A joyous reception was held on Tuesday evening in honor of Fiesta Nacional de España, the National Day of Spain. H.E. Mrs. Ana María Salomón Pérez, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain, hosted the celebration at the Ambassador’s residence in Herzliya.
Guests enjoyed Spanish music and refreshments all evening, including delicacies like Tortilla de Papa, Empanadas de Atún, Sandwiches de Miga, Queso Manchego and Crema catalana, accompanied by Spanish beverages like sangria and ron. The kosher catering company Paella Valencia ensured that all the guests got to try Valencia’s signature dish.
After hearing the national anthems, Ambassador Salomón Pérez opened her remarks, welcoming guests to the celebration, the first in person celebration of this event since Covid 19 suspended meetings. The ambassador noted the somber effects of the pandemic, as well as aggression on European soil with the invasion of Ukraine, before returning to the festive theme of the evening.
Ambassador Salomón Pérez spoke of Spain and Israel as being on opposite sides of the Mediterranean, and the goal of it being a “sea of peace”, and on that note congratulated Israel on the recent energy deal with Lebanon.
The ambassador noted the historic ties of Jews to Spain, including such luminaries as Maimonides, Judah Halevi and Solomon Ibn Gabirol. Ambassador Salomón Pérez talked of the future ties between Israel and Spain as well, with a growing relationship based on shared democratic values, and growing economic cooperation. More than 300,000 Israelis visit Spain annually, reflecting the significant interest in Spanish history, culture, and of course sports.
President Emeritus Reuven Rivlin spoke on behalf of the state of Israel. President Rivlin relayed blessings on behalf of President Isaac Herzog. The president reminisced about his own state visit to Spain, and the warm reception he received from the royal family there.
President Rivlin remarked upon the important and lasting legacy of Spanish culture on Jewish history, with Sepharadim–Jews of Spanish heritage, constituting a plurality of the Jewish population in Israel, and the role of Ladino, the Judeo-Spanish language. The president noted the great scholars from Maimonides and Nahmanides, on to Spinoza, who were part of this rich Jewish-Spanish community. In conclusion, President Rivlin raised a toast to the health and success of the people and government of Spain.
The many distinguished guests included: President Emeritus Reuven Rivlin; Artist Miri Shafir-Navon, widow of Yitzhak Navon, the fifth president of the State of Israel; Professor Shimon Shetreet, the Greenblatt Chair of Public and International Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a former Minister of Economy, Science, and Religious Affairs; the Israeli Foreign Ministry's Chief of Protocol Gil Haskel; David and Tracy Freeman, Baha'i representatives in Jerusalem; Dan Catarivas, Director General – Foreign Trade and International Relations at the Manufacturers Association of Israel; Matias Schapiro, President of the Israel-Spain Chamber of Commerce; Henrique Cymerman & Dr. Nirit Ofir from the Israel Gulf Cooperation Council Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Davy Antebi from the Southern Europe department at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Aitor Almendros, Head of the startup Platform at Cardumen Capital ; Yona Bartal, representative of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, Gideon Tahler, Chairman of Tal Aviation, the official representative of Air Europa Airlines in Israel, Georgina Litvak - Corporate Account Manager - Hilton Tel Aviv; Micha Harish - Former Minister of Industry and Commerce , former Chairman of Israel - Spain Chamber and Commerce ; Moshe Shoham - Former Economic Counsellor of Israel in Spain , former Managing Director of the Israel - Spain Chamber of Commerce , and members of the Cervantes Institute.
The Director and staff of www.diplomacy.co.il share their good wishes to the Ambassador, Embassy Staff and to the people of Spain on this auspicious occasion.
Steven Aiello
Founder--DebateforPeace
& member of http://www.diplomacy.co.il/
https://debateforpeace.
Photos and Videos by Silvia G. Golan
