Our Brightest Stars

Home , Avi Dichter, Ayelet Shaked, Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Benzion Netanyahu, David Barnea

OUR BRIGHTEST STARS

BRIDGING THE GAPS

or conditional connection to Israel. in the world (a tiny fraction of the BETWEEN ISRAEL The remaining 20% are Orthodox, global population of 7.8 billion) and live a deep, daily connection to – some 6.8 million in Israel, 6.1 Israel. It is only through rebuilding million in the US and Canada and AND THE DIASPORA the connection of the Diaspora to the rest elsewhere. Wherever they Israel, and Israel to the Diaspora are, Jews appear to punch above ho are the most as Israel faces a series of serious that both will sustain one another. their weight. Of more than 900 influential Jews on challenges – from beating coro- Rebuilding this relationship is a people receiving the Nobel Prize the planet? Every na to reviving the economy, from key focus of mine over the next few since 1901, at least 20% have been year, The Jerusalem confronting its enemies to making years.” Jews. W Post seeks to an- peace with its neighbors and from The challenge was described in As we enter the year 5782, we can swer that question for its special advancing national unity to boost- another way by Amira Ahronoviz, bask in pride over Jewish achieve- Rosh Hashanah magazine – and ing ties with the Diaspora – the the first woman to serve as CEO of ments in Israel and the Diaspora, every year we endeavor to put new Bennett-Lapid government is ush- the Jewish Agency for Israel. and applaud our brightest stars who names in a variety of fields on the ering the Jewish state into a new “With the establishment of shine while making significant list while acknowledging that era. Israel, the prevailing paradigm was contributions to our world. certain people are worthy of being As we were preparing this year’s that all Jews would gather in one May this be the year in which we included year after year. We also list, comments from one of our place, the State of Israel. Today we learn to reach out to each other for seek to balance personalities from top 10 – World Jewish Congress understand that there are two big the benefit of all. Let’s not forget Israel and the Diaspora, men and President Ronald S. Lauder – centers of almost the same size, that of necessity, a bridge needs women, and professions across the struck me as particularly relevant. one in Israel and one in North to have two sides. If it ends in the spectrum. Asked how he sees the relation- America, which are developing in middle, it collapses. So it is with This year, we have a powerful ship between Israel and Diaspora different directions and conduct- Israel and the Diaspora – which is pair in the top spot. As Israel’s new Jewry, Lauder replied: “In a word, ing essentially different Jewish why it’s essential to reinforce the leaders, Prime Minister Naftali negative – and that’s a problem for lifestyles,” she said. “It seems that bridges between us. Bennett and Alternate Prime the Jewish people and the State of these two centers will be different I’d like to thank all those who Minister Yair Lapid, who serves Israel long-term. Here’s why: in forever and we have to find ways to contributed to this magazine and as foreign minister, succeeded in the Diaspora, over 80% of Jews are connect them without falling into wish you all good reading and dethroning Benjamin Netanyahu Reform-to-Conservative and lead the growing gaps between them.” shana tova! after more than a decade. And now, more secular lives, with a fleeting There are almost 15 million Jews STEVE LINDE

CEO Jerusalem Post Group: Inbar Ashkenazi Editor-in-Chief: Yaakov Katz Magazine editor: Steve Linde Assistant editor: Ilana Egel-Tal Chief photographer: Marc Israel Sellem Copy editors: Daniel Haberman, Yakir Feldman, Elli Wohlgelernter, Aaron Engelberg, Heddy Abramowitz, Avraham Gold Graphic designers: Daniela Gleiser, Debi Lerner Cover design: Baysberg Team

THE LIST IN FULL

1. Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid 17. Wendy Sherman 34. Winnie Sandler Grinspoon 2. Antony Blinken 18. Avigdor Liberman 35. Anthony Pratt 3. Rochelle P. Walensky 19. Esther Hayut 36. Yael Eckstein 4. Albert Bourla 20. Jan Koum and Shari Dollinger 5. Avril Haines 21. David Friedman, Steve Mnuchin, 37. Shuki Hershcovich 6. Isaac Herzog Jared Kushner and Yossi Cohen 38. Yifat Oron 7. Ronald S. Lauder 22. Douglas Emhoff 39. Susan Solomon 8. Eynat Guez 23. Ariel Zwang 40. Mayim Bialik 9. Michael Ellis 24. Stacey H. Schusterman 41. Russell F. Robinson and Lucy Frazer 25. Roman Abramovich 42. Felicia Herman 10. Benjamin Netanyahu 26. Houda Nonoo 43. Dan Gilbert 11. Sylvan Adams 27. Deborah Lipstadt 44. Avraham Duvdevani 12. Gideon Sa'ar, Benny Gantz 28. Larry Ellison 45. Sarit Zehavi 13. Ayelet Shaked, Yifat Shasha-Biton 29. Sara Blakely and Tory Burch 46. Yael Vizel and Tamar Zandberg 30. Tamara Cofman Wittes 47. Artem Dolgopyat 14. Aviv Kohavi and David Barnea 31. Joshua Harris and Linoy Ashram 15. Nicola Mendelsohn and Marc Rowan 48. Julia Haart and Adi Soffer Teeni 32. Amira Ahronoviz 49. Shalev Hulio 16. Ronald Klain 33. Betsy Berns Korn and Howard Kohr 50. Delphine Horvilleur

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 3

NAFTALI he biggest change in Israel held an unprecedented Netanyahu negotiated, but even BENNETT Israel in the past year fourth election in two years. if Yamina joined the coalition, was the departure of Lapid was in the “Never the numbers just didn’t add up AND YAIR former prime minister Netanyahu” camp, and had been to 61. T Benjamin Netanyahu since Netanyahu fired him from So, Bennett shifted to talks after 12 consecutive years in the Finance Ministry in 2014. with his former brother Lapid, LAPID “Balfour,” as the official residence Bennett said he was leaving his head of Yesh Atid, the largest on the corner of Jerusalem’s options open; he didn’t think party in the anti-Netanyahu Balfour and Smolenskin streets Netanyahu was disqualified, but bloc. And since Lapid needed has come to be known. he was open to other options if Bennett, as well Ra’am, to form a The people who made it Netanyahu was not able to get coalition, they were able to make happen are Prime Minister Naftali majority backing. big demands. In Bennett’s case, it Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Though a majority of the was to be prime minister in a ro- Lapid, and they did it as a team. Knesset’s seats went to right-wing tation agreement, and to go first. Bennett and Lapid have a and religious parties, Netanyahu, Lapid is due to take his place in history of getting Netanyahu once again, could not cobble to- mid 2023. to do things he doesn’t want to gether a coalition. Parties that With Netanyahu out of the do. Back in 2013, the “brothers,” once worked with him refused way, the duo got to the business 01 as they were nicknamed due to to do so again for myriad rea- of leading what they call the Bennett’s penchant for calling sons: he was under indictment “change government.” everyone that, banded together on multiple charges of corrup- In many ways, one can look so that Bennett would get into tion; he was beholden to the at this government and the one the coalition, despite Netanyahu haredi parties; he had broken one we had several months ago and THE CHANGE not wanting him there, and so promise too many. The parties sigh, “plus ça change.” The Del- the haredi parties would stay out, that were willing to work with ta variant has Israel in a state of GOVERNMENT as Lapid insisted. That coalition him weren’t all willing to work pandemic deja vu – though the was a rocky one – even Bennett with each other, like the far-right COVID-19 vaccine continues to and Lapid joked they were down- Religious Zionist Party, which be highly effective in preventing graded from brothers to cousins – refused to be part of a coalition severe illness – and the prime and only lasted a year and a half. that was dependent on the minister and health minister Fast-forward to 2021, when Islamist Ra’am Party. Bennett and are still constantly urging

(JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 6 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 Though Lapid and Bennett have decided, unlike Netanyahu, to actually engage with the Biden administration on ways to counter Iran, the mullahs’ regime is still moving forward with its nuclear plan

Israelis to get jabbed. Though Lapid an incredible amount of hubris for give each other – and other ministers and Bennett have decided, unlike someone who only won seven seats – credit, something the previous Netanyahu, to actually engage with in the last election to even think government lacked, as ministers the Biden administration on ways to he could be prime minister, this would anonymously grumble. counter Iran, the mullahs’ regime is government is structurally immune The government that Bennett and still moving forward with its nuclear to the kind of concentrated power Lapid are leading has the potential plan and the West is mostly unde- that Netanyahu had cultivated. With to make changes, for better or for terred from trying to negotiate with such a diverse coalition and such a worse, far beyond its spirit of partner- them despite their aggression across small party within it, Bennett can’t ship. The Health Ministry received the Middle East, and there have been just do what he wants or amass more a major, desperately needed budget mysterious power outages and fires and more authority under the Prime increase. Necessary reforms in the in Iran. The incendiary devices still Minister’s Office, because if he goes state-funded rabbinate are on the fly in from Gaza and Hezbollah is too far, if his policies become too agenda again, with haredim out of still threatening us with its missile partisan, it will threaten the govern- the coalition. Climate change is get- stockpiles to the north. The price of ment’s delicate fabric. The same goes ting more government attention than housing is on the rise and the cost of for the ministers of Yesh Atid, Meretz, ever before. The finance minister has food has not gone down, etc. Labor, New Hope, and Blue and leaned into “nanny state” taxes meant But Bennett and Lapid are undeni- White. So far, Lapid and Bennett have to change individual behaviors. ably different from what came before handled this delicate dance with rel- There is no doubt that Lapid and them. The most obvious change is, of ative aplomb, seeming to be perfectly Bennett have had a massive influence course, in the name and face at the in sync, whether they are talking on Israel in the past year, and the helm. But there’s also a change in about Iran and Hezbollah or the pan- changes will continue in 5782. • attitude. While it’s true that it takes demic. They thank one another and By LAHAV HARKOV

(MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 7 ANTONY ntony Blinken is one of to the administration’s center the indirect Vienna talks with BLINKEN Joe Biden’s closest offi- of attention and Blinken made Iran regarding mutual com- cials. In 2009, when his first visit to the region – stop- pliance with the 2015 nuclear Biden was VP, Blinken ping in Jerusalem, Ramallah and agreement. Aserved as his national Cairo – to follow closely and Shortly after swearing-in, security adviser. Later, he be- make sure that the ceasefire held. Blinken vowed to work tirelessly came deputy secretary of state Blinken also worked close- to find a path to make both the from 2015 to 2017. Shortly after ly with Biden and Secretary of US and Iran return to the Joint Biden was declared the 2020 Defense Lloyd Austin to deal Comprehensive Plan of Action. presidential election winner, with the fallout of the botched However, the Iranians started to he announced that Blinken, 58, Afghanistan withdrawal. Blinken stall the negotiations some three would be his top diplomat. monitored the evacuation of the months ago, and another round 02 During Blinken's first month US Embassy in Kabul, as well as of talks has yet to be scheduled. in office as US secretary of state, diplomats, US citizens and Af- Whether the US will pursue he primarily dedicated his time ghan personnel. It is considered a diplomatic solution or more to China, widely considered Biden’s most significant crisis sanctions and economic pres- America’s main competitor. since taking office, as Demo- sure, is yet to be seen. But in any However, the situation quickly crats and Republicans gave the case, Iran will dominate the sec- THE DIPLOMAT changed in May. Operation administration a low mark on retary’s schedule during the next Guardian of the Walls brought how the withdrawal unfolded. year as well. • the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Another issue for Blinken is By OMRI NAHMIAS

(REUTERS)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 8 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY 03

COVID STRATEGIST

r. Rochelle Walensky has become one of the most well-known faces in America’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. As the D director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) she has taken to the nightly news, Twitter and Facebook to in- form the public about the challenges posed by the virus and the steps the US is taking. “One thing is clear,” Walensky tweeted on August 18, “While we are still learning how these vaccines perform over time and against emerging variants, the data show that getting vaccinated can keep you out of the hospital. Getting vaccinated can save your life.” Standing tall at five feet and 11 inches, she has unabashedly defended the position of her organization. Last month, she directly addressed comments made by Fox News host Sean Han- nity that “science shows the vaccine will not necessarily protect you. It’s not protecting many people.” In an interview with MSNBC, she termed Hannity’s statement “to be false” and said that even if someone who is vaccinated gets COVID, “your case will be far milder than if you didn’t have the vaccine.” Walensky completed her medical degree at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and her Master of Public Health at Harvard School of Public Health. Married to Dr. Loren D. Walensky, she is the mother of three sons. They live in Newton, Massa- chusetts, where they belong to Temple Emanuel. She was working as chief of infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital and serving as a professor at Harvard Medical School, when Joe Biden tapped her for the top CDC role. In her acceptance speech, Walensky chose not only to address the pandemic but the “long- standing public health challenges of social and racial injustice and inequity that have demand- ed action for far too long." The Infectious Diseases Society of America issued a statement after Walensky’s appointment, calling her “a gifted infectious diseases physician and leader” whose “contributions to research, policy and practice in understanding, responding to and controlling pandemic threats that include HIV, tuberculosis and now COVID-19 have informed global and domestic efforts that are critical to protecting Americans and advancing global health.” • By MAAYAN HOFFMAN

(STEFANI REYNOLDS/POOL VIA REUTERS)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 9 spotlight on isRAeli medicine spotlight on isRAeli medicine Helping manage tHe HealtH care crisis tHe israeli medical association (Courtesy) (Courtesy)

he time has come for Israel to prepare the health system for the long term,” says Dr. Zion Hagay, president of “T Israeli Medical Association and head of medical education at Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot. “It can no longer be repaired with ‘band-aids’ and tempo- rary fixes.” This was the overarching message that was communicated by Dr. Hagay and Leah Wapner, general secretary of the organization, in an interview with the Jerusalem Post. Hagay and Wapner discussed the Israeli medical establishment’s response to the corona pandemic, how the Israeli Medical Association helps and assists doctors in Israel, and its future plans. The organization, established in 1912, represents about 95 percent of the physicians in Israel, upholds medical standards in Israel, promotes public health, and advances the working conditions of physicians in Israel. Wapner, the organization’s legal advisor, says that the arrival of the pandemic weakened what already was a strained medical system. “The first stage of COVID,” she says, “was utter surprise. But the health care system was in very bad shape because it has had poor funding for the past 20 years.” The pandemic, she says, brought the health care system to its limits. COVID demands a high percentage of medical personnel working with individual patients, and in vaccination. When people want to get According to Dr. Hagay, Israel does not work in Israel, the IMA is working on a plan stress and were not prepared for the some reason, they have appeared now.” there was not enough staff to deal with the vaccinated, we can get them vaccinated in have enough beds in its hospitals, the that will allow Israeli medical students many deaths that occurred, especially in Leah Wapner says that beyond the flood of patients. Despite the difficulties, a very short period of time.” Wapner says health ministry budget is too low, and there studying abroad to perform their practical circumstances where patients seemed to additional funding that is required for she says, “we were able to deal with COVID that the doctors and nurses performed are not enough hospitals in the country. medical studies in Israel, beginning in their be recovering from COVID and suddenly the health system, it is essential that the and contain it. But it came at a price. We outstandingly and performed at the level He says that two additional hospitals fourth year of medical studies. As a result, died. “Doctors had not encountered this medical system retains its values of caring don’t believe it was necessary to have the of expectation that one would expect from should be built to accommodate the Israeli he says, these students will gain a greater before,” he says, “and this caused a loss for others. “I hope that we don’t lose our number of deaths that we had. We are still health care professionals. “That is what population– one in the north and one in understanding of the Israeli health system of confidence in their ability to predict values of life, our values of health, and having a high rate of infection.” According saved us.” the south. and will become better integrated into the if a patient would recover.” The Israeli not succumb to values of money, budgets, to Wapner, the Israeli medical system is Dr. Hagay echoes Wapner’s words and Dr. Hagay notes that Israel will soon be system. In addition, the Israeli Medical Medical Association established a support and finance. I hope that we will find better wonderful in some areas and less capable in says that “the health system wasn’t facing a shortage of qualified doctors, as the Association is promoting a proposal to system for doctors, offering psychiatric ways to deal with covid, but covid is not other ways. prepared for a pandemic of this size. In medical professionals who came to Israel shorten medical studies in Israel from and psychological services and subsidizing the end of the story. We need to seize Israel’s health care system is excellent recent decades, the health system in last in the Russian aliyah of the 1990s begin to seven years to six years, enabling students treatment. the opportunity to learn, make it a better for ambulatory patients, she explains, decades is starved and under-budgeted.” retire. Additionally, he notes, while Israel to begin their residencies sooner and begin Interestingly, Dr. Hagay says that many system, get better funding to get more and is well-equipped to deal with patients Hagay adds that the country’s political is still considered a young country, the working as doctors. This proposal will also of the respiratory illnesses, such as health care workers, use new technology, who are home and who visit their Kupat leaders need to understand that investing number of people over the age of 70, who help to add more doctors into the system. pneumonia, which typically occur during and most importantly, remember that Holim clinic. Most COVID patients have in the country’s health care system is as require more medical care, is rising. Hagay The pandemic, says Dr. Hagay, not only the winter months, have begun to appear there is a reason why it is called a caring been treated at home. “If not for the Kupot important as investing in education and says that 60% of Israeli medical students are affected Israel’s non-medical citizenry but in the late summer of 2021, during this profession. We need to care for people. I Holim, good network, and infrastructure security. “Investing in Israel’s health care studying for their medical degrees outside had a dramatic effect on the country’s fourth wave of corona that the country hope we won’t lose our touch, and we will of the flow of information, we wouldn’t be system is an investment in the security of Israel, and many do not return. To ensure medical personnel. Many doctors have is experiencing, “There were no winter keep our ethics going.” • able to do it. This is why we are effective the residents of Israel,” declares Dr. Hagay. that these students come back to live and experienced symptoms of post-traumatic illnesses in 2020,” says Dr. Hagay. “For By AlAn RosenBAum

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 10 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 spotlight on isRAeli medicine spotlight on isRAeli medicine Helping manage tHe HealtH care crisis tHe israeli medical association (Courtesy) (Courtesy) he time has come for Israel to prepare the health system for the long term,” says Dr. Zion Hagay, president of “T Israeli Medical Association and head of medical education at Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot. “It can no longer be repaired with ‘band-aids’ and tempo- rary fixes.” This was the overarching message that was communicated by Dr. Hagay and Leah Wapner, general secretary of the organization, in an interview with the Jerusalem Post. Hagay and Wapner discussed the Israeli medical establishment’s response to the corona pandemic, how the Israeli Medical Association helps and assists doctors in Israel, and its future plans. The organization, established in 1912, represents about 95 percent of the physicians in Israel, upholds medical standards in Israel, promotes public health, and advances the working conditions of physicians in Israel. Wapner, the organization’s legal advisor, says that the arrival of the pandemic weakened what already was a strained medical system. “The first stage of COVID,” she says, “was utter surprise. But the health care system was in very bad shape because it has had poor funding for the past 20 years.” The pandemic, she says, brought the health care system to its limits. COVID demands a high percentage of medical personnel working with individual patients, and in vaccination. When people want to get According to Dr. Hagay, Israel does not work in Israel, the IMA is working on a plan stress and were not prepared for the some reason, they have appeared now.” there was not enough staff to deal with the vaccinated, we can get them vaccinated in have enough beds in its hospitals, the that will allow Israeli medical students many deaths that occurred, especially in Leah Wapner says that beyond the flood of patients. Despite the difficulties, a very short period of time.” Wapner says health ministry budget is too low, and there studying abroad to perform their practical circumstances where patients seemed to additional funding that is required for she says, “we were able to deal with COVID that the doctors and nurses performed are not enough hospitals in the country. medical studies in Israel, beginning in their be recovering from COVID and suddenly the health system, it is essential that the and contain it. But it came at a price. We outstandingly and performed at the level He says that two additional hospitals fourth year of medical studies. As a result, died. “Doctors had not encountered this medical system retains its values of caring don’t believe it was necessary to have the of expectation that one would expect from should be built to accommodate the Israeli he says, these students will gain a greater before,” he says, “and this caused a loss for others. “I hope that we don’t lose our number of deaths that we had. We are still health care professionals. “That is what population– one in the north and one in understanding of the Israeli health system of confidence in their ability to predict values of life, our values of health, and having a high rate of infection.” According saved us.” the south. and will become better integrated into the if a patient would recover.” The Israeli not succumb to values of money, budgets, to Wapner, the Israeli medical system is Dr. Hagay echoes Wapner’s words and Dr. Hagay notes that Israel will soon be system. In addition, the Israeli Medical Medical Association established a support and finance. I hope that we will find better wonderful in some areas and less capable in says that “the health system wasn’t facing a shortage of qualified doctors, as the Association is promoting a proposal to system for doctors, offering psychiatric ways to deal with covid, but covid is not other ways. prepared for a pandemic of this size. In medical professionals who came to Israel shorten medical studies in Israel from and psychological services and subsidizing the end of the story. We need to seize Israel’s health care system is excellent recent decades, the health system in last in the Russian aliyah of the 1990s begin to seven years to six years, enabling students treatment. the opportunity to learn, make it a better for ambulatory patients, she explains, decades is starved and under-budgeted.” retire. Additionally, he notes, while Israel to begin their residencies sooner and begin Interestingly, Dr. Hagay says that many system, get better funding to get more and is well-equipped to deal with patients Hagay adds that the country’s political is still considered a young country, the working as doctors. This proposal will also of the respiratory illnesses, such as health care workers, use new technology, who are home and who visit their Kupat leaders need to understand that investing number of people over the age of 70, who help to add more doctors into the system. pneumonia, which typically occur during and most importantly, remember that Holim clinic. Most COVID patients have in the country’s health care system is as require more medical care, is rising. Hagay The pandemic, says Dr. Hagay, not only the winter months, have begun to appear there is a reason why it is called a caring been treated at home. “If not for the Kupot important as investing in education and says that 60% of Israeli medical students are affected Israel’s non-medical citizenry but in the late summer of 2021, during this profession. We need to care for people. I Holim, good network, and infrastructure security. “Investing in Israel’s health care studying for their medical degrees outside had a dramatic effect on the country’s fourth wave of corona that the country hope we won’t lose our touch, and we will of the flow of information, we wouldn’t be system is an investment in the security of Israel, and many do not return. To ensure medical personnel. Many doctors have is experiencing, “There were no winter keep our ethics going.” • able to do it. This is why we are effective the residents of Israel,” declares Dr. Hagay. that these students come back to live and experienced symptoms of post-traumatic illnesses in 2020,” says Dr. Hagay. “For By AlAn RosenBAum

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 11 ALBERT BOURLA 04

KING OF THE CURE

t is not uncommon to see Israelis approval last month. Bourla was right: The company is capa- cling their cups in l’chaim to the Pfiz- mRNA vaccines are proving to be the ble of delivering breakthroughs. er vaccine. They know they would most effective and safe. AstraZeneca, Bourla attributes some of his success not be at a bar without the compa- Johnson & Johnson and Sinovac work, to growing up among Holocaust sur- Iny’s elixir that, even as cases rise, has but are less effective – especially against vivors who were not afraid to tell their allowed Israel to stay open. variants. stories. His mother and father narrowly Pfizer has shipped billions of doses Workers at Pfizer toldThe Jerusalem escaped execution. of its vaccine around the world. The Post that Bourla receives much of the His father’s parents and two of company recently said it expects vac- credit. He challenged scientists and em- his three siblings were among the cine sales to hit almost $34 billion this ployees across the company to develop thousands of Thessaloniki Jews killed. year. But Israel was the first to fully and deliver a vaccine in record time. He His mother was imprisoned and nearly benefit from the company’s innovation. said, “if not us, then who?” murdered by a firing squad. At Pfizer’s helm is Albert Bourla, a Jew “The principle was that we must do Before the Holocaust, there were from Thessaloniki, Greece. it,” Bourla said in a CNBC interview. “If around 55,000 Jews living in Greece. Bourla chose to gamble on Israel we wouldn’t be able to have a solution Some 95% were executed. because of its small population and its by the time that it was needed, then He told FT that his mother would re- sophisticated data collection system. we will be facing way worse problems count the story of her near-death – “a Greece was an option, but its around the world than us losing $2b. story of horror but given with humor.” electronic medical record-keeping was Bourla never expected the vaccine to Bourla doesn’t talk too much about not up to scratch, he said in an interview be as successful as became. He learned his family’s background, but in an inter- with the Financial Times. The company about the breakthrough in a Zoom view published in The New York Times he also considered Sweden, but Bourla said meeting with Pfizer’s general counsel recalled how his mother would say that he was worried about upsetting other and two statisticians. she was “in a worse position once, and EU countries. “I heard the 95%, which I didn’t now I have you and your sister. Life is mi- “The biggest thing that became clear believe, I thought I didn’t hear it well,” raculous. Nothing is impossible.” was Bibi [Netanyahu] was on top of Bourla told FT. “That was the spirit of her,” he said. everything, he knew everything,” Bour- Bourla has been with Pfizer for 25 “And she inspired me to be the same.” la said. “He called me 30 times, asking: years, starting in the Animal Health He added in that interview that “my ‘What about young people… What division, working his way up through mother believed you can do anything are you doing about the South African several global and senior positions. in life. That there’s always a way. The variant?’ I’m sure he was doing it for his A company spokesperson said that way may not be clear in the beginning, people, but I’m also sure he was think- Bourla encourages employees to “take but there is always a way. I owe her a lot ing: ‘It could help me politically.’” bold moves that help us achieve our because of that. She is my role model. Pfizer was the first mRNA vaccine purpose of delivering breakthroughs “What I got from my dad was to maker to achieve Emergency Use Au- that change patients’ lives.” identify what can go wrong.” • thorization from the FDA, getting full COVID-19 showed Pfizer staff that By MAAYAN HOFFMAN

