thewallbecameasourceoffrictionbetweentheJewishcommunityandtheMuslimreligiousleadership,whowereworriedthatthewallwasbeingusedtofurtherJewishnationalisticclaimstotheTempleMountandJerusalem.Outbreaksofviolenceatthefootofthewallbecamecommonplaceandaninternationalcommissionwasconvenedin1930todeterminetherightsandclaimsofMuslimsandJewsinconnectionwiththewall.Afterthe1948Arab-IsraeliWarthewallcameunderJordaniancontrolandJewswerebarredfromthesitefor19yearsuntilIsraelcapturedtheOldCityin1967.
TheMuslimquarteristhelargestandmostpopulousandextendsfromtheLions'Gateintheeast,alongthenorthernwalloftheTempleMountinthesouth,totheDamascusGate/WesternWallrouteinthewest.TheViaDolorosastartsinthisquarter.Forthe
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purposesofthisitinerarywesorteditintheChristianQuarterbecauseofitssigniKicanceasaChristianreligioussite.
TheMuslimquarterhadamixedpopulationofJews,MuslimsandChristiansuntilthe1929Palestineriots,aconKlictbetweenMuslimsandJewsoveraccesstotheWesternWallinJerusalem.TheresultwasanevacuationofJewishfamiliesfromtheQuarterunderBritishsupervision.
TheArabShukisthemostfamoustouristmarketintheOldCity.Referredtoasthe“ArabShuk”,itsproximitytoJaffaGate,itscentrallocationandthebeautyofthestreetattractalargeandvariedcrowd.ThisincludesJewsontheirwaytoservicesattheWesternWall,ChristianpilgrimsproceedingtotheChurchoftheHolySepulcher,MuslimsgoinguptoprayontheTempleMount,andthousandsoftouristsandvisitors.Set
alongnarrowalleys,mostlywithintheMuslimQuartertheArabShukisknownforitsfascinatingvarietyoflivelyshopsandstalls.
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July8–MemberofKnessetTehilaFriedman-Nachalon
MKTehilaFriedman-Nachalonisamemberofthe23rdIsraeliKnesset,servingonthelistoftheBlueandWhiteParty.PriortobecominganMK,sheservedasaResearchFellowoftheKogodResearchCenteratShalomHartmanInstituteandaprogramdirectorforShaharit,athinktankpromotinganewsocialcovenantinIsrael.ShewasalsothedirectorofKolot'sCenterforJewishLeadership.SheisapastchairofNe’emaneiTorahva’Avodah,amodernOrthodoxmovementpromotingpluralismanddemocracy,
aswellasaboardmemberoftheYerushalmitMovement,anonproKitforapluralisticJerusalem.ShewasafellowintheMandelLeadershipInstituteandDirectoroftheIsraelofKiceoftheJewishFederationofCentralNewJersey,agrantofKicerattheRothschildFoundation,andanadvisertoNatanSharansky.ShelivesinJerusalemwithherhusbandandKivechildren.
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July9–PanelDiscussionwithYoungLeadersfromShaharit’s120ProgramonComplexIssues&CommonGoodPolitics
Shaharitisasynergisticmixofthinktank,leadershipincubator,andcommunityorganizinghubthatisnurturinganewsocialpartnershipamongallofIsrael’scommunities.
LimorSifraiis36yearsold.ShespentherchildhoodinMoshavGanOrintheGushKatifsettlementblock,andlivestodayinKibbutzMa’aleGilboawithherhusbandAviadandfourchildren.SherunstheeducationandyouthdepartmentoftheReligiousKibbutzimmovementandisasocialactivistandentrepreneur,havingopenedlearningcentersthatpromoteReligiousZionistidentityalongsideadvancingvaluesofequalityandinterfaithandintercommunitycollaborations.Sheisalsoactiveinanumberofsocialcausesinher
Kibbutzandininterfaithpeaceorganizations.
