Bringing Our Values and Mission to a New Generation of Young Business Leaders
January 2012
A Message from Yair Hamburger
As chairman of the Maccabi World Union, an international movement of more than 500,000 people in more than 50 countries around the world, I'd like to first and foremost express my gratitude and best wishes to the Maccabi Business Forum (MBF) members everywhere, particularly to the volunteer leadership that is at the heart of its efforts.
The MBF is based on the goal of attracting to our movement young professionals and business leaders who until now have not been exposed to the activities and values of the Maccabi movement, neither in Israel nor in the countries around the world where Maccabi is active.
The importance of the Maccabi World Union is expressed not only in its activities--- like the Maccabiah and the sports programming that we sponsor throughout the world. The importance of the Maccabi movement is in its vision, which is to bring Jews of the Diaspora closer to the State of Israel by emphasizing the centrality of Israel to world Jewry. This coming together is based on the values of Judaism and Zionism, with an accent on sports activities, in each and every one of the countries where the movement operates.
The outstanding benefit of the MBF once it will be fully integrated into the world Maccabi movement, will be to bring together a large, international group of quality young men and women with a strong business background who will become part of all the movement's institutions in the present, and who will be prepared to serve in the movement's future leadership in each and every place on the globe that Maccabi is represented.
There is no doubt that in the world where we now live, in the world of social networks, the establishment of a kind of social network of Jewish business people from all over the world who will establish personal and business relationships, and maintain contact with their peers in Israel, is an essential and outstanding idea.
But in addition to their mutual business interests, they will also have another ongoing and common interest-to support and promote the values and activities of the Maccabi Movement. Members of this network will be able to assist each other in business, in opening channels and in making deals among these young people, but most importantly, they will accomplish this with a common identity that comes from affiliating with and promoting the core values of the Maccabi movement.
Through the wise leadership of the MBF, whether in Israel or in MBF chapters in the various countries where nucleus groups of MBF will be formed; and through the good will and genuine willingness of the current Maccabi movement leadership to take in these young people and integrate them in the movement's institutions, I have no doubt whatsoever that we will manage to build in this way an important part of the future leadership of the movement.
And so I urge more and more young business leaders in Israel and around the world to join in the activities of the MBF. Joining does not just mean signing up, but it means real doing. The mission of every MBF member should be to create widespread business, cultural and sports contacts between their peers in the MBF worldwide, connections that will strengthen the members and bring them closer to each other on the one hand, and integrate them with veteran members and founders of the organization on the other hand.
I myself have been serving in the movement's leadership the past two years, and even though I am still a very active businessman, I find time for the movement and enjoy every minute of it. As a son of parents who arrived in Israel in 1935, and whose father was an athlete in the German delegation to the first Maccabiah in 1932, I see in this mission the closing of a circle, and a mission of top priority. It is an important mission, to bring the Jews of the Diaspora together with the people residing in Israel through programming that emphasizes the highest values.
The work of World Maccabi Union is authentic: You truly feel it, feel the love and camaraderie among members of the movement. In this complex era in which we live, being a part of the Maccabi World Union and the MBF can give anyone a sense of deep satisfaction.
--Yair Hambuger is Chairman of the Maccabi World Union
and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd.