Genesis

Tag: Humanitarian Aid

  • Israeli Superstar Ben El To Perform at the Genesis Friends for Life Memorial Gala in Miami on November 21

    Israeli Superstar Ben El To Perform at the Genesis Friends for Life Memorial Gala in Miami on November 21

    Today, the Genesis Friends for Life Global Foundation announced that they have expanded its Celebrity Ambassadors program with the addition of one of Israel’s most popular musical artists, Ben El Tavori.

    “We are incredibly honored to welcome Ben El to our Friends for Life Advisory Board and are deeply grateful for his generosity as he invites his millions of followers and fans to learn more about and support our mission,” said Amiel David Aviman, Co-founder Managing Partner, and Chairman of the Board of Genesis Friends for Life Global Foundation, which is headquartered in Miami.

    Tavori is well known as one-half of the highly successful duo Static, having brought the celebrity pedigree and golden voice to the act as the son of the famous Israeli singer Shimi Tavori. His childhood included being a part of the short-lived reality TV show, “The Tavori’s.” Ben El split with his musical partner Static in 2021 but has since earned acclaim for his extensive solo material.

    As a celebrity ambassador, Ben El will showcase his musical talents and strong connection to Israel’s musical and cultural scene when he performs live on November 21 in Miami Beach for Genesis Friends for Life’s One Year Memorial Gala Event.

     “When I was approached by Amiel and learned about the incredible work the team in Israel is doing on the ground and learned about the first few families who are benefitting, I immediately agreed to contribute what I can,” Ben El said. “I am humbly honored to join the Friends for Life team and look forward to performing on The Temple House stage as part of the Memorial and Gala this November.”

    His performance promises to be an unforgettable highlight of the evening, representing Friends for Life and raising support for orphans and widows impacted by the horrific attacks on October 7 with the same passion that has made him a beloved figure in the music industry.

    “This One Year Memorial Gala is not just a tribute to those impacted, but a way forward for those who were and continue to be affected by this tragedy,” said Eli Chalfon, co-founder and Managing Partner of Genesis Friends for Life Global Foundation. “Ben El’s presence and performance are very meaningful, and his global following beyond the November 21 event will help us raise support for years to come.”

    Together with the Foundation’s first two celebrity ambassadors, Yaakov-Zada Daniel (award-winning star of the Netflix hit Fauda) and Omer Hazan (known for Al Techaki, The Engineer, Asfur, and other film and television roles), who were named celebrity ambassadors in February, Ben El will be a lend his heart and voice to the cause, including sharing stories of the orphans and widows whose lives are being transformed through the kindness of sponsors, donors and other supporters.

    “Both stars attended last year’s event on October 26 at RED South Beach,” said Ranny Yarom, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Friends for Life and head of operations on the ground in Israel. “The support and involvement of such influential public figures significantly amplifies awareness, ultimately leading to more significant funding and aid for orphans affected by these tragedies.”

    Along with the celebrity appearances, the first recipients of the Foundations’ Doran Grant for Life program, who are already benefiting from the generous support, and the first family, including a mother and her four children, will be in attendance on November 21.

    The Genesis Friends for Life Global Foundation hopes that with the help of Bel El, they’ll be able to host another successful fundraiser to change the lives of Israelis affected by the conflict for the better.

    Overall, with the support and encouragement from celebrities like Tavori, Friends for Life looks to substantially aid more families, like the recipients of the Doran Grant for Life program, through troubling and challenging times.

    “All the funds raised from this event will enable these children to have a high-quality education with consistent emotional support and development for personal growth and will ensure they enter their adult lives financially independent and strongly supported in their communities,” said Dr. Lior Aviman, CEO of Genesis Friends for Life, an NGO in Israel. Sponsorships and tickets are available here.

  • From Deep Trauma, Unimaginable Loss, and Hopelessness to A Meaningful and Peaceful Life: Let’s Stand for The Orphans of October 7th

    From Deep Trauma, Unimaginable Loss, and Hopelessness to A Meaningful and Peaceful Life: Let’s Stand for The Orphans of October 7th

    Last week, I met one of the orphans of October 7th.

    There are no words to describe the heartbreak, shock, sense of emptiness, and loss of direction. Before me stood a young person who should have been celebrating life, making life plans, and fulfilling them, filled with hope and looking forward to a good and complete life.

