Dear Chaverot, Bruchot Haba’ot, welcome to Israel! I want to welcome each and every one of you, my dear WIZO Chaverot from all four corners of the world, to Israel. How wonderful it is to welcome you back home. This year, we are holding a very special WIZO event–– the 27th EGM – Enlarged General Meeting, which also marks the beginning of our centennial celebrations. One hundred years ago, four visionary women dreamed of creating a democratic, advanced and equal society in Eretz Israel – a safe haven for every Jewish person in the world. Over the decades, it has been the role of hundreds of thousands of dedicated WIZO women, and their men, to create, develop, and shape the founders’ dreams and turn them into a flourishing reality. The end-result is this Empire of Good – the WIZO projects and institutions that are spread across Israel. Each one of us is an active agent of change. Each one of us plays an important role in the realization of these dreams. Each one of us embodies the WIZO legacy, which we in turn share with those around us. Chaverot, our Founding Mothers could have never dreamed of the beauty that now surrounds us: the dynamic and inspiring WIZO sisterhood that we share – one hundred years later. Together, we lead the most remarkable Zionist force, which has been forever changing the lives of the Jewish people in Israel and around the world. At this once in a lifetime EGM, we will celebrate together 100 years of WIZO’s courageous, inspiring and life-saving work for the benefit of Israeli society. Chaverot, how lucky we are to be alive at this historic moment! At this centennial EGM, we will be empowered, we will exchange ideas and experiences and mark our achievements – all in our beloved Eretz Israel. We will feel the power of our movement and our sisterhood. This is a rare event that none of us will ever forget. An event where we will feel and let the world see the strength and greatness of our WIZO movement! David Ben Gurion once said: “In Israel, in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles”. Chaverot, welcome to Israel, welcome to the land of the WIZO miracles – where our dreams are the reality and future of tens of thousands of Israelis every day. I wish us all a meaningful, inspiring and unforgettable centennial EGM. אלוקים יברך אתכם
Prof. Rivka Lazovsky |
My WIZO family, I am delighted to welcome you all to the 27th World WIZO EGM, here in our beloved country. What awaits you is a WIZO once-in-a-lifetime experience. We will launch WIZO’s Centenary – its 100th anniversary celebrations – a significant and exciting milestone in our movement’s outstanding history, and attend the 27th EGM focusing on “WIZO: Doing What Matters”. The passion, love, caring and lifelong commitment of WIZO members is visible throughout the Jewish homeland Whether you are a first, second or third generation WIZOite, the spirit of our Founding mother Rebecca Sieff flows in your veins, making you a full partner in whatever WIZO does and achieves; making WIZO the biggest Voluntary Women’s movement in the world. For nearly a century, WIZO has been sharing in the establishment and building of Israel and its society, while preserving the Jewish education and culture in the Diaspora. When WIZO started its activities in Eretz Israel, there was little infrastructure, if any. Therefore, it is no wonder, that many of WIZO’s pioneering projects became the infrastructure of The National Social Services as we know them today. WIZO maintains its relevance by adapting its core goals and concepts to the reality in which it operates. WIZO continues to share in Israel’s “sweet and sour” reality, always looking for new and innovative tools to improve the Israeli society. Almost 100 and still going strong, thanks to every one of you, the society in Israel still needs a strong WIZO to turn dreams and vision into reality, and to create new opportunities for those without any. I wish everyone an interesting, intensive, informative, inspiring and motivating week, revisiting the past, celebrating the present and looking to the future. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you this week, and sharing this amazing experience – our Centennial . In appreciation,
Esther Mor |
