Dovid Efune Dir. Algemeiner
Journal The Author is the director of
the Algemeiner Journal and the GJCF and can be e-mailed at defune@gjcf.com
"After seeing a list of the world's richest Jews (in JPost, gave
rise to much controversy on why the list was made at all, ed.), I was
inspired to create a list of my own -- not of Jews, but of non-Jews,
specifically those that are having the most positive influence in shaping
the Jewish future.
A
year later, much has changed, new figures have emerged, others have faded
and some have remained. But the importance of bringing attention to this
group is constant. For this reason I have sought to make this a regular
endeavour, as such I present the second-annual list.
Similar to the
criteria used by other list makers, I chose my candidates from around the
world and from all walks of life. The list includes, politicians,
activists, business giants and more, all of whom have made a significant
constructive impact on Israel and the Jewish world. Last year I only listed
the top six, but wanted to make the list slightly more comprehensive, so it
is now expanded to include the top 10. They are in ascending order.
Although by no
means an exact science, my aim in this compilation, is to provide some
insight into the playing field of this unique yet modest group.
Additionally I aim to provide a glimpse at their often courageous,
sometimes unacknowledged activities on behalf of Israel and the Jewish
people."
I WISH TO ADD ONE MORE::
11.
Pat Condell
Prolific
commentator on You Tube
10.
Julie Burchill
Columnist
and Novelist
Currently
a columnist for The Independent, she has written for newspapers such as The
Sunday Times and The Guardian. The Jewish Chronicle described her in 2008
as "Israel's staunchest supporter in the UK media."
9.
Jon Voight
Actor
Supporter
of Jewish causes, most notably Chabad, Voight is also a prolific spokesman
for Israel. A rarity in Hollywood circles, he has advocated for Jewish
values, consistently reaching an often indifferent audience.
8.
Patrick Debois
Founder,
Yahad-In Unum
A
Roman Catholic priest, Debois is head of the Commission for Relations with
Judaism of the French Bishops' Conference and Consultant to the Vatican. He
is the co-founder and president of Yahad-In Unum, an organization whose
mission is to document the murder of the 1.5 million Jews of Ukraine, shot
dead by the Nazis and buried throughout the country. This work is vital in
ensuring that the memory of these victims will not fade with the death of
the last witnesses.
7. John Hagee
Founder,
Christians United for Israel
Hagee's
Christians United for Israel continues to experience rapid growth, now
boasting upwards of 600,000 members. The group makes significant
contributions to Jewish causes, and has become a potent political force in
support of Israel. Author of "Jerusalem Countdown" and "In
Defense of Israel," the pastor from San Antonio has met with every
Israeli prime minister since Menachem Begin and his ministries have given
more than $8.5 million to bring Jews from the former Soviet Union to
Israel.
6.
Warren Buffet
Investor
The
famed investor has been a strong supporter of Israeli innovation, and has
bought into it significantly. Last year, while visiting the country, he
famously said that "Israel has shown that it has a disproportionate
amount of brains and energy." Buffet's strong statement of confidence
has gone a long way in encouraging significant foreign investment in the
Jewish State.
5.
Jose Maria Aznar
Former
Prime Minister of Spain
In
2010, Aznar founded the Friends of Israel Initiative, with the stated goal
to "counter the attempts to delegitimize the State of Israel and its
right to live in peace within safe and defensible borders." Referring
to the ill-fated takeover of the Mavi Marmara by Israeli commandos, Aznar
said in 2010 that the world must support Israel because "if it goes
down, we all go down." His unique organization provides a strong voice
of reason in circles where it might otherwise not be heard.
4.
Manmohan Singh
Prime
Minister of India
The
largest customer of Israeli military equipment and Israel's second-largest
economic partner, Indian ties with Israel are now stronger than ever and
advanced negotiations for an extensive bilateral trade pact are well under
way. Singh is largely responsible for cultivating and developing this
crucial alliance that is vital to Israel's economic stability and continued
growth.
3.
John Boehner
Speaker
of the U.S. House of Representatives
Among
the many friends of the Jewish community in the U.S. Congress, Boehner's
recent actions have made him stand out. Centrally involved in the recent
invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint
session of Congress, Boehner provided the platform for the Jewish narrative
to be conveyed to a pivotal audience at an important time.
2.
Rupert Murdoch
CEO of News Corporation
At an American Jewish Committee dinner honouring Murdoch he
opened his acceptance speech by saying, "over the years, some of my
wildest critics seem to have assumed I am Jewish. At the same time, some of
my closest friends wish I were. So tonight, let me set the record straight:
I live in New York. I have a wife who craves Chinese food. And people I
trust tell me I practically invented the word chutzpah."
As CEO of News Corporation, Murdoch has continued to ensure
that the outlets under his direction, including The London Times, Fox News
and The Wall Street Journal, are fair and honest in their coverage of
matters relating to Jews and Israel.
1.
Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Recently
winning a majority government for his conservative party, Harper has been a
great friend to Canada's Jewish community as well as an outspoken supporter
of Israeli positions in the international political arena, saying last
year, "When Israel, the only country in the world whose very existence
is under attack, is consistently and conspicuously singled out for
condemnation, I believe we are morally obligated to take a stand."
His
recent blocking of a G8 resolution in support of President Obama's Middle
East policy speech that would mention the call for a Palestinian State
based on the 1967 lines, while not incorporating other elements of the
speech, earns him the top spot this year.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment