On March 25, 2007, AJC Boston leaders and diplomats from 23 countries, including keynote speaker Dr. Wolfgang Vorwerk, Consul General of Germany, gathered together at the 8th Annual Diplomats Seder to celebrate the universal value of freedom, the importance of immigration, and the transnational values of democracy, human rights and equality espoused in the creation of the European Union - which celebrated its 50th birthday on the very same day.

The Diplomats Seder is an annual AJC Boston tradition, and is a key component of AJC's diplomatic outreach program. We hope that by this ritual experience of feeling the distress of bondage and the sweetness of freedom, that we will all be willing to take action on behalf of those for whom oppression, and lack of freedom is still a painful reality today.

130 participants attended the intimate Seder, held at Temple Israel in Boston and led by Rabbi Ronne Friedman and Cantor Roy Einhorn. Attendees participated in the ritual of a Passover seder and engaged in thoughtful, intimate discussion of what happens to both the immigrant and the accepting country during immigration, and a look at how pluralism evolves in a society essentially without borders – like the European Union. Up to three diplomats were seated at each table - unfettered international access that only AJC can provide.

Diplomats Seder Co-Chairs Ellen Rice, Luis Vidal & the AJC Diplomats Seder Committee

AJC President Ken Levine, Consul of Japan Shinichi Kobayashi, Consul General of Cape Verde Maria de Jesus Mascarenhas, and AJC Executive Director Larry Lowenthal

AJC Executive Vice President Eleanor White, AJC Associate Director Suzi Schuller, Consul General of Portugal Manuela Bairos, and Consul of Sweden Ginga Sewerin-Olson

Consul General of Germany Dr. Wolfgang Vorwerk delivering his keynote address

Diplomats in Attendance

Consul of Bulgaria

Frank Bailey

Consul General of Cape Verde

Maria Jesus de Mascarenhas

Consul of Chile

Paul William Garber

Consul of Chile

Philip C. Garber

Consul General of Colombia

Bibiana Gomez

Consul of Colombia

Pedro Lopez

Consul General of Ecuador

Beatriz Stein

Consul General of France

Francois Gauthier

Press Attache of France

Alexis Berthier

Consul General of Germany

Dr. Wolfgang Vorwerk

Deputy Consul General of Germany

Bernd Rinnert

Consul General of Greece

Constantinos Orphanides

Consul General of Haiti

Max Charles

Consul of Haiti

Gladys Joseph

Vice Consul of Haiti

Beatrice Joseph

Vice Consul of Haiti

Gean Leandre Joseph

Consul General of Ireland

David Barry

Consul General of Israel

Nadav Tamir

Consul of Israel

Rony Yedidia

Consul General of Italy

Liborio Stellino

Consul of Japan

Shinichi Kobayashi

Consul of Mexico

Rodrigo Marquez

Consul of Pakistan

Barry Hoffman

Consul of Poland

Marek Lesniewski-Laas

Consul General of Portugal

Manuela Bairos

Consul General of Spain

Carlos Robles

Vice Consul of Sweden

Ginga Sewerin-Olson

Deputy Consul of Switzerland

Emil Wyss

Consul General of the United Kingdom

John Rankin

Consul of Turkey

Erkut Gomulu

Consul General of Venezuela

Carlos Osorio