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Written by Silvia G. Golan

Published: 15 January 2024

The Jerusalem International Convention Center (ICC Jerusalem) in a Call to Partners around the World and Leaders – It Is Time to Make Our Voice Heard, Loud and Clear, for the Immediate Return of the Hostages, and to Say No to Terror!

The Jerusalem International Convention Center (ICC Jerusalem), in Jerusalem, is contributing to international advocacy efforts for the return of the hostages. It has, for some weeks, also been working to boost national resilience, and has held numerous events and activities for evacuees, soldiers, and security forces and rescue personnel.

As part of efforts to raise awareness of the state and return of the hostages who have been in captivity for 100 days, together with The Red Balloon the ICC Jerusalem management recently produced an advocacy video as part of the Red Balloon campaign in which people from all over the world are videoed with red balloons and say no to terror, in an effort to influence public opinion to work towards the release of the hostages in Gaza.

The video features the world stage at the ICC Jerusalem which, during the course of its 70 year history, has hosted leading Israeli figures, as well as important leaders from around the world, who talked about peace, unity and innovation. The call is going out from the ICC Jerusalem – "bring the hostages home now". The large auditorium at the ICC Jerusalem was filled with some 3,000 balloons, alongside pictures of the hostages who are still being held in captivity in Gaza.

Here is a link to the video: https://vimeo.com/889455604?share=copy

Yesterday, January 14 2024, the ICC Jerusalem management sent out a letter to its some 200 partners, and counterpart convention centers around the world, to join it in efforts for the release of the hostages.

"We call on you, our friends and partners around the world, and your leaders, it is time to make your voice heard, loud and clear! Call for the immediate return of the hostages and say no to terror! Over 130 innocent civilians want to go home, to their families. It is time to make your voice heard, loud and clear, and say no to terror, and to call for the immediate return of the hostages."

As an act of solidarity the ICC management asks all conference centers around the world to open conferences and events they hold with the new video the ICC has produced, and to share and circulate the video in their region so that this important message reaches all parts of the world, and to be a partner in disseminating light and hope to the world.

"As an international organization we have a moral obligation to contribute to the return of the hostages and to spread this as far around the world as possible. We, as an international convention center, with many partners around the world, seek to motivate them to act, as a token of solidarity with us, to raise awareness of the condition of the hostages, and to call for their immediate release," says Alex Alter, acting CEO, ICC, Jerusalem. He adds: "Our heart is with the families of the hostages who are, today, marking the 100^th day of their loved ones' captivity. It is simply inconceivable."

Photo credit – Eldad Aloni – Sky High and Ruslan Paul.

http://www.silviagolan5.023.co.il/BRPortal/br/P102.jsp?arc=20294

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Written by TAU

Published: 12 December 2023

Tel Aviv University is offering the first academic course on the Israel-Hamas war that began on Oct. 7^th, 2023. Targeting international students, the course was launched as early as the first semester of the current academic year. TAU officials explain that to offset the distorted, simplistic picture of the war currently presented on many campuses worldwide, the course aims to present an accurate, fact-based, and complex perspective on the conflict.

Thousands of students from all parts of the world study at TAU Lowy International School, from North and South America, Europe, India, China, Australia, Africa, and elsewhere. Now, for the coming academic year, TAU has initiated a new academic course led by top experts, on the Oct. 7^th war. The course will review the background to the war, as well as its immediate implications for both Israel and the world at large, in different areas including conflict management, Middle East studies, economics, international law, security studies, national resilience, trauma studies, and more. In this way TAU aims to raise the international students' awareness of the war's causes and impact, in the hope that they will portray a more complex and accurate picture of it in their own countries. 

Prof. Milette Shamir, TAU's VP International: "The horrendous statements heard on many campuses around the world, especially in North America and Western Europe, are often a byproduct of blatant ignorance coupled with the consumption of information from dubious sources on social media. As a counter measure, we offer students from all over the world an opportunity to learn about the war through exposure to well-founded facts, responsible research, and a complex ways of thinking. This is the appropriate response of academia to the venom propagated on campuses and in the social networks."

Dr. Nimrod Rosler, Head of the International Program in Conflict Resolution and Mediation: "The horrors we experienced on Oct. 7^th and afterwards underline the need for a deep understanding of the dynamics of violent conflicts. Such an understanding can be obtained from the academic knowledge and experience of the prominent lecturers who will teach in the course, providing   participants with tools for dealing constructively with the war now and with its consequences in the future. Positive ways for coping with the horrors are the key to resilience and hope for a better future."

The new academic course follows another initiative of the Lowy International School: a taskforce initiated by international students to assist Israel's national effort to tell the war's true and tragic story to the world. Participating students conduct dialogues on the social networks with people in other places in the world, providing them with materials and information that present Israel's narrative from the perspective of international students in Israel.

Prof. Ronen Avraham, Head of the Lowy School's Parasol Foundation International LL.M. Program: "This task force is a moving initiative of students, and I am proud that TAU provides it with logistical backing. We have already reached 1.3 million people and have thousands of followers worldwide. The events of Oct. 7^th will enter the history books, not only of Israel and the Palestinians, but also of the entire world. We will not give up our efforts to spread the truth, for the benefit of both our contemporaries and future generations."

Photo credit: Tel Aviv University.

Tel Aviv University grants permission for the use of these photos/images for stories on TAU

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Written by Silvia G. Golan

Published: 01 January 2024

In an orange-themed emotional ceremony, the third Annual SASA Setton Children's Literature Award, was dedicated to Ariel and Kfir Bibas, the last remaining children held hostage by Hamas in Gaza

Ofri Bibas: "One of Ariel's favorite books as of late, is 'who wants a piggyback' by David Grossman. The moments reflected in the story, are little vignettes of father and son. Daily, routine moments. These simple moments, described in the book, are little moments that are daily reminders of their absence, they elicit deep longing for them. Ariel and Kfir have become symbols, but for us, they are firstly our family – and our family is incomplete. They must return – now! Time is running out."

