Yesterday (Wednesday), President Isaac Herzog concluded the first part of his official visit to Central America in Panama with a meeting with the country’s Jewish community. President Herzog continued from Panama to Costa Rica, where he will attend the inauguration of President-elect Laura Fernández Delgado.
During their meetings with Jewish schoolchildren and community leaders in Panama, President Herzog and the First Lady Michal Herzog expressed their admiration for the Panamanian Jewish community’s vibrancy, unity, and love for Israel.
President Herzog later met with the Mayor of Panama City, Mayer Mizrachi Matalon, to discuss the ties between Israel and Panama in the fields of water management, technology and tourism.
In conversation with Panamanian Jewish schoolchildren, President Herzog said: “I'm really happy to see a community whereby you have all the schools together and you have rabbis of all communities together from all streams of Judaism."
“Our unity means a lot. Our enemies don't differentiate between the way we practice Judaism, and Jews all over the world should have the full right to practice their Judaism without harassment, without fear," he said. “Indeed, Panama is a country where Jews can have the ability to practice their lives as Jews and be proud of their Judaism and love of Israel."
“My message to you, the younger generation, is this: be proud of your Jewish identity. Never give up and raise your head as high as possible," Herzog concluded.