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torchlighters

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
A Holocaust survivor lights one of six torches representing the six million victims of the Nazi genocide, during the opening ceremony, at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem, of Israel's annual Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 17, 2023. (Eric Marmor/Flash90)
April 11, 2026, 4:35 am
Amid echoes of war, these survivors will light Yom Hashoah torches in pre-recorded ceremony
Yad Vashem announces that the live broadcast of this year’s event, under the theme ‘The Jewish Family During the Holocaust,’ has been replaced by a taped program, without giving a reason
By Zev Stub
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
Dana International, Israel's 1998 winner, in her iconic feathered dress, on display at an exhibit open for Eurovision 2019. (Courtesy)
April 24, 2025, 2:11 pm
Conservative groups furious as trans icon Dana International gets Independence Day honor
Eurovision song contest winner says she insisted on being recognized as symbol of liberty and liberalism, as well as culture; two groups ask organizer to remove her from lineup
By ToI Staff
L to R: Israel advocate Ben Cassato is interviewed on Channel 13 on April 11, 2024. (Screenshot via YouTube); Israeli-American NBA player Deni Avdija plays against the New York Knicks on March 30, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger); Rachel Edry from Ofakim is seen outside a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden in Tel Aviv on October 18, 2023 (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
April 21, 2025, 6:02 pm
NBA player, Oct. 7 folk hero to be honored on Independence Day; singer declines
Yardena Arazi, lamenting wartime division, says she won’t join ‘Rachel from Ofakim,’ Deni Avdija, and 10-year-old Israel advocate at state ceremony on Mount Herzl next week
By Jessica Steinberg and ToI Staff
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
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
People watch the airshow during Israel's 74th Independence Day celebrations in Jerusalem, May 5, 2022 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
April 22, 2023, 10:08 am
Ahead of Israel’s 75th anniversary, majority pessimistic about nation’s future – poll
Survey shows 60% don’t feel represented by government; many believe ministers should stay away from Memorial Day ceremonies; 53% say judicial overhaul harming the country
By ToI Staff
Maccabi Tel Aviv's former head coach David Blatt poses for photographers with the Israeli cup, European club champions cup and the Israeli club champions trophy after a news conference in Tel Aviv, Israel,Thursday, June 12, 2014. (photo credit: AP/Ariel Schalit)
April 17, 2023, 5:53 am
Basketball coach Blatt, ex-general Kahalani tapped to light Independence Day torches
After delay, minister names honorees chosen to ignite beacons at annual ceremony, including philanthropist Sylvan Adams, comedian Shalom Assayag and head of Duvdevan commando unit
By ToI Staff
The commander of the Yamam police counter-terrorism unit lights a torch during the ceremony for Israel's 74th Independence Day at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, on May 4, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 5, 2022, 10:40 am
Hidden behind hat and mask, police counterterror chief lights Independence Day torch
Commander of elite Yamam unit conceals his face as he becomes first torch-lighter to take part in state ceremony with identity under wraps
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: Border Police officers with the Yamam counterterrorism unit during an operation. (Israel Police)
April 7, 2022, 1:26 pm
Police counterterror chief to light torch on Independence Day — in disguise
Commander of elite Yamam unit, who can only be identified by his first initial, is expected to obscure his appearance with a wig and sunglasses during the official state ceremony
By ToI Staff
The six Holocaust survivors serving as torchlighters for the annual Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony on April 7, 2021 lit memorial candles from rabbinical organization Tzohar​, which is partnering with Yad Vashem in the​ 'Generations Light the Way'​ project​, encouraging people to gather​ together​ to​ light​ six memorial​ candles, a format created last year with the onset of COVID in order to have ceremonies at home to mark Yom Hashoa (Courtesy Dena Wimpfheimer)
April 7, 2021, 6:36 pm
At Yad Vashem, six Holocaust survivors carry torch in memory of 6 million lost
With unique stories, six of a shrinking number of survivors honor those who were killed at official ceremony as Israel marks Holocaust Remembrance Day
By Jessica Steinberg
Jeff Finkelstein, center, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, is interviewed several blocks from the Tree of Life Synagogue on October 27, 2018. (AP Photo/ Gene J. Puskar)
April 23, 2019, 12:56 am
Pittsburgh federation head picked to light Independence Day torch for Diaspora
In announcing honor, culture minister lauds Jeff Finkelstein’s efforts to heal Jewish community after synagogue shooting and to raise funds for New Zealand mosque massacre victims
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: Survivors, some accompanied by their children or grandchildren, light six torches at Yad Vashem on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash 90)
April 10, 2018, 2:00 pm
Six survivors to light torches and give testimony at Yad Vashem ceremony
Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day begins Wednesday night, April 11, with annual ceremony
By Jessica Steinberg
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