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- Written by Silvia G. Golan
Volleyball-Playing Santas Arrive In Tel Aviv-Yafo!
Tel Aviv-Yafo, December 22 – After a year like 2020, even Father Christmas needs the opportunity to let down his hair (and beard) as he travels around the world to deliver Christmas presents.
In fact, four talented volleyball-playing Santa Clauses stopped for a game of volleyball at Tel Aviv-Yafo's Gordon Beach ahead of the holiday, taking advantage of the winter sun and outdoor culture in the city.
Tel Aviv-Yafo's reputation as a hub of outdoor activity has been strengthened during the COVID-19 outbreak, with residents and visitors overwhelmingly swapping indoor entertainment for the city's sandy beach, long promenade, picturesque parks and iconic boulevards.
Sharon Landes-Fischer, Acting CEO of Tel Aviv Global & Tourism: "The past year has emphasized the importance of enjoying the outdoors.
"With 320 days of sun every year, the warm climate of Tel Aviv-Yafo lends itself perfectly to open air entertainment – even at Christmas time. Tel Aviv-Yafo wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we can't wait to be reunited in 2021."
Stay up to date on Tel Aviv and additional events: https://visit.tel-aviv.gov.il/
Photos (credit: YoSee Gamzoo Letova/Tel Aviv Global & Tourism)
More pics at Facebook Israel Diplo
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- Written by Spokesperson of the President's Office
Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, President Rivlin hosted an award ceremony for women who helped women victims of assault
* During the recent lockdown, there was a threefold increase in inquiries to women’s helplines
* Some 200,000 Israeli women are currently living in violent settings
* Dozens of women have been killed by their partners or family members since the beginning of the year
President Rivlin to the award recipients:
“Adi, Shiri – you did not turn a blind eye. You took responsibility and saved lives. Your act of heroism, each of you, is a ray of light into great darkness. It is my honor, in the last year of my presidency, to host this very important award.”
President Rivlin:
“Violence is not just a punch. Violence is the power of words to humiliate and ridicule. Violence is manipulation, shouting, whispered insults. And violence can be expressed in limiting the freedom of women, limiting their ability to choose, limiting their ability to manage their money and their lives as they wish.”
“We must do it through legislation and law enforcement, through education and public information, through welfare services and treatment – both for the victims of violence against women and for violent men. Amongst other things, passing the budget required for the national plan to fight violence against women should be done as quickly as possible!”
Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, President of Israel Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin today, Wednesday 25 November / 9 Kislev, hosted an award ceremony to honor Adi Guzi and Shiri Mandelbaum, women who helped women victims of assault. The prize was awarded by Minister for Social Equality Meirav Cohen, and Director General of the Authority to Advance the Status of Women Eva Madjiboj also participated in the event.
Adi, from Mitzpeh Ramon, saved Shira Iskov from her partner who brutally attacked her in front of their infant son. Shiri, a social worker, worked with Anastasia Klein ז"ל during her hospitalization following her alleged rape and abuse by her partner. When the partner showed up at hospital, Shiri became suspicious. Showing great resource, she prevented him from attacking Anastasia as he intended, while she was fighting for her life. For this reason, the two women were given the award and official recognition of their bravery in saving the lives of women who faced the threat of domestic violence.”
“For too many women, home is a hell. Home is fear. It is tense silence that could turn into threats, humiliation, the next beating,” said the president.
“Violence is not just a punch. Violence is the power of words to humiliate and ridicule. Violence is manipulation, shouting, whispered insults. And violence can be expressed in limiting the freedom of women, limiting their ability to choose, limiting their ability to manage their money and their lives as they wish,” he added. “We must not turn a blind eye to the plague of violence against women. We m not wait until the plague passes, until we find the vaccine. We must give our women and children a social safety net to keep them safe – today. Everywhere. In any event.”
“We must do it through legislation and law enforcement, through education and public information, through welfare services and treatment – both for the victims of violence against women and for violent men. Amongst other things, passing the budget required for the national plan to fight violence against women should be done as quickly as possible!”
The president expressed his appreciation for the awardees, saying, “We are here to honor the acts of civic heroism of two women who did not remain silent in the face of violence, and saved lives. “Adi, Shiri – you did not turn a blind eye. You took responsibility and saved lives. Your act of heroism, each of you, is a ray of light into great darkness. We still have a long way to go, as a society, to inoculate ourselves against violence against women. But acts of heroism like these, women like you, fill our hearts with hope and inspiration. It is my honor, in the last year of my presidency, to host this very important award. I hope that from now on, Beit HaNasi will be an open and attentive place for those brave men and women who fight violence against women. Thank you.”
