Not too long ago, Ira Riklis passed on a link to this beautiful video that captures some of the pageantry and excitement of Tel Aviv’s centennial celebration last year. Now, it goes by pretty fast, but somewhere in the middle you’ll see a picture of the inside an old pharmacy. There’s a man inside, who may just be Mr. Rikli’s great grandfather, Zelig Krinkin. Why would we think that? It turns out that Mr. Krinkin opened Tel Aviv’s first pharmacy way back when!
Ira Riklis also wants to note that while this video shows bits of some of the concerts, fireworks and special events that marked the centennial, there’s another side to Tel Aviv. Beyond the thriving modern cultural and business centers, there are neighborhoods where poverty runs rampant. That’s why he continues to support the American Friends of Tel Aviv Foundation. This group works tirelessly with donors to improve the lives of people in these neighborhoods by developing wide-ranging educational, cultural, artistic and sports projects.