Yaakov Hagoel

Jerusalem memorial ceremony for Bondi Beach terror victims in tandem with ceremony in Sydney

President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal joined Australians living in Israel, visiting Australians, bereaved relatives, Chabad rabbis, and senior officials for a memorial ceremony in Jerusalem.

|ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
ISRAELIS LIGHT candles the day after after two gunmen shot and killed people gathered on Australia's Bondi beach for the start of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, in Jerusalem on December 15, 2025.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog attends Israel Hayom conference in Jerusalem, November 17, 2025.

Herzog halts lone immigrant ceremony to condemn Sydney Hanukkah attack

President Isaac Herzog paused a ceremony honoring lone immigrants to condemn the Hanukkah attack in Sydney and urge Australia to take stronger action against rising antisemitism.

|ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
Rabbi Doron Perez holding a photograph of his son, Capt. Daniel Perez, who fell on October 7.

WZO adopts new agreement with Perez as president, bringing extended negotiation saga to an end

The agreement will see Mizrachi CEO Rabbi Doron Perez become the WZO president, a normally ceremonial role that would reportedly expand to include matters of budget and Diaspora relations.

|ByMICHAEL STARR
RABBI DORON Perez holding a photograph of his son, Capt. Daniel Perez.

WZO adopts new coalition agreement, Perez as president, Hagoel as chair

The agreement will see Mizrachi CEO Rabbi Doron Perez become the WZO president,  a normally ceremonial role that would reportedly expand to engage in matters of budget and Diaspora relations.

|ByMICHAEL STARR

Jewish Agency selection committee meeting ends with no conclusion, again

No candidate received nine of the 10 votes on the selection committee to be chosen as the next Jewish Agency chairman.  

FEBRUARY 27, 2022ByGIL HOFFMAN
The Jewish Agency headquarters in Jerusalem

Grapevine December 22, 2021: Yet another career move?

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

DECEMBER 21, 2021ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
President Isaac Herzog with El Salvador Ambassador Susana Gun de Hasenson

There is only one Jerusalem - opinion

While freedom of worship has been given to all religions in the city, there is excessive strictness imposed upon Jews seeking to visit the Temple Mount.

MAY 10, 2021ByYAAKOV HAGOEL
Yaakov Hagoel, chairman of the World Zionist Organization.

Yaakov Hagoel: World Zionist Organization is the Jewish world’s government

A significant challenge? Repairing the relationship between Jews in Israel and the Diaspora, Hagoel says.

NOVEMBER 13, 2020ByALAN ROSENBAUM
YAAKOV HAGOEL steps into his new role as chairman of the World Zionist Organization