Good Jewish News Magazine - Tevet 5784 - Symphony of the Stars, United Hatzalah

TEVET 5784 ‫טבת‬

PUBLISHER LUXURY CHAMBER MEDIA GROUP

EDITOR Jay Parnassa Shapiro

PHOTOGRAPHER Bob Bauman

LUXURY CHAMBER MEDIA GROUP

Jewish performers boost United Hatzalah at ‘Symphony of the Stars’ The goal of the concert was to pay tribute to first responders, as well as celebrate Jewish unity!.

Performers Benny Friedman, Ishay Ribo, Avraham Fried, Shulem Lemmer and Mordechai Shapiro at the “Symphony of the Stars” charity concert in New York on Dec. 16, 2023. Credit: United Hatzalah.

The United Palace in New York City came alive on Saturday night with the melodies of the “Symphony of the Stars” concert, organized by United Hatzalah, Israel’s national volunteer-based emergency medical service (EMS) organization.

With a remarkable turnout of 3,500 people, the event captivated the audience and raised an impressive $250,000 in support of the organization’s lifesaving mission.

The line-up featured Jewish music stars Benny Friedman, Ishay Ribo, Avraham Fried, Shulem Lemmer and Mordechai Shapiro. In a harmonious convergence of diverse musical styles, the singers created a musical tapestry that resonated across audiences.

Avrumy Jordan, major gifts officer for the Tristate Area at United Hatzalah, declared the evening “a tremendous success.”

He noted that “singers said the atmosphere felt like the concert was happening in Israel, and concert-goers told me it was the most incredible concert New York had ever seen.”

The Dec. 16 concert also carried a deeper significance. United Hatzalah volunteers, who are often at the forefront of emergency responses, were among the first to help on Oct. 7 amid Hamas’s terrorist attacks in Israel. The goal of the event was to pay tribute to them, as well as celebrate Jewish unity and pride.

“We are immensely grateful for the outpouring of support during this challenging time. The ‘Symphony of the Stars’ was not just a concert; it was a collective expression of solidarity and strength,” said Eli Beer, founder and president of United Hatzalah. “Not only did everyone have an amazing time, but by doing so, they allowed us to continue to equip and train our volunteers to allow the fastest and free emergency medical response throughout Israel when it’s more needed than ever.”

United Hatzalah of Israel is the largest independent, nonprofit, fully volunteer Emergency Medical Service organization that provides the fastest emergency medical first response throughout Israel for free. Its service is available to all people regardless of race, religion or national origin. United Hatzalah has more than 5,000 volunteers across the country, available around the clock—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. With the help of GPS technology and iconic ambucycles, its network of volunteers has an average response time of less than three minutes. In some metropolitan areas, the average response time is 90 seconds. Its mission is to arrive at the scene of medical emergencies as soon as possible and provide the patient with professional and appropriate medical aid until an ambulance arrives, resulting in more lives saved.

PPORT U S

IsraelRescue.org

Sabra® x Frank's RedHot® & Stubb's®: Bold Hummus Collabs Give Snackers Something New to Dip into this Fall Sabra is going boldly where no hummus has gone before, introducing three spectacularly flavorful collaborations that pair America's most loved, creamy and crave-worthy hummus with some of America's favorite bold-flavored brands.

Sabra's newest varieties take snack time to the next level, offering heat, smoke, spice, and Texas-style Barbeque flavor to pair perfectly with everything in the pantry.

Sabra Buffalo Hummus made with Frank's RedHot Sabra BBQ Hummus inspired by Stubb's Sabra Southwest Hummus "These outstanding dips are for the big flavor fans out there," said Sabra's Global Chief Research, Development, and Sustainability Officer Olugbenga Diyaolu. "As we reach for snacks more often, we want more from them… more intense flavor, more satisfying textures, more fulfilling options. I am really proud of the team for crafting these extraordinary dips!

Whether you are new to hummus or already dip in daily, I think you will be blown away by the creamy texture and bold flavor Sabra is bringing to the table. If you have Sabra hummus in the fridge, you're always snack-ready."

As part of the brand's overall "The Snack Your Snacks Would Snack on If Snacks Could Snack on Snacks" marketing campaign, two new digital shorts were created featuring Sabra Buffalo Hummus made with Frank's RedHot and Sabra BBQ Hummus inspired by Stubb's.