(KEVIN LAMARQUE/REUTERS)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 12 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 vril Haines, Joe Biden's director of national intelligence, is not a spy. An international law expert, Haines AVRIL helped force counterterror policy under ABarack Obama. HAINES She went on to serve as deputy CIA chief and deputy national security advisor. As DNI chief, she now oversees intelligence operations and budgets for the US’ 17 intelligence agencies as well as directly advising the president. According to JTA, her mother was the Jewish painter Adrian Rappin (originally Rappaport), and her non-Jewish father once wrote in an account about a trip with Haines to Israel that she identifies as Jewish. She is the first Jewish director of national intelligence, a position established in 2005. She is also the first woman to lead the 05 intelligence community, and, having been confirmed on January 21 just one day after Biden took office, she was also his first Cabinet member. In 2015, she was assigned to bridge a variety of differences between the CIA and a special US INTEL CZAR Senate task force led by Democrat Dianne Fein- stein of California. The issues included how much of the Bush administration-era torture to disclose as well as problems in cooperation between the sides. In May 2020 Haines signed a letter along with many other Democrat foreign policy experts urging the party platform to take a more forceful position against Israeli settlement activity and to press forward with the two-state solution with the Palestinians. • By YONAH JEREMY BOB and OMRI NAHMIAS (JOSHUA ROBERTS/REUTERS)

ISAAC HERZOG MR. PRESIDENT

t is still too early to assess the influence exception of Shimon Peres, who held more Isaac Herzog wields as the State of Israel’s ministerial portfolios over the years than any 11th president. other politician. Although his sons have told him they But Herzog has quite an impressive record of Iwill make sure he does not let the prestige service of his own: cabinet secretary, minister get to his head, there was no need. Herzog, of housing and construction; welfare and who took office two months ago, and has a Diaspora and finally, chairman of the Jewish multigenerational prestigious pedigree, has Agency. never exhibited arrogance. With the exception of Miriam Peretz, all 06 Friendly, polite and soft-spoken, he is equal- other candidates for president dropped out of ly at home with all sectors of society. the race, realizing they did not stand a chance. Since childhood, Herzog accompanied his It was hardly surprising that Herzog’s was a father and uncles through corridors of pow- landslide victory. er, and many of the who’s who in the Jewish Like his grandfather - Chief Rabbi Yitzhak world were guests in his parents’ home. HaLevi Herzog - his father and his uncles, Although he has his own way of doing the new president will continue to fight things, Herzog has in many respects followed antisemitism in all its manifestations. He in the footsteps of his father, Chaim who will also continue to speak out against the served as president from 1983 until 1993. nuclearization of Iran. The younger Herzog served in Military Herzog intends to be a very active president, Intelligence, practiced law, went into politics and given the rise of antisemitism around the and as citizen No. 1, became Israel's first sec- world, coupled with Iran’s nuclear threat, he ond-generation president . will have more than enough opportunities to In a sense, Herzog came to the job better pre- prove how influential he can be. • pared than his predecessors – with the possible By GREER FAY CASHMAN

(MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 13 Spotlight on iSraeli medicine Spotlight on iSraeli medicine Mayanei HayesHua Medical center TreaTing The body and mind

Professor rael strous MD, MHa, Mayanei HayesHua Mental HealtH Wing’s MeDical Director, is one of israel’s leaDing PsycHiatrists. He is a full Professor of OVID gave us dangers of cross-contamination spoke to patients, calmed them, PsycHiatry at tel a bit of a jolt,” were great, the hospital built an and helped them cope with their aviv university’s faculty of says Chaim advanced field-testing center feelings of loneliness. “Even more MeDicine. Fachler, Di- in the hospital’s parking lot to important,” continues Fachler, (courtesy) “C rector of prevent the arrival and spread “the mental health staff gave International Resource Devel- of COVID within the hospital. direction to the regular medical opment at Mayanei Hayeshua “We acted quickly and most staff how to speak with COVID Medical Center, with typical Brit- effectively,” says Fachler. patients, and how to make the ish understatement, “but we were Mayanei Hayeshua is well- patient feel loved and cared for one of the first community hos- known for its expansive, six-story – and how the staff themselves before the pandemic hit, but once example of its effective utilization, home.” Fachler says that the hospital passion of everyone who works here, pitals to react in an efficient and Mental Health Center, headed were dealing with the new patients could no longer reach the Fachler cites the hospital’s eating is continuing teletherapy for patients from our dedicated social workers effective way.” Mayanei Hayes- by internationally renowned situation.” hospital for regular treatments, they disorders unit. Half of the patients in who have been hospitalized and in the eating disorder unit to our hua Medical Center (MHMC) is psychiatrist Professor Rael Strous, Mayanei Hayeshua’s mental implemented a more comprehensive the unit remain overnight, and half discharged that require monitoring. professor in his 60s running the ICU. a growing 320-bed independent that offers a range of treatments health staff was also active in the plan. “We obtained between 50 are present in the hospital during the Chaim Fachler says that Mayanei We are a community hospital, not community hospital in Bnei covering every aspect of human aftermath of the crowd crush at and 60 tablets that were modified day and return home in the evenings. Hayeshua Medical Center has earned just in name – we genuinely respond Brak, and as Fachler explains, functioning. Fachler explains that Meron on Lag BaOmer, in which for secure medical information,” Because of the COVID restrictions, a well-deserved reputation for its 18 to the needs of the residents in our the hospital’s exemplary perfor- in the early days of the pandemic, forty-five men and boys tragically Fachler explains. “We were able to some of the patients could not medical departments, 32 outpatient surrounding communities of Bnei mance during the pandemic has infected patients felt very died. “We brought in Hatzalah set up the system for members of come to the hospital during the clinics and institutes, 13,000 annual Brak, Givat Shmuel, Petach Tikvah, helped heal both the bodies and anxious due to their isolation, groups who had been there, and the professional medical staff who day and were therefore treated via births, and more than 6,000 surgical and Ramat Gan. Our top priority minds of both the cared and the apart from medical personnel they were given tools to cope with had to be in isolation and couldn’t teletherapy. “We were amazed to procedures performed every year. remains – and will always remain - caregivers. wearing special protective gear. that sort of mental stress they come in physically but were able to find that not only was there no “But our real uniqueness,” says our patient-centered focus. • “Initially,” he continues, “the Says Fachler, “One patient said, encountered. We gave direction continue to treat patients through reduction in the effectiveness of Fachler, “lies in the cross-the-board By alan roSenBaum epicenter of the pandemic was ‘Forget about the physical part to the carers,” says Fachler. Zoom or with the medical tablets the treatment for those who were in Bnei Brak.” Mayanei Hayeshua – I am dying from isolation.” The pandemic has also increased that were tailor-made for continuing treated via teletherapy, but there became the first hospital in the The mental health team at the adaptation of telemedicine treatments. We also arranged were even occasions where because For further information visit the Mayanei Hayeshua Medical center website country to stop all visitors and Mayanei Hayeshua, consisting of at Mayanei Hayeshua. The teletherapy for patients who weren’t of teletherapy, we were monitoring at https://www.mayaneihayeshua.org/, or contact chaim Fachler, director, restrict the entry of patients’ aides psychologists and social workers, hospital had begun to introduce hospitalized 24/7 but were coming them more hours per day than had department of international resources development, at [email protected] to the hospital. Realizing that the entered the corona ward and teletherapy on a small scale in for outpatient treatments.” As an they been in the hospital and gone

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 14 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 Spotlight on iSraeli medicine Spotlight on iSraeli medicine Mayanei HayesHua Medical center TreaTing The body and mind

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 15 SPOTLIGHT On ESTEE LaudEr COMPanIES

RONALD S. Oren revach – onald S. Lauder, government representatives paid attention to this crisis, to LAUDER who has served to discuss and advance causes our grave detriment. I intend as president of of concern to Jews and Jewish to change that over the next the World Jewish communities internationally. few years with key invest- R Congress since ments in hasbara campaigns. Leading estee Lauder 2007, is a rare voice of moral How do you see the rela- clarity in today’s world. In tionship between Israel What is your vision for the a Rosh Hashanah interview and Diaspora Jewry? World Jewish Congress? with The Jerusalem Post, Laud- In a word, negative – and The World Jewish Congress er bemoans the “negative” re- that’s a problem for the Jewish represents 106 communities Companies israeL lationship that has developed people and the State of Israel on six continents. We are a between Israel and the longterm. Here’s why: in the service organization, provid- 07 Diaspora, and issues a heart- Diaspora, over 80% of Jews are ing government, policy and felt plea for it to be repaired. Reform-to-Conservative and political support.

As president of the WJC, lead more secular lives, with But this year, the WJC is (Courtesy) which represents Jewish a fleeting or conditional con- branching out and building communities in 106 nection to Israel. The remain- on these traditional services. good manager touch with workers throughout countries, Lauder meets ing 20% are Orthodox, and We are making critical in- knows how to the year and arranged special LEADING regularly with heads of live a deep, daily connection vestments in hasbara since plan ahead,” remote events, such as a GLOBAL JEWRY state, prime ministers and to Israel. It is only through Israel suffers from a crisis in says Oren Re- company-wide Hanukkah rebuilding the connection public opinion; in education, “A vach, General candle-lighting ceremony for of the Diaspora to Israel, and since access to a Jewish Manager of Estee Lauder Com- 1000 workers and their families Israel to the Diaspora, that education forms lasting panies Israel, “in times of calm, on Zoom. “In the final analysis,” both will sustain one another. bonds early in life, but also, and certainly in times of crisis.” notes Revach, “it is the employees Rebuilding this relationship our education system needs Revach, who has headed the Is- who are the direct contact with is a key focus of mine over the a watchdog, since anti-Israel raeli affiliate of the world-famous the consumers. They are the ones next few years. and antisemitic thought is cosmetics company for the past who deal with the customers.” organizations in the area where Israel has also been without flourishing in colleges and fifteen years, has managed to Revach calls the level of care and the user lives to enable users a foreign minister for years, universities. So, we’ll be stay a step ahead of the pandemic concern that Estee Lauder has to volunteer to do good deeds. which has been detrimen- holding higher education and has successfully led the com- traditionally offered, both for “The app is based on technology tal to Israel’s standing and institutions accountable. pany through this challenging customers and staff, ‘high-touch which knows how to connect public image throughout the For instance, we will look period. Until the pandemic ar- service,’ meaning a combination people with common interests, Diaspora – it has been neglect- closely at Title VI of the Civil rived in Israel, the Israeli affiliate of quality products with and the basis of interest will be ed. I am hopeful that Foreign Rights Act of 1964, which sold products by Estee Lauder, outstanding personalized service. gratitude,” says Revach. Unlike Minister [Yair] Lapid will be an mandates that if institutions, Clinique, MAC Cosmetics, Bobbi “Brands don’t build people,” says Facebook, which has its ‘like’ important constructive force including education Brown, Jo Malone London, and Revach. “People build brands.” button, UG will have a ‘thank in doing the hard work to re- institutions, support hate or others primarily in physical loca- Revach notes that the pandemic you’ icon. build Israel in the Diaspora, discriminatory speech tar- tions, through large chains such has influenced the buying A second project that Revach and make the Diaspora a part geting any minority group, as Super-Pharm and Hamashbir habits of people throughout has developed is JAMA, a social of Israel once again. including Jews, they lose Lazarchan, in addition to its own the world. The requirement to app that is a one-stop shop federal funding. We will also network of freestanding shops. In wear masks, he explains, caused for expectant mothers that What is the biggest chal- invest in digital and cyber mid-March, Revach quickly tran- sales of makeup to fall. On the brings together a wide range of lenge facing Israel and monitoring. We strongly sitioned to a more substantial on- other hand, sales of skin care information for pregnant women. the Jewish people in the believe that these are invest- line presence. products increased because The app connects women in coming year? ments in a safer, more secure, “When Corona arrived on “after you wear a mask all day, similar stages of pregnancy and Israel’s public image, and and sustainable future for the March 15,” explains Revach, you want to apply something provides tips and explanations how it reflects on Jews world- global Jewish community. “we moved all of our workers to your face at night.” Another from the beginning of their wide. We have let our ene- to remote locations, and 1000 category that experienced an pregnancy until their child turns mies define us in the battle- To what do you attri- workers began to work remotely.” increase in sales, says Revach is three years old. Women using the field of public opinion. For bute the current spike in The company purchased Israeli that of ‘home-styling.’ Before the app can connect through shared Jews under 40, especially the global antisemitism, and software to help provide service pandemic, people would attend experiences to feel connected next generation in colleges how can it be best ad- online, and online orders jumped events and apply perfume before to a larger community of users. and universities, the rela- dressed? from 500 per day to 12,000. going out. Now that people are The app also features dozens of tionship with Israel has been Once again, a crisis in Workers were taught how to spending most of their time at experts who can assist mothers on nearly severed. Younger Jews leadership has led to per- work online and explained to home, Revach explains, they are topics such as sleep counseling, are turning against Israel mission for our enemies to customers how to place online purchasing decorative candles, baby nutrition, breastfeeding, and expressing anti-Israel define us, creating space for orders. Revach increased his scents, fragrances, and sprays and more. opinions fomented by long- antisemitism to flourish un- customer service department for their home. One of Lauder’s What does Oren Revach wish standing opponents who are checked, especially on social from 20 workers to 80 so that the companies, Jo Malone London, for the coming year? Regarding seeing a return on decades of media and in political dis- company could provide rapid produces a wide variety of Estee Lauder Companies, he says, investment. Jewish students course. For example, we have responses to customers waiting products for the home. “We should continue to offer the compare Israel to apart- allowed Zionism and Judaism online. Apart from his responsibilities best to our customers and know heid-era South Africa, with to be conflated, meaning that Revach explains that Estee at Estee Lauder Companies, to identify and deal with crises in no real effort to convince an opinion about Zionism is Lauder Companies’ greatest asset Revach is promoting a new social the best way, both to our workers them otherwise. That’s noth- given permission to be equat- is its employees. “One thing that network entitled UG – short for and our clients – and give the best ing short of giving permission ed with Judaism. This is a I learned this year,” says Revach, ‘United Genesis,’ or ‘You are to our customers.” When it comes to Jews to turn against our negative. “is that the health and safety Good,’ based on peoples’ sharing to the world at large, Revach says, homeland. This should be addressed of our workers in a time of crisis inspirational stories, stories of “We should all be healthy. There Only real investment through diplomacy, account- is paramount. Workers need good deeds, and miracles that should be peace throughout the in hasbara can salvage this ability, and sustained public to know that there is someone they experienced. In addition world, and we should learn to be situation. To date, neither opinion work. It will take who is leading and preparing the to the social network, which is more tolerant and kinder to each Israeli leaders nor Jewish years and is my top priority. • company for all eventualities.” expected to be available later this other.” • oren revaCh, General ManaGer of estee lauder leaders outside of Israel have By STEVE LINDE CoMpanies israel (Courtesy) To that end, the company kept in month, the app will map social By aLan rOSEnBauM (NOA GRAYEVSKY)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 16 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 SPOTLIGHT On ESTEE LaudEr COMPanIES

Oren revach – Leading estee Lauder Companies israeL (Courtesy)

good manager touch with workers throughout knows how to the year and arranged special plan ahead,” remote events, such as a says Oren Re- company-wide Hanukkah “A vach, General candle-lighting ceremony for Manager of Estee Lauder Com- 1000 workers and their families panies Israel, “in times of calm, on Zoom. “In the final analysis,” and certainly in times of crisis.” notes Revach, “it is the employees Revach, who has headed the Is- who are the direct contact with raeli affiliate of the world-famous the consumers. They are the ones cosmetics company for the past who deal with the customers.” organizations in the area where fifteen years, has managed to Revach calls the level of care and the user lives to enable users stay a step ahead of the pandemic concern that Estee Lauder has to volunteer to do good deeds. and has successfully led the com- traditionally offered, both for “The app is based on technology pany through this challenging customers and staff, ‘high-touch which knows how to connect period. Until the pandemic ar- service,’ meaning a combination people with common interests, rived in Israel, the Israeli affiliate of quality products with and the basis of interest will be sold products by Estee Lauder, outstanding personalized service. gratitude,” says Revach. Unlike Clinique, MAC Cosmetics, Bobbi “Brands don’t build people,” says Facebook, which has its ‘like’ Brown, Jo Malone London, and Revach. “People build brands.” button, UG will have a ‘thank others primarily in physical loca- Revach notes that the pandemic you’ icon. tions, through large chains such has influenced the buying A second project that Revach as Super-Pharm and Hamashbir habits of people throughout has developed is JAMA, a social Lazarchan, in addition to its own the world. The requirement to app that is a one-stop shop network of freestanding shops. In wear masks, he explains, caused for expectant mothers that mid-March, Revach quickly tran- sales of makeup to fall. On the brings together a wide range of sitioned to a more substantial on- other hand, sales of skin care information for pregnant women. line presence. products increased because The app connects women in “When Corona arrived on “after you wear a mask all day, similar stages of pregnancy and March 15,” explains Revach, you want to apply something provides tips and explanations “we moved all of our workers to your face at night.” Another from the beginning of their to remote locations, and 1000 category that experienced an pregnancy until their child turns workers began to work remotely.” increase in sales, says Revach is three years old. Women using the The company purchased Israeli that of ‘home-styling.’ Before the app can connect through shared software to help provide service pandemic, people would attend experiences to feel connected online, and online orders jumped events and apply perfume before to a larger community of users. from 500 per day to 12,000. going out. Now that people are The app also features dozens of Workers were taught how to spending most of their time at experts who can assist mothers on work online and explained to home, Revach explains, they are topics such as sleep counseling, customers how to place online purchasing decorative candles, baby nutrition, breastfeeding, orders. Revach increased his scents, fragrances, and sprays and more. customer service department for their home. One of Lauder’s What does Oren Revach wish from 20 workers to 80 so that the companies, Jo Malone London, for the coming year? Regarding company could provide rapid produces a wide variety of Estee Lauder Companies, he says, responses to customers waiting products for the home. “We should continue to offer the online. Apart from his responsibilities best to our customers and know Revach explains that Estee at Estee Lauder Companies, to identify and deal with crises in Lauder Companies’ greatest asset Revach is promoting a new social the best way, both to our workers is its employees. “One thing that network entitled UG – short for and our clients – and give the best I learned this year,” says Revach, ‘United Genesis,’ or ‘You are to our customers.” When it comes “is that the health and safety Good,’ based on peoples’ sharing to the world at large, Revach says, of our workers in a time of crisis inspirational stories, stories of “We should all be healthy. There is paramount. Workers need good deeds, and miracles that should be peace throughout the to know that there is someone they experienced. In addition world, and we should learn to be who is leading and preparing the to the social network, which is more tolerant and kinder to each company for all eventualities.” expected to be available later this other.” • oren revaCh, General ManaGer of estee lauder CoMpanies israel (Courtesy) To that end, the company kept in month, the app will map social By aLan rOSEnBauM

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 17 EYNAT GUEZ 08 TECH PIONEER

’m not a big fan of being singled out as a female entrepreneur,” says Eynat Guez, the only woman who heads a hi-tech unicorn in Israel. “I have talked a lot “Iabout my experiences created a start-up and giving birth and having kids, because it serves a bigger purpose of helping other women entrepreneurs, and encouraging women in general to pursue their dreams." A fair request, but after Guez’s Papaya Global raised hit a valuation above a billion dollars in March, it became hard not to put her on a ped- estal. In a year when Israel’s tech industry soared, Guez took a unique place at the table. Israeli hi-tech companies have raised a whop- ping $15 billion in investments in the first eight months of 2021. For comparison, Israeli companies raised $10.5b. for the whole of 2020, which was a record amount then. Israel now has about 70 “unicorns,” private companies valued above a billion dollars, and about half of those joined the list this year. When Papaya Global, a company providing simple international payroll management solutions, said in March that it raised $100 million at a valuation of more than a billion dollars, all eyes suddenly focused on Guez. She had signed those investment agreements just weeks after having her third child. But the 41-year-old Guez took it all in stride. “My husband is in charge of the day-to-day operations at home, and our children – aged four, two, and eight months – know very well that Papaya is my first kid, not my fourth kid. I work from the time I wake up until 1 a.m. most days, but I try to spend high-quality time with each kid, even if it’s only a half-hour or an hour,” she said. After she finished the army, Guez worked in Africa and China, but always dreamed of creating her own start-up. She launched Papaya in 2016 with two partners, without funding. “The first two years were a nightmare,” Guez recalls. “We couldn’t convince any investors to believe in us. This was before COVID, and they ‘Israelis have a would say that a global payroll solution wasn’t solving a real problem in the market." responsibility to create a Guez is a strong advocate for diversity within companies, and works with Breaking the Im- much better ecosystem passe, an advocacy group of Israeli and Palestinian business leaders. with our neighbors’ “Israelis have a responsibility to create a much better ecosystem with our neighbors,” she says. – Eynat Guez “If companies would devote just 1%-2% of their workforces to Palestinians, it would go a long way to creating a better reality for both sides.” • By ZEV STUB (COURTESY)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 18 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 (RICHARD TOWNSHEND/UK PARLIAMENT) (REUTERS)

ichael Ellis, 53, He is known for supporting Frazer was elected as a was appointed efforts to combat antisemitism Conservative MP for South East attorney-general in Britain, and has publicly con- Cambridgeshire in 2015, and MICHAEL for England and demned anyone persecuting had done an internship at Isra- M Wales in March, Jews from either the Right or Left el's Ministry of Justice soon after ELLIS having served since July 2019 as the of the spectrum. she graduated from Cambridge. country’s Solicitor General. In a recent article, Ellis Frazer’s Jewish grandfather In addition to top legal posts, launched a campaign to stop the was Dr. Hyman Frazer CBE, AND LUCY Ellis also served in a number public from violating court gag headmaster of Gateway Gram- of other roles, such as minister orders and suspects’ privacy on mar School in Leicester. FRAZER of State at the Department for social media. Working to raise more aware- Transportation, parliamentary “Speculating about an ac- ness of the Holocaust and of lat- under Secretary of State at the cused’s previous convictions or er genocides, she wrote in 2020: Department for Digital, Culture, character, naming or posting “This week I signed the Holo- Media and Sport, and deputy photos of victims, naming in- caustUK Book of Commitment leader of the House of Com- dividuals or posting photos in remembering those who were mons. breach of reporting restrictions, murdered during the Holocaust. Besides being Jewish, he is a and leaking embargoed court Holocaust Memorial Day remember of the Conservative documents are all examples of minds us of a terrible time when Friends of Israel group, and pre- contempt of court that can be 6 million Jews were killed. We viously participated in meetings committed on social media,” he must remember also, the other with top Israeli officials to raise said. genocides that have taken place 09 concerns about the JCPOA Iran Lucy Frazer, 49, was appointed across the world.” nuclear agreement and the solicitor general in March, As solicitor general, she re- Islamic Republic’s nuclear capa- having also briefly served in cently succeeded in getting the bilities in general. the same post in early 2019. sentence of a hotel porter, who The group that Ellis joined She had previously served as a was convicted of sexual assault, BRITAIN’S warned that the JCPOA “does minister of State at the Ministry tripled. The porter had attacked not resolve international suspi- of Justice since July 2019, and as a woman in her hotel room after FIGHTERS cions,” while granting Iran an Parliamentary under secretary of a Christmas party in 2018. • easing of economic sanctions. State at the Ministry of Justice. By YONAH JEREMY BOB FOR JUSTICE

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 19 Spotlight on RepaiRing homeS - Rebuilding liveS

your home can’t really be considered a A ConversAtion with shelter.

