Page 37 - HaMizrachi RH-YK 5784 - North America

community, to build friendship and understanding from the
bottom up. I always say that at Friday night dinners I almost
never host Jews; almost all of our guests are non-Jews, so they
get to see a Jewish Shabbat. At my Shabbat table, I hosted the
British Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary together with
their spouses. We hosted the Trade Minister and his wife, and
their children had a playdate with our children. I want leaders of
different backgrounds to experience hadlakat neirot, our customs
and minhagim, so they have a real understanding of Jewish cul-
ture. One particularly powerful memory is the first Chanukah I
was here, when we ran a joint, live-streamed event where I lit the
menorah together with ambassadors in three capitals of Abraham
Accords countries. London is a great place for strengthening
connections with the Abraham Accords countries.

On the subject of the Abraham Accords, you arrived in
London right around when they were being signed. How
has that impacted your role?

I was probably the first Israeli ambassador to say “my first meet-
ings will be with my Arab colleagues!” We have formed an excel-
lent relationship with the ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain and and who your family is; you can find success in Israel. We need
Morocco, including organizing an embassy soccer tournament more women, and religious women, to be representatives of
between the workers of the embassy (Bahrain won). Israel! I also see my religion as a source of strength for me in
this role – it grounds me and gives me clarity.
On a more personal note, there are not many religious
women who represent Israel as ambassadors. How has One of your roles is representing Israel to a younger
that impacted your work? generation – what are your thoughts about Israel and
Jewish youth today?
In one of my first meetings when I began this job, someone from
the Jewish community here said, “You are almost the opposite of I love engaging with the youth here – each year I get to host the
the stereotype we are used to. We are used to Israeli ambassadors winners of the Chidon HaTanach competition, and it’s one of my
being secular men, who are 3rd or 4th generation Israeli, and favorite things to do here. I think the past few years were chal-
you are a religious woman whose parents made Aliyah!” I am lenging [because of COVID]; young people missed two summers
very proud to represent Israel, and think it is important that the of trips to Israel, and it does make an impact. I always encourage
diversity of Israeli society is expressed through Israel’s represen- young people to take a gap year in Israel if they can. If they are
tatives. I wear it as a badge of honor that my parents made Aliyah. religious, then at a yeshiva or seminary, and if not, then on one of
I think it is really important for people to know that our society the many other programs available. There is nothing like getting
is meritocratic, and it doesn’t matter what your background is to live in and experience Israel for a year. ◼

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