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The Council for a Beautiful Israel CBI's PRESIDENCY DEDICATION

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The Council for a Beautiful Israel CBI's PRESIDENCY DEDICATION The Council for a Beautiful Israel NEWS 2 0 0 6-7 Newsletter SPECIAL FEATURES: The Dedication Ceremony of the Aura Herzog Center for CBI’S PRESIDENCY Environmental Studies 2007President Clinton at Gala Dinner in New York handoverGideon Patt is succeeding Mrs. Aura Herzog as CBI Chairman’s Address President of the Council for a Beautiful Israel, and will New CBI President’s Address be overseeing our international activities. Mrs. Herzog A Message from the General who has retired from CBI activities is now Honorary Manager Aura Herzog handing over President. Mr. Patt, a well-known political and public CBI Inaugurates Center in Beer Sheva the Presidency to Gideon Patt. figure, Member of Knesset for 28 years, served twice Personal Story at Kennedy Leigh as Minister of Tourism and of Commerce and Industry. Horticultural Therapy Unit After leaving government service, he was Chairman First CBI Branch in the Arab Sector of Israel Bonds in New York for 5 years, and worked CBI and the Orthodox community closely with prominent American Jewish leaders. He is inaugurate joint projects now acting special advisor to the Prime Minister. CBI deepens involvement with the Kibbutz sector We welcome Mr. Patt and thank him for volunteering for this demanding role. PRESIDENT CLINTON ADDRESSES NEW YORK GALA President William Jefferson Clinton was the keynote speaker at The American Friends’ DEDICATION prestigious Gala Dinner in New York . More than 300 top representatives of OF THE AURA HERZOG the business community, Israel’s Ambas- CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL sador to the UN, Israel’s Consul General STUDIES in the U.S. and longtime friends of the Council attended the event at the Waldorf At a festive ceremony on September 10, CBI’s Center Astoria Hotel. Also attending were family for Environmental Studies was dedicated in the name of members and friends of CBI’s Honorary Aura Herzog upon her retirement from CBI. President, Mrs. Aura Herzog. Mr. S. Daniel From left: Avraham Katz-Oz, Abraham and Mr. Leon D. Black were the Close to 500 past and present government ministers, Aura Herzog, Gideon Patt, Gala’s honorary chairpersons. Record Eshel Segal. mayors of major cities, longtime friends and supporters high pledges were made to support the came to salute the former first lady for her lifetime Council’s ongoing and future commit- mission – The Council for a Beautiful Israel. ments. The American Friends’ President, (continued on p.4) Mrs. Sheila Kurtzer, wife of former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, was Mistress of Ceremony. Newsletter | 1 (continued on p.4) CBI OPENS NEGEV CENTER IN BE’ER SHEVA Second CBI Center Minister of Educationi Yuli Tamir attended the inauguration of the friends, Council’s new Center for Environmental Studies at Beit Yatziv, the cultural Dear and educational complex in Be’er Sheva, The Center was established with D Last year was very trying for us all, in all aspects of the help of The Sacta Rashi Foundation. Study programs were adapted life. The war in Lebanon intensified the realization to include special topics suited for the southern part of Israel. The Center of how important peace in the area is. May we all witness it soon! is already frequented by many thousands of pupils, and is playing an important part in the curricula of many schools in Be’er Sheva and its Mrs. Herzog’s retirement left a big void at the periphery. Council. Fortunately, we have a new promising President, Mr. Gideon Patt, who has already made Minister Tamir told an audience of distinguished guests, including the several visits to New York and is conducting ongo- Mayor of Be’er Sheva, representatives of The Sacta Rashi Foundation ing fruitful dialogues with our American friends. We and senior educators from the Ministry of Education, of her genuine are blessed with a new dynamic General Manager, Mr. Eshel Segal, and together we have formulated enthusiasm about what she saw at the Center. a number of exciting initiatives. The new Center also opened its doors to children of the Negev, offering We are focusing this year on establishing two new them a free day of fun and study activities, focusing primarily on towns educational centers, in Jerusalem and in Carmiel. adjacent to the Gaza Strip, like Sderot. We are promoting new projects in the North and trying to add horticultural therapy units and gar- dens not only at hospitals and rehabilitation cen- ters, but also at senior citizens’ residences and kibbutzim, for the benefit of the growing number of trauma victims in the civilian population. Fundraising campaigns for the implementation of these projects will be launched soon, primarily but not exclusively in New York. We are sure that our devoted friends will help us make these projects a reality! > Thank you all for your confidence and generous CBI Center in