Dear
I hope that you and yours are well during this ongoing period of hardship, related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I would like to take this opportunity to inform all of our friends and those who hold Yad Vashem dear to their hearts about the internal changes that are taking place at Yad Vashem.
With the approaching retirement of Shaya Ben-Yehuda as Director of the International Relations Division at Yad Vashem - of which the Christian Friends of Yad Vashem are a part - we have recently been engaged in the process of choosing a new Director for the Division.
The search committee, formed specifically for this purpose, included key figures from the fields of public administration and fundraising, in addition to Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate Mr. Avner Shalev and Director General Mrs. Dorit Novak.
From the over 180 candidates who submitted their candidacies, dozens were interviewed personally. Among the finalists were current Yad Vashem staff members, as well as persons with no previous professional ties with our institution. One of the committee's major considerations was to choose someone who will perpetuate and boost the International Relations Division's achievements to date in resource development. The financial position at Yad Vashem depends a lot on the International Relations Division, and we were looking for a director who is able to continue to orchestrate our important work. It is very important to remember that we very much rely on our friends and partners who are the backbone of Yad Vashem.
I am pleased to inform you that the committee has reached a unanimous decision to choose Dr. Haim Gertner for the position. Dr. Gertner, aged 56, has served at Yad Vashem for 18 years, first in the International School for Holocaust Studies, and for the last 12 years as the Director of our Archives Division. Haim in his leadership role at the Archives has been dynamic, resourceful and communicative, with proven managerial skills and significant professional achievements, which have helped further meaningful and accurate Holocaust remembrance by Yad Vashem.
The comprehensive, detailed transition process that Haim and Shaya will soon start will be enhanced substantially by the "head start" that Haim has gained over the years at Yad Vashem. This is particularly crucial now, as Yad Vashem – like the rest of the world – grapples with the challenging realities brought on by the coronavirus. We are confident that a most fitting and outstanding person had been found to take over the helm of our very vital efforts in worldwide resource development and fundraising.
Shaya will continue in his role as Director of the Division until 31 January 2021. Haim will enter his new position on 1 February 2021. I know that you join us in thanking Shaya Ben-Yehuda for his 22 years of devoted and accomplished service to Yad Vashem, and in wishing Dr. Haim Gertner much success in his new position.
We hope and pray that our friends will continue to work with us hand in hand, as Yad Vashem can only continue with its crucial work due to the financial support and commitment of our friends.
I look forward to hearing from you and being of assistance with any questions you may have.
Warm regards and blessings,
Sari
Director, Christian Friends of Yad Vashem
