Seiteninhalt
Twinning
Town twinning with Münster
2007: Award of the Paulus Plaque to Rina Shiponi
First contact with Rishon LeZion dates back to 1971 and has its roots in the field of sports. But it was not until 1981 that the official partnership certificate was signed – a clear sign that such official ties between Germany and Israel were not yet a matter of course at the time. Meanwhile, friendships have developed across all age groups between people from both cities, and they have proven to be very stable over several years. Regular group trips to both countries as well as connections between Münster’s schools with schools in Rishon fill the partnership with life and keep it up to date. In good times and bad, Münster follows what is going on in Rishon LeZion with great sympathy; people join celebrations, but also show solidarity and help people where possible. The other way round, everything that moves the friends in Münster arouses lively interest in the Israeli twin town, whether it concerns family events or German elections.
With this partnership, the notion of tolerance and reconciliation continues to have a special effect today and is still deepened.
News
Delegation visit in pictures
Exchange with Israelian partners on safety issues
First Mayor Markus Lewe, together with Police Commissioner Alexandra Dorndorf, welcomed a delegation from our Israelian twin city Rishon LeZion at the Hall of Peace. Especially the exchange on security-related questions and the German-Israelian past was the main focus. The visit was part of an existing cooperation between security forces of the police and city in Rishon LeZion and corresponding partners in Münster. The visit was completed with the establishment of contacts in the educational field, for instance with the Secondary School Paulinum and the Centre for Teacher Training at the Westphalian Wilhelms University in Münster.
Official press release
#WeRemember
International Holocaust Memorial Day 2022
On the day of remembrance of the Victims of National Socialism, the Youth Department and the Department for International Relations of the City of Rishon LeZion held a virtual commemoration ceremony for their twin cities, in which Münster actively participated as well.
On the 27th of January, First Mayor Markus Lewe sent a message of greeting to Münster’s Israelian twin city. Mayor Klaus Rosenau, students from the Friedenschule Münster, members of the Youth Forum of the German Israeli Society of Münster and representatives of the International Office participated in the event. The students from Münster recited a poem during the virtual commemoration ceremony; students from other twin cities of Rihson LeZion such as Debrecen, Krasnodar, Lublin, Kharkiv, and Nimes participated as well. Especially the contribution of contemporary witness Rose Lipszyk was impressive.
40 years of town twinning Münster – Rishon LeZion
Reception in the Friedenssaal
The city twinnings with Lublin and Rishon LeZion have been celebrated
This year, the city of Münster celebrates 40 years of city twinning with Rishon LeZion and 30 years of city twinning with Lublin. Moreover, the cities are closely connected through a triangular partnership. Upon the invitation by Markus Lewe a delegation from Lublin, lead by the city president Dr. Krzysztof Żuk, came over to Münster. Through an official holiday on the 2nd of September 2021, the many years of twinning have been honoured adequately. Unfortunately, the Israelian city government could not visit Münster as planned, due to the Covid travel restrictions. Raz Kinstlich, mayor of Rishon LeZion, very much regrets this and expressed his hopes to meet both his colleagues in person in 2022.
Partnership deed
40 years of town twinning Münster – Rishon LeZion
It was January 19, 1981 when Mayor of Rishon LeZion, Hananya Gibstein, and Münster’s First Mayor, Dr. Werner Pierchalla, solemnly signed the certificate to seal the city partnership. On the anniversary, the Israeli flag is hoisted at the City Wine House. It draws attention to four decades of intense and friendly relations between our two cities. Whether this long-standing partnership can be officially celebrated, too, has not yet been determined in view of the current restrictions to fight the corona pandemic.
Shared moments on a huge screen
Through the project “Rishon-Münster-Sharing life in one moment”, the citizens of Rishon LeZion and Münster had the feeling of a shared daily life despite distances during last November. The activity was organised by the artist Thomas Nufer in cooperation with the city of Rishon LeZion, the city of Münster, and the support by the North-Rhine-Westphalian office in Israel. The created impressions from the daily life in Rishon LeZion and Münster were now- on the occasion of the anniversary of 40 years of city partnership- publicly visible.
The footage, together with sound, was shown on a screen at the Sentenzbogen at Stadtweinhaus on the 14th and 15th of May 2021. Additionally, on the 14th of May, the presentation of the footage was also supported by the PSD Bank Westfalen-Lippe and visible on the media facade at the harbour of Münster. Those who had an appointment at the office for civil services were also able to enjoy the impressions on the screens in the waiting area. All information available at: rishon-muenster.one