Bicom CEO steps down
V BICOM CEO James Sorene stepped down from the influential think tank last week after five years on the job.
His departure comes amid increased financial pressure on the organisation due to the coronavirus outbreak.
In a statement, Bicom thanked Mr Sorene for his “dedicated service”, adding that the organisation “depends heavily on philanthropic donations to operate, and the economic crisis caused by coronavirus has had an impact on our ability to fundraise, in line with the wider impact on all sectors.
“We have been reviewing our operations to ensure we will have a scale of team and activity that is sustainable and consistent with a lower level of income.”
Mr Sorene wrote on Twitter about his departure: “My deep fascination for all things Israel and Middle East-related meant I enjoyed every day in this job. I’m immensely proud of everything we have done.”
Mr Sorene was a key adviser to Nick Clegg during the former Liberal Democrat leader’s time as Deputy Prime Minister.
The former JSoc chair and BBYO education co-ordinator also spent six years in the press office at the Home Office, leading on counter-terror issues post9/11, before shifting to the Department for Health.
Stars of the hit Netflix drama Shtisel, all of whom are in lockdown, have recorded a Passover greeting. The cast of the drama, which deals with Israel’s strictly-Orthodox community, wished that everyone was staying “safe and healthy”, adding that “we are all in the same situation”. They said they hoped that their message would lift fans’ spirits. Producer Dikla Barkai said that filming of the third season had been
VThe Israeli Health Ministry announced last week it would produce anti-viral face masks of various shapes and sizes so that bearded men do not need to shave to wear them. Medical authorities had warned that facial hair undermined the effectiveness of the standard mask by opening up air pockets through which the virus could pass through.
VHadas Yaron, who plays Libbi Shtisel, in the clip
postponed until “June or July” but since this “is a very hot period in Israel” there were worries
Israeli travel blogger Ohad Navon’s latest adventure story may not be exactly what he had been hoping to upload. After six days of trekking through the Bolivian Amazon last month and having run out of food and water, Navon and two Israeli friends began to suspect that their guide might be lost. Without signal, there was little they could do but walk. After nine days, a rescue team found
Vabout actors “wearing false beards, sheitels, and heavy Chasidic clothing.” them and told them that Bolivia’s borders would be closing the following day because of the country’s coronavirus restrictions. After furious trekking, Ohad and his friends got back in Israel in time for Passover.