Yesterday, December 27, 2023, the SASA Setton Children's Literature Award ceremony, held in Tel Aviv for the third consecutive year, was dedicated to Ariel and Kfir Bibas, who are still held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. The event was held in the presence of the Setton family's representative, Mrs. Sonia Gomes de Mesquita, the extended Bibas family, Israeli singer Yuval Dayan, author Lihi Lapid and other high-profile guests. The goal of the award is to support local literature and promote children's book creativity. The award is given to authors and illustrators who have positively contributed to the Israeli culture.

The event culminated with the release of 500 orange balloons. SASA Setton Organization decided to dedicate the only children's literary award in Israel to Ariel and Kfir, and as a homage to their fiery ginger hair, the event was entirely orange. The Bibas children are the only remaining minors in Hamas captivity, and the award intended to bring awareness to the return of all the hostages home. The best children's book for 2023 was "Shoshana the bored trash bug" from Agam publishing house, written and illustrated by Orit Bergman, who received a 35,000 NIS prize. Esteemed Author and Editor Yona Tepper was selected to receive the SASA Setton lifetime award and received a prize of 25,000 NIS. This year, a new category was introduced, for creative illustration. The winner was Nathalie Belhassen, who received a 25,000 NIS prize for her book "In Blanket Land" from Keter/Knafaim Publishing house. 

Since the war started, Israel's culture sector was brought to a halt. Therefore, the Setton Family representative, Mrs. Sonia Gomes de Mesquita, through SASA Setton, chose to dedicate the award to raising awareness for the ginger kids Ariel (4) and Kfir (11 months) who are still held by Hamas with their parents, while also invigorating this sector. SASA Setton organization promotes education for hospitalized children in all 41 schools within hospitals across the country, for over a decade. The SASA Setton prize was created by Mrs. Hilda Setton to commemorate her late husband, Philippe Setton Z"L. 

In addition to the awards, previous SASA Setton Lifetime award recipient, the author Galila Ron-Feder Amit, presented her project based on her beloved redhead protagonist, "from Gingi to gingers' – where the leader of the group resigned to allow Ariel to take his place, and for Kfir to serve as his deputy.  Israeli singer Yuval Dayan accompanied the balloon flying ceremony alongside the extended Bibas family with two of her songs.

The award selection committee included Chairman Adi Rubinstein, a culture affairs journalist, Lihi Lapid, author and lecturer, Prof. Shai Rudin, a researcher and lecturer for children's literature in Gordon Academy, and Tal Marlmelshtein, editor of Israel Hayom's weekend magazine. 

Sonia Gomes de Mesquita, the donor family's representative: "This is the third year we have held the SASA Setton Children's Literature Award, and it was clear to us we had to connect the story of the Ariel and Kfir, the beloved redheads to our award. Our goal was to raise awareness for the campaign to return them home as soon as possible. SASA Setton is proud to promote the field of Israeli children's literature. We congratulate our winners: continue your important work in promoting Israeli creativity and literature. We can't wait to see the Bibas family, and all the hostages, return home safely. “

Ofri Bibas, sister of Yarden Bibas: "One of Ariel's favorite books as of late, is 'who wants a piggyback' by David Grossman. The moments reflected in the story, are little vignettes of father and son. Daily, routine moments. It's been 80 days, without Ariel, Kfir, Yarden and Shiri.  80 days without a book before bedtime, playing with dad, a kiss to Kfir and a hug to mommy before crawling into bed. These simple moments, described in the book, are little moments that are daily reminders of their absence, they elicit deep longing for them. Ariel and Kfir have become symbols, but for us, they are firstly our family – and our family is incomplete. We want them home with us, to hug, console, love, restore. They must return – now! Time is running out."

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Written by Silvia

Published: 06 December 2023

(6 December 2023 – Jerusalem) Yesterday's congressional hearings addressing antisemitism on university and college campuses highlight the willful lack of accountability when it comes to Jews, Israel and antisemitism on campus and in academia. 

Yad Vashem is extremely alarmed by University Presidents of Harvard, MIT and UPenn refusal to claim that genocidal calls against Jews does not violate university policy and code of conduct. In fact, when the three presidents were asked point blank whether calls for the genocide of the Jews violated university rules or code of conduct their response respectively was it is a 'context dependent decision'. Yad Vashem is appalled that leaders of elite academic institutions would use misleading contextualization to minimize and excuse calls for genocide of the Jews.  The positions taken by the three university presidents in their testimonies highlight a basic ignorance of history, including the fact that the Holocaust did not start with ghettos or gas chambers, but with hateful antisemitic rhetoric, decrees and actions by senior academics, among other leaders of society.

Institutions like Yad Vashem play a critical role in raising awareness about the history of antisemitism and the Holocaust.  Both are essential to confronting the current acute situation and bringing about long-term solutions.

"Any university, institution or society that can “contextualize” and excuse calls for genocide is doomed," reacted Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan. "I call upon university administrations to empower and train their faculty and students to better understand the dangers of antisemitism. We invite university leadership to visit Israel and Yad Vashem during this university semester break in order to learn what past calls for the genocide of Jews has led to - the Holocaust. Never Again must begin with education."

 www.yadvashem.org
  

Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, was established in 1953. Located in Jerusalem, it is dedicated to Holocaust commemoration, documentation, research and education.