Latest news with #Israeli-AmericanCouncil
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ex-hostage: Fight for freedom of captives is ‘most Israeli, Jewish, human thing we can do'
Former hostage Eliya Cohen urged the public to continue fighting for those still held in Gaza, calling the mission 'the most Israeli, the most Jewish, and the most human thing we can do." On the 600th day since Hamas abducted 251 people from Israel, former hostage Eliya Cohen urged the public to continue fighting for those still held in Gaza, calling the mission 'the most Israeli, the most Jewish, and the most human thing we can do,' according to a statement released by the Israeli-American Council (IAC). Cohen, 26, was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023, and was held in Gaza for 505 days before being released in February 2025. During the attack, Cohen and his fiancée, Ziv Abud, sought refuge in what later became known as the 'death shelter' near Kibbutz Re'im. Abud survived by hiding under the bodies of other victims for six hours. Cohen, meanwhile, was abducted, shot in the leg, and subjected to brutal conditions in Hamas's underground tunnels. Despite the trauma, Cohen reportedly performed kiddush before Shabbat and maintained a routine of prayer, even while in captivity, as revealed by messages passed on by released hostages. He was unaware that his fiancée had survived until he returned to Israel after his release, as part of a ceasefire agreement. 'I may be here, but part of me is still in Gaza,' Cohen said during the 'Israel United: Celebrating Israel at 77' mega event Tuesday night at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. 'You have united, together, to call for the release of the hostages. You told our stories. You stood up for us. For 505 days, you were fighting for me, while I was in the tunnels under Gaza. And since my release, I've been joining you in that fight. Because the hostages still need your help. It is possible to bring them home — just like I came home.' The event was organized by the IAC, Jewish Federation Los Angeles, the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, and StandWithUs. It marked 600 days since the October 7 Hamas massacre, which left more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals dead and 251 kidnapped. 'Today, we mark 600 days — 600 days that our brothers and sisters are in captivity. Six hundred days that Am Yisrael [the people of Israel] has not been able to heal. Six hundred days of pain and waiting. There are still 58 hostages. We cannot give up. We cannot lose hope,' Cohen said. He added, 'Independence is more than a date on the calendar — it's the ability to live freely. The fact that I survived, and that I am standing here before you tonight — that is a miracle. After 505 days in captivity, I know the true meaning of freedom.' Also speaking at the event was IAC CEO Elan Carr, the former US special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. In the IAC statement, Carr described Israel's founding as a transformative moment in global history. 'May 1948 was a watershed moment for human history,' Carr said in the statement. 'Just as the Biblical Exodus from Egypt inspired America's founding and the US Civil Rights movement, the creation of Israel was history's greatest story of national self-determination. Israel has done more to elevate the human condition than almost any other country.' Other dignitaries in attendance included Israel's Consul-General in Los Angeles Israel Bachar, Congressman Brad Sherman, Jewish Federation Los Angeles President and CEO Rabbi Noah Farkas, StandWithUs CEO Roz Rothstein, and Australian media personality Erin Molan. The evening featured performances by Israeli singer Itay Levi and American actor and comedian Elon Gold. Levi brought Cohen onstage and dedicated a song to him and to all the remaining hostages. According to the IAC, the event aimed to celebrate Israel's 77th Independence Day while honoring the unity of the Jewish people and renewing the call for the release of all hostages.
Entrepreneur
05-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
10 Charitable Organizations Entrepreneurs Should Support
These nonprofits align with values of innovation, leadership and global impact — making them ideal for entrepreneurs looking to give back meaningfully. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. From Tel Aviv to tech boardrooms, my entrepreneurial journey has taken me through building businesses, navigating painful failures, celebrating meaningful exits and eventually investing in other founders' visions. I'm an Israeli immigrant who came to the U.S. with little more than ambition and a belief that hard work could move mountains. Over time, I've seen firsthand how startups are born from nothing but grit and vision — but as those companies grow, they begin to touch more than just market share. They influence culture. They inspire communities. And they bear the responsibility to give back. In recent years, my focus has shifted from just building companies to helping others build theirs and, just as importantly, encouraging them to align their success with meaningful causes. After joining the Israeli-American Council (IAC) as a council member, I realized that beyond the business pitch decks and M&A spreadsheets lies something even more impactful: service. Through our initiatives supporting Jewish solidarity, educational programs and bridging relationships between American and Israeli entrepreneurs, I found that philanthropy isn't just a "feel-good" endeavor — it's a strategic advantage. It grounds founders, strengthens brand identity, builds community and invites purpose into what can sometimes feel like a grind. So, here's my call to fellow founders, startup CEOs and emerging entrepreneurs: Integrate charitable alignment into your DNA. Not for press. Not for optics. For impact. Related: 5 Entrepreneurial Reasons to Embrace Philanthropy Make-A-Wish Foundation Mission: Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, turning dreams into reality during their most difficult battles. Startup life is full of "impossible" dreams — something Make-A-Wish embodies in a very human way. Supporting them isn't just about giving; it's about reminding your team what hope looks like. Tech company Atlassian has funded dozens of wishes through employee-led campaigns, showing how company culture can be both productive and profoundly kind. Team Rubicon Mission: Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. Startups are built on agility — and Team Rubicon is a masterclass in organized action under pressure. They're a phenomenal organization to support, especially for founders with veteran ties or a passion for community disaster response. Their recent deployment to Maui after wildfires made national headlines. Operation Gratitude Mission: Operation Gratitude delivers care packages and personalized letters to deployed troops, veterans, wounded heroes and first responders. Startups often talk about grit and sacrifice, and Operation Gratitude honors the Americans who live those values every day. Supporting this organization provides tangible appreciation to service members and can unify teams around shared patriotic values. It's especially meaningful for companies with veteran employees or founders, or those wanting to show support for public servants. The Trevor Project Mission: The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth. Today's workforce values inclusion, and The Trevor Project is on the frontlines of emotional and mental health. Their work intersects with DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) priorities that many startups strive for. Salesforce has championed LGBTQ+ causes through The Trevor Project, showing how social alignment can reflect core brand values. Israeli-American Council (IAC) Mission: The IAC builds an engaged and united Israeli-American community that strengthens the Israeli and Jewish identity, the American Jewish community and the bond between the people of the United States and Israel. Beyond my personal affiliation, IAC offers incredible opportunities for founders to connect with global networks, Jewish and Israeli-American business leaders, and to support education, cultural diplomacy and solidarity during global crises. When Israel faced economic and emotional turmoil during recent conflicts, IAC quickly mobilized both humanitarian aid and business support. Related: 10 Philanthropic Organizations Entrepreneurs Should Consider Supporting DonorsChoose Mission: DonorsChoose empowers public school teachers by funding their classroom projects, from books to science kits. Education is the ultimate upstream investment. Many of today's innovators were inspired by great teachers — yet those teachers often lack basic resources. Supporting DonorsChoose lets entrepreneurs impact students directly, and startups can align product donations, campaigns or even team volunteering around local classrooms. Feeding America Mission: Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, providing meals through a network of food banks. No one innovates well on an empty stomach. Hunger is closer than many founders realize, especially in cities with both tech hubs and underserved populations. Recent partnerships with companies like Amazon and General Mills show how even operational efficiencies (like surplus distribution) can be used for social good. Girls Who Code Mission: To close the gender gap in tech by equipping young women with the computing skills to pursue 21st-century careers. Founders often talk about the pipeline problem — Girls Who Code solves it. Their alumni now work at Google, Meta and hundreds of other startups. Supporting them isn't just charitable; it's a strategic investment in a more balanced, innovative future. Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) Mission: O.U.R. works to rescue children from sex trafficking and exploitation and partners with local law enforcement around the world. Modern slavery is real — and profitable. It's time for ethical businesses to help end it. O.U.R. gives companies a direct way to engage in awareness, funding and rescue missions. With ongoing cases in Central America and Southeast Asia, their work is urgent and impactful. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Mission: St. Jude leads the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. St. Jude combines compassion with cutting-edge research — a formula every biotech or health-tech founder should admire. What sets them apart is that families never receive a bill. Startups can support them through percentage-of-revenue donations, corporate sponsorships or employee matching programs. Startups are inherently optimistic. They are born from belief. But belief without action is hollow. These ten organizations aren't just charity checkboxes. They're powerful channels for meaning, connection and responsibility. When founders integrate giving into their companies, they don't just enrich the world — they enrich their teams, their culture and themselves. Related: The Business Of Giving Back: Five Reasons Why Philanthropy Should Be At The Core Of Your Corporate Strategy As someone who has gone from bootstrap to boardroom, from failure to fortune and from founder to funder — I can tell you this: Success that stands alone feels empty. But when your company becomes a vehicle for change, everything you build starts to matter more. So, the next time you pitch your business, ask yourself: What are you building it for?
