Israel Navy Veterans Association

The Israel Navy Veterans Association (I.N.V.A.), known in Hebrew as עמותת חיל הים, is a nonprofit organization established in 1988 by veterans of the Israel Navy. Its stated goals include uniting veterans and friends of the Navy, preserving the history, legacy and traditions of the Israel Navy, maintaining ties with the active naval arm, and assisting association members in various areas. The association is headquartered in the compound of the Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum in Haifa. The organization traces its roots to an earlier memorial association founded after the 1967 sinking of the destroyer INS Eilat. In 1987 a meeting declared the intention to establish a broader association, and former Navy commander Shlomo Shamir was elected its first chairman. In April 1988, at a conference marking 40 years of the State of Israel and the Navy, a parchment certificate was presented to then Navy commander Avraham Ben-Shushan, forming the basis of the "Association of Friends of the Israel Navy." In 2002 the name was shortened to its current form, "Israel Navy Veterans Association." The association runs a wide range of activities: annual general meetings, veteran crew reunions, heritage events produced with the Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum, an annual "Sea of Business" networking conference, employment guidance, welfare and medical-rights assistance, real-estate guidance, online courses, academic studies, a travelers' club, a virtual store, a memorial website for fallen Navy soldiers, and scholarships for released soldiers and for children and grandchildren of members. It also participates in official Navy ceremonies and memorial events, including the annual sail commemorating the sinking of INS Eilat. As of 2018 the association reported about 1,250 registered members. Its office is located at the Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum in Haifa, and it is recognized by tax authorities as a recognized institution, so donations are tax-deductible. The association also offers members a corporate credit card through Isracard, marketed as a prestigious organizational card with benefits and no card fees. The Israel Navy Veterans Association is a membership-based nonprofit rather than a commercial company, but it operates a recognizable organizational brand through its Hebrew name, its website amutayam.org.il, its member card, its business community and its heritage and memorial projects.

The Israel Navy Veterans Association has its origins in the aftermath of the sinking of the destroyer INS Eilat on the night of Simchat Torah 1967. In the wake of that disaster, several members of the original crew of INS Eilat gathered and decided to establish an association called "The Association for Commemoration of the Fallen of the Destroyer INS Eilat." Over about twenty years, its activities included establishing the central monument in Gan Elisha in Ashdod, distributing scholarships to students of maritime schools, holding an annual sailing regatta, and organizing national swimming tournaments with trophies named after INS Eilat. To strengthen the connection and set different priorities, the association was renamed, on the proposal of Admiral Binyamin Telem, "The Association for Commemoration of the Fallen of the Israel Navy." In 1987 a meeting was held and the intention to establish a broader association was declared; former Navy commander Shlomo Shamir was elected as its first chairman. At the conference "Founders of the Navy and Those Who Served in It Through the Generations," held at the Heichal HaTarbut in Tel Aviv on April 25, 1988, marking 40 years of the State of Israel and the Navy, a parchment certificate signed by a group of Navy commanders was presented to Navy commander Avraham Ben-Shushan. This certificate formed the basis of the "Association of Friends of the Israel Navy." In 2002 the name was shortened, and since then the organization has been known as "Israel Navy Veterans Association" (עמותת חיל הים). Over the years the association has had five chairmen. Its directors have served voluntarily, most recently Colonel (res.) Ehud Dvir; from May 21, 2019, the board chose Brigadier General (res.) Gabi Nevo as volunteer CEO for 2019. The association office is located in the compound of the Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum in Haifa. It is recognized by tax authorities as a recognized institution, so donations to it are tax-deductible for donors. Activities have included veteran crew meetings, with about ten team meetings of veterans of various Navy units held annually. In 2002, on the association's initiative, a reunion was held for veterans of Unit 788, which guarded the Sea of Galilee until the Six-Day War. On September 14, 2004, the association held a conference of Navy veterans of all generations at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv under the slogan "If only the sea would be quiet." The event was a great success with leading artists who were Navy veterans, but the expense was high and participation fees did not cover the investment; the association entered a tight financial situation that was later resolved through donations. On November 26, 2015, the association initiated a reunion for veterans of the torpedo boat flotilla at the Acre Naval Officers School; guests of honor included Admiral Shlomo Erel, whose 95th birthday was celebrated, and Admiral Micha Ram. In 2016 the association held a reunion of the crews of INS Tarshish (Sa'ar 4) and INS Jaffa (Sa'ar 4) marking 40 years since Operation Freedom Bell, at the Navy Museum; the association produced a photo album and disk-on-key for participants. In 2017 it held a reunion marking 50 years since the Battle of Romni, bringing together veterans of the destroyer Eilat and the torpedo boat flotilla for the first time. Heritage events are produced monthly with the assistance of the Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum. The association also holds an annual "Sea of Business" meeting to foster business connections among veterans, featuring presentations of veterans' successes and lectures by important figures in the Israeli economy, usually in hotel lecture halls in the central region. Employment guidance and job-search assistance for Navy veterans take place regularly. The association participates in Navy events: visits to Ashdod base, invitations to naval officers course graduation ceremonies, meetings at Haifa base including new piers, a submarine and a missile boat, annual cultural evenings for active soldiers and heritage meetings for ship veterans. On the memorial day for the sinking of the destroyer Eilat, a sail is held in memory of the fallen. In commemoration, the association was involved in memorializing Navy units and fighters. It initiated the monument to the fallen of INS Eilat created by artist Yigal Tumarkin. In April 1994, together with the Navy, it held a ceremony to place the monument at the main breakwater in Haifa Port. Later, association director Gershon Ravid organized a voyage on a passenger ship obtained from Mr. Uriel Caspi of Caspi Shipping; bereaved families and survivors of the destroyer's crew participated together. The voyage went toward Port Said to the site of the sinking, and at the time of the sinking a ceremony was held with Dan Kaner and singer Aviva Avidan. INS Eilat (Sa'ar 5), then newly commissioned, accompanied the families' voyage and cast wreaths into the water. On the way back, an open conversation was held with the bereaved families and survivors, moderated by director Benny Or, who prepared a documentary about INS Eilat. Active partners included Shlomo Menachem, a survivor of INS Eilat; retired Sergeant Major Devash Lemon (Kleimont); Colonel (res.) Rami Boblil; and Brigadier General David Ben-Bashat, head of the Navy's manpower directorate. In 2010 the association initiated the transfer of the monument to its current location on Sderot HaHagana in Haifa. Regarding procedures and numbers, the association office is located in the Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum compound in Haifa. The association is defined by tax authorities as a recognized institution, so donations are calculated as a recognized expense for donors. Events manager Major (res.) Ilanit Pener adheres to the budgetary principle that every event must cover its expenses and not burden the overall budget; most events and meetings cover themselves and some even more. Surplus income goes to the association's fund and is used for topics approved by the board, taking into account the wishes of event participants. In 2018 the association had about 1,250 registered members. Its target audience is the thousands of Navy veterans over the years and the families of fallen Navy soldiers; the management treats them all as potential members and encourages registration. The association's turnover in 2017 was 605.5 thousand NIS and in 2018 was 478 thousand NIS. Scholarships were distributed to released soldiers totaling 10,000 NIS, as well as a support scholarship for children/grandchildren of association members of 4,000 NIS.

