Israel immigration surges
More than 29,000 new immigrants have arrived in Israel since the events of Oct. 7, according to a press release from the World Zionist Organization. This new influx contrasts the sharp decline in immigration that immediately followed Hamas’ attack, according to the Times of Israel.
Upon welcoming 150 immigrants to Tel Aviv, World Zionist Organization Chairman Yaakov Hagoel considered the relevance of this uptick in recent immigration.
“Today in many countries around the world, it is hard to be a Jew, whether at school, at work, or at prayer,” Hagoel said.
He also saw the trend as evidence of the global Jewish community continuing to stand with Israel.
“We will make sure that Jews everywhere feel safe, supported, and encouraged to make Aliyah,” he said.
– Katherine Nikolau
Urbana-Champaign combats antisemitism
The U.S. Department of Education announced the settlement of a Title VI—or discrimination—complaint filed on behalf of Jewish students against the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. On the same day, Sept. 3, several Jewish organizations reached agreements with the university to implement a plan for safety and inclusion that goes beyond required actions.
“[We are] gratified that UIUC’s administration began engaging in meaningful discussions with the Jewish community about how to address anti-Semitism on campus after we filed our complaint years ago,” said Alyza D. Lewin, president of the Brandeis Center for Human Rights, the legal group that had supported the students in 2020.
The agreements provide specific examples of discriminatory behavior—such as blaming Jewish students for Israel’s policies—and also outline ways that the University plans to hold its community accountable in the future. For example, a summary report of bias incidents will be published each month, and mandatory antisemitism trainings will be implemented for staff and students.
“We are proud of our campus community for this rejection of antisemitism,” said Erez Cohen, executive director at Illini Hillel. “And to UIUC leadership for their renewed commitment to the safety and security of Jewish students and their values.”
– Katherine Nikolau
JoAnn Strickon is part of cohort
Leading Edge, a Jewish leadership organization, selected JoAnn Strickon, director of human resources at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, to be a part of the inaugural cohort of a “Culture Accelerator.”
Leading Edge is committed to supporting Jewish companies and helping them develop a strong workplace environment. Specifically, the Culture Accelerator program of Leading Edge works to help senior professionals who focus on human resources and recruiting talent.
Strickon and her cohort will spend seven months working through online educational sessions and attend a two-day group retreat. Additionally, they will develop workplace plans, according to the Leading Edge website. Leading Edge will work alongside coLeague–an organization that helps companies develop talent.
-Alya Satchu
Ancient paintings on display in Israel
Roman period wall paintings in 1,700-year-old vaulted tombs will soon be on display to the public for the first time in Ashkelon, Israel. The artifacts were initially discovered in the city in the 1930s.
“In recent years, we have made a real revolution in the realm of historical site preservation,” Tomer Glam, Ashkelon’s mayor, said in a press release. “We made sites accessible to the city’s residents and to the general public, and then organized events and produced educational, cultural, and touristic programs with the aim of connecting the city’s history to its present.”
In ancient Greece, these paintings decorated the tombs of the wealthy. The imagery spans from plants and animals to mythological figures, like the goddess Demeter and Medusa the gorgon. The paintings have been curated for the public through a collaboration between the Israeli Antiquities Authority and the Ashkelon Municipality—following a conservation process to restore the works, according to a press release.
“Ashkelon is an example of how the integration of ancient findings into the urban fabric…imparts additional worth to and provokes interest in its public spaces,” Israel Antiquities Authority Director, Eli Escusido, said in the release.
– Katherine Nikolau
Investments in Negev and Galilee tech
The State of Israel is investing millions in high-tech expansion, specifically in the northern, southern, and periphery regions, such as the Negev and Galilee, areas that have been highly impacted by the ongoing conflict.
“The state has a vested interest in encouraging companies to expand their activities to the Negev and Galilee,” said Yitzhak Wasserlauf, Minister for the Development of the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience. “[It allows] talented young people to remain and build their future in these regions, while also attracting new, strong populations.”
The Israel Innovation Authority, in collaboration with several other government ministries, announced the funding as part of their “Leap to High Tech” program on Aug. 28. The funds are meant to support tech companies in opening new branches, as well as in hiring and training employees.
“Especially during these complex times, we see great importance in developing human capital in the Negev and Galilee,” said Yohanan Mali, director-general of the Ministry for the Development of the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience. “It is another step we are taking…to promote economic development and demographic growth in these regions.”
– Katherine Nikolau
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