Newsletter 2008/9

SPECIAL FEATURES:

2008 New York Gala

CBI Reopens French Chapter

President Peres Bestows Yakir Awards Amb. Dan Kurtzer speaking at the AIEC New York Gala, 2008 (page 3) Executive Address

2008 Magshim Awards

The Canaanite Gate (1,850 B.C.E)

New Initiatives

IDF Tender for Environmental Studies

Gideon Patt honoring Zehava Dankner (page 7)

The Council’s "Use One The Council’s French Chapter Reopens Plastic Bag Less" Campaign In 2008, the Council for a Beautiful in Paris initiated a national campaign in central We are happy to announce the urban locations, aimed at minimizing reopening of the French chapter environmental damage caused by of the Council for a Beautiful Israel. overuse of plastic bags by industry and Mme. Vanessa Elia is the president. consumers. In Israel alone, two billion Israel's ambassador to France, Mr. plastic bags are given free of charge to Daniel Shek, will be hosting the the public each year. The life span of inauguration ceremony with a a plastic bag averages a mere twenty festive dinner at his Paris residence minutes, while disintegration takes Ilanit Levi displaying reusable and biodegradable bags at CBI's in March 2009. hundreds of years. main stand in Tel Aviv. 1 Dear Friends, 2008 marks a year of expansion at the Council for a Beautiful Israel. The Council has added educational programs as well as several physical projects, thus perpetuating the Council's mission.

In 2008, we enjoyed major media exposure, the likes of which we had not encountered in the past. CBI'S established competitions continue to attract hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life, and we have come up with new initiatives, such as environmental campaigns to abolish harmful waste. We also won a prestigious tender for environmental education programs to the Israel Defense Forces.

We deeply appreciate our warm welcome at the Gala Dinner in New York in September. We were encouraged by all those attending despite the bleak atmosphere in the city. It was a true demonstration of solidarity.

The Council continues to gain international strength. Our French chapter, which has reopened after an eighteen- year interval, is already active and we wish it much success. We are undergoing leadership changes in our U.K. branch, and these will be announced shortly. We trust our steadfast, devoted British Friends to continue their important support of the Council.

In 2009, the Council's parlor meetings in New York, will be hosted by Israel's Consul General, Mr. Assaf Shariv, with the participation of Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Professor Gabriella Shalev.

We wish to extend our appreciation to all our longstanding sponsors of the 2008 Album, which has again received very enthusiastic feedback. We believe they are all proud to be mentioned in what is now considered one of the most beautiful art books published in Israel. We promise to continue with ever-exciting themes in our next productions.

The Council is synonymous with leadership in community and national environmental care. Its activity is felt all over Israel, including areas under fire, like Sderot. Indeed, we can accomplish our work only with the backing you provide, and we thank you all for your steadfast, sincere commitment to the Council and its goals.

Sincerely,

Avraham Katz-Oz Gideon Patt CBI Chairman CBI President

2 Newsletter 2008/9 2008 New York Gala

The Council for a Beautiful Israel was represented by all its Dr. Dan Kurtzer, former U.S. executives at The American-Israel Environmental Council's ambassador to Israel and (AIEC) gala dinner at the Plaza Hotel, New York, in September now Visiting Professor in 2008. In spite of the financial crisis that had begun to affect Middle East Policy Studies at the atmosphere in the city, the AIEC managed to fill the Princeton University, delivered Plaza's ballroom with its longstanding, dedicated friends, as an enlightening keynote well as with new ones. The dinner was co-chaired by S. Daniel speech to an enchanted Abraham, Richard Hirsch and Mel Atlas. The heads of the Israeli audience. He recounted his personal experiences of the Council received an especially warm welcome. political map of the Middle East and of Israel’s position on it.

