BICOM

Israel began celebrations for its 71^st Independence Day on Wednesday night, with fireworks, concerts and parties across the country.

The main ceremony took place on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, as well as Knesset members, were in attendance. The centrepiece of the ceremony involved the lighting of twelve torches (representing the twelve tribes of the people of Israel) lit by Israelis and diaspora Jews considered to have made an outstanding contribution to society. Among them were Mari Nahmias, a Holocaust survivor; the head of the Pittsburgh Jewish Federation, Jeff Finkelstein; a resident of the South; and Morris Kahn, who funded Israel’s attempted moon landing. Speaking off script, Kahn confirmed to the audience his plans to fund a second attempt to land on the moon.

Speaking at the ceremony, Knesset Speaker Yuri Edelstein, who also lit the first torch, said: “Independence Day 71 is a good opportunity to open old photo albums and recall who we are, where we came from and what is our story. Some nations are blessed with large territory, others have natural resources, others with large populations, and what do we have? We have a tale of a nation of slaves that became free and brought the world hope for freedom.”

Edelstein continued: “This country arose thanks to men and women who, in the face of an impossible reality, succeeded in tremendous achievements. They were not extraordinary geniuses and had no superpowers, but they believed they could succeed. Keep believing that you are part of a wonderful story that began in this country against all odds, and its continuation depends on you.”

President Reuven Rivlin wrote in a published address: “My hope this year is that we will no longer try to hurt. We must heal the fissures and mend the cracks between tribe and tribe and between man and man. This is the welfare of the people and the welfare of the state.”

Thousands of Israelis are expected to take part today in celebrations on beaches and in national parks.