New names from the past year

CARL ALPERT SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN

We look back upon the Jewish year that has just elapsed and contemplate the various individuals who created or helped shape the news of the year. For the most part, they are the same government leaders, the same entertainers, the same politicians whose names adorn the headlines every year. But here and there, during these past 12 months, new names flashed into the news. In accordance with our annual custom, we single out those individuals who helped add spice and variety, for better or worse, to the news of the year. The new names are, in alphabetical order:

Mahmoud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen. When the Palestine Legislative Council accepted Yasser Arafat's recommendation and named Abbas prime minister of the Palestine Authority, doubts were openly expressed whether he would have freedom of action. For months he occupied headlines, but never succeeded in meeting expectations for a breakthrough in negotiations with Israel. Finally, in an open split with Arafat, he resigned.

Nomi Blumenthal, Likud member of the Knesset since 1992. It was alleged that, in December 2002, on the eve of the Likud party primaries to choose candidates for the Knesset, she put up funds to provide hotel accommodations for a group of delegates, thus presumably "buying" their votes for a special list of candidates. When charged, she refused to answer questions and remained silent, claiming Knesset immunity. In the face of repeated charges, the Knesset House Committee voted to sustain her immunity.

Mishael Cheshin, Justice of the Supreme Court. He was chairman of the Central Elections Committee for the 16th Knesset. In the face of many problems and difficulties, he supervised the election procedure firmly, judiciously and promptly, thus assuring a smooth election.

Vicki Knafo, a single mother, made headlines for a long time because of her dramatic and imaginative protest against treasury cuts in welfare payments. Her long, lone walk to Jerusalem culminated in a demonstration, joined by hundreds of others, which lasted for months.

Uri Lupolianski, who had been content with relative personal obscurity despite the fact that he was the founder of the enormously successful and unique welfare organization Yad Sarah, entered politics and became vice-mayor of Jerusalem. With the withdrawal of Mayor Ehud Olmert, Lupolianski was elected the first Charedi mayor of the city.

Theodore Or, Justice of the Supreme Court. As the year approached its end, his name captured all headlines as the Judicial Committee of Inquiry that he headed presented its long-awaited report on the Arab riots in the Galilee three years ago, in which 12 Arabs and one Jew were killed. The report sharply criticized the Israeli police for their reaction to the riots and held responsible government leaders who had not taken necessary precautions, as well as Arab members of the Knesset who had inflamed the Arab public. Both sides expressed dissatisfaction with the report.

Eli Pimstein of Kiryat Hayovel confessed to one of the most horrible crimes in years, the cold-blooded murder of his 22-month-old daughter, Hodaya. He had reported the child missing and had denied all knowledge of her disappearance. However, an Arab worker reported to police that by coincidence he had been in a remote forest and had seen a man who resembled Pimstein digging a hole. The police investigated and found the body.

Avraham Poraz, named minister of the interior after the last election, has been in the news constantly because of his overt campaign against any religious influence in public life. He announced that persons undergoing Orthodox conversion in Israel would no longer be automatically qualified for citizenship. He has called for abolition of the local religious councils and has denied the right of municipalities to ban non-kosher markets. He is reported to have congratulated the Dutch government on its proposal to ban shechitah, Jewish religious slaughter, in that country.

Ilan Ramon. No other personality in the news has won the love, respect, admiration and honor of the Israeli public like the unfortunate member of the Columbia space shuttle. His reports from outer space almost dominated the news here throughout the event. Hearts welled with pride at his open demonstration of his identification with Israel and tears flowed on receipt of news of the tragic end.

Gilad Sharon, son of the prime minister. There were days when his name eclipsed even that of his father as a result of a criminal investigation into alleged wrong-doing by Arik Sharon, and Gilad's refusal to hand over to the authorities certain documents that were required for the investigation.

These were the top 10 new names of the year. By next year some will be forgotten, but others will undoubtedly live on in public memory. The following are the 10 names listed last year. How many do you remember? Esther Alon, Effie Eitan, Dalia Itzik, Ephraim Kishon, David Klein, Michael Melchior, Sari Nusseibeh, Silvan Shalom, Anna Smashnova and Tatiana Soponova.

Carl Alpert is a freelance writer living Haifa.

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