For the fourth consecutive year, Greater Phoenix community members and visitors of all faiths are invited to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, the anniversary of Israel’s reformation 78 years ago, at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus (ILJCC) in Scottsdale.
Taking place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, this free event promises to immerse attendees in Israeli culture with food, art, games and Phoenix’s own Torch Lighter ceremony.
At 5:30 p.m., attendees are encouraged to witness an opening ceremony with an invocation and honoring of this year’s Torch Lighter awardees.
This is modeled after Israel’s Independence Day ceremony, where 12 large torches are lit by well-known innovators, peacemakers and community alliance members, symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel.
“We wanted to recreate that same feeling and excitement, so last year, the committee came up with this idea of a Torch Lighter award, invoking an image of someone lighting that torch and leading the way towards Israel education and advocacy here in our community,” said Leah Zigmond, coordinator for the event.
Last year, Sigal Urman and Stacy Palestrant received the honor, and the ceremony is expanding this year to include a Teen Torch Lighter Award.
“We have some incredible teens and some very active youth movements in our community,” Zigmond said. “We definitely want to highlight the work that they’re doing.”
Regardless of who is chosen for the awards, all nominees will be read aloud during the ceremony.
With more than 1,500 attendees each of the last three years, Zigmond highlighted some modifications to the event for this year.
The most notable change is that the festival is moving indoors, aiding event security and ensuring visitors won’t be out in the heat all evening.
Attendees should expect to go through metal detectors at the front entrance, and everything will be available once inside. “We’re working very closely with security, and security is working closely with the Scottsdale Police Department,” Zigmond said.
The Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center’s gym will turn into a kids’ zone with bounce houses and inflatable obstacle courses, lawn games, face painting and more.
Thanks to encouragement from a community member, the festival will include a backgammon tournament. “Backgammon is a super common game in Israel, so we’re glad to be able to host that,” Zigmond said.
For the first time, the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival has put together a program of short films to be shown throughout the event. Attendees can experience one film or all of them.
Another new partner is ESEK, a global marketplace endeavor for Israeli-made goods.
“They bring items from Israel, specifically from artists and artisans who have been impacted by the war in some way,” Zigmond said. “Some of the artists are on reserve duty, some of them have family businesses that were impacted and some are from specific areas of the country that were particularly impacted. They’re going to be selling items from Israel, and the funds go directly to the artists.”
As far as food and drink, visitors can expect Israeli cooking demonstrations and tastings with local chefs. Kosher food options will also be available for purchase throughout the evening, with milk+honey espresso bar & eatery serving Kosher dairy and local food trucks on site serving Kosher meat.
Adults are also encouraged to participate in Israeli wine tasting and whiskey tasting. The whiskey comes from a Tel Aviv business, The M&H (Milk & Honey) Distillery, the only whiskey distillery in Israel.
For those feeling overwhelmed during the event or in need of a break, Gesher Disability Services is turning two classrooms into quiet zones, where people can relax and learn about Gesher’s services in the community.
Community members are also encouraged to submit personal photographs from Israel to be shown in a slideshow exhibit.
Zigmond said one of the focuses for this year was to appeal to a wider range of ages, from adults to families with young children, ensuring a fun, celebratory experience for everyone.
“I feel like each of the last few years have been really hard for our relationship with Israel,” Zigmond said. “This event is just about coming together and celebrating, because despite all of the challenges, this incredible, tiny, powerful country is having a birthday. It’s just about celebrating Israel together.”
Attendees can register for the event, but it is not mandatory. JN
To register, submit photos, nominate torch lighters or learn more about the event, visit valleyofthesunj.org/israel-78/
Jewish News is published by the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, a component of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix.