Shikma Rubin watches as Leo Kamer signs his poster.
The Tidewater community showed its support for Israel at a celebratory event held on May 6 in honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day.
The Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, in partnership with the Simon Family JCC’s Celebrate Israel series, presented a free screening of the documentary The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers, that evening at the JCC.
“The annual Israel Fest in our community is a great way people can show their support for Israel, but we wanted to make sure we had something the community could participate in on the actual date that Yom Ha’Atzmaut is celebrated there,” says Robin Mancoll, CRC director.
“The Prime Ministers rekindled a spirit and pride for the state of Israel,” says Philip Rovner, president and CEO of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation and a member of the audience. “I believe it’s an excellent film to show and discuss with our older teenagers, college students and young adults.”
More than 150 screened the movie, where they munched on Israeli snack food, met the winner of the CRC’s annual Israel Poster Contest, and joined in singing the Israeli national anthem, Hatikva, and the recitation of a prayer for Israel.
Attendees were mesmerized by this film based on Ambassador Yehuda Avner’s book of the same name and look forward to seeing part two with the CRC next year after its release. More information can be found at http://theprimeministers.org/.
For more information about the CRC, its many resources and events, visit JewishVA.org/CRC.
by Laine Mednick Rutherford