Israel Stops Traffic In West L.A. As It Celebrates Its 64th
Los Angeles, California - April 29, 2012 - Today the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles celebrated Israel's 64th Independence Day by sharing the creative, innovative, and humanitarian sides of the Holy Land.
The Consulate sponsored the "Celebrate Israel Festival", which was hosted by the Israel Leadership Council and took place this afternoon at Rancho Park in West L.A. bringing out thousands of people from different faiths and backgrounds for a common cause – to celebrate Israel's accomplishments while enjoying its tastes, entertainment, and culture. The festival's events included the StandWithUs "Walk for Israel" march down Pico Boulevard among a sea of Israeli and American flags demonstrating support from Angeleno's across the city and showing solidarity for Israel.
"As part of Israel's 64th birthday, we hope to take you on a short journey far beyond the headlines of crisis that dominate the conversation about Israel," said Consul General David Siegel. "While the challenges Israel faces are genuine, the headlines simply don't depict the reality of Israel."
A highlight of the festival was the Youth Art Expo featuring colorful artwork made from recycled materials. Students from across the city participated in this special exhibit featuring their work depicting pride in Israel and their Jewish heritage.
As part of the celebrations, the Consulate featured Save a Child's Heart, an Israeli-based international humanitarian organization which provides free, life-saving cardiac surgeries and other procedures for children from developing countries. The organization has treated more than 3,000 children from 42 different countries, with nearly half of those treated coming from Gaza and the West Bank. Medical treatment is provided to the children from Save a Child's Heart, regardless of nationality, religion, color, gender or financial situation.
Israel's Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu remarked on this special occasion, "Israel's Independence Day is a time when we consider what makes Israel truly unique," he said. "We are unique in having such passionate friends, both Jews and non-Jews alike, for whom the well-being, security, and future of our country is so important."
The Consulate sponsored the "Celebrate Israel Festival", which was hosted by the Israel Leadership Council and took place this afternoon at Rancho Park in West L.A. bringing out thousands of people from different faiths and backgrounds for a common cause – to celebrate Israel's accomplishments while enjoying its tastes, entertainment, and culture. The festival's events included the StandWithUs "Walk for Israel" march down Pico Boulevard among a sea of Israeli and American flags demonstrating support from Angeleno's across the city and showing solidarity for Israel.
"As part of Israel's 64th birthday, we hope to take you on a short journey far beyond the headlines of crisis that dominate the conversation about Israel," said Consul General David Siegel. "While the challenges Israel faces are genuine, the headlines simply don't depict the reality of Israel."
A highlight of the festival was the Youth Art Expo featuring colorful artwork made from recycled materials. Students from across the city participated in this special exhibit featuring their work depicting pride in Israel and their Jewish heritage.
As part of the celebrations, the Consulate featured Save a Child's Heart, an Israeli-based international humanitarian organization which provides free, life-saving cardiac surgeries and other procedures for children from developing countries. The organization has treated more than 3,000 children from 42 different countries, with nearly half of those treated coming from Gaza and the West Bank. Medical treatment is provided to the children from Save a Child's Heart, regardless of nationality, religion, color, gender or financial situation.
Israel's Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu remarked on this special occasion, "Israel's Independence Day is a time when we consider what makes Israel truly unique," he said. "We are unique in having such passionate friends, both Jews and non-Jews alike, for whom the well-being, security, and future of our country is so important."