THE LOUNGE
INSS
The Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)’s annual conference opened last Tuesday evening in Tel Aviv. Senior executives from the business, military and security sectors, politicians, and other guests attended the opening ceremony. Naturally, much of the discussion at the conference focused on the security-political-strategic debate connected to the “Deal of the Century,” presented by the Trump administration last week.
Another issue that aroused the guests’ interest at the conference touched on security challenges on Israel’s northern front, following the assassination of Qasem Soleimani. The hosts of the evening included Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin, head of the National Security
Research Institute; Frank Lowy, chairman of the Institute’s Executive Committee; Orly Hayardeni, deputy head of the Institute; Pini Cohen, chairman of the Israeli Board of Governors; and Brig. Gen. Udi Dekel, deputy head of the Institute. Attending the conference were Shmuel and Anat Harlap; Stanley Fischer, former vice-chairman of the Federal Reserve; Rony Hizkiyahu, Treasury accountant-general; Gadi Eizenkot, former IDF chief of staff.
Or Shalom
At the Trask Events complex at the Tel Aviv Port, an exciting gala was held to mark the 40th anniversary of Or Shalom, which helps at-risk children and youth who have been forced to leave home.
During the evening, Or Shalom Chair- woman Anat Ramati-Amusa presented Aliza Olmert, wife of former prime minister Ehud Olmert, with a special recognition award, for her dedication over many years to Or Shalom.
Several individuals who’d been helped in the past by the organization shared their personal stories with the audience. They spoke about the serious family crises that forced them to leave home, and their warm reception at Or Shalom, which ended on a path of strength, maturity and growth. There to offer support were the former PM, Sami and Tova Sagol, Alfred Akirov, MK Nir Barkat and his wife Beverly, Prof. Amnon Shashua, and Mordechai Algerabli.
Unistream
Last Thursday, El Al held a ceremony in its offices to mark the launching of a new partnership between the airline and Unistream, an Israel-based multi-year after school program aimed at imparting underprivileged teens with entrepreneurship and leadership skills. As part of the partnership, senior executives from El Al’s Computing and Digital division will volunteer to work with participants in Unistream’s Entrepreneurship Center in Or Yehuda. Together they will come up with innovative technological ventures related to aviation. Participating in the event were: Rony Zarom, chairman and co-founder of Unistream; Gonen Usishkin, El Al CEO; Asaf Weiss, Unistream CEO, and Shahar Markovich, chief Digital and Information officer at El Al.
Conservatory of Music
The Israel Conservatory of Music in Tel Aviv has dedicated two concerts in memory of former Supreme Court president, the late justice Meir Shamgar, as a tribute to his support for Israeli jazz and the conservatory over the years. At the concerts, which received enthusiastic reactions from the large crowd, the Conservatory’s Big Band Orchestra hosted veteran Israeli jazz musicians. Shamgar’s widow, Michal Rubinstein-Shamgar, gave an emotional speech before the concert.
Gesher Theater
Last week, the Gesher Theater in Jaffa held a premiere for the new show The Itinerants. The premiere was held in memory of the theater’s chairman, Attorney Eli Zohar, who passed away last month.
Welcoming the guests were Zohar’s family, including his wife, Nili, and his children – Guy, Dana, and Itai – together with their spouses; chairman of the Friends of the Gesher Theater Association Israel Makov, Ruthie Halpern, director of the Friends Association; and Lena Kreindlin, director of the Theater.
The premiere opened with an exciting video that featured select sections on Zohar and his work, which expressed the warm connection and dedication that Zohar had developed with Gesher Theater.