Celebrate Israel Festival to Feature "Positively Israel" Showcasing Leading Technology Innovations and Contributions to Society

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Israeli Leadership Council (ILC) together with Jewish National Fund (JNF) will showcase Israel's "Start-Up Nation" influence on some of today's leading innovations at Celebrate Israel Festival taking place April 29th at Cheviot Hills Recreation Center celebrating Israel's 64th Independence Day. 

The pavilion spearheaded by Jewish National Fund will feature Israel's contribution to the world through a multitude of aspects showcasing technology and advancements including imaging, renewable energy and energy conservation, sustainable agriculture, water management, medical technology advancement, integrated photo swapping applications, digital product placement, and the newest "windows" car technology innovations to name a few.

The pavilion dubbed Positively Israel: Making the World a Better Place highlights Jewish National Fund's campaign efforts in teaching how Israel does just that through numerous channels. Some of the companies from Israel featured at the pavilion include Given Imaging with the PilCam; Pythagoras Solar, creators of technology to increase efficiency of solar energy capture for commercial buildings; The Arava Institute, leaders of the world for renewable Energy and Energy Conservation.  Other companies include the ReWalk, the technology for assisted walking unit for paraplegics; and the Central Arava R&D Institute, with demonstrations on their latest innovations in sustainable agricultures which they share with other countries around the world and teach them how to farm in arid environments and turn sand into farms.

"It was important for us to showcase the future of Israel through a positive light, through advancement and technology rather than through war and negativity and therefore we selected Jewish National Fund, the perfect partner to help highlight all these wonderful aspects of Israel," said festival chair Naty Saidoff.

Kid's Positively Israel area will showcase the latest innovation in "window" technology developed by students at Bezalel Art and Design College in Israel with GM Motors that transforms a car window into a touch screen for games that back seat passengers can play. In addition, festival producers pushed for the festival to be truly high tech on many levels to show that Israel truly is a Start-Up Nation. Capsule Media, a Los Angeles-based company with an Israeli technology development will be used at the festival. All attendees will be encouraged to download the application, take photos and share it in the "Celebrate Israel" capsule, which will then be shared on the mega screen on the main stage.  In addition, SeamBI will have an interactive video display where people can put themselves into a "commercial-like" scene.  The company will be showcasing the latest in product placement technology.

The Digital Jewish Genealogy Database presented by the Museum of the Jewish People (Beit Hatzfutzot) will give festival attendees the opportunity to record their family history, preserving this vital material for generations to come. Information will be recorded via computers and iPads preserving their own family trees for future generations, adding their own "branch" to the family tree of the Jewish People.

The festival will take place April 29, 2012 at Cheviot Hills Recreation Center located at 2551 Motor Ave. Los Angeles from 10am – 6pm. This year's festivities will include 5 stages with entertainment throughout the day, vendors, amusement park and entertainment for kids, traditional Israeli foods and local eats, and an official ceremony with local and state dignitaries starting at 1pm. Discount tickets are available online at www.celebrateisraelfestival.com

SOURCE Israeli Leadership Council