(Courtesy) What does that look like? A Gabi NachmaNi home that isn’t a shelter? BENJAMIN Gabi: We repaired the home of a single parent where the kitchen NETANYAHU sink was severely cracked, the faucet sprayed water in every direction, the cabinets were rotted out. Imagine trying to prepare a meal for your children in a kitchen like that. We worked in another home where a single mother and her teenage children had no bathroom door. When the place they call home is unsafe and undignified, a family suffers not only discomfort but also terrible shame. 10 WipiNG out housiNG We have refurbished homes with extreme smoke and fire damage where the interior walls, the electrical and plumbing systems all needed poverty across israel replacing. Watch Tenufa’s YouTube channel to PRIME OPPOSITION see the reaction of an elated 11-year- old boy, finally able to take a hot shower, after four years of washing himself with cold water flowing from a small tube in the wall. Tenufa hen US president Donald Trump left the White House, he Bakehila’s workmen refurbished the moved to his Florida resort, and while every word he says still entire bathroom in his home where makes headlines, he has no statutory role. he lives with his grandmother. https:// By contrast, former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu youtu.be/Y0ONs-6L3MY remains the opposition leader, the Likud chairman and its W What is your call to action? candidate for PM in the next election, as well as the shadow over his former protégé, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. What can people like me do to It has become cliché to say that he is the glue that holds this diverse help? government together. He is actually much more than that. Gabi: We are aiming to reach 500 Netanyahu is determined to use his presence on social media, the low-income families this year. Tenufa journalists loyal to him, and his speeches in the Knesset to provide a con- needs your help to double the number stant contrast between his performance and that of the government that he of single-parent families from 60 to 120 criticizes. By doing so, he makes his successors’ jobs even harder. deserving families – that is hundreds He will continue speaking to world leaders, vaccine makers, Olympic med- ousing poverty is of- most basic human needs. While of children whose homes and lives will alists and family members of soldiers as though he were still PM. ten invisible,” says many organizations provide food be renewed. His alleged hotel stays with discounts and the revelations of past renova- Gabi Nachmani, and clothing to families in need, Tenufa Bakehila needs support from tions at his home will keep him in the headlines in a negative light. director of Tenufa Tenufa Bakehila is the only large- people like you who understand how Maintaining that presence also keeps at bay the dozen potential successors Bakehila, an NGO scale nonprofit that provides families one urgent home repair can improve the in the Likud, who cannot wait for their shot to head the party that has had “H trajectory of a child’s life. that fights back against the poor hous- with a safe and respectable living only four leaders, who all became prime minister. ing situation of thousands of disad- environment in their place of shelter A decent home gives children Former Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein is the only candidate with the cour- vantaged families in Israel. “When a – their home. By repairing the home, an anchor. A respectable living age to not rule out running against Netanyahu. The rest have carefully said child goes to school without a coat, they restore families’ dignity and hope environment empowers a child to that they would run in “the post-Netanyahu era.” his teachers notice,” says Nachmani. for a brighter future. interact socially with self-respect A Likud leadership race could potentially include as many as nine can- “When a child has no lunch, the As poverty-stricken children face their and dignity, to show up with greater didates: Edelstein, current and former ambassadors to the United Nations school provides. But when a child third school year under the strains of confidence to succeed in school and Gilad Erdan and Danny Danon, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and MKs sleeps on a moldy mattress in a room COVID, Nachmani is concerned about in life. By supporting Tenufa Bakehila, Nir Barkat, Israel Katz, Miri Regev, Tzachi Hanegbi and Avi Dichter. MKs Yoav with broken walls and exposed electri- those whose homes are not a source you can help us wipe out the worst Gallant and Amir Ohana and former MK Moshe Feiglin have not said they cal outlets, when he cannot shower at of shelter and strength. Gabi explains cases of housing poverty in Israel. would run but it is presumed they would, too. night because there is no hot water – how housing poverty exacerbates the They may have to wait a while. Netanyahu turns 72 on October 21, but nobody sees.” typical challenges faced by children Tenufa Bakehila is spreading the his father, Prof. Benzion Netanyahu, died at the age of 102. The opposition Nachmani’s organization, Tenufa during the pandemic. word about the importance of shelter leader has given no indication he is going anywhere soon. Bakehila - Building Hope, is a life- – of decent housing for children. As Netanyahu is determined families gear up for the new school Like Trump, he is determined to come back. Like with Trump, legal chal- renewing NGO that sees children like How has housing poverty year, we are determined to empower lenges could get in the way. this every day. It has been repairing affected children this past year? families who suffer the demoralizing Netanyahu’s criminal trial is moving slowly. Those who thought removing to provide a constant dilapidated homes for thousands of Gabi: COVID shifted everyone’s effects of housing poverty – to empower him from the PMO would expedite it have so far been wrong. needy families across Israel for 28 focus towards the home, and still, the them to believe in themselves and to That leaves passing legislation against Netanyahu as the primary way to contrast between his own years. issue of housing poverty went unseen. strive for success. prevent his return. There will be bills enacting term limits and preventing Gabi began his outreach as a People talk about the challenges for Together, we can ensure that no child anyone under indictment from forming a government. performance and that of young boy growing up in a poor children in low-income families: loss remains invisible – that every child Such proposals will dominate the Knesset agenda after a budget is passed. Jerusalem neighborhood. Together of school lunches, lack of Internet has a safe and dignified place to eat, to They will also prove that Netanyahu remains just as relevant and dominant the new government that with his brothers, he made repairs on service and computers. No one talks as ever, even though he no longer lives in the Prime Minister’s Residence on neighbors’ homes as a chessed - an act shower, and to lay their head down at about the excruciating experience of night. • Jerusalem’s Balfour and Smolenskin streets. • he constantly criticizes. of kindness. Today, he runs the largest being forced to “shelter at home” when By GIL HOFFMAN home-repair nonprofit organization by eliSheva WadleR in Israel, directing a dedicated team of full-time professional workers. check us out and donate at tenufa.org and on Facebook Proper shelter is one of the three

(MARC ISRAEL SELLEM) THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 20 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 Spotlight on RepaiRing homeS - Rebuilding liveS

your home can’t really be considered a A ConversAtion with shelter.

(Courtesy) What does that look like? A Gabi NachmaNi home that isn’t a shelter? Gabi: We repaired the home of a single parent where the kitchen sink was severely cracked, the faucet sprayed water in every direction, the cabinets were rotted out. Imagine trying to prepare a meal for your children in a kitchen like that. We worked in another home where a single mother and her teenage children had no bathroom door. When the place they call home is unsafe and undignified, a family suffers not only discomfort but also terrible shame. WipiNG out housiNG We have refurbished homes with extreme smoke and fire damage where the interior walls, the electrical and plumbing systems all needed poverty across israel replacing. Watch Tenufa’s YouTube channel to see the reaction of an elated 11-year- old boy, finally able to take a hot shower, after four years of washing himself with cold water flowing from a small tube in the wall. Tenufa Bakehila’s workmen refurbished the entire bathroom in his home where he lives with his grandmother. https:// youtu.be/Y0ONs-6L3MY

What is your call to action? What can people like me do to help? Gabi: We are aiming to reach 500 low-income families this year. Tenufa needs your help to double the number of single-parent families from 60 to 120 deserving families – that is hundreds ousing poverty is of- most basic human needs. While of children whose homes and lives will ten invisible,” says many organizations provide food be renewed. Gabi Nachmani, and clothing to families in need, Tenufa Bakehila needs support from director of Tenufa Tenufa Bakehila is the only large- people like you who understand how Bakehila, an NGO scale nonprofit that provides families one urgent home repair can improve the “H trajectory of a child’s life. that fights back against the poor hous- with a safe and respectable living ing situation of thousands of disad- environment in their place of shelter A decent home gives children vantaged families in Israel. “When a – their home. By repairing the home, an anchor. A respectable living child goes to school without a coat, they restore families’ dignity and hope environment empowers a child to his teachers notice,” says Nachmani. for a brighter future. interact socially with self-respect “When a child has no lunch, the As poverty-stricken children face their and dignity, to show up with greater school provides. But when a child third school year under the strains of confidence to succeed in school and sleeps on a moldy mattress in a room COVID, Nachmani is concerned about in life. By supporting Tenufa Bakehila, with broken walls and exposed electri- those whose homes are not a source you can help us wipe out the worst cal outlets, when he cannot shower at of shelter and strength. Gabi explains cases of housing poverty in Israel. night because there is no hot water – how housing poverty exacerbates the nobody sees.” typical challenges faced by children Tenufa Bakehila is spreading the Nachmani’s organization, Tenufa during the pandemic. word about the importance of shelter Bakehila - Building Hope, is a life- – of decent housing for children. As families gear up for the new school renewing NGO that sees children like How has housing poverty year, we are determined to empower this every day. It has been repairing affected children this past year? families who suffer the demoralizing dilapidated homes for thousands of Gabi: COVID shifted everyone’s effects of housing poverty – to empower needy families across Israel for 28 focus towards the home, and still, the them to believe in themselves and to years. issue of housing poverty went unseen. strive for success. Gabi began his outreach as a People talk about the challenges for Together, we can ensure that no child young boy growing up in a poor children in low-income families: loss remains invisible – that every child Jerusalem neighborhood. Together of school lunches, lack of Internet has a safe and dignified place to eat, to with his brothers, he made repairs on service and computers. No one talks neighbors’ homes as a chessed - an act shower, and to lay their head down at about the excruciating experience of night. • of kindness. Today, he runs the largest being forced to “shelter at home” when home-repair nonprofit organization by eliSheva WadleR in Israel, directing a dedicated team of full-time professional workers. check us out and donate at tenufa.org and on Facebook Proper shelter is one of the three

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 21 SYLVAN ADAMS 11

SPECIAL ENVOY

ylvan Adams is a businessman and philanthropist who since moving to Israel in 2015 refers to himself as the “self-appointed ambassador at large for the State of Israel.” S Adams aims to showcase what he calls “normal Israel” by bringing world-class cultural and sporting events to the country. Adams has famously brought to Israel Lionel Messi and the Argentinian soccer team, Madonna to adorn the Eurovision Song Contest finals, and was responsible for hosting the largest sporting event in the country’s history: the “Gran Partenza” Big Start of the Giro d’Italia. These events brought Israel into the homes of billions of television viewers. Adams also works tirelessly to promote coexistence and national pride through Israeli sports. He is the owner of Team Israel Start-up Nation, a UCI World Tour team founded in 2014. Adams believes that sport is an invalu- able resource that brings people together from different religions and ethnicities. Sport is also a touchstone of national pride for Israelis, erasing social differences. Beyond sport, Adams’ philanthropic investments ‘We are one people, and we leverage Israeli innovation to positively impact Israeli society, the region, and beyond. His projects include the need to restore our unity construction of a groundbreaking children’s hospital in Holon; revolutionizing the field of emergency medicine through every initiative that with a state-of-the-art emergency room in Tel Aviv; a project to supply tablet computers to special education can strengthen us both teachers; and a scholarship program for promising artists. He is also one of the major donors of Save A internally and externally’ Child’s Heart, a humanitarian organization that provides lifesaving heart surgery to Israelis, Palestinians and – Sylvan Adams children from the developing world. Adams is the only Israeli member of the Giving Pledge, an organization initiated by Warren Buffet together with Bill Gates for billionaires committed to give away the majority of their wealth to philanthropic pursuits. In an interview with The Jerusalem Post earlier this year, Adams was upbeat about Israel emerging from the corona pandemic. “We are in a difficult period because the epidemic has killed tourism,” he said. “But I’m convinced it’ll be easy to revitalize it quickly. With a few successful initiatives, it will be possible to restore national pride and unity and get people out of the depressing situation in which we find ourselves. We are one people, and we need to restore our unity through every initiative that can strengthen us both internally and externally.” Adams’ varied philanthropic pursuits will continue to make a tangible positive impact, in Israel, across the Middle East and beyond. And as he likes to say, he is “just getting started.” • By STEVE LINDE (MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 22 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 23 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 (MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

hile Prime Minister cepting such an offer, which has forming a government. BENNY Naftali Bennett and increased his political power in the Sa’ar also has plans in the Alternate Prime current government. The defense Knesset’s winter session for reform- GANTZ AND Minister Yair Lapid budget has gone up, and he has ing the legal establishment. Whave the fanciest tried to obtain hefty pensions for The bill, which is currently being titles in the government, Blue and high-ranking retired IDF officers. drafted, would include the rights of GIDEON White leader Benny Gantz and His job in the years ahead will be citizens in court and under arrest, New Hope chairman Gideon Sa’ar to build up the army for the chal- the right to a fair legal process, the SA’AR have the more symbolic title of lenges of the future, as a potential requirement of a warning, and the deputy prime minister. But their in- nuclear Iran remains a potential ex- status of being considered innocent fluence cannot be underestimated. istential threat and Lebanon, Syria until guilt has been proven. Gantz would have become PM and Gaza are increasingly unstable. Sa’ar will also leave his mark by on November 17 had the previous The future of the West Bank also appointing a new attorney-general, government lasted. He has insist- remains up in the air, as 85-year- splitting that powerful role and ed on receiving independence and old Palestinian leader Mahmoud heading the judicial selection getting his way in disputes in the Abbas advances in age with no suc- committee that is set to choose six cabinet in return for his sacrifice. cessor on the horizon. new Supreme Court judges over the Utilizing the eight seats Blue and Sa’ar has also made his share of next four years and dozens of low- White won against all odds in the sacrifices. He left the Likud in order er-level judges. 12 March election, Gantz has taken to bring down Netanyahu, and Recognizing the threat from full advantage of the leverage given even though New Hope won only Sa’ar, the Likud secretariat passed a to him by the Likud’s constant ef- six seats, he succeeded. A sharp proposal prohibiting the return of forts to woo him since then. political operator, he was one of the him and his New Hope colleagues Benjamin Netanyahu’s associ- behind-the-scenes architects of the to Likud, where he was once Net- ates leaked a trial balloon that he current government, and persuad- anyahu’s No. 2. THE DEPUTY would offer Gantz to serve as prime ed Bennett not to join forces with Meanwhile, Sa’ar will use minister for four years, while he Netanyahu again. the power he has to cause as PREMIERS would suffice with the alternate or Now Sa’ar wants to prevent a many headaches as possible for deputy prime minister title. Netanyahu comeback by pass- Netanyahu and his other former The obviously bitter Gantz has ing term limits, and preventing a colleagues in Likud. • made a point of not ruling out ac- candidate under indictment from By GIL HOFFMAN

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 24 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 nvironmental Protection The government’s diversity, scenes, Shaked said last month TAMAR Minister and former from the far Left to far Right of the that Yamina - led by Bennett - Meretz leader Tamar political map, does not prevent it would quit the government if Yair Zandberg never dreamed from getting things done, she said. Lapid advances Palestinian state- ZANDBERG, Ethat she would serve in She believes it is the serious person- hood when he becomes prime a government led by the former alities involved and the desire to minister in two years. AYELET SHAKED head of the Yesha Council of help the country that enables the “There will not be a Palestinian Settlements, Prime Minister Naftali divides to be overcome. state in a government that we Bennett. “I see that the experiment is [Yamina] are party to,” said AND YIFAT But now she not only defends working,” she said. “The previous Shaked, adding that there is an Bennett’s government, in an inter- government was more homoge- agreement that this government SHASHA-BITON view with The Jerusalem Post, she neous, but due to its ministers’ per- will not deal with divisive matters. pronounces it a resounding suc- sonal behavior, even if they had the As interior minister, Shaked cess. Like fellow party #2s Ayelet same views, they were busy fight- plays a critical role relevant to Shaked and Yifat Shasha-Biton, ing each other and stealing each Jews around the world today. It is Zandberg is an independent force other’s credit." her ministry after all, that is creat- who has been given tremendous Asked what her red lines are for ing the most obstacles for people responsibility and intends to use remaining in the government, who want to visit the country de- her ministry to make Israel a better Zandberg admitted that such spite COVID restrictions. place. red lines have already been test- Shasha-Biton, number two on Shaked is on the list for her ined with the Evyatar outpost, the the New Hope list, has caused fluence behind the scenes on controversial citizenship bill and Bennett quite a headache in 13 Bennett and Shasha-Biton for the state budget. She recalled that recent weeks, putting up a fight her controversial decisions that when there was a dispute with against government efforts to have clashed with the rest of the Bennett over a bill Meretz opposed, setting up vaccination centers in government, but all three #2s have he made a point of meeting with schools. She got her way with the proven themselves a force to be the Meretz faction at 2 a.m., listen- decision to start the school year as reckoned with in different ways. ing and compromising. planned on September 1 but lost THE NUMBER “I didn’t think I’d be an MK or a Zandberg insisted on the out on the fight against in-school minister as a child,” Zandberg said. Environmental Protection port- vaccines. TWOS “I kind of fell into politics. When folio in coalition talks, knowing “I know how important it is I was an MK in the opposition in that such issues have grown in im- to you, how important it is to Meretz, which was perpetually in portance around the world. While children, how important it is to the opposition, I imagined being there are environmental achieve- parents” to return to school, she in a government some day but ments in which Israel leads the explained. “We deserve to cre- never in such an experimental world, like water recycling and ate certainty and stability in the government that the international desalination, there are plenty in education system, so that we can media called ‘the great experi- which Israel lags behind. start the year in a good way.” • ment.’” Showing her power behind the By GIL HOFFMAN and LIAT COLLINS

(MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 25 Spotlight on iSraeli medicine Spotlight on iSraeli medicine

the development of solutions and technological innovations that have enabled the provision of “remote” Clalit HealtH ServiCeS medical services. The epidemic has been a test for remote medical care while removing regulatory barriers Leads the Way in the Fight against the Pandemic and lowering the threshold of suspicion of patients and medical staff to this new technology. At the height of the morbidity, more than 50% of family and pediatrician visits Dr. Daniel lalit stands at the fore- were conducted remotely online. King front of Israel’s national The pandemic has shown that a (photo by hagit effort against the coro- suitable technological infrastructure, KiKin even navirus. The epidemic operational and managerial flexibility hen) has presented unique based on computerized medical files C that centralize the information for challenges, and Clalit has distin- guished itself in its clinical, research, each patient has made it possible to operational, and managerial capabili- remotely administer quality medical ties. The Israeli public has seen Clalit’s care. capabilities during this period in deal- During this period, Clalit has ing with COVID-19, and they have continued to develop and adapt been recognized around the world. services tailored to patients’ needs. Clalit, Israel’s largest and leading Services that can be used from home health service organization, shapes have been expanded, such as an online and influences the Israeli health pharmacy service for home delivery, system. As a healthcare organization creating a network of volunteers that provides medications to at-risk heDva that provides medical services to 52% vaCCine operation (Courtesy Clalit) emuna of the Israeli population (4.7 million populations, and the deployment (Courtesy of digital services that will enable Clalit) patients), manages 1500 community clinics and 14 public hospitals, the telephone or video consultations says, “My job in the past year has been challenge during the pandemic is Corona warD at Clalit’s hospital (Courtesy Clalit) with a family doctor, pediatrician, providing vaccines to 200 vaccine great. and consultants. Another example centers and managing inventory. Clalit has used all the resources at its in online medicine is the new home The vaccination campaign is an disposal to deal with Corona patients ultrasound service that is being used saturation meters, and supplying ongoing operation that has involved in hospitals and the community, at brought a family to say goodbye to by many pregnant women. them with a contact to which they determining the populations home, and is leading the fastest and a loved one on their deathbed. But Still another example is Clalit’s can turn at any moment if their who were initially eligible for the most effective vaccination campaign the most meaningful experience was initiative for conducting health condition worsens, or to taking care vaccine – initially adults 60 and over, in the world. the discharge of the oldest patient, promotion workshops and activities of various tests they were required and eventually to the rest of the online, using a digital system to allow Clalit’s hospitals have been a a 79-year-old to rehabilitation after to perform for non-corona medical population. Bringing the vaccinations Clalit’s members to connect from backbone of the national hospital surviving ventilation.” issues. to those who were confined to their their homes.This digital system has system, opening hospital wards Clalit also stands out in its care “The biggest challenge for me was homes was challenging, as was allowed Clalit to continue to offer to treat severe COVID-19 patients of COVID-19 patients within the realizing during the early stages bringing the vaccines to the at-risk quality health promotion group and complex medical conditions. community - those who are recovering of the pandemic that most of the population while maintaining the services on topics such as smoking Dr. roni Hospitals are adopting new at home. The State of Israel is among vereD the few health systems where care of Corona patients rests on the highest standards.” cessation, weight control, diabetes, (Courtesy technologies for remote monitoring community clinics’ shoulders and The logistical operation was Clalit) COVID-19 patients receive treatment and breastfeeding, from their and patient care, conducting accompanied by the cooperation and medical follow-up through the that the community health care homes, during periods of personal collaborations with start-ups and of many factors responsible for the health maintenance organizations, operations can prevent a flood of new quarantine. Since the beginning of leading research on the coronavirus, safe arrival of the vaccines at the and the family physician. This patients to hospitals. We continue the pandemic, over 4000 people have and have even opened clinics to treat to treat all other acute and chronic CoviD-19 mobile testing vans (Courtesy Clalit) complexes. The vaccination centers system, in which mildly ill patients participated in these special activities. those recovering from Corona while diseases, while treating Corona offered extended hours of operation, are regularly cared for and monitored Hedva Emuna, director of Clalit’s monitoring the long-term effects of patients. About 60% of those who and we had to respond at many hours in their homes, enables optimal Southern District, sums up her the disease (long Covid). have had Corona in Israel have been the world. To date, Clalit has given vaccinated en masse. This feeling was of the day.” feelings thus far. functioning of the in-patient system. Dr. Daniel King is an expert in treated by Clalit’s staff and have 7,000,000 vaccine doses (first, second strengthened when the public came Another significant achievement “Dealing with the struggle against Since the outbreak of the pandemic, pulmonary medicine and intensive received medical and professional and third doses). At the peak of the to the clinics and encountered an that brought Clalit exposure and Corona has been a challenging 400,000 corona patients have been care and manager of the Corona guidance.” operation, 150,000 patients were easily accessible, friendly and orderly international renown was a series experience. There have been several treated at home. In a short period, A section at Meir Hospital. “There One of the cases that left a significant vaccinated each day, and hundreds process. of studies led by Clalit’s Research memorable landmarks, from the Clalit established a plan to accompany were many challenges in setting up impression on Dr. Vered was that of of vaccination clinics operated daily. Clalit and the State of Israel are Institute regarding the effectiveness of opening of complexes to conduct and monitor patients throughout the the ward,” he says, “but the main a young woman who had just given The response of the Israeli public has currently in the midst of a vaccination vaccines. Clalit’s research capabilities Corona tests, to vehicles that went to challenge is working for long hours country. Family physician and nurses birth and who was ill with Corona, been amazing. Among the reasons campaign to provide the third vaccine culminated in the publication of a Bedouin villages to conduct testing.” sefi under strict protective conditions have maintained regular contact with together with her infant daughter. for this are Clalit’s transparent (booster), thus making Israel’s series of studies regarding the efficacy The fight against Corona is in full sobbol that are challenging on several levels: those who are ill and have provided roitblat “She was at home alone, and she and conduct, supported by facts regarding citizens pioneers at the international of corona vaccines and the resistance swing and is not over yet. On every (photo the heat, the inability to drink and for all of their medical needs. her baby were ill. There was no family the vaccine, and an unequivocal level. Clalit immediately mobilized of the vaccine to various variants in possible front, Clalit is leading the by miChal refresh even for a second, the physical Dr. Roni Vered, Clalit’s Chief Koshrov) or friends who could help, and we, assurance from all parties in the all that was needed for the effort the real world. Clalit was the first to way due to the capabilities of its limitations in movement and vision, Physician in the Tel Aviv District says, the command center staff, mobilized. health system that this is the only with the reopening of vaccination publish the study, which appeared in 45,000 employees who work day and the distance from patients. We “Managing the Corona Operation We doctors and employees took way to eradicate the epidemic. The centers to facilitate the rapid and the New England Journal of Medicine. and night to meet the needs of every had many unforgettable experiences Center combines several essential care of everything she needed, from combination of transparency, along effective vaccination of members of The ability to take Big Data and patient and ensure the continuation at the Corona ward, with many ‘first- roles. On a practical level, it means medication to diapers.” with the public’s trust in clinic the populations entitled to the third translate it quickly into supporting of routine life as much as possible. time’ events. For example, the first receiving daily lists of hundreds and The vaccination campaign has staff - doctors and nurses who have vaccine dose. information in medical decision- The medical teams are imbued with a time a corona patient entered the thousands of new Corona patients, propelled Clalit and the State of Israel accompanied them for years - along Sefi Sobol Roitblatt, Director of making has been a significant tool sense of mission and recognition that ward, the first time we connected contacting them to provide guidance into the world’s consciousness. The with advocacy and educational the Corona Vaccine Operation in formulating policy during the they are taking part in a historic event a patient to oxygen, the first time on quarantine and monitoring their successful and rapid vaccination activities on every possible platform Headquarter in the past year and epidemic in Israel and worldwide. and are prepared for it with all their we intubated a sick person, and, medical condition, sending them kits campaign has been widely covered and setting a personal example, currently Director of Nursing in The Corona pandemic that has strength and energies. • unfortunately, the first time we for temperature monitoring, oxygen in the media in Israel and around caused the Israeli people to get the Sharon and Shomron District, forced social distancing has led to By n. horovitz

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 26 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 Spotlight on iSraeli medicine Spotlight on iSraeli medicine

