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- Written by Silvia G. Golan & Stephen Abrahams
The occasion of Nowruz–the Persian New Year, an ancient custom dating back to Cyrus the Great in Persepolis in 550 BC–was hosted on Thursday evening at the David Citadel by Dr. David Rustein, Secretary General of the Baha'i in the presence of distinguished ambassadors, public figures, state officials, academics and prominent friends of the movement.
Transplanted parts of the Baha'i gardens against the backdrop of a large photograph of the Temple with the golden dome, a designated Unesco world heritage site, were on display at the entrance to the banquet hall.
The master of ceremonies, Dr. Arien Sabet, Deputy Secretary General of the World Baha'i opened her speech with a quote expressing that "Tonight we invited light and radiance in addition to passion and kindness". She also stated that members of the Baha'i faith were an inspiration to the world. Following her address, an Austrian violinist whose parents are Baha’i volunteers in Haifa played a composition by Sir Edgar Elgar.
Baha'i Secretary General Dr. David Rutstein then welcomed the guests, with an eloquent and warm greeting, noting that it was a pleasure seeing familiar faces present. He mentioned that due to the carnage of the 7th of October,the organizers of the festival faced a dilemma as to whether to host the reception. A unanimous decision was reached resulting in the affirmative with the intention to bring happiness to the attendees during the few hours of Nowrus celebration. "One of our fundamental precepts is the creation and emphasis of unity".
The guest of honour was the Director General of the Department of the Population and Immigration Authority, Mr. Eyal Siso, a former diplomat who served in New Delhi and visited the Lotus Temple there. He reminisced about his childhood in Haifa and familiarity with the Bahai gardens and temple which he visited. He had the honour of granting thousands of Baha'i pilgrims visas and last year assisted in facilitating delegates who attended the Baha'i international convention in Haifa. Reiterating Israel's commitment to democracy, freedom, justice, peace, equal rights and freedom of religion which is concomitant with the foundations of the Baha'i faith. He ended by stating that in April, Jews celebrate Passover, the festival of Freedom. In conjunction with the spirit of Nowruz, the release of Israel's 134 hostages will soon be realized.
Baha'i practitioners are protagonists in the contributions towards the well being and preservation of the societies in which they live and function. In Israel, space has been created for interfaith meetings being conducive for silence, meditation, worship and understanding.
Three children ascended to the stage and recited a short prayer in their retrospective languages of English, Arabic and Hebrew. A brief movie produced by the Baha'i World News Service was then shown in which "Hope and Fellowship" was fostered where people met and gathered for prayer readings in the hope of unity, love, brotherhood and togetherness.
The official ceremony ended by the singing of a mantra written by the Baha'u'llah, the founder of Bahaism and performed by an acapella group including members of diverse backgrounds from as far as South Africa, Namibia, Madagascar, Germany, India, Colombia and Honduras.
As usual, the gracious hospitality included a sumptuous buffet including a large array of deserts and freshly sliced fruit as well as non alcoholic cocktails as alcohol is prohibited in the Baha'i faith. Upon leaving the reception all guests were given an envelope which contained a card in English, Hindi, Hebrew and Arabic with a passage written by the Baha'u'llah.
Throughout the evening, the inclusive and multicultural Baha'i concept of unity was felt palpably by everyone present and a deep impression remained.
Nawruz Mubarak!
Diplomacy.co.il congratulates the Bahaim on this wonderful celebration, and wishes a happy Now-Ruz to all the Community
Photos credit Silvia G. Golan
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- Written by Spokesperson of the President's Office
Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of of Equatorial Guinea, H.E. Mr. Eustaquio Nseng Esono
New Ambassadors to Israel of Equatorial Guinea, Paraguay, Georgia, Burundi, and Eswatini submitted their letters of credence to the President in Jerusalem this morning.
President Isaac Herzog this morning, Wednesday, received the diplomatic credentials of new ambassadors to Israel from Equatorial Guinea, Paraguay, Georgia, Burundi, and Eswatini.
Welcoming Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea, H.E. Mr. Eustaquio Nseng Esono, President Hezog said, “I had a good conversation with your president, and I want to thank him and the government for supporting us at the African Union Summit. It was extremely important to Israel, extremely. We want to enhance the friendship between our countries. We can enhance dramatically the commerce, the business, the trade.”
