Enabling communities to experience Independence Day as one global community, the International March of the Living (MOTL) program, “Salute to Israel’s 73rd Birthday”, sponsored by Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, includes panoramic views of Israel’s natural beauty and a special performance by Israel Army Choir and Chief Cantor Shai Abramson.

“This first-ever virtual celebration for Israel’s Yom Ha’atzmaut has been entirely produced by alumni of March of the Living for the benefit of our global Jewish community and friends of Israel,” lauded March of the Living President, Phyllis Greenberg Heideman.

The broadcast will focus on Holocaust Survivors who helped establish the State of Israel “and we remember, respect, and cherish their unique contribution for the Jewish State in the Land of Israel” added Heideman.

Many Holocaust survivor stories have never been told, others forgotten with time – yet their relevance and impact remain profound. These include the story of Brigadier General (ret.) Dr. Yitzhak Arad, Past Chair of Yad Vashem, and former Soviet partisan – who fought in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence and later in the 1967 Liberation of Jerusalem.

“Salute to Israel’s 73rd Birthday” also features Olympic Athlete Henry Hershkovitz who survived the 1972 Munich massacre, and Avraham Carmi an educator who was taken captive by Jordanian forces during the War of Independence.

Chair of March of the Living, Dr. Shmuel Rosenman stressed that “this year’s broadcast will enable March of the Living alumni, who have taken on the custom to travel to Jerusalem and Latrun each Independence Day, to join with Jewish communities and friends of Israel, and celebrate together.”

Over 25 countries and dozens of MOTL communities will participate in the programme – sharing video and photo submissions that capture the essence of Israel – while MOTL representatives commemorate Israel’s 73rd anniversary in a festive tree planting ceremony and New Immigrants, who made Aliyah following their participation in MOTL share their special stories.

The complimentary 45-minute program will utilize a state-of-the-art broadcasting studio. It will launch on April 15 at 1:00 PM ET and will remain available to watch on-demand.

March of the Living has taken place 33 times since 1988, attracting over 265,000 alumni from 40 countries. During Covid-times, MOTL continues to offer virtual programming to commemorate Yom Hashoah as well as Yom Ha’atzmaut.