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 27 (MARC ISRAEL SELLEM /COURTESY)

t’s been a busy two years for almost daily operational activity While serving as Mossad director, AVIV Israel’s top security officials, against both Iran and its prox- Barnea has continued with devel- Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi and new ies in Syria and Lebanon where oping and strengthening strategic KOHAVI Mossad chief David Barnea, Hezbollah reigns. cooperation with countries and Ifighting a war they never imag- The past year has seen an in- organizations – intelligence and ined they'd fight – the coronavirus crease in the pace and quality other – across the globe. AND DAVID and overseeing the battle against of Israeli strikes against Iranian Many substantial challenges threatsthrough a time of political assets in Syria, including kinetic face the Mossad director, with the BARNEA and economic uncertainty. operations as well as an expansion primary mission continuing to be Kohavi began his term in 2019 of both covert and clandestine to thwart Iran’s nuclear weapons when Israel’s usual foes – Iran, operations. program. Hezbollah and Hamas – were top “Our message is clear,” Kohavi Just as crucially, Barnea has been priorities. And throughout his has warned. “We will continue tasked with working to prevent tenure, no matter the surrounding to act as vigorously as necessary the establishment of an arsenal of difficulties, Israel’s war-between- against Iranian entrenchment in advanced precision surface-to-sur- wars campaign against Iran and Syria, and we are fully prepared for face rockets on Israel’s borders. its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah has any sort of aggression against us.” In his opening speech in June, seen action on a weekly basis. Barnea stepped into his role with Barnea alluded to potential assassi- Over the past year under his a bang. nations of Iran's nuclear scientists 14 command, the IDF has acted On June 23, only three weeks and attacks on its facilities. aggressively against Israel’s en- after he had taken office, a facili- Barnea said “the Iranian emies, from north to south. It’s ty for assembling advanced cen- [nuclear] program will continue also played a key role in the fight trifuges at Karaj was attacked and to be met with the full power of against the coronavirus that has seriously damaged by a drone. the long arm of the Mossad. We raged across the entire world. Less than two months later, Bar- are very familiar with the different KEEPING He believes it is of utmost im- nea was holding critical meetings components of the nuclear pro- portance to build the military for with CIA Director William Burns. gram and we are very familiar per- ISRAEL SAFE threats it will face some 30 years The Post has learned that during sonally with the officials involved in the future and constructed the the Barnea and Burns meeting, in it and also with the officials who IDF’s multi-year plan accordingly, the clandestine chiefs engaged direct them.” with new concepts and methods discussed the deep and daring ties Based on the past, the coming of warfare that have been adapted between the two organizations year will be no less exciting, not for to the challenges of the urban bat- and the joint challenges confront- Israel or Kohavi and Barnea. • tlefield saturated with enemy fire. ing the two countries and their By YONAH JEREMY BOB But it’s the North that has seen intelligence bodies. and ANNA AHRONHEIM

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 28 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 NICOLA icola Mendelsohn, job title doesn’t need to be ‘creative’ exciting phenomenon [of the the British advertising to be creative and it can be an inte- internet] was just picking up, and I MENDELSOHN executive named Face- gral part of any role. Using past ex- was already fascinated with it,” she book’s vice president for periences will always bring a new told the Post. “At that moment I re- AND ADI NEurope, the Middle East dimension to any role you take on.” alized I didn’t want to be a lawyer, and Africa, has been a strong force Mendelsohn, the daughter of as the vision... of how for the first taking the industry by storm. kosher caterers who – Celia Clyne time technology will directly serve SOFFER TEENI She has always been led by her Banqueting – has not had it easy. In people in a way that will change our Jewish heritage, with strong values 2016, she was diagnosed with follic- lives was just so exciting.” instilled in her at a young age. ular lymphoma, a rare and incur- She told of her army service, “I grew up in Manchester, able form of blood cancer. The diag- where she served in the Israel Air England, in an Orthodox home in nosis did not stop her, though. She Force, and how even then started to which my parents taught me about launched the Follicular Lymphoma show a passion for data. tikkun olam, giving to charity and Foundation (www.theflf.org) and “This was really the first time I helping people,” Mendelsohn told continued her work. understood the power of data in the The Jerusalem Post. “It’s always been “I feel grateful to be blessed with process of decision making in reality a fundamental part of my Jewish a life that I cherish and that there – and I was astonished by the idea of life, of my DNA and who I am. It’s were not big changes that I wanted prediction models and the impact 15 something which motivates me in to make,” she said on the matter. they can have on our lives,” she my day-to-day work and which I “Work is a huge part of my identi- explained. “Little did I know that hope my husband, Jon, and I have ty and it’s something that gives me 30 years later, data and prediction instilled in our four children.” energy rather than saps it.” models would be such a huge part of Mendelsohn had her start in a Adi Soffer Teeni has been push- everything we do in the tech indus- surprisingly different career path, ing Israel as the Start-Up Nation try and of every part of our lives." FACEBOOK studying English and drama for for years – and, as Facebook Israel’s To young women, she says: “Bet her bachelor’s degree. She was later general manager, has managed to on yourself. Have the confidence EXECUTIVES inspired by a good friend to pursue create platforms for Israelis to push to set ambitious goals and follow advertising and quickly fell in love. themselves forward in the industry. them and not be afraid to take on “The creativity, the problem-solv- Teeni didn’t start in the tech in- the roles that feel almost ‘too big.’ ing, the innovation, are all skill dustry – in fact, she’d been studying Invest in yourself with the support sets that I have learned and that law when she fell in love with tech you need while growing a family I continue to draw upon,” she back in the early 1990s. and managing a career.” • explained. “I’m a believer that your “As you can imagine, the new By TAMAR BEERI

(COURTESY) (RAMI ZERNGER)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 29 Spotlight on leket iSrael Spotlight on leket iSrael

COVID Can’t stOp Leket! Leket IsraeL – rescuIng surpLus food for those In need

Gitler himself has spent much of the past year and a half, “hunkered down in my house,” as he puts it, making sure that Leket has had the financial resources it needed to maintain its operations throughout the year. “It has been a challenging but rewarding year for our team, from top to bottom,” he says, “and I give them great kudos for their leadership. “We are fortunate that in 2020, people came out of the woodwork and wanted to help. It was a joy to see,” says Gitler. Leket needs volunteers, says Gitler, and he points out that the organization follows all health and safety standards to ensure the wellbeing of those who are volunteering. Most of the volunteering that is needed is at the Leket warehouse in Gan Haim near Kfar Saba, repackaging fruits and vegetables for distribution for agency partners, and dividing fruits and vegetables into different gradations and vegetables received from the farming for allocation to soup kitchens and private industry has continued over the past year and individuals. a half. Gitler says that Leket exceeded its goal “We are thankful that the charitable of obtaining 20 million pounds of fruits and community has come along with us vegetables by 10 million in 2020, receiving 30 and allowed us in a time – during in a million pounds. This year, the organization worldwide crisis when we might have had is on a pace to receive 55 million pounds of to cut our services – to increase our services fruits and vegetables. tremendously,” says Joseph Gitler. Social Apart from the challenge of obtaining service should lead in a time of great crisis.” enough food to support those in need, What lies ahead for Leket in the New Year Gitler says that Leket’s senior staff has had of 5782? Speaking of the resurgence of the to reimagine its entire operation in the past pandemic after it had seemingly died out he past year,” says Jo- and army bases, ensuring that excess collected was dramatically reduced. year and a half. Due to the pandemic, the in May and June, Gitler says, “Two months seph Gitler, founder and food that remains from events can be Much of Israel’s tourism industry has organization had to reduce its number of ago, I would have had a different answer. chairman of Leket Israel, utilized for those in need. Second, Leket vanished, says Gitler, and as a result, volunteers by tens of thousands and adjust its Now that we see that COVID has reared the leading food rescue works with the farming community, “many of the hotels that we work with logistics, especially during the early months its ugly head again, if this means closures, “T organization in Israel, packing houses, kibbutzim, and were shut down. Others are operating of the crisis when people did not fully many corporations who were starting to “has been unexpected in its highs and moshavim, rescuing surplus fruits at a low capacity. They are cooking less, understand how the virus was transmitted. bring employees back and reopen corporate lows.” Over the past year and a half, Le- and vegetables and donating them to so there is less excess,” explains Gitler. Leket works with more than 300 charitable cafeterias will close their physical offices. If ket, which supplies hundreds of charita- individuals and organizations. Leket Israel approached caterers, hotels, organizations and normally supplies them this happens, we will have to find new sources ble organizations with food to distribute “What’s happened over the past and restaurants and purchased meals with food, which they, in turn, provide of food and funds to take care of our clientele.” to those in need, has experienced many year,” he says, “is of those two projects, from them, so that it could continue to to their clients. In the first months of the Leket is in the midst of its annual holiday challenges. The organization’s mission one has skyrocketed, and one has provide food for its clients. pandemic, many of these organizations were fundraising campaign that will enable it to is to lead the safe, effective, and efficient plummeted.” Leket receives the bulk On the flip side, he adds, there has forced to close, and Leket had to make sure maintain the assistance that it provides. “I collection and distribution of surplus of its food from the IDF, followed by been an increase of more than 50% in that the food reached recipients. “We took beseech readers to give us a tailwind so that we nutritious food in Israel to those who hotels and corporate cafeterias. When the amount of produce rescued and it upon ourselves,” says Gitler, “together can continue providing maximum output for need it. This vision has been challenged the pandemic struck, the IDF changed delivered from farms. Initially, at the with the help of our partners, to make direct those in need,” says Gitler. Those interested during the pandemic. the way in which they served their start of the pandemic, farmers were left deliveries. That changed all our logistics, in volunteering for Leket, as well as those who Leket Israel operates two main projects, meals, and virtually all corporate with crops that they couldn’t sell in and that pressure came down on our staff to would like to donate to the organization, can explains Gitler. First, Leket works with cafeterias and hotels closed. As a result, their normal course of business. This figure out how to do it in a crisis that no one visit the website at leket.org/en. • the catering industry, hotels, cafeterias, the amount of excess food that Leket positive trend in the number of fruits understood.” By alan roSenBaum

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 30 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 Spotlight on leket iSrael Spotlight on leket iSrael

COVID Can’t stOp Leket! Leket IsraeL – rescuIng surpLus food for those In need

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 31 For immediate occupancy: 3-room apartment + garden RON KLAIN 16 CHIEF OF STAFF

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he White House's COVID-19 re- White House chief of staff,” Biden said when have the benefit of having worked for nine sponse is connected by infrastructure tapping Klain for the job. of the people who’ve done this job. I draw reform and a good relationship with Klain was raised in Indianapolis and at- something from all of them." Congress and all goes through Ron tended Georgetown and then Harvard Law “Ron Klain has been Joe Biden’s political al- T Klain, the White House chief of staff. School. He was a law clerk for Supreme Court ter ego for many of the last 40 years, regardless Klain is one of Biden’s closest confidants Justice Byron White. of his position or Biden’s interaction with Jews and first worked for him in 1989 when the In 1994, he became chief of staff to A-G and Israel,” Steve Rabinowitz, a Democratic president was a senator. He served as chief Janet Reno and later was general counsel to Party strategist, told The Jerusalem Post earlier of staff to Biden when he was VP and was Al Gore’s recount committee following the this year when Klain was appointed. “Along appointed as the Ebola response coordinator. 2000 election. Kevin Spacey played him in the way, Klain has proven himself as friendly “Ron Klain’s deep, varied experience and the HBO filmRecount . to our community and to Israel as we are with capacity to work with people all across the “I’m a staff person, not prime minister,” his old/new boss,” he added. • political spectrum is precisely what I need in a he told The New York Times podcast Sway. “I By OMRI NAHMIAS

endy Sherman serves as the deputy secretary of state. Her hands have been full since taking office in March, mainly Boutique reSidence for SeniorS Since 1995 dealing with China and recently with WAfghanistan. in the luxuriouS neighBorhood of arnona, JeruSalem Sherman was born in 1949 in Baltimore and worked as a social worker and in nonprofits before shifting to strategic communication in the 1980s. She first joined State in 1993 as assistant secretary for Neve legislative affairs. In the past three decades, she served in different positions under three administrations, dealing Shalem iS with issues from North Korea to the Dayton Accords. WENDY For the Jewish community, she is mostly known for her aN aSSiSted role negotiating the 2015 Iran nuclear accord. SHERMAN “For me personally, one of the most difficult parts was liviNg the tension with this beloved country and its people,” Sherman said in 2016 about Israel, according to Defense facility for News. “So having the dissension and the difficulties that retireeS aNd we had in this process – and with the American Jewish community of which I consider myself a part – was very, SeNiorS with very painful,” she said then. In March 2021, she addressed prospects of rejoining 60% eNgliSh the JCPOA noting that it was impossible to return to the starting gate because the world had changed in the six SpeakerS! years since the deal was signed. 17 Among the regional shifts she referenced were the Abraham Accords that Donald Trump brokered full calendar of activities and entertainment in english and hebrew! between Israel and four Arab states. These normalization deals with Israel were “a good quality apartments built to high standards with balconies & gardens thing,” and they have “changed the geopolitics of the region, and that means that one has to think of this in TOP DIPLOMAT Professional medical services a different way because there are different elements on the table,” she said. • a dedicated staff providing for all the needs of our senior citizens 24/7 - Just like family! By OMRI NAHMIAS

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27 Koreh-hadorot St., JeruSalem THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 33 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 *3204 neve.Shalem @gmail.com | www.neve-Shalem.co.il

AVIGDOR LIBERMAN 18

THE GRAND VIZIER

hen Avigdor Arabs, haredim (ultra-Orthodox) budget is not yet passed into Liberman was or Netanyahu. He gave an am- law. Lobbies of farmers, IDF foreign minister biguous response at the time, soldiers and the handicapped and defense but since then, the answer has have already started protesting. W minister, then- become clear. The haredim will fight reforms prime minister Benjamin He deposed Netanyahu and about kosher supervision that Netanyahu was clearly still blocked Shas and United Torah are in Liberman’s Economic Ar- in charge of making the big Judaism from joining the current rangements bill, the omnibus decisions. government. But in a recent legislation that accompanies Now that he is finance interview with Maariv jour- the budget. minister, Liberman’s power is un- nalist Ben Caspit, Liberman, Meanwhile, Liberman has questionable. Arguably Israel’s who built a career out of fight- tried to stay above the fray on strongest finance minister since ing Arab politicians, praised other issues. He attempted to Netanyahu left the post 16 years Abbas and justified investing an stay away from everything relat- ago, Liberman has been given unprecedented amount in the ed to COVID-19, like the plague the right to personally han- Arab sector in the 2021-2022 that it is. He was criticized for dle Israel’s finances by Prime state budget. sending Amer to the Ministerial Minister Naftali Bennett Liberman has said that his job Committee on the Coronavirus, Other finance ministers were as finance minister is to do what but he continued keeping his dis- limited by the oversight of an is best for the economy, not to tance. independent chairman of the make friends. And he is taking Liberman will make every ef- Knesset Finance Committee that commitment seriously. fort to keep the government go- and meddling deputy ministers. The budget he has put forth ing for its entire term that ends Liberman has his underlings is one of the most ambitious in November 2025, which would in Yisrael Beytenu, MK Alex Israel has seen, with reforms require passing another budget Kushnir and Hamed Amer, as touching on most aspects of in two years. the committee chairman and life. Most of the reforms he is Whenever the next election a minister inside the Finance looking to push through are in happens, if Netanyahu is not Ministry. the fields of agriculture, regula- there, Liberman will be able to Liberman earned that power tion and bureaucracy, housing, say that he is the only candidate by taking the first steps to bring employment, transportation and who has held the defense, foreign Netanyahu down. His refusal to other matters, which are fixes affairs and finance portfolios and join a Netanyahu-led coalition that the OECD and local econo- stake a claim for the premiership. after the April 2019 election mists have been recommending Or Liberman, who is 63, led to the three elections that for years or even decades. could retire from politics and followed, and his agreement But he will have to do battle earn a windfall in the private to enter a coalition with Ra’am with many interest groups sector, taking advantage of the (United Arab List) head Mansour to push them through by connections and experience he Abbas ended the political crisis. the November 4 deadline earned in his successful career in The Jerusalem Post once asked when elections would be politics. • Liberman whom he hated more: automatically initiated if the By GIL HOFFMAN and ZEV STUB

(MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 36 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 upreme Court President Esther faithful to her husband – which ESTHER Hayut knew she was walking overturned the Rabbinic High into one of the most stressful and Court on the issue – and struck HAYUT controversial jobs in the country down the law that exempted the Swhen she took over in 2017, but no haredi sector from IDF service, one could ever have imagined the intensi- setting a deadline of January 6, ty of attacks she has had to fend off. 2022 for the state to pass a new With around four years under her belt law or begin a universal draft. as the chief and another two plus years to Like her predecessor, Miriam go, she's on track to be the most influential Naor, she is categorized by many chief justice since Aharon Barak. as a moderate activist. She is Hayut will eventually serve longer than ready to strike down Knesset laws predecessors Miriam Naor and Asher and state policies in particular Grunis combined and the historic rulings circumstances, but tries to avoid 19 during her term overshadow even the wading too deeply into issues major decisions that came down during with larger political implications. Dorit Beinisch’s era. Despite angering the Right and For some years, less influential the haredi political parties, some politicians had expressed their anger at ju- of the above decision and her dicial decisions by threatening to use a D-9 leading an 11-0 vote in May 2020 INFLUENTIAL (armored bulldozer) to demolish the court. to green-light Netanyahu to form But it was only with two years of bru- a new government despite being tal election campaigning as well as the indicted will always also mar her CHIEF JUSTICE era of former prime minister Benjamin name on the Left. • Netanyahu under indictment and turn- By YONAH JEREMY BOB ing his full fury on the courts along with Amir Ohana, his former justice minister, that the judiciary faced the real potential of being taken apart. With the government of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid taking power in mid- June and Gideon Sa’ar becoming justice minister, Hayut could finally give off a sigh of relief. That sigh of relief could also be seen in delayed rulings that were rushed out in droves. In recent months, Hayut and the High Court endorsed the Jewish Nation State Law, angering many on the political Left, as well as endorsing the alternate prime minister rotation related basic laws and a basic law extending the time to pass the budget as constitutional. This was after 17 months of also holding that nearly all coronavirus emergency laws, including Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) surveillance of infected persons was constitutional (the court very be- latedly rolled back the surveillance, but only once the volume of infections had dropped dramatically.) On the flip side, the High Court infuri- ated the political Right by even hearing some of the above basic law cases which the Right believes the court lacks jurisdic- tion to even debate. Moreover, the High Court angered the Right with limits on Netanyahu’s involvement in law enforcement appointments (while he was still prime minister) order- ing the appointment of a police chief and justice minister (when Netanyahu was stalling his coalition partner Benny Gantz’s picks). In addition, the High Court endorsed non-Orthodox conversions, granted equal financial rights to a wife who had not been

(MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 37 Spotlight on Eldan Spotlight on Eldan

and he says with a smile, “In Israel of stations throughout the country. “It expectations for the coming year? 1967, if you were an officer, you were will take time,” he adds. Dahan, who is eighty years old and sson) considered second only to God.” Eldan, says Dahan, is working has nine grandchildren and two Yossi Dahan Dahan decided to try out the car on additional strategies for further great-grandchildren, chuckles and rental business for six months and company growth, but he notes that says, “I no longer buy green bananas. told himself that he could always it is difficult to plan these days in When you are young, you take good return to his IDF job if the company the shadow of the corona pandemic. health for granted. My hopes and didn’t succeed. “At first, I bought four “What seems promising today may expectation are for good health, Contessas (a Japanese car that was

(All photos by DAviD sA DAviD by (All photos not turn out to be successful in the and to enjoy what God allows us to assembled in Israel),” he recalls. Then future,” he says. “Corona has caused a do. I pray that our children remain Life, famiLY, we sold all four, and I purchased eight great deal of uncertainty, and people healthy and fulfill their dreams, and more.” In the wake of the Six-Day are afraid to make investments, I pray that the country will continue War, the country grew rapidly, and especially in older, more established to do well, offering a quality of life for throngs of tourists began to arrive. industries.” everyone.” • Eldan flourished. “The country grew, What are Dahan’s personal By alan RoSEnBaum and tourism grew. The path proved anD eLDan itself, and the rest is history,” he says. In 1980, Eldan opened additional branches, including one in Tel Aviv, and in 1986, the company opened an office at Ben Gurion Airport. Today, the company operates 24 branches very day is a new of his family roots, Dahan hands me throughout the country and is active beginning of a new a colorful book in Hebrew, entitled in many different fields, including car year,” says Yossi ‘Poems of the Heart -- Stories of rental in Israel, operational leasing, Dahan, head of the Moroccan emigres in songs and private leasing, car rental abroad, car Eldan Group, Israel’s rhymes,’ which features poems sales, insurance, hotels and vehicle “E transportation, and other holdings. leading auto leasing and rental car describing the lives of Moroccans who conglomerate, which he co-founded moved to Israel, along with photos Yossi Dahan’s two sons run the 54 years ago in 1967. Sitting comfort- of families from Morocco and Israel. company on a day-to-day basis, but ably in his spacious office at company The book contains a page describing he still comes to his office each day, headquarters in Tel Aviv, wearing Yossi Dahan and his family. Dahan’s spending four or five hours daily at rimless glasses and a friendly, crinkly father, a rabbi, was born in Salé, in the company headquarters. Yossi does smile, Dahan’s optimism reflects his northwest Morocco, near the capital not want to stop working. “When you personal experiences and successes in city of Rabat. Tragically, he died when succeed in something,” he says, “you life. Yossi was four years old. Photos of want to succeed even more. If you Yossi Dahan was born in Morocco in Yossi appear in the book – as a baby stop, then what will you do the next 1941. To gain a greater understanding with his father, in school in Morocco week?” he asks rhetorically. “I like and in Israel, with his mother and what I do, I see the fruits of my labor, family, and visiting his father’s grave and I can help others.” in Morocco, which he renovated. In late July, Dahan demonstrated In February 1955, Yossi made his generosity and willingness to help aliyah alone at the age of fourteen with a substantial NIS 21 million gift with Aliyat Hanoar, arriving at the to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon that dormitory of the Neve Amiel school will be used to complete the hospital’s near Sdeh Yaakov in the Jezreel cardiology building. “When you Valley. “We worked half a day and can do something like this,” he says, studied the other half of the day in “it gives you the satisfaction that the agricultural moshav,” he recalls. you have accomplished something Dahan studied there for two years, significant in life.” then went to Kibbutz Saad before Today, most of Eldan’s car business attending the technical school of is in leasing, and Dahan says that the Ordnance Corps (Heyl Himush). the company leases approximately He then entered the IDF, became an 25,000 vehicles. Interestingly, he officer, and was discharged from the says that while fewer tourists arrived army in August 1967, shortly after the during the pandemic, resulting in Six-Day War. fewer rentals, more Israelis purchased Dahan, who lived in Ashkelon cars through Eldan’s car sales because (he now lives in Tel Aviv), then people preferred to travel in their own embarked on his business career. He vehicles rather than risk becoming had trained both in insurance and in infected by utilizing crowded public real estate but instead decided to form transportation. a car rental company with a fellow The biggest issue confronting the Moroccan emigre, whose last name car leasing and rental business, says was Elbaz. Eldan, a contraction of the Dahan, is the future of electric cars. founders’ names – Elbaz and Dahan There is a great deal of uncertainty as – was born. Recalling his entry into to how the secondary car market will the car rental business, Dahan says, accept electric vehicles. Dahan notes “When I was discharged from the that there are a number of lesser- army in 1967 and went into the car known brands in the electric car rental business, everyone said I was market and predicts that there will be making a mistake.” He was starting greater acceptance and competition a new business shortly after a major when more of the major brands enter recession in Israel, and few felt that the market. He says that usage of he would succeed. In addition, Dahan electric cars for short-term rentals will had been very successful in the IDF, require a greater number of charging

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 38 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 Spotlight on Eldan Spotlight on Eldan

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 39 an Koum is your typical rags-to-riches success story, and considering that he co-founded Israel’s most popular JAN KOUM media application, that title does not go undeserving. Koum was the mind behind WhatsApp, the messen- Jger application that, for over a decade, has taken the world by storm. While Koum once stood in line for food stamps, he is now worth $10.8 billion. Israelis in particular find WhatsApp to be central to their lives. The Ukrainian billionaire began his life outside of Kyiv and left for California amid a troubling sociopolitical state in the region, as well as rising antisemitism. Ironically, he was initially rejected from working for Facebook. Once Apple launched the App Store, he thought 20 of WhatsApp, but it was far different from what it is today: then it was simply a platform of user statuses. A few users downloaded the initial version and used it to share statuses, which would be sent to their contacts. This developed into a form of communication, as people BEHIND started to chat over statuses in a “reply” option. Soon it was an instant messaging platform taking the world by storm. He sold the platform, which now houses over 2 billion WHATSAPP users, to Facebook for $22b. in cash and stock in 2014. He founded the Koum Family Foundation, which works primarily as a philanthropic venture. According to Jewish Insider, the foundation donated over $19 million to Jewish causes in 2018 alone. He has voiced opposition to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in the past, comment- ing on a Facebook post by StandWithUs in 2015 which pointed out apparent hypocrisy of BDS supporters, calling the post “priceless.” • By TAMAR BEERI

