MFA hosts learning event for foreign diplomats 24 Sep 2015
Israeli Missions Around The World MFA Press Room 2015 MFA hosts learning event for foreign diplomats 24 Sep 2015

MFA hosts learning event for foreign diplomats

  • 9/24/2015
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    On the eve of Yom Kippur, the Foreign Ministry in cooperation with the organization Kolot, for the first time conducted a special learning event for foreign diplomats serving in the country on the significance of the holidays in Jewish texts.
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    MFA hosts learning event for foreign diplomats MFA hosts learning event for foreign diplomats Copyright: MFA/Elram Mendel
     
     
    (Communicated by the MFA Spokesperson)

    The Foreign Ministry decided this year to mark the High Holidays of the new year in an original way. On the eve of Yom Kippur, the Foreign Ministry in cooperation with the organization Kolot, for the first time conducted a special learning event for foreign diplomats serving in the country on the significance of the holidays in Jewish texts. More than 30 foreign ambassadors, including those of Angola, India, the Philippines, Spain, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Sweden, Norway, Bosnia and others, examinied Jewish texts accompanied by study leaders of Kolot - a pluralistic organization that focuses on the study of contemporary issues.

    Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely and Mordechai Bar-Or, president of Kolot, addressed the opening of the unique event.

    Through dialogue and analysis of ancient texts, the ambassadors received practical tools for dealing with the challenges facing the 21st century diplomats. For example, in one study round ambassadors discussed the role of the diplomat in today's world through the story of the prophet Jonah.

    Daniel Meron, head of the international organizations at the Foreign Ministry and a member of Kolot was one of the initiators and leaders of the event: "The meeting with foreign ambassadors was an excellent opportunity to expose the diplomats stationed in Israel to another side of Israeli culture. We discussed the ancient texts of Judaism, as they relate to contemporary diplomacy. An example of this was the discussion of the theme of water in Jewish tradition as it relates to current Israeli issues related to water: drought, desertification and other issues - while noting Israel's cutting-edge technologies in this area."


    Kolot's pluralistic Beit Midrash serves secular and religious participants from a broad spectrum of Israeli society. Together they engage in the study of Jewish sources so that they can understand their relevance and application to contemporary society. It engages participants in establishing strong links between vibrant text studies, the headlines of the moment, and a far-reaching vision for the Jewish people.