Annual weekday readership figures for Israel Hayom registered at 25.4% in 2024, reflecting a slight, statistically insignificant decrease from 26.8% in 2023. In contrast, Yedioth Ahronoth saw a statistically significant decline from 21.8% in 2023 to 17.9% in 2024. Statistical analysis confirms the statistically significant gap between the two publications.

Israel Hayom's strong performance extends to weekend editions as well. The newspaper's annual weekend readership remained steady at 26.6% between 2023 and 2024, while Yedioth Ahronoth experienced a marked decrease from 26.4% to 22.2%. The data demonstrates Israel Hayom's cemented top stop in the weekend market, with statistical analysis confirming a statistically significant gap between the two publications on weekends as well.

The TGI survey, a cornerstone of media research in Israel since 1998, draws from a representative sample of the Jewish population aged 18 and above, encompassing approximately 4.783 million individuals. It stands as the industry's most comprehensive tool for analyzing media consumption patterns in Israel.

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On Wednesday, His Excellency General Mahamat Idriss Déby Into, President of the Republic of Chad, planted an olive tree of peace and brotherhood in Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund's (KKL-JNF) Grove of Nations in Jerusalem. During the ceremony, His Excellency announced the opening of a Republic of Chad embassy in Israel.

As part of the visit of this African country's President to Israel this morning, His Excellency visited KKL-JNF's Grove of Nations in Jerusalem and together with KKL-JNF Senior Management, President Déby planted a tree – several days before the Jewish holiday of Tu BiShvat.

Israel and the Republic of Chad restored their diplomatic relations in 2019, and this visit is the first by the current President to Israel since the renewal of relations. A year ago, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between KKL-JNF and the Republic of Chad which declared their intention to cooperate on forestry issues and the fight against climate change. Subsequently, this has led to fruitful cooperation to strengthen agriculture, while exchanging knowledge and adapting advanced agricultural technologies.

After planting his olive tree, the President of the Republic of Chad, His Excellency General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno stated: "We are visiting Israel as friends and brothers, and are happy to have diplomatic relations with Israel. In 2019, it was decided to restore diplomatic relations between the countries, and today I am here to fulfill the dream and strengthen the relations even more."

KKL-JNF's Board Member, David Yaari: "We see great importance and meaning in KKL-JNF's spreading Israel's capabilities in the field of agriculture and forestry and in promoting Israel's relations with the countries of the world, especially with the countries on the African continent. This contribution is a continuation of the Zionist vision and its embodiment in the 21st century. We are happy and honored to cooperate and partner with the Republic of Chad."

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"With the establishment of the state of Israel, the date Tevet 19, according to the Jewish Calendar, became a national holiday, as well as a milestone in the history of Zionism. KKL-JNF has been operating for the realization of the Zionist vision for over 120 years, together with leading environmental and educational issues in diverse fields," the organization said.  "Since the dawn of Zionist history, KKL-JNF has been connecting Jewish people across the world to the land of Israel, along with a deep, true connection to nature. The organization deals, among other things, with afforestation and the environment, Israeli youth, education, Zionist values, treatment of water reservoirs, forest restoration, and more. Over the years, KKL-JNF has been nurturing the well-being of Israel's citizens and visitors in shades of green, blue, and brown."

According to the organization, "throughout its existence, KKL-JNF has accompanied the establishment of the state of Israel, from the days of the declaration of independence in 1948, through its development, in creating physical and moral paths, while connecting them with the Jewish people and the citizens of Israel – to this day ... Among the icons leading KKL-JNF since its very first days, you can find the Blue Box which was and still is a symbol of brotherhood, collectivity, and a strong desire to develop the Land of Israel, and later in history, the State of Israel.

Yifat Ovadia-Luski, KKL-JNF Chairwoman, said, "The day in which KKL-JNF was born is a holiday for the State of Israel. The decision to establish KKL-JNF during the World Zionist Congress in Basel has historical significance for the Zionist movement. KKL-JNF formed the base and the conceptual and organizational infrastructure on which our national home was built. The fund prepared the ground for the realization of Herzl's dream of a Jewish state and has a central role in shaping the existence of the State of Israel, even today. We will continue to fulfill the vision of the Zionist movement by aliyah absorption, protecting our land, and making the desert bloom."

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A new joint initiative was established in cooperation with The Jewish Agency for Israel, Israel's Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, together with the Nefesh B'Nefesh and Qualita Aliyah organizations, to assist new Olim to receive recognition from the appropriate welfare offices prior to their Aliyah enabling immediate servicing upon their move to Israel. This breakthrough will also enable Olim with disabilities to better understand the services and resources that would be available to them immediately upon their Aliyah and ease their acclimation accordingly.

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The new joint initiative will revolutionize the Aliyah process for people with disabilities, enabling them to exercise their right to immigrate to Israel and more easily integrate into Israeli society. Most notably, the initiative will aid immigrants with disabilities in starting the process with the Ministry of Welfare prior to their Aliyah, i.e., in their country of origin. The goal, therefore, is to institute their rights even prior to immigrating to Israel, as well as to allow their integration to be adapted to their individual needs.

Until now, a new Oleh with a disability would need to arrive in Israel and, only then, begin the process of qualifying for recognition of the disability and receiving the assistance they are entitled to from the state, which can take an extended amount of time. As a result, the Aliyah process for families and individuals with disabilities would be severely delayed or prevented altogether due to major uncertainty regarding the rights they deserve from the Ministry of Welfare, and furthermore, the fear that they will not find adequate solutions upon their arrival in Israel, was a deterrent from fulfilling their Aliyah dreams.

"This is a major step in the revolution we are leading for the rights of people with disabilities," said Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs, Meir Cohen. "The new initiative will make it much easier for Olim with disabilities to settle in Israel, and it will prevent a situation in which the Aliyah of people with disabilities is delayed and/or prevented due to a challenging process. From now on, every immigrant who arrives in Israel and lives with a disability will receive full rights immediately upon arrival. I thank the Chairman of The Jewish Agency, Doron Almog, for his commitment to the issue of integrating people with disabilities, as well as Minister of Aliyah and Integration, Pnina Tamano Shata, for her cooperation."

"We have the obligation and moral responsibility to make things as easy as possible for new immigrants, in particular for the individuals and families of immigrants with disabilities, and to correct a long-standing reality that has hurt an entire, voiceless population that is already struggling with many other hardships," said MK Pnina Tamano Shata, Minister of Aliyah and Integration. "I thank the Minister of Welfare Meir Cohen and Chairman of the Jewish Agency Doron Almog for their cooperation in finding solutions that will benefit many families."

"This new initiative is a breakthrough that will help potential olim with a special- needs family member, in immeasurable ways.  Over the last twenty years, I have seen families unable to fulfill their Aliyah dreams due to this tremendous challenge. We are all excited to share the news with all the families who have been waiting for this new law," said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B'Nefesh. "I applaud all of our partners as well as the various governmental entities for joining together to make this change happen."

Major General (Res.) Doron Almog, Chairman of The Jewish Agency and founder and chairman of the rehabilitation village "ADI Negev-Nachalat Eran", which has become a model for integrating people with disabilities, commented, "My son Eran, who was born with a severe mental disability, was my greatest life teacher and taught me more than anything about the place of the weak in society. We must do everything in our power to allow people with disabilities to exercise their right to make Aliyah and facilitate the process of integrating them into Israeli society immediately following their arrival in Israel. Parents of a child with a disability have many difficulties and concerns about immigrating to Israel, and now we can ease their concerns and provide them a sense of certainty and security. This is our Zionist and moral duty."

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The University honored Clinton for his commitment to the State of Israel over the years, from promoting coexistence in the Middle East to his close friendship with the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and the Clinton Global Initiative's worldwide activity on social and economic sustainability. Sexton received the highest honor for his pioneering vision for higher education and for transforming NYU into the world's first Global Network University.

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"I'm deeply humbled to receive this honorary degree from the University of Haifa," said President Bill Clinton. "I treasure my friendship with the people of Israel and the opportunities I've had to work with them toward a future of peace, security, tolerance, and prosperity for all. This honor is very meaningful to me."

