Mayor Bevilacqua welcomes Consul General of Israel, Galit Baram to Vaughan City Hall
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Building on Vaughan’s strong connection to its Jewish community
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.
"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.”
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