Last month, members of the Axel Springer Group came to witness the conferring of the Presidential Medal of Honor on journalist Dr. Mathias Döpfner, the CEO of the Axel Springer Media Group. At the beginning of this month, German Education Minister Karin Prien was in Israel for the opening of the Yekke wing in the Hecht Museum of the University of Haifa. Last week, former long-term chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel was here to receive an honorary doctorate from the Weizmann Institute, and in Jerusalem, the Hebrew University and the Max Planck Society, Germany’s leading research organization, launched the International Center for Security and Human Rights. The formal agreement was signed by Prof. Tamir Sheafer, president of Hebrew University, and Prof. Dr. Patrick Cramer, president of the Max Planck Society.
The new facility joins a network of 19 Max Planck Centers worldwide, all hosted by top-tier universities. It will be the only Max Planck Center in Israel, and is in the process of being established in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute in Freiburg for the Study of Crime, Security, and Law. In Jerusalem, it will operate within the framework of the Minerva Center for Human Rights at the Hebrew University’s Faculty of Law. With a total budget of €5 million over five years, the center will host an interdisciplinary doctoral and postdoctoral program, nurturing a new generation of scholars in these fields.
The center will be jointly led by Prof. Barak Medina, former rector of the Hebrew University, and Prof. Ralf Poscher, director of the Max Planck Institute in Freiburg.
“The establishment of this center comes at a critical moment, as democracies worldwide face growing challenges to the rule of law and human rights, including in Israel,” said Medina. “Through rigorous, interdisciplinary research and global collaboration, we aim to develop new frameworks for balancing security needs with the fundamental principles of democracy and human dignity.”
“This partnership reflects the shared commitment of the Max Planck Society and the Hebrew University to advancing knowledge that has real societal impact,” added Poscher. “Together, we will create a platform for scholars from around the world to explore how democratic institutions can remain resilient while addressing the complex challenges posed by security threats and social change.
The International Council of Jewish Women's Education Seminar
■ Women from 12 countries came together in Israel last week to participate in the International Council of Jewish Women’s Education Seminar in Haifa. The seminar is held every four years, and the non-Israeli participants who had been hesitant about coming during the war were relieved that the ceasefire was in effect at the time of their arrival.
Prof. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari was the speaker at the opening evening, and the following morning, Prof. Daphna Hacker delivered the keynote address on “Women Shaping the World.” A panel discussion led by Rabbi Dr. Oshrat Morag and Yasmin Rubin-Cooper focused on grassroots initiatives by women to forge a better future. Participants also met with Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif and Druze social activists to discuss the status of Druze women and went to Karmiel to learn about the WIZO Safety Net program for women and child victims of domestic violence.
The closing discussion, led by ICJW representatives from the US, Hungary, Australia, and Sweden, was devoted to global Diaspora responses to the October 7 catastrophe.
■ People in every country are more concerned with their own personal and national crises than those of other countries. The crisis resulting from the October 7 massacre by Hamas would have been an important news item for perhaps a week if Israel had not conducted such a strong, ongoing public diplomacy effort, with families of the hostages traveling to many countries to plead for help in getting their loved ones released, plus the massive campaigns mounted by Diaspora Jewish communities.
But there are other conflicts and crises in the world in which millions of people are killed, and insufficient attention is paid to them. President Isaac Herzog raised this issue during his state visits to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo last week in discussions with President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and President Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC.
Herzog said: “There are major humanitarian crises in Africa. I hope that the eyes of the world will turn there, rather than focusing obsessively on Israel. The world must focus on Africa’s humanitarian crises with the same urgency it devotes to Israel.”
He added that Israel is worried and disturbed by the terrible disasters taking place in other parts of Africa. While in Zambia, Herzog expressed deep appreciation for Lusaka’s friendship and leadership. “The connection between Zion and Zambia is so natural. Like Zion, which whispers to us from antiquity, Africa too is a cradle of human civilization. Our two nations are bound by shared values of courage, hard work, and innovation. Zambia’s spirit of growth and determination resonates deeply with the Israeli people.”
