The Federation of Finland-Israel Associations with its 8 active chapters around Finland is the largest traditional Israel-friendship association in Finland. Since its inception in 1954, the Federation has dedicated to promoting Israel and her society including culture, education, tourism, science & technology, business, religion etc. The Federation is politically non-partisan and non-religious.
Vice-Chair Shirel Siiri Levi and Chairman Risto Huvila, pictured on March 15, 2025.
The federation is chaired since 2018 by Risto Huvila, and its Vice-Chair is former Finnish-Israeli diplomat Shirel Siiri Levi (2025-).
Former chairmen of the Federation (1984-) and its predecessor Finland-Israel Association (1954-1984):
2011-2017 Rev. Juha-Pekka Rissanen
2009-2010 Professori emeritus Reino Kurki-Suonio (Honorary Chairman 2018)
1993-2008 Artist & painter Osmo Visuri
1988-1992 Member of Parliament Tapio Holvitie (Honorary Chairman 2012)
1982-1987 Member of Parliament, Minister of Culture Arvo Salo (Honorary Chairman 1988)
1976-1982 Ambassador Algar von Heiroth
1954-1976 Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament Karl-August Fagerholm
The Federation publishes a quarterly magazine ”Jedidut” (friendship) and its current chairman Risto Huvila is hosting a weekly TV show Israel studio since January 2024 on AlfaTV.
In 2018 the Federation founded the K.-A. Fagerholm Award, according to the founder and first chairman (1954-1976) of the Finland-Israel Association, Karl-August Fagerholm. Mr. Fagerholm was one of the leading social-democratic politicians in 1930-1966, and served three times as Finland’s prime minister and as the Speaker of the Parliament for 16 years.
For further information on Mr. Fagerholm, please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl-August_Fagerholm
Risto Huvila, Chairman of the Federation of Finland-Israel Associations, and MP Peter Östman, the recipient of the first K.-A. Fagerholm Award in the Parliament of Finland on Nov. 28, 2018.
The first recipient of the K.-A. Fagerholm Award was Mr. Peter Östman, MP and the Chair of the Israel friendship group of the Parliament of Finland who received the award in a ceremony held at the Parliament of Finland on Nov. 28, 2018.
You can watch the K.-A. Fagerholm Award Ceremony 2018 (mainly in Finnish) at https://youtu.be/NOycu6q-u7A
The second K.-A. Fagerholm Award was presented to Mr. Mika Niikko, MP and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in an event also celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Finnish-Israeli Diplomatic Relations on Nov. 18, 2020 at the National Archives of Finland.
You can watch the K.-A. Fagerholm Award Ceremony and the celebration of the Finnish-Israel diplomatic relations (mainly in Finnish) at https://youtu.be/9f-6jlzq2xA
In the photo (from left): Mr. Risto Huvila Chairman of the Federation of Finland-Israel Associations, the Fagerholm Award laureate Mr. Mika Niikko MP & Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ms. Aurora Chiccarese great granddaughter, Ms. Tea Kekkonen granddaughter of K.-A. Fagerholm, Dr. Jussi Nuorteva Director General of the National Archives, H.E. Hagit Ben-Yaakov Ambassador of Israel, Ms. Leena-Kaisa Mikkola Director General of the Department for Africa and the Middle East at MFA and former Ambassador of Finland to Israel.
A third award, now rebranded as The Pro Israel award was given to Mr. Tomas Sandell, the founding director of the European Coalition for Israel. The award was presented by Mr. Risto Huvila, Chairman of the Federation of Finland-Israel Federation in May 10, 2022, in an event celebrating the 74th independence day of Israel in the Balder Hall in Helsinki in the presence of H.E. Hagit Ben-Yaakov, Ambassador of Israel, other diplomats, politicians and friends of Israel. Watch the video (mainly in Finnish) from the ceremony here. The acceptance speech (in English) of Tomas Sandell can be watched here here.
The award was presented to Mr. Tomas Sandell by Mr. Risto Huvila, Chairman of the Federation of Finland-Israel Federation.
From left: MP Wille Rydman, MP Sari Tanus, MP Antero Laukkanen, DCM of the Embassy of Israel Iris Malka, Ambassador of Egypt Ibrahim Haitham, Ambassador of Morocco Mohamed Achgalou, DCM of the Embassy of Poland Marcin Tatarzyński, Ambassador of Germany Konrad Arz von Straussenburg, MP Peter Östman, Ambassador of Auistria Maximilian Hennig, Pro Israel Award winner Tomas Sandell, Ambassador of Israel Hagit Ben-Yaakov, Ambassador of the United States of America Douglas T. Hickey, Chairman of the Federation of Finland-Israel Associations Risto Huvila and Honorary Consul of Israel Fredrik Ekholm. Photo Eero Antturi.
Risto Huvila, Chairman of the Federation of Finland-Israel Associations, and Shirel Siiri Levi, Vice Chairman of the Federation, presented the Pro Israel Award to Teemu Laajasalo, Bishop of the Diocese of Helsinki. Photo: Kirsi Strohbehn.
Rev. Teemu Laajasalo, Bishop of the Lutheran Diocese of Helsinki, was presented with the Pro Israel Award of the Federation of Finnish-Israel Associations on 26 October at an Israel solidarity celebration held at Pitäjänmäki Church. The award, presented by the Federation’s Chairman Risto Huvila and Vice Chair Shirel Siiri Levi, is given to a socially influential person or community that has shown special friendship for Israel in their activities and has had a positive impact on relations between Finland and Israel. In connection with the award ceremony, Bishop Laajasalo was also presented with the Association’s 70th anniversary history, published in 2024.
Bishop Laajasalo has for years shown friendship towards Israel and Jews in his speeches, writings and interviews, and has defended Israel when it has had to defend itself against terror. Bishop Laajasalo has also drawn attention to the church’s problematic history in relation to Jews and refrained from agreeing with the critical stances of some other bishops on Israel.
Church clergy have historically played significant roles in both Finland-Israel associations and as friends of Israel in general. Archbishop Ilmari Salomies was one of the founders of the first Finland-Israel Association in 1954 and served on its board for several years. In 1976, both the sitting Bishop of Helsinki Aimo T. Nikolainen and Bishop Emeritus Aarre Lauha were elected to the association’s board. Nikolainen became vice-chairman of the association after Arvo Salo became chairman in 1982.
Erkki Kansanaho, Bishop Emeritus of Tampere, was also a frequent guest speaker at the association’s events in the 1980s, as was Archbishop Johannes of the Finnish Orthodox Church. In addition, several priests have been involved in the association’s activities, most recently Juha-Pekka Rissanen, who served as chairman of the association’s board from 2011 to 2017.
Ryhdy Suomi-Israel -yhdistyksen jäseneksi. Jäsenenä saat neljä kertaa vuodessa ilmestyvän uutislehtemme. Voit myös tilata lehden ilman jäsenyyttä.