    At the age of 19, he experienced events that the human mind cannot and refuses to, comprehend. One parent was murdered in their home, another was kidnapped and later found to have been murdered, and two younger siblings were kidnapped and returned after fifty days as part of an agreement with the most ruthless murderers.

    The kibbutz, the home where he lived and grew up for 19 years, was destroyed and burned to the ground.

    “I lived in a protected bubble, a bubble where everything was safe and quiet. I had the usual plans of a young person in Israel— a year of service, enlistment in a combat unit, and a big trip around the world. Everything shattered into pieces,” he told me.

    How can a person wake up in the morning and continue with their life after such an event? How do you find the strength to keep going and hope for better days?

    As we spoke, I also thought about the dozens of orphans who have experienced such a terrible loss and need to continue with their lives and make plans for their future families and their own future while dealing with the difficult feelings of grief and orphanhood.

    Orphanhood because of a terrorist attack is just as painful and difficult as any other kind of orphanhood. Still, it has its own unique characteristics that make it even more challenging for the orphan, adding complexity to the already difficult task of coping with the loss.

    When a terrorist attack causes orphanhood, the loss is accompanied by additional feelings of fear, helplessness, and shock from the horrific event.

    There are anxieties stemming from a lack of physical security, as well as intense feelings of guilt due to false thoughts of helplessness and the fact that, as an orphan, I survived while my beloved relatives were no longer with me.

    Moreover, many orphans find themselves having to take on new roles within the family, such as caring for younger siblings or providing financial support. These roles can weigh heavily on them, adding feelings of burden and responsibility to their grief, further straining their mental state.

    These complex feelings require long-term professional and personal support. Empathy and the ability of those around the orphan to understand and contain their emotions are essential, as is a long-term plan to help the orphan, as much as possible, to plan a life path so that orphanhood does not become an obstacle to their success.

    You might be thinking cynically, “Easy to say.” That’s true. It is indeed easier to write an article or talk about orphanhood than to experience it and deal with it day by day, hour by hour.

    But if we are people of kindness, and if none of the orphan’s difficult emotions are foreign to us, we have a duty to help them in every possible way, to plan comprehensive assistance, and to think long-term, not as a one-time intervention.

    Based on professional literature in the field, Genesis Israel, also known as Friends for Life, has developed a long-term support and assistance program for orphans of terror victims (DORON GRANT FOR LIFE).

    The program includes various layers of support and assistance. We are not interested in one-time interventions or donations to the many respected organizations. We are committed to genuine, long-term kindness that saves lives in a professional and sustained manner.

    Our uniqueness lies in our ability to provide long-term support to the orphan at every stage of their life.

    Our uniqueness lies in a professional program tailored personally to the orphan and their psychological, familial, emotional, and educational needs, with a focus on the long-term horizon of their integration into the business or high-tech world, the world of music or art, the legal or medical fields—according to their needs and talents.

    The organizational backbone of Genesis is located in Miami and includes successful businesspeople, medical professionals, lawyers, tech and biotechnology experts—all committed to long-term support and continuous acts of kindness, as we have decided—until the orphan stands on their own feet and becomes a self-leader and community leader.

    Emotional and psychological support, educational assistance, mentoring and guidance, legal support, professional training, family guidance—these and more, the people of Genesis wish and can provide with great love.

    Meeting the orphan and hearing his harrowing story strengthened my belief that we must increase our efforts, be attentive and flexible, accurately identify needs, sometimes let the orphan think about what is right for them, and sometimes advise and guide them in a way that allows them to find hope despite the difficult experiences they have endured.

    The conversation with the orphan I met at a café in Tel Aviv also reinforced my thoughts about kindness and mitzvot, which are a staple in Judaism.

    Sensitivity to the weak and the willingness to help them as much as you can are ingrained in Jewish and Israeli culture and are one of the sources of strength for everyone living in Israel during these times and for all Jews around the world.

    Fortunately, there are many who are willing to lend a hand, give a hug, be attentive, and mobilize in any way to help. I am fortunate that Genesis Israel is part of this family. I wish for all of us that we will always be on the giving side, and that if we find ourselves in need, there will be many who will be there for us.

    This is the strength of a community, and it is also a measure of the strength of human society.

    It is impossible not to recall the touching quote by Martin Luther King: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

    Dr. Lior Aviman

    CEO of Genesis Israel

    Assisting the orphans of October 7th