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Sharing a moment at Jerusalem's restored Hurva Synagogue are, from left:  Jules Stern of Rockland County; board member Marty Goldstein; President & CEO Joshua Matza; and New York Bonds leader Richard Allen.  The previous synagogue was destroyed by Jordan's Arab Legion in the War of Independence.
New Leadership delegates prepare to ascend Masada.
June Delegations Highlight
Israel's Diversity

Israel Bonds sponsored three simultaneous delegations to Israel June 5-10 – the leadership task force, National Women’s Division and New Leadership.
 
The three delegations featured diverse, specially-created itineraries encompassing the vibrancy of modern Israel and the spirituality of an ancient nation. The delegations also highlighted aspects of Israel of particular interest to each specific delegation, including:
  • A task force session at the Knesset with Speaker Reuven Rivlin, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and Minister of Public Affairs and the Diaspora Yuli Edelstein.
     
  • A Women’s Division meeting with women of the Ethiopian aliyah who have turned traditional Ethiopian arts into a feminist economic initiative. 
     
  • A New Leadership encounter with students at the Holon Institute who are currently hard at work creating the next wave of Israeli technological innovation. 
Delegates also joined together for special sessions, including a commemoration of the heroic battle of Ammunition Hill.  The battle, fought during the Six-Day War, led to the reunification of Jerusalem.

Left photograph: Shown at a task force meeting at the Knesset are, from left:  Chairman of the Board Michael Siegal; Speaker of the Knesset Reuven Rivlin; Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz; Bonds President & CEO Joshua Matza; and National Campaign Cabinet Chairman Bobbie Goldstein.. Right photograph: Women’s Division delegates with women serving in the Border Police.
 
Bonds President & CEO Joshua Matza (left) confers with Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer.
Investment Opportunities Delegation Highlights Israel’s High-Tech Potential
 
The first Israel Bonds Investment Opportunities delegation visited Israel April 25-29.  The delegation, sponsored in association with Israel’s Finance Ministry, with the cooperation of former chief scientist Dr. Orna Berry, met with CEOs of leading high-tech and biotech companies, as well as prominent venture capitalists.
In addition to industry executives, participants were greeted by Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau and Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer.

Along with facilitating the purchase of Israel bonds, the delegation had two additional goals: to provide opportunities about direct investment in Israeli companies, and to stimulate positive publicity regarding Israel’s high-tech prowess, a story lost in the continuing cascade of negative media coverage.
 
 
From left:  Ball Chairmen Amy and Alan Meltzer; Jason Alexander; Sally Oren and Ambassador Michael Oren. (Photo: Freed Photography)
‘Seinfeld Star’ On Israel:  ‘I Couldn’t Have Imagined Anything So Wonderful’

 
Former ‘Seinfeld’ star Jason Alexander was presented with the Israel Cultural Award on Sunday, June 13 at the Washington campaign’s annual Ambassador’s Ball, a tradition in the nation’s capital since 1956. 

Alexander, who has been active in promoting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, was presented with the Cultural Award by Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren.

In his acceptance remarks, Alexander, known to the world as George Costanza, described his first visit to Israel by saying, ‘I took my first breath of Israeli air and I was smitten.’

He added:  “I couldn’t have imagined anything so wonderful.”

Speaking prior to Alexander, Ambassador Oren praised the Israel Bonds organization, stating, “Israel Bonds has always been at our side helping Israel meet (difficult) challenges.”


From left: Texas Israel Bonds chairman and national board member Fred Zeidman; Consul Roee Madai; and Noble President and CEO Charles Davidson. (Photo by Marc Nathan Photography)
Houston Campaign Honors
Noble Energy

Global energy conglomerate Noble Energy, Inc., was honored at a tribute dinner held May 23 under the auspices of the Houston Israel Bonds campaign.  Noble President and CEO Charles D. "Chuck" Davidson accepted the Israel Peace Medal on behalf of the corporation, which was presented by Fred Zeidman, Israel Bonds’ Texas chairman and member of the Bonds national board, and Roee Madai, Israel’s consul for economic affairs for the southern United States.

Noble was honored for ongoing efforts to help Israel meet its national energy requirements.