(as appeared in Arutz 7 Online Hebrew News at the following link – translated from Hebrew)

Thousands from around the world at OU Israel’s independence celebration

Among the many participants in the OU organization’s independence celebration were those who are celebrating independence in Israel for the first time.

Jonathan Gottlieb

4th of Eyar 5752

05.05.22 11:49

The Independence Day event, organized by OU Israel, was held last night (Wednesday) at the First Station complex in Jerusalem, led by singer Shlomo Katz.

With singing and stormy dancing, about 4,000 participants from the United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa and those who immigrated from there in recent years, opened the 74th Independence Day of the State of Israel.

Among the many participants were also boys and young people who came from the United States to study in Jerusalem for one year, and this was their first Independence Day celebration in the country. Throughout the evening, the event was broadcast live on OU Israel’s website, YouTube and Facebook.

Eli Stern, who immigrated to Jerusalem from Miami to Jerusalem last year, said excitedly: “Shir HaMa’alot, once again, the name of the return of Zion. We were like dreamers.

Rabbi Avi Berman, CEO of OU Israel: “It is difficult to underestimate the strength of the class in which boys and girls from around the world participate in the Independence Day celebrations in Jerusalem. Exciting to tears to see their love for the Land of Israel and Jerusalem. I would like to thank the Jerusalem Municipality and its leader for supporting the amazing ceremony. Next year in the built Jerusalem, a happy holiday with Israel. “