THE LOUNGE
1. IDF Friends
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces national board member and major supporter Haim Saban and his wife, Cheryl, donated NIS 30 million toward the construction of the FIDF Druse Soldiers Heritage Center in the Upper Galilee. At the groundbreaking ceremony last week, Sheikh Muwaffak Tarif, the spiritual leader of Israel’s Druse community, gave Saban the Druse community’s worthy citizens award.
2. Sushi kudos
Sushi chef Meidan Siboni, who frequently features at upper-class occasions, was invited to cook for Japanese Ambassador to Israel Koji Tomita at an event promoting Japanese cuisine in Israel. Siboni described the meeting as one of the most memorable in his career, after he received compliments on the taste and attractiveness of the handmade portions he made.
3. Angels by the dozen
The launch event for the start-up fund 12 Angels, the first risk-capital firm specifically designed for the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, was held on the roof of the Microsoft buildings in Herzliya. Haredi investors Moshe Friedman and Avraham Winegot established the venture, which has a target of $5 million, to help support seed start-ups in the haredi sector. Those who met on the roof included: Yoram Yaacovi, head of Microsoft Israel’s research and development department, Yossi Matias, Google’s vice president of engineering, Adi Soffer Teeni, general manager of Facebook Israel, Yifat Oron, CEO of LeumiTech, Chemi Peres, Yizhar Shai, Dov Moran, Guy Horowitz, Haim Shani, Yair Seroussi, Tzvika Limon, Aharon Aharon, and many others from the country’s hi-tech scene.
4. Getting Oriented
President and chairman of the board of directors of the Isrotel hotel chain Julian Lewis was in Israel for the opening of Jerusalem’s Orient Hotel. Isrotel CEO Lior Raviv and Orient general manager Amit Bahat welcomed the visitors who came to give their best wishes. Guests included Tourism Minister Yariv Levin; Rabbi of the Western Wall Shumel Rabinowitz; and president of the Israel Hotel Association Amir Hayek.
5. Legacy
Last week, the Golani reconnaissance company inaugurated its clubhouse and legacy corner, featuring exhibits memorializing the battles it took part in. The ceremony, held in the Shraga camp, next to Kibbutz Lohamei Hagetaot, was attended by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (an NCO in the recon unit); former Golani Brigade commanding officer Uri Sagi; writer Meir Shalev; police deputy inspector-general Asst.Ch. Zohar Dvir (who was also a commanding officer of Golani’s recon unit); Partner chairman Adam Chesnoff (who served in the unit and who financially contributed to build the clubhouse); and chairman of the Brigade 13 Association Col. Yoeli Or.