Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky (Left) and IDB Group Chairman Nochi Dankner (Right) at Kibbutz Ravid during a tour of jointly supported projects promoting education, health, culture and sports. 

January 6, 2010 / 20 Tevet 5770 

Nochi Dankner, Chairman of the IDB Group, joined Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky on December 28, 2009, in touring a wide-range of communities and projects throughout the North of Israel.  The projects are jointly supported by IDB and the Jewish Agency with the help of Jewish communities around the world, mainly in the areas of education, health, culture and sports.  Sites visited include Kibbutz Ravid, Maalot Tarshiha, Kibbutz Gesher Haziv and Acre. 

The IDB Group is one of Israel's leading business groups with total assets of over $30 billion.

“Nochi Dankner is a man who is prepared to make great contributions to Israeli society, both during times of war and in periods of peace," said Sharansky. "I hope that the strong ties between IDB and the Jewish Agency signify a trend of increased cooperation between Israeli groups, donors from abroad and the Jewish Agency, for the purpose of strengthening Israeli society and strengthening the bonds between the State of Israel and World Jewry.” 

At Kibbutz Ravid, Dankner and Sharansky laid a cornerstone of a dormitory building in the presence of Emek Hayarden Regional Council head Yossi Vardi and the kibbutz’s General Director Roi Yesod.  The cost of the project is over NIS 3 million given by IDB, Shelters for Israel, and the Cynamon Family Foundation

Also in the planning for the kibbutz is an amp theater overlooking Lake Kinneret.  In Kibbutz Gesher Haziv, Dankner and Sharansky dedicated a new branch of the municipal community center, which serves as a hub of educational and athletic activities in the Mateh Asher Region.  The NIS 1.6 million contribution comes from IDB and the Jewish Agency through the generous donation of the Katz Family Foundation.

In the Ayalim Youth Village in Acre, Dankner and Sharansky met with a group of dedicated students who are working to strengthen Zionist settlement in the Negev and Galilee.

The two groups announced their commitment to expanding their efforts on behalf of Northern Israeli towns. They pledged a total of NIS 11.5 Million whose scope includes the construction of a regional auditorium to be completed by the summer of 2010.  The Rappaport family from the United States will also support the project.

“I am happy to see close cooperation between the IDB group and the Jewish Agency, which doubles the force of the work done on behalf of the communities in Northern and Southern Israel.  I am confident that together we will significantly expand the groups’ successful joint activities,” said Dankner.