AUBURN – Dr. Hillel Newman, consul of Israel for the New England region, will speak Friday, July 16, at Temple Shalom Synagogue-Center, 74 Bradman St.

Newman will discuss current events in Israel and the Middle East at about 7:45 p.m. following prayers for the beginning of the Sabbath, which will start at 7:15. There will be a question and answer period following his presentation.

Newman has been the Israeli consul in Boston since 2001. He previously served in consular posts for Israel in Athens, Greece; Ankara, Turkey; and Tashkent, Uzbekistan. From 1999 to 2000, Newman was an assistant to the foreign minister of Israel, and from 2000 to 2001, he was policy adviser to the president of Israel, Moshe Katsav.

From 1992 to 1998, Newman taught history at Bar-Ilan University in Israel and from 1982 to 1986, he served as a paramedic in the Israel Defense Forces. He has B.A. degrees in psychology and history and his Ph.D. is in history.

Newman’s presentation is free and open to everyone. For further information, contact Temple Shalom at 786-4201 or [email protected].