BIU’s International School celebrated the Chinese New Year with its Chinese students, other international students, and staff on February 1, 2022. Mr. Sun Pengcheng, the First Secretary of Education Affairs in the Chinese Embassy’s Culture and Education Office, was the special guest speaker.
The event was hosted by Ofer Dahan, the International School’s Executive Director. Other special guests included Prof. Moshe Lewenstein, Bar-Ilan’s Deputy President, and Dr. Yossi Ben Zion, Deputy Head of the Department of Physics, who has traveled to China on numerous occasions with the joint program that BIU has developed with universities in China.
Part of the arts and culture presentation
Mr. Dahan welcomed everyone and explained the Chinese New Year for guests and international students who weren’t from China.
“The Chinese New Year is called the holiday of spring and the holiday of the new lunar year. This year is the Year of the Tiger. The tiger is broadminded, always striving for new ideas and innovation, and is gifted with an objective and in-depth view of things,” Dahan said before introducing Prof. Lewenstein.
“I have been to China numerous times to facilitate collaborations and student exchange programs between Bar-Ilan and various Chinese universities. Six years ago, I was lucky enough to celebrate Chinese New Year in Beijing,” Prof. Lewenstein said. “It was a very exciting experience and something completely new, something exciting, and I never thought in my wildest dreams that we would be celebrating Chinese New Year on Bar-Ilan’s campus, but we’ve done it several times. It’s a wonderful opportunity and experience to be celebrating again, even if it’s only online.
“Hopefully, things will improve in the future so that we can all visit China again and so students who haven’t been back home for such a long time can go. We’d also like to see more students coming to Bar-Ilan, but I’m happy for those who are here, and I wish you all a happy celebration for the New Year of the Tiger,” he said.
Speakers: L-R: Mr. Sun Pengcheng and Prof. Moshe Lewenstein
After being introduced to the participants, Mr. Sun Pengcheng spoke about the New Year and China’s relationship with Israel.
“It is my pleasure to join the spring festival event again in Bar-Ilan University. May the Year of the Tiger bring you good fortune and happiness,” he said.
“Bar-Ilan University, as Prof. Moshe said, has solid cooperation with China for student mobility and collaborative scientific research. I would love to take this opportunity to thank Prof. Moshe and your colleagues for your support.
“Just a week ago, our two countries celebrated the 30-year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between us. We believe that with mutual respect and understanding, we will grow the strength of our tradition of friendship and increase exchanges and cooperation in various fields, especially education,” Mr. Sun Pengcheng said.
Speakers: L-R: Ofer Dahan and Dr. Yossi Ben Zion
Dr. Yossi Ben Zion thanked the International School for inviting him to the event and for the opportunity to speak.
“I know this year is going to be challenging, but this evening, I would like to ask you to feel the spring festival as it used to be in China, at least in your spirit, and for that, I prefer several blessings in Chinese. I hope to do it correctly,” he said.
Prof. Ben Zion then closed his message by saying, “I hope you understood my blessings and I wish you all health and success in this coming year.”
Our Chinese students, Lina Wang, Yung Chi Shamayim Tsang, and Jihang Kyonghu, presented the cultural part of the event, sharing Chinese artworks and music, teaching everyone a Chinese game, and showing videos of students singing. A raffle was held at the end of the event. Five winners were given gifts from China.
The event was planned by two of the students, Lina and Sky, and organized by Hadar Giat, the Coordinator of Student Affairs and Well-being, with the assistance of Yael Toledano, the Director of External Academic and Diplomatic Relations, and Nadav Weil, our student intern.
L-R: Students, Lina Wang and Yung Chi Shamayim Tsang
L-R: Hadar Giat, Coordinator of Student Affairs and Well-being, and Nadav Weil, student intern, from BIU’s International School
