São Paulo City Council to Honor Jayme Blay with Anchieta Medal and Diploma of Gratitude On April 14, 2026, the São Paulo City Council will hold a Solemn Session at Palácio Anchieta to present the Anchieta Medal and the Diploma of Gratitude of the City of São Paulo to engineer and community leader Jayme Blay.

The tribute was proposed by Councilwoman Cris Monteiro and extended at the invitation of Councilman João Jorge, acting president of the City Council.

At 85, Blay has built a distinguished career marked by strong engagement in community and institutional life. A civil engineer trained at the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (Poli-USP), he began his involvement early by leading Jewish student organizations in Brazil. In 1962, he took part in the World Congress of Jewish Students, where he met David Ben-Gurion, founder of the State of Israel.

Over the decades, Blay has held leadership roles in major institutions. He served three consecutive terms as president of the Congregação Israelita Paulista (CIP) from 1986 to 1995, and later presided over the Federação Israelita do Estado de São Paulo (Fisesp) between 2003 and 2007.

From 2008 to 2020, he led the Brazil–Israel Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRIL Chamber) for six consecutive terms. Today, he remains active as honorary president and advisor, continuing to promote commercial ties between Brazil and Israel.

His trajectory also includes participation in international and academic organizations such as the World Council of Synagogues, the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Brazilian Technion Society, where he serves as advisor, alongside involvement in cultural, educational, and philanthropic entities.

The honor recognizes Blay’s lifelong contribution to institutional and community strengthening, as well as his role in fostering relations between Brazil and Israel for more than six decades.

Source: Liane G. Zaidler

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)