Israel Celebrates 61st Independence Day

The State of Israel began its 61st Independence Day celebrations with the traditional torch lighting ceremony, held at Har Herzl in Yerushalayim. Hundreds attended today’s ceremony and welcomed Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, the evening’s first speaker to the stage. “The pride each and every one of us feels, here and everywhere a Jewish heart beats, when we make the transition from the sanctity of mourning to joy, is the true story of this day. This story is not just that of the redemption of the 1948 generation, but that of 2009’s generation, which is still paying for its freedom and liberties, daily,” he said.

Thanking the Israeli armed forces, he added that “it was only recently that we stood in awe of those who gave their lives during Operation Cast Lead, those exemplary characters living among us, in Israel of 2009, which more than anything aspires to peace and quiet. Their heroism reminds us of the strength needed to have a normal life in the midst of an abnormal reality.”

Israel of 2009, he added, “is no less impressive than that of 1949 – it’s more democratic, more open and tolerant and more Jewish in its nature and culture. Israel now is more sophisticated and less demagogic. It may be less ideological, but it is home to more idealists. This (new) ideology may be less pious, but it is more humane and loving,” he concluded.

The crowd roared as Rivlin turned to light the traditional Knesset torch, in honor of Israel’s parliament. The ceremony was dedicated to Tel Aviv’s centennial year, as all those honored with lighting a torch “for the glory of Israel” were prominent city figures.

The first torch was lit by Shlomo Lahat, Tel Aviv’s seventh mayor, who held the position for 20 years. A retired IDF major-general, Lahat lit the torch flared, according to organizers, “in honor of the first flourishing 100 years of the city of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, in honor of the people of Tel Aviv, young and old… for the constant effort, in the past, present and future, to base our lives on the principles of moral and justice both in the armed forces and civilian society.”

The second torch was lit by Rabbi Avraham Chaim Adler, cantor of the City of Tel Aviv. Renowned worldwide, he holds the annual prayer service at the March of the Living in Auschwitz. Rabbi Adler lit the torch flared “in honor of those who preserve the traditions of Jewish prayer and poetry in all of Israel’s denominations and for the bond between the first Hebraic city and its Jewish roots.”

The 11th torch was lit by IDF representative, Lieutenant-Colonel Oren Cohen, commander of the Golani Brigade’s 13th battalion. Cohen lit the torch flared “in honor of the Israeli Defense Forces, which spreads its wings in protection of the nation united as one, for all members of the armed forces, for the safe return of out missing and captive soldiers, for the recovery of our injured and for the comfort of all bereaved families.”

{Yair Alpert-Matzav.com Israel}