List of Independence Day honorees announced
Honorees who will light torches in the Mount Herzl ceremony include Israeli performers, entrepreneurs and other well-known figures. Miri Regev: 'All of them are lovers of Jerusalem who through their actions and spirit contribute to the building, prosperity and beauty of Jerusalem.'
As published by Yedioth Ahronoth, honorees include Israeli singer and actor Yehoram Gaon and Rabbi Marvin Hier, who spoke at President Donald Trump's inaugeration.
Additionally, co-founder and CTO of Mobileye, Amnon Shashua, will also be taking part. However, he made clear if his business partner Zvi Aviram does not take part in the ceremony, he will forgo participation.
The list also includes writer Eli Amir, soccer player Uri Malmilian, Head of the Department of General Surgery at Hadassah Medical Center, Dr. Eid Ahmed and Hana Henkin, who lost her son and daughter-in-law in a terror attack.
Also included are Dina Samte of the Jewish Institute for the Blind, restaurateur Eli Mizrahi, Six-Day War veteran Yaakov Hetz, Taglit-Birthright chairman Michael Steinhardt, Miri Erenthal who founded the Zichron Menahem organization to aid children with cancer and their families, Lt. Dean Ergil of the paratroopers and Maj. Yaros Shigut who immigrated from Ethiopia and currently serves as head of the information department at the Education and Youth Officer's headquarters.
In honor of the ceremony, Minister of Culture and Sports Miri Regev said, "On the 69th Independence Day, the State of Israel salutes Jerusalem, our eternal capital. The torchlight ceremony will mark the anniversary of the liberation and unification of the city. Each one of the torchbearers will tell the story of Jerusalem from a personal and special perspective. All of them are lovers of Jerusalem who through their actions and spirit contribute to the building, prosperity and beauty of Jerusalem. "
(Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg)
