Grapevine July 15, 2026: A tribute to her father

Born in London but raised in Gibraltar, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, a former deputy mayor of Jerusalem and currently Israel’s special envoy for trade, always feels a pang of nostalgia when she returns to Gibraltar to visit family and friends.

Public service apparently runs in the Hassan genes. Joshua was the first mayor and chief minister of Gibraltar. The latter title is almost equivalent to prime minister and is given to the head of government.

Gibraltar is an extraterritorial part of the UK. Joshua served four terms as head of government. His other daughter, Marlene Hassan-Nahon, a former politician, is a scholar of art history and an avid player of backgammon.

So many significant events relating to Israel and/or Israelis have taken place over the past 25 years that it’s difficult to remember them all.

Aside from that, not all are included in school curricula, so students may never know about important people whose names are indelibly linked with some part of Israel’s history. A case in point is Israel’s fighter pilot and first astronaut, Ilan Ramon.

Ramon died in the disintegration of the space shuttle Columbia as it was reentering Earth in 2003. Six years later, one of his sons, Asaf, who was also a fighter pilot, was killed in a training accident.

The widow and bereaved mother, Rona Ramon, established the Ramon Foundation in memory of both her husband and son. As a further tribute, the government named the international airport in Eilat the Ilan and Asaf Ramon Airport.

Rona Ramon, who died of cancer in 2018, was an ardent believer in education and established schools and educational projects through the Ramon Foundation, which has expanded its activities since her death.

They were hosted by Maj.-Gen. (res.) Ido Nehushtan, the president of Boeing Israel and a former commander of the Israel Air Force. Boeing is a partner of the Ramon Foundation.

During the visit, the students presented the company’s management with a scientific experiment they had developed to investigate how microgravity affects the formation of external blood clots.

The experiment is scheduled to be sent to the International Space Station in early 2027, where it will be conducted as part of a collaboration with NASA.

This is directly tied to Ilan Ramon’s legacy, as he included a student-developed experiment among the items he took on his space mission.

Discussing Boeing’s support for the Ramon Foundation, Nehushtan said: “As the world’s largest and leading aerospace company, Boeing places great importance on supporting educational initiatives in the field of space.”

“The global space sector is experiencing unprecedented momentum. The Ramon Foundation’s initiative, and especially the opportunity to meet the students who presented this year’s scientific experiment, makes a significant contribution to science education for Israel’s next generation and to advancing space research worldwide,” he continued.

Doron responded by saying, “The Ramon Foundation’s SpaceLab program gives students an extraordinary opportunity to experience real scientific research and to realize that an idea born in the classroom can ultimately reach space.”

“We are grateful to Boeing for its ongoing partnership with the foundation’s activities, connecting the next generation of scientists and innovators with a world-leading aerospace company.”

Montefiore has been promoting Israeli wines abroad as well through articles in food and wine publications and via his books.

Most recently, his book Domaine du Castel: The Biography was selected as the best of the best drinks books in the Gourmand Awards, covering the period between 1995 and 2025.

The selection is made after all the best Gourmand Award-winning books over the past three decades have been considered. This is the only Israeli book in this prestigious list.

Antisemitism is a hot subject in Jewish circles these days. While many Jewish and non-Jewish activists define it, speak about it in relation to the Holocaust and October 7, and talk about the need to heighten security, quelling it is another matter.

Some Jewish journalists might be inadvertently encouraging it through the detailing of antisemitic rhetoric and physical violence when reporting on outbreaks of antisemitism.

Among the more well-known speakers were the former Soviet dissident, Israeli politician, and chairman of the Jewish Agency, Natan Sharansky; French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy; and Canada’s former justice minister Irwin Cotler.

Other leading figures – Holocaust historians Prof. Dina Porat, the diplomat and professor Deborah Esther Lipstadt, who was the former US special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, and Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, the founder and head of the Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes Against Women and Children – were also panelists.

The most common thread of the conference was the worldwide upsurge in antisemitism since October 7. Lipstadt warned that the political far-right, the progressive Left, and Islamist extremists are increasingly united by antisemitism.

Echoing a widely held belief among Jewish politicians and intellectuals, Lipstadt said, “This is not only about Jews. It never has been. It’s about Western civilization writ large.”

“It is about the future society we wish to build and leave to future generations. No one who values democracy, the rule of law, international stability, and security can afford to look away,” she said.

Elkayam-Levy, who has explored the sexual crimes committed by Hamas on October 7 and beyond, and who has challenged those who deny the sufferings of sexually-abused Israeli hostages, contended that the systematic denial of the atrocities of October 7 helped to fuel antisemitism.

The distortion, the denial, and the attempt to erase the truth of the documented evidence have undermined trust in Jewish testimony, she said.

“If antisemitism can undermine the credibility of Jewish testimony and destabilize the production of knowledge, then documenting the truth is not only an obligation, it is an act of resistance,” she continued, adding that defending the truth has become inseparable from combating antisemitism.

