Diplomatiska förbindelser 70 år

WELCOME TO THE VIRTUAL CELEBRATIONS!

14.11. Opening

Ambassador of Finland in Israel, Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen is launching the Virtual Celebrations

 

Foreign Ministers' Greetings

Foreign Minister of Finland Pekka Haavisto is greeting the Foreign Minister of Israel Gabi Ashkenazi (Öppnar nytt fönster)

 

Foreign Minister of Israel Gabi Ashkenazi is greeting Foreign Minister of Finland Pekka Haavisto (Öppnar nytt fönster)

Historical Pictures - Slideshow

Historical pictures - slideshow along with Sibelius' music played by Finnish-Israeli Amaya Trio

 

Dance Performance - Israeli-Finnish Dancers' Duo

Choreographer: Eyal Dadon

Dancers: Ido Toledano and Joonatan Zaban

16.11. Ambassadors’ interview

In this video, the Finnish Ambassador in Israel and the Israeli Ambassador in Finland interview each other in a zoom conversation and discuss the themes of the anniversary year and a little more. On the phone, Ambassador Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen and Ambassador Hagit Ben-Yaakov.

 

17.11. Historical Overview - Podcast by Rony Smolar

(in Finnish only)

Journalist Ninarose Maoz is interviewing Mr. Rony Smolar, who is a journalist, an author and the former Head of the Jewish Community in Helsinki. The podcast is describing the history of the diplomatic relations from the view of Finnish-Israeli journalist, who has been closely involved in the bilateral events. The listener is taken for a historical trip, starting from Rony’s childhood memories and pockets full of Jaffa oranges, through the state visits and the Israeli Prime Minister who suddenly disappeared in Finland, until the active co-operation in our days. The podcast is in Finnish but you can find an English summary here (Öppnar nytt fönster) and a Swedish summary here. (Öppnar nytt fönster)

Finnish Film Weeks Online 21.11.-5.12.

The Film weeks present a special collection of Finnish movies, classics and new productions. The showcase is made in cooperation with Herzliya Cinematheque. You can find the full list of the movies, more information and tickets at https://www.hcinema.org.il/(Länk till en annan webbplats.).

The films are geo-blocked to the audience in Israel only.

19.11. Finland in Israel

There is a vibrant and active Finnish community living in Israel. Finns in Israel and the Embassy  have been closely cooperating over the years.  In this video, we present some places in Israel with connections to Finland and Finnish people.

21.11. Opening of Finnish Film Weeks

Finnish film weeks opened successfully on Saturday night! The program includes 10 Finnish movies; classics and new productions. Among the others, three early comedies of the legendary director Aki Kaurismäki: The match factory girl, Hamlet goes business and La vie Boheme. The opening film  Aurora, won this year 7 Jussi prizes (Finnish Oscars). We got also nice greeting video from the director of Aurora, Ms Miia Tervo. The full list of the movies can be found on the website of Herzeliya Cinematheque: hcinema.org.il(Länk till en annan webbplats.) (Öppnar nytt fönster)

Among the films, Herzliya Cinematheque is also presenting some short videos about Finland and Finnish lifestyle, on their website: https://www.hcinema.org.il/nordic-cinema-show-case-2-5-2/(Länk till en annan webbplats.) (Öppnar nytt fönster)

Please note, that an English Edition of the festival will follow shortly. The films are geo-blocked to Israel only.

24.11. Tourism

Tourism has played an important role in cooperation between our countries, throughout the diplomatic history, and travel has brought our people closer. For Finns, for example, Eilat has been a popular holiday destination for over five decades and Israelis have found Finnish Lapland for their winter holidays. According to some statistics, Israeli tourists came second place in the amount of tourists that slept over in Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland. The trips from Finland to Israel have been around vacations, business, pilgrimage, cultural exchanges and volunteering. Israelis, in addition to winter holidays, have visited Finland to explore its innovative business attracts and opportunities.

In the attached video, the Honorary Consul of Finland, Mr Yuval Yerushalmi sends his greetings for the 70th anniversary celebrations. Mr Yerushalmi has been involved in the Finland-Israel tourism industry more than 40 years and has seen its development very closely.