This launch is the first in a series of bold-flavor innovations from Sabra, aimed at satisfying any and every snack craving and expanding beyond the brand's already beloved hummus and guacamole offerings. These everyday craveable snack staples are available in store and online in the deli department of your favorite supermarket.

Elie and Sarah Hirschfeld Collection's 1937 Rothko A Part of the Louis Vuitton Foundation Retrospective The Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris is currently exhibiting "Untitled (The Subway)," a 1937 Rothko from the Elie and Sarah Hirschfeld collection. This is the first Rothko retrospective in nearly 25 years. Elie and Sarah Hirschfeld are honored to have their painting included in this exhibition of 115 major pieces from around the world.

"The shapes in the pictures are the performers," said Rothko, who liked to compare his paintings to dramas. The idea is typified in Elie Hirschfeld's piece, where New York commuters and underground structural elements play equally prominent roles in the dynamic scene unfolded on the canvas.

The Louis Vuitton Foundation exhibition aims to offer "a definitive Parisian take on the American master of melancholy." The intimate urban scenes of the artist's 1930s, which include the Elie Hirschfeld piece, open the exhibition, which follows the path of the artist's expanding repertoire into surrealism and abstraction. Occupying the entire space of the foundation, the Rothko retrospective will run until April of 2024. Says curator Suzanne Page of the exhibition: "It grants us access to transcendence."

Elie Hirschfeld and Bernard Arnault

Elie Hirschfeld and Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, were together at the opening night of the exhibition in Paris.

"Scenes of New York City," the full Elie and Sarah Hirschfeld collection from which the Rothko is on loan, has been on display at the New York Historical Society the last two years. Starting November 1, Elie Hirschfeld's pieces will travel to the Palm Beach Society of the Four Arts, to be on display through January 28, 2024. The Florida exhibition will include scholarly entries on each work, a full catalogue of works, and an interview with Elie Hirschfeld.

Philanthropy is about the voluntary promotion of human welfare, according to Elie Hirschfeld. The Foundation's values are centered on community enhancement and support, with four key areas of giving: Education, Healthcare, Jewish Causes, and Athletics. Mr. Hirschfeld's intent is that ongoing contributions will enhance, promote and grow organizations that make a positive impact on individuals and their larger communities. With a personal history of giving that goes back to his years as a student serving as President of Brown University's Hillel chapter, Elie has remained inspired by that organization's commitment to enriching the Jewish people and repairing the world. Elie believes that giving back to the community, and to humanity, provides personal as well as societal enrichment. He created the Elie Hirschfeld Foundation as a means of expanding his efforts.

BioBetter Pioneers Cultivated Meat Future with Molecular Farming FoodTech start-up BioBetter, Ltd., opens its first food-grade pilot facility to accelerate the production of key growth factors for the cultivated meat industry. The company has pioneered a unique protein manufacturing platform for producing growth factors (GFs) using tobacco plants as self-sustained, animal-free bioreactors.

Helping cultivated meat companies offer affordable and accessible products to consumers, BioBetter is revolutionizing the future of cellular agriculture with its innovative molecular farming-based production platform.

Currently, cultivated meat production processes are relatively expensive, making it a challenge to scale up and reach price parity with animal-based counterparts.

"Cultivated meat is still very expensive in comparison to conventional meat and the key is to reduce the growth medium costs to a minimum," explains Amit Yaari, Ph.D., CEO of BioBetter. "Our target is to reduce the production cost of growth factors, including insulin, a key part of the growth medium, to $1 per gram which is a 100-fold less than the going rate today."

The start-up already has achieved five impressive milestones in just the past year: 1. Production scale-up/building pilot plan 2. Commercial scale cultivation of insulin- and FGF-expressing tobacco plants 3. Reaching GF expression levels that enable a significant reduction of production costs 4. Significant regulatory progresses and advances with the Israel Ministry of Health 5. Collaboration with leading cultivated meat companies

Plant bioreactor technology BioBetter discovered a new purpose for the traditionally shunned tobacco plants, transforming them into bioreactors for the production of GFs. These GFs play a key role in the proliferation and differentiation of cultured meat cells, allowing for the formation of authentic and well-structured muscle tissue.