Clinton also spoke of his friendship and admiration for Sexton, saying that he "never saw him once without a song in his heart and a smile on his face."

"I thank him for always trying to bring out the best in people, for never believing the worst even when the rest of us demonstrate it, and for reminding all of us that a day spent in anger and resentment is a day wasted; a day spent beginning again is always full of hope," Clinton said.

Sexton praised the University of Haifa for how it "embraces building bridges across difference."

"I accept [this honor] on behalf of the common enterprise of men and women who created what has happened here [at NYU]," he said, as well as on behalf of his late wife Lisa E. Goldberg, who would tell him, "Honey, this is good, go forward, build bridges."

He added, "I'm blessed to share any ceremony…with President Clinton, who I view as the first citizen of an integrated global humankind."

The honorary doctorates for Clinton and Sexton align strongly with multiple cornerstones of University of Haifa's mission. In the realm of shared society, University of Haifa has long been a place where Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, international students, and security personnel study and socialize together in an atmosphere of tolerance and respect on campus.

The University of Haifa is also committed to promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals which includes a trilateral agreement with the UAE and Germany on joint research on climate change and pollution in the Gulf.

"We have taken that adage of think globally and act locally, and we have turned it on its head," said University of Haifa President Prof. Ron Robin, noting the University's partnerships with higher education institutions around the world.

Robin said that the University of Haifa's campuses straddle three "natural laboratories" – mountain, city, and sea.

"I know we all think that we reside on planet earth, but in truth, we are marooned on planet water," he said, explaining that the Mediterranean Sea is Israel's source of energy and protein, as well as 80% of its potable water.

He also emphasized the University's goal to "create a new pluralistic and inclusive Israeli middle class that will rise to the environmental and human challenges of the region and the world."

"Building a shared society, and creating global networks, are really the only ways to face the environmental, social, and health crises that face us all — and we are well-positioned," said Robin.

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The Haifa Laboratory for Religious Studies at the University of Haifa held its first international interfaith conference last week, hosting leading religious figures and academics from the world's most prominent Abrahamic religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The conference was brought to Haifa in light of the groundbreaking Abraham Accords, which normalized Israeli relations with the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco.

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The JCM (Jews, Christians, Muslims) Conference brought over 50 academics together from Egypt, Bahrain, the UAE, Morocco, Turkey, Albania, Greece, England, Ireland, and Germany. It included key lectures from the American Jewish Committee's Jerusalem-based Director of International Interreligious Affairs, Rabbi David Rosen; Founder and Director of Rethinking Conflict and Methodist Minister, Rev. Dr. Gary Mason; and professor of Arabic literature, Kamal Abdel-Malek, as well as weekend workshop activities and discussions.

The Laboratory for Religious Studies houses a community of researchers, visiting professors and students dedicated to the scholarly study of religions – with an emphasis on interfaith dialogue and interdisciplinary collaborations. The Laboratory's mission is to facilitate a community of scholars whose interdisciplinary research promotes dialogue between religious leaderships and collaborations with local and international religious communities and institutions. The goal is for these ties to serve as a backbone for facilitating important conversations that impact our world.

For more than 40 years, the JCM Conference has gained a reputation across Europe for promoting dialogue, understanding and solidarity among members of the three Abrahamic faiths. The mission of the conference was to highlight how religion can be a vehicle for social and civic changes; and rather than being the problem, offering solutions. As such, participants discussed how religion can and should be part of important conversations surrounding social justice, environmental sustainability and gender equality.

Participants also discussed the possibility of launching an academic network that would connect like-minded scholars from the Middle East and the Mediterranean to discuss these very issues and connect with politicians and other figures of influence in their respective countries.

University of Haifa is Israel's most diverse campus, inspiring creativity and driving innovation. The University is a microcosm of Israel's rich social mosaic: Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, international students, and security personnel study and socialize together in an atmosphere of tolerance and respect on our campus.

