May 16, 2003
14 Iyar, 5763
Jerusalem

Dana International and Sarit Hadad Among Top Israeli Artists Performing at Jewish Agency Independence Day Festivals Throughout the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe

50 of Israel's top artists and ensembles (including Sarit Hadad, Dana International, Gaya, Muki, Shalva Berthy, Of Simchas, Doron Mazar, SheketTak and others) are performing at Jewish Agency Independence Day festivals being held throughout the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

The festivals, which are taking place in dozen major FSU and Eastern European cities of the FSU from the 11th to 18th of May, begin with a tribute to Israel's fallen followed by the lighting of 12 torches by families of soldiers serving in the IDF and community notables.

Parallel to the festivals, Israel culture fairs are being conducted. These include literary evenings, film festivals, Israeli singing, dance and opera concerts.

The Jewish Agency festivals are being held in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Minsk, Samara, Yekaterinburg, Yrkutsk, Rostov, and Khabarovsk (Russia). Riga (Latvia), Kiev, Dnieprepetrovsk, Odessa, Simferopol, Dunyetsk, Lvov (Ukraine), Kishinev (Moldova), Tashkent, Baku, Alma Ata (Central Asian Republics of the FSU and Caucasus). In East Europe the major celebration will be in Budapest, on 18 May. Dana International will appear in this event, which will also include an employment and Aliyah Fair.

For additional information contact
the Office of the Spokesman:
Yehuda Weinraub
Liaison to Foreign Press and Media
Jewish Agency for Israel
Mobile:972-53-927017
Fax: 972-2-6204013