Spectacular 15,000-person, Community-Wide Festival to Celebrate Israel's 64th Independence Day to be Held April 29 at Cheviot Hills Recreation Center on Motor Avenue From 10AM-6PM

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands are expected to attend the highly anticipated, community-wide "Celebrate Israel Festival" sponsored by the Israeli Leadership Council (ILC) on April 29, from 10:00AM-6:00PM. The event will be held at the Cheviot Hills Recreation Center, 2551 Motor Ave. in Los Angeles. www.celebrateisraelfestival.com 

The day begins at 8:30AM with a 1.5-mile free "Salute to Israel Walk" presented by StandWithUs.  Hundreds will walk from the park to the Museum of Tolerance and back to show solidarity with the State of Israel.  A salute to Israel drive-by will herald the start of the walk with the 9/11 Tribute Cars "Fueled by the Fallen." 

The Los Angeles County Sheriff Department Golden Stars Skydiving Team will kick off the official ceremony on the main stage at 1:00PM. Dignitaries include: State Assemblyman Mike Feuer, Council General of Israel David Seigel, Councilman Paul Koretz, LA County Sheriff Leroy Baca, Councilman Dennis P. Zine, LA Controller Zev Yaroslavsky, City Controller Wendy Gruel, Congressman Brad Sherman, among others including Festival Chair Debby and Naty Saidoff and  ILC chair Shawn Evenhaim. Syndicated talk show host Michael Medved will host.

Israeli star Eyal Golan topline the Festival's 5 stages with performances throughout the day including folk dancing and DJ Dance Party. 

The pinnacle of the festival, "Positively Israel," pavilion will showcase the small state's leading innovations in technology; a massive 5-foot art installation and tents featuring Spirituality, Judiaism and a Genealogy database to store the family history.  Kids will frolic in the KIDZONE Amusement park and everyone will enjoy Cafe Tel Aviv with ethnic Israeli foods, world music,  drum circles, folk dancing and a 200vendor village showcasing Israeli artwork, paintings, sculptures, fine arts, jewelry, Judaica gifts and much more.

Pre-purchased discount tickets are available online at $9 for kids and $15 for adults. Door prices are $12 for kids and $19 for adults and kids under 3 are free. Family packs are available online only. There are designated parking structures. Registration, directions, parking, and pre-purchased tickets are at: www.celebrateisraelfestival.com  for the morning "Salute to Israel" Walk registration click on the "Walk" tab. The Walk is free, but tickets must be purchased for the Festival beginning at 10AM.

Co-sponsors of the "Celebrate Israel Festival" include:  Debbie and Naty Saidoff, StandWithUs, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles,  Jewish National Fund, Jewish Life Television, Mati Israel Community Center and Hidbaroot Los Angeles.

Israel's myriad technological innovations will be showcased at the "Positively Israel" Pavilion, an interactive space spearheaded by Jewish National Fund (JNF).  It highlights imaging, renewable energy and energy conservation, sustainable agriculture, water management, medical technology advancement, integrated photo swapping applications, digital product placement, and the newest  in "windows" car technology, to name a few.

One of the Festival's goals was to engage the community through art. The Youth Art Expo features 5-foot art pieces by the four finalists from My Israel Art Installation competition depicting their interpretation of the Star of David and the Menorah.  Art installations are funded by the ILC. The Youth Art Expo is an initiative of the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles to engage young artists.

The Digital Jewish Genealogy Database is presented by the Museum of the Jewish People, (Beit Hatzfutzot). A high-tech, multi-faceted database will give attendees the opportunity to enter their family's history via iPads and laptops where the data will be collected and preserved for generations to come.

The KIDZONE area will include an amusement park with rides for all ages, free arts and crafts area, kids stage with live entertainment all day, face painting, stilt walkers, a petting zoo, juggling acts and more. Spiritualism and Judaism tent is offered by Hidabroot Los Angeles with lectures and information from renowned Rabbis, a stand-up comedian and kosher food dedicated to Orthodox guests.

Bringing a slice of Israel to the Southland, the Festival includes Cafe Tel-Aviv where visitors will indulge in ethnic Israeli foods, world music,  drum circles, folk dancing.  Don't miss vendor village featuring over 200 vendors showcasing Israeli artwork, paintings, sculptures, fine arts, jewelry, Judaica gifts. The Israeli Leadership Council's  (ILC)  mission is to build an active and giving Israeli-American community in order to strengthen the State of Israel, our next generation, and to provide a bridge to the Jewish- American community.  http://www.israelileadership.org/ilchome.aspx

SOURCE Israeli Leadership Council