Dr. Uriel Simonsohn, Head of The Haifa Laboratory Haifa for Religious Studies (HLRS) and of the University's Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, said, "We live in a highly religious region, where religious leaders wield tremendous influence. We hope to leverage that influence to make them a force for social change in non-religious issues that affect daily lives for all. Members of the Abrahamic faiths share a belief in God and the commandments - this common denominator offers us a springboard to drive social change together."

The conference's timing was particularly auspicious since it took place during the month of the Holiday of Holidays Festival (or Chag HaChagim in Hebrew) which is an annual celebration of the religious and cultural diversity of the city of Haifa in the north of Israel.

The initiative also hopes to influence countries that have not yet signed the Accords. To that end, the HLRS is well connected with important political institutions and figures such as leading politicians in Bahrain; the President of Christian Leaders in the United States, reverend Johnnie Moore; the office of Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan; Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Nourhan Manougian; Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif; head of the Druze community, Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif; and Secretary General of the Baha'i community, David Rutstein.

Simonsohn added that he hopes this philosophy can be applied closer to home, adding, "We are in the process of harnessing political and religious leaders through the Palestinian territories in order to create an axis of cooperation to bring the vision of peace manifested in the Abraham Accords to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At Haifa, we pride ourselves on fostering religious harmony on campus, and it is our hope that holding these kinds of discussions can be the anchor to creating a more sustainable life."

Over the weekend, guests were treated to a tour of the religious diversity in Haifa where they saw the Baha'i grounds and experienced prayer ceremonies for all three religions. The next JCM conference is set to take place in Morocco next year. The conference in Haifa was held in partnership with the Ministry of Regional Cooperation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Nine outstanding young Olim (immigrants to Israel) from English-speaking countries have been recognized for making exceptional contributions to strengthen the State of Israel. The new Nefesh B'Nefesh Maor Youth Prize was established this year to honor our young Olim who have made an impact in the Jewish state and who serve as a guiding light in their local communities.

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The prize winners, ranging from ages 12-18, have made Aliyah with their families from around the world and have settled in communities throughout Israel. Dozens of young Olim from English-speaking countries – including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, and US - were nominated for the prize, and the recipients were chosen by a panel of committee members.

"It is truly inspiring to see these young Olim who rose above the challenges of adjusting to their new communities, schools, and social circles after making Aliyah, and chose to focus outwards – helping the greater Israeli community and Jewish nation through their initiatives and wonderful ideas," said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B'Nefesh. "Chanukah is the perfect opportunity to recognize and honor these young, modern-day Maccabees, who are shining examples for the next generation of Jewish leaders. They have chosen to celebrate their Aliyah by giving back to the Jewish people, each in their own individual way."

The following are the details of the 2022 Maor Youth Prize recipients:

Max Englehart (14), originating from the United States and settling in Modi'in, supports and raises money for the Beit Almog Shiloni lone soldiers' residences. He works hard to supply the apartments with kitchen and bedroom supplies before the soldiers arrive, as well as assist them with dinner and shopping throughout their service.

Ella Rath (16) left Australia and made Aliyah to Mitzpe Netofa, and she has since become an active member in her community. She mentors and runs activities for children with disabilities, bakes for soldiers at the local army base, cleans houses for people in need, and works closely with at-risk children.

Aron Lewis (17) made Aliyah from the UK and now resides in Ramat Beit Shemesh. Aron has demonstrated true leadership, having volunteered with his local synagogue, leading initiatives to help families in need, and working closely with at-risk youth.

Tali Pineles (17), originating from New Jersey and settling in Rehovot, is a trailblazer in her community. Her service began by donating her hair, singing to hospital patients, mentoring children with disabilities, working with Holocaust survivors, and volunteering on farms throughout the country. Later, as a counselor in her youth movement, Tali decided to open a branch of the movement in an underprivileged neighborhood, and she continues to volunteer and serve her community in countless ways.

Gadi Schreiber (16) made Aliyah from Florida and has since made Modi'in his home. At a young age, he took on a project to raise a significant amount of money for a new exercise park that was being built at the Akadem Center for Autism in Reut. The project was nationally recognized in the media. He has since become a regular volunteer at Akedem, and he is a strong advocate for the autism community in Israel.

