Fisesp Day, Fauda Stars Join Leaders to Debate Future and Jewish Unity

The event marking the 80th anniversary of the Jewish Federation of the State of São Paulo featured the launch of FisApp, lectures on trust, geopolitics, and leadership, a tribute to wounded Israeli soldiers, and special participation by Hen Mazzig and actors from the hit series Fauda.

On Sunday, October 18, at Teatro Porto Seguro, the Jewish Federation of the State of São Paulo (Fisesp) held the first edition of Fisesp Day, gathering national and international leaders, experts, and personalities to reflect on the challenges of the contemporary world and the future of community life.

As part of the Federation’s 80th anniversary celebrations, the event addressed themes such as trust, communication, geopolitics, security, leadership, and Jewish identity. In her opening remarks, Fisesp president Célia Parnes emphasized the importance of an institution that acts not only in times of crisis but also anticipates challenges and builds solutions. Highlighting the concept of “silent intelligence,” she noted that community protection work is most valuable when it allows people to live in peace. According to her, the Federation’s mission is to make São Paulo “the best place in the world to live a safe, full, and free Jewish life.”

Early in the program, the Federation launched FisApp, a mobile application designed to integrate and strengthen the Jewish community. Available for iOS and Android, the platform offers news, a community calendar, information on organizations, social projects, businesses, and event registrations, as well as a channel for reporting antisemitism. The initiative represents another step toward building a “smart community,” using technology and data to enhance connections among people, institutions, and services.

The lecture series began with Luiz Fernando Lucas on “Trust in a world where no one believes anyone,” stressing integrity, consistency between thought and action, and education in shaping conscious citizens. Rogério Chequer followed with “Who controls the narrative controls reality?”, addressing the challenges of disinformation and fake news, and advocating empathy, listening, and strategic communication as tools to counter false narratives.

Marcos Troyjo, speaking remotely on “Geopolitics explained for decision-makers,” analyzed the shift from globalization to a new order where security, technology, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical disputes play central roles, highlighting opportunities and challenges for Brazil and Israel.

One of the international highlights was Israeli writer and activist Hen Mazzig, co-founder of the Tel Aviv Institute, who reflected on “The return of communities: why people still need community.” Discussing the rise of antisemitism after the October 7, 2023 attacks, Mazzig emphasized belonging, pride in Jewish identity, and real human connections, arguing that community bonds have deeper impact than social media reach.

Former São Paulo governor João Doria joined the panel “Security and Leadership: who still wants to be in the driving seat?” He recalled decisions made during the pandemic, the personal costs of leadership, and the importance of courage and responsibility. Doria also expressed concern about rising antisemitism and voiced his full support and gratitude to the Jewish community.

The program included an emotional tribute to four Israeli soldiers wounded in combat and treated at Beit Halochem, an institution dedicated to the rehabilitation of Israel’s military and security personnel. Their stories of resilience offered a human dimension to the impacts of war and underscored the importance of the organization’s work.

Actors Yaakov Zada Daniel and Meirav Shirom, who play Eli and Dana in Netflix’s international hit Fauda, participated in the panel “Fauda – When fiction meets reality.” They shared experiences from filming the fifth season, shaped by the events of October 7, and reflected on how fictional dramas mirror the real stories of soldiers and their families. The discussion reinforced the connection between art, memory, resilience, and the challenges faced by Israeli society.

Yaakov revealed that his character’s loss of his wife and children drew inspiration from the collective suffering of Israeli society:

It felt like my own loss, he said.

His military service also informed his portrayal, with filming serving as a therapeutic outlet to channel real emotions into performance. Meirav Shirom highlighted the importance of female representation in leadership roles, explaining that she met women in security and intelligence positions to shape her character. She noted that the preparation for season five was profoundly influenced by the October 7 events, with the cast barely needing rehearsals due to the intensity of lived experiences.

Closing the event, Célia Parnes stressed that the reflections shared throughout the day must translate into concrete initiatives to strengthen the community and prepare future generations. “The future is not a guaranteed inheritance, it is a permanent achievement,” she affirmed. Fisesp Day reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to renewal, combining its 80 years of history with innovation, intelligence, protection, and cooperation to build a community ever more connected, secure, and ready for the challenges ahead.