Calendar

Here is a calendar of upcoming events, up and down the country. Some are organized by us, others by like-minded organizations and groups.

Aug
2
Thu
TAURANGA: Rami Sherman: Entebbe, a personal recollection: Thursday, Aug 2 @ Bethlehem College
Aug 2 @ 7:00 PM

Operation Entebbe after 40 Years: A personal recollection

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

In 1976, when an Air France place was hijacked and rerouted to Entebbe, Rami was the Operations Officer of the unit, under the command of Yoni Netanyahu.

In his capacity as Operations Officer, he was in involved throughout the week, preparing the unit for the Operation.

Among other things, he coordinated with Dan Shomron, the Commander of the Operation, and the Israeli Air Force.

Within the Operation, Rami was part of the 33 officers and soldiers who freed the hostages at the Entebbe terminal. He arrived with the first Hercules that landed in the airport, and was in the car that was driving behind the famous Mercedes.

After Yoni Netanyahu was injured, he drove him to the Hercules, where a team of medical professionals were waiting, but unfortunately they could not save Yoni’s life.

Later, Rami was the commander who led the rescued hostages to the Hercules.

Upon returning to Israel, Rami continued to serve in the unit, and was a Special Operations Commander until 1980.

After he was released from active duty, he helped establish the reserves unit.

Rami Sherman was born on 4 April 1953. His parents were Holocaust survivors and came to Israel in 1945.

Rami grew up on Kibbutz Lehavot Habashan, which is in the north of the country and was on the Syrian border until the Six Day War in 1967. He was educated in the Kibbutz system.

In 1972, Rami enlisted in the army and was accepted into an elite special forces unit, which today is allowed to be named – Sayeret Matkal (the Chief of Staff’s Special Forces). He successfully completed the combat soldier course and was sent to Officers’ School in order to return and receive command of a squad within the unit.

At age 50, he was released from doing reserve service.

Rami is married, has two daughters and grandfather to five grandchildren.

In 1990, Rami finished his studies in physiotherapy at the University of Tel Aviv, and since that time he has worked as a physiotherapist in various positions, including, among other things, as a physiotherapist for the Israeli Olympic team.

In 1993, Rami and his family moved to Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael, where they still live today.

Aug
11
Sat
CHRISTCHURCH: EXTRA SESSION: Rami Sherman: August 11 @ Sidney Goldsmith Hall, Beth El Synagogue
Aug 11 @ 7:30 PM

BY PUBLIC DEMAND: EXTRA SESSION

The Sunday session was sold out in a week.  Due to the high number of requests , we have organized an extra session for Saturday evening.

Operation Entebbe after 40 Years: A personal recollection

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

In 1976, when an Air France place was hijacked and rerouted to Entebbe, Rami was the Operations Officer of the unit, under the command of Yoni Netanyahu.

In his capacity as Operations Officer, he was in involved throughout the week, preparing the unit for the Operation.

Among other things, he coordinated with Dan Shomron, the Commander of the Operation, and the Israeli Air Force.

Within the Operation, Rami was part of the 33 officers and soldiers who freed the hostages at the Entebbe terminal. He arrived with the first Hercules that landed in the airport, and was in the car that was driving behind the famous Mercedes.

After Yoni Netanyahu was injured, he drove him to the Hercules, where a team of medical professionals were waiting, but unfortunately they could not save Yoni’s life.

Later, Rami was the commander who led the rescued hostages to the Hercules.

Upon returning to Israel, Rami continued to serve in the unit, and was a Special Operations Commander until 1980.

After he was released from active duty, he helped establish the reserves unit.

Rami Sherman was born on 4 April 1953. His parents were Holocaust survivors and came to Israel in 1945.

Rami grew up on Kibbutz Lehavot Habashan, which is in the north of the country and was on the Syrian border until the Six Day War in 1967. He was educated in the Kibbutz system.

