(Community-wide event with live music)
Israel is turning 65 this year and the Jewish Federation of Cleveland is partnering with over 50 local Jewish organizations to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, on Monday, April 15, 2013 at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights.
The annual celebration is a family-friendly event for all ages and widely attended. Young children will enjoy arts and crafts, balloon artists, face-painting and photo opportunities while learning about Israeli life and culture. The whole family can sample delicious kosher foods, ranging from traditional Israeli favorites like falafel to American fare like chicken strips and french fries. Guests can tour the Israeli shuk, marketplace, where vendors sell beautiful jewelry, exotic spices, hand-made wares and so much more. Plus, live bands will share their music with guests from the time doors open at 6:00 pm to the featured performance of Israeli superstar, David Broza, whose free concert begins at 8 pm.
For young professionals, ages 21-45, the Federation’s Young Leadership Division (YLD) is hosting a falafel and wine bar. “We want the community’s young people to join us and have a great time networking and socializing. It should be a lot of fun,” said Amy Filzer, YLD event Co-chair.
The fun and festivities for everyone kicks off at 6:15 pm (doors open at 6:00 pm) and is preceded by Yom Hazikaron, Day of Remembrance, at 5:45 pm (doors open at 5:15 pm). This is a meaningful memorial service to remember those who have sacrificed in the struggle for Israel’s independence. Soldiers from the Israel Defense Force (IDF) will join local Clevelanders to pay respect to lives lost, and lives forever changed. No backpacks or large purses, please. For more information, please visit:
www.jewishcleveland.org/events
Israel’s Independence Day Celebration
Executive Caterers at Landerhaven (6111 Landerhaven Drive in Mayfield Heights)
Yom Hazikaron
– 5:45 pm (doors open 5:15 pm)
Yom Ha’atzmaut – 6:15 pm (doors open 6 pm)
David Broza Concert – 8:00 pm (doors open 7:30 pm)
Ben says
Is this JEWISH event going to be kosher? Under whose hashgacha????
LJN says
Federation community-wide events like this at Landerhaven usually have hasgocha from Va’ad HaRabbonim HaChareidim (Rabbis Garfunkel, Kaplovitz)
ShalomYisroel says
How sad it is when we have to Question our own JEWISH Federations Kashrus standards
Community Member says
FYI – all events held at the Federation building are Kosher under Cleveland Kosher. It is a pleasure going to meetings there and seeing everything under a reliable hashgacha. It really shows that our Federation cares about Kashrus and respects those who keep Kosher. Plus i think just about EVERY Federation event is “dietary laws observed”, and they are under either Cleveland Kosher or the Vaad Harabonim Mashgichim like those mentioned, or using a strictly kosher caterer like Davis’ or Contempo, etc. Certainly one can ask, under whose hechsher is the event, etc…. But i definitely do not think it is anything to be SAD about, but really proud of our Federation, who does so much good in the community, nationally, and indeed in Israel and throughout the world. The Cleveland Jewish Federation is literally the “model” and best-in-class Federation worldwide. It was and is the first Federation to recognize the importance of Jewish Day School Education, back when iday schools were not in vogue. And it the largest supporter of most of our Jewish Day schools.
Avrohom Henfield says
Don’t know about the food, but the live music during sefira doesn’t sound too kosher. Guess you just have to pick your battles.
Community Member says
Reb Avrohom, you are correct, i didnt notice the music part.
Avrohom Henfield says
Seems that the concert (David Broza) is at 8:00 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom so if you want to attend the rest of the activities you can hopefully do so without hearing the live music. My son will be working at the Sababa booth so if you see him tell him be sure and say hi. May next year’s celebration take place in Yerushalayim Habinuya with a live concert by the Leviim where we can all rejoice as one.
Susan Efroymson says
I worked there at the Shimon’s kiosk, and this is the only time I’ve ever been to one of these. Because of the discussion above, I offer the following information for anyone who was considering taking their children next year so you will have a clear idea of what to expect and can make an informed decision.
The final story about the music was this: In the food room, you could hear no music. All the frum vendors mentioned how this was appreciated. There was another room with very well done Israeli booths, games, clowns with baloons, etc….for kids of all ages. It was closer to the music, but not directly there. Chances are you could hear something akin to background music in a store. In a third room, there were tables and chairs for those who bought dinner from the vendors there – there was only one vendor there I didn’t recognize btw- and the kliezmer band was playing live dinner music which, as i said could not be heard in the room we were in. That was from 6-8pm.
The concert mentioned above was in teh main concert hall, and the kiddie activities were over by then with many families leaving and the food vendors packing up too. So for those who went, it was very possible to have had a kosher family night out. Fro those interested for the future, the woman in charge was saying that everyone seemed to prefer this set up to the one used previous years, so I would expect a repeat set up.