Ambassador Esono thanked the President and said, “My President opposed radically the position to condemn Israel at the African Union, and proposed to create a commission to see for themselves instead of taking others’ opinions. This proposal was not adopted but there were others who joined us in opposing condemnation of Israel.”
Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of Paraguay, H.E. Mr. Alejandro Rubin Cymerman
Next, the Ambassador of Paraguay, H.E. Mr. Alejandro Rubin Cymerman, presented his diplomatic credentials. The President welcomed him and said, “We appreciate and respect Paraguay for its friendship and for its achievements. You're also a brother of ours, representing the Jewish community of Paraguay, and I am honoured to have you here.”
Ambassador Cymerman thanked the President, and said, “For many years I was honorary consul of Israel, and now it is a great honor to represent my country here.”
Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of Georgie, H.E. Mr. Zaza Kandelaki
Welcoming Ambassador of Georgie, H.E. Mr. Zaza Kandelaki, President Herzog said, “We have good relations between our countries, in trade, industry, and tourism. I believe there is a golden opportunity to double and triple the commerce between our nations.”
Ambassador Kandelaki said, “I want to express our unconditional support for Israel. This is the opinion of my government and of the Georgian people. We have a unique relationship which goes back centuries and it is a unique example for the whole world.”
Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of Burundi, H.E. Mr. Willy Nyamitwe
Newly appointed Ambassador of Burundi, H.E. Mr. Willy Nyamitwe told the President, “I was very excited to come present my credentials and particularly to visit again in the holy city.”
The President spoke of the importance of Israel’s relations with nations across Africa, and told him, “We are very happy that we have such good relations with Burundi.”
Photo: President Herzog with Ambassador of Eswatini, H.E. Mr. Mahlaba Almon Mamba
Welcoming the new Ambassador of Eswatini, H.E. Mr. Mahlaba Almon Mamba, President Herzog reiterated, “We are very honoured to have this wonderful relationship. Eswatini is a great friend of Israel. Thank you for being with us in these most difficult times when we fight terror, and as we try to sustain our longstanding friendship with Africa. We believe in Africa. We love Africa. And we see it as a continent that is very close to our hearts.”
Ambassador Mamba said, “Our friendship goes back many years. We have very similar common interests in seeking global peace and working for dialogue.”
Attached photo credits: Maayan Toaff (GPO)
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- Written by Silvia G. Golan
President Javier Milei's First Visit to Yad Vashem
On the first full day of his first trip to Israel, President of Argentina H.E. Dr. Javier Milei visited Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, located in Jerusalem. President Milei, accompanied by native Argentinian Chairman of Yad Vashem, Dani Dayan, toured the Holocaust History Museum and the Hall of Names. Following the guided tour, the President participated in a solemn memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance and signed the Yad Vashem guestbook outside the Hall of Remembrance.
In President Milei's entry in the Yad Vashem guest book he wrote:
"In this symbolic and transcendent place, where darkness reaches unimaginable extremes of cruelty, it is precisely here that we can see the greatness of a people. The greatness of going through the pain and rising up again even stronger than before. We all bear the duty not to remain silent. Never again is now."
In part of his strong and emotional speech the President expressed: "As I see the grim images of the Holocaust, I wonder where the free world was then and today. I ask myself the same question again. Where is the voice of the world? freedom that demands the release of more than 100 people kidnapped for more than 100 days? Choosing life is demanding the release of those kidnapped! We must not remain silent in the face of the monstrosity of Nazism. In the same way, today we should not remain silent silence in the face of modern Nazism, disguised as the terrorist group Hamas... "that inside Yad Vashem saw destruction and death, but outside in the country it sees prosperity and freedom. He gave several examples from history, where after tragedies there was reconstruction.
At the conclusion of the visit Yad Vashem Chairman Dayan stated:
"This visit was especially pertinent given the fact that there have been Latin-American leaders who have used in the last months rhetoric with clear antisemitic tones, including Holocaust trivialization. For the President of Argentina to visit Israel and Yad Vashem and commit so clearly to uphold the values and lessons of the Holocaust, is extremely important. Yad Vashem continues to work closely with the educational authorities in the Argentine Republic in order to increase Holocaust awareness and education for the Argentine people and the Spanish-speaking world."
