The second annual Israel Festival will be held from May 8-15, 2016.

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Submitted by Larah Winn, Mandell JCC 

Israel is known for its blend of old and new, holy and secular, history and technology and, arts and culture. The Mandell JCC, along with over 30 Greater Hartford organizations, invites the community to experience Israel’s fascinating blend first hand with the Second Annual Greater Hartford community-wide Israel Festival, May 8-15, 2016.

Highlights of the festival will include Yom Hazikaron Ceremony, a memorial to honor the fallen victims of wars in Israel and acts of terror on Tuesday, May 10 at 7 p.m. and the Yom Ha’atzmaut Community Celebration, a community-wide party celebrating Israel’s Independence Day, Thursday, May 12 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Party-goers can enjoy games, crafts, inflatables, Gaga, basketball, music, dancing, a photo booth, and more.

The week long celebration begins with an Israeli Community Potluck Picnic from noon – 3 p.m., a family friendly Sunday Funday that includes a picnic, lawn games, Sifryat Pijama story time and more. Wednesday, May 11, offers two insightful programs powered by The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, Metro Hartford Alliance, The Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jewish Professionals Network of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford.  Lunch and Learn Featuring Israeli Companies from noon – 1 p.m. offers a discussion about the exciting Israeli Companies that have a presence in Connecticut. At the CT- Israel Innovation Showcase from 7 – 9 p.m. a diverse group of Israeli start-ups will speak about their innovative companies.

The festival continues Thursday, May 12 with Israel Current Events Seminar for senior adults, co-sponsored by the Hoffman Summerwood Community, it is a Lunch and Learn event featuring Israeli Defense Force veteran Amichai Shikli, who will speak about his service in the second Lebanon war. On the same day is Archeology of the Land of Israel, from 2 – 4:30 p.m.

Professor Freund of the Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies will explain the archeology of the Holy Land and original artifacts housed at The Museum of Jewish Civilization at the University of Hartford. Later that evening from 7:00-9:00 p.m., is Let There Be Water, a discussion with national best selling author, Seth Siegel about his book Let There Be Water – Israel’s Solution for a Water Starved World co-sponsored by Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut, Jewish Community Relations Council and the Mandell JCC Jewish Book Festival.

Continuing on through the weekend, young adults can take part in Taste & Toast, an Israeli wine tasting, Saturday, May 14, from 7 -9 p.m. where they can learn about the beautiful terrain of Israel, and how it cultivates a variety of wines.

Rounding out the Israel festival on Sunday, May 15 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. is Touch-a-Truck, where children have the opportunity to climb aboard and get behind the wheel of their favorite vehicles, learn from their operators and meet some of their hometown heroes. The event will also feature an Israeli twist as a part of the festival; with a salute to Israel, crafts, PJ Library stories, a train ride, and a simulated bike ride through Israel (bikes must be brought to the event). From 12:30 to 3 p.m. is a Teen Gaga Tournament co-sponsored by JTConnect, NFTY, NCSY, USY and Hebrew High School of New England. Teens can enjoy games and activities including t-shirt making, a chocolate fountain and more. The Mandell JCC Valley Sports & Community Center in Canton will also take part in the Israel Festival with The Valley Celebrates Israel from 2 – 4 p.m. with family fun such as Gaga, Israeli style dodge ball, and Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball. Families can also sample Israeli snacks, make their own hummus, and create an Israeli-inspired craft. The festival concludes with an Israeli Movie Night from 7 – 9 p.m. co-sponsored by theMandell JCC Hartford Jewish Film Festival, which presents the CT premiere of the Israeli movie “Wedding Doll.”

Prices, dates and locations vary; please visit www.mandelljcc.org/ for the complete Israel Festival Brochure. For more information contact Michal Abramoff, 860-231-6333, [email protected] or contact the Member Services Center, 860-236-4571. Events subject to change.

The Mandell Jewish Community Center is open to everyone and supported by funds raised by the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, a recipient of funding from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, a member of the JCC Association of North America. Programs subject to change. For updates, follow the Mandell JCC on Facebook, Twitter and www.mandelljcc.org.