A changing of the guard at the Triguboff Institute
As he approaches his 90th birthday, Efraim Halevy will retire as chairperson of the Triguboff Institute in Israel.
Efraim Halevy addresses the event
He has served in this position since the institute was registered by Sydney developer Harry Triguboff 15 years ago.
Halevy was the ninth Head of Mossad and former Director of the Israel National Security Council. and has played a key role in assisting Jewish communities in distress in enemy lands, led the peace process with Jordan, and is currently playing an important role in making Israel’s voice of modernism heard on global media and at conferences worldwide.
The passing over the baton to Paul Israel, the General Director of the Israel Australia Chamber of Commerce, was marked at a celebratory event in Tel Aviv attended by representatives, family members, board members, and partners from all walks of social activism in Israel, faithfully representing the spectrum and scope of more than two decades of the Triguboff Institute’s contribution to Israeli society.
The Chair of the Jewish Agency Major General (Res.) Doron Almog recounted the outstanding outcomes achieved by the work of the Triguboff Institute and its partners, led by Halevy, for over a decade to facilitate the integration in Israel of New Olim from the FSU.
He praised Harry Triguboff’s key role in helping over 3,000 professional young adults, including over 300 physicians from Russia and Belarus, to immigrate and integrate into Israel in the past three years.
Rabbi Elimelech Paryevsky, Director of the “Shorashim Canter”, expressed gratitude on behalf of Tzohar Rabbinical Organization for the Triguboff Institute’s significant support, helping thousands of New Olim to verify their Jewish status and obtain official recognition of their Jewish identity.
Dr. Fouad Al Sana, representative of the Bedouin community of the Negev and a partner in the project for promoting Bedouin society advancement and employment and the establishment of the “Idan Hanegev Centre” , congratulated the Institute and Halevy for their achievements. MK and former Minister of Intelligence Major General (Res.) Elazar Stern, who has been a partner of the Institute since its establishment, also spoke warmly of the work of the Institute with Halevy on behalf of Harry Triguboff and the Sydney-based Triguboff Foundation.
Amit Ferdman, the Manager of Kibbutz Ruchama, and Lior Nisky, Head of the Shaar Hanegev Local Council, who until recently headed the Council after October 7 after the murder of the mayor, the late Ophir Libstein, applauded the Institute’s efforts in the past year. Nisky and Ferdman played a key role in the absorption of evacuees from Kfar Azza in Kibbutz Ruchama for an interim period of three to four years. Ferdman noted Halevy’s significant support to the efforts to return of Kfar Aza residents to the Negev and bring them to Ruchama. “Already in the first weeks after October 7, the Triguboff Institute under Halevy’s leadership stepped up to devise a provisional solution for the evacuees in Kibbutz Ruchama. Ferdman noted, “The Institute’s contribution to the project was the main reason for the widespread support of the members of Kibbutz Ruchama. It wouldn’t have happened without you.”
Shalom Norman, CEO of the Triguboff Institute, also expressed appreciation and gratitude for Hadassa Halevy’s role, who, “in her unassuming manner, was a loyal partner to Efraim” all through the years. Norman added, “It is to Halevy’s singular credit that no fewer than four generals including a former Chief of Staff and Minister of Défense, MK and former Minister of Intelligence got together today to celebrate social related activities as central in these times of crisis.”
Halevy warmly thanked everyone on behalf of himself and Hadassa for their good wishes, and announced that he was handing over the reins of the Institute to Paul Israel, the General Director of the Israel Australia Chamber of Commerce, and said that he would remain an honorary member of the NGO’s board. Halevy stated that, within the limitations of his age, he intends to focus on responding to the dozens of media requests he has received to speak on issues related to the regional developments after October 7 and will devote time to his new role as President of Agmon, the Organization of Mossad Retirees.
A cornerstone ceremony of the Hadassa and Efraim Halevy Garden in Kibbutz Ruchama will be held on January 1, 2025, the lighting of the eighth Chanukah candle, in the presence of family members and guests, to be followed by a tour of the absorption project for Kfar Aza evacuees in the Kibbutz.