(ALBERT GEA/REUTERS) DAVID here is no question that the Abraham Accords have FRIEDMAN, changed the Middle East. Peace between Israel, the YOSSI COHEN, T United Arab Emirates, Bah- rain and Morocco has led to greater stability, not only for the Jewish state STEVE but for the entire region. These four men, some of the key architects behind the historic peace MNUCHIN deals, are no longer in government but they are still looking to make deals - AND JARED this time in finance. It is an interesting, but not surpris- KUSHNER ing move. The interplay between being a diplomat and an investor or being active in trade and commerce is natural. The same skills it takes to help smooth relationships between countries natu- rally translate to other walks of life. In addition, Jewish and Zionist history is replete with examples of those who were successful in both worlds, from Moses Montefiore to Isi Leibler, the 21 Australian Jewish activist and businessman who passed away this year. Yossi Cohen, who recently stepped down as head of the Mossad, was tapped by Softbank, the massive DIPLOMATS TO Japanese conglmerate holding company to lead their investement INVESTORS

(MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 40 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 (MARC ISRAEL SELLEM) (MARC ISRAEL SELLEM) (MARC ISRAEL SELLEM) arm in Israel. cybersecurity and fintech, which are major that combines business with working for a “One of the reasons for the choice of areas of interest for us,” Mnuchin said a few cause in which he strongly believes. Cohen is the fact that he is a well-known months ago, noting that his experience “I love this country, and the last four years and popular figure in Israel, even though he overseeing cybersecurity for the entire have been just a blessing to be here, and I does not have a background in investment,” financial services industry of the US, as well want to participate in the further growth of Globes noted. “Cohen has the ability as the IRS, is relevant for the new venture. Israel,” said Friedman. “This is the growth to connect to Israeli entrepreneurs and “We hope to be considered one of the best of Israel. This is part of what makes the technology and to open doors for them strategic partners in these areas,” he said, country great: it is a job creator, a growth in any company, government or public adding that in Israel, “there is a lot of great creator, and an area about Israel that the authority in any territory.” technology and we think we can grow busi- world admires.” Cohen was born in Jerusalem in 1961 and nesses.” Meanwhile Jared Kushner, son-in-law of served in the paratroopers before study- Mnuchin was born in New York in 1962 Trump and a key architect of the Abraham ing in London and joining the Mossad. and went to Yale, before working for Gold- Accords, is also going into the investment Appointed National Security Advisor to man Sachs, where his father had also world. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he worked. He left Goldman in 2002 and be- Born in 1981 to a real estate developer, became head of Mossad in 2016. Under came an investor, playing a key role in Kushner became integral to the business Cohen, Mossad was credited with numerous companies such as OneWest before being in the 2000s, expanding it and also pur- important operations designed to interdict tapped by Trump to lead the Treasury chasing the New York Observer. He played a Iran’s nuclear activities. Department. He became one of several key role in Trump’s campaign as a problem His name has been floated as a possible key former Goldman executives to go to solver, and later served as senior advisor to successor by Netanyahu in 2021 as the the helm of America’s key government the president, handling the most sensitive prime minister confronted political in- financial department. and important issues including peace in the fighting and another election. Instead of Mnuchin and his new investment firm Middle East. rushing into politics, Cohen has chosen a may open more offices in the region in Kushner is not starting a Miami-based different path, at least temporarily. countries that are part of the Abraham investment firm called Affinity Partners. “SoftBank has pioneered a new approach Accords. Although there is only sparse information to technology investing and created the Friedman, who was born in 1958 and stud- on this firm, the decision to go into the world’s largest ecosystem of emerging ied at Columbia before becoming a bank- investment world is part of the larger pat- technology champions,” Cohen said at ruptcy attorney, had worked with Trump tern of diplomats-turned-investors. the time of the announcement of his role. before he became president. He said later of Kushner, for instance, was a key “Israel’s advanced technology and entre- the Abraham Accords that the vision to put administration contact for business preneurial culture make it a natural fit for the peace deals together was there from the leaders and helped negotiate the United SoftBank’s investment vision, and I look beginning, and the goal was to build trust States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a free forward to helping fast-moving companies among the partners. “No one saw it com- trade agreement between the three North scale in the region and globally.” ing,” he said in a recent interview. American countries, as well as the OPEC+ Steven Mnuchin, the secretary of treasury Friedman met with the foreign ministers oil deal that led to the largest cut in oil pro- under President Donald Trump, and David of both Bahrain and the United Arab Emir- duction in history. Friedman, the former US ambassador to ates in mid-June, and said they both felt These men will be interesting to follow in Israel, recently opened an office in Tel Aviv that the peace agreements, despite the diffi- the years to come. Not only are they becom- for a new investment fund called Liberty culties faced during the recent war in Gaza, ing influential business players in Israel’s Strategic. had passed the test with flying colors. tech market, some of them are still holding “We’re opening an office here because of He said that leading Mnuchin’s on to political ambitions. • the extraordinary technology, especially in investment office in Israel is the rare job By SETH J. FRANTZMAN

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 41 Spotlight on iSraeli medicine Spotlight on iSraeli medicine

improving patient experience and tests and medical processes that a Center as a preliminary stage and in the best place to offer solutions. the human-machine interface, person undergoes from birth and an integral part of urban expansion Some of the processes that the artificial intelligence, data-driven throughout all stages of life. As part and the promotion of regional Innovation Center will promote will Soroka MedICal CenTer solutions, remote/Telemedicine, and of the research activities, a team of entrepreneurship,” says Mr. Shachar include training in entrepreneurship digital health. data scientists enables speedy access Hefetz, director of the Soroka for the various teams, transferring to the data of any dedicated target Innovation Center. The innovation knowledge on topics such as tools Providing external companies audience from the vast databases, activity within the hospital will be for evaluating new ideas, market Center of healthCare InnovatIon quick and convenient access thus enabling efficient work in incorporated into collaborations and competitors’ analysis, design to services development processes. with the involved entities in the thinking, sources of financing Companies that work together with innovation district to expand ventures, and more. The framework for Israel and the world The hospital is opening its doors to the hospital will enjoy consulting the aggregate benefit. Another will allow hospital staff to advance joint research activities with start-up services from entities in the business, opportunity for the involvement ideas, examine business viability legal and financial fields and receive of external parties comes from the and assess the potential for setting assistance in raising venture capital. mutual exploration of challenges up ventures. The Innovation Center soroka UnIversIty The center will provide them with by Soroka and information, will provide the supportive envelope access to an advanced workspace communication technology, and and accompany the teams in their MedICal Center, that includes meeting rooms, lounge intelligence army units that will journey and early stages of project areas, and tools for team activities. occupy the military bases adjacent inception. part of ClalIt “It is important to note that we to the hospital. This opportunity health servICes, Is are open to collaborations with will create cross-fertilization From advanced applied research companies at various stages, from and entrepreneurship based on to groundbreaking ventures the natUral plaCe beginning companies that can be integrated knowledge and experience assisted by clinical advice and access in the fields of cyber for the world of “Soroka is a leading university to develop to databases for building solutions, health, analysis of multiple sources medical center in various research through companies that have already of information, dealing with extreme fields and conducts hundreds of healthCare developed their solution and are climatic conditions, global warming, studies a year. The fact that the interested in validating and collecting and more. hospital is integrated within Ben- CoMpanIes. It feedback from users or conducting An example of cooperation with Gurion University creates fertile clinical trials and even companies external parties that is already ground for advancing research areas CoMbInes who are in commercial stages. We operational can be seen in the involving multidisciplinary teams knowledge and are aware of the challenges involved agreement signed between Soroka from the hospital and the academic in collaboration with hospitals and Medical Center and IAI’s Elta framework. Recently, as part of this experIenCe, therefore accompany the processes Company. The joint work between collaboration, an agreement was required to obtain regulatory and the organizations began with signed between the technology CoMprehensIve other approvals and enable fast- identifying challenges that arise transfer office at the university and paced work. Our role as a leading from the hospital staff, challenges the hospital to promote activities data, rICh center for medical services and a that have undergone a process of in the field of bio convergence. This source of knowledge and clinical screening, sorting, and evaluation field is gaining momentum and researCh, an excellence is to remove barriers and of the potential and future clinical includes combining biology with simplify processes in order to enable value. “The goal is to reach the tools and engineering methods from envIronMent that the hospital to become the natural market as quickly as possible with other disciplines such as electronics, allows for place where start-up companies in solutions that have a significant artificial intelligence, computational the field of health are established,” impact, so we connect challenges biology, physics, materials science ClInICal adds Yarden Nevo. that arise from real needs in the field and more,” says Professor Victor of clinical practice to knowledge and Novack, director of Soroka Clinical valIdatIon, and an Innovation through experience already gained in Elta in Research Center and director of the collaborations with developing advanced products and Department of Internal Medicine H entrepreneUrIal external parties converting them to medical needs. in Soroka. The hospital will examine We are already seeing the initiation the possibility of establishing spIrIt. The hospital is an integral part of the of projects that show significant ventures based on applied research, social, economic, and community potential for improving the face conduct market analyses, and fabric of the southern region. Most of medicine,” says Amit Frenkel, explore the economic feasibility of our employees are residents of the Director of the Unit for Locating and of building products, services, and he world of medicine is con- mulated over decades and are leading square meters that will be adapted companies and will provide a wide area, and we see great importance in Managing Patients at Risk and Head technologies for the benefit of public stantly searching for tech- three main tracks to encourage entre- for the needs of these activities. range of value-added services such as the involvement of regional factors of Innovation at the Hospital. health. The intention is to develop nologies and solutions to preneurship. The first is collaboration The building is in its advanced access to experts based on knowledge in the activities of the Innovation applied research by setting up a team improve and expand servic- with external parties. The second is architectural stages and will be and experience accumulated at the Center. From this point of view, the employees are the most that will build a prototype, map the T es for the benefit of patients. internal entrepreneurship, and the completed during the first half of hospital to validate ideas and provide consulting services in the center will important asset – leading market from a business perspective, In order to leverage new technologies third is promoting joint research and 2022. The new complex will enable advice to companies at various be provided by selected companies internal innovation and raise capital in the free market. and provide advanced, effective qual- building ventures based on applied cross-pollination of ideas between stages. Soroka is the second-largest located in the southern region. If For many years, there have been ity services for the residents living in research. These three tracks are oper- the various stakeholders, including hospital in Israel, operating the most- possible, students born and raised David Ben-Gurion said, “In those who foresaw the potential of the south of Israel, Soroka University ating in parallel to seed and nurture hospital staff, researchers from active delivery rooms (17,000 births in the south will be involved in the Negev, Israel’s creative and the Negev, “In the Negev, the people Medical Center is establishing an in- solutions for the benefit of improving academia, students from multiple per year), dealing with the highest setting up new ventures. “We want pioneering strength will be tested of Israel and its state will be tested – novation center that will promote the service and public health,” said Yard- clinical and technological disciplines, number of referrals in Israel to to increase the number of ventures - and this test will be fateful.” only with a collaborative effort can creation and development of unique en Nevo, Associate Director-General and external partners such as start- emergency rooms (250,000 per year), operating in the south, expanding We at Soroka agree with this we accomplish our great mission of solutions in the world of healthcare. of the medical center. ups and technology companies. and operating 14 internal laboratories the number of people who think, talk statement, and we decided to invest settling the desert, and making it “We have reached a point where the In addition, the center will seek in which approximately 4,000,000 and lead entrepreneurship processes. substantial resources in building the bloom. This effort will determine combination of computer systems, The Innovation Center - collaboration with government, samples are received per year, The hospital is a key partner in framework that will allow creativity the fate of the State of Israel and the diverse information sources together “City Square,” where clinical social, and environmental entities providing services to a population regional processes for promoting and the spirit of pioneering and status of our people in the history of with clinical, nursing, and rehabilita- excellence, applied research and who will work together on integrated of over one million people. Soroka innovation and initiatives led by entrepreneurship to be developed in humanity (Ben Gurion 1955).” tive knowledge and experience create entrepreneurial spirit meet projects to develop solutions for a is unique in this respect because it the Beersheva Municipality. For a supportive environment. Doctors, We are here to contribute, pull our a tremendous opportunity to estab- better medical future. The Innovation serves as the main hospital for the example, Soroka was chosen to lead nurses, social workers, nutritionists, weight and support the processes lish groundbreaking projects in the The Innovation Center will be the digital health sector within the that will help in turning the vision Center will focus on a number of entire population in the area. The and other hospital workers are a vast world of healthcare. At Soroka, we are located in the heart of the hospital, key areas, including personalized city’s innovation district. We view source of knowledge that experiences into reality. • data it possesses contains all the leveraging the assets that have accu- in a unique building covering 600 medicine, cyber for health systems, the establishment of the Innovation the challenges on a daily basis and is By XXX XXXXXX

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 42 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 Spotlight on iSraeli medicine Spotlight on iSraeli medicine

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 43 spotlight on isRAeli medicine

DOUGLAS Dr. Shlomi CoDiSh EMHOFF fter 48 Second-Ladies, the Biden-Har- ris administration made history in January, when Kamala Harris became the first female vice president, meaning Leading Soroka UniverSity MedicaL Athat for the first time, America also had a second gentleman - Douglas Emhoff. Born in 1964 in Brooklyn, Emhoff is also the first center, part of cLaLit HeaLtH ServiceS Jewish spouse of any vice president. He made his name as a successful litigator, working in several firms since the 1990s. After Biden and Harris won the 2020 presidential cam- 22 paign, he left his position as a partner at DLA Piper to avoid conflict of interests. eading a hos- Since becoming the second gentleman, Emhoff’s protocols that were already in pital under place.

main mission has been to encourage Americans (Courtesy) normal circum- to get the COVID vaccine. From Kansas to Ala- Since the beginning of the stances is chal- bama, and Illinois to Tennessee, he has toured the pandemic, Dr. Codish notes, THE VP’S lenging because Soroka has managed to have country repeating: “We need to do better.” “L of the resources that are lack- “We’re on a path to a more normal life but we are most mildly ill corona patients ing in the country’s health HUSBAND not there yet,” he said in Memphis recently. treated through the community system,” says Dr. Shlomi Cod- In his first interview, with NBC in June, he said clinics, primarily with Clalit ish, director-general of Soroka he also hoped to continue to use his position to health care clinics, instead of University Medical Center in speak out against antisemitism. hospitalizing them. Patients Beersheva. “Nowadays, during “I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been do- seriously ill with corona have corona, it requires one’s atten- ing, which is advocate on these issues,” he told been treated in the hospital tion 24/7, not just in treating NBC. “Kamala Harris has had a long history itself. patients, but in keeping with with the Jewish community, not just because she Critically ill corona patients at the hospital staff and their married me. So this isn’t just me. It’s the entire Soroka are treated in a separate well-being, in order to provide administration.” • intensive care unit (ICU) By OMRI NAHMIAS the best treatment for the citi- dedicated to corona patients, zens of the Negev.” rather than being placed in Dr. Codish, a graduate of Ben- internal medicine wards, says Gurion University’s Faculty of Dr. Codish. “They receive the (REUTERS) Health Sciences, was appointed same treatment as anyone who director-general in 2018. He needs to be in the ICU. We holds a master’s degree in udaism has a long tradition of helping those in want everyone to have the best the world in the coming year. nearby. A hi-tech park is just 800 public health from BGU and is a need. Ariel Zwang heads the American Jewish Joint ARIEL chance of survival.” Nevertheless, he says it is clear meters away from the hospital, specialist in internal medicine. Distribution Committee (JDC), the Jewish humanitar- Dr. Codish says that it is that the Israeli health system and the first innovation district Soroka University Medical ian organization. crucial to support hospital staff must change. “The current in Israel, located in Beersheva, ZWANG Center, explains Dr. Codish, is J Over a century old, the JDC is operational in over 70 during the pandemic. “This situation is not healthy, even with Soroka being a key unique among Israeli hospitals. countries, providing aid and community support to Jews week,” says Dr. Codish, “we in normal times. We are in a partner of its establishment, It is the second-largest hospital and working to “develop innovative solutions to Israel’s opened a new corona ward situation where the health encourages innovation and in Israel and the only one in most complex social challenges.” maintained by nurses from system has an annual shortfall development. “Research and the Negev, which covers 60% Zwang’s position in Jewish leadership shines not only the department of surgery.” of between NIS 3 and 5 billion.” innovation are a strategic of Israel’s landmass. With its in humanitarian aid. She hails from a family of educators He explains that this is a team The current circumstances put area for the hospital, and we 1,170 beds, Soroka provides and rabbis and is the current vice president of Congrega- effort, and every division in the constant pressure on medical have to progress as quickly as medical services to over tion B’nai Jeshurun in Manhattan. hospital is stepping up, taking teams. possible. The hi-tech world is one million residents of the Zwang wasn’t new to the CEO position either. She spent part in this national mission. In In his view, the country must going towards medicine, digital Negev. In addition, he notes, 12 years leading American social service agency Safe Hori- addition, he notes, “If we get to vastly increase the amount health, and biopharma. We the hospital has unusual zon. Under her leadership, the company doubled its size. an extreme situation, everyone of medical personnel in the want to be at the forefront of 23 strategic importance due to in the hospital will need to treat system and plan for the next these developments. This can 250,000 people annually were impacted by Safe Horizon’s its proximity to Gaza. “We are programs. corona patients.” 15 years. “Where will the next be a game-changer, not just for the only medical center that The JDC announced in October 2020 that Zwang would As head of Soroka, Dr. generation of doctors and us, but for the entire country, can provide a comprehensive be taking up the position – the first woman to do so in the Codish recognizes that he has nurses come from? Who will the health system, and for the response in any security event organization’s history. She started as CEO on January 2, a visible and public form of replace those who came from world.” involving Gaza,” says Dr. 2021. HUMANITARIAN responsibility. “What we say the Former Soviet Union in Ultimately, says Dr. Codish, Codish. “I’ve spent my career working on behalf of those who publicly has significance, and the 1990s? These issues were the most essential component In this respect, Soroka was don’t have all the basics that every human being deserves. we need to speak responsibly. true before corona and are even of Soroka is its staff. “Having the uniquely positioned to handle And I have also lived my life knowing that we Jews are all We need to encourage people more pressing now.” responsibility of maintaining the pandemic. “We have responsible for each other, no matter the circumstances,” and set a personal example. Looking beyond corona, the health of one million many emergency protocols Zwang said at the time. In a period where public Dr. Codish emphasizes the Israeli residents in over 60% and a culture that can adapt After a devastating earthquake struck Haiti on August trust in and compliance with importance of innovation and of the country’s landmass is a to emergency situations,” 14, killing over 2,000 people, the JDC announced it would governmental instructions is the unique role that Soroka tremendous responsibility. We says Dr. Codish. “We can get work with a local vendor to supply medical equipment to critical, our words and actions can play. “One of the most have 5,000 people on our staff, up to speed quickly in these a hospital affected by the disaster. have meaning. Our personal important elements of medicine and each morning when they circumstances.” Dr. Codish “We are heartbroken over the tragic loss of life in Haiti choices about attending mass today,” says Dr. Codish, is get up, they ask themselves, explains that Soroka treated and send our prayers to a people and nation in mourning events, for example, weddings “research and innovation.” ‘How can we help the residents the pandemic emergency in yet again,” JDC CEO Ariel Zwang said in a statement. “As or soccer matches, need to Soroka University Medical of the Negev today.’ This is our the same way that it has been we have done so many times in the past, we’ll be there to reflect this.” Center is uniquely qualified greatest asset, and my greatest trained to handle all unusual offer care, healing, and opportunities to empower Hai- Dr. Codish says that it is in this area, he explains. responsibility is to preserve this events, opening a command tians to build back better and safer.” • impossible to predict the effects Ben Gurion University, a spirit.” • By AlAn RosenBAum By SARAH BEN-NUN center, and using its emergency of the coronavirus in Israel and major research institution, is (COURTESY JDC)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 44 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 spotlight on isRAeli medicine

Dr. Shlomi CoDiSh Leading Soroka UniverSity MedicaL center, part of cLaLit HeaLtH ServiceS

eading a hos- protocols that were already in pital under place. normal circum- Since the beginning of the (Courtesy) stances is chal- pandemic, Dr. Codish notes, “L lenging because Soroka has managed to have of the resources that are lack- most mildly ill corona patients ing in the country’s health treated through the community system,” says Dr. Shlomi Cod- clinics, primarily with Clalit ish, director-general of Soroka health care clinics, instead of University Medical Center in hospitalizing them. Patients Beersheva. “Nowadays, during seriously ill with corona have corona, it requires one’s atten- been treated in the hospital tion 24/7, not just in treating itself. patients, but in keeping with Critically ill corona patients at the hospital staff and their Soroka are treated in a separate well-being, in order to provide intensive care unit (ICU) the best treatment for the citi- dedicated to corona patients, zens of the Negev.” rather than being placed in Dr. Codish, a graduate of Ben- internal medicine wards, says Gurion University’s Faculty of Dr. Codish. “They receive the Health Sciences, was appointed same treatment as anyone who director-general in 2018. He needs to be in the ICU. We holds a master’s degree in want everyone to have the best the world in the coming year. nearby. A hi-tech park is just 800 public health from BGU and is a chance of survival.” Nevertheless, he says it is clear meters away from the hospital, specialist in internal medicine. Dr. Codish says that it is that the Israeli health system and the first innovation district Soroka University Medical crucial to support hospital staff must change. “The current in Israel, located in Beersheva, Center, explains Dr. Codish, is during the pandemic. “This situation is not healthy, even with Soroka being a key unique among Israeli hospitals. week,” says Dr. Codish, “we in normal times. We are in a partner of its establishment, It is the second-largest hospital opened a new corona ward situation where the health encourages innovation and in Israel and the only one in maintained by nurses from system has an annual shortfall development. “Research and the Negev, which covers 60% the department of surgery.” of between NIS 3 and 5 billion.” innovation are a strategic of Israel’s landmass. With its He explains that this is a team The current circumstances put area for the hospital, and we 1,170 beds, Soroka provides effort, and every division in the constant pressure on medical have to progress as quickly as medical services to over hospital is stepping up, taking teams. possible. The hi-tech world is one million residents of the part in this national mission. In In his view, the country must going towards medicine, digital Negev. In addition, he notes, addition, he notes, “If we get to vastly increase the amount health, and biopharma. We the hospital has unusual an extreme situation, everyone of medical personnel in the want to be at the forefront of strategic importance due to in the hospital will need to treat system and plan for the next these developments. This can its proximity to Gaza. “We are corona patients.” 15 years. “Where will the next be a game-changer, not just for the only medical center that As head of Soroka, Dr. generation of doctors and us, but for the entire country, can provide a comprehensive Codish recognizes that he has nurses come from? Who will the health system, and for the response in any security event a visible and public form of replace those who came from world.” involving Gaza,” says Dr. responsibility. “What we say the Former Soviet Union in Ultimately, says Dr. Codish, Codish. publicly has significance, and the 1990s? These issues were the most essential component In this respect, Soroka was we need to speak responsibly. true before corona and are even of Soroka is its staff. “Having the uniquely positioned to handle We need to encourage people more pressing now.” responsibility of maintaining the pandemic. “We have and set a personal example. Looking beyond corona, the health of one million many emergency protocols In a period where public Dr. Codish emphasizes the Israeli residents in over 60% and a culture that can adapt trust in and compliance with importance of innovation and of the country’s landmass is a to emergency situations,” governmental instructions is the unique role that Soroka tremendous responsibility. We says Dr. Codish. “We can get critical, our words and actions can play. “One of the most have 5,000 people on our staff, up to speed quickly in these have meaning. Our personal important elements of medicine and each morning when they circumstances.” Dr. Codish choices about attending mass today,” says Dr. Codish, is get up, they ask themselves, explains that Soroka treated events, for example, weddings “research and innovation.” ‘How can we help the residents the pandemic emergency in or soccer matches, need to Soroka University Medical of the Negev today.’ This is our the same way that it has been reflect this.” Center is uniquely qualified greatest asset, and my greatest trained to handle all unusual Dr. Codish says that it is in this area, he explains. responsibility is to preserve this events, opening a command impossible to predict the effects Ben Gurion University, a spirit.” • center, and using its emergency of the coronavirus in Israel and major research institution, is By AlAn RosenBAum

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 45 (SNIR KAZIR)

