{"id":1441,"date":"2022-09-26T20:10:08","date_gmt":"2022-09-26T20:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/?page_id=1441"},"modified":"2022-10-29T14:42:37","modified_gmt":"2022-10-29T14:42:37","slug":"persbericht-antwerpen-2022","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/en\/persbericht-antwerpen-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Press Release Antwerp 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\/*! elementor - v3.7.8 - 02-10-2022 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style>\n<h2>Long live PEACE, SHALOM.<\/h2>\n<p><strong><br \/>The<\/strong><strong> 18th edition-anniversary of the Shalom Festival was celebrated<\/strong> on Sunday 23rd October 2022 at<br role=\"presentation\" \/>the Groenplaats of Antwerp, <strong>treating the city with a joyful feast.<\/strong> The icing on the cake was the<br role=\"presentation\" \/>groundbreaking Abraham Accords peace treaties as the theme of the year.<\/p>\n<p>The organizing Jewish and Christian communities sent a warm invitation to all citizens, <strong>extending an<\/strong><br role=\"presentation\" \/><strong>open hand to the Arab community in particular. The Ambassador of Morocco accompanied on the<\/strong><br role=\"presentation\" \/><strong>stage of Shalom by the Consul of Antwerp gave a bold speech<\/strong> preceded by a Syrian group who sang<br role=\"presentation\" \/>a song of peace.<br \/><br role=\"presentation\" \/>The Groenplaats, in the bustling center of the city, has been the annual location for the festival since<br role=\"presentation\" \/>its inception. The particularly favorable weather conditions on the day were a blessing despite all the<br role=\"presentation\" \/>forecasts.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n<style>\/*! elementor - v3.7.8 - 02-10-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"326\" height=\"314\" src=\"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/1-2.png\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/1-2.png 326w, https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/1-2-300x289.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 326px) 100vw, 326px\" \/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"362\" height=\"312\" src=\"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2-3.png\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2-3.png 362w, https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2-3-300x259.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 362px) 100vw, 362px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\u201cPeace between all people. Everyone is equal no matter what their faith is\u201d<\/strong> was the keynote quote<br role=\"presentation\" \/>of Regina Sluszny, president of the Flemish Forum of Jewish organizations, who officially opened the<br role=\"presentation\" \/>festival.<br \/><br role=\"presentation\" \/>&#8220;Abraham means \u2018father of many peoples\u2019\u201d, said Evgenia Daskalopulu, president of the Belgian<br role=\"presentation\" \/>Coalition for Israel, quoting the Bible from the book of Genesis. \u201cAnd so, the square today is full of<br role=\"presentation\" \/>people from different backgrounds who are in harmony with each other. <strong>It is not one instead of the<\/strong><br role=\"presentation\" \/><strong>other, but inclusive, of the other as long as we respect who the other is\u201d<\/strong> she added.<br \/><br role=\"presentation\" \/>&#8220;This afternoon, every effort will be made to give shape to PEACE and it is of great importance that<br role=\"presentation\" \/><strong>when you go home you continue to bear witness to this peace in order to guarantee the future for<\/strong><br role=\"presentation\" \/><strong>you, your children and grandchildren!&#8221;<\/strong> said city councilor Andr\u00e9 Gantman, passionately<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cOnly brave people sign peace agreements. And by so doing they break the vicious circle of hatred<\/strong> <strong>and violence,<\/strong> for which we are immensely grateful\u201d added Patricia Teitelbaum, a member of the organizing committee. A dove of peace, made by Israeli artist Yaron Bob (www.rocketsintoroses.com) from Kassam rockets fired in hatred, was presented to the Moroccan ambassador in recognition of<br role=\"presentation\" \/>efforts being made to promote peace amongst nations.<\/p>\n<p>A delicious birthday cake, iced with the words \u2018Shalom Festival\u2019, was presented to the Ambassador of<br role=\"presentation\" \/>Israel. She summed up the event as follows:<strong> \u201cThe Shalom Festival is a tremendous act of support for<\/strong><br role=\"presentation\" \/><strong>Israel. In a sea of challenges,<\/strong> it is so encouraging and empowering to be received with so much love<br role=\"presentation\" \/>publicly on one of the main squares in Antwerp.\u201d<br role=\"presentation\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"349\" height=\"232\" src=\"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/3.png\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/3.png 349w, https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/3-300x199.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px\" \/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"354\" height=\"232\" src=\"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/4.png\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/4.png 354w, https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/4-300x197.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 354px) 100vw, 354px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>Boogie Boy and Karista were the stars of the artistic show, with their wonderful Israeli and gospel music<br role=\"presentation\" \/>performances. The ambience was irresistible, drawing people from all over the square into dancing. \u201cA deep connection could be seen when men and women of all ages and tendencies linked hands in folk dancing. <strong>Just as that line got longer and longer, the Shalom Festival promises to reach further and further\u201d<\/strong>, said Katia Van de Broeck of Koinonia Ministries.<\/p>\n<p>There was a range of stands to explore, with food, literature, children&#8217;s entertainment, information,<br role=\"presentation\" \/>Israeli products, and charities causing many passers-by. Interaction helped visitors as usually<br role=\"presentation\" \/>appreciate and get to know one another.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Michael Freilich, Federal Parliament member and organizing committee member, rounded off the festival with the words: <strong>\u201cThis is how we gave a message of peace from the Groenplaats for the whole world, about cooperation between cultures and communities\u201d.<\/strong> Finally, he called on the public also to think on and support the Ukrainian people in these difficult times. \u201cSlava Ukraini, long live Israel, long live Belgium and Antwerp!\u201d resounded over the Groenplaats followed by shouts of agreement and prolonged applause.<\/p>\n<p><br role=\"presentation\" \/>The Shalom Festival is an initiative of the Belgian Coalition for Israel, the Alliance for Peace in the Middle East, Koinonia Ministries, ORT Belgium, Joods Actueel, Belgian Friends of Israel, Forum of Jewish Organizations, Christians for Israel, Chr\u00e9tiens Amis d \u2018Isra\u00ebl, A-net, B&#8217;nai B&#8217;rith, Finjan and other Jewish and Christian organizations aiming<strong> to tell the truth about Israel, fight antisemitism and unite all people who are of good will, to build towards a better world.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><br role=\"presentation\" \/><strong>Press contacts:<\/strong><br role=\"presentation\" \/><strong>Eugenia Daskalopoulou-Tarlizou<\/strong> 0497 43 64 84<br role=\"presentation\" \/><strong>Katia Van de Broeck<\/strong> 0484 86 73 63<br role=\"presentation\" \/><strong>www.shalomfestival.be<\/strong><strong><br role=\"presentation\" \/>info@shalomfestival.be<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"730\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/309314175_2924921327815920_824676508644999077_n1-730x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/309314175_2924921327815920_824676508644999077_n1-730x1024.jpg 730w, https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/309314175_2924921327815920_824676508644999077_n1-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/309314175_2924921327815920_824676508644999077_n1-768x1078.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/309314175_2924921327815920_824676508644999077_n1-1094x1536.jpg 1094w, https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/309314175_2924921327815920_824676508644999077_n1.jpg 1459w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Long live PEACE, SHALOM. The 18th edition-anniversary of the Shalom Festival was celebrated on Sunday 23rd October 2022 atthe Groenplaats of Antwerp, treating the city with a joyful feast. The &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1441","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["nl","en","fr"],"languages":{"nl":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"fr":{"title":false,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1441"}],"version-history":[{"count":63,"href":"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1969,"href":"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1441\/revisions\/1969"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shalomfestival.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}