support. Beit Yatziv. > Minister of Education Yuli Tamir Avraham Katz Oz speaking at the CBI Chairman of the Board inauguration of the new CBI center in Be’er Sheva, Newsletter | 2 June 2006. DEAR FRIENDS, 2006 was my first year as General Manag- ENVIRONMENT friends, er of our respected Council for a Beautiful MINISTRY Dear Israel. It was a very challenging and espe- AUTHORIZES CBI When Aura Herzog, CBI’s Honorary Presi- cially interesting year, in which we experi- dent, approached me to succeed her as enced changes in the executive manage- TO APPOINT ITS President of The Council for a Beautiful ment. The new Chairman and President Israel, I felt privileged, but hesitated to have brought new ideas and a refreshing NATIONAL step into her big shoes. I have since em- dynamic momentum. braced the opportunity of rejoining my “CLEANUP TRUSTEES” During 2007 we will lead important ven- longtime colleagues in Israel and abroad, tures in traditional environmental areas and enthusiastically share my experience AN IMPORTANT RECOGNITION and develop new activities in order to draw and expertise in two ministerilal posts OF OUR COUNCIL BY THE increased numbers of the Israeli public to over 18 years, member of the Knesset for ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY 28 years, and as Chairman of the Israel our cause – inculcating the concepts of The successful “Clean Elections” Bonds in New York. I am blessed with a beautification and aesthetics in all sectors campaign conducted by the Council in dynamic team of leaders and volunteers, of our population. who are working diligently to perpetuate cooperation with the Israel Elections Naturally, education will continue to be CBI’s achievements, gained through wise Committee and the media last year, our main focus; we believe it is the core of stewardship for the last four decades. prompted the Ministry’s decision that our existence and the most effective way CBI be authorized to appoint its special to make our influence felt. We pride our- Your “pledge of allegiance” to the CBI “Cleanup Trustees” nationwide. CBI family is especially important nowadays, selves in many achievements in this area is the only body outside the Ministry when Israel is facing the most serious and are determined to further it this year, of the Environment in that capacity. threat to her existence since the Six Day building a very strong basis for increasing Our 12 branch managers have already War. During my recent visit to New York, public awareness of our important contri- participated in a special course run by the I have personally witnessed our friends’ butions. genuine commitment. I believe in your Ministry and are fully qualified to appoint continued and deepening partnership to We plan to expand our membership both the trustees from among CBI’s devoted help us keep Israel as beautiful as God in Israel and abroad; we are collaborating volunteers to help enforce the Ministry’s entrusted it to us to hold and cherish. with the financial sector, which we expect regulations to keep public areas clean. will help us increase our fund-raising, CBI volunteers already participated in I appreciate your endorsement of our ini- alongside our overseas activities. We are several beach and forest cleanup days as tiatives. Thank you! also initiating in-depth media exposure of enforcement teams. our activities. All this will enable us imple- ment our new initiatives. Thank you all for your continued encour- Gideon Patt agement and help. CBI President Eshel Segal General Manager Newsletter | 3 AURA HERZOG DEDICATION CEREMONY PRESIDENT CLINTON continued from page 1 ADDRESSES NEW YORK GALA continued fromGala page 1 E Dan Kurtzer (former U.S. Ambassador to Israel) President Clinton, Sheila Kurtzer, President of The American Friends and Zita Rosenthal, of the American Aura Herzog – CBI Honorary President. Friends and Aura Herzog. Isaac Herzog, Minister of Tourism Aura Herzog, Shimon Peres, Deputy Prime Minister. Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres headed the list of speakers at the beautiful outdoor ceremony. He praised Mrs. Herzog for her vision and initiatives in furthering environmental education and in putting the conservation and beautification of Israel on the national agenda. Mrs. Herzog’s son, Minister of Tourism Isaac Herzog shared with the audience personal President Clinton delivered a warm speech, praising the Council’s aspects of his mother Aura’s tireless work, contribution to the protection of the environment. NGOs like CBI, he in which the entire family takes great pride. explained, are the only bodies that can fill gaps in government resources. Mrs. Sheila Kurtzer, President of the American He paid special tribute to Mrs. Aura Herzog for her unique vision and Friends, came from New York and declared achievements, inculcating environmental awareness in youth and adults, continued commitment to the Council for a and working tirelessly for forty years to promote the conservation of Beautiful Israel’s goals. Israel’s natural treasures.
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