Israel's newly appointed ambassador to the United Nations, Gideon Patt, president of the Council for a Beautiful Israel, Professor Gabriella Shalev, and former U.S. ambassador to spoke on behalf of the Council, expressing its gratitude for the Israel, Dr. Dan Kurtzer, were speakers. AIEC President Sheila American Friends' continued support of current major projects, Kurtzer was mistress of ceremony. including the upcoming Center in and the parks in Kiryat Shmona and Be'er Sheva. The Council's 40 years of achievements for the benefit of the environment and of the people of Israel were commended by Professor Gabriella Shalev, who came straight from the From Left: Amb. Gabriella Shalev; Sheila and Amb. Dan Kurtzer (on right); opening ceremony of the UN General Assembly, where the Zita Rosenthal (second from left); Gideon Patt speaking at the Gala; CBI importance of joint global activity to protect the environment Executives with Amb. Dan Kutzer was stressed.

Newsletter 2008/9 3 Yakir Awards

The Council for a Beautiful Israel's highest honor, the Yakir Award, is presented by the President of Israel at the President's residence, to individuals for their outstanding vision, leadership, and continuous support for the goals of the Council.

David Lewis, CBE David Azrieli

The Council for a Beautiful Israel is proud to bestow the Yakir The Council for a Beautiful Israel is honoring David Azrieli with Award upon David Lewis, one of its main pillars of support in the Yakir Award as a tribute to his longstanding sponsorship of England. His steadfast backing has been instrumental in the its mission. He initiated and continues to sponsor the Council’s success of the Council's ventures. annual Azrieli Prize for Urban Planning, designed to encourage architects and urban planners to develop creative, innovative The Lewis' family company is one of the most significant urban projects appropriate for Israeli society, environment, and private companies in Britain. In 1995 David Lewis received the culture. title of CBE, Commander of the British Empire, from Queen Elizabeth II of England. David Azrieli, a noted architect and entrepreneur in Israel and Canada, is the recipient of the Order of Canada, the country's David Lewis’ involvement with Israel began in 1973, highest civilian honor. He is a Knight of the National Order of immediately after the Yom Kippur War, when he and his family Quebec, one of the most prestigious honors of that province. established the Lewis National Rehabilitation Institute to help wounded IDF soldiers. David Azrieli's contribution to Israel is exemplified by his establishment of the first covered suburban shopping mall in In 1980, Gideon Patt, then Minister of Tourism, persuaded the country, an idea that inspired many other entrepreneurs. David Lewis to invest in Israel. He responded by founding He is also famous for the Azrieli Center's skyscraper trio, which Isrotel, a 5-star hotel chain, in Eilat, transforming the city into has transformed the Tel Aviv skyline. an international tourist attraction.

4 Newsletter 2008/9 2008/9 Magshim Awards

The Council for a Beautiful Israel’s annual Magshim Awards, presented at the same time as the Yakir Awards at the President's Residence, are bestowed on public and private institutes, non-profit organizations, and individuals for outstanding contributions to the quality of urban life and environment in Israel, in the form of ecological projects, public gardening, urban planning, and other aesthetic environmental improvements.

Sculptor Dani Karavan The City of Netanya

The Council for a Beautiful Israel is proud to present the The 2008 Magshim award was awarded to the city of Netanya for Magshim Award to Israeli sculptor Dani Karavan for his lifelong its outstanding contribution to urban landscape development. contribution to public and environmental beauty. Its cultivated shore line, promenades, and parks, as well as its quality residential projects have made Netanya a jewel tourist Dani Karavan is renowned town, with artistic creations exhibited throughout. worldwide for his art, exemplifying Israeli scenery. He has created numerous environmental sculptures both in Israel and abroad, and his prizewinning creations are exhibited in the most important galleries around the globe.

The Bedouin Village of Drijat The International Birding & he Magshim Award for itsא The village of Drijat received unprecedented initiative: the installation of a multipurpose Research Center in Eilat solar electricity system, providing power to the entire village. The Center received the 2008 Magshim Award for its innovative Drijat, founded in 1860 and formally recognized in 2004, is ecological activity and educational environmental enterprises. located northeast of Be'er Sheva. The village has 900 residents, Located north of among them many professionals in the fields of medicine, Eilat on recycled law, education, pharmacy and tourism – an example for a land, it serves as a prosperous Bedouin village. “refueling” station for migrant birds, enabling them to complete their seasonal journeys. In addition, it annually provides special education to some 60,000 children with behavioral and concentration problems. Many of these children improve and can eventually join the army.

