AJC and IsraAID help earthquake and tsunami stricken Indonesia
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is partnering with IsraAID, the Israeli humanitarian relief organization, to provide urgent emergency assistance to Indonesia, where a devastating 7.5-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami struck near the island of Sulawesi. In Indonesia, with AJC assistance, IsraAID is providing essential relief, including water, food, and hygiene items, as well as psychosocial trauma support.
“Consistent with our Jewish values to assist those in need, we are pleased to join with IsraAID in delivering much needed humanitarian relief during this crisis,” said Shira Loewenberg, Director of AJC’s Asia Pacific Institute. “Especially in times of need, gestures of assistance such as this one by IsraAid are meaningful to thousands of individuals who are suffering the effects of the earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi.”
Aiding Indonesia is the latest in a long series of cooperative arrangements between AJC and IsraAID to help alleviate humanitarian crises and disasters around the world. — From American Jewish Committee
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Germany’s Chancellor Merkel honored at University of Haifa
The University of Haifa on Thursday presented an honorary doctorate to German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to Israel. The honor was awarded to Chancellor Merkel for her inspirational leadership in the European and global arenas, fostering tolerance and striving for peace within Germany and around the world. Also present at the ceremony was Israel’s Minister of Education Naftali Bennett, former German Minister of Finance, Professor Manfred Lahnstein and Chair of the Azrieli Foundation Israel, Ms. Dana Azrieli.
As part of the award ceremony, which took place at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, Merkel met with a diverse group of graduate students from the University of Haifa, including German students studying at the University. “The conflict between Iran and Israel has become even more acute because of Syria, so it is very good that Russia has taken care of an Iranian withdrawal from the Israeli border,” Merkel stated. “The question is whether the agreement with Iran is the right way to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons or that it is too weak. This is part of our ongoing discussion with Netanyahu.”
Merkel was also asked about the reports that she threatened to cancel the visit because of the evacuation of the illegal village of Khan al-Ahmar: “It’s absolutely not true. It’s an Israeli decision and it has nothing to do with our meeting. Reports of this were fake news, it is an internal Israeli matter and we do not interfere in it, even if I might have criticism.”
President of the University of Haifa, Prof. Ron Robin addressed the audience and honored Chancellor Merkel stating, “the Western World is under attack, not by some sudden, violent use of conventional armed force, but by a slow, non-military war on our institutions, in particular on our parliamentary systems, and on the free flow of information. Yet, despite such missteps, universities remain the most robust stronghold of verifiable knowledge and the most important institutional antidote to a post-truth environment. At this critical junction in history, we clearly see the need to bring together the most proficient researchers in the university, to address the key threats to democracy in the information age: the loss of privacy, the blurring borderlines between computers and human beings and the fight against half-truths, fallacies, conspiracy theories and straight-up fake news. Chancellor Merkel is an exemplary example of the correct conduct against these dangers and it is a great privilege to confer upon her an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Haifa.” — From the University of Haifa
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Israel Women’s Network E.D. honored by Hadassah for service to the Jewish people
The Hadassah Foundation has awarded the 2018 Bernice S. Tannenbaum Prize to Michal Gera Margaliot, Executive Director of the Israel Women’s Network (IWN) in Tel Aviv. The Bernice S. Tannenbaum Prize recognizes emerging professionals who have made innovative contributions to advance the status of women and girls in Israel and the United States. Awardees demonstrate a high degree of talent, commitment, and accomplishment in their work. The prize honors Bernice S. Tannenbaum, z’’l, for her lifetime of service to the Jewish People; the State of Israel; and Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America.
Margaliot was awarded the prize for her work with IWN, where, as executive director since 2016, she has significantly increased the organization’s media presence and influenced public debate about the status of women in Israeli society. Under her leadership, the IWN has established a network for the different feminist groups in Israel, forged numerous partnerships with governmental agencies, created a hotline that provides legal aid to ultra-Orthodox working women, and advocated for feminist employment policies and practices.
Earlier in her career, Margaliot was the parliamentary advisor to Knesset Member Merav Michaeli, and served as her chief of staff when Michaeli was the opposition whip. This experience, along with her LL.B and LL.M from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, has enabled her to expand IWN’s advancement of policy and legislation in the Knesset and in government ministries.
The Prize provides $500 in general operating support to the IWN, as well as $2,500 to further Margaliot’s professional development. Margaliot will use her Prize to fund her communication skills to increase the visibility of the IWN and the status of Israeli women to a non-Israeli public and the English-speaking media. — From Hadassah Foundation
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New Israel Fund CEO decries Jewish violence against Arabs
Daniel Sokatch, executive director of the New Israel Fund, issued the following statement on Thursday:
“The past week has seen a series of attacks targeting Arabs in the Jerusalem area.
“On Sunday — on the eve of the holiday of Simchat Torah — several dozen Jewish rioters, coming out of prayers at the Kotel, threw chairs, tables, and rocks at Palestinian stores and restaurants near the Old City’s Damascus Gate. Five Palestinians were injured. A few days before, four Palestinian students were accosted at a park right next to Jerusalem’s popular German Colony neighborhood. One of them was allegedly tased and beaten until he lost consciousness. That same day, a Palestinian bus driver was assaulted in his bus in the settlement of Beitar Illit.
“These new attacks are part of a disturbing pattern. And they cannot be divorced from the choices that Israel’s leaders have made to pursue policies that stoke divisions, that empower racists, and that suggest that Arabs have no place in Israel. I’m appalled that no minister in Israel’s cabinet condemned these acts of violence to date.
“While those in power choose to remain silent, NIF organizations are taking action. On Tuesday, a delegation of Jewish Israelis, organized by the Tag Meir coalition, came to the home of the Zarib family in the Galilee. Two members of the family had been attacked by right-wing demonstrators last month.
“The visitors brought with them an olive tree and living proof that a better future — where every person in Israel can live and care for their family in safety and peace — is possible. Outreach to the victims of the more recent attacks, and to leaders in their community, is underway. One visit is already confirmed for next week.
“The person-to-person outreach that Tag Meir is doing here is just one part of the work we support that can create a better future for Israel — one where everybody has equal rights and where every person has the opportunity to thrive.”– From New Israel Fund
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Preceding items culled from news releases. Send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com