The conference also provided a platform for the official launch of the Contemporary Antisemitism Studies Association, a US-UK-Israel academic initiative.

University of Haifa president Prof. Gur Alroey said that universities must engage with the societies in which they operate, contribute solutions to issues that challenge the public, influence public policy, and strengthen democratic values.

Meanwhile, the rise of antisemitic incidents in the UK has spurred the UK Government to upgrade security for Jewish communities and to allocate over £250 million across the next three years.

A large part of this sum will be used to increase the presence of more than 500 police members in uniform and plainclothes, who will be on alert throughout Britain and Wales.

Is India thinking of moving its embassy to Jerusalem? The question has come up in view of the frequency with which Indian ambassador J.P. Singh has been seen at diverse events in Jerusalem in recent weeks.

He was also among the 1,800 guests and representatives from 40 countries who attended the MIXiii Health Tech-IL event.

It was hosted at the Jerusalem International Convention Center (Binyanei Hauma) by Karin Mayer Rubinstein, the president and CEO of Israel’s Association of Tech Industries (IATI).

Among those attending the gala opening session were Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, Mark Sabag, a member of the global management of Teva, the CEO of Teva Israel, Yossi Ofek, and Orit Efrati, the chair of Shenkar’s board of governors.

The main theme of this year’s conference was investments, and it was clear there was plenty of overseas interest in that regard. More than 60 investors and representatives of 30 venture capital funds from around the world were present.

Conference topics varied. The notion of emergency medicine was one of them. This field has taken on special importance given the number of military and civilian wounded and injured in conflict zones on both sides of the equator.

Further, there were discussions on battlefield experiences, biotechnology, venture-building in healthcare, home care, remote monitoring, emerging technologies from Israeli academia, innovation in ophthalmology, and more.

One of the main innovations this year had to do with a pitch session. It enabled the technology transfer companies of Israel’s leading research institutions, universities, and hospitals to present their groundbreaking technological developments in healthcare and life sciences to a wider potential market.

In addition, at a special event by the Jerusalem Development Authority, five biomed start-ups, selected from approximately 300 biomed companies operating in Jerusalem, presented their innovative developments.

Among the five were Tedence, Emris Pharma, Baybtech, and Bio, whose presentations were made to managers of leading biomed companies and to hi-tech investment funds.

“The Israeli hi-tech sector, and within it, the biomed industry, currently operates in a complex and challenging environment,” Mayer Rubinstein said.

“Alongside the security reality, geopolitical uncertainty, and economic challenges, it is also contending with significant global changes, foremost among them the accelerated development of the field of artificial intelligence,” she added.

According to Mayer Rubinstein, “Despite all this, the hi-tech sector continues to serve as the central growth engine of the Israeli economy. The MIXiii conference is a tangible expression of this strength.”

Last week, the Moving North conference at the Hubayta Innovation Center in the Galilee brought together more than 200 female entrepreneurs and self-employed women from across Northern Israel.

Initiated by the Ovrot VeShavot community and Open Valley, in collaboration with Isracard and the Bazan Group, the event was held amid the ongoing impact of the war on employment and the economy in northern Israel.

The purpose of this summit was to provide participants with practical tools to support business recovery, strengthen their ability to cope with the current economic challenges, and explore employment opportunities and alternative sources of income.

In addition to lectures, panel discussions, and professional workshops, participants could take advantage of a dedicated Israeli Employment Service stand offering information on job opportunities and vocational training programs.

The conference was opened by attorney Inbal Mashash, the director-general of the Labor Ministry; Zohar Lipkin, the deputy head of the Upper Galilee Regional Council; Adar Goren, the EVP of data, digital, and marketing at Isracard; and Hagit Genish Gill of the Bazan Group.

According to data that they supplied, approximately 33,000 people are registered as job seekers in the Haifa and northern district, with around 54% currently on unpaid leave. Women account for approximately 54% of all job seekers in the region.

Among newly established small businesses in northern Israel, around 13.8% operate in the care and personal services sector, 9.9% in sales, and 8.6% in cleaning and maintenance services.

The region also records a higher-than-average rate of new businesses in the construction and industrial sectors. At the same time, relatively few are being established in hi-tech, management, and other high-income professions.

Data from Isracard indicates a 30% decline in revenues across northern Israel, reflecting the slowdown in the region’s tourism and consumer sectors.

Herzliya’s municipality, which this year was a first-time host of the games, made a point of recognizing past achievements.

Last week, Herzliya Mayor Yariv Fisher and Ofer Levy, the deputy mayor and holder of the city’s sports portfolio, met Herzliya resident Edna Yekutieli Cohen, the daughter of Yosef Yekutieli, the visionary behind the Maccabiah Games, whose dream became a reality.

Yosef Yekutieli, a footballer widely regarded as the father of the Maccabiah, envisaged the international sporting event for the Jewish people as part of the Zionist enterprise, aimed at strengthening Jewish identity, fostering ties among Jewish communities worldwide, and promoting sport and excellence.

