Miami celebrates Israel’s 75th anniversary. See how it looked at the baseball stadium
By Jeff Kleinman and
Carl Juste
How do you celebrate the birth of a country?
With an Independence Day parade and performances, of course.
Miami partied for Israel’s 75th anniversary on Wednesday with a patriotic bash at loanDepot Park in Little Havana featuring flags, song and military personnel.
More than 6,000 South Florida people participated in the festivities.
“Israel lives strong in South Florida. The Jewish community, the youth, have deep ties to their roots, their ancestral homeland,” said Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, Consul General of Israel in Miami.
Here’s what the Miami event looked like:
The soldiers
Israeli Defense Forces soldier Natalia Levi, left, fist-bumps students as they parade into the ballpark. On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the South Florida community celebrated Israel’s 75th Independence Day. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Israeli Defense Forces soldiers Natalia Levi, left, Moran Elbaz, center, and Netanel Cohen, right, greet students and adults as they parade into the ballpark on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 for Israeli Independence Day festivities in Miami. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Israeli Defense Forces soldier Natalia Levi, center, joins in flying the Israeli flag with fellow military service personnel. On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the South Florida community celebrated Israel’s 75th Independence Day. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Israeli Defense Forces soldiers Moran Elbaz, left, Netanel Cohen, and Natalia Levi perform for attendees. On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the South Florida community celebrated Israel’s 75th Independence Day. Over 6,000 convened at LoanDepot Park in Miami. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
The kids
Students from Ben Gamla Charter School in Hollywood parade to their seats at Israeli Independence Day festivities in Miami. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Ben Gamla Charter School Hollywood students Ori Kanfi, 11, left, Leroy Lev, 11, Mike Breslauer, 12, center, and David Leibovich, 11, right, sing as they wave flags in celebration of the statehood anniversary of Israel at the Marlins baseball stadium in Miami. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Meir Susterman, 10, in fourth grade , right, stands at attention as the Israeli national anthem is sung as students from Scheck Hillel community School parade to their seats. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Festivities
A motorcade cruises through third base, home plate and first base at loanDepot Park in Miami as children wave flags with cheers. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Students and adults from Ben Gamla Plantation (in purple) and Ben Gamla Charter Hollywood (in red) wave flags as they sing. On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the South Florida community celebrated Israel’s 75th Independence Day. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
Students from Scheck Hillel Community School parade in front of “1948” inflatable as adults hold up the sign at the Marlins baseball stadium in Miami. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
David Posnack Jewish Day School students parade into the baseball park. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published April 26, 2023 at 4:45 PM.
