NIF President Bids Farewell as New President Welcomed

July 1, 2008

The handover from outgoing NIF President Prof. Peter Edelman to his successor, Prof. Naomi Chazan, took place at a special ceremony opening the International Board Meeting in Jerusalem at the end of last month. The ceremony was attended by several hundred social change leaders and activists from dozens of NIF supported organizations, the Board, International Council and staff.  After six years as President of NIF, Prof. Peter Edelman shrugged aside praise for having successfully led the organization through a highly challenging period for Israeli society. “Israel’s social change leaders are the real heroes,” he insisted. “I did not have to walk across Sudan.”

Prof. Peter Edelman together with his wife Marian Wright Edelman,
one of the world's most eminent children's rights activists, after he received
a standing ovation in Jerusalem.

Prof. Edelman was referring to Yuvi Tashome, Director of NIF grantee Gedera Garin, in which young Israeli professionals, many of them Ethiopian born like Tashome, act as role models for Ethiopian immigrants. Tashome was one of a dozen Israeli social change leaders reflecting on the activities and achievements of NIF.

Prof. Naomi Chazan makes her first speech as NIF President.

In her inaugural speech, Naomi Chazan commented, "I have had a passion for social justice since as long as I can remember, so I feel very comfortable and at home in the NIF family."