Newsletter 2008/9 5 New Initiatives

CBI Initiates "Environmental Treaty"

Prior to Israel’s municipal elections, in November 2008, the Council for a Beautiful Israel and the Union of Local Authorities in Israel collaborated, for the first time ever, in formulating a “Contract with the Environment”, committing prospective local authority leaders to safeguard and improve the environment and the quality of life of their constituents.

The treaty is designed to actualize the right of every person to live in a healthy, beautiful environment. It places the quality of life at the center of public urban activity, emphasizing the need to foster open spaces. above: The Minister of the Interior Meir The Council and the Union of Local Shitrit, mayors, and members at the Authorities in Israel will jointly launching ceremony in September 2008. monitor the implementation of

the commitments made by the The signing of the treaty in Haifa. candidates elected.

CBI Creates a Huge Chessboard in Jerusalem

A joint CBI-Jerusalem Municipality initiative was inaugurated in Jerusalem’s , where the Municipality of Jerusalem stands, in July 2008: a giant, black-and-white marble, public chessboard with the appropriate pieces.

The chessboard, operated daily by the Safra Square Administration, has already become an attraction for residents and visitors.

Uri Lupolianski, former , assisting a child in an open game.

6 Newsletter 2008/9 Zehava Dankner Retires after 40 Years at CBI The Council for a Beautiful Israel held a festive lunch in September in tribute to Zehava Dankner upon her retirement. For 40 years, Zehava was the Council's foremost volunteer, as a member of the Council’s executive board and as chairperson of the Women's Events Committee. She will now devote herself to the needy in the town of Sderot, where she volunteers twice a week.

Mrs. Aura Herzog, founder of the Council From left: Gideon Patt, Aura Herzog, Zehava Dankner, Avraham Katz-Oz. and Honorary President, praised Zehava's steadfast dedication and contribution. Zehava's "stamp" was felt in everything she took on, starting with the Council's first campaigns to promote anti-litter awareness New Horticultural Unit among youth and the public at large. The Horticultural Unit in the Oz Special Education School in Subsequently, she energetically supported Holon, was funded by The Women's Division of the Council for green projects, the highlight being the a Beautiful Israel. wildflower planting campaign on the fiftieth anniversary of the State of Israel. By initiating successful theater evenings, Zehava raised the necessary funds for creating horticultural therapy units and gardens for various sectors, including young handicapped children and wounded, traumatized IDF soldiers.

Zehava thanked the Council, her old and new colleagues and, in particular, Mrs. Herzog, who granted her the wonderful opportunity to lead a challenging and gratifying life. Annual Theater Evening

The Events Committee's annual theater evening was a great success. Despite the war in the south, the Haaretz Museum theater was packed to capacity.

The proceeds of the evening, featuring the Beit Lessin musical production, “Broadway, Corner of Frishman”, will go toward creating a new horticultural therapy project during 2009.

Our special thanks to Ilana Haas, Rubina Horowitz, and Lea Shani, who masterminded the event. Chairman Avraham Katz Oz presenting Zehava Dankner with a trophy Newsletter 2008/9 7 EDUCATION

CBI Wins IDF Tender for Mayor David Buskila (left) and CBI Environmental Studies representatives The Council for a Beautiful Israel won the important Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tender for environmental studies. CBI's CBI Collaborates With Sderot pedagogical department has adapted the study program to suit IDF issues, in particular the use of non-degradable The Council is collaborating with Sderot by products, pollution, and waste management. Courses will be incorporating the Council's environmental study held at the Center for Environmental Studies in Tel Aviv and at programs into its school curricula. Mayor David Buskila IDF bases. promoted this initiative by personally participating in a week-long Clean City project. He is committed to turning Sderot's "Color Red" (alarm code of incoming rockets) to green, by encouraging a green, calm atmosphere. In addition to running CBI's programs in class, students are bused to the CBI's Be'er Sheva educational center for hands-on practice.