On Tuesday night November 24, with a video installation of Northern Lights, the Finnish Lapland tourism sent greetings to the Israeli travelers, who year after year came to the far North to experience the winter magic. The lights were projected on the wall of the Habima Theater in Tel Aviv between 19:00-23:00. TV Channel 12 showed the lights in the live newscast on the same evening.

This event was made in cooperation with Visit Rovaniemi Ltd, Jetflite Charter Company, Dave Salutskij Consulting, Finland-Israel Trade Association and the City of Tel Aviv-Yafo. Photos: Yulia PhotoArt

27.11. Education Webinar Teaser - SAVE THE DATE

Education Webinar 9.-10.12.

On the occasion of 70 years of the diplomatic relations between Finland and Israel, the Embassy of Finland in Tel Aviv, together with its Israeli education partners, are organizing an education webinar on December 9-10.

The aim of the webinar is to bring together Finnish and Israeli education experts to discuss the challenges and the opportunities of future education. 10 education professionals from Finland, and about 40 Israeli education experts are gathered together in this unique event. The Israeli partners are Ministry of Education, Kibbutzim College of Education, Levinsky College of Education and The Israel Center for Educational Innovation (ICEI). Levinsky College of Education is carrying out the technical implementation of the webinar.

One of the main themes in the webinar is President of Israel Reuven Rivlin’s Israeli Hope initiative and we are very honored to have Presiden Rivlin’s greetings in the Webinar. We are honored also to have the Ministry of Education in Israel as our partners and Minister of Education Yoav Galant as one of the greeters.

From the Finnish side, the opening words will be given by the Director General of the National Education Board Olli-Pekka Heinonen. Among the Finnish speakers are representatives from different levels and fields of the educational ecosystem: decision makers, researchers and teacher trainers, stakeholders’ representatives as well as practicing teachers. From the Israeli side, the speakers present widely the educational academia from various research fields as well teacher trainers and stakeholders.

If you’re interested to join this celebrative webinar, please sign up shortly since the registration is limited! https://il-fin.levinsky.ac.il/registration/(Länk till en annan webbplats.)

More information: https://il-fin.levinsky.ac.il/(Länk till en annan webbplats.)

30.11. Finnish Design in Israeli Homes

The Embassy has been involved in various cooperation projects in the fields of architecture and design between Finnish and Israeli actors, throughout the years. There are surprisingly many Finnish design objects in Israeli homes, too. In 2017, on the occasion of 100 years of Finland’s independency, the Embassy arranged a very unique exhibition "Finnish Design in Israeli Homes" at the Architects Gallery in Yafo. It was to show that quality design is not a luxury but part of everyday life in Finland. The exhibition contained more than 100 objects from more than 60 Israeli homes and was organized according to categories: Glass and ceramics, Furniture and lamps, Textile and jewelry, Kids' corner, Industrial design and "Nostalgia". Among the designers were Alvar Aalto, Kaj Franck, Timo Sarpaneva, Tapio Wirkkala and others, all showing the testing of materials, playfulness of form and sustainable design. The maternity box (in Kids’ corner), included to show design as part of social innovations, drew special attention and a video on its content was also part of the exhibition (credit: Kela).

The exhibition was mentioned also in a beautiful TV insert of the Israeli public Channel KAN 11, which broadly described Finland and Finland100 celebrations in June 2017. As part of our 70 years' celebrations this year, we can re-screen the video, with the courtesy of IPBC- KAN 11. 

2.12. Commercial and innovation cooperation

Around half of Finnish export to Israel is wood, However, Finnish-Israeli commercial relations amount to much more. This short video is providing a glimpse to Finnish-Israeli trade and cooperation around technology and innovation. Thanks to the help of our contributors (ordered by appearance): David Castel, Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, NORD, Nokia Israel, Kone Israel, Yoram Sebba, NewIcon, Helsinki Business Hub and Wolt Israel.

6.12. Finland's Independence Day 2020 – Baking korvapuusti

Dear Friends,

Finland is celebrating its 103rd Independence Day on 6th of December. To mark the occasion, we would like to share with you a recipe and video of making Finnish cinnamon rolls, “korvapuustit” in Finnish.

Finland is often among the top countries in international rankings, such in education, gender equality, good governance, innovation and environmental protection. Funny enough, Finland is also a country where the most coffee is consumed in the world per capita, about 10 kilos per person a year. On the 4th of October, we celebrate the National Cinnamon Roll Day. Cinnamon rolls are an important part of Finnish coffee table service in everyday life and celebration.

