"I am proud that Cellcom is filling its world not only with
the most advanced technology, but also with gemilus
chassodim, and with adherence to the fundamental values
of the Jewish Nation," the president and director general of
Cellcom, Yaakov Peri, former director of the General Security
Services, told the representatives of the Cellcom Gemach fund
for the loaning of cellular phones, during the ceremony for
the distribution of more than fifty Cellcom telephones to
representatives of cellular phone gemachs from all
over the country.
The ceremony took place in Cellcom's headquarters in
Hertzlia. The event was attended by the heads of the Cellcom
company, the representatives and directors of the branches of
the Cellcom Gemach, and representatives of the religious
media.
The first speaker was Rabbi Arye Frankel, who noted: "The
motto of Cellcom is: `With Cellcom you're never alone' and
its implications are that one must give to his fellow and
sense his needs. This gemach is one of the finest
expressions of Cellcom's uniqueness and of its willingness to
give. Giving involves much more receiving than giving, as
Chazal have said: `Aser al menas shetis'asher -- Tithe
in order to become rich."
Yaakov Peri said: "The moment the idea of founding the
Cellcom Gemach was raised, we considered it not only from the
point of view of public image, but also for its practical
contribution and the help it would accord the chareidi
community. We have run the Cellcom Gemach in the past, with
much success. We are now strengthening it and adding
additional branches."
At the end of his warm speech, he distributed the Cellcom
cellular phones and a letter of authorization to three of the
coordinators of the new gemachim, Rabbi Meir Landman, Rabbi
Zelig Klein of the Achiezer Organization in Beitar Illit and
HaRav Yitzchok Meir Bordikovski of Kollel Polin, Kupat Rabbi
Meir Baal Haness. The gemach now has branches in Jerusalem,
Bnei Brak, Ashdod, Petach Tikvah, Beitar Illit, Emanuel, Beit
Shemesh, and it will soon be expanded to other regions.
Blessings in name of the representatives of the Gemach were
delivered by Rabbi Meir Landman, who originally purchased a
cellular telephone from his own money and made it available
to the general public for special occasions, and especially
to women after birth who must keep in constant touch with
their families. Together with his friend, Rabbi Yaakov
Rivlin, they decided to expand the gemach. Recently,
it joined the Cellcom Gemach. In his remarks, Rabbi Landman
noted that the secret of Cellcom's success is its giving to
others. "A person, a company, a country and a state which
know how to give to others thereby merit success," he
said.
Rabbi Mordechai Neugershal delivered blessings in the name of
Kollel Polin. In his speech he stressed the Jewish aspect,
saying that the more a person gives, the more his giving
becomes receiving. "When the directors of Cellcom decide to
allocate telephones for a gemach they succeed in mobilizing
hi- tech for communal needs," he said. He also noted that
Chazal praised Chanoch who, while making shoes, concentrated
on how to benefit his fellow. "Chanoch," Rabbi Neugershal
said, "is the symbol of a person who directs his activities
to benefiting his fellow, and Mr. Yaakov Peri the general
director and president of the company who has allocated
telephones in order to help others is in that way like
Chanoch."
Rabbi Mattisyahu Tennebaum cited the Chazal that one mitzvah
leads to another and said: "When we see Mr. Peri's readiness
to help the community, we ask: what was the previous mitzvah
which led to the current one? At this point we can reveal
that Mr. Peri was very active in helping to save human lives
in his previous dealings, and that by means of the cellular
telephone more people can be saved."
At the end of the ceremony, cellular telephones were
transferred to the representatives of the Cellcom Gemachs
from all over the country. These telephones will be made
available starting next week.
