At a ceremony in Jerusalem, President Reuven Rivlin eulogizes Lia van Leer, who passed away on Saturday.
Van Leer, who died at 90, founded the Jerusalem Cinematheque and was an Israel Prize laureate.
President and founder of the Jerusalem Cinematheque Lia van Leer on the opening night of Jerusalem Film Festival on July 5, 2012. (photo credit: Uri Lenz/FLASH90)
“Family members, dear Lia. The white hair, the simple dress and sandals – this is how your image is etched in the minds of those who knew you. A woman of vision, a dreamer with a prophetic spirit marching here in the streets of Jerusalem, intent on realizing her dream. In the name of that belief, you chose to give Jerusalem the cultural treasure in all its glory.
“Dear Lia, for residents of Jerusalem, you were a woman who is an idea, a woman who is an institution… a true ray of light lighting the skies of the city.
You believed in cinema as an unusual instrument for dialogue between different populations and supported Israeli cinema as an endeavor expressing every facet of Israeli life. The cultural world of Israel and Jerusalem owes you a huge debt, and you will be missed by lovers of culture and residents of Jerusalem wherever they are.”
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, March 16, 2015
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