IDE President Shmuel Schnitzer: "The people receiving these awards are people of vision and who put that vision into practise; people who built the industry that we are so proud of with their own hands."
The Israel Diamond Manaufacturers Association (IsDMA) yesterday (Tuesday) handed out awards to veteran industry members in a moving annual ceremony for 2015 to 12 selected diamantaires who helped shape the Israeli diamond sector. Leading members of the diamond trade and hundreds of family members, members of the IDE and long-standing colleagues attended the event at the Diamond Theater in Ramat Gan which was packed to the rafters in tribute to the those receiving the award.
The recipients, some of whom have passed away, and their families were: Yosef Aker, Pinhas (Patke) Ben Yehuda, Eliahu Bezalel, Avraham Brant, Aharon Webber, Ya'akov Cohen, Marcel Maimon Cohen, Avi Mirom, Ori Brok (RIP), Abba Gertler (RIP), Yon Tov Mizrahi (RIP), and Alon Fruchter (RIP).
"With this award to 12 people today, the number of recipients rises to 152, and we're not done yet with honoring all the people who built the foundations of Israel's diamond industry which has grown into this huge sector. The diamond industry members who are today receiving the award reflect faithfully the human puzzle that comprises the Israeli diamond industry, where the common denominator is our love for the people of Israel and of the industry."
Korn, said: "This is the 17th time we are holding this ceremony which has turned into a wonderful tradition. This ceremony reflects the esteem and respect we feel for the recipients of the award, for their long years of impressive contributions to the Israeli diamond industry. This year, there were 32 candidates for the award from which 12 were selected. I hope those who did not receive the prize this year, will win it in the future."
Korn spoke about the challenges facing the Israeli diamond industry and the actions being taken to deal with them. "The diamond industry is facing many challenges, including the moving of production to other countries, a reduction in the size of banking credit, the new banking laws that are demanding increased transparency from the industry, the change in taxation of the diamond sector, and other issues. For the past five years, we have made every effort to make the most of the transformation of the Israeli diamond to a logistics center and restore manufacturing to Israel."
"We have set up a modern manufacturing center, we are training polishers, working to secure new financing and sources of rough goods, and negotiating exhaustively with the tax authorities and that is likely to be completed in the coming months. I hope we can see a thriving diamond industry again as we had in the past which provides a livelihood for people who work in it. They say that a diamond is forever. But more than that, is that we forever have respect for our parents who paved the way for us and taught us the power of courage, determination and integrity."
IDE President Shmuel Schnitzer greeted the participants and said: "There is no more moving ceremony in our sector than the awards to veteran industry members, which express the appreciation we have for those who shaped the Israeli diamond industry. The beneficiaries receiving the title today are visionaries and people who carried out concrete actions, people who built with their own hands the industry that we are so proud of.
"However, women are missing from the list. Since my current term as President I have been working for the integration of women in our bourse public life. I want to see more women at the front of the stage, both from the IDE and IsDMA, and I wish to see more women in the list of beneficiaries because there are many eligible women. Above all I want the younger generation to learn from you, the veterans, that even when times are not easy we have many strong points, so that our hub will continue to lead the global diamond industry for many years to come. On behalf of all members of the IDE I want to thank you for your work to promote our industry and the example you set for generations to come. Thank you very much."
Folloiwng President Schnitzer, IDI Chairman Moti Ganz said: "My start in public office in the diamond industry began in 1989 and we had, that year, the first ceremony of awards to industry veterans. Over the years, the ceremony has grown and become a respected institution, and this year there were submissions of candidacies from dozens of diamond dealers. It is very important that this generation can see what their predecessors did here and how they set up the industry from scratch. I'm glad we were able to bring this well-loved institution to such a high level and I congratulate all the beneficiaries and their families. It's an honor for us to present you with this award."
The award winners were also congratulated by Shmuel Mordechai, the Diamond Controller, and by Shlomo Eshed, the President of the Israel Precious Stones and Diamonds Exchange, who described the award-winners as the "diamonds in the crown" of the Israeli diamond sector.
Eyal Mizrahi, the son of Zion Mizrahi, gave thanks on behalf of all the award-winners, and also said that it was important to acknowledge the wives of the award-winners.