In 1972, Rami enlisted in the army and was accepted into an elite special forces unit, which today is allowed to be named – Sayeret Matkal (the Chief of Staff’s Special Forces). He successfully completed the combat soldier course and was sent to Officers’ School in order to return and receive command of a squad within the unit.

At age 50, he was released from doing reserve service.

Rami is married, has two daughters and grandfather to five grandchildren.

In 1990, Rami finished his studies in physiotherapy at the University of Tel Aviv, and since that time he has worked as a physiotherapist in various positions, including, among other things, as a physiotherapist for the Israeli Olympic team.

In 1993, Rami and his family moved to Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael, where they still live today.

Door sales but there are only 55 seats.

Aug
12
Sun
CHRISTCHURCH: Rami Sherman: August 12 @ Sidney Goldsmith Hall, Beth El Synagogue
Aug 12 @ 2:00 PM

Operation Entebbe after 40 Years: A personal recollection

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

In 1976, when an Air France place was hijacked and rerouted to Entebbe, Rami was the Operations Officer of the unit, under the command of Yoni Netanyahu.

In his capacity as Operations Officer, he was in involved throughout the week, preparing the unit for the Operation.

Among other things, he coordinated with Dan Shomron, the Commander of the Operation, and the Israeli Air Force.

Within the Operation, Rami was part of the 33 officers and soldiers who freed the hostages at the Entebbe terminal. He arrived with the first Hercules that landed in the airport, and was in the car that was driving behind the famous Mercedes.

After Yoni Netanyahu was injured, he drove him to the Hercules, where a team of medical professionals were waiting, but unfortunately they could not save Yoni’s life.

Later, Rami was the commander who led the rescued hostages to the Hercules.

Upon returning to Israel, Rami continued to serve in the unit, and was a Special Operations Commander until 1980.

After he was released from active duty, he helped establish the reserves unit.

Rami Sherman was born on 4 April 1953. His parents were Holocaust survivors and came to Israel in 1945.

Rami grew up on Kibbutz Lehavot Habashan, which is in the north of the country and was on the Syrian border until the Six Day War in 1967. He was educated in the Kibbutz system.

In 1972, Rami enlisted in the army and was accepted into an elite special forces unit, which today is allowed to be named – Sayeret Matkal (the Chief of Staff’s Special Forces). He successfully completed the combat soldier course and was sent to Officers’ School in order to return and receive command of a squad within the unit.

At age 50, he was released from doing reserve service.

Rami is married, has two daughters and grandfather to five grandchildren.

In 1990, Rami finished his studies in physiotherapy at the University of Tel Aviv, and since that time he has worked as a physiotherapist in various positions, including, among other things, as a physiotherapist for the Israeli Olympic team.

In 1993, Rami and his family moved to Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael, where they still live today.

RSVP – Limited Seating.  Book ahead.  SOLD OUT

Oct
10
Wed
WELLINGTON: Hate speech and free speech: 10 October @ Victoria University of Wellington (Pipitea Campus)
Oct 10 @ 6:00 PM

In collaboration with Victoria University of Wellington & AUT – Auckland University of Technology, & supported by New Zealand Human Rights Commission the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand brings you, ‘At the Forefront – Human Rights Speaker Series’, a forum for discussion & debate on Human Rights.

Paul Moon is a New Zealand historian and a professor at the Auckland University of Technology.

He is a prolific writer of New Zealand history and biography, specialising in Māori history, the Treaty of Waitangi and the early period of Crown rule.

 

Oct
11
Thu
AUCKLAND: Hate speech and free speech: 11 October @ AUT City Campus, Rm WG701
Oct 11 @ 6:00 PM

In collaboration with Victoria University of Wellington & AUT – Auckland University of Technology, & supported by New Zealand Human Rights Commission the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand brings you, ‘At the Forefront – Human Rights Speaker Series’, a forum for discussion & debate on Human Rights.

Paul Moon is a New Zealand historian and a professor at the Auckland University of Technology.

He is a prolific writer of New Zealand history and biography, specialising in Māori history, the Treaty of Waitangi and the early period of Crown rule.