Laura Talinovsky, 36 years old, is Shaharit’s COO and a Russian-speaking activist. Laura was most recently the head of the RabinPreparatory Academy (Mechina) in Haifa, and was previously theExecutive Director of the OneVoice peace initiative, and theParliamentary Advisor for Knesset Opposition Leader ShellyYachimovich. Laura is a lecturer on various topics, including gender,politics and society, the Russian-speaking community and politicalcampaigns.LauraimmigratedtoIsraelattheageof6fromtheUkraine
and is one of the founders of “Generation1.5”, Shaharit’s working group in the Russian-speakingcommunity. SheholdsaBA inSociologyandPoliticalScience fromTheHebrewUniversityandamaster’sdegreeinpublicpolicy;shealsospentayearasa“PathstoPeace”fellowatNYU.
ThroughitsKlagship“120”program,Shaharitrecruitsandtrainsthepoliticalleadersoftomorrowinthetheoryandpracticeofthepoliticsofthecommongood,tobreakthroughthetired
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dichotomiesthatfortoolonghavedeKinedtheIsraelipolitics,articulateanewpoliticallanguage,tocreatenewsocialnetworks,andtoencouragenewinitiatives,forthebeneKitofallofIsrael’scommunitiesanditssocietyasawhole.
Shaharit’sleadershipgroupsinmanyofIsrael’scommunities,includingReligiousZionists,Russianspeakers,MizrahiJews,Haredim(Ultra-Orthodox),andArabcitizensofIsrael,amongothers.Ontheground,inthetownsandcitiesthatmakeupthefabricofIsraelisociety,ShaharitKindspeoplewhoarewillingtotranscendtheirboundaries,toworkacrosscommunities,toseekthefaceoftheother,andcreateabrandoflocalactivismofthecommongood.Shaharitismakinginvestmentsincommunityorganizingasadisciplinethatcanunleashthepositiveenergyofthecommongoodwhereitreallycounts:inpeople’sneighborhoods,communities,andhomes.
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VIRTUALISRAELJULY7-12,2020WEEK2-JEWISHREMEMBRANCE
July13–YadVashemandHarHerzl
AstheJewishpeople’slivingmemorialtotheHolocaust,YadVashem—TheWorldHolocaustRemembranceCentersafeguardsthememoryofthepastandimpartsitsmeaningforfuturegenerations.Establishedin1953,astheworldcenterfordocumentation,research,educationandcommemorationoftheHolocaust,YadVashemisadynamicandvitalplaceofintergenerationalandinternationalencounter.
Adecadeinthemaking,theHolocaustHistoryMuseumcombinesthebestofYadVashem’sexpertise,resourcesandstate-of-the-artexhibitstotakeHolocaustremembrancewellintothe21stcentury.Themuseumoccupiesover4,200squaremeters,mainlyunderground.Bothmultidisciplinaryandinterdisciplinary,itpresentsthestoryoftheHolocaustfromauniqueJewishperspective,emphasizingtheexperiencesoftheindividualvictimsthroughoriginalartifacts,survivortestimoniesandpersonalpossessions.
AttheendoftheMuseum’shistoricalnarrativeistheHallofNames—arepositoryforthePagesofTestimonyofmillionsofHolocaustvictims,amemorialtothosewhoperished.FromtheHallofNames,visitorscontinuetotheepilogueandfromtheretothebalconyopeningtoapanoramicviewofJerusalem.
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HarHerzl(MountHerzl)isnamedafterBinyaminZe'ev(Theodor)Herzl,visionaryoftheJewishState.ItisasiteofmajornationalimportanceforIsraelandtheJewishpeople,wheretheannualofKicialstateceremonymarkingtheconclusionofMemorialDayforIsrael'sfallenandcommencementofIsrael'sIndependenceDayFestivitiestakeplace.AlongthenorthernslopesofMountHerzl,stretchesIsrael'sMilitaryCemetery.Onitswesternface,sitstheYadVashemHolocaustmemorial.Together,thesesitesgiveexpressiontothemajorandtumultuouseventsthatledtotheestablishmentofStateofIsraeljusthalfacenturyafterHerzlhimselfKirstenvisionedit.Several“LoneSoldiers”toIsrael,non-IsraelicitizenswhocomeontheirowntoIsraeltoserveinthemilitary,whowerekilledinthelineofdutyareburiedonMountHerzlhonoringtheiruniquecommitmentandsacriKice.MaxSteinberg,z”l,fromWoodlandHills,California,waskilledinactionin2014andisburiedatMountHerzl.