Yehuda Youngerwood (15) made Aliyah to Jerusalem and quickly became a light in his community. His talents and passion for Lego building led him to create a Lego extracurricular activity for young children, teaching them about building, fine motor skills, and creativity. He works hard to create a welcoming and safe environment for children to challenge themselves and grow.

Aviva Stoll (15) and Devorah Piekarz (15) both reside in Ramat Beit Shemesh, having made Aliyah from the United States. The young women have been volunteering at the Lama'an Achai food rescue program, collecting excess food, repackaging, and delivering the food to local families in need. They also spend much time working on special fundraisers throughout the year.

Yitzchak Brander (17) made Aliyah from the United States to Jerusalem and became heavily involved in the Ezra Youth Movement. He also volunteers with Schachen Tov, an initiative in which volunteers package food for families and individuals in need.

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The Jerusalem College of Technology (JCT), in collaboration with Harvard Medical School's McLean Hospital, has launched an Israeli iteration of McLean's global campaign to combat the stigma surrounding mental health.

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Deconstructing Stigma, a project which debuted at Boston's Logan Airport in 2016, has officially launched in Israel. Its pop-up installations are on display in Jerusalem at JCT's Tal and Lev Campuses and at Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

The display features life-sized posters of individuals with mental health challenges who volunteered to publicly and boldly share their personal struggles. The goal of the campaign is to highlight the complexity of living with a psychiatric disorder, seeking treatment, navigating insurance and healthcare systems, and facing stigma.

"The goal of Deconstructing Stigma is to bring to life what occurs behind closed doors," said Dr. David H. Rosmarin, director of the spirituality and mental health program at McLean Hospital and an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "There's a lot of mystique around what happens with people who have a mental illness. With this initiative, our volunteers are proudly coming forward and saying, 'Here I am. This is what happened to me, this is how I deal with it, and this is how I'm thriving.' In doing so, we humanize what mental illness looks like."

Inspired by seeing the posters at Logan Airport, Stuart Katz, founding director of OGEN–Association for the Advancement of Mental Health in Israel, was determined to bring the initiative to Israel and helped spark the partnership between McLean and JCT. Katz and Dr. Zvika Orr, a senior lecturer at JCT's Selma Jelinek School of Nursing, are spearheading the campaign in Israel.

Mental health is an acute problem globally, and Israel is no exception. Nationally, the Israeli Ministry of Health reports that suicide is the second-most common cause of death for Israeli males ages 15-24, and third-most common for young females. Further, nearly half of Israel's population suffers at some point in life from mental health issues, with anxiety and depression being the most common challenges.

"In Israel, we are constantly told to be the 'gibor' (hero) and not show any weakness. This makes mental health stigmas particularly felt here," Katz said, explaining why he felt it was critical to bring the campaign to Israel.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic has opened space for changing attitudes to some degree, since many were suddenly burdened by newfound feelings of depression and anxiety — creating a need to address mental health stigmas on a national scale.

In an effort to localize the campaign for an Israeli audience, the installation features a diverse array of Israelis from various religious backgrounds and locations, including groups particularly vulnerable to stigma such as Haredim and Muslims.

Dr. Orr and other JCT faculty are working with Dr. Rosmarin and Dr. Steven Tzvi Pirutinsky, an associate professor at Touro University, to conduct an in-depth research project measuring how the attitudes of JCT's students, faculty, and staff regarding those with mental illness have changed following the campaign.

The JCT iteration of the Deconstructing Stigma installation was in the works for more than a full academic year, prior to its launch.

"JCT is an ideal setting for Deconstructing Stigma in Israel, since its Selma Jelinek School of Nursing has a special track for Haredi female students," said Rosmarin, who explained that nurses are often agents of change within the medical system, and society at large. In addition to the Deconstructing Stigma poster installations, JCT has created a special curriculum for its nursing students, who helped conduct in-depth interviews with those who volunteered for the public posters about their mental health struggles.