In case you would like to bake Finnish cinnamon rolls at home, we are happy to share the recipe by our Residence Chef Lone Nielsen.

Finnish cinnamon rolls (50-60 pcs)

Ingredients

1/2 l milk (2 cups)

1 tablespoon crushed cardamom seeds

200 g melted butter

50 g fresh yeast, or 1 tablespoon of dry yeast

150 g sugar (2/3 cup)

900 g flower

1/2 teaspoon of salt

For filling:

150 g sugar

1 table spoon ground cinnamon

200 g butter, softened

How to make

Place milk in a pot with 1 spoonful of the sugar, the cardamom, and heat with care to approximately 37 C.

Pour into a bowl, add the yeast, and mix well. Mix in 3 spoonful of flour.

Cover the bowl and leave in warm place, until the mix becomes frothy. Add the sifted flower gradually.

Melt the butter and let cool a bit. Add the flour gradually and mix.

Add the melted butter and knead thoroughly to a smooth dough.

Place the dough in a bowl, and let it rise until it expands to at least twice its size.

Cut the dough and the butter into four even pieces. Use a rolling pin to form a rectangle on each of the pieces at the time. Use a pallet knife to spread the softened butter and spread sugar and cinnamon on the top. Then roll together, cut with a knife into 15 pieces. Cover and let rise for another 30 minutes, baste with a beaten egg. Bake in preheated oven 200 C for 10 min and then turn the tray for another 10 min approximate until golden brown. 

To be enjoyed with coffee or tea, or a glass of cold milk, like in the old days.

Best regards,

Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen

Ambassador

7.12. Greetings of the Honorary Consuls of Finland in Israel 

The Honorary Consuls of Finland in Israel, Mr. Yossi Rosen, Dr. Yoram Sebba and Mr. Yuval Yerushalmi, Adv., are sending their greetings to the 70 years' celebrations.

8.12. Greetings from our co-partners and organizations

Greeting of Mr Poju Zabludowicz

Greeting of Chairman of Board in Finland-Israel Trade Association FITA, Mr. Dave Salutskij

Greeting of Keren Kajemet Finland

9.-10.12. Education Webinar

We have had a celebratory education webinar during the last one and half days. 10 Finnish and more than 40 Israeli experts were gathered together around virtual discussion table. The themes were very big and deep, regarding concerns of the state of global education as well as flourishing of individual development alongside with the flourishing of the Nature.

The webinar was made in co-operation with Kibbutzim College of Education, Levinsky College of Education, The Israel Center for Educational Innovation and The Ministry of Education in Israel. The technical implementation was carried out by the Levinsky College of Education.

We hope that this webinar could serve as a springboard for future collaboration as well. As the topics and focal points in education are increasingly global, alongside the individual and local goals, international cooperation has more important role to play than ever before.

We are grateful to the President of the State of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, for his greetings that gave a celebratory opening to the event. Thank you also to the Honorable Minister of Education Yoav Galant, Ambassador Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen, Knesset Member Orly Froman, Director General Olli-Pekka Heinonen, and Pedagogical Secretary Miri Shliessel, whose greetings brought a special dignity to the webinar.

Thanks to the presidents of the educational institutions, Professor Zipi Libman from Kibbutzim College of Education, Professor Michal Beller from Levinsky College of Education and the Executive Director Don Futterman from The Israel Center of Educational Innovation, for the valuable collaboration between their institutions and the Embassy. Their support was an important starting point for the whole project.

Thank you also to the respectable rectors, deans of the institutions and the speakers of the seminar. It’s amazing how we could bring all these experts together, so much knowledge, vision and knowhow around the same virtual table.

Although the central themes were very much around the challenges of future education, the opportunities were risen in the discussion, too, and the seeds of hope and belief in growth and change were present.

11.12. National Anthems - Closing the Virtual Celebrations

We are proud to close the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Finland and Israel by the virtual choir performances of the Finnish and Israeli national anthems! Many thanks to all singers from Finland and Israel for participating in this special initiative to mark the occasion. We would also like warmly thank everyone for joining the celebrations.

Chag Sameach and Happy Christmas!