RestingPlaceofGreatLeadersoftheNation:Israel'spresidents,primeministers,speakersoftheKnessetandotherdignitariesdecideduponbythegovernmentareinterredhere.ApartfromTheodorHerzl,Mt.HerzlistheburialplaceofKiveofIsrael'sprimeministers:LeviEshkol,GoldaMeir,YitzhakShamir,YitzhakRabin(whoisburiedbesidehiswifeLeah)andShimonPeres.IsraelipresidentsarealsoburiedonMt.Herzl,asareotherprominentJewishandZionistleaders.
DecidingwhoshouldbeburiedonMt.Herzlhassometimesbeencontroversial.Forexample,thedecisiontoburyZe'evJabotinsky,whodiedin1940,onMt.Herzl,wasKiercelyopposedbymanyLaborPartystalwarts,whoclaimedthatJabotinskywasanultra-rightnationalistundeservingofsuchanhonor.Onlyin1964didPrimeMinisterLeviEshkoldecideinfavorofburyinghimthere,intheinterestofpromotingnationalreconciliationandsettingasidepoliticalgrievances.SoldiersawardedwiththeMedalofValormayalsobeburiedatMountHerzl.
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July15–PresentationonHolocaustinIsraeliSocietyWithMasterEducator,RachelKorazim
RachelKorazimisafreelanceJewisheducationconsultantspecializingincurriculumdevelopmentforIsraelandHolocausteducation.Until2008shehadbeentheAcademicDirectorofDistanceLearningprogramsattheJAFODepartmentofEducation.BorninIsrael,sheservedintheI.D.F.asanofficerinthecentraltrainingbaseforwomenandwaslater,amemberoftheI.D.F.delegationtoNiger(WestAfrica).SheisagraduateofHaifaUniversitywithaPh.D.inJewisheducation.RachelhadavastexperienceinJewisheducationteachingboth
inIsraelandtheDiaspora.Asoneofthefoundersanddirectorsofaspecialprogramforsoldiersfromadisadvantagedbackground,shewasresponsibleforcreatingtheeducationalframeworkandtrainingteachersfortheimplementationoftheprogram.
SinceherfirstShlichuttoCanadawhereshewastheheadofJAFIdelegationfrom1985-1988,shehasbeeninvolvedwithJewisheducationworldwide,creatingandimplementingin-servicetrainingprogramsforeducators,writingeducationalmaterials,counselingandteaching.Rachelisfamiliar,throughmanyvisits,withtheJewisheducationcommunitiesoftheUS,Canada,LatinAmericaandEurope.Since1990,shehasinvestedmuchofhertimeandenergyinhelpingtheemergingJewishschoolsofHungary.
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July16–ConversationwithEranWeintrob,CEOofFederationPartnerLatet:Israel'sNationalFoodBank,OnWorkingwithHolocaustSurvivorsDuringTheCOVID-19CrisisinIsrael.
Latet(ToGive)-wasestablishedinordertoreducepoverty,forabetterandjustsociety,byprovidingassistancetoneedypopulations,mobilizingIsraelicivilsocietytowardsmutualresponsibility,andleadingchangeinthenationalpriorities.LatetisthelargestNGOcombatingpovertyandfoodinsecurityinIsrael.Actingasanumbrellaorganizationfor180localassociations,Latetoperatestheleadingnationalfoodbankandrunsimpactfulaidprograms,providingmonthlyassistanceto60,000familiesand1,000Holocaustsurvivors.Equivalentaidisgiveninallareasofthecountryandtoallsectors,regardlessofreligion,race,gender,cultureornationality.
93%oftheorganization’sbudgetisbasedprimarilyondonationsfromtheIsraelipublic.Annually,27,000volunteersgive477,000hourstoLatet.Sincetheestablishmentoftheorganizationin1996,sometwomillionIsraelishavedonatedfoodandcommodities,andmorethan100,000volunteershaveparticipatedinitsactivities.
EranWeintrobisExecutiveDirectoratLATET,focusingoneradicatingpoverty,moldingtheidentityandnatureofIsraelisociety,instillingvaluesofmutualresponsibility,andleadingchangeinnationalpriorities.Eran,48,isafathertoAmit,NoamandRani,andmarriedtoLital.HewasbornintheSouthernIsraelicityofDimona,andcurrentlylivesinRamatGan.
