The Israel-China Friendship Society held a special evening marking the Chinese New Year - the Year of the Fire Horse - and honoring this year’s scholarship recipients.

We were pleased to welcome Ambassador Xiao Junzheng and diplomats from the Chinese Embassy, together with Israeli guests, members of the Chinese community, and students from several universities across the country.

The evening brought together culture, tradition, and shared learning. Participants took part in activities including jiaozi (dumpling) making, Chinese painting and calligraphy, and mahjong, creating an atmosphere that was both festive and meaningful.

The program opened with opera singer Yekaterina Tseplev with her little daughter, who performed the well-known Chinese folk song “Jasmine Flower” (“Mo Li Hua”), followed by a Shaolin-style performance by Gil Peri. Later in the evening, a group of scholarship recipients performed both “Gong Xi Fa Cai” and the Israeli classic “Lo Yehi,” offering a thoughtful expression of the cultural connection between the two societies.

During the event, scholarships were awarded to outstanding Israeli and Chinese students from the Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, the University of Haifa, Ben-Gurion University, and Bar-Ilan University. Recognizing these students remains an important part of the Society’s work to encourage academic exchange and deeper mutual understanding.

The evening also offered an opportunity to reflect on the similarities between Jewish and Chinese traditions. Both cultures are shaped in part by lunar calendars, and both place strong emphasis on family, seasonal renewal, and the marking of new beginnings. In this sense, the Chinese Spring Festival carries themes that are deeply familiar in Jewish life as well.

We would like to thank everyone who helped make the evening possible, as well as all those who joined us for this special event.

We wish everyone a healthy and successful Year of the Fire Horse and look forward to another year of strength, energy, and continued friendship.