Community leaders welcome president-elect Isaac Herzog
Congratulatory messages have been sent by community leadership on the election of Isaac Herzog as Israel’s new president.
Isaac Herzog and Jeremy Leibler
The Zionist Federation of Australia’s President Jeremy Leibler said: “Mr Herzog will be a president for all Israelis. His refusal, whilst party leader, to engage in dirty politics, and his determination to build bridges, both within Israel and between Israel and the Diaspora have already marked out his leadership. I congratulate him and all of Israel on his appointment.”
ZFA CEO Ginette Searle concurred. “Mr Herzog has spent decades serving Israel in many different capacities. He has demonstrated an excellent understanding of the unique nature of the Australian Jewish community, and we enjoyed a close working relationship with him as Chair of the Jewish Agency. Not only has he visited Australia on multiple occasions, but we were delighted that as Chair of the Jewish Agency, he met our senior delegation in 2019, and spoke to the Australian Jewish community in a ZFA webinar last year.”
The ZFA leadership also paid tribute to the other contender Miriam Peretz. “Ms Peretz has personified triumph over tragedy for so many in Israel and the Diaspora”, said Ms Searle. “She is an inspiration to so many of us. I have no doubt she will continue to serve her country with the grace she is known for.”
Stephen Goodman, president of the New Zealand Jewish Council, told J-Wire: “The New Zealand Jewish Council, together with the Jews around the world, congratulate president-elect Isaac Herzog on his election victory. We all hope for the legacy of his presidency and to be a stable, democratic Israel at peace with its neighbours.”
The Zionist Federation of New Zealand would like to wish President-elect Isaac Herzog mazal tov on his election as Israel’s 11th President.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry wrote to the president-elect saying: “The Jewish people have never been more in need of a unifying leader to hold the position of Israel’s head of state, and to personify the nation’s honour and dignity. We turn our eyes to you, confident that there is no-one better suited to reaffirm to the world the noble values upon which Israel was founded, as proclaimed in the stirring words of its Declaration of Independence.
Your high personal standards, distinguished career, even temperament and illustrious family history are an ideal combination of qualities that we pray will enable you to weaken the forces of polarisation and extremism in Israeli society, overcome social and economic divisions, restore the nation’s sense of unity of purpose and reinvigorate the idealism of its youth.
As you embark on your new role please be assured that you will always be able to count on the friendship and support of the Australian Jewish community.”
Lance Rosenberg, federal president of the UIA said: “UIA Australia has had a very close relationship with President-elect Herzog in his role as our partner at the Jewish Agency for Israel and prior to that in his political career. We have hosted him when he has visited Australia and virtually and he has engaged with our missions and leadership at conferences and events in Israel.
The role he has been elected to requires a person of deep insight and integrity as well as the capacity for empathy, healing and leadership. These are qualities we have observed on many occasions during his career and the People of Israel, in its broadest sense, will be well served during his term as President.”
Dr Colin Rubenstein, Isaac Herzog and Mark Leibler
The executive director of AIJAC Dr Colin Rubenstein commented: “AIJAC congratulates the people of Israel on the election of Isaac Herzog as the 11th President of the State of Israel.
Isaac Herzog has had a long and distinguished career in public life, where he has earned a reputation for endeavouring to foster cooperation and collaboration for the common good.
He is well known to AIJAC due to his work in fostering the relationship between Israel and diaspora Jewish communities and between Israel and Australia, as well as his leadership roles within the Israeli Parliament.
He has always displayed a willingness and determination to rise above the politics of division, a quality so necessary for a President of Israel.
We value our long friendships with him on the institutional and personal level and look forward to watching him carry out his duties in an exemplary manner.”
The CEO of the JNF, Dan Springer told J-Wire: “JNF welcomes the election of President Herzog, who embodies a distinguished family heritage of Jewish leadership and will build upon the legacy of President Rivlin.
We wish him every success as the foremost representative of the State of Israel and a unifying force for all her People, as the country goes from strength to strength.”
