Tel Aviv Tzofim entertain crowd
Seventeen energetic Tzofim – Israeli Scouts – made the celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut, or Israel Independence Day, an upbeat affair at the Uptown Jewish Community Center on Monday night. The Scouts, who all hail from Tel Aviv kept dozens of youngsters busy in a variety of games before taking to the stage and entertaining the crowd for a half hour before approximately 200 individuals.
The Tel Aviv Scouts sang before a large crowd Monday night at the JCC. (Photo by Alan Smason)
JCC executive director Leslie Fischman welcomed the crowd inside the large auditorium to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Jewish state. Following the singing of the national anthem of the United States of America, the Tzofim led the singing of Hatikvah, the national anthem of Israel. Fischman then introduced New Orleans City Councilperson Latoya Cantrell, who expressed her thanks for the invitation and her solidarity with the Jewish people and Israel.
The pace of the recorded music to which the Tel Aviv Tzofim kept dancing had much of the crowd singing and dancing throughout most of the evening, especially the youngsters situated near the front of the stage. At one point late in the show, the Tel Aviv Scouts came down to dance and sing with the children.
Colorful Israel flags adorned the walls of the JCC and hand held flags were distributed to everyone who attended.
The Tel Aviv Scouts sing with the younger set at Israel Independence Day celebrations at the JCC. (Photo by Alan Smason)
The JCC provided Israeli food consisting of pita bread, falafel balls, salad and tahini for adults and fried chicken fingers and fries for the younger set. A large cake bearing the image of the flag of the State of Israel was also cut and distributed to the crowd.
Earlier in the evening the New Orleans Rabbinic Council sponsored a special memorial service as Yom Hazikaron (Israel Memorial Day) was ending. Many rabbis took part in the service meant to recall the memories of the 25,000 Israeli dead who, since 1948, lost their lives in the struggle for independence and the several wars waged between then and now. The victims of terrorism were recalled as well.