Minister of Social Equality Meirav Cohen MK: “Domestic violence and violence against women is terrorism. And we must deal with it like we deal with terrorism – decisively, with all our strength and without compromise. The responsibility falls, of course, on the government. It is the government’s job to ensure the safety and security of its citizens and resident, not just on our national borders and public spaces, but also at home, which is supposed to be the safest of all spaces. Because terrorism is terrorism is terrorism, outside or at home. But we, as people and as a society, also have a responsibility. And this is the message we have chosen to focus on at today’s important event marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.”
Director General of the Authority for Advancing the Status of Women Eva Madjiboj: “Violence against women is to be found all sectors of society and is a severe problem that requires fundamental, urgent and profound treatment. Violence is expressed in a range of ways: physical, sexual, economic, mental. Women who suffer domestic violence experience humiliation, pain and anxiety to the point of dehumanization. Sometimes, it takes years for women to have the courage to bring up and talk about the terrible abuse they have suffered and to take decisive action to end it. A healthy society must encourage those who seek to eliminate violence against women and not stand by, turning a blind eye.”
Relevant hotline numbers:
Ministry of Social Welfare and Social Affairs (all languages): 118
Silent Ministry of Social Welfare and Social Affairs emergency SMS line: 055-7000128
Na’amat 24/7 line with specialist social workers: *9201
NO/Onlife (all languages): *6724
Bat Melech: 1-800- 292-333
WIZO line for violent men: 1-800-393-904
Emergency line for Arab women: 04-6566813
Na’am – Arab women in the center of the country: 08-9965008
Photo credit: Mark Neyman (GPO)
Photo L to R - Shiri Mandelbaum, President Rivlin, Minister Meirav Cohen, Adi Guzi
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- Written by Prime Minister's Office and the Health Ministry
The Cabinet decided on a general lockdown starting at 14:00 tomorrow Friday, 25 September 2020, for two weeks, with an option to extend it.
.The Cabinet held a discussion to evaluate the necessary steps in light of the sharp jump in the morbidity data and the experts' forecasts, and decided on a general lockdown starting at 14:00 tomorrow Friday, 25 September 2020, for two weeks, with an option to extend it.
The full regulations with the list of workplaces that will be approved to operate under the lockdown restrictions will be issued later today pursuant to Cabinet approval.
The Cabinet decided on the following additional regulations:
* Closure of all workplaces, except essential workplaces that will operate according to the regulations that will be approved.
* Open-air markets will be closed.
* Stores that sell food and pharmacy products, and those that provide essential services will be allowed to continue operating.
* People are restricted from going more than 1,000 meters from their homes, except for reasons that will be approved.
* Prayers and demonstrations will be allowed in open areas only, up to 20 people and at a radius of no more than 1,000 meters from one's home. (Regarding demonstrations, the decision is subject to Knesset legislation).
* Synagogues will be closed during the lockdown, except for Yom Kippur prayers according to the outline that has been approved.
* Public transportation will operate in a reduced format.
* Air travel – The decision will be submitted for approval later today.
* A general lockdown in all sports sectors except for official international games.
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- Written by Silvia Golan
The Government Press Office Holds 4th Annual Christian Media Summit with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Rivlin, Knesset Members, Organizations and Media leaders.
The 4th Annual Christian Media Summit, titled " Israel in the Midst of Covid-19, Media Bias & Peace Agreements" was held on Sunday, August 18. The summit was organized by Nitzan Chen and the staff of the Israeli government press office (GPO) and is aimed at fostering better understandind and strengthening the friendship between Christian media worldwide and the State of Israel
This year's online event was broadcasted blive from the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem, to millions of viewers around the world.The Christian Media Summit is a global conference for Christian executives and public opinion leaders to get exclusive access to Israeli political, civic, cultural and religious leadership. This year the conference was held virtually for the first time.
Speakers at the conference included the most prominent names in the Israeli political scene, such as Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Rivlin. Minister of Tourism Orit Farkash Hacohen told the audience that she looked forward to once again seeing Christian tourists walking the streets of Jerusalem and the rest of Israel. Ambassador of the United States to Israel H.E. Mr. David Friedman spoke of the recent Abraham peace accords, and how they constituted a new moment in making peace in the region.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, the IDF Spokesperson, and Nitzan Chen, Director of the Israel Government Press Office, spoke on behalf of the government, as did Knesset Member Sharon Haskel, Chair of the Christian Community Relationship Lobby in the Knesset.
Prominent journalists addressed the audience as well, including Charlie Kirk from the eponymous Charlie Kirk show, CBN president Gordon Robertson, and Maayan Hoffman from the Jerusalem Post. Laurie Cordoza Moore from Proclaiming Justice to The Nations spoke about efforts to strengthen ties between Christians in America and Israel, as well as warning about threats to politicize K-12 education in American schools. Dr. Mike Evans from the Friends of Zion museum explained the decision to honor the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Muhammad Bin Salman; King Hamad bin Isa alKhalifa of Bahrain; Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, as well as the leaders of Serbia, Romania, Paraguay, and Czechoslovakia, Malawi, and Uganda.
