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- Written by Stephen Abrahams
The Ambassador of Latvia to Israel, H.E. Mr. Aivars Groza and the Economic Attache and Representative of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, Mrs Irina Rubinchika hosted an opening reception and premiere screening of the animation movie "Flow" at the Lev Cinema in Dizengoff Centre, Tel Aviv, yesterday Tuesday, 21 January
The evening's programme started with wine and refreshments in the Cinema's lobby followed by an opening statement from the Ambassador expressing his gratitude regarding the ceasefire and mentioning that "we are looking forward to the release of all hostages held in captivity".
Thereafter Mrs. Rubinchika welcomed all present and a short video entitled "Choose Latvia as Your Next Destination for Business or Adventure" was shown encouraging investment and collaboration in Latvia.
Flow (Latvian: Straume) is a 2024 animated independent fantasy adventure film directed by Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis and written by Zilbaldis and Matiss Kaza. The movie's budget was $3.8 million. At the 2024 Cannes Film Festival the film received critical acclaim and since then has won 48 film and animation awards including Best Animated Film at the European Film Awards, the New York Film Critics Circle Awards and the National Board of Review Awards. The film was selected as the Latvian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. The movie also won the Golden Globes Best Animated Feature Award.
The movie as described by the Ambassador results in "goosebumps". It depicts animals of different species forced to co - exist in order to survive against all odds against natural disasters such as tsunamis and floods as well as against stronger animal species.
Present were distinguished ambassadors, Latvian expatriates, members of the business community, Mrs. Sarah Allalouf, Latvia's Honorary Consul General for the past 25 years in Israel who eases and paves the way for Latvian diplomats in Israel as well as Mrs. Shula Kopf, a journalist at the Jerusalem Report.
Diplomacy.co.il thanks the Ambassador and Latvian Embassy for hosting a unique event enjoyed by everyone.
Photos by Silvia G. Golan
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- Written by Silvia G Golan
Slovakia, recently named one of the top 10 destinations for 2025 by the prestigious Lonely Planet guide, is inviting Israeli travelers to experience its exceptional blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and modern attractions.
Known as the “Heart of Europe,” Slovakia offers an array of activities and experiences for every traveler. Nature lovers can explore the majestic Tatra Mountains with over 50 snow-capped peaks, picturesque lakes, nine national parks, lush valleys, and ancient forests covering 41% of the country’s area.
Winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy world-class ski resorts like Jasná and Donovaly or unique attractions like the Tatra Ice Dome, a breathtaking ice structure rebuilt annually using over 225 tons of hand-carved ice.
Culture and history are woven into Slovakia’s identity, with highlights including UNESCO World Heritage sites, medieval castles, charming towns, and vibrant city life in the capital, Bratislava. Visitors can stroll through Bratislava’s historic streets, visit the iconic Bratislava Castle, or enjoy the festive atmosphere of the country’s renowned Christmas markets, held in squares of cities such as Bratislava, Košice, and Trnava.
For relaxation and rejuvenation, Slovakia boasts over 1,700 mineral springs and some of Europe’s best wellness spas, such as Piešťany and Rajecké Teplice, offering a mix of luxury and therapeutic treatments. Food and wine enthusiasts will also find much to enjoy, with Slovakia’s rich culinary traditions and high-quality local wines.
Easily accessible from Israel via flights to Vienna or Budapest, Slovakia provides a perfect combination of adventure, cultural discovery, and relaxation, making it a prime destination for Israeli travelers seeking unforgettable experiences
Ivana Vala Magátová, Director-General, SLOVAKIA TRAVEL: “Despite having many unique features, Slovakia stands out with its amazing nature which simply takes your breath away.
Recently, the Lonely Planet has proved us right, having listed Slovakia among top 10 destinations worth visiting in 2025. Be it the High or Low Tatras or any other out of Slovakia´s nine National Parks, winter makes these locations truly incredible and must be seen.
Seeing all that remarkable beauty with your own eyes, you will have to pinch yourself to make sure you are not dreaming. Please, accept our invitation to discover our exceptionally beautiful Slovakia. We will be honored to welcome you here among us.”
