Honoring Israel’s 77th Independence Day: Menomadin Foundation President Haim Taib Lit the Torch of Mutual Responsibility

“I am Haim Taib, son of the late Eliyahu and Janet, grandson of a Holocaust survivor from Tunisia, whose name I bear with pride. Our grandparents built this country so we can live here together. I light this torch on behalf of my colleagues and partners around the world, those building bridges of peace through economic cooperation and prosperity, fighting for the return of the hostages and standing united for our beloved homeland. In honor of our shared unity, because only together can we heal and build bridges of hope across Israel and from Israel to the world.”

Sending this message of unity and love of Israel, entrepreneur and philanthropist Haim Taib lit the Torch of Mutual Responsibility (Arevut Hadadit). His fellow torch-lighters were Shai Graucher, an Ultra-Orthodox businessman and social activist, is the founder of the Standing Together initiative, which supports those who have been physically and emotionally scarred by the October 7^th events and the ensuing war; and Orly Robinson, founder of the Home Front initiative, assists evacuees and displaced persons—victims of the massacre and the war—by outfitting and designing the new homes they are building for themselves, all thanks to the generosity of the Israeli people.

Haim Taib, founder and president of the Menomadin Foundation and the Mitrelli and Menomadin Groups, was chosen to light a torch at the official state ceremony marking Israel’s 77th Independence Day for “his inspiring efforts to building bridges of hope and unity—between diverse communities within Israel, and between Israel and communities worldwide,” as noted the selection committee. For over two decades, Haim has dedicated himself to creating sustainable impact through both his social initiatives and business ventures. With the outbreak of the war, Haim poured his heart into aiding communities along Israel’s southern and northern borders. Through the Menomadin Foundation, he spearheads strategic initiatives in the Gaza envelope and the Western Negev. These include establishing a neighborhood for combat veterans in Kibbutz Mefalsim and promoting educational activities in Netivot, the Sdot Negev Regional Council, and the city of Tiberias, which has taken in many evacuees from across the country. Haim also partakes in an endeavor aimed at fostering resilience in the Kinneret Amakim Cluster. Furthermore, he is leading the development of a welfare plan to address the urgent hurdles Israel has been facing following the war. This is another chapter in the national roadmap, The Right to Good Welfare, which the Menomadin Foundation has guided from its inception in collaboration with experts from academia, government, and practitioners in the field. Several of the programs’ recommendations are already being implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs. These are but a few of his countless projects, with many more underway.

From the horrors of Auschwitz to a revival on Mount Herzl

Getting the news from Minister Miri Regev right before his departure for March of the Living was a deeply moving moment for Haim. Being a third-generation Holocaust survivor, Haim has set out to head, for the second consecutive year, a special delegation of Holocaust survivors—including those who also survived the October 7^th massacre in the Gaza envelope and their communities; released hostages and their families; families of hostages still in captivity; wounded IDF soldiers; bereaved families; and survivors of the Nova festival. According to Tamir Idan, chairman of the Sdot Negev Regional Council, “carrying the torch with Haim in memory of the Nova festival victims during the March of the Living in Auschwitz 2024, all of us, the entire Gaza envelope community, felt Mr. Taib’s tremendous contribution to strengthening the bridges between us and the entire Jewish people, both in Israel and the Diaspora.” Among this year’s delegation participants was the released hostage, observation soldier Agam Berger, who played a tear-jerking violin piece on a one-of-its-kind instrument gifted to her—a violin that survived the Holocaust and was faithfully restored.

On Auschwitz soil, Haim declared: “Every torch is a great light that connects all 12 Tribes of Israel. The light of unity binds the Jewish people who endured horrors here to the power of the State of Israel and the Jewish people as one united nation in their homeland.” The participants in March of the Living delegations, representing every segment of Israeli society, serve both as witnesses to the atrocities and as a testament to our unparalleled personal and national resilience.

