ISEF Chairman Carlos Benaim's fascinating life journey, from the Moroccan port city of Tangier to developing the world's most iconic fragrances, is profiled in two major Israeli publications this summer.
Edmond J. Safra Alumni Society Founded
Eight Leading Graduates Honored
The Edmond J. Safra Society of ISEF Alumni was inaugurated in 2010 to recognize the most notable achievements among ISEF’s more than 6,000 accomplished graduates.
Lily Safra, ISEF’s Honorary Chairwoman, wrote:
“It has been a privilege to watch so many young students achieve success in their chosen fields and become leaders in Israeli society. The inaugural members of the Edmond J. Safra Society of ISEF Alumni embody my husband’s values – hard work, professional integrity, and a duty to help others – and I am proud that they are now connected even more closely with Edmond’s life and legacy.”
The eight inductees are:
Knesset Member Daniel Ben-Simon – former political commentator and author
Dr. Ronni Gamzu – Director-General, Israel’s Ministry of Health
Simcha Getahune- Director, Multicultural Programs, Youth in Distress (ELEM)
Simcha Getahune receives her award
David Knafo – Principal, Knafo-Klimor Architects Ltd.
Prof. David Levi-Faur – Associate Professor, School of Public Policy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Prof. Solly Mizrahi - Chief of Surgery, Soroka Medical Center, and organ transplant pioneer
Dr. Ami Moyal – Head, Center for Language Processing and senior faculty member, Afeka Tel Aviv Academic College of Engineering
Prof. Rivka Savaya – Head, Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University
The honorees were chosen by a distinguished committee comprising Prof. Menachem Ben-Sasson, President of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Prof. Ilan Hammel of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Medical School (and a member of ISEF’s Israel board); Prof. Amnon Rubinstein, former Minister of Education; and Prof. Zeev Tadmor, former president of the Technion.
Israel’s Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom was the guest of honor and Prof. Amnon Rubenstein was the keynote speaker at the inaugural ceremony in June, 2010 at Tel Aviv’s famed Diaspora Museum. The award shone a spotlight on some of ISEF’s most successful alumni — and set the standard for those graduates who will deserve this recognition in years to come.
International Fellow Dr. Itsik Francis (above left, with former ISEF Chair Norman Belmonte) shared this, from two new ISEF supporters:
"They said they had never seen a foundation that behaves like a family. with such warm feeling. Perhaps we should change ISEF to 'International Sephardic Education Family'?”
