Dear Friends,
Tomorrow is Yom HaAtzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) and in the spirit of solidarity with Jews all over the world, we honor and celebrate the centrality of the Jewish State in the life-blood of Jewish history, heritage, culture and spiritual sustenance. As a modern political entity, Israel is only 70 years old, but in this short period of time, Israel has become one of the most successful centers for technology, industry, medicine, agriculture and science in the entire world. It is also the only democracy and one of the only dependable allies of the US in the entire Middle East.
Indeed, we can take great pride in the fact that Israel has established herself as one of the most democratic, forward thinking nations in the world, and it is my prayer that our relationship with the land and the people of Israel will continue to grow stronger through the years. If you are interested in celebrating Israel’s 70th birthday with the community, here are two special programs to consider:
HCRJ Shabbat Service and Yom HaAtzmaut Celebration
Friday, April 20 at Houston Congregation for Reform JudaismJoin us for a special Shabbat Service featuring music and meditations honoring Israel at 70. Students from our religious school have prepared songs, dances and special foods for this festive Shabbat experience.
Houston Celebrates Israel
Thursday, April 19, 4:30-8:00 pm at Merfish Teen Center 9000 S Rice Ave
Come and celebrate 70 years of Israel! This community-wide celebration will have fun for all ages. The event is sponsored by the ERJCC, Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, and the Israeli-American Council Houston. More details can be found here.
Happy Yom HaAtzmaut!
L’Shalom-Steve