Israel's 50th birthday will be celebrated in 1998 with the national
anthem "Hatikvah," meaning "the hope," as the theme.
The song recalls 2,000 years of longing by Jews to return to the
land of their history.
The year of worldwide celebration will begin with the lighting
of a candle on the evening of Dec. 23 to start the Jewish holiday
of Hanukkah, which commemorates the ancient success of the
Maccabees in restoring Jerusalem to Jewish control.
"It is a dramatic symbol," said Arie Sommer, Israel's
commissioner for tourism for North America, "that we link the joy
of our country's 50th birthday with the memory of the Jewish
people's redemption from oppression more than two millennia
ago."
A series of special events is planned for a year when the
country is expected to draw a record 3 million tourists. Many will
be government-run, but others will be privately sponsored and plans
are not yet firm. (A tentative events calendar follows.)
Tel Aviv's Independence Hall Museum, where the nation became
official, will be a major focus for the year.
But as an overture to the year's events, the Israeli
Philharmonic Orchestra is launching its 62nd season in Tel Aviv
this month. For details, call (212) 697-2949; in Israel, call (011)
972-3 525-1502 or fax (011) 972-3 525-6395.
The opening performance of the New Israeli Opera is scheduled
for the following day at the new Opera House in Tel Aviv's
Performing Arts Center. For information, visit the Web at
www.israel-opera.co.il.
Outdoor events require no rain date because of Israel's long,
rainless seasons.
Jubilee opening ceremonies in December will be broadcast live
from the residence of Israel's president. Other events are expected
to include the following:
February 11. A Jubilee forest will be inaugurated on Jewish
Arbor Day, known as Tu B'Shvat, in Beersheba. Tourists will be
invited to participate in tree-planting activities then and
throughout the year. Knesset members will plant trees in forests
around the country that have lost acreage to fires.
11. Salvador Dali's Shalom Menorah (Light of Peace) will be
dedicated at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport.
March
29. Memorial Day for Israel's presidents and prime ministers will
be observed.
April
TBA. A two-day Israel 50 Jubilee March will follow the route to
Jerusalem taken by heroes of the war of independence.
TBA. A four-day Tribute and Salute to Minorities in the Land of
Israel and the ethnic diversity of the 70 countries from which they
came. It will include a gathering at the Druze village of Hurfeish
in the Galilee. The Druze themselves are one of Israel's non-Jewish
minorities, having originated in Lebanon as an offshoot of Islam
and comprising about 10% of Israel's non-Jewish citizens.
22 and 23. Memorial Day for Victims of the Holocaust and Heroism
will mark 50 years since the founding of the Ghetto Fighters'
Museum and will honor "Righteous Gentiles" who risked their own
lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.
28. Fallen Soldiers Memorial Day will feature official
ceremonies and music, broadcast live on television from five
locations around the country.
29 and 30. A major Independence Day "Tattoo" (extravaganza), at
Ramat Gan Stadium near Tel Aviv, will feature the history of
Israel, its achievements and plans for the next century. It is
expected to be broadcast on TV live around the world, and will
include Israeli government officials.
May
TBA. Israel in the Mirror, a fashion show by designers from Israel
and around the world, will take place at the Red Sea resort town of
Eilat.
24. Heroes Reunion, a salute to Israeli soldiers, will be held
at Jerusalem's Teddy Stadium.
24. Jerusalem Day ceremonies will include a Story Tellers'
Convention.
June
Through July. A performance by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
will premiere in the foothills of the desert fortress of Masada and
will focus on the historic standoff between Romans and Jews.
July
TBA. An Arts Fair will be held in the ancient Roman town of
Caesarea on the coast of the Mediterranean.
TBA. The annual folk festival will be held in Karmiel and will
be extended to border towns in the Galilee.
TBA. A food fair at Kiryat Shmona, Kiryat Malaachi, Eilat and
Herzlia will feature foods, music and dance from the Diaspora
(Jewish communities outside of Israel).
August
TBA. An Exhibition of Achievements over the state's first five
decades will be offered at the Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds by
national organizations, including the army and government.
TBA. A Song Around the Kineret will celebrate the history of
Hebrew music for two days at sites around the Sea of Galilee.
October
TBA. Standing of Hakahal (the Congregation) will take place during
the Jewish holiday of Sukkot at Jerusalem's Western Wall as it did
in the days of the Temple.
November
4. A Memorial Day for Yitzhak Rabin, the former prime minister who
was assassinated on Nov. 4, 1995, will feature a performance
emphasizing brotherhood at the city square in Tel Aviv.
9. A Memorial Day for Chaim Weizmann, Israel's first president,
will focus on science and technology in Israel.
December
4. The anniversary of David Ben Gurion's death will be observed at
Sde Boker, the desert home of Israel's first prime minister.
* * *
For more updated information about events, agents can call the
Israel Ministry of Tourism InfoCenter at (888) 77-ISRAEL or make
contact through the e-mail address at [email protected]. The Web
site is www.goisrael.com or www.infotour.co.il.
For sales help, contact one of these regional Israel government
tourist offices:
Chicago: (312) 782-4306, fax (312) 782-1243.
Dallas: (214) 991-9097/8; fax (214) 392-3521.
Los Angeles: (213) 568-7462; fax (213) 658-6543.
New York: Ministry of Tourism North America, (212) 499-5640;
IGLOO Northeast Region, (212) 499-5650, Information Center Office
(212) 499-5660; fax (212) 499-5645.
Toronto: (416) 964-3784; fax (416) 961-3962.
Or agents can call the Travel Information Center of the Israel
Ministry of Tourism: (800) 514-1188.
Travelers can call (800) 596-1199; the fax number is (212)
629-4398.
The Web site is at www.goisrael.com.
The Ministry's e-mail address is [email protected].
Another informative but unofficial site (sponsored by the
Mizrahi Bank) is at www.inisrael.com.