Photos Silvia G Golan
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- Written by Lithuanian Embassy
An evening of unforgettable impressions in a cozy company of closest friends as we celebrated Freedom – the 
th anniversary of the Restoration of Lithuanian Independence
th anniversary of the Restoration of Lithuanian Independence
The Ambassador Audrius Brūzga rightly mentioned in his address: several Lithuanian national days in the calendar is a reminder of a long history of struggle for freedom, self-determination and independence. Expressing a hope, that there will never be a need to have yet another one, the ambassador also noted that nothing is guaranteed in this day and age – peace and freedom is not a given. The examples of Ukraine
and Israel
, with whom Lithuania stands in unwavering solidarity, yet again show us in what volatile world we live in.As part of the celebration guests were also invited to a screening of a movie “Rowing the Atlantic”, the inspiring story about a strong-willed Lithuanian, who undertook to row across the Atlantic
solo. A story, which moves one to dream big and try hard, while also proving that one does not need a war to become a hero
solo. A story, which moves one to dream big and try hard, while also proving that one does not need a war to become a heroOur biggest thanks
to a youth string quartet from the Kiryat Ono Conservatory, communities of local Lithuanians and Litvaks as well as to all friends of Lithuania, who joined us in this celebration!
to a youth string quartet from the Kiryat Ono Conservatory, communities of local Lithuanians and Litvaks as well as to all friends of Lithuania, who joined us in this celebration!
Nepamirštamų įspūdžių vakaras jaukioje artimiausių draugų kompanijoje švenčiant Laisvę – Lietuvos Nepriklausomybės atkūrimo -ąsias metinesAmbasadorius Audrius Brūzga tardamas sveikinimo žodį priminė, jog kalendoriuje esančios kelios Lietuvos nepriklausomybės ir valstybingumo dienos žymi ilgą kovų už laisvę ir tautos apsisprendimo istoriją. Reikšdamas viltį, kad dar vienos tokios dienos daugiau niekada neprireiktų, ambasadorius taip pat pažymėjo, kad šiais laikais tokių garantijų nėra – taika ir laisvė nėra duotybė. Ukrainos ir Izraelio, kuriems Lietuva reiškia savo tvirtą paramą, pavyzdžiai tik dar kartą parodo, kokiame nestabiliame pasaulyje gyvename.
-ąsias metinesAmbasadorius Audrius Brūzga tardamas sveikinimo žodį priminė, jog kalendoriuje esančios kelios Lietuvos nepriklausomybės ir valstybingumo dienos žymi ilgą kovų už laisvę ir tautos apsisprendimo istoriją. Reikšdamas viltį, kad dar vienos tokios dienos daugiau niekada neprireiktų, ambasadorius taip pat pažymėjo, kad šiais laikais tokių garantijų nėra – taika ir laisvė nėra duotybė. Ukrainos ir Izraelio, kuriems Lietuva reiškia savo tvirtą paramą, pavyzdžiai tik dar kartą parodo, kokiame nestabiliame pasaulyje gyvename.Šventės metu svečiai taip pat buvo pakviesti į filmo „Irklais per Atlantą“ peržiūrą, kuriame pasakojama apie stiprios valios lietuvį, kuris vienas valtimi ėmėsi perplaukti per Atlantą Tai istorija apie didelę svajonę ir sunkias pastangas, apie tai, jog nėra nieko neįmanomo, ir kad didvyriams atsirasti karas nebūtinas
Tai istorija apie didelę svajonę ir sunkias pastangas, apie tai, jog nėra nieko neįmanomo, ir kad didvyriams atsirasti karas nebūtinasDėkojamejaunimo styginių kvartetui iš Kiryat Ono konservatorijos, vietos lietuvių ir litvakų bendruomenėms bei visiems Lietuvos draugams, kurie prisijungė prie mūsų šioje šventėje!
