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CHANUKAH ("dedication" in Hebrew) is celebrated this year from sunset Saturday, December 8, until sunset Sunday, December 16. The festival commemorates both the 164 BCE rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the ruling Seleucid (Syrian Greek) Kingdom, under Antiochus IV – and the re-establishment of religious freedom for the Jewish people after a period of harsh repression. The success of the popular revolt led by Judah Maccabee and his brothers has, ever since, symbolized the Jewish people's fight for, and achievement of, its liberty and freedom as a nation against overwhelming odds. Chanukah is not a legal holiday in Israel; offices, shops and public transportation will operate as usual.  The Government Press Office offers the following guide:

In March 2013 the Second Mediterranean Biennale will open in Sakhnin, initiated by the artists and curators Belu-Simion Fainaru and Avital Bar-Shay in co-operation with Mifal HaPayis and under the auspices of the Municipality of Sakhnin, the Ministry of Education, Culture & Sport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the newspaper Haaretz, the French Cultural Institute, the Goethe Institute, The Polish Institute, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Embassy of Austria, and the Rich Foundation. Preceding events have been scheduled to take place during December:a6/12 – Painting workshops with Florin Stefan, Professor of Art in Cluj University, Romania. Stefan will reside in Sakhnin, meet with the residents there, and execute paintings on the subject of "Sakhnin – the town and its residents". These paintings will be displayed in the exhibition in 2013. Stefan will teach the students long-established methods of preparing coloring matter in techniques such as making paint from eggs or dairy cheese, which was traditionally used in Romania for painting icons on glass during the Middle Ages.

A NEW WEBSITE FOR THE CITY OF TEL AVIV-YAFO GOES LIVE TODAY, AN INITIATIVE OF THE TOURISM MINISTRY, TEL AVIV MUNICIPALITY AND THE TEL AVIV HOTELS ASSOCIATION; THE WEBSITE, WHICH IS AIMED AT TOURISTS, OFFERS A MARKETING AND IMAGE PLATFORM FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET
 
TOURISM MINISTER STAS MISEZHNIKOV: “TEL AVIV IS A CENTRAL ANCHOR IN THE ISRAELI TOURISM PRODUCT AND ADDS A WIDE CHOICE TO THE MANY EXISTING TOURISM SITES IN THE COUNTRY. ABOUT 70% OF TOURISTS VISITING ISRAEL COME TO TEL AVIV, A DESTINATION WHICH IS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE ONE OF THE WORLD’S FOREMOST ENTERTAINMENT CITIES. TODAY TEL AVIV COMPETES WITH LEADING EUROPEAN CITIES IN THE TOURISM ARENA AND WAS RECENTLY SELECTED AS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST PREFERRED ENTERTAINMENT CITIES BY THE LONELY PLANET GUIDE”


















A special guest arrived in Israel. Sinterklaas, which is the Dutch equivalent of Santa Claus, was actually the inspiration behind the familiar Santa Claus that is known and loved all over the world. According to tradition, Sinterklaas comes by ship from his residence in Spain, accompanied by his dark-skinned helper, Pete.
Sinterklaas also came to the Jaffa Port by boat and was welcomed by the Netherlands ambassador in Israel, Caspar Veldkamp. Sinterklaas did not disappoint, and handed out gifts to children, as per tradition. The event was held by the initiative of the Dutch Forum in Israel.
Photo: Netherlands ambassador in Israel, Caspar Veldkamp, welcomes Sinterklaas. Photographer: Kobi Wolf, courtesy of the Netherlands Embassy in Israel

















Picture (L-R): Ambassador Veldkamp, Ambassador Pimor and Professor Afshin Ellian (picture by Kobi Wolf)

Last week, the Israel Council on Foreign Relations and Ambassador of the Netherlands to Israel, Mr. Caspar Veldkamp, jointly hosted a lecture by Dutch Professor Afshin Ellian at the Dutch Ambassador’s residence. The lecture  titled “The future of Europe Between Europhilia and Europhobia” which is a plea for a more pragmatic approach to the EU. Ambassador Avi Primor, president of the ICFR, also took part in the debate.

Afshin Ellian (born 27 February 1966 in Tehran, Iran) is a Dutch professor of law, philosopher, poet, and critic of Islam. His frequent plea is that people in the West are too often unaware of the unique value of the democratic constitutional state and are thus not defensive enough towards threats from political Islam, which he refers to as ‘islamofacism’. Due to threats on his life tied to such criticism, he is currently heavily guarded.’

Ambassador of the Netherlands to Israel, Mr. Caspar Veldkamp said: “Though Professor Ellian’s opinions on Europe and Islam may not be considered mainstream by some, as Ambassador of the Netherlands I hold freedom of speech in very high esteem. Especially in times when the European Union may no longer be taken for granted, I find it important to also give a podium for more critical voices. Just like Israelis –  as the saying goes “Two Israelis, three opinions”  - I too love a vivid debate and hope this event will serve as a platform for us to speak freely on the pros and cons of the European Union and to share ideas and learn from each other.”