STACY H. o Israelis and many Jewish couple's daughter Stacy H. Schusterman, a bil- organizations around the globe, the lionaire in her own right. Her late father, who SCHUSTERMAN name Lynn Schusterman is synony- died in 2000, was the founder and owner of mous with philanthropic endeavors Samson Resources, which over time became Taimed at improving quality of life, en- one of the largest oil and gas exploration and couraging leadership, strengthening Jewish production companies in the United States. identity, supporting Jewish innovators and After spending a year in Israel in the early expanding opportunities for service learning 1980s, Stacy, one of three siblings, returned to and promoting inclusivity. the US, graduated from Yale, and subsequently She and her late husband Charles created earned an MBA from the University of Texas. the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family She then began working in the family Foundation in 1987. Of the millions of dollars business, serving as its CEO and then sell- given away by the foundation, 75% went to ing it for $7.2 billion. Following the sale, she 24 Jewish causes and 25% to their home state founded Samson Energy’s deep-water drilling of Oklahoma. In 2020, the Schusterman company. family gave $400 million across its charita- Stacy serves as president of the Bezalel ble grant-making, including $150 million in Foundation, a non-profit organization which COVID relief efforts in the US and Israel. endows Jewish causes, and also sits on the TOP FUNDER The Schustermans have devoted substan- board of trustees of AIPAC. In addition, she is tial resources to ensuring a strong US-Israel a member of the international board of gover- relationship and to strengthening Israel as a nors of Hillel and with her husband Steven H. secure homeland for the Jewish people and a Dow, supports the JDC. thriving democracy. "Our Jewish values have always been – and They are the lead funders to support Israel will always be – at the core of our family’s and combat BDS on college campuses and philanthropy: a commitment to the pursuit are at the forefront of welfare work for Israel of justice (tzedek), repairing the world (tikkun through long standing support for child and olam) and treating all people with dignity and family safety, with particular focus on the civility (derekh eretz)," Stacy wrote on the prevention of child abuse and neglect. foundation's website. • The foundation is currently chaired by the By GREER FAY CASHMAN

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 46 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 ROMAN ABRAMOVICH 25

FIGHTING HATE

rehabilitation program in the southern Negev desert, helps to combat the area’s rising desertifi- cation and promotes increasing nature tourism to the area. Abramovich, who is of Jewish Lith- uanian descent, and is very sensitive to Holo- caust-related issues, decided to establish a forest of some 25,000 new and rehabilitated trees, in memory of Lithuania’s Jews who perished in the Holocaust, plus a virtual memorial and tribute to Lithuanian Jewry (Seed a Memory) enabling people from all over the world to commemorate their ancestors’ personal stories by naming a tree and including their name in the memorial. An ardent, long-time supporter of Jewish culture around the world and an avid fan of modern art, Abramovich continuously con- (SNIR KAZIR) tributes to Jewish art and culture initiatives, such as the Jewish Museum in Moscow and the M.ART contemporary culture festival in Tel Aviv. He also has been recognized by the Forum for Jewish Culture and Religion for his contribu- tion of more than $500 million to Jewish causes (GLYN KIRK/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES) in Israel, Russia and elsewhere over the past 20 years. ong before he became a well-known with leading figures and authorities around the In 2015, Abramovich donated approximate- name in the Western world, a resident of world to help spread the message. ly $30m., to Tel Aviv University to establish the UK and an Israeli citizen, in May 2018, As part of this effort, Chelsea players, man- an innovative Center for Nanoscience and mega philanthropist Roman Abramov- agement, staff and fans have personally met Nanotechnology, which aspires to become one Lich, who is believed to be one of the most with Holocaust survivors, joined the March of the leading facilities in the Middle East. affluent people in Israel, was among the most in- of the Living, and called to proactively tackle Still under construction, but nearing comple- fluential Jews in the former Soviet Union. antisemitism. The campaign involves part- tion, it will bear his name. In 1999, Abramovich who was then 33 years ners like the World Jewish Congress, ADL, the Among Abramovich’s other beneficiaries is old, was elected governor of the Russian prov- Holocaust Educational Trust, the Conference the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer to ince of Chukotka, and was subsequently elected of Presidents of Major American Jewish which he has donated in excess of $60m. for for a second term, serving until 2008. Organizations, the Jewish Museum, the Imperi- various advanced medicine ventures. These Among the Russians who became billion- al War Museum and the Royal Air Force. include the establishment of a new nuclear aires after the fall of the Iron Curtain, Forbes The Chelsea Foundation recently launched medicine center spanning 2,000 sq.m., the has ranked Abramovich as the 11th wealthiest a new program in partnership with the Peres Sheba Cancer and Cancer Research centers, the Russian, but has also noted that he has donated Center for Peace and Innovation and the Israeli Pediatric Middle East Congenital Heart Center more money than any of his compatriots to a Football Association, introducing football ses- and the Sheba Heart Center. variety of causes in Russia, Britain, the US, Portu- sions for Arab and Jewish children across Israel, a Recently, due to the alarming increase in gal and Israel, as well as in other countries. partnership that was developed following Chel- COVID-19 cases in Israel, Abramovich gave Globally, he is known as the owner of the sea Women’s visit to Israel in 2019, during which Sheba another donation for a new subterranean Premier League Chelsea Football Club, which he the team took part in football and education Intensive Care Unit, spanning 5,400 sq.m., to has used to motivate, educate and inspire fans to workshops with Arab and Jewish girls, benefit- provide Israel with vital crisis response in times fight hate racism. ing 1000 children in the first year alone. of national emergencies. Abramovich leads and funds a unique and In terms of both investments and philanthro- Alongside his philanthropic activity, comprehensive global campaign, under the py, Abramovich is a strong believer in diversity. Abramovich has invested some $120m. in 20 banner ‘Say No to Antisemitism,’ dedicated to A generous donation that he made to Israeli start-ups ranging from medicine and re- raising awareness of the evils of antisemitism Keren Kayemet LeIsrael-Jewish National newable energy, to social media. • from an educational perspective. The club works Fund (KKL-JNF) for a comprehensive forest By GREER FAY CASHMAN

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 47 ouda Nonoo is proud of ties that are forming in the region. number of initiatives, including HOUDA the era of peace in wake “When our leaders signed the exchange programs, Nonoo noted. of the Abraham Accords. Abraham Accords, they wanted to “We are still at the beginning of NONOO A former ambassador to create a new Middle East based on this relationship but we have done Hthe United States from peace and prosperity for all. When I so much in a year. It has been baby Bahrain, she spoke to The Jerusalem traveled with the [foreign] minister steps so far but the future is bright.” Post from Manama one day before for the signing of the Accords he Nonoo was a founding member the Association of Gulf Jewish said this is a warm peace, embraced of the Bahrain Human Rights Communities (AGJC) was to hold by leaders and their people,” she Society in 2004 where she fo- its first Shabbat dinner in Bahrain. said. cused on women’s rights and “I’m doing a taste test for the Bahrain announced that it would children’s rights and domes- Challah. We have 30 people join- be establishing relations with Israel tic workers. “When I became ing us - diplomats, members of on September 11, 2020 and signed the secretary-general [of the the Jewish communities through- the Accords on the White House organization], it propelled me to the 26 out the GCC (Gulf Cooperation lawn on September 15th, just a few national stage because we were do- Council), as well as Bahraini & days later. “Since then, we’ve seen ing a lot of good things for people. I Emirati Muslims. We are bringing so many fruits from the Accords was appointed in 2006 by His Maj- people together,” she said. on the business side; Bahrain’s esty to the Shura Council which Nonoo’s family came to Bah- Electricity and Water Authority is the Upper House of Parliament rain from Iraq in the 1880s and (EWA) signed a deal with Mekorot where I served on economic and A VOICE IN she is from the second generation to share water knowledge and tech- financial committees.” born in the Gulf kingdom. The nologies, including desalination fa- She recalled the phone call on THE GULF community at its highest point had cilities, automated control systems April 24, 2008 at 3:18 pm. The 1,500 people; now the community for water facilities and techno- foreign minister said that “His Maj- has about 50 people, and Nonoo is logical upgrades,” she noted. In esty was appointing me Bahrain’s related to all of them from either addition the National Bank of ambassador to the US. It was such her mother’s or father’s side, she Bahrain signed memorandums an honor to be given that position told the Post. Nonoo’s role in the of understanding (MOUs) with and serve my country. I arrived in Foreign Ministry and her role Israel’s two largest banks – Bank July 2008 and was there for 5-and- now with the AGJC and other Hapoalim and Bank Leumi. Sheba a-half years. I was also a non-resi- organizations is important for Bah- Medical Center at Tel Hashomer dent ambassador in Mexico, Brazil, rain and as a symbol of the new and Salmaniya Medical Complex Canada and Argentina.” peace and coexistence opportuni- in Manama are cooperating on a Nonoo became the first Jewish female ambassador from Bahrain, and the first Jewish woman from any of the Arab or Muslim states to be an ambassador to Washington. She always says that despite this historic first, “I’m Bahraini first.” Nonoo is active on social media. She tweets “Shabbat Shalom” every Friday and showcases new places and photos from Bahrain. Her first trip to Israel was last November with the Bahraini foreign minister’s delegation. “I never thought in my life I would go to Israel and my time there was absolutely amazing. I went back a second time within a week. I’m waiting for my third trip and hope to go back as soon as COVID travel restrictions ease up,” she said. Jewish life in Bahrain is also growing. “We began refurbishing our synagogue in February 2020, before the Abraham Accords,” she mentioned. With the renovation completed in 2021 the synagogue is now ready for use. On Saturday August 21 the synagogue saw a reading for the first time from the Torah that Jared Kushner commis- sioned as a gift to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. “It is very meaningful for us to use this Torah for the first time this weekend as the first anniversary of the Abra- ham Accords approaches because the Accords were signed with the goal of creating a better life for the youth in our region,” she said. • By SETH FRANTZMAN (COURTESY)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 48 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 DEBORAH LIPSTADT 27

ANTISEMITISM WARRIOR

he COVID-19 pandemic and the University in Atlanta, Georgia, and the their country or fellow citizens,” adding May conflict between Israel and founding director of the Institute for Jewish that Omar was relying “on traditional Hamas have given rise individually Studies at the university. antisemitic tropes” in her claims. and in unison to one of the worst Lipstadt is also the author of eight books, More recently at the Global Forum on T waves of antisemitism in recent including her 2005 memoir: History on Trial: Antisemitism at the Foreign Ministry in decades. My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier about July, Lipstadt argued that antisemitism Jew hatred from the Right and Left, from the libel case brought against her by Irving. must be tackled as part of the fight against white nationalists to so-called progressive And the professor has been clear that the all prejudice. and racial justice activists, has erupted across current wave of antisemitism emanates “You cannot fight antisemitism and be the world resulting in violent assaults, ap- from across the political and ideological a racist. Conversely, you cannot fight for palling vandalism and terrifying incitement spectrum. the rights of other groups an engage in against Jews and Jewish institutions. In an essay published earlier this year in antisemitic attacks,” she said of the broad In such times, the need for authorita- The Jewish Quarterly, Lipstadt denounced the swathe of the political and ideological map tive voices to speak out against the ancient antisemitism prevalent among the white that engages in Jew hatred. scourge of Jew hatred is paramount, and nationalists and others who participated in “The fight might never result in total vic- there is perhaps no one today who is more the January 6 insurrection on Capitol Hill in tory, the roots of this hatred are too deeply knowledgeable and has spoken with greater the US, describing it as a “defining compo- embedded to ever be eradicated, but we clarity than Deborah Lipstadt. nent” of the “white power, white suprema- must act as if we are able to achieve that vic- Lipstadt is the renowned historian of the cist and white nationalist” agenda. tory,” she concluded. Holocaust and Jewish history, who famous- At the same time, she has also spoken As the designated new US special envoy ly took on Holocaust denier David Irving in out against antisemitism on the left, nota- to combat and monitor antisemitism, with court and won. She has authored numerous bly criticizing comments made by US Rep. a confirmation hearing expected to take books and papers on antisemitism and the Ilhan Omar who said that accused pro-Israel place in the next few months, Lipstadt will Holocaust and was in July nominated by US groups of demanding lawmakers “pledge al- be well placed to exert her influence over President Joe Biden to be the next US special legiance to a foreign country.” this fight and help direct US policy on how envoy to combat and monitor antisemitism. Said Lipstadt: “Dual loyalties is part of to best combat the resurgence of the unre- She is a professor of modern Jewish the textbook accusations against Jews. They mitting bane of Jew hatred. • history and Holocaust studies at Emory are cosmopolitans, globalists, not loyal to By JEREMY SHARON

(VITTORIO ZUNINO CELOTTO-GETTY IMAGES)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 49 LARRY arry Ellison, founder of soft- launched a massive ELLISON ware giant Oracle Corp, new underground is a rags-to-riches success cloud data center story. Born in New York to in Jerusalem La 19-year-old unwed Jewish “because we mother and brought up by his great- love Israel and aunt and great-uncle, Ellison is the we know the

ninth-wealthiest person in the US country needs (MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS) and the tenth in the world, with a it,” he said. reported fortune of $93.9 billion. A close Ellison never finished college, friend of former but founded Oracle with $1,200 of prime minister 28 his own money at age 33. Oracle Benjamin Netanyahu, now has some 135,000 employees Ellison has been named as across the globe, and more than $10 a potential witness in the trial billion in 2020. against the Likud leader as part Ellison stepped down as CEO of of Case 2000, the alleged brib- Oracle in 2014, handing over the ery affair involving Yediot Ahronot. WIZARD helm to Israel native Safra Catz and Netanyahu and his family recently Mark Hurd while he became the vacationed on Ellison’s Hawaiian OF ORACLE company’s executive chairman and island, Lania, which he purchased chief technology officer. in 2012 for some $300 million. Oracle opened offices in Israel in Among his contributions to 1996, and currently has 400 employ- Israeli causes are more than $26 ees here. He visited Israel in 2007, million given to Friends of the and has been a strong supporter. Israel Defense Forces, as well as “Larry and I are deeply committed $500,000 to fortify a community to Israel,” Catz said earlier this center in Sderot in 2007. • summer on a visit to Israel. Oracle By ZEV STUB

eing a woman can be challenging – the world of fashion serves as a place of both ex- pression and comfort. Self-made entrepreneurs and fashion icons Tory Burch and Sara Blakely stand at two ends of that spectrum, filling it in. TORY BURCH Blakely believes it is her “calling to support women.” B Blakely has made this her slogan, and turned it into, Spanx, an undergarment company, which she says has the goal of “help[ing] women feel great about themselves and AND their potential.” The story goes, according to the website, that she was looking for a garment that would SARA give her smooth look under her white pants. She cut the feet off of her pantyhose, and that was it. As of August 4, Blakely’s worth stands at $750 million, according to Forbes. Shopping is cool, but Spanx has a rotating philanthropy board to make Spanx’s BLAKELY products accessible in a modern capitalist society, available to women everywhere. “Simply because of their gender, they are not given the same chance I had to create my own success and follow my dreams,” Blakely wrote in her Giving Pledge in 2013. The Giving Pledge is a forum which facilitates philanthropists giving back to their communities and causes they care about. Blakely fits the bill, committing half of her wealth, according to the Spanx Foundation’s website. “While many of the world’s natural resources are being depleted, one is waiting to be unleashed – women," she wrote at the time. Blakely’s calling doesn’t stop there. Spanx is the brains behind the Leg-UP program, which markets the products of other female entrepreneurs in the company’s 29 catalog, Blakely explains in her pledge. TORY BURCH, a trend-setter fashion name, provides the clothes that Spanx goes under. The company was established by Burch in 2004, with the goal of empow- ering women in general, and women entrepreneurs in particular. It’s not all fashion. The Tory Burch Foundation, established in 2009, is dedicated to guiding female entrepreneurs to exposure and success by providing them with resources. FASHION It includes a fellowship program, a capital program which facilitates affordable loans to women entrepreneurs, as well as a webinar series to ICONS make business management education more widely accessible. In 2017, the company launched the #EmbraceAmbition initiative, fighting back against stereotypes, sexist double standards relating to ambition and unaddressed biases regarding gender, race and sex. “As a designer, I strive to create beautiful pieces that inspire women to live with confidence and optimism. As an entrepreneur, I want to build giving back into everything we do,” said Burch, according to the company website. • By SARAH BEN-NUN (REUTERS) (REUTERS)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 50 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 TAMARA here should be “no more” excuses against the placement of women in leadership roles, prolific scholar, author and speaker COFMAN Tamara Cofman Wittes told a Zoom au- Tdience at a John Hopkins event last year WITTES in which she reflected on her career in US foreign policy. To ensure that women would not be ignored, she helped found The Leadership Council for Women in National Security in 2019. Even before Joe Biden took office, the council had transferred to his team the names of more than 850 women qualified to serve in Senate-confirmed national security and foreign policy roles. Wittes herself is now one of those nominees. She is awaiting Congressional confirmation for her 30 new role in the Biden administration working for Samantha Power as the assistant administrator for USAID in the Middle East. As head of the USAID Middle East bureau, she will oversee development in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, deputy assistant secretary for Near Eastern Yemen, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, the West Bank and Among the lessons she learned was the impor- POLICYMAKER Gaza. She will also direct $250 million in Israeli-Pal- tance of women leadership. estinian peace building initiatives . “I came out of my experience in government Wittes is “leading voice on the region who has with an understanding of how much diversity shaped policy from in and out of government,” enriches the work that we do. How unavoidable it Power, head of USAID, said. is to confront issues of exclusion and injustice in A native of Michigan who now lives in our work and how imperative it is for me, at this Washington, Wittes has a doctorate from George- stage in my career, to be someone who helps push town University, where she has also taught. the envelope and makes it better for the people Her USAID role is her second governmental for- who are coming behind me,” she said. •

ay. She worked in the Obama administration as the By TOVAH LAZAROFF (WIKIPEDIA)

was announced as the chief 48ers’, promotes the successful executive designate to replace integration of Ethiopian youth JOSHUA CEO Leon Black, who agreed within Israeli society through to step down in the wake of a basketball. HARRIS report that he had paid the late Rowan serves on the board Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex of trustees of the University of offender, $158 million for ad- Pennsylvania and in October AND vice on tax and estate planning 2018, he donated $50m. to the and related services between Wharton School, the largest MARC 2012 and 2017. Black himself single gift in its history. was cleared of any wrongdoing. Rowan is a founding member Harris is also the principal and chairman of Youth Renew- ROWAN owner of the New Jersey Dev- al Fund and vice-chairman of ils hockey team in the NHL, Darca, Israel’s top educational the Philadelphia 76ers, and is a network operating 40 schools general partner in Crystal Pal- with over 22,000 students ace Football Club of the English throughout Israel’s most diverse Premier League. and under-served communities. Harris founded his charita- He also serves on the board of (REUTERS) ble organization to develops OpenDor Media, a digital media leadership skills and strength- company centered on engaging f money talks, then Joshua enscommunities. One of the Jewish and Israeli content. • Harris and Marc Rowan are organization’s projects, ‘The By ALAN ROSENBAUM screaming. Harris co-founded Apol- I lo in 1990 with Rowan and Leon Black, turning the 31 company into one of the world’s largest investment funds, managing over $350 billion in assets. Both Harris and Rowan are among the wealthiest indi- EQUITY viduals in the United States. Bloomberg (August 2021) es- PIONEERS timates Harris’s net worth at $7.27b. and Rowan’s at $5.74b. In February 2021, Rowan (REUTERS)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 51 AMIRA AHRONOVIZ mira Ahronoviz was appointed by former cancellation of many flights, it managed to bring doc- Jewish Agency chairman Isaac Herzog as the tors and nurses to Israel to help the medical efforts here, first female CEO and director-general of the and spearheaded Operation Rock of Israel operation Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) in 2018, and to bring some 2,000 immigrants from Ethiopia. Ahas proved to be both effective and innova- Thousands of youths also came to Israel from abroad tive in the role. in the framework of Masa, funded by the government Together with Herzog, she drafted a comprehen- and the Jewish Agency. sive strategic plan to meet the challenges of the Jewish “The corona crisis created a situation in which people in the next decade, including boosting aliyah communities outside of North America – many of 32 from around the world, ensuring security for Jewish them small but splendid – which for years support- communities worldwide facing antisemitism, and ed the State of Israel, suddenly collapsed without the strengthening the Diaspora. ability and infrastructure to survive the impact of Under her leadership, the Jewish Agency is focusing the pandemic,” she told The Jerusalem Post. “These on serving as a bridge between Israel and the Diaspora, sought the aid and assistance of Israel and from global JAFI’S creating partnerships and dispatching some 2,000 organizations such as ours. This strengthened the need emissaries to about 60 countries. for a global Jewish platform that would take care of the STRONGWOMAN She was instrumental in establishing a mechanism essential assets of mutual responsibility.” to transfer emergency funds to Jewish communities Having grown up in Israel’s periphery, her focus has in crisis, together with the Jewish Federations of been working to strengthen weaker communities in North America and Keren Hayesod. They set up peripheral communities and invest in young leaders Jready to help communities deal with in those communities, as well as thousands of elder- COVID-19 by connecting them ly people and Holocaust survivors living in Amigor with experts and methods to housing, new immigrants at absorption centers, lone better cope. At the same time, soldiers and victims of terror. they also set up a fund to Ahronoviz spent several years abroad, living in help communities stay Diaspora communities. safe from antisemitic “The fact that I had the chance to grow up in Jewish attacks. communities in the Diaspora, to be exposed to the JAFI established an richness, the variety and the mutual responsibility of operation center to Jewish life, to a large extent helped me define the way help thousands in which I perceive my Jewishness today,” she said. of immigrants In the past year, Ahronoviz has significantly raised from around the percentage of women in key positions in JAFI, both the world make in Israel and abroad. For example, in June she appointed aliyah, despite Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh, the first female Druze member the pandemic. of Knesset, as JAFI’s top emissary in Washington, DC, Despite the where she also supports Israeli engagement efforts on closure of the North American college campuses. airport “This unprecedented appointment will bring and the greater awareness regarding that diverse landscape to the United States as part of our efforts to strengthen understanding of Israel worldwide,” she said. Regarding the current situation in Israel and the Diaspora, Ahronoviz said, “We are living in an interesting and paradoxical period for the Jewish people. Most of them live under free regimes in Israel and abroad, where they can conduct Jewish lives in a way that suits them, while integrating and influencing the society in which they live. The current period is full of significant challenges that threaten the future of the Jewish people.” Asked what she meant, she said: “With the establishment of Israel, the prevailing paradigm was that all Jews would gather in one place, the State of Israel. Today we understand that there are two big centers of almost the same size, one in Israel and one in North America, which are developing in different directions and conducting essentially different Jewish lifestyles. “It seems that these two centers will be different forever and we have to find ways to connect them without falling into the growing gaps between them. Our future depends on the connection and support for a thriving Jewish life in the Diaspora – and these, in turn, depend on a strong State of Israel that inspires and serves as a source of spirituality.” • By STEVE LINDE

(DAVID SALEM/JEWISH AGENCY)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 52 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 BETSY s COVID continues to two congressional trips sponsored posting ads on Facebook reading: spread across the US, by the American Israel Education "For Ilhan Omar, there is no it was another rocky Foundation. A House Republican difference between America and KORN year for AIPAC, and its freshman trip and a bipartisan the Taliban. Between Israel and A leaders, Betsy Korn and trip of members of the House Hamas. Between Democracies AND Howard Kohr. Armed Services and Homeland and terrorists." After canceling the 2021 policy Security committees will now It was a journey into unchart- conference due to COVID, the take place in February 2022. ed waters for AIPAC which has HOWARD pro-Israel group announced ear- But that is only one of the traditionally strived to avoid the lier this summer that it would veteran lobby organization's prob- spotlight in an effort to retain KOHR cancel the 2022 conference, too, lems. Facing a Congress that is bipartisan support for Israel. citing a spike of coronavirus cases. increasingly polarized with parts But with Israel under attack and According to an AIPAC source that are blatantly anti-Israel, Kohr antisemitism in the US rising, the familiar with the discussion, the and Korn need to ensure that group understands that it needs decision was made because it was AIPAC not only remains relevant to be more aggressive - online “not practical to plan the event but also can continue to effect against people like Omar and in a few months in advance as the change and help the Jewish state. its general messaging. Delta variant is spreading.” In a surprise move, the lobby More tests are sure to come. • AIPAC also announced in early went on the offensive against Rep. August that it would reschedule Ilhan Omar earlier this summer, By JERUSALEM POST STAFF 33

BIPARTISANSHIP TESTED (AIPAC) (ASTRID RIECKEN/GETTY IMAGES)

WINNIE more than 175,000 households in North America. The Israeli arm, Sifriyat Pijama, works with the Education Ministry, and the foundation runs a SANDLER version for Arab-Israeli children as well. In a 2020 article in Tablet, the online Jewish GRINSPOON magazine, Harold Grinspoon explained that the idea of distributing books to children came to him while attending the Seder table of his eldest son and daughter-in-law, Winnie. When his daughter-in-law handed out Jewish books as afikomen prizes, Grin- spoon noticed the enthusiasm of his grandchildren. Another successful initiative developed by the foundation is JCamp180, which provides consulting services in board development, strategic planning, fundraising, and outreach technology to volunteer boards of affiliated camps. In 2020, the foundation gave $10m. in emergency grant funding to support 34 nonprofit Jewish summer camps participating in the foundation’s JCamp 180 program. This year, the Grin- spoon Foundation, together with an anonymous do- nor, committed to almost $11m. in matching funds. (HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION) A third landmark program established by the ONE BOOK innie Sandler Grinspoon is the Harold Grinspoon Foundation is called Life & Lega- president of the Harold Grinspoon cy, which assists communities across North America, AT A TIME Foundation, established by her father- through partnerships with Jewish Federations and in-law, Harold Grinspoon, in 1991. foundations, to promote after-life giving to build W Since its inception, the foundation endowments that will provide financial stability has invested more than $230 million in programs to Jewish day schools, synagogues, social service that have made Jewish life and learning more vibrant, organizations and other Jewish entities. Since the pro- connected and enjoyable. gram’s inception, donors have committed almost $1 Perhaps its most notable creation is PJ Library, billion in future gifts to participating organizations. which distributes free Jewish-themed books, music Winnie Sandler Grinspoon is continuing the and resources each month to more than half a pioneering work of her father-in-law to ensure that million Jewish children around the world. PJ Library the foundation will continue to be a major presence mails more than 230,000 Jewish-themed books every in Jewish education for many years to come. • month in the United States and Canada, reaching By ALAN ROSENBAUM