Dr. Orr said that early data indicates that the participating students are already experiencing meaningful changes in their attitudes about mental health.

"We hope our students come out of this project forever changed," Orr said. "Instead of judging or being fearful of those with mental illness, many of them are now sharing that they understand these are common struggles. They are developing empathy and affinity for the brave men and women who participated in this campaign."

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Nefesh B'Nefesh, in cooperation with Israel's Ministry of aliyah and Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and JNF-USA, is projected to have welcomed to Israel 3,900 individuals in 2022. Some two hundred newcomers are expected to make aliyah this week alone via group aliyah flights as well as through the organization's dedicated "Guided aliyah" track from within Israel, bringing the year to a wonderful close for aliyah.

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Among the newcomers who arrived with the aid of Nefesh B'Nefesh are 1,424 families, 907 children, 981 single men and women, and 697 retirees. The average age of Olim over the last year is 34 years old, with the oldest being 101 and the youngest a 3-month-old baby.

The olim who arrived in Israel in 2022 holds a variety of occupations, the most prominent of which are in the fields of medicine (some 97 physicians made aliyah in 2022), law, nursing, education, and finance. In addition, 214 young individuals who made aliyah in 2022 will serve as lone soldiers in the IDF as part of the FIDF-Nefesh B'Nefesh Lone Soldiers Program or lone national service volunteers with the "Ori" Program.

As part of the Nefesh B'Nefesh "Go Beyond" initiative that is run in partnership with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL) which encourages and supports aliyah to Israel's peripheral regions and Jerusalem, 436 Olim settled in the Negev and the Galilee. Additionally, 1,100 made Jerusalem their home, positioning the capital city as the leading destination for aliyah from North America. Other top destinations include Tel Aviv-Yafo, Beit Shemesh, Haifa, Netanya, Ra'anana, and Afula.

Minister of aliyah and Integration MK Pnina Tamano-Shata said: "Thanks to the fruitful cooperation between Nefesh B'Nefesh and the Ministry of aliyah and Integration as well as additional aliyah organizations, we are concluding an exceptional and blessed year of aliyah, one of which has not been witnessed in many years. I thank Nefesh B'Nefesh for all their dedication to new immigrants from North America and for their continuous activity on behalf of these Olim, and in addition for their cooperation and willingness to assist with the Ukrainian newcomers.

I conclude my role as Minister of aliyah and Integration by saying that Nefesh B'Nefesh is one of the most significant organizations in the field of immigration and absorption, which best embodies the values of Zionism and the importance of the State of Israel, and for their steadfast commitment in helping fulfill the goals of the Israeli government in the field of immigration and absorption."

Chairman of The Jewish Agency, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog: "The tens of thousands of new olim to Israel this year will help fortify the State of Israel as well as bolster its social and economic future. I thank Nefesh B'Nefesh and the Ministry of aliyah and Integration for their deep commitment to North American aliyah and for all their efforts in successfully integrating the newcomers into the country. The Jewish Agency for Israel will continue to work in partnership with Nefesh B'Nefesh, and together with the Ministry of aliyah and Integration and additional aliyah organizations, will continue to bring new olim from around the world and help them integrate into Israel."

"It is an incredible privilege for us to continue to assist thousands of olim annually and watch them make valuable contributions and strengthen the country by building their new homes in Israel," said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B'Nefesh. "For the past 20 years, we have proudly served as the center for North American Jews on their journeys to Israel, and we will continue to accompany and support many more generations as they make their Zionist dreams a reality."

Additional milestones for the organization in 2022 included the launch of the Nefesh B'Nefesh Zionist Education Initiative (ZEI) which is educating thousands of students annually to strengthen their connection to Israel by fostering an in-depth dialogue about Zionism and its meaning in the modern world. This initiative further strengthens the support and guidance offered to Olim before, during, and after their aliyah. The ongoing assistance provided by Nefesh B'Nefesh has ensured that 90% of its Olim have remained in Israel, leading to tens of thousands of thriving and successful Olim who go on to make significant contributions to Israeli society.

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