Renewing the Bonds of Friendship: Tamar Regional Council Delegation Visits Bad Kissingen

A delegation from the Tamar Regional Council recently travelled to our twin city of Bad Kissingen, Germany, in a visit that marked an important moment in the renewal of our long-standing partnership.

The past several years have, inevitably, placed strain on international exchanges of this kind. The COVID-19 pandemic, the events of October 7th, and the ongoing conflicts in our region have meant that visits and communication between our two communities have been less frequent than any of us would have wished. It was, therefore, with great anticipation — and no small amount of emotion — that our delegation was welcomed back to Bad Kissingen.

The principal purpose of the visit was to pay tribute to the outgoing mayor, Mr Thomas Bold, who has served the city with distinction for 24 years and has been a steadfast friend to the Tamar region throughout his tenure. His personal commitment to nurturing the relationship between our communities has left a lasting legacy, and we were privileged to express our heartfelt thanks for his quarter-century of partnership and dedication.

Beyond this farewell, the delegation met with the incoming mayor, the city’s Foreign Relations Department, and representatives from the education sector. These conversations focused on practical pathways for the future, foremost among them the renewal of youth delegations between our two communities — historically one of the most meaningful expressions of our partnership. The delegation also had the pleasure of touring an innovative local school, where we were able to see at first hand the forward-thinking educational approach that Bad Kissingen has to offer.

What moved us most, however, was the warmth of the reception itself. In a period that has been challenging for Israel and for those who stand alongside us, we were greatly encouraged to find that our friends in Bad Kissingen are as committed as ever to preserving and strengthening the ties between our communities. We sensed a genuine eagerness on the part of the city’s representatives to visit Israel and to continue building on the foundations that have been laid over many years.

We extend our particular thanks to Elizabeth, whose excellent organisation and warm hospitality made the visit such a success, and to Edwin, for his professional guidance and steady support throughout. We now look forward to the next chapter of this partnership — one that we very much hope will, before long, see us welcoming our friends from Bad Kissingen here in the Dead Sea region.