Yom Ha’atzmaut promises to be spectacular

BEV GOLDMAN

This year the SA Zionist Federation will be celebrating
Israel’s 66th anniversary, as it has done every year since its inception, in
such a way as to appeal to the very widest possible number of community and
other members, giving them a taste of the country’s history, culture and
benefit to the world.

On Monday night 5th May, we will be holding a unique
event for adults – a “Toast to Israel”, a celebratory and delicious dinner
during which we will raise our glasses and toast this amazing, innovative and
inspirational little country. 

Hananel Edri, one of Israel’s best known and most sophisticated
singers and entertainers, who has featured many times in our previous concerts,
is being brought back by popular demand. 
Together with a live band, he will be the catalyst for getting the
audience into the right spirit of the celebration, singing well-known and
much-loved songs about Israel with mass audience participation. 

In addition to Hananel, we are presenting for the first
time on the SA stage the hilarious rabbi-turned-comedian David Kilimnick,
dubbed Israel’s “father of Anglo comedy” by the Jerusalem Post, who is leading
the new pack of stand-up comics in Israel. At his Off The Wall Comedy Basement
in Jerusalem (the first of its kind), Kilimnick has been offering up
penetrating observations of life in his turbulent adopted country. Tourists and
native Israelis alike have been flocking to his cosy, intimate club and raving
about his unique ability to transform the daily chaos and aggravation of
Israeli life into an evening full of laughter. 
His humour is universal and he takes his audience on a “tour of funny”
through the Holy Land.  And what better
tonic for us all than that!

That same night THE party to end all parties will be
hosted by the SAZF, for young adults aged 18 to 35.  This is going to be the rave of the year, and
those who miss it will regret having done so for a very long time!

On Tuesday 6th May, again back by popular demand, we are
hosting a day of great excitement for the younger members of our community, at
Gold Reef City.  Rides galore; food
stores galore; Israeli music; entertainers; and infectious enthusiasm which
will enable all the young participants to celebrate with Israel and share in
the joy of her anniversary.

Taking the focus off the enormous problems Israel is
facing with the growing BDS campaign, the nuclear threats emanating from Iran,
and the stalled peace process, will allow the SAZF the chance to offer the
community a real “taste of Israel”. 
Nationally the media is saturated with anti-Israel venom and invective,
not helped by the recent Israel Apartheid Week exhibitions on campuses around
the country; but celebrations such as these, which will show a very different
and fascinating canvas of the country, will help enormously to change
perceptions of community members and assure them that despite the antagonism
and abuse that seem to colour all media coverage of Israel, the other side,
Israel beyond the conflict, shows a country that has become an international
icon of development, achievement and unequalled success. 

For further information and to book seats, please contact
lisa@beyachad.co.za or call 011 645 2510.