Israeli ambassador thanks Church
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
LOS ANGELES — The departing Israeli Consul General, Ambassador Yuval Rotem, praised growing LDS-Jewish ties during a reception held on the Los Angeles California Temple grounds Aug. 11. The California Los Angeles Mission home was the venue for the event, which was attended by prominent members of several communities.
Los Angeles California Stake President Michael J. Fairclough and temple President Paul R. Hatch thanked Ambassador Rotem for his friendship on behalf of Church members in the Los Angeles community.
Ambassador Rotem, who is returning to Israel, expressed his appreciation to the Church for the support shown to him and his family during his five-year term in the United States. He said: "It is because of the support of communities like yours that we in Israel were able to continue in our struggle for peace, security and democracy. While others turned their backs on us, the Latter-day Saints did not. Your unwavering solidarity helped us to keep hope (for peace) alive, and that has been a great comfort."
He spoke of traveling throughout the United States and said, "I never found a community as warm and welcoming as yours. Whether I was standing in awe of the temple in downtown Salt Lake City, or enjoying cultural exhibits at the Polynesian Culture Center in Hawaii — one of the parts of my jurisdiction that I was very thankful for — I never felt as embraced anywhere else as I did by your community."
He traveled twice to Salt Lake City, meeting with President Hinckley each time.
He concluded, "I will cherish the warm friendship that the Latter-day Saint community shared with me and you will remain close to my heart even though I soon return to Israel and an ocean will divide us."
Among others feting the ambassador were Richard F. Raymond, California Los Angeles Mission president; Norman N. White, visitors center director; three other Los Angeles-area stake presidents; Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center; several other consulate leaders, and J. Curtis Mack II, Los Angeles World Affairs Council president .
Many of the guests complimented organizers of the event for being sensitive to Jewish culture in providing a kosher buffet as well as Jewish background music.
