Miami, Apr. 16, 2018 – Miami Dade College (MDC) will illuminate its historic Freedom Tower in white and blue at sunset, Thursday, Apr. 19, in support of Israel Independence Day 2018. It’s the first time the Freedom Tower, a National Historical Landmark, joins other iconic buildings around the world in a display of support to Israel’s national day of independence.
The colors white and blue represent the colors on Israel’s flag. David Ben-Gurion, who was the first prime minister of Israel, publicly read the Declaration of Independence of Israel on May 14, 1948. According to the Jewish calendar, this was the fifth day of Iyar, the eighth month of the civil year, in the year 5708. The anniversary of this date on the Jewish calendar in Hebrew is Yom Ha’atzmaut, and usually falls in April or May of the Gregorian calendar. This year, the special 70th Anniversary falls on April 19 of the Gregorian calendar.
“The Consulate General of Israel is proud to literally cast the white and blue lights of Israel’s national colors onto a building which stands for freedom. Quite a fitting location, considering the occasion celebrates the realization of the historic dreams and struggles of millions of Jews, many who perished through millennia and in the Holocaust, until finally the modern state of Israel rose on May 14, 1948. Today Israel stands strong, sharing common values of democracy and freedom with our friends, like the United States of America. The Consulate is also fortunate to have MDC as a close neighbor and strong partner in multiple arenas ranging from arts to technology. May we continue celebrating freedom and strengthening our ties with MDC, Miami and Israel,” said Lior Haiat, Consul General of Israel in Miami.
WHAT: Freedom Tower Goes White and Blue for Israel’s 70th Independence Day
WHEN: Thursday, Apr 19, at sunset
WHERE: Freedom Tower
600 Biscayne Blvd.
Israeli Consulate Media contact: Ariel Roman-Harris, Director of Media Affairs, 305-925-9413, media@miami.mfa.gov.il.