Israeli President Praises Christian Friendship of Jews

Israel’s 10th president, Reuven Rivlin, visited the Friends of Zion (FOZ) Museum—one of the newest attractions in the very heart of Jerusalem—inviting visitors from all over the world to experience the courageous stories of Christians who have supported the Jewish people and the State of Israel over the last 200 years. The Museum is located in Nahalat Shiva on Yosef Rivlin Street, which is named after President Rivlin’s grandfather Yosef.

The president arrived at the museum yesterday as an official guest of the museum’s founder, Dr. Mike Evans, and Israeli Chairman of the Board, Gen. Yossi Peled.

Dr. Evans and Gen. Peled presented President Rivlin with a special piece of art from the museum. Over 70,000 visitors have come in the first year and over 7 million Friends of Zion worldwide have joined via social networks.

President Rivlin thanked those affiliated with the FOZ Museum for their work and stressed the importance and the educational value of the exhibition. He expressed his “great appreciation for the work done in the museum and for the friendship between different peoples, regardless of politics, simply because of their love for Israel and the Jewish people.”

Since the museum’s opening last year, the International Chairman of the Board, former Israeli President Shimon Peres, along with Dr. Evans, has presented “Friends of Zion Awards” to President George W. Bush, Prince Albert II of Monaco and Pope Francis.

President Rivlin saw firsthand the groundbreaking technology used in the exhibits, which allows visitors from around the world to experience the unfolding story in 16 different languages as though stepping back in time. Exhibits employ a wide range of integrated and interactive technologies, from 3D presentations and giant touch screens to video mapping projections on unique sculptures and complex rotoscope animations that transform live-action video footage into a painted media.

The FOZ Museum opened in Jerusalem one year ago with the vision of serving as a bridge, enabling people from around the world to join the scores of people throughout history who have supported the people, the promise and the State of Israel.