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VIRTUALISRAELJULY7-12,2020WEEK3–ISRAELIRESILIENCE
July20–ExploringLifeinTheGazaEnvelopeatMoshavNativHa'asara,2MilesFromGaza
NativHa’asara(Hebrew:,העשרהנתיבlit.PathoftheTen)isamoshavinsouthernIsrael.Locatedinthenorth-westNegev,itfallsunderthejurisdictionofHofAshkelonRegionalCouncil.In2016ithadapopulationof821.Themoshavwasfoundedin1982by70familieswhowereresidentsoftheformerIsraelisettlementofNativHa’asaraintheSinaiPeninsula,whichwasevacuatedasaresultoftheCampDavidAccords.TheoriginalmoshavhadbeennamedfortensoldiersthatwerekilledinahelicopteraccidentsouthofRafahin1971.AftertheIsraelidisengagementfromGazain2005,NativHa’asarabecametheclosestcommunityinIsraeltotheGaza
Strip,located400metersawayfromtheedgeofthePalestiniantownofBeitLahiya.Themoshav,unfortunately,isatargetofQassamrockets,Katyusharockets,mortarshellingsandnowKireballoonsandmolotovcocktails.In2007,thePopularResistanceCommitteessenttwoterroriststoinKiltratethemoshav,buttheywerekilledbytheIDF.“PathtoPeace"isajointmosaiccreationontheborderwallthatdividestheGazaStripandIsrael,adjacenttothehomesofMoshavandseenfrombothsidesofthesecuritywall.Visitorsareinvitedtotakeanactivepartinthecreationofthepeacewallbywritingapersonalwishonthebackofacolorfulmosaicpieceandgluingitontothewall.
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July22–AviIssacharoff,JournalistandCreatorofNetglix'sFauda
AviIssacharoff,isajournalist,writerandexpertonIsrael-Palestinianrelations.Heisalsoaguestcommentatoronmanyradioshowsandcurrentaffairsprogramsontelevision.Until2012,hewasareporterandcommentatoronArabaffairsfortheHaaretznewspaper.MorerecentlyhehaswrittenforTheTimesofIsraelandWalla(Hebrewmedia).HealsolecturesonmodernPalestinianhistoryatTelAvivUniversity.HegraduatedcumlaudefromBenGurionUniversitywithaB.A.inMiddleEasternstudiesandthenearnedhisM.A.fromTelAvivUniversityonthesamesubject,alsocumlaude.AKluentArabic
speaker,AviwastheMiddleEastAffairscorrespondentforIsraeliPublicRadiocoveringtheIsraeli-PalestinianconKlict,thewarinIraqandtheArabcountriesbetweentheyears2003-2006.
AvidirectedandeditedshortdocumentaryKilmsonIsraelitelevisionprogramsdealingwiththeMiddleEast.In2002hewonthe"bestreporter"awardforthe"IsraelRadio”forhiscoverageofthesecondintifada.In2004,togetherwithAmosHarel,hewrote"TheSeventhWar-HowwewonandwhywelostthewarwiththePalestinians."AyearlaterthebookwonanawardfromtheInstituteforStrategicStudiesforcontainingthebestresearchonsecurityaffairsinIsrael.In2008,IssacharoffandHarelpublishedtheirsecondbook,entitled"34Days-TheStoryoftheSecondLebanonWar,"whichwonthesameprize.
In2014Issacharoffandacameramanwereattackedandbeatenby"maskedPalestinianrioters"whilecoveringaviolentprotestdemonstrationatBeitunia.AccordingtoIssacharoff'saccount,thetwoweresetuponafteraPalestinianjournalistpointedthemouttothecrowdasIsraelis.MostrecentlyandsigniKicantly,Avico-wroteanddevelopedtheNetKlixTVseriesFauda,winnerin2016ofsixOphirAwardsandin2018ofelevenOphirawardsbytheIsraelAcademyofFilm&Television.