Designed for both environmental safety and efficiency, these bioreactors will be grown in a large-scale, net house cultivation system. The plants are carefully engineered to prevent the escape of any transgenic material. They are induced to express growth factors only when chemically triggered, and the company exclusively uses non-food, non-feed tobacco plants to eliminate any risk of inadvertent consumption or cross-contamination of food crops.

BOCA RATON’S ORIGINAL JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2023 SUMMER FEST FILM SERIES & 7TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL AUDIENCE WINNERS Boca Raton’s original Jewish film festival, The Judy Levis Krug Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival (JLKBRJFF), presented by the Adolph and Rose Levis JCC (Levis JCC) announces the audience winners from its 7th annual event, the 2023 Summer Fest film series, and a call for Screening Committee members. Viewed by more than 3,000 film lovers in 2023, the film festival is recognized as a premiere destination for Jewish and Israeli films and has become one of the country’s largest niche film festivals.

More than 80 feature-length films, documentaries and shorts were judged by viewers based on the overall quality of the film, effectiveness of the message, entertainment value and audience popularity, among other criteria. Viewers selected the top three finalists in each category: best narrative, best documentary and best short.

“At the heart of JLKBRJFF’s mission is our commitment to showcasing films that capture the rich and multifaceted experiences of Jewish culture and history,” said Nina Rosenzweig, Chair, JLKBRJFF Screening Committee. “Our dedicated screening committee and I take great care to curate a diverse selection of films that challenge, inspire and provoke thought, and we are privileged to collaborate with talented film makers from all corners of the world who share our passion for storytelling.”

Top three winners in each category are: Best Narratives: Farewell Mr. Haffman; Simone Veil: A Woman of the Century ; The Accusation Best Documentary Films: Baltic Truth; The Rhapsody; Reckonings Best Short Films: Nakam; Twenty Minutes; The Caretaker “JLKBRJFF is more than just a film festival, 3 weeks, 80 films or 9 winners—it’s a celebration of Jewish culture and a testament to the vibrant community that supports it,” said Stephanie Owitz, VP of Arts, Culture and Learning, Levis JCC Sandler Center.

Demand for enriching cultural arts programming in our area remains strong during the summer months. The Levis JCC’s JLKBRJFF is proud to present its Summer Fest film series. Films will be screened one Wednesday per month at 1 p.m., June through October at the Levis JCC. Tickets are $10 per film.

The 8 th annual JLKBRJFF will be held January 28 – February 18, 2024. The Festival’s Screening Committee, an integral part of the Festival each year, is currently accepting new members; this is an active committee that is involved in carefully curating the final roster of films that will be presented to the 2024 Festival audiences. Contact JLKBRJFF Director Lisa Barash at lisab@levisjcc.org for more information.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. The Levis JCC is located at 21050 95th Avenue S. in Boca Raton.

Dr. Stewart and Judy Levis Krug

MINGLE MOCKTAILS JOINS FORCES WITH BEVERAGE INDUSTRY DISRUPTOR BETHENNY FRANKEL TO MAKE MOCKTAILS MAINSTREAM Mingle Mocktails, a line of alcohol-free sparkling mocktails, today announced an exciting new partnership with entrepreneur, philanthropist, producer, and New York Times bestselling author, Bethenny Frankel.

Recognized as a successful businesswoman, beverage industry maven, and influential personality, Frankel's investment in the brand is poised to elevate the adult non-alcoholic beverage category. This strategic partnership will further the clean-crafted mocktail line's mission of fostering fun, social connection, and inclusion by ensuring everyone feels part of the party, whether or not you choose to drink.

"The spirits industry is a boys club - breaking into it requires a strong voice and innovative ideas," says Bethenny Frankel. "Skinnygirl was groundbreaking, allowing me to disrupt the space in a unique way. With Mingle, we're addressing a different consumer need and bringing much-needed excitement and variety to the non-alcoholic market," she adds.