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 53 ANTHONY PRATT

t’s difficult to imagine how Australian busi- to provide thousands of jobs for people in Australia nessman and philanthropist Anthony Pratt, and the US and to continue with his parents’ vision the executive chairman of Visy and Pratt of improving the quality of life for people in several Industries, the world’s largest privately owned countries. I recycled paper manufacturer, finds time for his Visy industries was launched by his Polish manifold activities. immigrant grandfather Leon, who received a loan Pratt, a second-generation philanthropist who of £1,000 from his sister Ida Visbord, and honored heads the Board of Trustees of the Pratt Foundation her by naming the company in a derivative of her that was established in Melbourne in 1978 by his surname. In 1969, when Leon died, the company 35 parents Richard and Jeanne Pratt, and which be- was taken over by Leon’s son Richard, under whose came active in Israel in 1998, ranks in fourth place direction it expanded significantly, and contin- on the Rich List of the Australian Financial Review ues to do so, under the management of Richard’s with an estimated fortune of $20.09 billion, 205 on son Anthony, who became executive chairman the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires, and 267 following Richard’s death in 2009. on the Bloomberg index. He shares the ownership of Visy with his sis- AUSTRALIAN He is the third-generation member of his family ters Fiona Geminder and Heloise Waislitz, who to make his fortune (much of which was inherited), own a third each, but he is the sole owner of Pratt TYCOON from the corrugated box business, which expanded Industries. into related enterprises. One of the most outstanding gifts to Israel by The bulk of his business activities are in America the Pratt Foundation is the Park of the Australian rather than Australia, and his largest American Soldier that was dedicated in 2008 and honors investment, made in recent weeks, is the construc- the memories and the courage of members of the tion of a $540 million paper mill in Kentucky, Australian Light Horse Regiments, who in October which demonstrates his confidence in America’s 1917, defeated the Ottoman troops. Richard and ability to recover economically in the post-pan- Jeanne Pratt were present for the ceremony, which demic era. was attended by then-Australian governor general A generous donor to the coffers of Michael Jeffrey and then-president Shimon Peres. Australian political parties and a Anthony Pratt had his own relationship with personal friend of former US Peres when the two, together with Indian Prime president Donald Trump, Pratt Minister Narendra Modi participated in the food has no problem in helping to and water security dialogue held in New Delhi in boost America’s economy 2014. during the Joe Biden Pratt takes a keen interest in food security, administration. His gifts to agricultural sustainability and water issues. political parties on home turf He is also interested in climate change and have been even-handed, and environmental protection. that ability to be even-hand- In 2007, Pratt pledged to the Global Initiative ed, notwithstanding personal of former US president Bill Clinton to invest more relationships, stands him in than $1 billion over the next decade in recycling good stead in America. infrastructure and utilizing clean energy. He ful- It is not only from paper that filled his promise in five years instead of 10. Pratt derives his income. He also In addition to Donald Trump, Pratt rubs shoul- owns Australia’s largest glass bottle ders with Bill and Hilary Clinton, Tony Blair, Mike manufacturing company, which Pence, Narendra Modi, Michael Bloomberg, past he purchased in July 2020 and present Australian prime ministers Tony Ab- for $1 billion and has bott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison and since expanded its many other international figures. operations. Pratt has received many honors and citations, Consistent but one of his proudest moments was in 2013, expansion when he was awarded an honorary PhD by his has en- Alma Mater, Monash University in recognition of abled his “outstanding career of achievement and service Pratt to philanthropy, business and commerce.” • By GREER FAY CASHMAN

(TOM WITHAM/US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 54 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 YAEL or the majority of America’s ECKSTEIN nearly 90-million strong Evangelical community, supporting Israel is not AND SHARI Fabout politics but the Bible. “The connection really starts DOLLINGER with Genesis 1:1,” explained Shari Dollinger, co-executive director of Christians United for Israel, with the verse “In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth.” “If people are not tied spiritu- ally to Israel, when Israel does something they don’t agree with, they can walk away,” said Dollinger. “If the link to Israel is through Scripture, tied to who 36 they are – once you are rooted, you cannot walk away.” Dollinger and her co-influ- encer, Yael Eckstein, the CEO of the International Fellowship of CONNECTING Christians and Jews, have devoted the majority of their adult lives to CHRISTIANS creating meaningful and relevant bridges between the Christian community and Israel. (COURTESY) She knew, taking over, that Dollinger began at CUFI 14 years most organizations that pass to ago, first as associate director and the second generation usually fail since 2018 as co-executive director, – especially Christian ministries. a position she shares with Pastor In her first year, Eckstein lost John Hagee’s wife, Diana. the fellowship’s long-standing Although Dollinger grew up chief operating officer and its in Kansas, a state with a large director-general. She put together Christian community, she was a budget in hopes of just breaking raised within a close-knit Jewish even, but surprised even herself. community, attending day school, “We had expected to raise $123 and never really knew about million that year,” Eckstein said. Christian Zionists. After interning “We closed with $173m. And this with ex-senator Sam Brownback, year, two years later, we have dou- who had a 100% pro-Israel voting bled our donor base from around record and about 0.003% Jewish 300,000 donors to 627,000. We have constituency, did she understand. almost doubled our budget, too, “I was amazed and enamored,” which means we have helped almost she said. It spoke to me that he was double the amount of people.” not politically motivated by the And she did all this in the shad- Jewish community; that he had all ow of COVID-19, during a war with of these Christian constituents that Hamas and a lot of other surprises. deeply supported Israel and the “My goal was to be focused, power the Christian community strategic, intentional and well- has to shift public policy.” planned, yet agile enough that at When Dollinger was hired, she the drop of a dime we were able to was the organization’s third full- (COURTESY) be on the ground, meeting needs,” time hire. Today, it has around Christians that are committed to do things in the world, whatever Eckstein said. 50 employees located around the to supporting their fellow that looks like.” The Fellowship is the largest phil- United States – and Dollinger has Americans in combating the rise Then, in 2006, she was sent up anthropic NGO in Israel; the next played a strategic role in CUFI’s in antisemitism,” Dollinger said. North during the Second Lebanon largest is around half of its size. growth. “This should make American Jews War to report back about the In the past two years, she said, CUFI has 10.5 million feel better and sleep better at night.” needs of the people. She started she has proven that Christians “members,” defined as email chronicling her experience for the loved her father, but did not sup- addresses, and another 2.5 million ECKSTEIN, TOO, is from the Fellowship’s donors, who were port Israel because of him. It is a social media followers – a high per- Midwest. She grew up in Chicago. immediately taken by her powerful genuine support for God’s country. centage of whom stand up for the Her father, the late Rabbi Yechiel messaging. “As a religious woman, I am in Jewish people and the Jewish state, Eckstein, founded the fellowship. The rest is history. such a privileged position,” she according to Dollinger. When she made aliyah in 2005, Eckstein had already been select- said. “I help people make aliyah, CUFI was instrumental in she did not really envision working ed as the next president of the fel- provide food to the hungry, and I building support for moving for the organization. When she lowship when her father died sud- have a platform to teach Christians the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to needed a job, she asked her father, denly in 2019. more about the roots of their faith. Jerusalem; at the ceremony in who assigned her basic office work. “There was a lot of pressure on “The Torah is coming alive in Jerusalem in 2018, Pastor Hagee de- “I was putting stamps on en- me to fill his shoes,” she recalled. Israel,” she concluded. “Christians livered the benediction. velopes,” Eckstein recalled. “My “But I decided that he had filled his are yearning for that connection.” • “There are at least 10.5 million prayer was that God should use me shoes and I will fill mine.” By MAAYAN HOFFMAN

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 55 SHUKI HERSHCOVICH

hile Israel and the world are focused on big pharma cures for COVID-19 and vaccines, an Israeli start-up founded by an entrepreneur from Nahariya has become the face of Israel’s first line of defense – literally. Joshua “Shuki” Hershcovich, 66, and his company, Sonovia, have redefined the role of masks W in the fight against COVID-19. The big difference is “transitioning masks from passive filtration rectangles to active protection shields,” Hershcovich told The Jerusalem Post. The company produced its first mask in the beginning of 2020. Last year, the company had more than $9.5 million in sales to hundreds of thousands of clients in more than 180 countries. And it likely saved a lot of lives, too. 37 Hershcovich said he was an entrepreneur from the age of 12, when he “found a way to innovate within the lawn-mowing market.” He spent years in the US, including several ventures as a leading denim merchandiser. But he told the Post that once he realized he was contributing to the damage caused by one of the leading pol- lutive industries in the world – the textile industry – he decided to shift gears. He envisioned a technology that would transform the textile industry, that would make THE SONOVIA it “green.” In 2013, he founded Sonovia with the aim of re- MASK MAKER searching, developing and ultimately commercializing textiles based on a lab-scale sonochemical process that Israel’s first was developed at Bar-Ilan University. “The technology is based upon a physical phenomenon called cavitation,” explained Jason Migdal, head line of of the company’s business development team. “Sound waves are used to physically infuse desired chemicals COVID-19 onto the structure area of materials, enhancing them with clinically proven antiviral and antibacterial prop- defense erties.” At the start of the COVID crisis, the company had not completed the commercialization process, but it did have enough stored fabric in its R&D line to produce between 5,000 and 10,000 masks, which could be made immediately. It transferred the fabric from where it was being stored abroad to Israel, found a local company to manufacture the first masks and sent them to China. When the pandemic hit Israel, it donated around 120,000 more masks to Israeli hospitals, medical professionals and coronavirus patients. As its antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal fabric underwent more and more clinical testing, it was found to neutralize viruses, bacteria and fungi with over 99% proven efficacy – including against the Delta variant. Tens of thousands of masks were donated to first-re- sponders, schools and populations in need. In addition, hundreds of thousands of masks were sold worldwide. “We moved like a commando unit,” Hershcovich recalled. “It was just a few of us; today there are more than 50 people in the company and we have our own place in Acre. Then, we just moved fast – very fast.” At the end of last year, Sonovia was awarded with the honorable start-up competition prize from The Genesis Prize Foundation. It has also received numerous grants and support from the European Union and other leading global improvement initiatives since its inception. It has struck deals to develop a clothing line with Delta and is working to implement its technology in other sectors, including the airline and automotive industries. And it strives to make a difference in Israel, collabo- rating with organizations like Masa Israel Journey to provide internships to young Jews considering making Aliyah. It chose to locate its sewing plant in the mixed city of Acre, near Hershcovich’s hometown, to help provide employment opportunities for Arabic women in the city. “I am so happy that I can tell you that I want to make the world better, help people to live better lives – and save a lot of lives,” Hershcovich said. “That is my vision.” • By MAAYAN HOFFMAN

(AVISHAI FINKELSTEIN) THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 56 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 YIFAT ORON 38

INNOVATIVE INVESTOR (YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) (YONATAN

ifat Oron captured a lot of atten- that this was a project that could change the the world that you need to know what is hap- tion this summer when Black- map for startups, and I decided to join.” pening here.” stone, one of the world’s largest As the CEO of LeumiTech, Oron’s job was Most of Oron’s job now is looking for and investment firms, chose her to “to build a bank within a bank that would making investments for the $4.5b. Black- Y head its new office in Tel Aviv. provide all of the needs of a tech company. stone Growth fund, the firm’s growth equi- But with more than 20 years of experience It was very different than regular banks. ty business, “Growth companies are often as a tech investor and executive in Israel, Whatever an entrepreneur wants to start a tech-oriented, but they don’t have to be,” she Oron has already been driving innovation company, we would have it. We started grow- said. “We have already funded one company in Israel’s tech sector for many years. ing very quickly, and served a large part of in the cybersecurity space, Wiz, and there “I grew up in Israel, but my parents moved the tech community. And not surprisingly, will be many more coming. Our purpose is to to New York when I was 16, which was very the other banks soon did similar things.” help these companies grow to the next level, fortunate,” Oron said. “I was able to defer my That innovation did wonders for the and we have a lot of resources at our disposal army service while I studied at the University hi-tech sector as a whole, Oron said. “In order around the world to do so. Among other of Pennsylvania, in a dual-program of to grow an industry, you need to have all the things, we are the largest real estate owner in engineering and finance, a combination that necessary players in your ecosystem. Now, the the world, and we have more than a billion would become the theme of my career. When banks were competing to make it easier for square feet of logistics space.” I came back for the army, I did officer school startups, offering more competitive rates and Oron is passionate about eliminating gen- and then joined the Defense Ministry’s Di- better services. I did that for seven years, and it der stereotypes that can hold women back. rectorate of R&D (MAFAT), where they are was very rewarding and industry-changing.” “In Israel, we have grown by about 1,000% developing defense technology projects that It was after this that Oron was introduced in the number of companies led by women,” are 10-20 years ahead of their time.” to Blackstone, a global equity firm with some she said. “I get notes from women I have Eventually, Oron landed a job with $700 billion under management. The fit was never met saying that the fact that Blackstone JPMorgan Chase, and then came back to right, and the company announced in April picked a woman to lead their office was very Israel to found a venture capital fund, Vertex that she would head the company’s new important for them. The world has changed Partners, working with early-stage startups. office here. in a huge way.” Then, in 2013, a new opportunity opened up. Blackstone’s decision to open an office in But, she said, there is more work to be “I met a gentleman from Bank Leumi Tel Aviv, instead of merely keeping tabs on done. “In my home, if someone would ask who said he was trying to figure out how the local scene, reflects the changing reality my daughter to describe her mother and to get the banking system more exposed to in the local market and serves as a signal to father using all kinds of descriptive elements the Start-up Nation,” Oron said. “This was others. except for gender, you wouldn’t be able to tell a time when the Israeli economy was split “The industry has evolved tremendously in who’s a woman and who’s a man. Eliminat- between the tech sector and everything else, recent years, and when a company like Black- ing preconceptions is critical to reaching the and most of the financing options available stone says that it thinks Israel is a place to be, full equilibrium between men and women. were from foreign lenders. The question was the ripple effect around the world is tremen- I hope that one day, we won’t even have to whether the banking system can be more a dous,” Oron said. “The significance goes far talk about women in tech.” • part of the tech ecosystem. I felt at the time beyond the deals we will do here. It shouts to By ZEV STUB

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 57 SUSAN SOLOMON 39

ENVIRONMENTAL WARRIOR

)Jason Knight(

f climate change is the Super Bowl of influential people in the world in 2008, she as an act of tikkun olam. pressing issues facing mankind, then received the 1999 National Medal of Science “There is the straightforward part of Susan Solomon is one of the MVPs. (the highest scientific honor in the US), as working as hard as I can to repair the damage Like a pied piper bringing aware- well as the Grande Medaille (the highest that humans have done to the planet. I I ness to the issue when most of the award of the French Academy of Sciences), have a deep-seated love of nature and as I public had never heard of climate change, and she led a working group that wrote a have studied ozone depletion and climate the decorated professor at the Massachu- report on the Intergovernmental Panel on change, I often reflect on how important it setts Institute of Technology is perhaps best Climate Change, which won the 2007 Nobel is for humankind to stop piling abuses on known for pioneering the theory explain- Peace Prize. this beautiful world that she just can’t sus- ing why the ozone hole occurs in Antarcti- In 1986 and 1987, Solomon led a National tain. Certainly for me there is a concept that ca, and obtained some of the first chemical Ozone Expedition formed by the National we are the stewards of this remarkable plan- measurements that helped to establish the Science Foundation, which confirmed her et, and haven’t been doing our job. Without chlorofluorocarbons as its cause. hypothesis that the Antarctic ozone hole was an ozone layer, there would be no life at all But the professor of atmospheric science created by a heterogeneous reaction of ozone on the surface of the Earth, because ozone’s has also authored several influential scientific and chlorine free radicals from chlorofluoro- absorption of high energy ultraviolet light papers on climate science, including an om- carbons on the surface of ice particles in the had to start before anything could crawl out inous one on the irreversibility of climate high altitude clouds that form over the area. of the ocean and walk on land. So I’ve derived change. “The key conclusion of the IPCC report a great deal of satisfaction out of the work In a symposium upon accepting the 2009 was: warming is unequivocal,” she told The that I’ve done on understanding ozone deple- Volvo Environment Prize, Solomon said, Jerusalem Post. “This world is getting hotter. tion, which has had an impact on the global “The Earth has a budget, just like anything Our burning of fossil fuels is the primary phaseout of ozone-damaging chemicals. else. And if we add greenhouse gases to the reason, and some of my work has shown “This brings me to the second part of atmosphere, it’s going to keep more heat in that the warming induced by human emis- tikkun olam, namely that climate change to the planet, and less escaping to space, and sions of carbon dioxide is causing a warm- and many other forms of pollution have the planet has no choice but to warm up. ing that will be irreversible for at least many the largest impacts on poor people. The rich That’s basic physics, and there’s no way to thousands of years. We’ve turned up the derive most of the benefits of burning fos- beat basic physics.” thermostat already, and can see the increas- sil fuels, yet it’s poor people – both in their The 65-year-old Chicago native spent most ing frequency of heat waves, flooding, wild- own countries and in the poorest parts of of her career at the National Oceanic and At- fires and severe storms that has resulted. So the world – who suffer the most. Society as mospheric Administration, but joined the we had better stop cranking it up more as a whole has to come to terms with that, and faculty of MIT in 2011, where she serves as the soon as we can, even if it’s a long time until for me that means trying to understand the Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Atmo- nature will get cooler.” science to help us make better choices and spheric Chemistry & Climate Science. Solomon’s greatest accomplishment may better policies to repair what we’re doing Among her awards and honors, Time have been to activate the worldwide effort both to the Earth and to each other.” • magazine named her as one of the most 100 to combat climate change, a process she sees By DAVID BRINN

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 58 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 MAYIM BIALIK

he clue is Mayim Bialik – if you the main character in Call Me Kat on Fox, realized that the answer is, “Who a series that is advertised with the tagline, is an American actress, neurosci- “Disappointing her mother since 1982.” entist, author and now host of Bialik, who is as religiously observant as T the new primetime version of she is scientifically curious, also hosts Jeopardy!?” then you got it right. a weekly podcast about mental health The announcement that in late August called “Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown.” She Bialik would be the first guest host of the interrupted her Hollywood career for a new primetime version of the long-run- few years to get a doctorate and wrote her 40 ning quiz show was the best news about thesis on a neurological condition called the show since Mike Richards, who was Prader-Willi syndrome. previously announced as the host, had In a statement she made in August about to step down due to offensive remarks he joining Jeopardy!, she said, “I couldn’t be made. Jeopardy’s beloved, veteran host, more thrilled to join the Jeopardy! family. THE NEW Alex Trebek, passed away in 2020 and What started out with my 15-year-old there has been endless speculation about repeating a rumor from Instagram that HOST who might take over. Bialik had already I should guest host the show has turned been tapped to host some Jeopardy spe- into one of the most exciting and surreal cials, but following Richards’ departure, opportunities of my life!” she stepped into his spot. A distant cousin of poet Haim Nachman Bialik is best known for her work on Bialik (1873 -1934), Mayim is a staunch the hit CBS sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, supporter of Israel. A fan of the Jewish a where she played Amy, a young cappella group, the Maccabeats, she and scientist nerdy enough to her sons appeared in the group’s 2011 win abrasive geek Shel- Hanukkah video and she studies Torah don Cooper’s heart with a partner. Will she bring more Juda-

(COURTESY JEOPARDY!) (COURTESY and persistent ism-oriented categories to the new Jeop- enough to hold ardy? Many of her fans are hoping the onto him. She answer is: What is a good bet? • currently plays By HANNAH BROWN RUSSELL ROBINSON LEADING JNF-USA

ussell F. Robinson is the charismat- and improves the lives of people with special ic CEO of Jewish National Fund-USA needs. In addition, JNF-USA works to boost tour- and has succeeded in making the ism, support aliyah, promote Zionist education organization one of the US top-rated and engagement, build medical centers and 41 R charities and the leading organization trauma centers, fund agricultural and culinary for the land and people of Israel. research, and run a high school semester study Robinson has been featured in best-selling abroad program in Israel. management books and regularly appears on TV, A sixth-generation American Jew, Robinson radio, and in print media. grew up in El Paso, Texas, though his family first He has served as CEO of JNF-USA (which is laid down its American roots in Petersburg, Vir- a separate organization from the Israel-based ginia, after emigrating from Al- KKL-JNF) since 1998, when at 41 he became the sace-Lorraine in the late 1700s. youngest CEO in its history. He has overseen the In an interview with The organization’s groundbreaking One Billion Dollar Jerusalem Report earlier this year, Roadmap to develop the Negev and Galilee, and Robinson said that the Zionist its meteoric rise to the $100 million charity it has movement has reached an inflection become today. point, and now more than ever, “we must He works tirelessly, traveling around the US and reclaim the word ‘Zionism.’” Israel to meet with the organization’s partners “For too long, those who support Zionism and affiliates, to ensure that JNF-USA’s vision and have let others who have no interest in Israel’s philanthropic investment is more relevant and future control the narrative,” Robinson said. “We meaningful today than ever before, particularly want to spark a new conversation about Zionism among its growing 22-40-year-old JNFuture and bring people from across the political and leadership division. religious spectrum together. We have already Today, almost 120 years after it was founded, started the conversation at share.jnf.org, where JNF-USA is unparalleled in the Jewish philan- we are celebrating the beauty and diversity that is thropic world. Its strategic vision has been, and Zionism in the 21st century.” always will be, to ensure a strong, secure, and pros- Robinson noted that JNF-USA is building a 20- perous future for the land and people of Israel. acre World Zionist Village in Beersheba, which Everything JNF-USA does – every project, in his words, is “the biggest project ever in the initiative and campaign – is integral to the orga- Jewish world that will bring together Zionists nization’s vision of building and connecting to from around the world for the greatest conversa- Israel. JNF-USA plants trees, builds houses and tion ever had about Zionism.” • parks, sources water solutions, buys fire trucks, By STEVE LINDE (JNF-USA)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 59 FELICIA HERMAN

