Itongadol.- Benalal Samuel was one of the victims of the terrible attack of Mali. He was in Mali for educational counseling, his area of expertise and work.
Benalal is a good example of a Venezuelan Jew. He was born in Tetouan, Morocco; part of Morocco was Spanish Protectorate until 1956, he emigrate at a very young age to Venezuela, as did the most part of who has integrated the Jewish community in Venezuela .
He was also an activist of youth movement, Hashomer Hatazair specifically, through which he came to Israel and met his ideals of zionist embodiment. His influence on young people who knew him or who followed in his footsteps was remarkable.
Benalal was always in contact with Venezuela and its Jewish community. He married a Venezuelan, also from a native family of Tetouan.
He was the mastermind of educational programs for school, in particular the "Mesilah" program, an elaborate attempt to amalgamate in the educational system of the community values of Jewish identity , religion and belonging to the values of the adjective and Venezuelan nation
His career was most successful . His academic work and in various parts of the world experience confirm this.
Benalal was assassinated by a terrorist group. He made the big mistake of being in Mali, his crime, being a Jew and an Israeli passport holder. But he was also a proud venezuelan.
The Jews of Venezuela weep and mourn the death of a member of his community, a top Israeli and a Venezuelan who trained at the highlights of the local Judaism at times when the Jewish population growth was a constant, the relations between Venezuela and Israel were good, with or without ups and downs, and hopes for a better future has always been the engine of growth in all aspects.
Elias Farache is first vice president and upcoming president of the CAIV. He is the former chairman of the Vaad Hakehilot and the Zionist Federation.