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Welcome, everybody.
I will say to you in hebrew: Bruchim Ha'Baim.
That's 'welcome' greeting in hebrew.
Let me tell you first about the very important Mitzva in Judaism:
Which is the Mitzva of hospitality.
And this is something that I think all citizens of Israel
Whether they are religous or not, they believe in it.
We are welcoming tourists and visitors and business men
who come to visit our country, and most of us see it as a mission.
To bring people from other countries to Israel, to show them our beautiful
Country, both from the cultural aspect and the business aspect.
They ask me to talk a little bit about the diamond exchange.
The experience of the diamond exchange building.
When I talk to people and convince them to come visit my country,
I tell them a lot about the cultural experience.
Of Jerusalem - about the piece of history that Israel -
Let's not forget - the holyland has shared history with all the religions,
Whether it's Jewish, Muslims or Christians, The holy land has a big part of the history
of every culture or religion.
The same thing you can say about the diamond trading industry in israel.
It is an experience which is a second to none.
Whether you are buying or not, you can not go anywhere else
And I've been to Mumbai, Antwerp, into New-York - I'm actually living
in New-York city now, and I'm part of the New-York diamond exchange,
The experience for trading - the trading tools, the 25,000
people - some of them are traders, some of them are diamond cutters,
that worked there for 40-50 years, to see them in action, to feel that
the vibrant atmosphire that is going on over there, it is experience
that you can not feel anywhere else.
In Israel you can have everything: you can have gemstones, diamonds,
Jewelry - it's all concentrated in those four buildings that are like a close area.
It's like a country inside a country.
It's not easy to get in, and it's not easy to get out,
And those people who work there, they invested thier tradition hearts
in those buildings. They are there for 50 years, 60 years, and during
your trip to the diamond exchange, you are going to feel it, you are
going to meet them, and you are going to feel a different experience.
In terms of the diamond experience, I guaranty each and every one of you
that will decide to be the pioneer and come to our first trip,
You are going to have the experience of your lifetime.
I was asked by Mary to speak a little bit about the security,
I know that she will talk about it a little bit so I won't do it long,
But I will tell you one thing: I've been living in the US
for the last five years, I can walk at any street
in Tel-Aviv at any given hour at night, and I would feel more
safe, and you would feel the same, than any part of New-York city,
where I live right now.
I promise you.
And one thing I can tell you, now that I'm here and I'm seeing
how the media presents the story over there, don't believe a word
they are saying. It's not true.
Israel is a very safe country, actually the tourism this year
has the highest record, although those - what people say violent
cycle or violent events, they are not so 'violent',
and I just talked, a few minutes ago, said that before I move
to where I live in Chicago, everybody knows that south
chicago is the area nobody should go into.
So nobody goes there beside the people who live there,
and it's the same thing.
All the things that happen over there, are happening in the areas that you
are not going to visit, you are not going to see,
and it happens every three to five years.
So there is nothing to worry about, there are only good
things about Israel, It's going to be the experience of a lifetime,
And I urge all of you to come with us and let us show you
our country. Thank you very much for coming.