After working as the Natan Fund’s executive director for 16 years, Her- man this year became president of the organization, through which philanthropists pool their charitable resources and pick Jewish and Israeli NGOs, social businesses and social entrepreneurs to support. Despite the pandemic, the 42 fund supports a wide range of organizations designed to tackle problems facing Jews around the globe, and ensure their operations can continue. Natan has funded organizations ews around the world, like such as the Zioness Movement in

everyone else have had to the US, which advocates for a strong (NATAN) confront the changes and dif- Zionist identity while engaging ficulties brought on by the in civil rights activism; Eshkolot, INNOVATIVE PHILANTHROPIST JCOVID-19 pandemic. which provides ultra-Orthodox This has made the role of Jewish youth with education oppor- philanthropy ever more critical, as tunities; and the Jewish Fertili- nonprofits conducting vital social ty Foundation, which provides involved in Jewish education, en- no-interest loans which suffered functions have come under in- financial assistance to Jews with gagement and leadership. badly due to the financial difficul- creasing financial pressure. fertility challenges. In 2020, JCRIF amassed a fund of ties wrought by the global health One individual at the heart of And Herman has also served as $91 million for grants and no-in- crisis. fundraising within the Jewish director of the Aligned Grant Pro- terest loans to preserve Jewish Herman, through her leadership community is Felicia Herman, gram of the Jewish Community institutions. and innovation, has been an whose roles at the Natan Fund and Response and Impact Fund, an It has provided funds to Prizmah, important part of the philanthrop- the Aligned Grant Program of the organization formed by seven foun- the national network of Jewish day ic map helping ensure that the fab- Jewish Community Response and dations, working together with schools, for tuition assistance for ric of Jewish life in the US has not Impact Fund have placed her in the the Jewish Federations, to provide families facing financial challeng- been torn asunder by the global center of efforts to help those hurt emergency support for US-based es, and gave emergency funding for heath crisis. • by the pandemic. Jewish nonprofit organizations Jewish camps through grants and By OMRI NAHMIAS

an Gilbert is the 46th either during their lifetimes or in their DAN wealthiest person in the wills, created by Bill and Melinda Gates world, with a net worth and Warren Buffett. GILBERT of almost $31 billion. But The couple has five children, and D Gilbert is known not only their oldest son was born with neurofi- for his wealth, but for his generosity to bromatosis, a genetic disorder that caus- others, in helping his native city of De- es tumors to form on nerve pathways troit, and in overcoming personal adver- in the body. Gilbert has established sity. neurofibromatosis research clinics at The 59-year-old is the co-founder the Children’s National Medical Center of Quicken Loans, America’s largest in Washington, DC, and the Dana mortgage lender, founder and chairman Children’s Hospital at the Sourasky of the Rock Family of companies, a port- Medical Center in Tel Aviv. In May 2019, folio of technology businesses and real Gilbert suffered a stroke, which affected estate investments, and chairman of the the left side of his body. 43 Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA champions in In October 2020, Gilbert was awarded 2016. the Fred M. Butzel Award, the highest Gilbert moved Quicken’s award granted to a Detroit-area Jewish headquarters to Detroit in 2010, bring- person by the Jewish Federation of Met- ing 17,000 employees to downtown ropolitan Detroit. Gilbert told the De- REVITALIZING Detroit in an effort to revitalize the city. troit Jewish News at the time, “With my In 2011, he co-founded Detroit-based recent physical condition, I just learned DETROIT Bedrock, a real estate firm specializing what gratitude is because it’s just been a in acquiring, leasing, financing, and humbling experience.” managing commercial and residential In July 2021, he announced a $500 space, that has developed more than million plan to invest in Detroit 100 properties totaling more than 18 neighborhoods, connecting his own million square feet in Detroit and Cleve- rehabilitation with the rebirth of the land. city of Detroit. Gilbert and his wife op- Gilbert and his wife Jennifer are signa- erate the Gilbert Family Foundation, tories to the Giving Pledge, a movement which works to find a cure for neurofi- of philanthropists who commit to bromatosis and supports economic sta- giving the majority of their wealth bility in the Detroit area. • to philanthropy or charitable causes, By ALAN ROSENBAUM (REUTERS)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 60 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 vraham Duvdevani took over (250,000 acres) of land and established as global chairman of Keren more than 1,000 parks. Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish Duvdevani was born in 1945 in National Fund in November, Jerusalem. Prior to his military service A putting him in charge of Israel’s he studied at the Netiv Meir and the Kfar largest environmental organization. Hassidim yeshivot, after which he served Representing the religious, right-wing in the Paratroopers Brigade and fought in World Mizrachi slate, he was elected by Jerusalem during the Six Day War. the board to succeed Labor's Danny Atar. Duvdevani has a great deal of Duvdevani, a religious Zionist who experience in working to promote Zi- advocates settlement building through- onism both in Israel and abroad, and out the West Bank, caused a stir earli- he is very well acquainted with Jewish AVRAHAM er this year when he initiated a move communities worldwide. for KKL-JNF to officially authorize the In 2010, he was elected chairman of DUVDEVANI purchase of land in Judea and Samaria, a the World Zionist Organization, spear- major policy change for the organization heading its growth after its split with the that was established in 1901. Jewish Agency. Before this, among other Fighting for the rights of Israelis to live roles, he was director-general of World in all parts of the Land of Israel has been a Bnei Akiva, was the head of the informal key mission in Duvdevani’s career. education track at Orot Israel College and As head of WZO’s Settlement Division, an active member of the board of gover- he said in 2002 it “was very easy to nors for the Jewish Agency since 1991. get permission from the minister of He has also been a member of the defense and the government to build Executive of the World Mizrachi settlements that strengthened Jerusalem Organization, a member of the Jordan as the capital and the Jewish majority in Valley Public Council, chairman of the 44 Jerusalem and that blocked the option Hevruta Community Center in Ramat of the Palestinians to build in and near Gan, chairman of the Ramat Gan branch Jerusalem.” of Elitzur sports organization, and a A powerful nonprofit, KKL-JNF owns member of the central committee of the some 13% of the total land in Israel and now-defunct National Religious Party KKL-JNF’S has planted over 240 million trees in the and Bayit Yehudi, formerly led by Prime country. It has also built 180 dams and Minister Naftali Bennett. • POWERFUL BOSS reservoirs, developed 100,000 hectares By STEVE LINDE (FLASH90) SARIT ZEHAVI EXPLAINING HEZBOLLAH

t. Col. (Res.) Sarit Zehavi were looking for an intelligence founded the Alma Center officer who could give briefings to four years ago with one delegations in English,” she told goal in mind: to explain The Jerusalem Post. “When I left the L the situation of Israel’s army I understood that I had a gift 45 tense northern border. to explain really difficult situations Zehavi opened Alma – an in a simple manner.” organization that gives briefings “And the fact that I live in the on Israel’s security challenges on North makes it really personal,” the never-before-published the northern border – in the bomb Zehavi said. “I see the border every- sites concentrated mainly in shelter of her home and named it day, I see the Iranian flags.” Hezbollah-dominated areas of Bei- after her eldest daughter. Three days after Hezbollah fired rut are related to the launch, stor- One year later, Zehavi, who a barrage of 20 rockets toward age, and production of the group’s served 15 years in the IDF’s Military northern Israel, Zehavi said “I Fateh 110/M600 medium-range Intelligence division, opened the know exactly where the rockets missiles, and those subject to the research center in northern Israel. landed. Today on the way to work Hezbollah missile precision-guid- With a team analyzing, translat- I saw just how bad the burning was ed missile project (PGM’s). ing, and mapping, Zehavi also from the fires caused by the rock- ALMA also released a report gives briefings along the borders of ets. No one is writing about that.” this past year disclosing Hezbol- Lebanon and Syria. Another motivation behind her lah’s presence in southern Syria Before coronavirus, ALMA was work is the issue of human shields. as much larger than previously giving tours to about 50 delega- “The IDF can solve our security revealed to the public by the IDF, tions per month. problems, be it in Gaza or Lebanon, with some 58 sites where the ter- The delegations are not Israeli – in a few days, but they aren’t able ror group’s Southern Command that’s not ALMA’s audience – but to because of the human shields,” and Golan Project have been de- (COURTESY) foreign delegations of policy mak- she said, referring to the innocent ployed. ers and other influential individu- civilians living in areas where one that uncovered close to 30 So with Israel’s northern front als curious about Israel’s North. Hamas and Hezbollah have stock- missile launching sites belonging heating up, you can find Zehavi “When I was in the army, I served piled their missile arsenals. to Hezbollah in civilian areas in doing what she does best: educat- in a lot of roles in the Northern ALMA has released dozens of the Lebanese capital of Beirut. ing. • Command, and I heard that they reports in the past year, including The report found that By ANNA AHRONHEIM

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 61 YAEL VIZEL 46

REVOLUTIONIZING ONLINE SHOPPING

(COURTESY) rowing up, Ramat Gan native enrolling in an electrical engineering program at When the pandemic hit, online shopping Yael Vizel was never interested in the Technion in Haifa, one of the seven female skyrocketed. For Zeekit it was a game changer. clothes. Little did she know that students out of 150 men. “Apparel is both an extremely important cat- a few years later she would found While fashion was not her cup of tea, it was egory for all the large retailers, and at the same G a start-up with the goal of revolu- her dislike for shopping that inspired Zeekit. time the category that customers have the hard- tionizing the online shopping experience by “Zeekit was created in order to help me find est time with. That’s the reason for the booming providing the first virtual fitting room. the right clothes for me easily, without ‘wasting interest Zeekit has had during COVID,” she said. Zeekit – which means chameleon in Hebrew - my time’ trying clothes on, return items that The start-up began to receive different offers to allows users to try outfits they see online on their don’t fit me and be able to see myself dressed up be acquired. Ultimately, the deal was closed with own pictures. It was acquired by Walmart in May with thousands of styles with just a swipe,” the Walmart, which will leave the company in Israel and thile the exact details of the deal, including entrepreneur remarked. with Vizel at the helm. its monetary element, were not disclosed, some The start-up was established in 2014. Vizel Asked how she feels about the disparities have estimated that the retailer chain spent at and her business partners Nir Appleboim and between men and women in the hi-tech sector least $200 million, securing Vizel a spot among Alon Kristal created a virtual tool to show how and being an exception, Vizel said that she be- Israel’s tech stars. a specific piece of clothing would look on a lieves the situation will change. The 37-year-old journey towards success person, employing similar technology to the “More women gradually get into tech and en- began early. one that she used to turn 2D images into 3D trepreneurship, and the more success stories of “I grew up as an athlete – a swimmer – and a graphics for military mapping. female CEOs we’ll see more women being com- ballerina,” she said. “These two very different “Developing a technology that can virtually pelled to take these leadership positions,” she hobbies provided me with useful skills for my dress up any person with an endless amount of remarked. “Being an exception is both challeng- professional caree...to be competitive, hard items, which just have regular pictures of them ing and exciting – I liked these two aspects at the worker and at the same time a person of details (e.g like in regular catalogs that we see online) is same level.” and appreciation for art and science.” an extremely hard technology mission,” Vizel And as much as she did not grow up passion- The daughter of a lawyer and an engineer, she noted. ate about fashion, the connection with the field served as an officer in the Israeli Air Force “in both “That’s also the reason for not having a strong was ultimately in her blood. tech and operational positions, which ‘trained’ competitor for Zeekit – we’re the only company “My grandfather had a textile factory when me to be a leader, take big daily decisions and op- worldwide which actually cracked the virtual he immigrated to Israel from Romania after the erate according to the military-style mantra that dress-up technology ‘code,'” she added. World War II,” she revealed. “In a way, Zeekit is ‘failure is not an option.’” the modern and digital variation of his textile “I was the first female commander at most of SOON ZEEKIT started to work with major factory. the positions I’ve held, which taught me that brands and retailers, including Adidas and “He visited our office once, making jokes that there are no barriers – if you’re good, achieving ASOS. The partners found out that using Zeek- ‘no one works here but everyone is just playing the goals and a hard worker,” she added. it’s technology significantly improved their sales on their computers,’” she added. • In university she continued to be a trailblazer, and reduce the return of purchased items. BY ROSSELLA TERCATIN

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 62 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 LINOY ASHRAM AND ARTEM DOLGOPYAT ISRAEL’S GOLDEN PAIR 47 LINOY ASHRAM of my story about a thousand times, but my mind, but really it is so stunning to me how many inoy Ashram is not the easiest each time the whole experience still feels people recognize me in the streets of Israel these days, person to catch up with these somewhat surreal.” anywhere and everywhere and people of all ages, days. Understandably so, after the Ashram is no stranger to circular hard- even when I am wearing a mask.” 22-year-old Israeli captured the ware around her neck, a 2018 World All- In Tokyo, there were plenty of tense moments, LAll-Around Rhythmic Gymnas- Around silver medalist, two-time (2017, including a shaky performance in the qualification tics gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2019) World All-Around bronze medalist, round and a dropped ribbon during her dazzling August and rose to legendary status in the the 2020 European All-Around champion final routine, performed to Hava“ Nagila.” country’s sports pantheon. and the 2019 European Games All-Around Ashram had to sit on pins and needles while Rus- After multiple attempts to arrange an silver medalist, among more. sia’s Dina Averina had a chance to vault over the appropriate time for an interview, the However, Olympic gold is different – Sabra into first place, but ultimately the Israeli pre- Rishon Lezion native reached out to The especially as Ashram became the first-ever vailed in the judges’ scores on the strength of her first Jerusalem Post and was happy to spend a female Israeli athlete to top the podium three rotations and finished a minuscule .15 points few minutes discussing her monumental and trigger “Hatikvah” at any Olympic overall ahead of the Russian world champion. accomplishment and the big-picture im- Games. “The hardest part of my time in Tokyo is tough to plications. Just the third blue-and-white competi- say. The moments while waiting for my fellow com- “Things have started to calm down in tor to earn an Olympic gold medal – along petitors’ final scores were very heart-palpitating, but the last two weeks, since I won the gold with Gal Fridman (windsurfing, 2004 really what was more difficult was after my first day of medal, but only a little bit,” Ashram told Athens Games) and Artem Dolgopyat the qualifying competition, when I did not have my the Post. “There are still hundreds of mes- (artistic gymnastics, 2020 Tokyo Games) – best performance and I was worried that I may not sages, interview requests and corporate Ashram is mindful of the enormity of her even advance to the finals.” invitations to deal with daily, but it is all historic achievement, but is still getting After breaking the Russian grip on the sport – she wonderful. I have gotten countless mes- used to the local prominence. is the first from outside a post-Soviet Republic to win sages on WhatsApp, Instagram and all “One of the most surprising things a gold medal at an Olympics where former Soviet forms of social media. I really haven’t had to me about the whole experience isn’t states participated – Ashram is well aware of where time to respond to everyone, but I try. necessarily all the work I put in and re- her performance placed not only herself, but Israeli “I think I have told different versions playing the competition over and over in rhythmic gymnastics on the world stage. In fact, she borrowed a line from Tal Brody’s – the Maccabi Tel Aviv European champion – playbook. “We are on the map and our sport is on the map,” proclaimed Ashram. “If up until now this sport was just for eastern Europeans, it can now be said that this is a sport for all. My result has opened the way for many countries that never thought in their lives that they would be able to reach such results." Looking back on her rise from to world and Olympic champion, Ashram had a key missive to impart. “The most important message that I would give to the 10-year-old me and anyone else out there with a dream would be to just continue to focus on what you love about sports and surround yourself with people who love you and motivate you. And just do it your way, always!” In November 2017, at the age of 18, Ashram en- rolled in the IDF and worked as an administrative assistant. Since her discharge, she has been studying education at Ono Academic College. Asked about her plans and whether she will soon start training for Paris 2024, Ashram noted that “for right now, I just want to enjoy living in this amazing moment. I want to give my body and mind time to rest, and I want to continue my studies." No matter what the future holds for Ashram, her legacy is set in... well, gold, and she will always be a shining example of Israeli hard work and persever- ance, along with global triumph and success. “It’s exciting and emotional for me to think of myself as an ambassador for Israel, at least in the sports forum,” she stated with immeasurable pride. “I’m very honored to play this role and always want to represent not just myself but our entire country.” (REUTERS)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 63 ARTEM DOLGOPYAT

f Artem Dolgopyat wasn’t ed Press even prophetically pre- television, in press conferences [Culture and] Sport Ministry; the a household name in Israel dicting Dolgopyat’s gold medal or media scrums, Dolgopyat Gymnastics Federation; my club, prior to the Tokyo Olympics, before the Games began. maintained his levelheadedness Maccabi Tel Aviv; and of course he certainly is one now. After coming out strong with and his calm demeanor time and my sponsors, Bank Hapoalim, I The unassuming and ex- a first-place qualifying perfor- again. Fujitsu, Mini Line and Honda.” ceedingly modest 24-year-old mance, the Israeli had to wait He refused to engage in the Going forward, there are many artistic gymnast is still taking it over a week between qualifica- contentious story picked up by opportunities for Dolgopyat, all in following his remarkable tion and the final. Israeli media and politicians both in sports and otherwise, but gold-medal performance in the “At the beginning of the wait- regarding his inability to marry he still has his sights set on more floor exercise at 2020 Games in ing period, I was actually happy his Belarusian girlfriend, Maria medals. August. to have a long break, but after the Sakovich, in Israel because his “My ultimate goal is to repeat “My expectations going into fourth or fifth day, it was really mother is not considered Jewish my gold-medal performance in Tokyo were just to do my work as hard.” by the rabbinate. the 2024 Paris Olympics, but in best I can and then let the results But Dolgopyat stayed mentally “First of all, it’s my personal the immediate future there are come as they did. In the end I was tough and despite scoring lower life, and I think it isn’t so proper many other competitions for happy, of course,” the Ukraine- in the final than in qualifying, his to discuss it in front of the entire me to prepare for – the European born Israeli told the Post. scores held up for him to claim country,” said Dolgopyat at a press Championships, the World Dolgopyat’s passion for gym- the top spot on the podium. conference. “These are matters of Championships and others. I nastics goes back to the age of six “In my mind, my final exercise the heart, and they are mine, so I look forward to getting back to when he first signed up to attend was not the best, and I didn’t would rather not answer.” training little by little and going his local club in Dnipro, Ukraine, receive the highest scores, so I This genuine and resolute po- from there.” as he followed in the footsteps of was extremely stressed about liteness comes through when More than any personal grati- his father, Oleg, who was a gym- whether it would be enough for speaking to Dolgopyat directly, fication, the number one feeling nast himself. any medal,” he noted. “So those as does his gratitude for all Dolgopyat has about his mo- In 2009, Dolgopyat immigrat- were the most difficult moments those who helped pave his way mentous feat is a keen sense of ed with his family to Israel at the of the whole experience. to Israel’s second-ever Olympic national pride. age of 12. He joined the gym- “When I heard the results, and gold medal (a total that was add- “I am so thrilled to represent nastics team of Maccabi Tel Aviv realized that I had won the Gold, ed to a few days later by Ashram.) the State of Israel, as I have and attended the Shevah Moffet I wanted to cry. I actually couldn’t “I want to thank all the people done since I was 14 years old in school in Tel Aviv before drop- even believe it. Literally every who believed in me and surround various international competi- ping out due to language difficul- single emotion went through my me all the time – my family; my tions. I am extremely happy that ties and the burden of training. head and I didn’t even know how coaches, Sergei Vaisburg and An- I have reached this stage and can “I would tell all young athletes to process it.” drii Gribanov; my physiothera- represent our country as an elite with dreams that you always Throughout his post-medal pist, Adam Badir; the Olympic athlete.” • have to believe in yourself, most media appearances, whether on Committee of Israel and the By URIEL STURM importantly,” Dolgopyat told the Post. “Secondly, never stop working hard and setting expectations and goals for yourself. And dream high and never give up.” At 18, he enlisted with the IDF, serving at the Tel Hashomer army base. Dolgopyat continued to com- pete at the top youth competitions and finally broke through in 2017 when he won a silver medal in the Floor Exercise at the World Championships held in Montreal. That same year saw him also win medals at the Maccabiah Games, which led him to medals in floor exercise both in 2018 and 2019 at the European Champion- ships. He qualified for the Tokyo Games by winning a silver medal in the Floor Exercise at the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, and bronze and gold medals at the 2020 European Championships held in Turkey, Dolgopyat captured gold in the floor exercise and bronze in the vault. Slowly but surely, the expectations bar was raised, with the chances of winning a medal in Tokyo moving from a pipe dream to possibility, and the Associat- (REUTERS)

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 64 ROSH HASHANAH 5782 hen formerly the series was at odds with their own expe- ultra-Orthodox Julia riences. Some spoke out, wanting to share Haart dipped her sti- the fact that they are able to live fulfilling lettos into the reali- lives in the Orthodox community. Alex- W ty-TV pool and made andra Fleksher, cohost of the “Normal the Netflix series,My Unorthodox Life, she Frum Women” podcast and columnist for could not have anticipated that her fami- Mishpacha magazine, called My Unorthodox ly’s adventures would spark a lively debate Life a “shmear campaign” and introduced on the role of women in the observant the hashtag, #MyOrthodoxLife on social community. media, drawing thousands of responses. But Haart, who grew up religious in While Haart probably did not expect Monsey, New York, married and had four that her series would inspire so many children before she left the fold for a life Orthodox women to share their often in the fashion business. She is now CEO positive stories, she is happy that people of the talent media conglomerate Elite are talking about her and her series. World Group and she designed a line of In an interview with Women’s Health shoes. Divorcing her first husband, she magazine, she said, “Knowing that there’s remarried an Italian businessman and something you want to do because you parades her complicated new life on the feel that it’s the right thing, and you popular Netflix series, moving her brood need to share your story with the world among Manhattan, Monsey, Paris and because, hopefully, you can inspire others the Hamptons. doesn’t mean it’s easy to do, right? So, it’s The series drew praise for Haart’s out- something I felt I had to do. I felt it was my spoken stance against ultra-Orthodox responsibility to do.” insistence on traditional women’s roles With all the talk about Haart and the and her success in a demanding field. But series on social media, it seems a good bet 48 it also came in for criticism, with some there will be a second season. And Haart’s calling it a kosher Kardashian reboot, with memoir, Brazen: My Unorthodox Journey staged scenes and a penchant for glitzy from Long Sleeves to Lingerie will hit stores status seeking. in March. Those craving their Unortho- But detractors and devotees agreed on dox fix until then can join Haart’s 330k one thing: Everyone was watching. (and growing) followers on Instagram, JULIA HAART And for many women, particularly where she posts scenes from her fabulous, those who are religiously observant (frum), un-frum life nearly every day. • UNORTHODOX STAR the oppressive Orthodox life depicted in By HANNAH BROWN (REUTERS)

lthough NSO Group is just one SHALEV HULIO of a number of top Israeli cyber firms and Shalev Hulio is one of CYBER VILLAIN OR HERO? many Israeli cyber CEOs, none A of his counterparts took over the news in 17 major media outlets on several continents all at once like he did this year. A serial entrepreneur and investor who has founded several hi-tech companies, the 39-year-old Hulio was described by the Financial Times as “pudgy, indiscreet... 007 obsessive Israeli tech nerd who has found himself at the intersection of big secrets and big money.” 49 For several years, NSO has been part of the top tier of Israel’s cyber offensive private sector for hacking cell phones of terrorists and other organized crime operatives. During that time, Israel also used the chip of providing NSO’s and others’ technologies to countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco in (REUTERS) order to improve ties and advance normalization. clients do or don’t, whether the Pegasus Proj- When Amnesty International sued to have In July, the Pegasus Project accused NSO ect’s accusations applied to NSO or to others, NSO’s export license revoked in the Tel Aviv and Hulio of enabling some of these Middle who was behind the Pegasus Project and District Court in 2019, The Jerusalem Post wit- Eastern and other non-democratic clients whether NSO’s profile among Arab states and nessed around two dozen Defense Ministry to spy on prime ministers, journalists and non-democratic states needs to be lowered are officials appear to convince the judge (suc- human rights activists, with French Prime all good questions. cessfully) how important it was to national Minister Emmanuel Macron being at the However, the bottom-line is that Hulio and security to keep the firm running. top of a list of potential targets from some of NSO have been and will continue to be at the In and of itself that gives a clear indication of NSO’s clients. center of the discussion and on the frontlines NSO and Hulio’s staying power. • Whether NSO is responsible for what its of Israel’s cyber offense in the private sector. By YONAH JEREMY BOB

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS JPOST.COM ❙ SEPTEMBER 2021 65 ‘The fight against antisemitism is not just a problem of the Jews, it is something that must mobilize the whole of French society’ – Rabbi Delphine Horvilleur

DELPHINE HORVILLEUR 50

(REUTERS) FRANCE’S TRAILBLAZER FEMALE RABBI

t does not happen often that a spectrum of Jewish thought,” contemporary issues, feminism within French society, including rabbi makes it to the cover of and “a place of inquiry, of daring, and innovative readings of by authoring a book about it – In a fashion magazine. However, of creation.” traditional Jewish texts. Reflexions sur la Question Antisemite Rabbi Delphine Horvilleur Raised in Paris, a granddaugh- In 2015, the rabbi was called – in 2019. Ican also boast a cover of the ter of Holocaust survivors, to eulogize one of victims of the “The fight against antisemitism French lifestyle magazine Elle, mother of three, Horvilleur stud- Charlie Hebdo slaughter, Elsa is not just a problem of the Jews, it as well as several books, a suc- ied at the Hebrew University of Cayat, a Jewish psychiatrist who is something that must mobilize cessful congregation in Paris Jerusalem, as well as in New York, wrote a column for the satirical the whole of French society,” she and meetings with the highest where she was drawn by the magazine. said in a 2018 interview after the authorities in her country and opportunity to study Talmud, In 2018, she officiated – to- murder of 85-year-old Holocaust abroad. something that as a woman gether with France’s (Orthodox) survivor Mireille Knoll. In spite of the fact that among she could not do in her native Chief Rabbi Haim Korsia – at “There is no longer just the 600,000 French Jews, very few country. the funeral of Simone Veil, an the traditional far-right identify with Reform Judaism, It was during her period in the Auschwitz survivor who became antisemitism,” she added. “The Horvilleur’s synagogue affili- US that she decided to pursue a prominent French political new development is represented ated with the Liberal Judaism rabbinical ordination, which leader and the first woman to by the children of Arab-Muslim Movement of France has a mem- she eventually received from the serve as the president of the immigrants, fueled by sermons bership of several hundred fami- Hebrew Union College in 2008. European Parliament. from some religious leaders. Mine lies. Thanks to her books and her Horvilleur has met with is a very provocative view, but we She is also the editor of Tenou’a, public engagement, she has French President Emmanuel Ma- need to face it. Only someone a quarterly magazine which de- become a prominent voice in the cron to discuss questions related blind can deny that there is a new scribes itself as “a series of work- public debate in the country. to religious extremism. growing antisemitism among shops and spaces of collective in- In her writings, Horvilleur She has also steadily de- these young people.” • tellect rallying together the full addresses questions related to nounced the rise of antisemitism By ROSSELLA TERCATIN

THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 66 ROSH HASHANAH 5782