On December 12 Consul General Schneeweiss hosted Jewish student leaders for a discussion on campus challenges and opportunities. The Consul General expressed to the students his admiration for their efforts to promote Jewish life and support for Israel on campus, an arena of great importance for the future direction of Canada.
On December 11 we launched our new series of "Conversation with the Consul General", hosted at the Schwartz-Reisman Centre, where community members have the opportunity to engage in an open exchange with the CG on everything and anything.
The Consul General participated together with Premier Dalton McGuinty in the annual Hannuka lighting ceremony at Queen's Park on December 10. At the event, attended by provincial and community leaders, Premier McGuinty reaffirmed his friendship towards the Jewish community and Israel and his belief that the partnership between Israel and Ontario makes it possible for Ontario not just to do well, but to do better. Consul General Schneeweiss added that this partnership allows both sides also to do good.
On December 10 Consul General Schneeweiss addressed a special gathering hosted by Temple Sinai Congregation and Arza Canada showcasing the movie "Israel Inside" by Tal Ben Shahar, which tells the story of Israel's phenomenal hi-tech success, explaining its human and cultural origins. Noting that the Hannuka story itself can be understood as a precursor to Israel's latter-day hi-tech innovations - the Maccabees having learnt already then how to harness scarce energy resources for maximum benefit - the Consul General expanded upon the work of the Consulate to connect Canada and Canadians to Israel in ways which bring tangible benefits to both sides.
On December 6 Consul General DJ Schneeweiss
brought greetings to B'nai Brith's Annual Award of Merit Dinner, in honour of Leonard Latchman. Noting the anniversary of Freedom Sunday, the Consul General praised the grassroots work of B'nai Brith and the importance of speaking the truth about Israel and its quest for peace.
On December 3rd, the Consul General participated in a tele-town hall meeting and conversation hosted by CIJA to discuss current developments in Israel and the Middle East. CIJA reported record turnout for the event - over 1800 people joined the call.
The Consul General visited London, Ontario on November 28. During the visit, he met with Western University President Amit Chakma, appeared on local media, met with Hillel students and the communal leadership. In his address at the communal event, where he briefed the audience on the latest political and security developments in the Middle East, the Consul General also elaborated on Israel's hi-tech success: "Israel is much more than the sum of its battles. It has more to say, more to offer. Israeli technology is relevant to people's lives in Canada and we urge all Canadians to come and discover the opportunities that exist there".
Other Consulate News
The Consulate has hired a new Cultural Affairs Officer, Rebecca Singh. Rebecca studied Theatre at Dawson College in Montreal and took courses at L'École Nationale de Cirque and at the LADMMI Dance School. She has worked professionally as a producer, performer, writer, and curator with major artistic and cultural institutions in Canada, including the Luminato Festival, the Quebec Drama Federation, and Roy Thomson Hall, among many others. We are delighted to have Rebecca join our team.
Earlier in the year, the Toronto Consulate became the first Israeli overseas mission to adopt an internet appointments system for consular services, doing away with the pressures and difficulties of the previous system and offering new ways to enhance the service to all.
UN Update
On Friday 7 December 2012 Israel successfully initiated a UN resolution promoting entrepreneurship as a driving force for development. The resolution was passed by the General Assembly with 129 in favor, 31 against and 9 abstentions. The Arab bloc at the UN sought unsuccessfully to block the resolution, despite its universal message. The unprecedented resolution encourages countries to remove potential licensing, financial and legal barriers that prevent local businesses from stimulating widespread economic and social growth. It also emphasizes the value of teaching entrepreneurial skills at all levels of education, so that everyone-including youth and women-can turn their creativity, energy and ideas into business opportunities.For Ambassador Ron Prosor's remarks explaining the resolution, click here. For a CNN report on the initiative, click here.
What We're Reading
Falling for Hamas's media manipulation
Michael Oren, Israel's Ambassador to Washington, writes in The Washington Post, November 28, 2012 on Hamas' attempts to win the media war and the media organizations' own responsibility not to play into Hamas' hands.
How not to create Palestine
Yossi Klein Halevi, writes in The Globe and Mail November 29, 2012, that the only way for the Palestinians to achieve statehood is to convince a majority of Israelis that a Palestinian state would be a peaceful neighbour and not threaten their most basic security, whereas the recent UN vote on Palestinian statehood will only reinforce the fear among Israelis that Palestinians intend to impose a solution that will leave Israel without peace or security.
Palestinian search for UN status will undermine hopes of statehood
Irwin Cotler, in the National Post (Nov. 29), pens a trenchant critique of the Palestinian UN gambit, noting that it may well undermine rather than advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, while constituting a standing affront to United Nations, international agreements and international law.
What We're Planning
Briefing on Iron Dome, Israel's technological breakthrough against the rockets of Hamas, December 22
Outreach to Young Leadership Week, January 13-20, 2013
Israeli Election outcomes Conference Call on January 23, 2013
Tu Bishvat upside down day, in partnership with the UJA Federation Israel Engagement Committee Shinshinim, January 28, 2013
For more details on any of these activities and how you can participate, please call Joyce Ritter at 416-640-8520.
Culture Buzz
The Hadar Noiberg Trio gave a beautiful performance in Toronto in late November, the last stop on a North American tour. The trio was hosted by Toronto Downtown Jazz. Missed it? Check out some tunes on Noiberg's website.
This month three Canadian festival producers visited Israel to see Israeli talent in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as part of International Exposure, a producers market which showcases the best in Music, Dance and Theatre. Curious? Follow along through this dance blog .
Insider's Tip: Yair Delal plays at Koerner Hall on January 27, 2013 as a part of Soundstreams' The Three Faces of Jerusalem Concert.
For more details on the Consulate's cultural activities and how you can participate, please call Rebecca Singh at 416-640-8521
Also, check out CultureBuzz-Israel on Facebook
Innovation and Economy
Tel Aviv, 2nd in global ranking of top 20 startup ecosystems, Martin Bryant Nov. 20, 2012
Israel's hotbed of innovation, Tel Aviv, comes second only to Silicon Valley in the global rankings, ahead of London, New York and every other aspiring hi-tech hub.
Golan Heights Winery selected as 2012 New World Winery of the Year , 21 November 2012
On the eve of their 30th anniversary, Golan Heights Winery has won the coveted 2012 Wine Star Award from Wine Enthusiast Magazine in the New World Winery of the Year category, the first Israeli winery ever to achieve such an award.
Israeli Government Pledges Continued Support for Water Sector, 13 November 2012
The government of Israel has taken a decision to ensure that the cutting-edge innovations for which Israel's water technology industry has become world famous, can be expected to continue. The pioneering Israel NewTech program, which was previously approved in 2006 and 2008, has now been extended for the 2012-2014 period.
Cleantech
Tel Aviv, 29-30 January 2013
CleanTech 2013 - the 17th annual international event for Clean Technologies: Water Technologies, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Recycling, Green Transportation and Green Building.
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The CleanTech exhibition and conference has gained the status of a high quality international business platform, where companies, researchers and professionals display their newest developments, novel technologies and outstanding quality services in the fields of environmental protection and green solutions, infrastructure, renewable energy, waste treatment, water treatment technologies, desalination, harvesting, purification, filtration and more. For more information please contact simon.spier@israeltrade.gov.il |
For more innovation , business and economic news, visit the Israel Economic Mission to Canada website at www.itrade.gov.il/canada/
For tourism news from Israel, check out the Israel Government Tourist Office website at www.goisrael.ca
