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| Approximately 7,000 people from across the Greater Philadelphia area attended the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia's
"Israel in Our Hearts" Israel Independence Day celebration on May 21 at Eakins Oval in Philadelphia. |
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Philadelphia Fetes Fifty-Eighth Anniversary of Israel
Thousands attend Jewish Federation
of Greater Philadelphia's "Israel In Our Hearts" Israel
Independence Day Celebration
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The event began with the blowing of the shofar ceremony. Fifty-eight
shofars, one for each year of Israel's independence, were sounded at the opening of the celebration |
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| Dr.
Victoria Werth, dermatologist at U. Penn. Health System |
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| Onstage performances included the Hasidic rock group Reva L?Sheva and Yoni Rechter.
Yehudah Katz (above) and Eliezer Blumen performed for Reva L'sheva.
Local choirs, a DJ, Israeli dancing with RakDan and the interactive music video game DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) provided entertainment throughout the day.
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| Attendees lined up at ShopRite's "Taste of Israel" pavilion to enjoy cooking demonstrations and receive free food samples.
Cultural exhibits and activities included science, history, entertainment and junior Maccabi sports pavilions; and the Israel Festival,
which featured an Israeli marketplace, camel rides, arts and crafts activities, food vendors, a Bedouin tent and a teen tent.
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| Maxine
Elkins of Israel Crafts |
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| Rabbi
Weber demonstrating the use of tefilin to Alex Lassoff |
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| Dr. Melissa Lerman, Deborah Stern Silver and Judith Hodara enjoying
delicious falafels. |
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| "Renaissance
Man" Yohai Koday owner of 17th Street Falafel Stand
and professional photographer. |
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| Dignitaries
included Theodore Herzl (founder of modern Zionism),
David Ben Gurion (1st prime minister of Israel), Golda
Meir (4th prime minister of Israel) and Ilan Ramon
(Israeli astronaut) |
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| Rachel
Dunaief of the Jewish Relief Agency accepts
donations. |
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"Israel in Our Hearts" sponsors include: ShopRite, Blank Rome
LLP, Boscov's, Fairmount Park Commission, Consulate General of Israel in Philadelphia, Jewish Exponent and Fox Rothschild.
Federation's Center for Israel and Overseas organized and coordinated the event. The Center develops and administers community outreach, cultural and relief programs that facilitate the Greater Philadelphia Jewish community's strong connection with and support for Israel. Event
co-chairs were Jeff Perlman, Cindy Smukler Dorani, Ian Michel
Past Features Around Our Community
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