HAPPY ANNIVERSARY; THOUSANDS CELEBRATE ISRAEL'S 50TH BIRTHDAY.Byline: Leilani Albano Daily News Staff Writer More than 50,000 people converged in Pan Pacific Park on Sunday in what was touted as the largest communitywide event outside of Israel celebrating the 50th anniversary of that nation's statehood state·hood n. The status of being a state, especially of the United States, rather than being a territory or dependency. . Seniors as well as youth met all day under tents, as small groups danced spontaneously to synthesized versions of Israeli and Arabic music. Mixing the traditional with modern, the Keshet Chayim Dancers wore colorful scarves scarves n. A plural of scarf1. scarves Noun a plural of scarf1 and turbans while performing on a stage decorated with the traditional white and blue colors of Israel. It was in stark contrast to the solemnity SOLEMNITY. The formality established by law to render a contract, agreement, or other act valid. 2. A marriage, for example, would not be valid if made in jest, and without solemnity. Vide Marriage, and Dig. 4, 1, 7; Id. 45, 1, 30. of men standing in prayer with one arm bound in a leather strap, practicing the tefillin, a ritual for males that emphasizes spiritual restraint. The celebrations served as the first time the Jewish Federation A Jewish Federation is a confederation of various Jewish social agencies, volunteer programs, educational bodies, and related organizations, found within most cities in North America that host a viable Jewish community. has organized an event with the Council of Israeli Organizations and the Israeli Consulate Consulate, 1799–1804, in French history, form of government established after the coup of 18 Brumaire (Nov. 9–10, 1799), which ended the Directory. . The celebrants included the Eastern European Ashkenazi groups with the Sephardic communities of Asia and the Mediterranean. ``Israel is our mother country,'' said Chana Calmus of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , who was born and raised in Israel and is of Moroccan descent. ``It is my country even if I don't live there.'' Hana Guerrero of Los Angeles, who sold festive-colored wedding gowns at a booth, said Judaism transcends borders. ``We're all Jews even if we're from Tunisia, Israel, Morocco. We have the same traditions, the same religion.'' As children made happy birthday cards for Israel, adults elsewhere disagreed on the merits on the merits adj. referring to a judgment, decision or ruling of a court based upon the facts presented in evidence and the law applied to that evidence. A judge decides a case "on the merits" when he/she bases the decision on the fundamental issues and considers of the Mideast peace accords. Rather than see differences as a negative, the Jewish communities' wide spectrum of political and religious ideologies is seen as a strength. ``Differences hold no bearing. It is a deep down love for Israel,'' said Alan Shapiro, president of the Woodland Hills Beit Hamidrash Synagogue synagogue (sĭn`əgŏg) [Gr.,=assembly], in Judaism, a place of assembly for worship, education, and communal affairs. The origins of the institution are unclear. One tradition dates it to the Babylonian exile of the 6th cent. B.C. , whose members arrived in busloads for the event. ``(The 50th anniversary of Israel) is an opportunity to join together as one unified people.'' CAPTION(S): 4 Photos PHOTO (1) Aaron Shuster sings Israel's national anthem Sunday. (2 -- 3) A skydiver from the Sheriff's Department team descends, left, drawing the attention of the crowd at the Israeli independence celebration at Pan Pacific Park. (4) The crowd of 50,000 people pack Pan Pacific Park in Los Angeles on Sunday for a celebration of Israel's 50 years of independence. Terri Thuente/Daily News |
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