The lighting of a 25-branch candelabra at the International Synagogue at Kennedy Airport Sept. 26 will mark the beginning of the year-long American observance of Israel’s 25th anniversary, Jacob Stein, chairman of the American Committee for Israel’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, announced here today.
The candelabra will be lighted by an independence torch, lit two days earlier in Jerusalem by President Zalman Shazar in a ceremony opening the Israeli celebration. Stein said that, following the New York ceremony, independence torches dispatched from Israel will be distributed to 100 communities in the United States and Canada. These torches will be used in opening local celebrations, Stein explained. The lighting of the candelabra will be part of an original ceremony depicting Israel’s 25 year history. The ceremony is being sponsored by the Israel Tourist Bureau in conjunction with the anniversary committee.
Stein is leaving for Israel Sunday to discuss the anniversary year’s celebrations in greater detail with government officials. The creation of Israel art shows and other exhibits that can be sent to the US for showing in museums, libraries and other public places is being considered, according to Stein. Stein is being assisted in the planning by Raphael Levy, on loan from the United Jewish Appeal, serving as coordinator of the committee, and Henry W. Levy, on loan from the American Section of the World Zionist Organization, as associate coordinator.
“The anniversary committee, itself,” Stein said, “will sponsor a limited number of major projects on a national level. But equally important, our work will be to coordinate and service, as far as possible, the needs of the numerous national organizations and communities across the country anxious to mark Israel’s quarter of a century of achievement.”
The anniversary committee will shortly issue a program manual of basic materials that will be helpful in the staging of local celebrations, according to Stein. A special Anniversary Religious Service is being prepared by the Synagogue Council of America, he said.
Stein expressed the hope that more communities than ever before would sponsor Independence Day Parades on the order of the annual New York parade. The year-long program will reach its culmination on May 6-7, which is the actual date of the 25th anniversary.
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