The content from the summit can be found on the GPO Facebook page (Government Press Office) and Youtube channel, as well as on the summits website: www.cms-israel.com. www.cms-israel.com.
All content can be used freely providing credit is given to the GPO.
Photo Silvia G. Golan
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- Written by Technion Spokesperson's Office
All students on Israel’s Chemistry Team won medals at the International Chemistry Olympiad – including Israel’s first gold medal in the last decade.
Israel’s Chemistry Team that was trained at the Technion has been awarded a gold medal, two silver medals and a bronze medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad, which recently took place online due to COVID-19.
Over the past week, 240 young girls and boys from 60 countries around the world participated in the 52nd International Chemistry Olympiad, hosted this year by Turkey. The event was held via Zoom due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The State of Israel has been participating in the Olympiad since 2006. This year’s achievements were outstanding - all team members won medals and for the first time in a decade, and one student won gold.
The four high school students who formed Israel’s Chemistry Team were:
Roi Peer from Gan Haim – Gold
Bar Sheffer from Ein Vered – Silver
Ron Shprints from Ashdod – Silver
Ward Yahya from Taibe – Bronze
Since 2017, Israel’s Science Teams have operated under a joint venture between Israel's Ministry of Education and the Maimonides Fund’s Future Scientists Center, who together have supported and managed Israel’s participation in the International Olympiads for high school students in four disciplines. The Chemistry team was trained at the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology.
The team was selected over a year-long process overseen by Professor Zeev Gross of the Technion's Faculty of Chemistry, who also serves as Dean of the Unit for Continuing and External Studies, as well as heading a variety of national youth programs in chemistry, together with the team’s head coach, Dr. Izana Nigel-Etinger. The training process was also assisted by ex-medalists Raz Lotan, an undergraduate student in mathematics, Assaf Mauda, who holds a B.A. and M.Sc. in chemistry and is currently a master’s student in computer sciences, and Ron Refaeli, an undergraduate student in chemistry, all at the Technion.
Education Minister Yoav Galant congratulated Israel’s Chemistry Team: "Israeli students, the country’s future generation, reach extraordinary international achievements in science competitions time and time again – even during this complex period. The Ministry of Education will continue to invest in and support training Israel’s Science Teams. This goes hand-in-hand in developing and boosting capacities of all Israeli students throughout the country, and providing equal opportunity for all students to maximize their potential across a range of fields."
Amit Edri, Director General of the Ministry of Education: "Israel's education system is recording another impressive achievement in science. The victories of the students at the International Olympics in Chemistry and the European Competition in Physics place Israel at the forefront of the world of science. And on this front, we would like to see a broader representation of female students later on. Given the importance of the issue, I intend to advance this important goal. I congratulate our students on their impressive achievements, and would like to thank the dedicated team of coaches who worked tirelessly to reach this important moment. "
Dr. Ofer Rimon, Deputy Director Computer Communication: "Israel’s Chemistry Team has represented the State of Israel and our education system with great honor. The team is a model for excellence in which we will continue to invest, in order to provide our students with the best tools to enable them to conquer mountains and allow Israel to be amongst the world’s leading countries. "
Eli Fried, Director General of Maimonides Fund’s Future Scientists Center: "I congratulate the students in Israel’s Chemistry Team, who have brought much pride to the State of Israel. Notwithstanding the challenging times we face, our students stayed the course throughout the year, demonstrating an extraordinary level of perseverance and determination that ultimately paid dividends. The Maimonides Fund’s Future Scientists Center, together with the Ministry of Education, will continue supporting the highly gifted students that participate in Israel’s Science Teams, as an investment in the future of Israel’s scientific leadership."
Professor Zeev Gross, Technion's Faculty of Chemistry and Head of Youth Programs: "Congratulations to our students who bravely shouldered the high preparatory demands and took on the maximum in real-time: a 5-hour theoretical test of more than 100 questions. Extensive and in-depth training efforts were led by Dr. Izana Nigel Etinger.
Schulich Faculty of Chemistry Dean Professor Moris Eisen and his head of administration Hanna Olshtein, program coordinator Shirley Kaplan and laboratory engineers Gabriela Halevi and Emma Gretz, also assisted in this comprehensive effort. Special thanks to former Olympiad medalists and current Technion students - Assaf Mauda, Raz Lotan, and Ron Refaeli - who contributed their experience and time."
The abovementioned four pupils alongside Michael Balgola from K'far Hayarok and Itamar Steinitz from Ramat Hasharon also participated in the Asian-European Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad (online). The competition took place 10 days earlier and was joined by representatives from 27 countries. The Israeli team won 2 silver and 3 bronze medals.
Photo credit: Future Scientists Center