The first Maccabiah Games were held in 1932, and since then they have grown into one of the world’s largest and most significant sporting events, and in some places are known as “the Jewish Olympics.”

During the meeting, Yekutieli Cohen shared the story of her father’s life and achievements. She spoke proudly of his legacy and the lasting impact of his values today.

She also presented the book she wrote about her father, which tells the story of his life and remarkable vision.

In return, Fisher and Levy presented Yekutieli Cohen with a commemorative medal and a certificate of appreciation in recognition of her father’s historic contribution to the Jewish people, the world of sport, and the Zionist legacy.

Aside from introducing new venues and champions, the Maccabiah Games also introduce new events to make the games as inclusive as possible.

This year, for the first time, it included Padel, a sport that is gaining in popularity among athletes with physical disabilities.

Most of the competitors came from the Beit Halochem Center and Brothers for Life (Achim L’Chaim), both of which support wounded soldiers.

The president often joins a regular group of worshippers who come to a synagogue in the grounds of his residence for morning prayers.

That’s usually well before 8 a.m. Then, at 8 in the morning, Herzog may meet a delegation from abroad. After that, there are more delegations, meetings with local or visiting politicians, scientists, authors, and security personnel.

Receiving credentials of new ambassadors, and endless celebrations of special events by organizations and institutions, visits to army bases, municipalities, academic and cultural centers, wounded soldiers in hospitals, and more are also part of his daily routine.

Some of these events start at night, which means that there’s no such thing as an eight-hour day for the president of Israel.

Herzog has a great gift for absorbing information, both pertinent and trivial, and can hold a conversation or deliver a speech on just about any subject.

His wife joins him in most of his activities and contributes to the conversation. Sometimes she hosts or attends events in her own right. Recently, she hosted the female musicians of the Israel Andalusian Orchestra in Ashdod.

The women came to Jerusalem bearing their musical instruments. They spoke of their cultural activities and also performed. But even on such a happy occasion, the trauma that hangs like some kind of dybbuk over many Israeli families was introduced into the environment.

One of the musicians, Avishag Neria, who lives in Shuva near Netivot and Sderot, spoke of what her family had experienced on October 7, when they were evacuated from their home,

She also discussed what it meant for them to return, and the daily struggle with the post-traumatic effects of the war from which her husband, a reserve soldier, was suffering after spending most of the war on the battlefield.

Michal Herzog has heard many similar stories, but she always listens intently for the subtle nuance. She noted that music is the language of emotion and that it is often the panacea that helps people to muster their resilience and to continue to hope.

In September, family, friends, and colleagues will mark the 10th anniversary of the passing of Israel’s longest-serving parliamentarian, Shimon Peres, a former president, prime minister, and Nobel Prize laureate, amongst many other titles.

This year also marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation and the launch of the book Vision of Light, authored by architect Yoav Messer, which documents the stages of construction and includes the story of Shimon Peres’ life.

Photographs accompany the text. One of the joys of the Peres Center is that a large part of the building stands on the Jaffa seashore, which means that no tall tower can block out its view, which is entirely fitting, given that Peres was a man of vision, and the view from the building extends all the way to the horizon.

Not all existing hotels in Israel have reopened. The tourism industry is a long way from recovery, and hotel managers who have remained closed say it is too expensive to reopen their premises for just a handful of tourists.

Nonetheless, property developers remain optimistic that the present lull is temporary and have continued to invest in building new hotels.

Among the hotels operating, there is strong competition for clientele, and incentives include top-line entertainment, walking tours, lectures, and even workshops.

Lovers of Greek music and culture should mark August 27-29 in their calendars when David’s Harp resort hotel in the Galilee will host a mini Greek festival that includes lectures on tourist attractions, classic Greek architecture, Greek philosophy, and a photographic journey to Greece.

In addition, there will be Greek singing and dancing with a special nostalgia session devoted to Aris San, the Greek singer who arrived in Israel in the late 1950s and began singing at the Arianna nightclub in Jaffa, whose patrons were mainly Greek immigrants from Thessaloniki.

San’s popularity grew quickly, and other Israelis without Greek roots became regulars at the nightclub. He also sang Hebrew songs, and some of his Greek songs were translated into Hebrew.

Unfortunately, he did not stay in Israel but moved to New York, where he fell in with a bad crowd and also developed a cocaine addiction. He eventually went to Europe, where he died on July 25, 1992. Although he was in Israel for only a few years, he left a lasting musical legacy.

What will be really special about the Greek weekend will be the presence of two of Israel’s best-known Grecophiles, Shimon Parnas and Yaron Enosh, who each broadcast Greek music and talk on the radio about Greek singers and composers and cuisine.

Parnas has also been a television host. But he has an even greater claim to fame than anything to do with Greece or broadcasting. Twenty-five generations of his family were born in Jerusalem.