Slovakia's Ambassador to Israel, Barbara Mestanova, stated: "We would be delighted to welcome many Israelis to enchanting Slovakia, where they can feel safe and secure and will be greeted with open arms. Slovakia is a safe country filled with numerous tourist attractions".
Photos courtesy Slovakia's Embassy
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- Written by Silvia G. Golan
Families of Fallen Druze Soldiers in the Iron Swords War Plant a Tree in Their Memory in the KKL-JNF Ahihud Forest
"We sacrificed our most precious loved ones, who left behind grieving families. They deserve to be commemorated and remembered at every opportunity. The KKL-JNF dedication to their memory is deeply touching," said Imad Habka, father of Lieutenant Colonel Salman Habka from the village of Yanuh-Jat, who fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip.
Yesterday (Tuesday), Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund held a tree planting ceremony in the Ahihud Forest up north, in memory of Druze soldiers who gave their lives in the Iron Swords War. The event was attended by the Spiritual Leader of the Druze Community, Shaykh Mowafaq Tarif, KKL-JNF Chairwoman Ifat Ovadia-Luski, leaders of the Druze community, families of the fallen, northern municipal leaders, representatives from the "Yad LaBanim" organization, representatives from Kerem-El Pre-military Academy, and KKL-JNF employees.
During the ceremony, the families of the fallen planted olive trees together in the KKL-JNF Ahihud forest to honor their loved ones while defending the country. This planting underscores the preservation of their memory alongside KKL-JNF's values of growth and renewal.
Over the years, KKL-JNF has strengthened its connection with the Druze community, creating various projects. These range from educational activities in both formal and informal settings to the "Paths of Sons", which spans about 250 km, connecting Druze villages on Mt. Carmel and in the Galilee, featuring 18 initial landmark stones.
An annual ceremony is also held in the Lavi Forest following the "Paths of Sons" race, which attracts tens of thousands of participants each year. The "Covenant of Brothers, Covenant of Life" project, which began in 2016 to mark the special bond between the Druze community and the State of Israel, takes place in the Ahihud Forest. Here, hundreds of youths march annually to express central values of brotherhood, cooperation, and hope for a shared future.
Shaykh Mowafaq Tarif, the Spiritual Leader of the Druze Community in Israel, stated, "The Druze community's journey of mourning since the beginning of the war is a journey of mourning for the entire nation. Yet, thanks to this journey, we can maintain normalcy in the country. KKL-JNF's initiative is a touching and significant gesture – planting trees in memory of the fallen here in the Galilee, where the roots of the Druze community have been planted for nearly a thousand years." The planted trees will stand as living testimony to the bravery of the fallen and symbolize the partnership between Druze and Jews. KKL-JNF, as a national institution of the Jewish people, believes in and desires a partnership with the Druze community. The country is no longer the same as it was before but remains in the covenant between the Jewish people and the Druze community, a covenant created by exceptional individuals whom we remember today and will always remember. I hope that this beautiful site will mark a new path in the relations between the community and the Jewish people, thanks to the fallen we commemorate and the shared belief that together we will strive for a better future."
Ifat Ovadia-Luski, Chairwoman of KKL-JNF, said: "The Druze community has walked hand in hand with KKL-JNF for years. Our relationship is deeply rooted and important, covering a range of fields and topics. I sincerely hope that today's tree-planting commemoration provides the bereaved families a place of solace, a piece of land that will grow and flourish. I believe that today's ceremony and our ongoing activities with the Druze community will continue to deepen our important connection."
Imad Habka, father of Lieutenant Colonel Salman Habka from Yanuh-Jat village, commander of the 53rd battalion in the Barak Brigade who fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip, shared, "Our sons, sacrificed themselves for the security of the state. For us Druze, this is our country too, and it is our duty to protect and defend it. We sacrificed our dearest loved ones, who left behind grieving families, parents, wives, and children. They deserve to be commemorated and remembered at every opportunity. KKL-JNF's dedication to their memory is deeply moving, and this way, everyone has a place to honor our sons."
www.youtube.com/user/KKLJNFISRAEL
At the Photo ;Shaykh Mowafaq Tarif, Ifat Ovadia Luski, Imad Habka, Munir Madi
Photo credit: Guy Assayag, KKL-JNF.