 

Jun
16
Sun
CHRISTCHURCH: A HATEFUL STATE OF MIND: HATE SPEECH AND FREE SPEECH IN NEW ZEALAND @ Spark Room, Christchurch Central Library
Jun 16 @ 2:00 PM

Professor Paul Moon

Where:  Spark Room, Christchurch Central Library, Turanga.

When:  2.00pm, Sunday, June 16.

Admission:  A plate of finger food.  Please avoid pork and seafood products. A collection will be taken to defray expenses.

With talk of new Hate Speech Legislation in NZ, this free talk shows how ineffective such legislation has been; and offers a robust alternative to counter ideologies of prejudice and intolerance. 

NZ Friends of Israel wishes to acknowledge the kind support of the Holocaust Centre of NZ.  This address was originally part of their Human Rights Series of lectures.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Having written over 25 books, Professor Paul Moon is one of New Zealand’s best-selling and respected historians and social commentators.

His specialist area is New Zealand history, and in 2014, he was shortlisted for the international Ernest Scott Prize in History for his book Encounters: The Creation of New Zealand, which academics described as ‘powerful’ and ‘truly fascinating’. His works have been published by Penguin Random House, and HarperCollins.

He has worked on several Treaty claims, and with numerous government agencies, on Treaty-related issues. In 2003 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society at University College, London, and has since gained fellowships in the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Society of Arts. He also has been a consultant on documentaries about New Zealand history

WELLINGTON: Sunday June 16: DocEdge Film Festival: Gaza @ The Roxy Cinema 1
Jun 16 @ 6:15 PM

We are forming a group to go view this documentary on Sunday June 16.  If you’d like to join up, call our Wellington Regional Coordinator, Joanna Moss on (022) 154 7865.

“…by the end, Keane and McConnell are tugging so hard at heartstrings that most viewers will be unable to resist, even the ones who can see the puppeteers in constant motion.” – Hollywood Reporter

It’s hard to imagine anybody living a normal life in the Gaza Strip. Frequently labelled as the world’s largest open-air prison, it makes an appearance on news reports every time a confrontation erupts between Israel and Hamas. On TV sets thousands of miles away, this tiny piece of land has been reduced to an image of violence, chaos and destruction.

The Gaza which is seldom seen is ordinary, everyday Gaza, a coastal strip smaller than Lake Taupō and home to an eclectic mix of almost two million.

So what do the people who live there do when they’re not under siege?

Gary Keane and Andrew McConnell’s atypical approach to their subject matter yields unexpected, unfamiliar stories of people plagued by conflict but not defined by it.

“We don’t wanna be killed or injured. We simply want to live.”
– Paramedic in Gaza

Gaza cannot be understood in a purely political context or by analysing tragic sound bites during conflict. It can only be understood by immersion, by living amongst its people and by recognizing and exploring its rich social diversity and cultural subtleties.

As the filmmakers travel through the physically broken and battered landscape, they allow their subjects to speak for themselves.

Through them, we gain a nuanced understanding of what life is really like for Gaza’s citizens. In Keane and McConnell’s tender portrait of beleaguered humanity, we experience familiarity and affinity with this unique community.

100% on Rotten Tomatoes

 

 

Feb
25
Tue
CHRISTCHURCH: Who lives behind the Gaza blockade? Feb 25, 5.30p @ South Arts Lecture Theatre A6, University of Canterbury Campus
Feb 25 @ 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

A kite with an incendiary device is readied for its launch

Folks

The NZ Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA) has invited us to their event:

Title:  Who lives behind the Gaza blockade, and what can Aotearoa NZ (and we) do?

Speaker:  Marilyn Garson

Date:  Tuesday, Feb 25

Time:  5.30p-6.30p

Venue:  South Arts Lecture Theatre A6, University of Canterbury Campus

 

Abstract: Marilyn Garson worked for 18 years with excluded communities affected by war.  She has established locally owned social enterprises with Cambodians with disabilities, Afghan women and others.

