Dov Tennenbaum who spoke on behalf of the 13 people who received award: "This event is not done for us but on our behalf and on behalf of generations to come. This acknowledgement is for the past, to encourage the industry now in the present, and for a better future for all the diamond sector."
The annual award to acknowledge veteran members of the business that is held by the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association was this year combined" a wonderful past and a better future.
As Dov Tennenbaum expressed it in his speech on behalf of all the veterans: "This event is not done for us but on our behalf and on behalf of generations to come. This acknowledgement is for the past, to encourage the industry now in the present, and for a better future for all the diamond sector."
Diamond Industry holds 2013 Awards for Veteran Members
13 people received the award on May 21 at a special ceremony at the Yahalom Theater in the presence of around 500 guests. The recipients included:
Gedalya Ahronov – who was among the first members of the Israeli diamond industry to travel to India to buy polished, a man who sent Israeli diamantaires to buyers and suppliers in India and created contacts for them without taking any sort of commission.
Rafael Ahroni – a tireless public worker for the advancement of the Israeli diamond sector and the state of Israel from his base in Hong Kong.
Eliezer Broide – a manufacturer who started out as cutter and cleaver and created a generation of cleavers for the diamond industry.
Baruch Greenberg – may he rest in peace, died in 2010, a Holocaust survivor who invested great efforts in conciliating between business rivals and was known for having his own private welfare office.
Bezalel Dayagi – may he rest in peace, died in 1985, a trader known for his exceptional eye in buying rough and among the first to bring in Keps goods from Belgium, and was among the first to manufacture triangle shape goods.
Eliezer Zilberman – may he rest in peace, died in 2009, a Holocaust survivor who dealt in polished both on his own and with other groups of diamantaires, as well as anonymously helping the needy.
David Ya'akovitch – an inspector of imports and exports, served as deputy diamond controller and was appointed by the government to deal with the opening of diamond plants in development towns.
Danny (David) Lustig – as part of the Lustig Brothers company, he was among the first to identify and develop the Japanese market and developed an automatic polishing department.
Avraham Emnoeli (Philosof) – may he rest in peace, was among the founders of the Bukharan diamond cooperative.
Uziel Etzioni-Timberg – polisher, and among the first to develop and specialize in fancy cuts.
Yitzhak Forem – may he rest in peace, past president of the Israel Diamond Exchange who invested great efforts in creating cooperation between different bodies in the diamond business and also advancing the diamond exchange in many different ways.
Asher Rafael – a manufacturer who started out as a talented polisher of larger stones and was a leading member of the organization to advance diamond manufacturing.
Leo Schachter – a leading Zionist who, from his place of business in New York, set up leading business in the Israeli diamond sector. He was the first to open a diamond sales office in Tokyo and among the first to break into the Hong Kong market as well as the first to bring in computers as a stock management tool.
The chairman of the ceremony's organizing committee, Ya'akov Katan, who opened the event said: "This is the first time that I have opened this ceremony. Behind this event are months of though and organization and lots of work to make it the best possible event for the people who are being honored.
"In 1989, Uri Schwartz created the award for industry veterans, and since that time, 127 people have received the honor. With the 13 people being honored today, we reach a total of 140 people. But we have not yet finished honoring the people who built our industry. They are part of a human jigsaw and the main thing that characterizes them is love of the land and the diamond industry."
Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association President Bumi Traub said: "Many very busy diamantaires were involved in choosing who should win this award and we should thank them for their time. It is not an easy decision to make and among the candidates were manufacturers who were among the founders of our business and people who battled hard not just to make their businesses successful but also to help the public in general."
Traub also spoke of his dream of diamond manufacturing returning to Israel, thereby creating employment.
Guests and their families were treated to a short film where Prime Minister Benjamnin Netanyahu praised the industry for its work and the awardees and their families. He also praised the wider Israeli diamond industry and its deep contribution to the Israeli economy.
Israel Diamond Institute Chairman Moti Ganz praised the awardees and their families, saying they illustrated the variety of people working in the diamond trade, with Jews from across the world working hand-in-hand.
Israel Diamond Exchange President Yair Sahar said that adding up the experience of the people being honored would make 500 years in the field of marketing, production, trade and banking. The diamond exchange that we have now 75 years after it was founded is thanks to the founders of the business and we the generation that followed them. We must create the right conditions and tools for the next generation to take over after us.The awardees were also praised by Diamond Controller Shmuel Mordechai. In the 1950s, the annual turnover in the Israeli diamond trade was $70,000. Today, that figure stands at $14 billion-$15 billion. The State of Israel thanks you for your contribution to the country's economy.
Honorary IDE President Shmuel Schnitzer praised the combination youth and experience which guarantees the future of the business.
By Iris Hortman, Information Officer, IDI.
