By MICHAL GALANTIDoreen Arison, Arik Zeevi and David Arison.(photo credit: ERAN FELLER)1. Olympic ExcellenceLast Wednesday, the Israeli Foundation for Olympic Excellence held its premiere conference at the LABS, the co-working space in Tel Aviv. This association was founded by Olympic medalist Arik Zeevi, in an effort to realize Israel’s Olympic potential by locating suitable children to specialize in various sports, finding professional coaches to match them up with, and preparing them to be future athletes. In addition, they also promote sports and upgrading Israel’s athletic status worldwide. Attending were: Chair Danny Zeevi, Arik Zeevi’s brother; entrepreneur Ruth Reiner; Benny Ayal, CEO and deputy chairman of Infinity Group; businessman David Chissick; Adv. Ido Chitman, son of the late Uzi Chitman; Jonathan Sachs and Eli Katz.2. NY salutes IDFThe Friends of the IDF in the US and Panama (FIDF) held its annual gala salute dinner last Wednesday at the New York Hilton Midtown titled ‘70 years of Heroism and Hope.’ Over 1,200 philanthropists and business owners from all over the US, most of whom were Jewish, arrived to show their support of IDF soldiers.At this year’s event, more than $32 million was raised for the welfare of IDF soldiers. The guests, who enjoyed a performance by renowned Israeli singer Shiri Maimon, included: Danny Danon, Israel ambassador to the UN; Dani Dayan, Israel consul general in New York; Maj. Gen. Miki Edelstein, IDF attaché in the United States; former major general Meir Klifi-Amir, national director and CEO of FIDF; Peter Weintraub, chairman of FIDF; FIDF Chairman Emeritus Arthur Stark, who was treated to a moving farewell ceremony; Robert Cohen, acting president of FIDF; retired brigadier general Efi Idan, FIDF director in Israel; former brigadier general Gila Klifi-Amir; Ami and Lizika Sagi; Tony Gelbart, cofounder of Nefesh B’Nefesh, and his son Jeremy; Israel Maimon, president of the Israel Bonds; Uri Levin, CEO of Israel Discount Bank New York; Ilana and Yoram Elgrabli, managing director, North and Central America El Al; Siggy Flicker, star on the Real Housewives of New Jersey; and voice over artist Valerie Smaldone, who presided as master of ceremonies.3. Shalva Last week, at the Avenue Convention and Events Center in Airport City, the Friends of Shalva, the Israel Association for the Care and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, held their annual gala evening, which was titled “Miracles Happen Every Day.” Over the course of the evening, over NIS 2 million was raised for the organization’s activities. The “Social Leadership Award” was given to Andrew Danos, the owner of James Richardson. Avi Samuels, chair of the Shalva Association, was moved by the amazing show of support from the business world towards Shalva, which enables thousands of children and their families to be cared for. Among the guests were: Dudi Weissman, Haim Taib, Udi Savyon, Hadassah Fattal and Avi Dotan.4. Beit Hatfutsot Last week, the Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot hosted the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). The event was held on the eve of the opening of the 2018 GA conference, which is taking place in Tel Aviv for the first time at the Tel Aviv Convention Center. Irina Nevzlin, chair of the Board of Beit Hatfutsot, and the president of the Nadav Foundation, welcomed the participants and thanked the heads of the GA for making the visit to the museum part of the annual conference and for choosing to focus on the important dialogue between Jews who hail from all around the world. Participating were: outgoing JFNA chair Richard Sandler; incoming JFNA chair Mark Wilf; JFNA president and CEO Jerry Silverman; and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who came to Israel with his wife Tammy for the conference.5. After the TribesArtist Beverly Barkat recently returned from the launching of her solo exhibition at the prestigious Boncompagni Ludovisi Museum in Rome, where she presented her installation, “After the Tribes,” with the support of the Nomas Foundation. The event was attended by well-known art collectors and curators, alongside Israeli diplomats, including Israel’s Ambassador to Italy Ofer Sachs. A year ago, Barkat launched an exhibition at the Palazzo Grimani Museum in Venice, which included three works that became part of the museum’s permanent exhibition. Following her success in Italy, Barkat was invited by Sachs and Israel’s cultural attaché in Italy, Eldad Golan, to create another installation in Rome in honor of Israel’s 70th anniversary.
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