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Israel Independence Day to be celebrated Sunday at JCC
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Elior and Eran Liss are living links between the Jewish community in the Mahoning Valley and Israel.
The emissaries from Israel work at the Jewish Community Center, where they organize events pertaining to Jewish life and culture.
They’re planning a celebration at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the JCC, 505 Gypsy Lane, to recognize Israel Independence Day.
In Israel, the actual celebration of Yom HaAtzmaut began at sundown Wednesday and concludes this evening. It was preceded by Memorial Day, a time of mourning the 23,320 Israelis killed in battle or attacks since 1860, when Jewish settlers first moved outside the walls of Jerusalem.
This is the 67th anniversary of Israel, which became a country in 1948.
“In Israel, the saddest time changes to the happiest time,” Eran said. “The transition is unique.”
In the country, a torch-lighting ceremony at Mount Herzl signaled the end to Memorial Day and the start of Independence Day.
“In Israel, a small and young country, almost everyone either has a family member who was killed or knows someone who died,” Eran said. “There’s a strong connection.”
In the Mahoning Valley, the Independence Day event also will begin with a torch lighting. Remembering the 12 tribes of Israel, representatives of a dozen Jewish groups will light torches at the JCC. The weather will dictate if it will take place outdoors or inside the multipurpose room.
The representatives are Jewish Community Center, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Journal Monthly magazine, Center for Jewish Education, Levy Gardens, Heritage Manor, partnership with sister city in the western Galilee region, Team Torch for the teen program, P.J. Library and camp, Jewish Family Services, Hadassah and Naamat women’s organizations and shlichim (Hebrew for emissary).
“Having the Independence Day event shows the connection and support for Israel here,” Elior said.
Eran said they’re also anticipating the delivery of symbolic canvas torches sent from the sister region of western Galilee that will be displayed at the event.
The program also will feature the reading of the Israel Declaration of Independence and an Israeli band from western Galilee along with Israeli dancing.
“Israeli dancing is folk dancing in circles,” Elior said.
Also this week, the Lisses are presenting an Israel Independence Day program at Akiva Academy.
“It will be an interactive learning experience,” Eran said of the project that involves making Israeli food and arts and crafts.
The Lisses, who arrived in August 2013, will complete their term here at the end of June. While in America, they became parents to 7-month-old Uriya. “Our families are eager to hold the baby,” Elior said.
They also teach at Akiva Academy and Maimonides School for Jewish Studies. Both served in the Israeli military and are college graduates.
He graduated from Hebrew University in Jerusalem with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science. She earned a degree in international relations and Middle East studies at Interdisciplinary Center of Herzliya, Israel.
When they return to Jerusalem, they plan to work and study for master’s degrees.