In praising Zambia’s development achievements under President Hichilema’s leadership, Herzog noted the historic reopening of Israel’s embassy in Lusaka as a “nerve center of creativity, innovation, and knowledge-sharing” between the two nations,” and called upon Israelis and Jewish communities worldwide to visit, invest, and build together with Zambia, adding “The sky is the limit for cooperation in technology, agriculture, health, and education – all for the betterment of humanity.”
Herzog’s visit to Zambia is regarded as historic, in that he is the first president of Israel to visit there. Israel’s relationship with Africa goes back more than 60 years. Golda Meir, who visited in 1958, when she was foreign minister, was enamored with Africa and emphasized its importance to Israel. Israelis rejoiced when Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and when, as president, he visited Israel. However, in recent years, relations between Israel and most African states have waned. Herzog’s visit, which was aimed at reviving strained and broken relations, symbolized a renewed era of friendship, partnership, and shared progress between Israel and the nations of Africa.
In the DRC, Herzog said that Israel applauds and welcomes the election of the Democratic Republic of Congo to a seat on the United Nations Security Council beginning this January. He was confident, he stated, that the courage, dignity, and integrity that have characterized Tshisekedi’s leadership will continue to serve humanity well in the Security Council.
Herzog also expressed deep appreciation for Tshisekedi’s support within the African Union, where, he said, Israel must have a central role and standing, for Africa has been so important to the Jewish people for generations, and there is no reason for African nations to push Israel aside. In stressing that conflicts are not confined to the Middle East, Herzog voiced the hope that US President Donald Trump would help to resolve the conflicts and crises in Africa, just as he helped achieve a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, and that he would help to resolve other humanitarian crises, such as that in Sudan.
■ While they do excellent and important work, it is heartbreaking to realize how many organizations are engaged in activities to bring joy and improved quality of life to children with cancer. It means that more children suffer from the dread disease than is generally realized. One of the organizations that supports children with cancer is Light of Hope, whose annual gala fundraiser last month was sponsored and fully funded by Ayalon Insurance and Finance..
The event, at the Tel Aviv Amphitheater, was hosted by Guy Zu-Aretz and Yael Bar Zohar, with Miri Mesika, Ness & Stilla, Eden Hason, and Shilo Elia delivering moving and inspiring performances.
Tiferet Havura, CEO and founder of Lights of Hope; Sharon Reich, CEO of Ayalon Insurance and Finance; and Iris Tenzer, VP of Human Resources at Ayalon, spoke of the importance of giving hope to sick and physically challenged children and their families, whose plight cannot leave anyone indifferent. It was noted that the extremely positive response to the cause proved how mutual responsibility and compassion are an inseparable part of the DNA of the Israeli people.
■ “They say that love conquers all – perhaps culture can do it too,” declared Malcolm Gafson, chair of the Israel Irish Friendship League, who was one of the judges last weekend of the Israel Irish Dancing Championship 2025.
It is not at all unusual to see Israeli children from Russian, Georgian, and Circassian families demonstrating their folk dancing skills with grace, verve, and amazing footwork. But Irish folk dancing is less common, though it requires an equal amount of skill.
While the political and diplomatic climate between Ireland and Israel remains at a stormy level, Gafson acknowledged, the Israeli public’s love of Irish music and dance goes on unabated.
This was much in evidence with the large participation of contestants and an even larger and enthusiastic audience.
The championship contest, held in Kiryat Ono and supported by the Kiryat Ono Municipality, was organized by Pavel Kolosov and Marina Frumkin, directors of the Carey Academy, where all the dancing performers, young and old, were professionally taught and trained at the highest level in Irish dance.
Gafson said he very much welcomed and was encouraged by this rare opportunity to allow people in Israel to rise above the current diplomatic climate to be able to come and enjoy Irish dancing at a championship level, the best of Irish dance performed by the best of local Israeli Carey Academy-trained talent.
Curiously, the teachers of Irish dancing have Russian names. Perhaps that’s the reason that the dancers are so superb.
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