The United States Ambassador to Israel, Daniel Shapiro, has visited the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum, duringa visit to the Israel Diamond Exchange in Ramat Gan.

Shapiro was welcome to the museum by Yair Sahar, President of the Israel Diamond Exchange, and Eli Avidar, Managing Director of the Israel Diamond Institute, together with a number of dignitaries in the Israeli diamond sector.

As part of the tour of the diamond museum, Shapiro was given a detailed explanation of the journey that a diamond takes from the moment it is mined to when it is set in a piece of jewelry.

Rabbi Lau, the Chief Rabbi of Tel-Aviv and the former Chief Rabbi of Israel, as usual conquered the hearts of hundreds of Exchange members who went to receive his blessing for the New Year. The Rabbi focused his remarks on the significance of gratitude (“HaKarat HaTov”).

Yair Sahar, the president of Israel’s Diamond Exchange, wished the Rabbi and the members a blessed New Year, and said: “New Year’s Eve, more than any other time, is the time where we ask for and hope to hear good news, words of hope and anticipation for a better future – heath, happiness and success in all of our actions. In order to understand the power of our requests for the future, let’s take a small look backwards. A number of weeks ago, when I was elected to serve as president of the Exchange, I promised our members a spirit of change and innovation. However, one of the things that I really do not want to change, a custom that I hope to protect dutifully, as it protects us more than we protect it, is our traditional blessing – honored Rabbi, on the occasion of the New Year.”

The President of the Exchange focused his words on the significance of the family value in the Diamond Exchange as an example and model for living harmoniously, especially during times in which the State of Israel is faced with a number of disputing opinions and the city squares are being filled with sounds of protest calling for social justice – “our family”, said the President of the Exchange, “is not made of one type. We have both secular and religious, each of which also has representatives of all types and movements. In all modesty, I feel that we can achieve tremendous accomplishments; however, one thing that we are especially proud of, which can serve as a model for the entire State of Israel, is our shared lives together, shoulder to shoulder. As a supporter of the tend protests for social justice, you will certainly be happy to hear, honored Rabbi, that here, at the Exchange, since our early days we have always felt responsible for each other, a responsibility that we give practical expression to during out day-to-day lives.”

Among the sounds of applause of those present, the President of the Exchange called on its members to “be extremely careful during the New Year with regards to all matters related to interpersonal relationships, and the character of our actions – acting ethically, kind speech, and appropriate, modest and respectful dress – as is proper for an international business center.”

With reference to the situation in the international markets, the President of the Exchange state that “the diamond world is currently in a sensitive time that requires alertness. Therefore, I recommend that of the members be attentive to the economic and financial developments in the world and the changes in the world of diamonds, and be extra cautious. However, it is important to remember that optimism and confidence are and have always been our anchors, and they will continue to be our anchor in the future.”

This year, the Rabbi focused his remarks on the significance of gratefulness – a commandment that can change a person’s quality of life by 180 degrees. Before commencing his speech, Rabbi Lau dedicated warm words to Yair Sahar, the President of the Exchange, and said: “This is my first opportunity to recognize and congratulate Yair Sahar on the occasion of his taking office. Your success is the success of all of those present, and the success of those present is the success of the Nation of Israel. I hope that you begin the position with your right foot forward, thereby fulfilling the verse written by the wisest of all men – “the Blessing of God will enrich and will not increase sadness.”

With the completion of the Rabbi’s sermon, the entire congregation stood up in honor and appreciation – evidencing that the Rabbi’s words spoken from the heart, had reached the heart.

All that is left for us is to join the blessings of Rabbi Lau, may he live a good and long life, and to request from the Almighty – “blow your great horn for our freedom, and may we truly be deserving to be written and sealed in the Book of Life.”

Happy New Year.

Members of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) elected Yair Sahar, the chief executive of Sahar Atid, as its new president.

”The diamond exchange is one of the important pillars of the Israeli economy,” Sahar said. “I will do all that I can to ensure that Israel remains a global center for the diamond trade.”

He stressed that among his goals as president would be to strengthen diamond manufacturing in the country.

Sahar, who has served as senior vice president of IDE and as chairman of the finance committee at the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association (IsDMA).

Sahar Atid is a diamond manufacturing company with about 40 employees in Israel and abroad.

The company buys rough diamonds from De Beers Diamond Trading Company (DTC) and Harry Winston and received recognition in 2009 as an “outstanding” exporter.