What might have been a stuffy, stiff and formal evening turned out to be really smart, very elegant, and wonderfully “cool” event on Wednesday evening 11th June.
The venue was the Grand Ballroom of Tel Aviv’s Hilton Hotel, a perfect location to celebrate the National Day of the Russian Federation in style.
The invitees included many Distinguished Ambassadors, Consuls and other Diplomatic personalities (the various Military Attaches all looking so crisp and smart in full dress uniforms), senior members of the Israeli political scene, captains of Israel’s industry and economy (including Stas Misezhnikov – former Israeli Minister of Tourism, and Asher Ben Artzi, former Chief Superintendent of Israel Police, to name just two), and members of the Russian-Israeli community, many of them displaying medals of their own military service in the former USSR and the modern Russian Federation.
The hosts were the Ambassador of Russia to Israel, his Excellency Sergey Yakovlev and Mrs. Yakovlev. In an unusually short (and sweet) speech by the Ambassador he simply welcomed the guests and invited them to enjoy themselves on the festive occasion of the National Day of the Russian Federation – which they obviously did.
Elegant snacks, a delicious and generous buffet dinner, an open bar where the wine, champagne and vodka flowed like water is a sure basic recipe for enjoyment.
Israeli Minster of Absorption Sofa Landver (herself of Russian origin) responded to the Ambassador on behalf of the Israeli people. She opened her address by warmly congratulating the Government and the people of the Russian Federation, and asked Ambassador Yakovlev to convey the good wishes to the Government and people. Mrs. Landver noted that the national days of Russia and Israel are very close together, symbolic of the close ties between the two countries, and that the dates coincide with the anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi regime, a defeat in which Russia played a major role. “This holiday is one of the most important celebrations in Russia and it also holds a special place in the hearts of Israelis. How amazing, that only three years after Russia defeated the Nazis, the State of Israel was established, in May 1948”.
The evening was conducted under the stewardship of Aleksander Kryukov, Counselor of the Russian Embassy. He introduced the vibrant after-dinner entertainers, including the classic tenor Dr. Michael Riskin and soprano Radha Abramovich who were expertly accompanied by musicians Leonid Ptashka, Valery Lipetz and Alex Akovov.
Lining the red carpet at the entrance were photographs from the 2014 winter Olympics at Sochi, with the addition of some older photographs of some the former USSR’s sports men and women and their spectacular successes.
Photos Silvia Golan