Established in 2017 by Laura Taylor, Mingle is an inclusive line of sparkling mocktails that can be enjoyed on their own or as mixers. Taylor, having given up alcohol, discovered the challenges of social gatherings without a non-alcoholic option beyond boring seltzer. Inspired to create a delicious product that allows everyone to feel included and celebrate their choice to drink or not, Mingle was born. Crafted with real fruit juices, botanicals, and a refreshing effervescence, each of Mingle's six flavors elevates any occasion, whether it's a night, a week, or a lifestyle without alcohol.

Frankel's business acumen will be instrumental in expanding the brand's national retail presence, which already includes top retailers such as Whole Foods, Walmart, CVS, Albertsons Safeway, Total Wine, Costco, Wegmans and more. To accelerate Mingle's growth among its target female demographic, Frankel will also leverage her platform through social amplification, events, and other initiatives.

"I am thrilled to partner with an incredible businesswoman like Bethenny Frankel, who has already achieved tremendous success in the beverage industry," says Mingle Mocktails Founder Laura Taylor. "By harnessing the collective strength and determination of two like-minded businesswomen, we will catapult the brand and category to new heights. Together, we are empowering individuals to embark on an exhilarating journey into the realm of mocktails and inviting everyone to the party!"

Mingle's portfolio includes six fruit-forward, zero-proof mocktail offerings - Cranberry Cosmo, Cucumber Melon Mojito, Key Lime Margarita, Blood Orange Elderflower Mimosa, Blackberry Hibiscus Bellini, and Moscow Mule - which are available in sleek 12oz cans or 750mL glass bottles. The inclusive mocktail brand is woman-owned and certified by WBENC, the gold standard for women-owned businesses. Mingle is also a proud partner of PACT for Animals, supporting their mission to keep military personnel and their pets together by providing temporary, vetted foster care in times of need.

To learn more about Mingle Mocktails visit www.MingleMocktails.com or follow the brand on social @MingleMocktails.

Altshuler Shaham, a Leading Israeli Investment House, to Becomes a TASE Member The Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd. (TASE: TASE) announces that Altshuler Shaham Trade Ltd., a subsidiary of Altshuler Shaham Investment House, has applied to join TASE as a member.

Altshuler Shaham Trade will enable the public to trade online through an innovative system that offers a cuttingedge, fast, personalized and friendly user experience.

Altshuler Shaham Investment House was founded in 1990 by Kalman Shaham and Gilad Altshuler, and is among Israel's leading investment houses, specializing in the management of mutual funds, investment portfolios, provident funds and pension funds. The Investment House currently manages assets in an amount of NIS 190 billion on behalf of 2.3 million clients and investors.

Ran Shaham, CEO of Altshuler Shaham: "We are delighted to join TASE as a member and offer the public innovative channels with flexible access, cutting-edge tools and multiple added values that facilitate dynamic investment. This step is part of our commitment to constantly create advanced investment options for our clients."

Ittai Ben Zeev, CEO of TASE: "Welcoming Altshuler Shaham Trade as a new TASE member is another significant step towards the development and advancement of the Israeli capital market. The Israeli capital market is hungry for new players that will level the playing field by offering the public accessible and competitive trading platforms.

TASE's strategy aims to increase the number of TASE members and encourage new players to partake in the Israeli capital market. As a TASE member, Altshuler Shaham Trade will enhance the competition and improve the Israeli public's access to the capital market. I expect to see more prominent entities, both local and foreign, become TASE members."

Israeli Prime Minister Visits Steakholder Foods® to Experience Cutting-Edge 3D Printing Technology and Taste Structured Cultivated Slaughter-Free Meat As Israel continues to lead the way in foodtech innovation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes a firsthand look at the latest developments in Steakholder Foods and the foodtech industry: Tasted Steakholder Foods' delicious, 3D-printed cultivated meat creations.

Became first Prime Minister to ever taste 3D-printed cultivated fish.

Experienced a demo of Steakholder Foods' industrial printer, printing a customized steak and fish fillet.

Hosted a roundtable discussion with industry leaders, government officials, and representatives of investors, academia, and the non-profit sector.

Steakholder Foods Ltd. (Nasdaq: STKH), an international deep tech food company at the forefront of the cultivated meat industry, announced that it was proud to host the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, who explored the latest advancements in cultivated meat and 3D bio-printing, and tasted 3D-printed cultivated fish and meat products at the cutting edge of foodtech.

