President Isaac Herzog (Photo: Simanim Productions)
The annual graduation ceremony for graduates of all Mandel Foundation–Israel programs was held at the Jerusalem Theatre on October 17, 2021. The graduating fellows of 2021 celebrated the completion of their studies in the presence of
Professor Jehuda Reinharz, president of the Mandel Foundation; chairman of the board
Stephen Hoffman (who participated remotely);
Moshe Vigdor, director general of the Mandel Foundation–Israel; Ruvik Danilovich, mayor of Beer Sheva; and
Brigadier General Ofir Levius, IDF chief education and youth officer.
President Isaac Herzog honored the Foundation with his presence at the event.
“You are now becoming the pillars of Israeli public life in Israel, in all the spheres of influence impacting on our lives,” said
President Herzog. “As the president of the State of Israel, I feel much, much better knowing that it is you who are joining the spheres of influence.”
“Today marks the official recognition of the end of your intense Mandel studies. But it does not mean the end of your ties to Mandel. We will be with you as you go out and fulfill your visions to make change,” said
Stephen Hoffman, chairman of the board of the Mandel Foundation, who participated in the event remotely from Cleveland. “We will be with you, growing with you, and helping you continue to grow for years to come.”
“I have one key message for you,” said
Professor Jehuda Reinharz, president of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation. “We ask of you just one thing: Go and lead. Go out and make an impact. Do something…. You now have the tools and the ability to change Israeli society and the State of Israel for the better, for the benefit of all its inhabitants.”
The Al-Mughrabia Andalusian Orchestra (Photo: Simanim Productions)
The joint ceremony, held at the Jerusalem Theatre, marked the graduation of fellows of all Mandel programs in Israel: the Mandel School for Educational Leadership; five programs of the Mandel Leadership Institute (the Mandel Program for Leadership Development in the Haredi Community, the Mandel Youth Leadership Program, the Mandel Program for Leadership in Jewish Culture, the Mandel IDF Educational Leadership Program, and the Mandel Program for Academic Leadership in Teacher Education); two programs of the Mandel Center for Leadership in the Negev (the Mandel Program for Regional Leadership in Beer Sheva and the Mandel Program for Cultural Leadership in the Negev), and three programs of the Mandel Center for Leadership in the North (the Mandel Program for Social Leadership in the North, the Mandel Program for Regional Leadership in the North, and the Mandel Program for Leadership for Public Service in the North).
The ceremony participants enjoyed a live musical performance by the Al-Mughrabia Andalusian Orchestra, conducted by
Orian Shukrun, graduate of Cohort 3 of the Mandel Program for Leadership in Jewish Culture.
