Yair Sahar: "Today is one of the happiest days I have known since I joined the diamond industry more than 30 years ago. The last four days were an extraordinary experience. I was moved at seeing the smiles on the faces of so many bourse members."
Leading members of the diamond sector, the president and management of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE), hundreds of bourse members and many guests gathered on March 21 for the traditional toast ahead of the Passover festival. In addition, the ceremony also saw the award of honorary membership to Rabbi Avraham Elimelech Firer in the trading hall. Also in attendance was Rabbi Meir Lau, the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv, and a former Chief Rabbi of Israel.
IDE President Yair Sahar said: "Today is one of the happiest days I have known since I joined the diamond industry in 1979 for three reasons. Firstly, Rabbi Lau is with us and will give a blessing ahead of Passover. Secondly, Rabbi Firer is here and will bring us all great pride when he receives membership of the exchange. Thirdly, today ends the past three weeks when we have seen a Diamond Festival in the bourse that began at the start of March with rough diamond tenders and reached a peak with the US/International Diamond Week that ended yesterday.
"Today is one of the happiest days I have known since I joined the diamond industry". Photo: Ya'ankale
"Next Year in Jerusalem". Photo: Ya'ankale
"The last four days were an extraordinary experience. We have never seen such an event at the Israel Diamond Exchange. It was a wonderfully successful event. I was moved at seeing the smiles on the faces of so many bourse members as I walked around the trading hall. In addition, Russian miner Alrosa announced that Israel was the best center in the world for the sale of larger rough diamonds, and that it planned to expand its sales here.
"As I always say, Israel is first of all our home and then our place of work. With the help of the new, younger generation and the great initiative that our diamond sector enjoys, we can deal with the challenges that the future will present us with. I wish you all a Happy Passover, happiness and great business."
Rabbi Lau blessed the bourse members and gave a quote from the Torah: "Every Jew has eaten matzah (unleavened bread) at Passover for the past 3,000 years. We all enjoy reading the Haggadah, and I thank the Lord for everything that he did for us in the past year and wish you all great success –Next Year in Jerusalem."
The Chairman of the Israel Diamond Institute, Moti Ganz, said: "We say two special things on Passover Eve: In every generation, we must see ourselves as having escaped from Egypt and that with all the threats hanging over us we were saved. And in a quick jump forward, each of us can see himself as part of the diamond sector which is the building that we create and that will eventually pass on to our children.
"And the second special Passover thing that we say: the modernization and initiative that characterize the Israeli diamond trade save the business every year from the threats that face us and enable us to compete in international markets with great success. May all the members that worked so hard to create the Diamond Week receive strength to continue. Happy Passover to everyone and continued success."
Bumi Traub, the President of the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association, wished the IDE members well for the festival and spoke about the decision to open an industrial diamond center in Eilat. "I am happy to stand here before you today. A year ago, we needed a great deal of courage and faith to make the decision. It was decided to establish the facility there and I believe it will be a success. Today, after such an excellent week, we are all really happy. I hope we will continue to be a leading diamond center and Happy Passover to all of you – with lots of hope, happiness, prosperity and love."
The Israeli Diamond Controller, Shmuel Mordechai, said: "Happy Passover to all of the House of Israel. The past week was an exceptional one for the diamond exchange. We have not seen such levels of activity and business for many decades. It left a wonderful taste in my mouth and I hope we will do it again."
Shlomo Eshed, President of the Israel Precious Stones and Diamonds Exchange, said: "People always tell me I am optimistic – and after the past two amazing weeks that we have experienced, I am even more optimistic. The Hong Kong International Jewellery Show was a success, the Diamond Week at the exchange here was extremely successful, and the American market is waking up. And as we saw at the Tzoffey's 1818 auction yesterday, precious stones and diamonds go well together. Happy Passover to everyone."
IDE General Manager Moti Besser then gave a brief biography of the life of Rabbi Firer and the many awards that have been bestowed upon him in the past, including the prestigious Israel Prize and prizes from the President of Israel and the Speaker of Parliament, honorary doctorates from several Israeli universities and, from March 21, from the Israel Diamond Exchange. "We at the bourse praise you for your efforts for the members of our exchange and your willingness to help us." Besser also called to the stage the exchange's doctor, Michael Salton.
Before the award of the honorary membership, Sahar thanked the IDE under the leadership of Moti Ganz. "They say don't mix up one happy event with another, but the Diamond Week would not have been so successful without the support of Moti Ganz and the IDI who aided us and gave so much help with the event."
Sahar surprised the audience when he said: "We have decided that at the coming Jewish New Year, Rabbi Lau will also be awarded honorary membership of the Israel Diamond Exchange. He then presented Rabbi Firer with his honorary membership.
Happy Passover!
