During the evening on Yom Ha’atzmaut there was a big celebration at the campus. There were activates and two concerts- one by kids and one by adults. In the kids concert grade 4 from Brock Corydon School sang both “Aiza Chag Li” and “Kachol VeLavan.” The kids were all wearing jeans, blue Brock Corydon shirts and blue scarves on their wrists. Margret Park kids sang some songs and so did some other choirs. Afterwards a pianist playing piano and a singer both coming from Israel played and sang in the adult’s concert singing many different songs in Hebrew.

The gym was almost full. Many people were watching. Lots of people were waving Israeli flags because people were handing them out for the people celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut.

In the gym there were people getting henna tattoos or getting hats spray painted. A couple of Jordan Chizda’s friends got a hat.

During the concert there was a scavenger hunt for children and there were stands with people selling jewelry and other accessories. It was also very crowded outside of the gym because people were selling jewelry and Schmoozer’s café had a very long line up for people wanting falafel and other foods.

There were also day activities for grade 5&6 form Margret Park, Brock Corydon and Shore Elementary School during the day. There were four activities: army tanning, jewporady, art and making bracelets. For the art the children wrote their names inside a shape like a torah or a star. The kids braded bracelets that were blue and white for Israel’s flag.
Army tanning was in the gym and the instructors only spoke Hebrew to the children.
For Jewporady there were two teams- some split up boy’s verses girls and some just  got split up.

At lunch the kids got their lunch from Schmoozer’s. They could get the same foods that were being sold at the celebration during the evening. At Schmoozer’s there was also dessert featuring chocolate cake and other yummy desserts during the evening.

There were decorations like balloons, paper chains and Israeli flags. Many children took the balloons and were running around playing with them. The decorations were every were -the gym, outside in the hallway and at the entrance.

After both concerts there were fire works at 9:00. They were very beautiful and colorful. They sparked up in the air. Some Israelis thought the fireworks were similar to Israel’s fireworks. They were set off in the field near the parking lot right beside the fence.

They were until around 9:30. After that, there was a dance.

Here’s what our friends (who are twins) said about the celebration:

“Everybody sang really nicely together and looked like they were having fun doing it”.
Maya Goldberg, Grade 7, Gray Academy

“No matter how old everyone was they had fun.”
Izanne Goldberg, Grade 7, Gray Academy

Editor’s note:  This year, Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) was a special celebration since many segments of the community worked together on the program,  which took place from 4-11pm on April 20. 

Activities   for families included swimming at Tel-Aviv beach (a.k.a.The Rady JCC pool), Israel experience stations, an Israeli cafe (at Schmoozer’s), hat airbrushing, glitter body tattoos, and an Israeli shuk (market).

Student Maxim Berent, who was one of the people involved in planning Yom Ha’atzmaut told the Winnipeg Jewish Review that “Everybody this year said it was an all-out effort. We got really good feedback.  The kids loved it.” 

In the evening there was the Amazing Israel Race (for tweens), fireworks, and a dance party.  There was a musical performance by the Shalom Singers, JCFS Seniors Choir, JCFS Junior Choir and Congregation Etz Chayim, Margaret Park School, and Brock Corydon School and Israeli musicians Lilach Koch and Avraham Unyck.  Kinsey Posen was the entertainment emcee.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dr. Jon Gerrard  and Matthew Ostrove  who is seeking the Liberal nomination for the Tuxedo riding  were in attendance. Many Community organizations joined together to put on the program-- the Jewish Federation,  Rady JCC, Jewish National Fund, The Asper Foundation, Canadian Friends of  Hebrew University, B’nai Brith, Israel Bonds, Camp Massad, Gray Academy, Herzlia, JHCWC, Manitoba-Israel Shared Values Round Table, National Council of Jewish Women, Asper JCC, and Temple Shalom. The progam was also sponsored by a number of businesses and  private individuals.