jaunimo styginių kvartetui iš Kiryat Ono konservatorijos, vietos lietuvių ir litvakų bendruomenėms bei visiems Lietuvos draugams, kurie prisijungė prie mūsų šioje šventėje!Užsienio reikalų ministerija Globali Lietuva - Global Lithuania Lietuvių Bendruomenė Izraelio Valstybėje "Nerija" איגוד יוצאי ליטא בישראל Association of Lithuanian Jews in Israel ארגון יוצאי וילנה Association of Jews from Vilna
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- Written by Greer Fay Cashman / Jerusalem Post
VIETNAM and Israel established diplomatic relations in July 1993 and last year celebrated the 30th anniversary of those ties. Israel opened an embassy in Hanoi in December 1993. Vietnam waited till 2010 to establish an embassy in Tel Aviv, but since then the ties between the two countries have become increasingly stronger. The number of Vietnamese citizens resident in Israel is somewhere between 150 and 200. The first Vietnamese came to the country as refugee boat people in the late 1970s. One of the initial acts by Menachem Begin after he became prime minister, was to grant them political asylum. During the Vietnam War, numerous temporary Jewish communities were set up in Vietnam, consisting largely of American military personnel.
After the Vietnam War, the Jewish community decreased significantly, but in recent years has begun to return, Ly Duc Trung, the ambassador of Vietnam, told a large group of Israeli business executives at a superb luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Herzliya that he cohosted with the Ambassadors Club of Israel.
Chabad is active in Vietnam, with centers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hoi An, where visitors can receive kosher meals, Sabbath services, and ritual baths. Each of the abovementioned cities has a synagogue. There is also a Jewish school, said the ambassador.
At formal events, the ambassador is usually attired in the national costume of his country, but this time he wore an elegant business suit.
While people were networking before the meal, which incidentally was served with true professionalism, some of the food and beverage products of Vietnam could be viewed on a display table, along with a book of beautiful photographs of Vietnam in the totality of what it has to offer.
At the tables, guests heard something of the ambassador’s remarkable biography, both from Yitzhak Eldan, the founding president of the Ambassadors Club, and from the ambassador himself. Ly Duc Trung entered diplomatic school when he was 18, stayed for four-and-a-half years, and was awarded a scholarship to Paris. He wanted to officially join the Foreign Service, so he returned home and has held a number of positions over the years.
Eldan noted that while some ambassadors left after October 7, Ly Duc Trung stayed on and did much to improve the connections between Vietnam and Israel.
But most of the conversation centered on what the two countries could do for each other.
The Vietnamese people believe in a balanced diet, which is why they are so slim, the ambassador told his guests.
But the real purpose of the luncheon was to explore imports from Vietnam and Israeli investment potential in Vietnam.
Israeli car importers are very interested in importing Vietnamese electric cars, and Vietnam is interested in exporting them to Israel, but there’s a lot of bureaucratic red tape to cut before that can happen. The ambassador said that before he came to Israel, he had envisaged traversing the country in its length and breadth in an electric car. Unfortunately, he can’t see that happening during his posting here.
Among the guests were architects, town planners, transport and tourism officials, and people engaged in night vision devices, cyber, agriculture, homeland security, diamonds, civilian and military communications equipment, and journalism.
Israel and Vietnam complement each other in that Israel grew out of the mosquito swamps and the desert, and Vietnam grew out of a wild jungle. Traditionally, both countries also observe lunar calendars. Vietnam’s New Year, the Year of the Dragon, coincides with February 10. Both Vietnam and Israel have developed out of very little into highly modern countries, and the ambassador asserted that not only Vietnam but all of Asia is destined to become a formidable power.
The luncheon was held on Tu Bishvat, so the ambassador received a large tray of fruit from Eldan, and in return he presented Eldan with a work of Vietnamese art.
The ambassador recommended Vietnam as a popular honeymoon destination, saying that it is so close to other Southeast Asian countries that honeymooners can go for day drips and return for romantic evening meals. Vietnam has become so popular a honeymoon destination for Indians, he added, that some even have the wedding in Vietnam, and most Indian weddings have around 300 guests. An Indian wedding is a weeklong affair, which is a tremendous boon to Vietnam’s tourism
Presumably, Vietnam will soon be hosting Israeli weddings.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-784424
Photo by Silvia G Golan
