In an historic first, Rabbi Marvin Hier, Simon Wiesenthal Center Founder
and Dean (pictured at the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem construction
site) is being honored as the first non-Israeli citizen chosen to light
Israel’s Independence Day ceremonial torch.
The decision was made by Israel’s
Culture Minister Miri Regev, who said that the inclusion of Jews from
the diaspora symbolizes the stake that Jewish people all over the world
have in the Jewish state.
“I recognize that by lighting this
torch I am merely a messenger for previous generations of Jews, my own
family included, who sacrificed everything to keep alive the dream that
one day their children would return to the Land of Israel and
Jerusalem,” said Rabbi Hier.
“This is not a personal honor, but a
recognition of the sacred work of the Simon Wiesenthal Center to defend
the Jewish people, honor the principles of human dignity and impart our
values to generations to come at the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem.
“By igniting this flame we are sending a message to the whole world
that Jerusalem was, is, and will forever be, the eternal capital of the
Jewish people," Hier added.
Some of the other torch lighters
include: Six Day War paratrooper and veteran Yaakov (Yaki) Hetz, author
Eli Amir, Professor Amnon Shashua, Hadassah Hospital head surgeon Ahmed
Eid, Rabbanit Chana Henkin, singer Yehoram Gaon, philanthropist Michael
Steinhardt, student Dina Simata, Zichron Menachem founder Miri Ehrental
and soccer player Uri Malmilian.
This year’s torch lighting ceremony
takes place during the Simon Wiesenthal Center 40th anniversary
celebration as it prepares the new Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem, and as
world Jewry celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jerusalem’s
reunification.
Source: The Simon Wiesenthal Center
