The community can honor and remember those who have fallen in defense of the State of Israel or from acts of terror at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 4 at the Jewish Community Center Arts & Education building, 2 Millstone Campus Drive.  The ceremony, which marks Israel’s official Memorial Day, is free and open to the public. Readings, poems and songs will be in English and Hebrew. 

On Monday, May 5, the community can celebrate Israel’s 66th anniversary with an evening of entertainment, art, dance and fun at the JCC Staenberg Family Complex. This year’s celebration will feature a traveling Israeli artist bazaar.  Pieces from 14 different artists will be on hand for purchase, including jewelry, ceramic, wood, glass and paintings at affordable prices. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with children’s activities that include roving circus performers and magicians, face painting and airbrush T-shirt art as well as falafel and hot dogs for purchase. Special performances by the local Israeli scouts and others will start at 6:30 p.m.  

At 7:30 p.m., participants can try Israeli dancing, led by Israeli dance specialist Shirley Smith. This free event is funded by the Lubin-Green Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.

For more information, contact Rabbi Brad Horwitz, director of the JCC’s Helene Mirowitz Center of Jewish Community Life, at 314-442-3271 or [email protected].