WINNIPEG — Erez Rotem, an Israeli journalist and former interviewer for the Channel 2 television station in Israel, is the new Jewish National Fund (JNF) shaliach for Western Canada.
Erez and Dalit Rotem (his wife).
The 42-year-old Rotem, a journalist for more than 15 years, began his career writing for Israeli newspapers, including Ma’ariv and Yediyot Achronot. “I have written for every major newspaper in Israel, and for the last 10 years, I have been the correspondent for police/criminal affairs for Channel 2,” he says.
“For the last 15 years, I have been a personal witness to all of the major events in Israel. I covered the Second Lebanon War, the disengagement, the terrorist acts, the bus explosions, and now I want to do something constructive for JNF… I want people to join me in understanding and feeling Israel.
“The story of Israel isn’t just a story of war, but the story of a nation that has developed great industry and sophisticated technology. I believe Israel is the home for every Jew, even if he or she isn’t living there,” Rotem says.
He hopes that since he has been in the field of communications for all of his adult life, he is well prepared in his task as the new shaliach to “communicate a love for Israel.”
He says, “I feel that after 15 years of looking into the area of crime in Israel, it is time for me to do something that is constructive, and is part of building [support for Israel]. I call Israel a great adventure and hope that I can motivate young people to be more committed and devoted to Israel.”
In his work with Channel 2, Rotem was involved in a number of high-profile cases. “I was the first journalist to interview then-president Moshe Katzav at his home in Kiryat Malachi about the allegations [of sexual harassment] against him,” Rotem says. “It was the first time that he admitted he would accept some kind of plea bargain [which he no longer will accept].”
Rotem, who has a law degree, was responsible for disclosing the fact that in the sexual harassment charges against Kadima member of Knesset Haim Ramon, the state had “conducted illegal wiretaps.” Rotem says that he was able to uncover this because he has an informant, “a deep throat,” who tipped him off .
Rotem was raised “in a house where Israel meant everything,” he says.
“My father served the state for 35 years. When he retired, he was the head of security in the Shabak [Israeli Secret Service]… He was the personal bodyguard of prime ministers David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin, and also used to work with [defence minister] Moshe Dayan. He was also the bodyguard for prime minister Menachem Begin and also for Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, when he came to Israel in 1977.”
Rotem remembers visiting the farm of Ariel Sharon with his father in the midst of the first war in Lebanon in 1982. “Later on, I also covered the trial of Omri Sharon [Ariel Sharon’s son and former member of Knesset] for corruption charges.”
Rotem, who has a home in Ramat Hasharon, says that his parents imbued him with a sense of Zionism and commitment to the State of Israel that is deep-seated. He looks forward to his new position with the JNF, which he will officially begin in August. Prior to beginning his new work, he will be travelling with his family to Thailand and Vietnam.
Rotem and his wife, Dalit, have two children, Tom, 8, and Yali, 3. Dalit is an interior designer and is part owner of a sushi restaurant, Akiko, in Ramat Hasharon.
Rotem has already made two trips to Winnipeg to meet members of the community and make preparations for his assuming his new position.
He’ll be based in Winnipeg, but will travel often to Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. Rotem replaces Rami Kleinmann, who was the JNF shaliach for the past eight years and left to become the executive director of the Canadian friends of the Hebrew University.