While it may be true that if you ask two Jews a question, you’re likely to get three different opinions, it appears that thousands were in agreement last Sunday: The Israel Independence Day Festival at Hansen Dam was the place to be to celebrate the Jewish State’s 49th birthday. Festival organizers said that attendance reached 10,000 for the daylong event, which featured food, live entertainment, cultural exhibits, picnic areas and a children’s amusement park.
“This was our most organized year ever, from parking to vendors to everything else,” said staffer Haim Linder. “The kids had a great time, the weather was beautiful, and the new Sephardic Pavilion was a success. [Israeli pop singer] Matti Caspi had everybody there until a quarter of 6, even though the day was supposed to end at 5…. It was really a happy, community atmosphere.”
And, as it does every year, the Israeli Flight Club, composed of Israeli pilots now settled in Los Angeles, flew in formation over the festival to salute another year of independence. — Diane Arieff Zaga, Arts Editor n
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