SPECIAL ISRAEL SUPPLEMENT Israel Celebrates 70 Years INSIDE: Making Aliyah to Tel Aviv & Am Yisrael Foundation A SUPPLEMENT OF THE JEWISH PRESS • ISSUE JUNE 1, 2018 • 18 SIVAN 5778 EDITOR: SHMUEL SACKETT DESIGN: MATI JACOBOVITS ISRAEL SUPPLEMENT | JUNE 1, 2018 More People Make Aliyah To Tel Aviv Than Any Other City And You Won’t Believe What’s Happening There el Aviv is the center of the 500 synagogues; has surpassed even as relevant and central to our nation’s the Am Yisrael Foundation a decade Jewish world. Certainly the dreams of Theodor Herzl, ap- collective destiny than Tel Aviv”, says ago, building the nonprofit into what Jerusalem is our eternal proaching the visions of our ancient President of the Am Yisrael Founda- is now the largest young adult Jewish capital both spiritually prophets. tion, Jay Shultz. Jay moved from New community organization in the world and politically, but one “For all of Israel’s triumphs over the York to Tel Aviv in 2006 and has been with a following of over 60,000. The Tquarter of global Jewry lives in the past 70 years, we are still in the pioneer- championing the banner of the city Am Yisrael Foundation (AmYisrael. Tel Aviv metropolitan area making it com) is a giant umbrella for tens of the most Jewish place on Earth. For innovative initiatives that empower the past 100 years, the “White City” young Jews to pioneer Israeli society. has been home to the most signif- “We cannot take for granted that the fu- icant vibrant innovative centers of Nowhere else on the planet can a young Jew ture of our People will have strong Jewish Israeli culture, business, fashion, art, be as relevant and central to our nation’s or Zionist identities. The main goal of finance, high-tech, film, television, our work in Tel Aviv is to inspire every and the army. Tel Aviv is currently collective destiny than Tel Aviv. young Jew on the planet to connect to a is one of the youngest cities in the shared vision of Jewish destiny, giving world per-capita with over 40% of them the tools to continue building our the populace being between 20-40 Home in the Land of Israel.” years old. Today the majority of ing phase of the country. What an honor ever since, with Israeli media under- The Am Yisrael Foundation is new immigrants to Israel choose Tel it is to be a young Jew here now, being standably dubbing him “Tel Aviv’s about redefining our time in history, Aviv as their home. A city full of able to invest creativity, imagination, Other Mayor”. Recognizing the po- giving young Jews the opportunity bustling boulevards, cafes, startups, and energy towards building the next tential to use Tel Aviv as a positive to be uniquely relevant. Jay focuses baby strollers, construction cranes, 1000 years of the Jewish People. Nowhere fundamental force for the benefit of his foundation’s work on building venture capital, art galleries, and over else on the planet can a young Jew be young Jews worldwide, Jay founded what he believes are the next steps in Jay Shultz, President, Am Yisrael Foundation JUNE 1, 2018 | ISRAEL SUPPLEMENT Zionist pioneering - developing the legendary Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir thousands of young Jews for Shabbat ganization and is the main “welcome vacuums left in Israeli civil society; Lau (another strong supporter of and holiday meals each year. It is so home” portal for young immigrants. community, volunteerism, tzedakah, Jay’s work), and is home to more important to Jay to reveal the deep When asked to sum up his phi- civic engagement, grassroots leader- synagogues and kosher restaurants spiritual potential of what he calls losophy, Jay coined the term “Ob- ships, and Jewish identity. than New York, the city still has a “Tel Aviv Ir HaKodesh”, that in 2014 servant Zionism”. To this end, the Am Yisrael Foun- stronger reputation for its beaches he set the Guinness Record for the “Observant Zionism holds that every dation has created something unique and parties. Jay laments over Isra- World’s Largest Shabbat Dinner. Jew must take upon himself the mantle of for Israel, what many see as a mini el’s complacency when it comes to Working as Educational Director of mutual responsibility for our home and Jewish Federation, founding and Jewish education. A major focus on the Am Yisrael Foundation, Rabbi our people. Observant Zionism is the pi- managing a multitude of organi- the Am Yisrael Foundation’s efforts Shlomo Chayen is Tel Aviv’s popular oneering spirit, vision, and pro-activity zations, with a special focus on Tel is not taking for granted the Jewish young Jewish community leader, of reinvigorating our national renais- Aviv. Many of these organizations character and Jewish identity of the running a center for beginners Jew- sance in Eretz Yisrael. There is no one have become pillars of community nation. “It is a great investment for the ish education and the city’s most way to observe Zionism, the key is ded- life for so many of the city’s young future of our people in giving Tel Aviv’s active synagogue, 126 Ben Yehuda icated and elevated action. Just like all adults. There is the Tel Aviv Interna- young professionals positive Jewish life (126BenYehuda.com) home to hun- aspects of Jewish life, Observant Zionism tional Salon (TLVSalon.com), Israel’s experiences and transformative Jewish dreds of young Olim & Sabras from should take on wonderfully varied forms largest speakers forum that works to educational opportunities. Most of Is- all backgrounds, religiosities, and of expression that reflects the individual engage young adults in the critical raeli future leaders in politics, business, nationalities. and their unique ability to contribute to issues of the day, the Tel Aviv Arts and culture are young Jews living in Tel A key to the Jay’s strategy is to Am Yisrael. Observant Zionism cannot Council (TelAvivArts.com) which Aviv today. If we care about our Home- create partnerships between young be limited to religious or secular spheres, works to create young patrons of land having a rich Jewish character in Olim that come to Israel with a it is part of our romantic, mystical and the Israeli arts and finally, the fan- more than name alone, investing in Tel dedicated passion for Zionism, with revolutionary national DNA. There has tastic program called; Adopt-A-Safta Aviv should to be our main collective native-born young Sabras. Together, never been an easier time in history for (AdoptASafta.com). “Safta” being focus.” The Am Yisrael Foundation these two populations complement a Jew to live in the Land of Israel. This Hebrew for “Grandma”, pairs young has developed groundbreaking ini- each other in ways that have the is your Home, come build it. We have volunteers with lonely Israeli Holo- tiatives with its Jewish outreach ability to truly “move needles” for spent millenia wanting to build this caust Survivors on the Big Brother/ efforts. White City Shabbat is the the positive future of Israel. TLV country, now that we are here we must Big Sister model. main portal for community Shab- Internationals (LoveTelAviv.com), is get our hands dirty and build a Nation. Even though Tel Aviv has its bat life in Tel Aviv, hosting tens of Israel’s largest Olim community or- Am Yisrael Chai!” World's Largest Shabbat Dinner by White City Shabbat in Tel Aviv .