Fireworks display
Photo: EPA
Highlights from Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony
If you missed the grand ceremony celebrating Israel's 70th birthday, fear not! We have gathered videos and photos of the highlights for you to enjoy.
If you missed Wednesday night's traditional torch-lighting ceremony
on Mount Herzl and the festivities that followed, fear not, because we have some of the highlights for you to watch. The videos are all in Hebrew, but most can still be enjoyed even if you don't speak the language!
The event began with a dramatization of the people of Israel receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai as well as a scene of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. In another scene, a Jewish mother and her children were seen wearing the yellow Star of David during the Holocaust.
Opening of the ceremony (צילום: אולפני הרצליה)
These scenes were followed by the immigration waves to Israel, with singers Orna and Moshe Datz singing the song "Come Along," with which the pair represented Israel at the 1991 Eurovision.
'Hallelujah' sung in 20 places at once (צילום: אולפני הרצליה)
Singers Miki Gavrielov and Amir Dadon then performed a song titled "Mother Earth" and Israel's 2018 Eurovision representative Netta Barzilai put her own spin on a hora song by The Nahal Band.
Netta Barzilai (צילום: אולפני הרצליה)
While soldiers who recently finished basic training were being sworn in, singer Haim Moshe performed his song "I Swear."
Haim Moshe sings 'I Swear' (צילום: אולפני הרצליה)
The winner of the Israeli version of X Factor, Eden Alene, performed her own version of the song "Who Loves You More Than I?" while 300 drones put on a light show, creating Israeli symbols in the Jerusalem sky, from the Srulik cartoon character to a Star of David.
The performances were followed by speeches by Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who lit up torches.
Prime Minister Netanyahu speaks, lights torch (Hebrew) (צילום: אולפני הרצליה)
The 12 torches, symbolizing Israel's 12 tribes, were then lit by the chosen torch-bearers.
Torch-lighting (צילום: אולפני הרצליה)
This was followed by the traditional flag-bearers, who formed elaborate shapes of Israeli symbols.
Flag-bearers (צילום: אולפני הרצליה)
Below are some photos from the event.
Fireworks display (Photo: EPA)
Pyrotechnic display (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Linguist Dr. Avshalom Kor kissing an IDF soldier as he lights a torch (Photo: Herzliya Studios)
Singer Shlomo Artzi lighting a torch (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Prime Minister Netanyahu lighting a torch (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Actors Ze'ev Revach and Leah Koenig light a torch (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif lighting a torch (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
(Photo: Herzliya Studios)
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Photo: Herzliya Studios)
(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Singer Sarit Hadad (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
IDF flag bearers (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)