NATIONAL COMPETITION UMI Competition In Environmen- CBI's Clean Energy Program tal Research 2008 marks the 14th year of this important competition in Presented at European Conference environmental research supported by United Motors Industry of Israel. Our pedagogical director, Ms. Haya Yogev, presented the Council’s “clean energy” study program at a three-day Greek- 500 papers were submitted, an impressive increase from last Israeli Athens Conference on "Sustainable Energies and year. It was especially difficult to choose the winners this Business Opportunities.” It aroused much interest among the year, as many works were impressive. This year's works dealt 120 Greek and Israeli participants – developers, producers, with important investors, and promoters of clean energy systems – and has current issues already led to negotiations for joint projects. such as global warming, cellular phone antennas, waste and water management.

8 Newsletter 2008/9 BRANCHES Jerusalem

Kfar Sava Young children stole the show by sitting down and creating paintings featuring recycling and Holon re-use next to CBI's stand at the City Mall. Beautifying a Community Center Shoham The Council’s branch manager in Holon, The Jerusalem branch initiated a fair at himself a professional painter, organized Pisgat Zeev School of Technology. The local scouts and volunteers to paint theme was From Hand to Hand – an pictures on the main walls of the Lazarus exchange of clothes, toys, stationery and Community Center. The result – bright, items for re-use. A welcome initiative, jolly images of animals, dancers and the illustrating one way of reducing the like – a feast for the eyes. volume of waste.

CBI's Shoham branch was a major parti- cipant in the Knesset's plastic ecological garden, created with painted plastic bottles.

CBI's Tu Bishvat Seder

The Council for a Beautiful Israel, the Jewish National Fund, and the Tel Aviv Municipality held a joint Tu Bishvat Seder at the Council noting the festival’s origins and commending the city’s open areas and their importance for residents.

left: Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai heading the Seder

Newsletter 2008/9 9 National Competitions

2008 was the 28th year the Council for a Beautiful Israel held its six annual national competitions, which are an especially important fund-raising tool. Despite the hard times, the number of competitors increased significantly, a heartwarming testimony to the public’s growing response to the Council's environmental endeavors. A new competition in 2009, “Beautiful Rural Education in a Beautiful Israel”, will be chaired by Mrs. Rachel Rabin- Yaacov, sister of the late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. The competition will be held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Administration for Rural Education & Youth Aliyah and its Residential Education & Guidance Department.

Tourism Minister , Minister of the Interior Meir Shitrit presenting Minister of Industry, , presenting CBI's presenting the highest award to Miki Poleg, CBI's 5-star Award to the Mayor of Ra'anana, Beauty Flag to Tefen Industrial Park's founder Steff General Manager of Isrotel-Tel Aviv. Nahum Hofree. Wertheimer and General Manager Arie Dahan. Beautiful Hotel The Well-Tended City Beautiful Industry

This year, the “Beautiful Hotel in a In 2008, the “Beautiful City in a Beautiful “Beautiful Industry in a Beautiful Israel” Beautiful Israel” competition was Israel” competition, under the was our first competition, inaugurated held as part of the conference of auspices of the Ministry of the Interior, in 1980. Hundreds of plants and the Israel Hotel Association. Tourism celebrated its fifteenth year with industries parks have continued to Minister Ruhama Avraham, Israel Hotel almost 150 participating locales. The participate since then. Mr. Eli Yishai, Association President Eli Gonen, and competition’s date was no coincidence: Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, former tourism ministers drank a toast two months before the municipal which sponsors this competition, to the New Year together with the elections, simultaneously with two new delivered an encouraging address. Council's leadership. Council initiatives, the “Clean Elections” Mr. Stef Wertheimer’s invigorating campaign and the “Contract with speech emphasized the importance This relatively new competition, in its the Environment” treaty, committing of investing in the environment. third year, shows impressive growth, candidates to environmental activism. with the number of participants increasing by 20% in 2008. This year The success of this competition can special emphasis was placed on be seen at the entrances to cities, local contribution to the community. The councils, and regional councils, in parks "Isrotel" and "Fatal" hotel chains were and “green lungs”, in the prevention commended in this category. of environmental hazards, and in the continuous improvement of the citizens' quality of life.

