Telfed's holds Yakir Zion award ceremony
As part of Telfed's Diamond Anniversary celebrations and alongside Israel's 60th anniversary, Telfed initiated a Yakir Zion award ceremony to honor 27 persons for their outstanding to Zionist activities.
The categories in which all were chosen ranged from strengthening the Israel-Disapora Dialogue, Furthering the Zionist Identiy and Enhancing Social Awareness.
The event, held at Beth Hatefutsoth in Tel Aviv, drew a crowd of over 300 people and included guest of honor Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency Mr Zeev Bielski who gave a heart-warming speech about his strong connection to Telfed and the Southern African community since his days as a young shaliach. Bielski also recalled his term as Mayor of Raanana and the large constituency of Southern Africans that helped to elect him.
Telfed Chairman Maish Isaacson welcome the guests and honorees and expressed his feelings of privledge at being currently at the helm of an organisation which had existed since the creation of the State of Israel. Telfed, he said, would continue to help Southern Africans successfully absorb into the country and he referred to the 27 honorees as examples of how Southen Africans had excelled in many fields.
Telfed Director Sid Shapiro spoke of the organisation's wide-ranging activities and the need for continued support from the community during a time of increased aliyah from Southern Africa on the one hand and depleted budgets on the other.
Each of the honorees was called up to the stage and given a specially framed certificate of the Yakir Zion award by Bielski and Isaacson.
Masters of Ceremony Pinhas Melchior and Lisa Brink kept the evening flowing on stage including a few improvised songs by Telfed staff member Pinhas.
The audience was entertained by interludes of excellent piano by an oleh from Russia.
Mr Harry Hurwitz, Chairman of the Menachem Begin Heritage Centre and one of the honorees, spoke on behalf of his fellow beneficiaries of the award. He praised Telfed for its ongoing work and expressed his hope that with signs that the Southern African Jewish Community were "on the move" - that Israel would be their preferred destination. He urged all concerned to do their utmost to encourage Southern Africans to consider the opportunities in Israel which, he said, "have never been better".
Event organiser Ms Cecile Rechtman, Chairperson, Telfed National Events Committee thanked the staff and members of her committee and all the sponsors for all the work they put into preparing what turned out to be a highly successful evening.
To see a picture album of the awards - click here.
To read an online PDF version (this file is 6mb - be patient) of the brochure with profiles and pictures of each of the honorees - click here