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IT IS ISRAEL’S 50th (continued)

1. JOYOUS CELEBRATION--

SEUDAT MITZVAH

Select one evening of this birthday year to invite guests to a festive meal featuring foods, flowers and wines that come from Israel. Serve dishes representing Israel’s pluralist culinary traditions.

Play traditional and contemporary music by Israeli composers and performers such as:

Habreira Hativit

Shlomo Artzi

Achinoam Nini (Noa)

David Broza

Shlomo Gronich

Naomi Shemer

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

2. SOUL-SEARCHING--

CHESHBON HANEFESH

When you invite your guests, ask them to bring an object that reflects their relationship to Israel, such as:

* Family photographs taken in Eilat and Petra

* An editorial about the Middle East

* Your passport

* A certificate for a tree planted in Israel

* A prospectus for Israeli mutual funds

* The prayer for Israeli soldiers

* Mud from the Dead Sea

* Armenian pottery from the Old City

* A "Shalom Sesame" video

* A tallit or mezuzah

* A T-shirt bought in Tel Aviv

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 * A kefiya

* A Hebrew Coca-Cola can

* A tomato or a diamond

After you arrange all the objects on a ceremonial plate, ask guests to explain how their objects represent the blessings and challenges Israel poses.

3. HEARTFELT AND STRATEGIC BLESSINGS--BRAKHAH

Culminate your celebration by offering personal blessings for Israel on its 50th.

You might begin:

Ye’va-rech-echa: May Israel be blessed with___

____________________.

 

 

Rabbi Hiyya bar Abbah quoted Rav: In the time to come, all the wild trees of the Land of Israel will bear fruit, for it is written in the Torah: "...for the trees have borne their fruit; fig trees and vine have yielded their strength." (Joel 2:22)

(Babylonian Talmud: Ketubot 112b)

Take a moment to write your own blessings for Israel and share them with family and friends.

If you wish, we will post your blessings on the CLAL website. Click below to submit your blessings to us for posting:

Bless Israel on her fiftieth!

 

Feel free to print copies of this page.


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