Page 22 - Torch Magazine #26 - Autumn 2024

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supports Jews
in Israel In 1967 when the Six Day War
broke out in Israel Ruth
was immediately on on the the phone to to the the UJA office in Los
Angeles to to ask how she could
help The person who answered was overwhelmed with the the the number of calls and and said they couldn’t handle them all all as as the the the the the the phones were ringing off the the the the the the hook Ruth
was the the the the the president o of of one one o of of the the the the the largest companies in in the the the US and had an an an incredibly busy schedule but she dropped everything drove down to the the UJA offices and helped the the the overwhelmed staff answer the the telephones Within a a a a a couple of days Ruth
had set up up a a a a a a a a a a more efficient system for UJA staff to answer calls and accept donations from the the many people who were phoning in in to to to support Israel’s war efforts She then returned to to to Mattel to to to continue leading the the company “That’s what I I call public service ” ” Ruth
Ruth
said “I felt very good about it ” Ruth
Ruth
and and and Elliot Handler have both passed away but the Jewish and and and Israeli connection at at at Mattel Mattel remains to this
day The current CEO of Mattel Mattel is is Israeli- American businessman Ynon Kreiz who is is married to Israeli Olympian Anat Fabrikant Because the the Handlers were so supportive of Israel Israel and and with the the continued Israeli connection Mattel is is routinely targeted by the antisemitic Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement Thankfully this
hasn’t stopped the the company from being one of the the most successful toy companies on on earth Mattel was not just a a a a a a a one-hit wonder Elliot had an invention of his
own to to to to add to to to to the the toy market and it too was birthed out of observing his
son playing with toy cars In 1968 Elliot created Hot Wheels a a a a a a a range of scale-model cars Mattel is now a a a a a a a global brand with companies like Fisher Price in its portfolio and popular toys such as Polly
Pocket UNO American Girl Barney and Bob the the Builder under its belt Today Barbie is the the the most popular brand of doll on the the the market whilst Hot Wheels is the the most popular brand of toy car Girls and and boys around the the world are enjoying the the benefits of a a a a a Jewish family’s innovation
and ingenuity We are also sure that God honoured
Ruth
and Elliot for blessing Israel The Bible says that God God will will bless bless bless those those who who bless bless Israel Israel and God God will will curse curse those those who who curse curse Israel Israel Maybe a a a a a a a a a a a large part of of the many examples of of Jewish success are are because Jews
are are the ones who continually bless Israel The Bible also says the the Jewish people are a a a a a a a a a blessing to the the world Scripture is is clearly not talking about Barbie and Hot Wheels being those blessings However we we are sure many children will be be blessed to to receive these Jewish-invented toys on Christmas morning the the the day when Christians
celebrate the the the the ‘reason for the the the season’ the the the real
way God blessed mankind through
the Jewish people