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President Reuven Rivlin urged Israelis not to lose their sense to "togetherness" despite spending this year's Independence Day "in the shadow of disease."
This year's Independence Day's celebrations have been majorly scaled down and the government imposed a nationwide lockdown on the country's cities and towns in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.
In a pre-recorded speech in honor of Israel's Independence Day, known in Hebrew as "Yom Haatzmaut," the 80-year-old president said Israelis "despite the distance" must still celebrate the occasion in the comfort of their homes.
"At every stage, in those joyful and festive days of independence, and in the harder and sadder times, we always had an Israeli "togetherness,'" he said. "We grieved together and we celebrated together. Today, on Yom Haatzmaut, in the shadow of the disease and its victims, and the economic crisis, we must not give up on our 'togetherness.'"
The president went on to praise Israel and its people for being able to always "develop, renew, dream," calling the country "a wonder and a miracle."
"We created advanced industry, we established wonderful and innovative agriculture that the whole world looks to," he said. "We have created a rich and diverse culture and become a country with a world-class reputation in development and invention, entrepreneurship and technology, medicine, research and science."
In the final part of his speech, Rivlin turned to the public asking them to "buy local," opt for Israeli industry and agriculture and choose small businesses in order to get Israel's economy back on track following a month-long shutdown of the economy due to the health crisis.
"These days require those who can, to reach out to those of lesser ability," he added. "It is the Israeli spirit that helps us grow from the crises we face, to grow time and again, stronger than ever."