Shahar Azani, at The Blogs

Jan 8, 2025, 10:54 PM

I never cry at all, I am a hero, not a crybaby But why, mother, why Do the Tears cry by themselves? ("Brave Danny", an Israeli children’s song) These past 15 months have been rife with tears, indeed cascades of sorrow, flowing from...

May 21, 2024, 12:28 AM

Give Us Your Naked Jews!

Video of Yossi Davidian, of Moshav Patish, speaking of the atrocities he had seen at the Nova Festival site. Video shown at the NYC Nova Exhibit.

Photo Credit: Shahar Azani

They were running frantically through the fields. They were eight, shedding clothes as they fled the massacre scene at the Nova Music Festival, where Hamas barbarians were raping, pillaging, mutilating, torturing and murdering their friends. They were running for their lives. For...

Dec 19, 2023, 5:49 PM

Bearing Witness, Taking Action

The window of a “safe room” in Kibbutz Bee’ri.

Credit: Shahar Azani

Birds were chirping all around me. The grass was green, and the sun gently caressed the meadows with its rays as butterflies made their way through flower patches around me. Yet, the stench was unmistakable. It was the stench...

Jan 27, 2023, 6:37 PM

The Unsung Heroes of Hope

Today, January 27, we mark International Holocaust Memorial Day. We come together to remember the past atrocities of humanity's moral abyss. But this remembrance is not only a matter of the past but very much of our present and...

Oct 4, 2022, 2:11 PM

Forgive me!

A few days after we embrace the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur ensues, the Jewish Day of Atonement, and our holiest day of the year. It is a day of deep reflection, inside and out, during which...

Jul 5, 2021, 9:54 AM

Jewish Tears Leave No Mark

Eli Meron, The Wheatley School Graduate Who Used His Voice To Speak Up Against Injustice

Credit: Shahar Azani

Casual hatred is the worst kind. Sometimes it sneaks up on you unexpectedly. It's dressed casually, nothing too fancy, only to make a brief appearance, but leaves an indelible mark. Last June, the Wheatley School on Long Island held its...

Apr 14, 2021, 11:55 PM

The Zionist Bloom

As I walked down the street this week, a yellow daffodil trumpet flower caught my eye, blooming in the garden of one of the houses. The flower stood tall, adorned with petals, as if they were a regal cloak,...

Feb 23, 2021, 1:57 AM

Antisemitism, by the way

NBC's "Saturday Night Live" caused a stir when comedian Michael Che, joked about vaccines in Israel. "Israel is reporting that they’ve vaccinated half of their population," said Che, "I'm going to guess it’s the Jewish half," was the punch line, which earned him...

Jan 19, 2021, 5:36 PM

Invoking the power of moderation, especially now

I’ve spent many years of my life as a diplomat connecting people, building bridges, and bringing down walls. It is by far a passion and a mission, and I have been privileged to see it in action, yielding wonderful...

Jul 29, 2020, 9:15 PM

Open Letter to Seth Rogen

Capt. Elgen Long, the last surviving crew member of Alaska Airlines' who participated in bringing the Yemenite Jewish community to Israel, in operation On Eagles Wings in 1949, during a 2018 visit to Israel. (Credit: Shahar Azani)

Dear Seth, Let me start by saying that I am a big fan of yours and have been one for many years, even since before the 2007 Knocked Up hit. First, because you truly make me laugh, and in this world of...

About Me

Shahar Azani is a veteran Israeli diplomat, passionate advocate for Israel and a frequent contributor to various media outlets focusing on Israel, Jewish issues and the Middle East. He is the CEO of the Book Family Foundation as well as Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI). Azani was formerly Senior Vice President at JBS, Jewish Broadcasting Service, former Executive Director for StandWithUs in New York and served at Israel’s Foreign Ministry for over 16 years – including London, Los Angeles, Jerusalem, Nairobi and New York, focusing on international affairs, media affairs and public diplomacy. Before embarking on this career path, he practiced Law at Haim Zadok and Company, based in Tel Aviv, focusing on litigation.

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