HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Harrisburg Jewish Community Center celebrated Israeli Independence Day on Sunday, honoring the country's culture and food.
The event saw traditional Israeli dance performances and food being served, including pita, falafel and baba ghanoush. Organizers say the celebration was geared towards educating the next generation about the traditions of those prior.
"This year, we have a focus on the culture, the food and on education," said Abby Smith, the Chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg. "So, kids are getting a little passport. They're going around coloring in the different stamps, and they can learn about different aspects of Israeli culture and life while they eat some Israeli food. The idea is to connect people to our Jewish homeland."
The holiday comes as Israel continues its war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack against Israel, alongside criticism of how the country has handled the conflict. Organizers say the celebration was more subdued than normal as a result.
"We want to [tone down] the celebration a little bit, with the fact that we have an active war going on," Smith said. "There's a lot of people whose lives are on the line. We're not just talking about Israelis, we're talking about many people of many faiths, of many colors, who live in Israel and in that region."
Smith said she hoped the event could focus on celebrating one of the oldest cultures in the world.
"Hopefully, we just [can] create these times where we can come together on things that are maybe a little less controversial and have a pita with falafel and do some Israeli dancing," Smith said. "To me, that's something that we can all rally around and celebrate."