As tragic as it was to attend Assi Dayan's funeral, it did bring about a huge family reunion, as close and distant relatives flocked to Nahalal.
By GREER FAY CASHMANAssi Dayan(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
■ Despite the low points this past week, there have been high points in the Dayan family. As tragic as it was for them to have to attend Assi’s funeral, it did bring about a huge family reunion, as close and distant relatives flocked to Nahalal from many parts of the country, and some flew in from abroad.Assi Dayan’s older sister Yael Dayan, who was the third generation of the family to become an MK, also served on the Tel Aviv City Council, and was on the list of Tel Aviv dignitaries and celebrities who on Independence Day were named Worthy Citizens of Tel Aviv. The catch is that one has to be at least 70 years old to earn the title. Others on the list were Ruth Aharon, Simona Bar-Sagi, Uri Gothelf, Menachem Golan, Shamai Golan, Yeshayahu Drori, Baruch Vilker, Sara Zak, Moshe Tiomkin, Issachar Cohen, Aryeh Levanon, Meir Mozes, Shimon Mizrahi, Rivka Michaeli and Rabbi Shimon Frenkel.The presentations were made by Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai at a festive gathering at the Opera House in the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center. Huldai later went to Michaeli’s home, where her husband hosted a lunch in her honor. Other guests included friends and colleagues from stage and screen, including Moti Kirschenbaum, Tuvia Tsafir, Yaron London, Noam Semel and Gabi Amrani.■ In addition to being one of Israel’s most prolific and widely translated authors, with numerous prizes to his credit, Amos Oz is known for his controversial political statements. At his 75th birthday celebration at Tzavta last Friday, Oz was as controversial as ever – when he labeled hilltop youth and “price tag” activists as Israeli neo-Nazis. Oz said that giving euphemistic labels to such criminals was wrong, and they should be recognized for what they really are. Oz also warned that if the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict does not work out, the one-state solution will eventually evolve into an Arab state.There were sharp responses by right-wing legislators to Oz’s remarks, to the effect that Oz is denigrating the Holocaust by referring to graffiti sprayers as neo-Nazis.■ The third annual Sharmuta parade organized by Tzipi Aran took place in Tel Aviv last Friday, with the participation of some 300 people – mostly women. Sharmuta is an Arabic word that has crept into Hebrew. It is a vulgar, derogatory expression for a fallen woman, namely a prostitute. The purpose of the parade was to demonstrate that no matter how brazen a woman may look or whether her income derives from engaging in the oldest profession, when she says no, she means no – and is not a sexual object to be exploited by men who have no sense of morality where women are concerned.According to Aran, no woman is immune regardless of age, race, religion or physique.All are victims or potential victims of rape, and the law is far too lenient with rapists.■ Two researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have been appointed to the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, which will raise international awareness about the prevention and treatment of drug and substance addiction.Prof. Richard Isralowitz, director of BGU’s Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Regional Research Center (RADAR), and Dr. Alexander Reznik, RADAR Center senior research associate, will join a network of international experts. They will advocate for and assist in the development and implementation of evidence-based interventions, policies and best practices tailored to women’s needs.RADAR is a leading academic unit in Israel for the research and dissemination of information about the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. The RADAR Center is recognized by the US Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration and is part of an international network of organizations disseminating information about drug prevention and treatment.■ Just as a woman’s work is never done, neither is a chief rabbi’s. Between Holocaust Remembrance Day and Independence Day, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau and Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef participated in so many ceremonies together that it was almost as if they were joined at the hip. However, they briefly parted company during the Israel Independence Day ceremony of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue, where each delivered an address.Lau went first and had to leave immediately after completing his speech, apologizing that he had other commitments. Yosef remained and delivered his own address, then stayed until the end of the service, missing the opportunity to see his older sister, Rabbanit Adina Bar-Shalom, light one of the torches to usher in Independence Day.On the following night, he missed out on seeing her win the Israel Prize, though presumably he will have a chance to see it on YouTube or some other form of social media.■ After 23 years at the helm of the Jerusalem Business Development Company, popularly known by its Hebrew acronym of MATI, Uri Scharf, its founder and CEO, is stepping down and will be succeeded by his deputy Golan Tubi, who has been second-in-command at MATI for the past seven years.