During his visit, the Prime Minister had the opportunity to tour the company's facilities, see firsthand how Steakholder Foods' industrial-scale 3D bio-printer works, and learn about its potential to print tons of cultivated meat per day.

He said that there is a global revolution in how humanity is producing food, and emphasized that his government is working to help companies move forward in order to maintain a technological lead.

He then tasted a 3D-printed cultivated fish fillet, printed with Steakholder Foods' customized bio-inks using Umami Meats' fish cells. The tasting also included Steakholder Foods' beef product grown with ethically harvested cells in the Company's facilities.

Joining the tour were industry leaders (including the CEOs of leading Israeli food manufacturers), government officials, and representatives of investors, academia and the non-profit sector, including: Prime Minister of Israel - Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu Israeli Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology – Mr. Ofir Akunis Director-General of the Prime Minister's Office – Mr. Yossi Sheli CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority – Mr. Dror Bin Director-General of the Ministry of Health – Mr. Moshe Bar Siman Tov Prime Minister's Animal Rights Advisor – Mrs. Tal Gilboa Israeli Cabinet Secretary – Mr. Tzahi Braverman Steakholder Foods CEO – Mr. Arik Kaufman Photos by Uria Sayag.

Steakholder Foods Co-Founder and Chairman – Mr. Yaron Kaiser Heads of leading food manufacturers in Israel - Vice President for Business Development of the Strauss Group, Mr. Elad Komissar, CEO of Osem-Nestlé, Mr. Avi Ben-Assayag and Chief Innovation Officer of Tnuva, Mr. Shay Cohen.

CEO of Milk & Honey Ventures – Mr. Beni Nofech Innovation and Applied Research Leader, Technion R&D Foundation - Mr. David Shem Tov Prime Minister Netanyahu: "Today we ate fish that was produced without fish and meat that was produced without cattle.

This is a global revolution.

Israel is a global leader in the field of alternative protein and we will see to it that we continue to lead."

Arik Kaufman, CEO of Steakholder Foods: "As Israel continues to lead the way in food innovation, today's visit by the Prime Minister of Israel is a testament to the importance of our technology and the incredible potential it holds for the future.

We were honored to offer Mr. Netanyahu the opportunity to taste and witness the future of food."

Cultivating Hope in Israel: Jewish National Fund-USA is Bolstering Israel’s Food Security and Economy Amidst Conflict

By Tania Shalom Michaelian

Just hours after the harrowing events that shook Israel on October 7th, Shai Zohar wasted no time; he was already en route to the crisis zone in the South. This 50-year-old engineer from just outside of Tel Aviv might be entrenched in the country’s high-tech epicenter, but his roots growing up in a small agricultural village in the country’s far north etched one indisputable truth into his psyche: Israel’s farming sector was in dire straits, and it required an all-handson-deck approach to survive this disaster. This was not just about answering a volunteer call; it was about fortifying Israel’s very food security. So, Shai reached out to the Jewish National Fund-USA affiliate, HaShomer HaChadash, who were actively scouting for people to come to the aid of beleaguered farmers on the unforgiving frontlines of the Gaza Envelope.

Established in 2007, the Zionist social-education non-profit organization is based on volunteers who help safeguard agricultural properties, assist farmers, and strengthen the Jewish people’s connections to the land. These values on which the organization stands made HaShomer HaChadash the perfect fit to step into the huge vacuum left by the thousands of foreign agricultural workers who fled the southern region after the massacres.

Hamas terrorists brutally claimed the lives of up to 30 Thai workers and abducted many of their friends, creating a dire situation. The crisis has been exacerbated by the mobilization of Israeli farmers and workers for the ongoing conflict, coupled with a comprehensive ban on Palestinian farm workers entering Israel. In response, organizations like HaShomer HaChadash are racing to fill this gaping void.

Shai was dispatched to aid farmers on Moshav Yadtet, along with a team of four others. Within a few days, this group swiftly expanded to over 30 individuals hailing from all corners of the nation, and even from outside of Israel, all unified by the urgent mission to safeguard the future of the agricultural sector and rescue Israel's economy. This mission takes on paramount significance when one grasps that the region bordering Gaza contributes to a staggering three-quarters of Israel's agricultural production.