• 2019

  On May 21, the board chooses Brigadier General (res.) Gabi Nevo as volunteer CEO.

• 2018

  The association reports about 1,250 registered members.

• 2017

  Reunion marking 50 years since the Battle of Romni, bringing together INS Eilat and torpedo boat veterans.

• 2016

  Reunion of crews of INS Tarshish and INS Jaffa marking 40 years since Operation Freedom Bell, at the Navy Museum.

• 2015

  On November 26, a reunion for veterans of the torpedo boat flotilla is held at the Acre Naval Officers School.

• 2010

  The association initiates the transfer of the INS Eilat monument to its current location on Sderot HaHagana in Haifa.

• 2004

  On September 14, a conference of Navy veterans of all generations is held at Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv.

• 2002

  The association's name is shortened to Israel Navy Veterans Association (עמותת חיל הים).

• 2002

  Reunion held for veterans of Unit 788, which guarded the Sea of Galilee until the Six-Day War.

• 1994

  In April, together with the Navy, a ceremony places the INS Eilat memorial at the main breakwater in Haifa Port.

• 1988

  On April 25, at a conference marking 40 years of Israel and the Navy, a parchment certificate is presented, forming the basis of the Association of Friends of the Israel Navy.

• 1987

  Meeting declares intention to establish a broader association; Shlomo Shamir elected first chairman.

• 1967

  After the sinking of INS Eilat, veterans establish the Association for Commemoration of the Fallen of the Destroyer INS Eilat.

Nonprofit veterans' association preserving Israel Navy heritage and providing welfare, community and business networking for Navy veterans and their families.

• Membership program

  Annual membership and renewal for Navy veterans and supporters.

• Isracard corporate credit card

  A prestigious organizational card from Isracard offered to association members with full exemption from card fees.

• Scholarships

  Scholarships for released soldiers and support scholarships for children/grandchildren of members.

• Online courses and academic studies

  Online courses and academic study programs for members.

• Travelers' club

  Travel club of the Israel Navy Veterans Association.

• Virtual store

  Online store offering collectibles and consumer goods.

• Business community and business index

  A business community and directory connecting veterans' businesses.

1. 1עמותת חיל הים Israel Navy Veterans Associationamutayam.org.il
2. 2About usamutayam.org.il
3. 3כרטיס הארגונים היוקרתי של ישראכרטamutayam.org.il
4. 4Israel Navy Veterans associationwikidata.org
5. 5עמותת חיל היםhe.wikipedia.org