The Green Leaf Graduates party, which advocates cannabis legalization, has created a buzz in the world of Israeli politics with their plan to join up with the Holocaust Survivors Party.

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The Green Leaf Graduates, which split from the political party Aleh Yarok, best known for its advocacy of the legalization of cannabis, is making waves with its most recent announcement: a plan to incorporate the Holocaust Survivors Party.

The Holocaust survivors are focused on the controversial issue of their state pension disbursement, which has been weakened by rising demands among the country’s retired workers.

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TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Even in the world of politics and its strange bedfellows, this coalition is odder than most.

On Tuesday, a party representing Israeli Holocaust survivors joined forces with the pro-marijuana Green Leaf party for a run at Israel’s parliament. The new party launched its campaign in a near-empty, underground, graffiti-filled nightclub in south Tel Aviv, pledging to pursue two primary goals: to financially assist elderly Holocaust survivors and to legalize the consumption of cannabis.

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Ohad Shem-Tov

At 29 years old, Ohad lives on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem and is completing his M.A. in Political Science at Hebrew University. Ohad has headed the Green Leaf Party (Ale Yarok) since 2006.

Ohad is a fourth generation Jerusalemite, born in 1979. Ohad grew up and studied in Jerusalem neighborhoods, including French Hill, Rechavia and Armon Hanatsiv. Ohad attended Jerusalem’s Music Academy School and later lived several years in Europe.

Ohad’s first activism with the Green Leaf Party came in 2002, as he built the first student branch of the movement at Hebrew University, while he studied there for his B.A. in political science  and international relations – this student branch became critical to the growth of the party after the 2003 elections. Ohad was appointed Secretary General to the Green Leaf Party and managed the party’s 2006 election campaign. Though the campaign was generally considered a success, with grassroots support and activity throughout the country, the party did not pass the minimum threshold of votes to win Knesset seats; as a result, former Party Chairman Boaz Wachtel and his number 2 in command, co-founder Shlomi Sendak, resigned their positions. At that point Ohad was selected as the Green Leaf Party Chairman by the party leadership  to continue to grow and bring new momentum to the movement. At a mere 26 years of age, he was the youngest party chairman in Israel.

Ohad has published a number of articles on legalization and decriminalization and participates in several international forums on the subject of the geopolitical future and peace of Israel. Ohad can be reached at ohad@ale-yarok.org

Yaakov Kfir

Holocaust Survivors’ Party Chairman

A Holocaust survivor himself, Kfir knows intimately the problems Israel’s Holocaust survivors face, and he has worked to alleviate their suffering for years, through activism with several non-profit groups and government agencies. Kfir founded the Holocaust Survivors’ Party in the belief that only a survivor will work to enact legislation on their behalf. Originally from Yugoslavia, today Kfir hails from Petah-Tikva, in the center of Israel.

Yaakov Kfir (or Kfir as he prefers to be called) is 74 years old. When he was six, his parents were killed in the Holocaust – Kfir’s survival is a miraculous tale.  He ultimately arrived in Israel with the Youth Aliyah via Cyprus on a boat called the “Israel Assembly” and was sent directly to the Youth Village in Batya. He joined the Israeli Air Force and served as an Officer for 26 years. He was one of the founders of the Technical Institute’s Jerusalem campus. After leaving the military, Kfir worked another 15 years for Israel’s Security Ministry, which he left to direct the “Fighters for the Freedom of Israel” Museum. Kfir retired, but soon felt a desire to again work for the good of the country – this time, for his kindred, the Holocaust survivors, their offspring and for people suffering from amputations and serious illnesses. Kfir was one of the founders of the “Children of the Holocaust” (of which he is currently Board Chairman) and “Your People” non-profit organizations and has worked tirelessly in the attempt to change the legislation to better protect the rights of Holocaust survivors in Israel.

Michelle Levine

Born in the United States, Michelle is 38 years old and lives in Jerusalem’s Armon Hanatsiv neighborhood. In the United States, Michelle was an activist with her local chapter of NORML and with the U.S. Green Party. In Israel she has worked to rehabilitate the non-profit Kneh HaBosem, an organization working to decriminalize marijuana and to improve public awareness about the plant. Michelle has been the Environmental Coordinator for Ale Yarok since 2005.

Michelle Levine is the Director of International Relations and Development for DVI – Dental Volunteers for Israel; she also serves as a part-time English Marketing and Public Relations Manager for SPNI – the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. Ms. Levine holds her M.A. in American Indian Studies (University of Arizona) and a double B.A. in English and Political Science (Rutgers University). Ms. Levine’s family has lived in Jerusalem for 10 years, attend Shir Chadash synagogue and is immersed in the nation’s Carlebach community. Her father, Dr. Martin J. Lee, is co-owner of Savyon Diagnostic Laboratories in Ashdod and is a well-known biochemist, whose research has been supported by Israel’s Ministry of Science as well as the European Union. Michelle can be reached at michelle@ale-yarok.org

Jacob Holender (Yankale)

Jacob Holender, or “Yankale” as he is known by his friends, was born in Poland but today hails from Holon, in Israel’s central region. At 62 years of age, Yankale is the child of Holocaust survivors who came to Israel in 1957 to make aliyah.

Yankale absorbed a Zionist yearning for Israel from his parents, who had been activists with the youth movement before the breakout of the first World War. Yankale enlisted in the Israel Air Force and served 27 years, during which time he guided and educated thousands of soldiers at the Technical Institute. As an officer, Yankale commanded and advised individuals and organizations on critical military logistics; he left the military as a lieutenant colonel. As a civilian, Yankale entered the work force as senior management for large companies. Today he advises companies on logistics and management and in his free time, volunteers within his local community and with Holocaust Survivor non-profits.

Achiya Zalayet

Achiya Zaleyet grew up in the small village of Kfar Adumim. Achiya is 30 years old and a student of Industrial Design at Hadassah College. Achiya has been an activist with the Green Leaf Party since 2003.