By Jacob Kamaras
DENVER — Israeli social entrepreneur Gidi Grinstein remembered his experiences with former Sha’ar HaNegev Mayor Ofir Libstein, who was killed while defending Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the October 7 Hamas attacks, in remarks at the Jewish National Fund-USA Global Conference for Israel in Denver on Friday.
This past January, Libstein invited Grinstein to San Diego’s longtime partner region in southern Israel. They drove along a bumpy road on the border with Gaza, and they envisioned peace-building humanitarian projects that could benefit Palestinians.
“Ofir was very proud of his turf,” he said, noting Sapir College near Sderot as well as local infrastructure supported by JNF-USA such as schools, parks, a high-tech center, and a pool for people with disabilities.
On their tour of Sha’ar HaNegev, “wherever we stopped, there was a sign with a blue-and-green box,” noted Grinstein, referring to JNF-USA’s iconic tzedakah box.
Grinstein is the founder of the Reut Group and also helped found Tikkun Olam Makers, a global nonprofit that aids the elderly, poor, and people with disabilities.
“I feel blessed by the legacy of Ofir,” he said.