“Our ability as a nation to rise to the challenge and step in to help this sector through organizations such as HaShomer HaChadash is the glue that holds our people together,” he added. “Am Yisrael Chai!”

In addition to mobilizing thousands of agricultural volunteers, Jewish National Fund-USA is leveraging its unparalleled network of affiliates to support the immediate needs of displaced Israelis. Through its “Israel Resilience Campaign,” the organization is providing critical therapy to traumatized children; firefighting equipment, defensive equipment for civilian security guards, and supporting the opening of a life-saving Trauma Ward at the ADI NegevNahalat Eran Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center – the only rehabilitation hospital in the south of Israel.

To support Jewish National Fund-USA’s Israel Resilience Campaign, visit jnf.org

Jewish National Fund-USA supported volunteers learn how to farm

Rare Marc Chagall Painting of His Father, Recently Restituted to the Descendants of Its Original Owner, on View at the Jewish Museum Marc Chagall’s painting Le Père (1911), which was recently restituted to the descendants of its original owner, is now on view at the Jewish Museum through January 1, 2024.

Completed in 1911, during a transformative period in the artist’s career, Le Père was among 15 works of art that the French Government restituted in April of 2022, part of an ongoing effort to return works in its museums that were stolen by the Nazis during World War II. The painting was restituted to the descendants of David Cender, the original owner, and sold at auction by Phillips in November 2022. Following the sale, Phillips’ team in New York worked with the buyer of the artwork and facilitated the loan to the Museum.

Claudia Gould, Helen Goldsmith Menschel Director, said, “The Jewish Museum is honored to show Chagall’s rare portrait of his father. The vast and systemic pillaging of artworks during World War II, and the eventual rescue and return of many, is one of the most dramatic stories of twentieth-century art, and one that continues to have repercussions today. It is imperative that the Jewish Museum tells these stories, most recently doing so with our exhibition Afterlives: Recovering the Lost Stories of Looted Art (2021). We are grateful to Phillips for facilitating this loan.”

Part of the collection of David Cender, a musical instrument-maker from Łódź, Poland, the work was stolen from him in 1940 before he was sent to Auschwitz with his family. While Cender survived, his wife, daughter, and other relatives were killed at Auschwitz. By the early 1950s, the painting had been reacquired by Chagall himself, who held a particular affinity for it. The artist was likely unaware of the history of the painting’s ownership. In 1988, the Musée national d’art moderne, Centre national d’art et de culture Georges-Pompidou in Paris received the painting by donation from Chagall’s estate. Ten years later, the work was deposited into the Musée d'art et d'histoire du Judaïsme in Paris, where it was on view for 24 years before research showed that the work should be and was restituted to Cender’s heirs.

Le Père is a dynamic portrait that signifies Chagall’s pivotal transition from art student in Saint Petersburg to one of the defining figures of European Modernism. During the winter of 1911-1912, Chagall moved into La Ruche, an artists’ commune on the outskirts of Montparnasse, France. The works he created over the next three years are among the most highly regarded of his career, with his portraits bearing particular significance. Le Père is an intimate portrait of the artist’s father Zahar, a quiet and shy man who spent his entire life working in the same manual labor job. Portraits of the artist’s father are rare within Chagall’s oeuvre. Far from the generalized symbols of lovers that dominated much of his later paintings, this early work is a remarkably personal and heartfelt depiction.

About the Jewish Museum The Jewish Museum is an art museum committed to illuminating the complexity and vibrancy of Jewish culture for a global audience. Located on New York City's Museum Mile, in the landmarked Warburg mansion, the Jewish Museum was the first institution of its kind in the United States and is one of the oldest Jewish museums in the world. The Museum offers diverse exhibitions and programs and maintains a unique collection of nearly 30,000 works of art, ceremonial objects, and media reflecting the global Jewish experience over more than 4,000 years. The public may call 212.423.3200 or visit TheJewishMuseum.org

Credit: Artwork (C) Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ADGAP, Paris. Image provided by Phillips Auctioneers LLC.

Israeli Culinary Institute Announces Opening Date The Galilee Culinary Institute by JNF (GCI by JNF) will officially open its doors on May 7, 2024. Located in the Greater Kiryat Shmona Region - Israel's northernmost point -- the first-of-its-kind institution will enable a new generation of students to experience the region's rich melting pot of culinary traditions while providing a syllabus that sets it apart from other schools.