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July23–TalyLevanon&TheIsraelTraumaCoalition
TheIsraelTraumaCoalition(ITC)istheleadingIsraeliorganizationintheKieldoftraumaandresilience.TheFederationpartnerswiththeITCinanefforttostrengthentheemergencypreparednessofIsraelimunicipalitiesandprovidethemwiththetoolstomanagecrisiseffectively.ThemissionoftheIsraelTraumaCoalitionistocreateacontinuumofcareinthetraumaKield,responseandpreparedness,byleveragingdiverseresourcestoinitiate,prioritize,andoptimizeservices.
TheITCwascreatedin2001andisacornerstoneofIsrael’snationaltraumacareandpreparednessprogram.Israel’slongexperiencepreparingforandcopingwithcrisismakesIsraeliexpertsamongstthemostknowledgeableontheglobalmap.ITChasworkedinSriLanka,Haiti,India,France,Japan,Nepal,thePhilippines,Chechnya,JordanandUSA(HurricaneKatrina,9/11andfollowingtheBostonmarathonattack).
TalyLevanondirectsallofITC’sinitiativesbybuildingcollaborativepartnershipsthatformthefoundationofsustainablesupportfortraumavictimsbothinIsraelandabroad.BeginninghercareerintheIDFasanofKicerworkingwithbereavedfamiliesandwoundedsoldiers,shethensupervisedsocialworkersinprivatepracticeandworkedintheIsraeliNationalInsuranceInstituteforTreatmentandRehabilitationofTraumaWidowsandWidowers.TaliaholdsanMSWinclinicalsocialworkfromBarIlanUniversityinadditiontoadegreeinIntegrativePsychotherapyfromHebrewUniversity.SheisKluentinEnglish,FrenchandHebrew.
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VIRTUALISRAELJULY7-12,2020WEEK4–ANATIONOFIMMIGRANTS
July28–JaffaPortandNeveTzedekJaffa(alsoknownasYafo)istheancientportcityoutofwhichTelAvivhasnowgrown.Jaffa(alsoknownasYafo)istheancientportcityoutofwhichTelAvivhasnowgrown.Jaffahas,inrecentyears,likemuchofSouthTelAviv,beenregeneratedwiththeoldnarrowstreetsandcourtyardsbecominganotherhighlydesirablepartofTelAviv’surbantapestry.
JaffaKleamarketisawell-knownattractionofthearea,withvendorssellingadiverserangeof interesting anduniqueproducts.Meanwhile,thenarrowpassagewaysandancientbuildingsintheOldCityofJaffaareworldsawayfrommodernTelAviv.
ThehistoryofJaffaisalongone.Asoftheworld’soldestports,JaffaisthoughttohavebeentheportfromwhichJonahleftinthestoryoftheWhale!JaffaisalsofamousforitsassociationwiththeotherbiblicalstoriesofSolomonandSaintPeteraswellasthemythologicalstoryofAndromedaandPerseus.TheportcontinuedtobeimportantthroughhistoryandservedasthemainentrypointtothelandofIsraelthroughuntilthelate19thcenturywhenJewsfromaroundtheworldbegantoreturntoIsrael.ItwasthroughJaffathattheyenteredthecountryandinJaffathatmany initially settled.Thehugepopulationincreaseledtoovercrowding,andtenserelationsdevelopedbetweentheJewishandArabresidentsofthecity.TheresultwasthatJewsbeganbuildingoutsideofJaffa,KirstlyneighborhoodssuchasNeveTzedek,andlaterthecityofTelAviv.Today,Jaffaiswidelyknownfortheoneproductitexportsaroundtheworld:JaffaOranges.
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July30–OshraFriedman–A ConversationonEthiopian-IsraeliIssuesandRacialInjusticeAroundTheWorld
OshraFriedmancurrentlyservesastheDeputyDirector-General,AuthorityfortheAdvancementoftheStatusofWomen.OshraarrivedinIsraelfromEthiopiawithOperationMoseswhenshewassevenyearsold.ShereceivedherB.A.incriminologyandhumanresourcesfromBarIlanUniversityin2002,earnedanM.A.inimmigrationandsocialabsorptionfromtheRuppinAcademicCollegein2007,andiscurrentlypursuingadoctorateineducationandleadershipfromHaifaUniversity’sDepartmentofLerdershipandPolicyinEducation.HavingbeenaneducationofKicerintheIDF,OsharoptedtojointheteamoftheRashiFoundation,whereshe
spearheadedthedevelopmentandimplementationoftheKatzirScholarshipFund,ofwhichshewas,untilrecently,thenorthernregionalcoordinatoranddirectorofpartnershipdevelopment.ThisuniquefundprovidesscholarshipstoeconomicallyweakpopulationsofIsrael'speripheryandenablesrecipientstoachieveacademicallyandimprovetheirsocialmobilityandKinancialindependence.
