The special day opened in the office of Mayor Tziki Avisar, with a meaningful discussion concerning the strengthening of relations between the countries, municipal diplomacy, and the expansion of future collaborations. The meeting was joined by the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Genadi Dozartsev, and the Deputy Director of Mashmaut Center and Gender Advisor to the Mayor, Inbal Raz.

From the municipality, the guests proceeded to a moving memorial ceremony in the Holocaust monument in Golda Garden, which was organized with great dedication by Mashmaut Center team. The ceremony was attended by students from Yonatan Junior High-School who participate in the "Young Ambassadors" program led by teacher Sigal Tziar Ben Moyal, alongside teacher Ella Plotkin (head of the student council and coordinator of the 8th-grade Tzurit cohort), as well as additional students who took part in the representative delegation to Poland last August, together with Tzurit Schreiber.

The highlight event of the visit took place at Mashmaut Center with the meeting of Holocaust survivors approaching the age of 100, foremost among them Miriam Harel, who is close to 102 years old, Blanca Nachliali, 98, and Saadia Bahat, who will soon turn 100 – a native of Lithuania.

As part of the event, a breathtaking exhibition on Lithuanian Jewry between the two World Wars and during the Holocaust was inaugurated, created by Hana Oren (Mashmaut Center), which left not a single dry eye in the audience. During the gathering, speeches were delivered by the Ambassador and the Mayor, and a special privilege was given to share personal experiences from the professional tour in Lithuania. The artistic part moved the attendees with the singing of the wonderful singer Senziana, together with the children of the Kalanit Club who sang and lifted everyone's spirits.

The Ambassador expressed great admiration for the Municipal Youth Council, led by Einav Lustigarten, and showed interest in its extensive activities. Later, a fascinating roundtable discussion took place between the Ambassador and the "Young Ambassadors" from Yonatan Junior-High School. Rami Porat, former CEO of Ort Bialik and a representative of the second generation of Lithuanian descendants, shared his personal and emotional journey to Lithuania tracing the roots of his late father, Arie Porat, who was a longtime resident of Motzkin and a dear activist at Mashmaut Center.

The day concluded with a tour to the Theater Hall guided by the Hall's CEO, Moran Tzuref, who impressed the Ambassador with the rich cultural activity taking place there. To everyone's surprise, the Ambassador demonstrated amazing musical talent and played the grand piano in the hall with great professionalism.

The Ambassador expressed heartfelt thanks for an unforgettable hosting experience and deep appreciation for the extensive activity in the city in general and at Mashmaut Center in particular, concluding with an agreement on future initiatives and continued joint work.

Acknowledgments to our partners along the way: To Mashmaut Center team, without whom none of this would have happened: Hana Oren, Guy Hallenbrand, Libi Chen, Kobi Dana and Yona Cohen. To the Mayor, Tziki Avisar, for his vision and leadership, and to the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Genadi Dozartsev. To the Deputy Director of Mashmaut and Gender Advisor to the Mayor, Inbal Raz. To the Principal of Yonatan Junior-High School, Keren Bavli, and the entire educational staff. To the CEO of Ort Motzkin, Ehud Ben-Gera. To the Director of Service and Community Relations Division, Michal Tuvia, and the City CEO, Yaniv Ashur. To the Mayor's team: Chani Kozikro and Yael Ashkenazi. To the Kiryat Motzkin Youth Department managed by Ziva Birasau, Einav Lustigarten, teacher Shirel, and the Municipal Youth Council. And to Yair Ganor, who documented and photographed the event.