AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS OF BOYS TOWN JERUSALEM

Cheers to 75 years at wine-tasting night

Griffiths, who visited the BTJ campus in 2022, said, “I am deeply proud that Australians support this institution, that provides disadvantaged boys with the opportunity to advance.”

From left: BTJ Australian development co-ordinator Ilana Kaplan, former Australian Ambassador to Israel Paul Griffiths, and BTJ CEO Yoni Strimber.
From left: BTJ Australian development co-ordinator Ilana Kaplan, former Australian Ambassador to Israel Paul Griffiths, and BTJ CEO Yoni Strimber.

In a moving display of gratitude in Sydney late last month, an Australian diplomat, and an up-and-coming Israeli cybersecurity specialist, paid tribute to Australian Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem for their generosity.

The occasion was a celebratory event on August 24 at the Nefesh Centre, to mark Boys Town Jerusalem’s (BTJ) 75th anniversary.

Guest speakers, former Australian ambassador to Israel Paul Griffiths, and BTJ graduate Aviel Berkowitz, shared their admiration for the school with the audience.

“Boys Town Jerusalem was the only high school to believe in me,” Berkowitz said.

Guest speaker Aviel Berkowitz.

“There, I gained my knowledge and passion for computers, networking and cyber studies.”

The IDF has now tapped Berkowitz for a role at an elite cybersecurity unit.

 

Griffiths, who visited the BTJ campus in 2022, said, “I am deeply proud that Australians support this institution, that provides disadvantaged boys with the opportunity to advance.”

The evening’s emcee, Morris Kaplan, kept everyone entertained, and attendees also enjoyed tasting a selection of top Israeli wines.

With a proud 75-year history, today, BTJ’s 7,500 graduates are thriving in Israeli high-tech, education, commerce, the military – particularly in the IDF’s top technological and cyber units – and many other sectors where their skills are in high demand.

For more information on Boys Town Jerusalem, visit btj.org.au or email Ilana Kaplan on ilana@btj.org.au

 

The audience at the new Nefesh Centre in Bondi Beach.

 

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