ShewasawardedwiththeNewIsraelFund’sYaffaLondonYaariPrizein2014forherinvolvementinthe“MaskilaforSingleMothers”program
ShejoinedtheroundtableestablishedbytheCommissioneroftheIsraeliPoliceForcefollowingthelargeprotestoftheEthiopianIsraelicommunityinMay2016.InJune2016,shebeganworkingasVPofPlanningandResourceDevelopmentatTebeka–Justice&EqualityforEthiopianIsraelis(anon-proKitorganization)andinJuly2017shejoinedtheOrganizationforJointIsraeliLeadership’sactivitiesinordertoassistthewithresourcedevelopmentandconnectionswiththephilanthropicworld.Inadditiontoherworkinthethirdsector,OshraFriedmanservesisamoderatoronthe“M’chutzLa’bua”televisionprogram,whichisbroadcastonChannel14anddealswithsocialissuesinIsrael.
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VIRTUALISRAELJULY7-12,2020WEEK5–THESTART-UPNATION
August4–TelAvivandRothschildBoulevard
Onour12thdayvirtuallyinIsrael,wearetravelingthroughthecenterofTelAvivonRothschildBoulevard.ThisiconicandpicturesquestreetisishometomanyofthemostsigniKicantmilestonesinmodernIsrael:thehomeofDavidBen-Gurion,IndependenceHall,TheTelAvivLibraryandtodaysomeofIsrael'stopstart-upsandVentureCapitalists.TelAvivhasbeenrecognizedasaUNESCOWorldHeritagesitebecauseitishometotheworld’sgreatestnumberofbuildingsintheBauhausstyle,givingitthenameTheWhiteCity.
RothschildBoulevardwasoneoftheKirststreetstobebuiltinthecityofTelAviv littleover100yearsago.NamedoriginallyasRehovHaAm(thestreetofthepeople),itwasrenamedtoreKlectthegenerosityofBaronEdmondJamesdeRothschildoftheFrenchRothschildbankingdynasty.AtthenorthernendofRothschildBoulevardistheHabimaTheater,Israel’snationaltheater,andtheFredricMannAuditorium.
RothschildBoulevardisalsoacommercialcenter,withmajorKinancialinstitutionsliningthestreet;aculturalcenter,withthemaintheaterandconcerthallofTelAviv;aculinarycenter,withnumeroustoprestaurants;andaleisurecenter,withthecentralboulevardpopularwithdogwalkers,bikers,andsomeofTelAviv’swealthiestandmostbeautifulwhostopoffatitscoffeekiosks.
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August6–ConversationwithAssafWeiss,CEOofUnistream,anEntrepreneurshipProgramforUnderservedStudentsInIsrael'sPeripheryCommunities
Unistream,apartneroftheJewishFederationofGreaterLosAngeles,bringsaboutsocialchangebyempoweringteensfromunderprivilegedcommunitiestobuildandruntheirownstartupsbecomingentrepreneursbyprovidingthemwithatransformative,three-yearprogramwheretheyacquirebusinessskills,developconKidenceandnetworksforthemtosucceedinlife.Over700teensfrom13centerscountrywideparticipateintheprogramannually.
UnistreamCEOAssafWeissservedasVicePresidentoftheAmericanJewishCongressinNewYorkwhereheworkedwithseniorU.S.governmentofKicials,senators,andotherelectedofKicialsonmatterssuchasinternationalgovernmentaffairs,anti-Semitism,andIsrael-USrelations.Priortothis,heheldthepositionofconsultanttotheformerHealthMinisterofIsraeland,onherbehalf,lednationalreform,completedcomplexlegislationandregulation,andcoordinatedgovernmentworkandtheLegislativeAffairsCommittee.WeisswasamemberoftheExecutiveCommittee
ofStudentsSupportingIsrael(SSI)atColombiaUniversityinNewYorkandhelpedleadthe
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struggleagainstAnti-Semitismandpromotedpro-IsraelactivitiesHehaspublishedsome30articlesinHebrewandEnglishinleadingpressinbothIsraelandtheUS.