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- Written by Spokesperson of the President's Office
President Isaac Herzog commented on the 30th anniversary of the AMIA terror attack in Argentina.
In a statement in English, Hebrew and Spanish, he posted:
Today, we mark 30 years since the AMIA bombing - a brutal terror attack on the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, carried out by Iranian backed Hezbollah terrorists and which claimed the lives of 85 innocent people, injuring hundreds more.
Now, just as then, we express our solidarity with the Jewish community and all the Argentinian people, and share in the call for justice for the victims and their families, and the prosecution of those behind the attack.
I send my heartfelt thanks to President @JMilei of Argentina for leading the commemoration of this terrible crime, and to President @LuisLacallePou of Uruguay and @PresidenciaPy @SantiPenap of Paraguay for joining and sending a clear and important message in your region and the world.
Thank you for standing in solidarity with the Israeli people as we continue to face the threat of terror and hatred.
Photo : Haim Zach (GPO)
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- Written by Silvia G. Golan
The new Gandel Rehabilitation Center, inaugurated at Hadassah Mount Scopus following a large-scale fundraising campaign by Hadassah International, includes a therapeutic pool with a modular floor that adjusts to patient needs, advanced cranes for moving injured patients, computerized systems to measure range of motion, and an advanced walking laboratory. The center, estimated to cost 500 million NIS, opened its first department dedicated to treating war injuries in the south during a time of conflict. Weeks later, additional departments were added, and the center now treats hundreds of patients of all ages needing orthopedic, neurological, and other rehabilitation services.
Hadassah Medical Organization Director, Professor Yoram Weiss, explained, "We made history and did justice to the population of Jerusalem and the entire country. We have added hundreds of hospital beds for rehabilitation at a time when there is a significant shortage in Israel for war-injured rehabilitation, providing our patients with the most advanced rehabilitation technologies combining physical and emotional therapy, now operating for the first time in Israel."
The new center was inaugurated after a large-scale fundraising effort by Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America and Hadassah International, with its cost estimated at 500 million NIS. The center is named after John and Pauline Gandel from Melbourne, Australia, who made significant donations through the Gandel Foundation.
Carol Ann Schwartz, President of Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, noted, "The need to establish a new, advanced rehabilitation center in Jerusalem has existed for a long time, and we have worked for years to establish it. This need became essential and immediate after the war, for many soldiers and citizens of Israel."
The Gandel Rehabilitation Center at Hadassah Mount Scopus provides a critical response at this time, made possible by the fundraising efforts of Hadassah International and Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America. This effort is part of the organization's 112-year commitment to the State of Israel and Jerusalem in particular.
Dalia Itzik, President of the Hadassah Medical Organization Board of Directors, stated, "Today we made history." She emphasized that the opening of the first department of the rehabilitation center is a national event that will change the rehabilitation landscape in Israel. Recognizing the need for rehabilitation beds and an advanced center in Israel, particularly in Jerusalem, Hadassah began construction of the center years before the outbreak of the "Iron Swords" war.
Professor Weiss highlighted the importance of understanding that each injured person requires long-term rehabilitation, a period of several weeks to many months, during which they will receive the best physiological and emotional treatment using advanced rehabilitation technologies, walking laboratories, and a specially ordered therapeutic pool from Europe. The center offers a professional team of experts in various rehabilitation fields in a large complex designed for comfort, providing a hotel-like experience instead of a hospital setting.
The new building, covering 30,000 square meters and rising eight stories, is located near the old hospital building but has an independent entrance allowing rehabilitation patients to access the center directly. The previous rehabilitation department at Hadassah Mount Scopus offered 40 inpatient beds, which has now expanded to 140 inpatient beds and 250 places for daytime rehabilitation treatments.
The center will provide restorative treatments for the entire population, including victims of car accidents, patients after complex surgeries, or those with head injuries, offering personalized advanced physiotherapy and occupational therapy, swimming, and exercises with smart equipment. The first department, opened three months ago, focused on rehabilitating soldiers injured in the "Iron Swords" war, and today, the center operates additional rehabilitation departments for patients of all ages with various medical conditions requiring quality and professional rehabilitation.
www.hadassah.org.il/hadassah_mount_scopus/
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Photos credit Silvia G. Golan
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