Hello
In honor of Independence Day, we are pleased to present you with a special newsletter which includes a new study exposing irregularities in the Kimcha De'Pischa (Passover Relief for the needy in the Religious Councils). The newsletter opens with a festive letter in honor of the day by the CEO of the Institute.
Happy Independence Day!
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A letter in honor of Independence Day
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A little more than a year has elapsed since taking position as CEO of the Institute for Zionist Strategies.
Many good things have transpired during the course of the past year: We held a book launching event for the new book by Dr. Yoaz Hendel, the Institute's chair, attended by Israel President, Reuven (Rubi) Rivlin; we opened a new legal research unit; we launched the He'Halutz program for Zionist leadership, which operates in three different localities in the periphery; we wrote up position papers focusing on different areas, all of which produced great impact; |
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we published breakthrough studies concerning religion and state; we published a collection of excerpts written by Eastern Zionist philosophers; we continued visiting checkpoints and assisting Palestinians who required medical attention; we presented our views in various opinion columns and interviews. In a nutshell – we have been working very hard.
One of the things that is a source of great pride and joy for me ever since taking up this management position is our unique line of thought and original ideas we constantly voice as a National-Liberal institute that wishes to preserve and mold both the Jewish and the democratic character of the State of Israel.
In the discourse used today in the world of media, politics and social networks, it is very easy to adopt a herd mentality, and it is often far more convenient to join the stronger and louder voices, thus exempting oneself from independent thinking.
I would like to take this opportunity to share with you Eliezer Botzer's beautiful song titled "Herds":
Herds, herds
Run ahead, but are led
All hold the same map
Each has chosen its path,
And a shepherd and flute,
But none have asked where it heads.
How long, how long
Shall we wander in deserts, clutching onto the past?
How long will the dream be denied
That has brought us thus far?
Happy Independence Day!
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Where does the Kimcha de'Pischa money go to?
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For many years now, the Religious Councils in Israel have been distributing funds to relief organizations and Passover charities amounting to millions of Shekels. The current study exposes some grim findings with regards to the distribution of these funds.
In addition to this, one cannot ignore yet another dismal fact: oftentimes monies given to relief organizations and Passover charities have raised allegations of offenses relating to misconduct and corruption.
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In many cases it was found that funds intended for relief organizations and Passover charities were distributed personally by political bodies, and in a number of cases it was even proven that funds were transferred from the Religious Council to NGOs headed by members of that same Religious Council.
Furthermore, in certain cases the Religious Council's Passover charity money was used to strengthen the political power of specific political parties.
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Beit Midrash for Zionist Philosophy
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A special meeting was held this week as part of the 'HaShilo'ach' program in honor of the new volume in the Ha'Zeman series recently published. The volume deals with Zionist-Eastern-Sephardic philosophy.
The meeting was moderated by Adi Arbel, editor of the published volume, and took place as part of the Ha'Shiloach program in the IZS Beit Midrash for Zionism, operating under the auspices of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center and the Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute.
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This past month, members of the He'Halutz (The Pioneer) program met with Captain (res.) Aftamo Yosef, who was awarded the Moskowitz Prize for Zionism and is the founder of the Tzeida La'Derech Le'Sherut Mashma'uti ("Tips for a Meaningful Military Service") program that prepares and guides youth.
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Aftamo met with the members of the program and related his personal aliya story from 1991. He also discussed difficulties concerning immigration absorption encountered by the Ethiopian community, and what induced him to found Tzeida La'Derech. In addition to this, the members of the group received important tips relating to self-sufficiency, and how to realize social/public initiatives. Thank you so much Aftamo! You are an exemplary figure!
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Nave Dromi, director of Blue&White Human Rights, took part in a panel session organized by the Haaretz newspaper, which took place this month in the Academic College of Emek Yezreel. The panel was attended by some well-known personas from the world of media and politics, like MK Ahmad Tibi and the journalist Gideon Levy, both of whom took up a very narrow and one-sided approach to human rights.
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It was important for Blue&White Human Rights to voice a National-Liberal approach and show that things could be tackled differently for the purpose of creating a new Human Rights discourse, which is not aimed at besmirching Israel's reputation and which is monopolized by none.
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During the course of the month we received an application from a disabled person using a wheelchair, who had to wait for long hours at the Kalandia checkpoint before he could get through – an exceptional case, which should never have happened. We turned to the Civil Administration that very same day, and were happy to see that the problem we pointed out was examined promptly.
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That very day an enquiry was made among the staff of the Civil Administration as to the reason for the long detention at the checkpoint, followed by new directives and updates pertaining to disabled persons and those who are limited physically. We handle medical requests and transit permits every week, and this particular case was especially important to us in light of the fact that it might serve to impact and assist others passing through the checkpoint.
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The meeting and tour with two different groups – one from UCLA, the other from Northern University, served as great public diplomacy, particularly since both of these campuses are known for their anti-Israeli discourse. Both groups were exposed to the politicization that is currently tainting Human Rights discourse, and enlightened as to how it is possible to promote Human Rights without undermining the State of Israel.
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From South America to Binyamin
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As part of the Program for Young Ambassadors that we run in collaboration with the Training Institute for Overseas Counselors under the auspices of the Jewish Agency, we held an educational visit to the Binyamin region this month, which was attended by counselors from various youth movements in Latin America.
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The tour was headed by the Media and Public Diplomacy Department of the Binyamin Council.
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Who is afraid of the Nation-State Basic Law?
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Adi Arbel, the Institute's project manager, lectured this month before participants of the Program for Zionist Thought, operating under the auspices of the student movement Im Tirzu at Bar Ilan University.
The presentation focused on the need and justification for promoting the basic law: Israel is the Nation State of the Jewish People.
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In articles published by members of the Institute, a variety of current affairs and matters of public concern have been tackled:
English:
- The Institute chair, Dr. Yoaz Hendel, claims that in place of a written constitution, Israel has its security interests (Yedioth Ahronoth).
- Yisrael Harel, founding chair of the Institute, supports Benett's attempt to teach Jewish heritage in elementary schools (Haaretz).
Hebrew:
- Nave Dromi, director of Blue&White Human Rights comes out against Ahmad Tibi and those who choose to follow in his footsteps (Haaretz).
- Matan Asher, a founder of Blue&White Human Rights, explains why we ought to stop neglecting Israel's right-wing friends in Europe (nrg).
- Ariel Finkelstein, director of The Golden Mean Project, criticizes a research done by the newspaper 'TheMarker' (Israel National News).
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