Mayor Bevilacqua welcomes Consul General of Israel, Galit Baram to Vaughan City Hall

Municipalinfonet.com
Sept. 16, 2019

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua issued the following statement after meeting with Galit Baram, Consul General of Israel in Toronto:

"I was pleased to welcome Consul General Galit Baram to Vaughan City Hall today (9/11).

"As home to one of largest Jewish communities outside of Israel, the City of Vaughan has been positively influenced by the social, cultural and economic contributions of the Jewish people. We also share a strong and enduring relationship with the State of Israel.

"The progress we have made on many key city-building initiatives would not be possible without our collective commitment to mutual respect. We are proud of the many rich cultures and religions that flourish in Vaughan.

"The City values its Jewish community. In May, Deputy Consul General, Nissan Amdur joined us to officially mark Jewish Heritage Month with a flag-raising ceremony in recognition of Yom Ha'atzmaut. Additionally, Israel Independence Day, Yom Hashoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, and celebrations like the City's annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony, have become popular and much-anticipated traditions.

"I am also proud that our city is home to several synagogues. They are important spaces in our community and demonstrate the meaningful role spirituality and faith have in our society. We appreciate our role as an important centre for the spiritual, cultural, social and educational needs of Jewish families in our region.

"I have been fortunate to have visited the State of Israel on a number of occasions, including participating in the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies' "Compassion to Action - Poland and Israel Program."

"Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Ohel Chabad Lubavitch in New York City, the sacred resting site of the Rebbe, in honour of the 117th anniversary of the beloved Rebbe's birth. It was a day of spiritual reflection, prayer and inspiration for which I am grateful to have experienced.

"Vaughan is a city that is truly blessed with multicultural diversity and economic strength that continues to attract foreign-direct-investment across the world.  The visit today demonstrates our commitment to working with our global partners to ensure our local success."