(Atlanta, GA) On Sunday, May 18, the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast and guest of honor, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, celebrated Israel’s 66^th Independence Day with a reception at The Temple in Atlanta. The event brought together members of the Atlanta area religious, political, academic, business, and cultural communities for an evening honoring the great relationship between the State of Georgia and the State of Israel on the occasion of Israel’s 66^th birthday.

Attendees included Attorney General Sam Olens, Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, Commissioner Gary Black, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan, American-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC) President and CEO and Chairman of the Board, Shai Robkin and Joel Neuman, and Columbus State University President Tim Mescon.

Joined at the event by First Lady Sandra Deal, Governor Deal praised the relationship between the Georgia and Israeli business communities, referencing Georgia’s rank as 8^th in the nation for trade with Israel. In June, Governor Deal will make his first visit to Israel as governor to lead an economic mission of Georgia’s top business leaders.

On behalf of the government of Israel, Consul General Opher Aviran welcomed Governor Deal and the First Lady to Israel, saying, “During your visit to Israel, I hope that—apart from the visits to the holy sites of Jerusalem and the business meetings—you will interact with the Israeli people face-to-face, see their love for the United States, their thirst for peace and security and their passion for education, the key component to creating the next generation of global citizens.”

While in Israel, in addition to business meetings in Tel Aviv and visits to the holy sites in Jerusalem, Governor Deal will travel to Yad Vashem, the World Center for Holocaust research, documentation, education, and commemoration, with Georgia Commission on the Holocaust Executive Director Sally Levine. The Governor is also expected to meet with members of the Atlanta Jewish community who will be in Israel as part of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s 2014 Community Mission trip, as well as with members of the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE) who will be in Israel for the organization’s 23^rd mission to Israel.

Governor Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal share a laugh with Consul General Opher Aviran and wife Talyah, along with Deputy Consul General Ron Brummer and The Temple Senior Rabbi Peter Berg. (Photo: Robb D. Cohen/www.RobbsPhotos.com)

 Guests mingle at The Temple in Atlanta for the Consulate General of Israel to teh Southeast's 66th Independence Day Reception. (Photo: Robb D. Cohen/www.RobbsPhotos.com)