In2001,whensocial-economicgapsinIsraelwereontherise,UnistreamwasestablishedbyRonyZarom,anIsraelibusinessman&entrepreneur.TheirgoalistochangethefaceofIsraelisocietyandtoprovideyouthfromresourcescarcecommunities,whoareexcludedfromthecircleofsuccessinCentralIsrael,theopportunitytorealizetheirpotential.TheJewishFederationofGreaterLosAngelesisaproudpartnerofUnistream.
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VIRTUALISRAELJULY7-12,2020WEEK6–GLOBALTHREATS
August11–GolanHeights/MountBenTal
Onour14th,andsecondtolastdaytouringIsraelvirtually,wewillbeatMountBenTalontheGolanHeightsoverlookingIsrael'sborderswithLebanonandSyria.FromthewesternGolan,itisonlyabout60miles--withoutmajorterrainobstacles--toHaifaandAcre,Israel'sindustrialheartland.TheGolan-risingfrom400to1700feetinthewesternsection-overlookstheHulahValley,Israel'srichestagriculturalarea.Inthehandsofafriendlyneighbor,theescarpmenthaslittlemilitaryimportance.Ifcontrolledbyahostilecountry,however,theGolanhasthepotentialtoagain
becomeastrategicnightmareforIsrael.From1948-67,whenSyriacontrolledtheGolanHeights,itusedtheareaasamilitarystrongholdfromwhichitstroopsrandomlysnipedatIsraeliciviliansintheHulahValleybelow.AftertheSix-DayWarbegan,theSyrianairforceattemptedtobomboilreKineriesinHaifa.WhileIsraelwasKightingintheSinaiandWestBank,SyrianartillerybombardedIsraeliforcesintheeasternGalilee,andarmoredunitsKiredonvillagesintheHulahValleybelowtheGolanHeights.OnJune9,1967,IsraelmovedagainstSyrianforcesontheGolan.Bylateafternoon,June10,Israelwasincompletecontroloftheplateau.OnDecember14,1981,theKnessetvotedtoannextheGolanHeights.ThestatuteextendedIsraelicivilianlawandadministrationtotheresidentsoftheGolan,replacingthemilitaryauthoritythathadruledtheareasince1967.MountBenTalcanbefoundinthemiddleoftheGolanHeights,towardstheSyrianborder.MountBenTalisoneofIsrael’sfavoritemountainpeakstovisit,partlyduetothegreatpanoramicviewsoftheGolanandevenSyria,butalsobecauseMountBentalwasthesiteof
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acourageousbattlefoughtduringIsrael'sYomKippurWarin1973.ItwasoneofthelargesttankbattleseverandwasmiraculouslywonbytheIsraelis.Today,torememberthebloodybattle,thevalleybelowthemountain,reachingtoMountHermon,iscalledtheValleyofTears.
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August12–Lt.Col.(Ret.)IDFSaritZehavi
LieutenantColonel(Res.)SaritZehaviservedfor15yearsinthemilitaryspecializinginintelligenceandisthefounderandCEOofAlma–anonproKitandanindependentresearchandeducationcenterspecializedinIsrael’ssecuritychallengesonitsnorthernborder.Sarithasbriefedhundredsofgroupsandforums,rangingfromUSSenators,Congressmen/womenandpoliticianstoseniorjournalistsandvisitingVIPgroupsinIsraelandoverseas.SaritscriptsnumerouspositionpapersandupdatesfocusingonLebanon,Syriaand
Israel’snationalsecuritychallenges.Sheservedfor15yearsintheIsraeliDefenseForces,specializinginMilitaryIntelligence.SaritholdsanM.A.inMiddleEastStudiesfromBen-GurionUniversity.ShewasproKiledintheDecember15,2019,editionofTabletas“Israel’sEyesintheNorth:TheWomanWhoWatchesHezbollah.”SaritZehaviandherhusbandYaronareraisingtheir5childrenintheWesternGalilee.
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