New York Bids Farewell to Shalev and Shariv 

New Yorkers joined UJA-Federation of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC) on July 29th to say good-bye to Israeli United Nations Ambassador Gabriela Shalev; her deputy, Daniel Carmon; Consul General Asaf Shariv; and his deputy, Benjamin Krasna.

The “fab four,” as Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg referred to the Israeli diplomats at the event held at UJA-Federation in Manhattan, will be finishing their terms in the United States at the end of August.

Saying farewell to four Israeli diplomats leaving New York: John S. Ruskay, executive vice president and CEO of UJA-Federation; Benjamin Krasna, Israel's deputy consul general;  Asaf Shariv, Israel's consul general; Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City; Gabriela Shalev, Israel's United Nations ambassador; Jerry W. Levin, president of UJA-Federation; Alisa R. Doctoroff, UJA-Federation board chair; Janice Shorenstein, immediate past president of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York; and Daniel Carmon, Israel's deputy United Nations representative. Photo: Michael Priest

“I am determined to keep support for Israel strong,” Bloomberg emphasized, as he said “shalom and thank you” to the four outgoing diplomats. The mayor highlighted the commonalities between New Yorkers and Israelis, noting the shared abundance of opinions and “everyday courage and good spirits.”

UJA-Federation’s president, Jerry W. Levin, paid tribute to Shariv’s “increased dialogue and communication between American and Israeli Jews.” City Council Speaker Christine Quinn also spoke about the receptiveness of the Israeli diplomat, not only during the times when Israel needed support but also when the city needed Israel to stand with it.

JCRC’s immediate past president, Janice W. Shorenstein, paid tribute to Shalev, highlighting the parallels between the diplomat’s grandparents who died in the Holocaust but believed in the Jewish people, and the founding Zionists of Israel. Alisa R. Doctoroff, chair of the board at UJA-Federation, said Shalev and Shariv have successfully “been committed advocates for the Jewish people.”

All of the diplomats plan to return to Israel once they leave office — but not without a little adjustment, Shariv admitted. “This city has done so much for me and my family,” he said while accepting his honor. “I learned so much about Israel, about myself.”

“You all converted me,” Shariv told audience members, reflecting on his renewed connection to Judaism living in New York. In contrast to a secular Israeli upbringing, Shariv said he has gained a new appreciation for the religion, saying, “I want to thank you for making me a better Jew.”

Shariv discussed the atmosphere of philanthropy in America that he hopes to build on going back home. “There is no other room in New York I’ve been in more than this one [at UJA-Federation],” Shariv said, as he and others acknowledged the hard work of the professional staff at UJA-Federation and JCRC.

Shalev will be returning to Israel to teach at Ono Academic College. She spoke about UJA-Federation’s and JCRC’s “invaluable dedication and support for Israel” and for “helping to build the Jewish community [in America].” She added, “Israel needs the diaspora Jewish community just as much” as people in the diaspora have said they rely on Israel.