Grapevine January 8, 2020: Realizing Ben-Gurion's vision

Date07 January 2021
Published date07 January 2021
AuthorGREER FAY CASHMAN
Publication titleJerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)
The farewell for Altman took place in Herzog's office, which was originally the office of David Ben-Gurion for a 20-year period during the era of the British Mandate and after he initially became prime minister. The Jewish Agency is a part-owner of the JICC. The text of the original scroll, which was written in 1950, bears the signatures of the president of the state, the prime minister, members of the Jewish Agency Executive, members of Knesset and other prominent figures. The facsimiles of these signatures are on the copy that was given to Altman. The construction of the building was completed in 1952.

In the inscription dedicated to her, Altman is lauded as the person who transformed Binyenei Ha'uma into a world-class international convention center.

It should be remembered that Altman took up her position at the height of the Second Intifada.

The two shareholders of Binyenei Ha'uma, the Jewish Agency (75%) and the Jerusalem Municipality (25%), were united in appointing Altman in 2001. In addition to serving as a convention center, Binyenei Ha'uma over the years has hosted the Jerusalem International Book Fair, opera and dance performances, concerts by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and other international orchestras, fashion shows, product launches, movies, weddings and many other events.

Shimron said it was greatly symbolic to be saying farewell to Altman in the very room in which Ben-Gurion had signed the foundation scroll for Binyenei Ha'uma on January 25, 1950, because it was Altman who brought Ben-Gurion's vision for the project to reality.

Herzog spoke of Altman's professionalism and her impressive achievements.

Altman thanked Shimron, Herzog, a series of Jerusalem mayors from Ehud Olmert to Nir Barkat to current Mayor Moshe Lion and their respective executives for their unstinting cooperation and the confidence which they placed in her. Relating to current expansion plans, Altman said she was certain that once completed, Binyenei Ha'uma would become not only the largest convention center in the Middle East, but one of the best in the world. The expansion project is in line with the master plan for the new gateway to Jerusalem, which was launched under Barkat and is being continued by Lion.

■ ALSO LEAVING his post after a fairly long stint is Daniel Mush Meyer, after 11½ years as executive director of the International Young Israel Movement. He is resigning "to allow new blood and new energy to carry the organization forward."

Among the...

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