Grapevine, May 1, 2026: A landmark amendment

This week, at least one organization had cause to thank the Knesset members, and did so with a special event at Jerusalem’s Museum of Tolerance in appreciation for landmark legislative reforms that will relieve the economic burden shouldered by widows of soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice.

The IDF Widows and Orphans Organization (IDFW) honored MKs and professional echelons who worked tirelessly to advance significant legislative amendments benefiting the widows and orphans of Israel’s fallen heroes.

The ceremony recognized persons who were instrumental in passing the amendment to the Survivors Pension Law, which now guarantees a full pension for war widows, even after remarriage and without age restrictions or offsets. In addition, Amendment 47 to the Families of Fallen Soldiers Law has expanded financial support and formal recognition for IDF widows and orphans.

Nahumson added: “These two moves provide true economic security for the families of the fallen.” He commended the MKs and the professional staff who acted with determination and full partnership to bring about these changes, which honor the memory of the fallen and care for their families throughout their lives.

He added, “We view this as an important step on a longer journey, as groups such as adult orphans and widows of reserve soldiers still lack a sufficient response. We will continue to act resolutely on their behalf.”

Katz reiterated his full commitment to the families of the fallen and to the memories of their husbands and fathers. “They stood on the front lines for us – now it is our duty to stand behind you,” he said. “I will do so at all times, with pride and a great sense of privilege. I will fight for you, make your voices heard, and continue to serve with the loyalty and honor befitting their heroism.”

A pioneering research event was hosted by the Institute for Research on Entrepreneurship and Economic Strategies (IREES) this week at the Peres Academic Center in Rehovot, in collaboration with Headstart Group, aimed at examining the field through real-world data.

The event took the form of a research hackathon, during which researchers worked in teams to develop applied research proposals. Participants analyzed data from the group’s crowdfunding platforms and focused on key questions, such as the drivers of campaign success, donor behavior, and the processes through which trust is built between entrepreneurs and their audiences.

At the end of the day, the teams presented their findings to a panel of judges.

At IREES, this initiative is seen as part of a broader effort to bridge the dynamic, data-driven realities of the field with systematic academic research.

The focus is on understanding decision-making processes, entrepreneurship, and economic behavior in the digital age. Prof. Leo Leiderman, head of the institute, as well as chief economic advisor at Bank Hapoalim, emphasized that crowdfunding represents an innovative financial tool with significant potential, serving as a complementary mechanism to traditional financing methods such as venture capital and public offerings. The global crowdfunding market has already surpassed $2 billion and is expected to continue growing rapidly. He also noted that Israel’s highly digitalized environment and strong entrepreneurial culture make it particularly well-suited for the expansion of this field.

Assaf Greenfeld, co-founder and CEO of Headstart Group, added that the collaboration with academia is intended to transform real-world knowledge into research-based insights. The integration of real data with academic thinking can improve the effectiveness of crowdfunding campaigns and strengthen the democratization of funding sources, he said.

Tokayev has been a senior diplomat, prime minister, chairman of the Senate, foreign minister, state secretary, chairman of the Security Council, speaker of the upper chamber of Parliament, and director-general of his country’s United Nations office in Geneva. He has been president since June, 2019, and is the second person to hold that position. His predecessor, Nursultsan Nazarbayev, served from 1990 to 2019 and was well-known for hosting international peace conferences.

In his Independence Day address, Herzog, in referring to the war against Iran and its proxies, said that Israel’s activity had been strengthened by an alliance of moderates, a coalition of nations driven by a desire to cultivate cooperation and offer an alternative to the family of nations, all through the channels of the Abraham Accords.

“This new and emerging coalition holds great promise,” Herzog said. “It can draw on the best of our creativity and goodwill to dramatically shift the trajectory of the Middle East and of the Eurasian region at large. And it can reach far across spheres and sectors: trade and innovation, energy and environment, medicine and science, food and water security, cyber and AI. In short, it encompasses everything.”

When it was converted into a hotel, guests chose it for its old-world charm, its location in the historic heart of Jaffa, and its proximity to the sea. The cuisine, however, though of a high standard, was not kosher, which was a big disappointment to many guests who had to go looking for a restaurant elsewhere. No longer. From today, The Jaffa is now kosher. Guests, who were previously unable to dine at the hotel’s flagship restaurant, Giardino, will now be able to satisfy their culinary curiosity, and at breakfast time can taste whatever they fancy from the buffet or a la carte.

Although in its previous incarnation, the building dates back approximately a century and a half, while it was being restored and converted, a 13th-century wall dating to the Crusader period was discovered. The wall has been incorporated into the hotel lobby, providing a fusion of ancient history and modernity. Nadav and Assaf Fatal, co-CEOs of Fattal Hotels Israel, said that the decision to go kosher was in response to many requests from would-be guests who said they would like to stay at The Jaffa but were deterred by the absence of kashrut.

Now, everyone can dine at The Jaffa, even those not staying at the hotel.