Joy tempered by sorrow — Independence Day event held in shadow of Mount Herzl tragedy
Sigalit Betzaleli, whose daughter Hila was killed when lighting rig collapsed at last week’s rehearsal, lights first torch at warmly received official ceremony
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Israel made the striking transition from Memorial Day to Independence Day at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, when celebrations of the 64th anniversary of independence began with a state ceremony on Mount Herzl.
While the speeches and the lighting of 12 torches were accompanied as usual by performances, dancing and music in the 90-minute event, the opening festivities were more subdued this year, following the tragic death of 2nd Lt Hila Betzaleli during rehearsals for the ceremony one week ago. Betzaleli died, and several other soldiers were injured, when a lighting structure collapsed onto the stage at Mount Herzl where they were preparing for the ceremony.
The ceremony marked Betzaleli’s absence with an empty space on the stage at the position that would have been filled by her. There was a brief pause in the performance, and heads were bowed in her memory. Further rehearsals had been canceled after Betzaleli’s death, but the colorful performance proceeded smoothly, and was warmly received.
Earlier, near the start of the ceremony, Betzaleli’s mother, Sigalit, lit the first of the symbolic torches that are kindled during the annual event. Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, the first speaker, paid tribute to Betzaleli as exemplifying the very best qualities of Israel.
The family supported the decision to proceed with the Independence Day ceremony as scheduled, saying that this was what their daughter would have wanted.
Rivlin spoke of the divisions in Israel over fundamental issues, but said he believed Israeli society was becoming sufficiently mature to tackle and resolve them. The key threat to Israel’s well-being, he said, was extremism — “and we must not fall hostage to it.” The more that differences were examined and openly aired, the more that extremism would be marginalized, he said.
Rivlin further said that nothing in Israel could be taken for granted — “not the state, not the flag flying over this mountain… and not the blood, sweat and tears that have accompanied these past 64 years of independence.”
Rivlin hailed today’s citizens and yesterday’s founders of the state, name-checked locations across the country including the Etzion Bloc in the West Bank, and referenced jailed spy-for-Israel Jonathan Pollard in his address before a torch-lighting that he dedicated traditionally, as did all the subsequent torch-lighters, “to the glory of Israel.”
Later celebrations on Wednesday included fireworks and parties across the country.
Daytime celebrations will officially begin at 9:30 on Thursday morning with a ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. VIPs and political leaders will attend the ceremony, which will be broadcast live on the president’s Facebook page.
A flyover of combat planes and helicopters will start off the festivities. The president, IDF chief of staff, prime minister and defense minister will sing their favorite Independence Day songs with the IDF band and an accompaniment of singers. The Outstanding Soldier Award will also be presented.
The IDF is hosting events at bases and other sites throughout the country on Thursday.
For those who enjoy checking out armored vehicles and weaponry, Camp Samson, near the Golani Junction, will be open to the public between 9:00 and 14:00.
The Shomron Brigade base (Horon) will be open from 9:00 to 16:00. Armored vehicles, weaponry and observation posts will be on exhibit. Paintball ranges and additional attractions for children will available.
Natan Camp in Beersheba and Metzudat Yoav will both be open with similar exhibits of armored vehicles and weaponry from 9:00 to 14:00.
If tanks are on the agenda, Yad LaShirion at Latrun will be open from 8:00 to 16:00 with a ground forces exhibition including armor, artillery, infantry and other military displays. Hummers, assault and sniper rifles and more will be on display along with IDF combat soldier explanations.
The IAF base at Ramat David and the School of Technology in Haifa will be open to the public from 9:00 to 13:00. Past and present aircraft and weapons will be on display.
The IAF Museum in Hatzerim will be open from 9:00 to 17:00. Airplanes from the 1950s will flyover, a band will perform and 150 different aircraft will be on display with tours in English, Spanish, Russian and Hebrew.
No personal weapons nor pets are allowed on IDF bases. ID must be presented to enter the bases. Two-wheel vehicles will not be allowed in bases.
Those looking for a more historically themed way of celebrating can check out the (Hebrew) website for the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites. The society offers listings for museums and activities throughout the South, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Center and the North.
Details for a number of activities are available at IsraelKids‘ family resource page.
On Wednesday night at 20:30, children’s television celebrities and entertainers will be performing (free), in Hebrew, in Tel Aviv. Also Wednesday night, in Ra’anana, the Pninei HaSharon band will host Hani Nachmias from the children’s TV show “Hani’s Room”. The performance will be in Hebrew, and free. At 20:00 on Wednesday evening, the “Independence for Little Ones” workshops (blue and white arts and crafts, theater, parent/kids dancing, puppet theater, stories, balloon shapes, a drum circle, etc.) will take place in Ra’anana. Admission is Free; Hebrew.
The following activities are scheduled for Thursday:
The Lehi Museum will host free activities at 10:30, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00, all in Hebrew.
At 17:00 an interactive dance and music performance will take place in the Jerusalem Theater plaza, Jerusalem. Cost: NIS 15.
At 10:00, 12:00 and 17:00, at Liberty Bell Park in Jerusalem, there will be a theatrical performance of the story of Chelm and Eastern European Jewish folklore. Cost: NIS 10.
Israel Kids: The public is invited to take part in tours, song and sing along with Sarale Sharone at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem, 11:30; Hebrew. Cost: N/A.
Music, food, dance and BBQ will all be at the Yellow Submarine in Talpiot, Jerusalem, for kids and adults; Hebrew. Cost: NIS 10.
The Israel Museum will have free dancing from 11:00 – 14:00. The dancing will be led by Mimi Kogan and performance by Hora Jerusalem.
More listings are available at the Israel Kids website.
Finally, for those without families and in the military, there will be a massive BBQ for over 300 lone soldiers at Jerusalem’s Gan Sacher park and 200 lone soldiers are expected at Tel Aviv’s Arlozorov Park (corner of Derek Namir). The Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin will be hosting the event. The event will cater to the 2300 lone soldiers from 52 countries who reside in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, from 11:00 to 16:00 on Thursday.
Times of Israel Staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.