City of Vaughan

09/20/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/20/2021 14:04

Mayor Bevilacqua welcomes incoming Israeli Consul General Idit Shamir

​Vaughan continues to advance a strong partnership with Israel

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua issued the following statement after meeting with Consul General of Israel in Toronto, Idit Shamir and Deputy Consul General Shani Azulai on Sept. 20:

"In a virtual meeting today, I was pleased to congratulate Idit Shamir, Consul General of Israel in Toronto, and Shani Azulai, Deputy Consul General, on their newly appointed positions. We discussed our continued efforts to further strengthen Vaughan-Israel relations.

"As home to one of the largest Jewish communities outside of Israel, Vaughan has been positively influenced by Jewish people's social, cultural and economic contributions. We also share a strong and enduring relationship with the State of Israel and deeply value our role as an important centre for the spiritual, cultural, economic, social and educational needs of Jewish families in our city. The progress we have made on many key city-building initiatives would not be possible without our collective commitment to mutual respect and understanding.

"Every year throughout May, the City of Vaughan celebrates Jewish culture by formally recognizing Jewish Heritage Month. Additionally, Israel Independence Day, Yom Hashoah - also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day - and the City's Menorah Lighting Ceremony have become much-anticipated annual traditions. Vaughan is home to several synagogues, which serve as important spaces in our community and demonstrate the meaningful role of spirituality and faith in our society.

"In 2020, I brought forward a Member's Resolution to recognize January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in the city of Vaughan, which included adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. I was pleased that my resolution was unanimously endorsed by all my Council colleagues. Adopted by the Canadian government in 2019, the IHRA definition explicitly recognizes that anti-Zionism is a clear and unequivocal expression of antisemitism.

"In November 2019, I led a business mission to Israel that included a delegation of Members of Council and community stakeholders. It included a visit to the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Stations of the Cross and Yad Vashem - Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Smart City technologies and the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct were also top of mind at meetings with representatives from the Smart Mobility Initiative, researchers at Tel Aviv University and doctors from the Rambam Medical Center - one of the largest medical centers in Israel. During the mission, Vaughan entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ramla, Israel, to advance shared cultural opportunities and experiences between both cities. Strengthening the Vaughan-Ramla relationship signifies the importance of supporting Vaughan's Israeli community and the Jewish diaspora. I look forward to further developing the principles outlined in the MOU into an action plan that delivers real results for the citizens of Vaughan and Ramla.

"I was fortunate to have visited the State of Israel on many occasions. In 2013, I participated in the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies' Compassion to Action - Poland and Israel Program. In 2019, 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.

"On behalf of the City of Vaughan, I recently participated in the federal government's National Summit on Antisemitism that brought together a diverse group of community and political leaders, academics, activists and members with intersectional identities. I was part of a panel discussion focused on combatting antisemitism in our communities, alongside national community leaders. The discussion highlighted the critical role that local leaders can exercise in shaping effective policy outcomes to combat racism in all its forms. Diversity is one of Vaughan's greatest strengths. The City continues to condemn all acts of racism and hate-motivated crimes, and is committed to promoting and defending diversity, inclusion and human rights.

"Vaughan is a city that is truly blessed with multicultural diversity and economic strength that continues to attract foreign-direct-investment around the world. Meeting with Consul General Idit Shamir and Deputy Consul General Shani Azulai demonstrates our long-standing commitment to working with our global partners to ensure Vaughan's continued success."

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