Mending the divides within Israeli society sits at the heart of Haim’s undertakings. Healing the nation by fostering unifying discourse and emphasizing a common ground is the focus of The Israeli Congress, which he initiated and established about a decade ago, and The Menomadin Center for Jewish and Democratic Law, which has been operating for over seven years at Bar-Ilan University under his auspice. Another such venture is the Aalam initiative for developing young Druze leadership, and scholarships for Druze reserve soldiers. This year also saw the formation of a joint leadership and scholarship program involving the Menomadin Foundation, Peres Academic Center, and Harvard University. In light of his prominent contributions, Haim has been chosen to chair the new youth movement being established by the Hashomer Hachadash organization, which will work diligently to shape future generations here in Israel based on Zionist values and a love for the land and its people. Haim is personally and daily involved in all these and many other endeavors. However, when he learned of his election to light a torch on Independence Day, he emphasized: “This is a badge of honor for my team,” referring to each and every one of his employees and partners who dedicate themselves to the work at the Menomadin Foundation and Menomadin and Mitrelli groups.

Israeli innovation tackles global challenges

Through the Mitrelli Group, Haim brought pioneering Israeli ideas to Africa, rooted in the principles of the kibbutz and moshav. Though born in Jerusalem, Haim grew up in Moshav Olesh in the Sharon region, educated on the values of working the land, practical Zionism, and mutual responsibility. Guided by these ideas, he developed agricultural cooperatives across Africa, established electricity, water, and sewage treatment infrastructures throughout Angola, and built entire neighborhoods in its capital, Luanda. During his many years as president of the humanitarian organization Save a Child’s Heart Africa, Haim brought hundreds of sick children from the continent to Israel for complex treatments and surgeries. He also established a medical center in Côte d’Ivoire where Israeli and African doctors learn from each other and mutually hone their skills. By investing in local culture and fostering children, women, and underprivileged populations, Haim infuses the present with purpose and ignites hope for a better future.

For 34 years, Haim has been integrating innovative Israeli technologies into his various strategic ventures, thereby establishing Israel as an influential force in Africa and the international arena. He then sought to bring his accumulated experience in developing and strengthening nations back to his homeland, Israel. To this end, six years ago, Haim founded the Menomadin Foundation, which strengthens Israel’s social resilience by developing and implementing national roadmaps addressing the nation’s most pressing issues; this is achieved by building bridges and establishing cooperation with government ministries and local authorities and by forming strategic philanthropic partnerships with foundations, non-profits, and the business sector.

As we reflect on this current Independence Day, it’s impossible to overlook the extreme weather, powerful winds, and intense fires we experienced on the Remembrance Day for the Fallen Soldiers of the Wars of Israel and Victims of Actions of Terrorism. These events were so severe they led to the cancellation of the state torch-lighting ceremony, which traditionally marks the end of Memorial Day and formally initiates Independence Day celebrations. Instead of the festive live ceremony, the general rehearsal, recorded a few days earlier, was broadcast. Even though the State of Israel and Israeli society are going through a difficult and turbulent period, this extreme event has reminded us all that there are pressing issues that require humanity in its entirety to unite, so we can tackle them successfully.

In this context, it is worth noting that the Menomadin Foundation also invests in Israeli start-up companies. As part of Haim’s vision, these investments focus on companies that seek innovative and effective solutions that will make a deep and global impact in key areas. These include clean energy, agro-tech, food security solutions, and medical technologies. Examples of the latter are early and effective diagnostics tools for the most aggressive cancers and severe and very common vascular diseases, as well as online solutions that make mental health treatments accessible to everyone—a challenge that was highly relevant to Israeli society even before October 7^th, has significantly worsened since, and will continue to affect us for years to come. Haim’s commitment to reducing social gaps, expanding equal opportunities, and promoting integration and tolerance is also evident in his involvement with a company dedicated to integrating Haredi men and women into hi-tech employment and another that makes public spaces accessible to the visually impaired.

Bridges of hope

On Israel’s 77^th Independence Day, the theme of the torch-lighting ceremony was “Bridges of Hope.” Haim, through all of his work, embodies a living bridge, proving it is possible to bridge social, cultural, and geographical divides, improve the present, and create hope for a better future for Israeli society and humanity as a whole. Haim summarized the essence of his vision in a recent speech to African leaders: “Hope is the key to addressing the greatest challenges,” and this is the message we seek to embrace and carry with us wherever we go.