"Israel's Galilee region is home to over 80 unique cultures," explained Jewish National Fund-USA World Chairman's Council Ambassador, Steve Rosenfield. "Where else in the world can you learn about Ethiopian and Druze food in the morning, Lebanese cooking in the afternoon, and Jewish Sephardic cuisines from North Africa in the evening? GCI by JNF will mark a new era in culinary education, yet it will also bring transformational economic development to Israel's north thanks to the jobs and tourism it will attract."

Further emphasizing the Institute's positive economic impact, Rosenfield added: "The upper eastern Galilee has been out of the spotlight for too long because of the complicated economic and security situation. Through Jewish National Fund-USA's philanthropic investments in the region, we are adding new housing sites, a new medical center, a food technology center, and a food incubator in addition to GCI by JNF."

Rendering of GCI by JNF's campus (Credit Totem. Copyright Openmind Art)

GCI by JNF CEO, Nathan Hoffman, echoed Rosenfield's excitement. "The opening of the school means everything to me," he said. "I've been waiting for this day since I started in May 2019. To me, this solidifies everything and provides a timeline for executing our strategic plan."

Housed within GCI by JNF, the Rosenfield School of Culinary Arts will welcome students from around the world with plans underway to also offer shorter culinary programs for tourists and locals.

"It's always incredible to see a vision evolve into reality," said GCI by JNF Chief Culinary Officer and Co-founder, Lior Lev Sercarz. "The opening of our institution will be a watershed moment for Israel's north, yet it will also mark a new chapter in how our industry approaches culinary education as our impact is felt around the globe."

"I am so proud to see our game-changing initiative come to fruition," added GCI by JNF Chair and Co-chair of the Go North East Task Force, Sheryl Buchholtz. "In everything we do at Jewish National Fund-USA, we always ask, 'what's the Return on Investment (ROI) for the people of Israel?' Projects like GCI by JNF help change the narrative in previously underserved places like Kiryat Shmona. We are bringing jobs and tourism to the region, yet most importantly, we are creating hope and a reason for the next generation to stay and develop their communities."

Regarding the Institute's target demographic, Hoffman explained: "We are looking to attract the next generation of culinary leaders. Many places accept anyone who can pay. However, we will focus on engaging students with the most passion, promise, and potential."

GCI by JNF will differentiate itself from other institutions by focusing on transforming culinary education. While most institutes strictly focus on the kitchen, with students usually learning about their workstations and how to use the different kitchen supplies on 'day one,' GCI's students will first start on the farm. They will see where food comes from with the Institute's experiential approach to learning. "You learn about wine from the vineyard, bread from the wheatfields, and fruit from the orchards, not from a book or video," explained Hoffman.

For more information or to apply, visit galileeculinaryinstitute.org. For philanthropic opportunities, visit my.jnf.org/gci or contact Michael Feinman at mfeinman@jnf.org / +1.212.879.9305 x503.

Jewish National Fund-USA Donor Society Members in Boston Celebrate Philanthropic Impact in Israel

Emily Pfeffer, Risa Aronson, Alon Ben-Gurion, Sara Hefez, Rhonda Forman

The event, chaired by Risa & Steve Aronson and Rhonda & Eric Forman, featured keynote speaker Alon Ben-Gurion, the grandson of the State of Israel’s founder and its first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion.

Ben-Gurion shared how his grandfather’s vision is being brought to life through Jewish National Fund-USA’s work, and how as an acclaimed international hospitality consultant, he is using his extensive network and industry know-how to actively promote development in Israel’s Negev Desert.

Longtime partner (donor) and ambassador (lay leader) Jeffrey Woolf, and his late wife Mary Woolf of blessed memory, were presented with Jewish National Fund-USA’s Guardian of Israel Award in recognition of their leadership, creative achievements, generosity, and outstanding service.

“It is an honor to be involved, and I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve in various ways,” said Jeffrey, reflecting on his ongoing philanthropic support for Israel.

Eric Forman, Todd & Yadira Patkin, Charlie & Bari Popkin