An estimated 1500 people participated in Israel Independence Day celebrations at the Expo Theater in downtown Montreal last Thursday night and a memorial for Israel’s war dead. Yitzhak Mayer, the Consul General of Israel, urged Jewish youth to settle in Israel.
“We are a people who has to learn to rejoice in our beautiful land and our duty is to make it stronger and more beautiful. We need every one of you,” he told the audience. Before the festivities began, Cantor Yaakov Motzen of Congregation Shomrim Laboker chanted the El Mole Rahamim. A contingent of Montreal youth and veterans of the Brig. Kish Canadian Legion marched with flags and a wreath was laid in memory of fallen Israel war heroes.
The Independence Day program featured Israeli and Canadian entertainers. A reception was held for the diplomatic corps and Canadian political and public figures at the Israeli Consulate earlier in the day.
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