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torch lighting ceremony

The 78th anniversary Independence Day ceremony, held at Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, on April 21, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
April 23, 2026, 10:14 am
How my modest love song was sucked into a chilling machine of political propaganda
The Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony demonstrated how politicians erase the truth using fake sentimentality and turn a national event into a fawning display for Netanyahu
By Amir Ben-David
Eyal Tzionov, a TikTok personality who dresses up as the Sephardic chief rabbi, sits in the audience of Israel's annual Independence Day torch-lighting on Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, on April 21, 2026. (Screenshot/YouTube)
April 22, 2026, 4:16 pm
TikToker dressed as chief rabbi stirs confusion at Independence event
Self-styled messiah Eyal Tzionov has ascended Temple Mount and attended rally in support of Ben Gvir clad in Sephardic chief rabbi’s iconic robe and turban, baffling authorities
By ToI Staff
The 78th Independence Day ceremony, held at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, on April 21, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
April 22, 2026, 12:38 am
Israel kicks off 78th Independence Day festivities with annual torch-lighting ceremony
Torch-lighters include Argentina’s Milei, a disabled IDF veteran and an Iranian ex-judicial official; Netanyahu gives pre-recorded speech focused on Israel’s military achievements
By ToI Staff, Nava Freiberg, Sam Sokol and Emanuel Fabian
Israeli actress Hana Laszlo at the Israel Artists Association lifetime achievement awards ceremony, held at the culture center in Petah Tikva on November 22, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
April 13, 2026, 10:48 pm
Actress Hana Laszlo backs out of lighting torch at Independence Day ceremony
TV and film icon declines role after criticism from some bereaved parents over her signature on a petition last year calling to end the ‘horror’ in Gaza
By ToI Staff
This undated photo shows Rabbi Avraham Zarbiv posing seated at a desk in a building in Gaza with the words 'Rabbinical Court of Khan Younis' written on a whiteboard behind him. (X/Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
April 10, 2026, 1:15 am
Reservist rabbi who called to ‘flatten’ Gaza will light torch at state Independence Day event
Minister says selection of rabbinic judge and bulldozer operator Avraham Zarbiv is a salute to national religious community; amputee soldier, Argentina’s president, mother of last returned slain hostage among other torchlighters
By ToI Staff
View of a massive wildfire near Latrun, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, April 30, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
April 30, 2025, 7:15 pm
Many Independence Day events nixed, public told to avoid cemeteries amid raging wildfires
Official torch-lighting ceremony called off, rehearsal footage being aired instead; flames encroach on decommissioned tanks at Latrun after Memorial Day ceremony hastily evacuated
By ToI Staff
Most of this year's Independence Day torch-lighters pose for a photo outside the Knesset with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Transportation Minister Miri Regev, April 28, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
April 30, 2025, 9:46 am
‘Bridges of Hope’: The torch-lighters at Israel’s 77th Independence Day celebration
Annual event features freed hostage Emily Damari, cultural icons Zehava Ben and Omri Casspi, and more controversial figures Dana International and Ben Shapiro
By Amy Spiro
Wounded IDF paramedic Gaya Zubery (left) speaks with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi as he visits wounded soldiers at Sheba Medical Center. (IDF)
May 12, 2024, 8:51 pm
Healing the nation: Group of medical personnel to jointly light Independence Day torch
Hospital doctors, a nurse, a 20-year-old female IDF paramedic severely wounded in Gaza and a health nonprofit founder will share the honor
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Nasreen Yousef. (Screenshot taken from Channel 12/Keshet TV, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law).
May 5, 2024, 1:37 pm
Druze woman hailed for October 7 heroism gives up Independence Day honor after threats
Nasreen Yousef, who helped save her community, Yated, from Hamas massacre by gleaning information from terrorists, tells organizers she has since faced intimidation from Arabs
By ToI Staff
Miriam Peretz holds a torch during the Israeli 66th Independence Day Ceremony at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on May 5, 2014. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 3, 2024, 8:45 am
Torch lighters for Independence Day chosen to highlight October 7 heroism
This year’s ceremony, which will be prerecorded without an audience, will include soldiers, medical personnel and civilians who saved lives during the Hamas massacre
By ToI Staff
Photographs of Israeli hostages being held in the Gaza Strip are seen on a house in Kibbutz Be'eri, Israel, December 20, 2023. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)
April 14, 2024, 7:55 pm
Kibbutz Be’eri declines Independence Day torch-lighting role, rejecting ‘heroism’ theme
Gaza-adjacent community that suffered heavy losses on October 7 says ceremony gives no space for ‘tragedy’ of citizens ‘abandoned’ to terrorists
By Stuart Winer and ToI Staff
Prof. Avi Rivkind of Hadassah Medical Center (left) and Dr. Khetam Hussein of Rambam Medical Center are among the torch-lighters at the national ceremony marking Israel's 75th Independence Day, April 25, 2023. (Courtesy)
April 25, 2023, 3:00 pm
Doctors tapped for Independence Day torchlighting hope to heal fractured nation
Shock trauma pioneer Prof. Avi Rivkind of Hadassah and infection control expert Dr. Khetam Hussein of Rambam inspired by Israeli medicine, hope for unity on Independence Day
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Left: Opposition leader Yair Lapid speaks during a faction meeting at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, on March 20, 2023. (Erik Marmor/Flash90). Right: Transportation Minister Miri Regev attends a conference in Tel Aviv on March 22, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
April 22, 2023, 1:09 am
Regev to lobby Lapid to rethink his Independence Day torch-lighting boycott – report
Minister overseeing ceremony said set to phone opposition leader, appeal for message of unity ahead of nationally broadcast 75th anniversary event
By ToI Staff
Lt. Col. 'Daled,' the commanding officer of the elite Duvdevan unit. (Israel Defense Forces)
April 21, 2023, 11:44 am
Reservists urge Regev to oust ex-battalion head from torch-lighting ceremony role
Reservist paratroopers say Lt. Col. ‘Daled’, now head of elite Duvdevan unit, falsely claimed eye injury occurred during 2014 Gaza battle; IDF backs his version of events
By Michael Horovitz
People stand still during the Memorial Day siren at Nahalat Yitzhak military cemetery in Tel Aviv on May 4, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
April 20, 2023, 12:39 pm
Police to boost forces at Memorial Day events but told to keep a low profile
National protest organizers say no plans to demonstrate against judicial overhaul at ceremonies, but fears persist that bereaved families could clash with coalition politicians
By ToI Staff
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