נשיאה ומייסדת ‘רוח הגליל’
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My parents did not come to the Land of Israel for me to give it up. We must do everything we can”
Raya Strauss Ben Dror
President and founder of “Spirit of the Galilee”
President and Founder of the “Spirit of the Galilee”
Raya Strauss Ben Dror has chosen to focus her activities on the Western Galilee and attempt to bring about
an economic and social quantum leap in this region. In order to realize this objective, a joint vision was
written by about 200 regional leaders and opinion leaders in the Western Galilee.
A social entrepreneur, philanthropist and businesswoman, who considers herself as the successor of her
parents – Dr. Richard and Hilde Strauss, who chose to immigrate to Israel in the mid-1930’s as Zionist
pioneers and Jews. They endured tremendous difficulties until they managed to build, from a small
cowshed located in the yard at their home, the international food corporation “Strauss”. Raya grew up in
Nahariya and she continues to live there to this day.
Raya has privately supported diverse social organizations for many years.
Her main activities in recent years have focused on creating the conditions for a quantum leap in the quality
of life in the Western Galilee.
Vision Spirit of the Galilee
As written by about 200 partners from the region
The residents of the Western Galilee are proud of their Galilean pertinence; they assume responsibility and
create together a flourishing and crisis-resilient region. We recognize diversity as a source of strength and
treat others with respect and dignity.
Numerous diverse populations, as well as our youngsters, choose to live here in different forms of communities, thanks to the quality of life which is manifested in the employment opportunities and salary
conditions, in education, community and cultural life, health and social services, in the infrastructures and
personal safety. The public and community space in the Western Galilee constitute an exemplar of a society that succeeds in integrating religions, cultures, views, sectors and genders in an equal and inclusive manner. We demonstrate to the world how, by means of education, dialogue and building trust, a region can traverse from a reality of national conflict to a reality of multi-existence in a joint civil space.
Instigating an Economic Social Quantum Leap in the Western Galilee
In order to realize the quantum leap vision and harness additional partners, “Spirit of the Galilee” operates
in 5 areas that have been identified as possessing the potential to jumpstart and advance the region.
Roach HaGilil operates in 5 areas that have been identified as having the potential to boost the region
Industry and Employment
Twenty Percent of the Region’s Residents are Employed in Traditional Industries
Health
Raising Awareness for a Healthy Lifestyle
Tourism
Hundreds of tourism businesses from diverse ethnicities and cultures operate in the Western Galilee
Culture and Education
Our young people choose to live in the Western Galilee thanks to the opportunities it offers
Multiculturalism
In the Western Galilee, we recognize diversity as a source of strength and treat others with respect and dignity.
“And Nevertheless”
From the Diary of Hilde Strauss 1936
Decades of diverse work aimed at developing the Western Galilee with more to come