10 Newsletter 2008/9 Prof. Dan Tzivoni presenting the Beauty Mrs. Ziva Lahat (left) presented the Beauty IDF Chief of Staff presenting the first-place Flag to Dr. Dror Wasserman, General Manager Flag to Amidar-Zafed Residence General award to Air Force representative of "Bait Balev" (House in the Heart) Manager Mr. Yaacov Brosh. Beautiful Hospital Beautiful Senior Beautiful Army Camps

Minister of Health, Yaakov Ben-Yizri, Citizens Residence We salute the Israel Defense Forces, congratulated the competition on which, despite military operations A festive ceremony marked the fifth its “Bar Mitzvah”. Its effectivness is during 2008, continued to play an “Beautiful Senior Citizens Residence exemplified in improved outdoor and active role in vying for prizes in the in a Beautiful Israel” competition over indoor conditions, and by hospital “Beautiful Army Camps in a Beautiful 50 residences. Director General of the staff being personally involved in Israel” competition. Welfare and Social Services Ministry, the process. Competition chairman Mr. Nahum Itzkovitz, and senior Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi Prof. Dan Tzivoni praised the Council’s officials praised the Council for its complimented the Council on its welcome influence on the health achievements in this category. competition. He promised to increase system, promising to do his utmost to investment in environmental education get more hospitals involved next year. within the armed forces.

From left: Beautiful Haifa Scenery; Hogla-Kimberly Plant; Beautiful Eilat Hotels(top); Maalot-Tarshiha new Lake Park (bottom); Ramat Gan's new skyline

Newsletter 2008/9 11 Chairman Avraham Katz Oz and President Gideon Patt near The Canaanite Gate stone

Archeological Project

The Canaanite Gate (1860 B.C.E.)

The reconstructed Canaanite gate in Ashkelon's National Park was inaugurated on June 18, 2008, after three years of joint conservation work by the Council for a Beautiful Israel and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Being the world’s oldest arched gate, it was a cause for celebration for ISRAEL everyone interested in archaeology and the history of the Land of Israel. CBI Headquarters The project was implemented thanks to the support of one of the Council’s Hayarkon Park steadfast donors, Mr. Leonard Wolfson of the U.K. 80 Rokach Blvd., POB 53235 Tel Aviv 61532 The site was excavated by Professor Larry Stager of Harvard University, who Tel: 972-3-642 -3111 also addressed the ceremony. Fax: 972-3-643-8554 The participants packing the square around the gate were served Levantine Email: [email protected] delicacies in a Bedouin tent, in the spirit of the Canaanite period, and the www.israel-yafa.org.il background harp music added to the historic atmosphere. USA American-Israel Environmental Council/CBI 2008 Album Does it Again c/o Linda Lese 411 East 53rd Street, Suite 14H The international album project’s New York, NY 10022 twenty-eighth year will be Tel: 1-212-935-1840 remembered for its 2008 issue, Fax: 1-212-421-421-1530 “100 Years of Israeli Landscape Fed. Id # 23-7379946 Painting”. The album pays homage to Israel's foremost painters of FRANCE the past century. It has received Association"Beautiful Israel enthusiastic reactions in Israel (France)" and abroad, including in c/o Mme Vanessa Elia professional reviews. 54 Rue Bassano 75008 Paris Tel: +33 6 72 81 86 59 [email protected] 12 Newsletter 2008/9