Title
Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the foundation of the State of Israel.
Body
WHEREAS, On the 14th of May, 1948, in Tel Aviv, David Ben-Gurion declared “the establishment of the Jewish state in Palestine, to be called Israel”. Ben-Gurion would serve as the nation’s first and longest-serving prime minister; and
WHEREAS, Israel’s scientific, economic, and cultural achievements are testament to the dynamism of the young nation. In only 70 years, the Israeli economy has become a leader in technology, medicine, and agriculture and the nation has developed a lasting friendship with the United States based upon shared values and mutual admiration; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia has been home to a thriving Jewish community since the late 17th Century. The community is represented, in all its diversity, by an array of organizations including the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, the American Jewish Committee of Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey, the Anti-Defamation League of Philadelphia, and the Israeli-American Council of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia also has the distinction of being home to the National Museum of Jewish American History, which sits on Philadelphia’s historic Independence Mall. The museum was founded in 1976 by members of Congregation Mikveh Israel, which was founded in 1740 and is the oldest continuous formal Jewish congregation in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Since 1966, Tel Aviv and Philadelphia have been sister cities. They have since built lasting ties through cultural, political, and educational exchanges. The cities have come to share international status as hubs for tourism, culture, and innovation; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Michael Nutter traveled with a Philadelphia delegation to Tel Aviv in 2013, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, to foster positive relationships with leadership in Israel and encourage Israeli investment in Philadelphia. On that trip, Philadelphia’s representatives met with Israeli President Shimon Peres; and
WHEREAS, Israel’s anniversary celebration will begin with a torch-lighting ceremony the evening of Wednesday, April 18th, and culminate with a public Shabbat service, altogether comprising 70 total hours of celebration and festivities. These will include an all-night beach party along a 70-kilometer stretch of coastline, as well as street festivals in homage to the spontaneous hora dances that filled the streets after Ben-Gurion declared the establishment of the state; and
WHEREAS, Those celebrations will also include the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra, which will travel to Israel in June and play concerts in Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem. The only major American orchestra to participate in the anniversary celebrations, the Orchestra will be accompanied by acclaimed Israel-born and Philadelphia-based chef Michael Solomonov; and
WHEREAS, Over 200,000 people who identify as Jewish live in the Greater Philadelphia region and that community will celebrate the Jewish state’s 70th Anniversary with cultural and philanthropic events throughout 2018; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia will formally celebrate Israel’s anniversary with a series of events, including a ceremonial flag raising on May 14th, 2018, outside of City Hall. Consul General Dani Dayan, Mayor Jim Kenney, members of Council, and other City officials will join Naomi Adler, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and Philadelphia's Jewish community in celebration of Israel’s foundation in 1948; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA That this body hereby acknowledges and celebrates the 70th Anniversary of the foundation of the State of Israel.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel in New York, as a testament to the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia as a testament to the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the American Jewish Committee of Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey as a testament to the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Anti-Defamation League of Philadelphia as a testament to the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Israeli-American Council of Philadelphia as a testament to the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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