By COLlive reporter
Mrs. Daniela Golan, the founder and director of the Ohr Chaya center for Jewish women in Jerusalem, was selected as one of the 12 recipients of the “Yakir Yerushalaim” award for 2022.
Yakir Yerushalayim (Worthy Citizen of Jerusalem) is a citizenship prize awarded annually by the municipality of the City of Jerusalem to residents who have contributed to the cultural and educational life of the holy city in an outstanding way.
Retired President of the Jerusalem District Court, Judge David Cheshin, chaired the selection committee. The Yakir Yerushalayim decoration has been awarded by Jerusalem mayors since 1967 and required the approval of the Jerusalem City Council.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion announced the selection of Mrs. Golan last week in his virtual remarks to the Chof Beis Shevat event for women in the International Convention Center in Jerusalem.
The event commemorated the yartzeit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson OBM, the wife of the Rebbe. Women and girls traveled from around the Holy Land of Israel to participate in the uplifting program.
The event featured Mrs. Esther Goldshmid sharing memories of the Rebbetzin, saluting a farmer who is observing the Shmitta year, musical presentations by Mrs. Rika Razal and the girls’ choir led by Mrs. Chaya Glazer.
Mrs. Golan, who organized the event, thanked Mayor Lion for the recognition and said that the timing of the award could not be more suitable – days before the 22nd of Shevat, yartzeit of the Rebbetzin.
Mrs. Golan founded the Ohr Chaya institute in 1989 and named it after the Rebbetzin’s first name. Thousands of students participate in its ongoing activities throughout the year and its lectures in various languages cater to a wide spectrum of people.
Mrs. Leah Kahn, the wife of the Rebbe’s Head Choizer Reb Yoel Kahn OBM, recalled memories of the early days of Ohr Chaya and its lasting impact. “If only the Rebbe had a few more ‘Danielas’, he would already conquer the world,” she remarked.
