It was led by members of TZAMERET, the Israel Zionist Council’s youth organization, affiliated with the Informal Education Administration’s Supplementary Education Division and in cooperation with JAFI.

The event opened with a procession of flags carried by the marchers from the Raanana Junction and Raanana Park to the Yad LaBanim Plaza.  The procession was accompanied by the songs – “I am Here” and “Where is Tomorrow Going”, by the Pninei Hasharon Troupe and Pirchei Raanana boys choir sang “On the Walls of Jerusalem” and “On a High Mountain”.

The event was attended by Mayor Nahum Hofree and Deputy Mayor Aryeh Friedman – director of the Informal Education Administration and with the participation of youth, educators, residents and representatives of the city’s schools.

TZAMERET members facilitated at the “discussion circles” – on the following topics:  the liberation of Jerusalem, Jerusalem Melody – Jerusalem in Israeli song, Meurav Yerushalmi – Israel’s multi cultural nature, Jerusalem spirit – as a spiritual center and national symbol, Home in Jerusalem – settlement in Jerusalem and its environs, Jerusalem and a capital city.

The discussion circles include youth from South American countries, who are spending a year in Israel.

Representatives of the elementary, middle and high schools lit the menorah, our national symbol, and expressed their personal and school’s connection to Jerusalem.

Raanana resident, Eitan Sagi, a city dignitary, who fought in the battle to liberate Jerusalem, spoke about the paratroopers’ heritage.

The youth expressed their wishes in notes they inserted on a Graffiti wall, like at the Kotel.

In the photo:  Youth carrying flags in the procession.  Photography Courtesy of the Raanana Municipality.