By MICHAL GALANTIIDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and wife Ronit at their daughter's wedding(photo credit: AVIV CHOFI)
1. French honorHélène Le Gal, the French ambassador to Israel, awarded the French Order of Honor to Joe Marciano, the owner of the restaurant Cantina in Tel Aviv.Philosopher Raphael Zagury-Orly also received an award of the Arts from the Republic. The restaurant was closed to the public for the special event, which was attended by Barbara Wolper, cultural counsel at the French Embassy in Israel; and Tehila Rudel, cultural attaché and deputy director of the French Institute at the French Embassy.2. Haifa Film FestivalLast week’s 33rd Haifa International Film Festival was attended by film aficionados from Israel and abroad. Among the dignitaries attending the opening event were: Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav and his wife Rivka; French actress Mélanie Thierry; Festival director Pnina Blaire; Haifa Director-General Gadi Margalit; Ethos chairman Jacob Feingold; and Tourism Ministry Director-General Amir Halevy.3. Mazal tovLast week, Gali Ashkenazi, the daughter of former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi and Ronit Ashkenazi, entered into marriage with her beloved Ofer Ya’ari. The ceremony was conducted by Rabbi Shai Piron at sunset at Al Hayam at Kibbutz Sdot Yam. An impressive parade of past and present security officials came to greet the bride and groom, including the current Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and his wife Hannah; Attorney General Avihai Mandelblit and his wife Ronit; Amir Peretz, Moshe Ya’alon, Elazar Stern, Moshe and Pnina Kaplinsky, Avi and Pnina Benayahu, Amos Yadlin, Eliezer and Anat Shkedy, Amir Eshel, Ido Nehushtan, Tal Russo, Giora Eiland and Avi Zamir.4. IPO Last Thursday evening, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra hosted a special concert marking the 60th anniversary of the inauguration of Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv, the home base of the orchestra. Before the ceremony, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to inaugurate Zucker Hall, which was built with a contribution from Rivka Saker and Uzi Zucker. The impressive hall will be used for orchestra rehearsals and smaller performances.Attending the ceremony were Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, donors Rivka Saker and Uzi Zucker; and maestro Zubin Mehta. Also attending were Michal and Miki Zellermayer – chairman of the Philharmonic Orchestra; Lynn and Stef Wertheimer; Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Secretary- General Avi Shoshani; and Philharmonic Orchestra Executive Director Tali Barash-Gottlieb.5. Mini-lanceLast week, Friends of United Hatzala held a concert in recognition of the organization’s volunteers.Attending the evening were Jewish Chilean philanthropist Leonardo Farkas; American Eagle Outfitters owner Jay Schottenstein; Tami and Menahem Oren; US businessman Asher Milstein and his wife Michelle; and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. During the event, the new mini-lance, a small electric-operated ambulance, was introduced for the first time. The mini-lance, which will operate in Tel Aviv, was donated by the Orens who were thanked by Eli Beer, president and founder of United Hatzala.Translated by Hannah Hochner.
