'When I’m 64': Israeli missions host parties
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
04/27/2012 05:54
With parties, concerts and events, Israeli embassies and Jewish communities world-wide celebrate Israel's Independence Day.
Independence Day barbecues. Photo: Tanya Sermer
Israeli embassies and Jewish communities around the world celebrated Israel’s
Independence Day on Thursday with countless parties, concerts and events despite
a spate of attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets carried out
recently.
In New York, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor
entertained dozens of guests at UN headquarters in Manhattan by playing a
trombone rendition of The Beatles’ “When I’m 64,” honoring the country’s 64th
anniversary.
“Israel’s a phenomenal success story on every level,” said
Prosor. “A small country that made an historic and wonderful voyage that is
today at the vanguard of scientific development and technologist. We have good
reason to party… To life.”
Israeli missions around the world have been on
high alert since February when an Israeli was wounded in a car bombing in New
Delhi, India and another explosive device targeting Jews was dismantled in
Tblisi, Georgia. Israel accused Iran of planning the attacks in an attempt to
avenge the mysterious killings of its nuclear scientists, which it blames on
Israel.
In Buenos Aires, the site of two large-scale bombings of Jewish
and Israeli targets in 1992 and 1994, leaders of the local Jewish umbrella group
AMIA met with the Israeli ambassador in Buenos Aires to mark the occasion and
express their support for the Jewish State.
A larger gathering organized
by the Organizacion Sionista Argentina is set to take place next Monday at the
Luna Park, a local theme park.
While many Jewish communities marked
Israel’s big day with parties held at home, the Jewish community of Miami made a
special effort to celebrate it in Israel.
Some 700 residents of the
Sunshine State took part in a sing along with singer Shuly Natan at the Israel
Museum on Wednesday night.
The Floridians are in Israel as part of a trip
organized by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, the largest single Jewish
federation visit to the country in over a decade, a spokesperson
said.
One of the bigger Israeli-themed events outside its borders will
take place in Los Angeles on Sunday where thousands are expected to attend the
Celebrate Israel Festival, a fete celebrating all that is blue and
white.
Tickets for the festival held at Century City featuring singer
Eyal Golan, Israeli food stalls and activities for children are going at $15