Ma’agalim focuses on education’s latest challenges
Leading educators, business leaders and elected officials gathered at a virtual conference Wednesday to discuss issues that concern today’s youth and influence their lives.
The conference, “Education in a Changing Reality,” was sponsored by Ma’agalim, a national educational nonprofit organization that empowers 11th- and 12th-grade at-risk youth from Israel’s geographical and social peripheries and helps them undergo a process of personal growth.
The conference focused on several perennially important topics which have assumed even greater importance over the past year, including the impact that socioeconomic background has as a predictor of future success, how the easing of regulations for drug use affects teens, and whether a matriculation certificate is necessary for all students.
President Reuven Rivlin opened the conference, saying: “We will need to work very hard for many years to bridge this missing year of education and heal the gaps and damage that has been done to our resilience.”
Rivlin praised Ma’agalim as an organization that recognizes the importance of bridging gaps, provides resources for all Israeli youth, helps them complete their high school education and embark on meaningful army service.
Interviews with leading personalities – including Miriam Peretz, Education Minister Yoav Gallant, businessman Rami Levy, former education ministers Gideon Sa’ar and Rabbi Shai Piron, MK Yifat Shasha-Biton and Yamina head Naftali Bennett – were screened at the conference.
In addition, Ted Talk speeches were delivered by former justice minister Ayelet Shaked and former Education Ministry director-general Michal Cohen, now CEO of the Rashi Foundation.
Retorno CEO Rabbi Eitan Eckstein, Mechrim lhaim (“Addicted to Life”) CEO Tzur Raphael and Ma’agalim teens participated in a panel focusing on the impact of the legalization of drug use on youth.
Assaf Weiss, Ma’agalim CEO, said: “This conference has been a great success because, for the first time, instead of talking about the youth, we are talking to them. Instead of dealing with topics that seem important to us, we are dealing with what interests them. Instead of trying to adapt them to our education, we adapt education to their reality. This creates changes and influences youth.
“I hope that the issues discussed as well as the conclusions that came from the conference will help us all move forward, evolve and transform the formal and informal educational system.”
Yamina leader Naftali Bennett boasted at a campaign rally in Sderot on Wednesday night that it is still possible for him to become prime minister following Tuesday’s election.
“I want to update you that there have been very interesting developments that will enable the formation of a right-wing nationalist government that will be very different,” Bennett told the crowd, but he did not reveal how it would be possible.
Bennett warned that voting for the Likud, Yesh Atid, Yisrael Beytenu or New Hope would “lead to too much baseless hatred in a fifth, sixth and seventh election.”
He praised Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu for “contributing plenty” but added that “after 33 years, his link in the chain should be passed on to a new link, because it is a little rusty. The time has come.”
At a campaign rally in Rishon Lezion, Yair Lapid told activists that he is optimistic about the election.
“We can win this election,” he said. “We’re fighting for the 61st seat. These past two years will all come down to one seat. Whoever will be determined enough will get it. If we work smart, if we work hard, if we convince the undecideds, we can win this election.”
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz said at a rally in Ramat Hasharon: “We won’t be the largest party in the next Knesset,
but we will be the most influential.”
Meanwhile, the Central Elections Committee ruled late Tuesday that the Likud Party cannot use the slogan “Coming back to life,” which was originally used to encourage members of the public to get COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Achrayut Leumit (National Responsibility) movement, which petitioned the committee, said the slogan violated the prohibition of using “public assets,” be they tangible or intangible, for campaign purposes.
The Likud appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, which will hear the case on Thursday morning.
Eve Young report contributed to this
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James made an investment to join the ownership group of the Boston Red Sox, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.
James purchased an undisclosed amount of Fenway Sports Group shares, with the transaction reported on the same day the Boston Globe reported RedBird Capital Partners made a $750 million investment to join FSG.
Fenway Sports Group also is the parent company of Liverpool Football Club, the reigning champion of the English Premier League. James has owned two percent of the Liverpool club since 2011.
In addition to the Red Sox and Liverpool, Fenway Sports Group also owns Boston regional sports cable network NESN, as well as NASCAR’s Roush Fenway Racing and Fenway Sports Management.
James’s longtime friend and business partner Maverick Carter also became an investment partner in FSG on Tuesday.
RedBird Capital Partners reportedly will own an 11-percent stake in FSG, which has a value of approximately $7.35 billion, according to the Globe.
Principal owner John Henry will remain in control of FSG, while chairman Tom Werner remains the second-largest shareholder. RedBird Capital Partners now owns the third largest share with President Michael Gordon fourth.
According to Forbes, James is expected to make $95.4 million in salary and endorsements in 2021, with $31.4 million of that from his Lakers contract. He was supposed to make $39.2 million this season, but players’ salaries are being reduced as the NBA works through the COVID-19 pandemic.
James also is projected to surpass $1 billion in career earnings from salary and endorsements this year.
The only other athletes reported to have $1 billion in career earnings are Tiger Woods, Floyd Mayweather, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Lakers 137, Timberwolves 121
Meanwhile, on the court James recorded a second consecutive triple-double to reach 99 for his career, delivering Los Angeles a victory over visiting Minnesota.
James moved within one of becoming just the fifth in NBA history to reach 100. James and Montrezl Harrell led six Lakers in double figures with 25 points apiece, and James added 12 rebounds and 12 assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards paced the Timberwolves with matching game highs of 29 points.
Trail Blazers 125, Pelicans 124
Damian Lillard made two free throws with 1.2 seconds left to cap a season-best 50-point effort as Portland rallied from a 17-point, fourth-quarter deficit to post a dramatic home win over New Orleans.
Lillard, who also had 10 assists, was fouled by Eric Bledsoe before making both attempts. New Orleans’s Zion Williamson saw his short bank shot bounce off the rim as time expired.
The 50-point game was the 12th of Lillard’s career, tying him with LeBron James for seventh on the all-time list. The only players above them: Wilt Chamberlain (118), Michael Jordan (31), Kobe Bryant (25), James Harden (23), Elgin Baylor (23) and Rick Barry (14).
Gary Trent Jr. scored 22 points for Portland, and CJ McCollum scored 10 points in 26 minutes in his return from a fractured left foot that cost him 25 games.
Brandon Ingram scored 30 points, Williamson had 28 points and a career-best eight assists and Lonzo Ball contributed a careerbest 17 assists for the Pelicans.
Jazz 117, Celtics 109
Donovan Mitchell scored 21 points and Jordan
Clarkson added 20 off the bench to lead Utah to a victory at Boston.
Rudy Gobert had 16 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for the Jazz, who swept the season series against Boston. Mike Conley chipped in 17 points and five assists.
Jayson Tatum scored 29 points and Jaylen Brown added 28 to lead the Celtics. Daniel Theis had 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists while Robert Williams III chipped in 14 points and nine boards off the bench.
76ers 99, Knicks 96
Tobias Harris scored 30 points as host Philadelphia rallied past New York.
Seth Curry added 20 and Ben Simmons had 16 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for the Sixers, who won their sixth game in a row.
The Knicks’ Julius Randle compiled 19 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. Alec Burks added 19 points and RJ Barrett had 17.
The Sixers continued to play without injured All-Star Joel Embiid, who is recovering from a bone bruise on his left knee. (Reuters)