by NJJN Staff

May 7, 2009

A joyful, relaxed atmosphere reigned as some 800 revelers celebrated Israel’s 61st birthday at MetroWest’s Yom Ha’atzmaut festival, held April 29 at the Aidekman Family Jewish Community Campus in Whippany.

Children enjoyed a carnival with face painting, drumming, and a puppet show while families took in a performance by the Galim Dance Group from Israel and a concert by the Israeli contra-tenor star David D’Or.

Adults could also view the film Case for Israel: Democracy’s Outpost, a new documentary with Alan Dershowitz that offers a proactive defense of Israel.

Vendors sold Judaica and Israeli jewelry and foods. Passersby also had the chance to contribute to an upcoming family history project by the Jewish Historical Society of MetroWest.

David Dranikoff of Livingston, chair of the Legow Family Israel Program Center, attended the event with his wife, Lois, and his granddaughter, Lexi, five, a student at Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy in Livingston. David, who sported a T-shirt with an orange map of Israel and the word “mine” written across its width, tied the celebration to the more somber tone of Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, which took place the previous day.

“Tonight is the follow-up of Yom Hazikaron, a day when Israel mourns those who made great sacrifices,” said Dranikoff. “The flip side of that is right after we do the mourning, we come back and celebrate. It’s from a low point to a high point.”

While he acknowledged the challenges in Israel, he also celebrated its achievements, both economic and cultural.

“The men and women who developed the country developed a tremendous infrastructure, so economically it is a little better off than many other countries. They are industrialized, they have more museums, more dance troupes. It is a creative country. It is a beautiful place to be and why we all work so hard for it.”

Also attending the festivities were three students from the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown. Assaf Hasson, who comes from Ariel in the West Bank, pointed out that in Israel, Yom Ha’atzmaut is a family celebration. “If I was in Israel at the moment I would probably be in a yeshiva, and today I probably would be with my family. It is a very important day for family,” he said.

Lois Dranikoff used the occasion to recall the significance to her of Israel’s founding. “I was six years old when Israel became a state, and it was very important to me and my family. I think how incredible it is that out of nothing this state could be created.”

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