In 2011, she was invited to move to the Gaza Strip. As the economic director of a large NGO programme, she led an ambitious Gazan team.  In 2013, she became a consultant to the office of UNRWA’s then-Gaza director.  They set about launching the GGateway enterprise to create technology-related jobs behind the Gaza blockade. Marilyn volunteered to stay in Gaza as part of the UN emergency response team that prepared to shelter 35,000 displaced Gazans – but 293,000 people needed shelter through 50 days of bombardment.

Marilyn recently published Still Lives – a memoir of Gaza, chronicling four years of work (2011 – 2015), and the lives being lived behind the Gaza blockade.

As a Jew, Marilyn has skin on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict. She discusses the conflict, and NZ’s aid policy, in the unifying language of law and human rights.

She asks, who really lives behind the Gaza blockade, and what can we do about it?

Shalom

NZ Friends of Israel Assoc Inc

Box 37 363
Halswell
Christchurch
New Zealand 8245

+64 (27) 433 9745
contact@nzfoi.org
www.nzfoi.org

 

 

May
14
Thu
Nations Bless Israel: 9:45pm, 14 May 2020 @ Zoom meeting and Facebook (see below)
May 14 @ 9:45 PM

NATIONS BLESS ISRAEL 

CELEBRATING ISRAEL’S RESTORATION

I will bless those who bless you, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you (Genesis 12:1-3)

You are invited to join with us and Nations Bless Israel Melbourne to celebrate the restoration of the State of Israel.

THURSDAY 9:45PM (NZST) ON MAY 14TH 2020

This Thursday evening we are invited to join the Aussies in celebrating Israel’s 72nd birthday.           It will be a special event featuring a range of distinguished speakers from various walks of life in Israel and elsewhere. It starts 9.45pm NZ Time, but can be viewed later on Facebook.

This event is a fundraiser for the Rambam hospital and is in honour of the late Peter Kentley. Peter was a Messianic Jew who lived in Melbourne and led the planning for the Australian San Remo commemorations before he became too unwell. He loved Israel dearly and I have happy memories of our times together over there. Sadly he went to be with the Lord earlier this year following a brain tumour diagnosis.

The Guest Speakers include:

  • Yuvat Rotem – Director General of Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (and former Israeli Ambassador to Australia and NZ pre 2010) He now runs the foreign ministry and played a key role in brokering the resumption of our diplomatic relations and the return of Ambassador Gerberg.
  • Mark Sofer – Australia’s current Israeli Ambassaor; who was born in London.
  • Andrew Tucker – distinguished lawyer and Israel legal advocate (ex C4Israel in the Hague)
  • Zac Waller – Ha Yovel the organisation that encourages gentiles to help harvest crops in Israel fulfilling biblical prophecy.
  • Rabbi Tuly Weisz – an American rabbi who made Aliyah a few years ago seeking to build knowledge and bridges between those who love Israel and Israel itself via his Israel365 website.

This is a free virtual event hosted on Zoom in tribute to the late Peter Kentley who, in partnership with Rabbi Riesenberg, established the inaugural Melbourne Nations Bless Israel last year.

The event may also be viewed on Facebook  HERE

Feb
28
Sun
CHRISTCHURCH FEBRUARY GATHERING FEB 28: The Iran Nuclear Deal @ Halswell Centre
Feb 28 @ 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM

CHRISTCHURCH FEBRUARY GATHERING: THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

2.30pm, Sunday, February 28

Hao Rm, Halswell Centre,
341 Halswell Rd, Christchurch

From 6:30 am Sunday, February 28, Christchurch will be in a Level 2 Lockdown. Under Level 2 rules, attendance will be limited to a maximum of 100.

NZ Friends of Israel invites you to a discussion on the issues arising from renewing the Iran nuclear deal.

            • What was the original nuclear deal?
            • What was learnt from it?
            • What are the risks to Israel if Iran successfully develops a nuclear weapon?
            • What can be done about it?
            • What can we do about it?

Admission: Bring a plate of finger food, please no pork or seafood products.