Today Israel Celebrates 66 Years Of Independence

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Today we memorialize and pay tribute to the fallen soldiers and victims of terror who died defending the land and people of Israel. These heroic men and women made the ultimate sacrifice—all in the name of the Jewish homeland. "Sixty-seven years ago, the United Nations decided on the establishment of a Jewish state. But it was not this declaration that established this wondrous state. It arose from the blood of its sons, the sweat of its pioneers and the vision of its prophets. Every word left behind [by those who fell] was a testament that tells us to be as principled as the Ten Commandments, to be strong and of good courage, to be a productive, enlightened society, to be a free and democratic country, to be a people that strive for peace." President Shimon Peres at a Yom Hazikaron ceremony. Tonight we celebrate 66 years of Israel's independence. Our sages say the best way to live is to have purpose that guides your values and passions, something that is your reason for being. Our beloved land of Israel is ours. You are its heroes. You, whose passion and dedication helped make it what it is today, and who are working towards her enduring strength and vigor each and every day. Israel is home to 14 million people, 8 million of whom live within its borders. Let us work towards an even better 67th year. Happy Yom Ha'atzmaut!