Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper kicked off his first official state tour of the Middle East with a visit to Israel, where he arrived Sunday morning.
Accompanying him during the four day tour was a delegation of Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis representing five Canadian provinces. The rabbis were part of a large entourage, including cabinet members and business executives.
“We are honored that the Prime Minister, who has had a profound relationship with Chabad, invited us to join him on this historic tour,” said Rabbi Chaim Mendelsohn, Director of Public Affairs for the Canadian Federation of Chabad-Lubavitch.
Harper will be the first Canadian prime minister to address the Knesset where he is expected to confirm his support for Israel’s security. Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein had warm words for Harper:
“Canada’s governmental and public support for Israel has been unwavering and encouraging throughout our history. I have no doubt that this important visit is a celebration of fraternity for the two countries and I believe that it will further strengthen the ties between them.”
In a statement released on the Prime Minister’s website before the trip, Harper said: “I look forward to visiting the Middle East to explore ways of strengthening peace and security, stimulating sustainable economic growth, and promoting essential Canadian values, such as tolerance and human rights, across the region.”
The rabbis took part at a reception hosted by Canadian M.P. Mark Adler and Colel Chabad, the Chabad movement’s social services division in Israel.
In addition to Mendelsohn, the rabbinic delegation includes Rabbis Zalman A. Grossbaum, Mendel Kaplan, Yoseph Zaltzman and Mendel Zaltzman of Toronto, Ontario; Rabbi Berel Mockin of Montreal, Quebec; Rabbi Yitzchok Wineberg of Vancouver, British Columbia; Rabbi Shmuel Altein of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Rabbi Menachem Matusof of Calgary, Alberta; and Rabbi Mendel Feldman of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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