The Queen of Spain found it hard to believe. "You have 11 children?" she asked Rivka Ravitz

November 7, 2017   

President Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin and his wife Nechama were today (Monday) the guests of honor at a unique state reception at the Ceremonial Palace of King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia Ortiz Roxolano of Spain. The President of the State was accompanied to the ceremonial area by mounted cavalry, and during the ceremony the national anthems of both countries were played and the kingdom's cannons fired a salute. The President and the King then reviewed the Royal Honor Guard and watched an impressive military parade. The ceremony was held on the occasion of the President's state visit to Spain as a guest of King Felipe VI. This visit marks 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries and marks the centennial of the return of Spanish Jewry to the country after the expulsion in 1492. This is the first state visit to Spain in 25 years, since President Herzog's visit, when the order to revoke the expulsion of the Jews was signed. During one of the ceremonies at the Spanish royal palace, President Rivlin's letter of intent was presented to the Queen of Spain, noting the fact that the ultra-Orthodox woman from Betar Elite is the mother of 11 children. The Queen found it hard to believe. "Do you have 11 children?" she asked the bureau director again. Photo: Haim Tzach, GPO [gallery]