Israel's torch-lighting state ceremony celebrating the country's 74th Independence Day began on Wednesday evening.
The torch lighters included:- Kalman Samuels, founder of the Shalva organization- Yael Srar, the head of the lobby for the war against sexual abuse- Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yoram Yair, chairman of Yahad – United for Israel's Soldiers- Mika and Ori Banki, the parents of Shira Banki who was murdered at the Jerusalem Pride Parade in 2015- Idan Kleinman, the chairman of the IDF Disabled Veterans Organization- Elizabeta Sherstyuk, a Jewish Ukrainian who heads the Chesed Chaim Humanitarian Aid Center- Asael Shabo, a survivor of a terrorist attack and Paralympian- H., the commander of Israel Police's counter-terrorism unit- Dr. Simcha Gathon, director of the Center for the Legacy of Ethiopian Jewry, and Angel Alon who provided a foster home for 217 babies and children- Munir Madi – founder and head of the pre-military preparatory school “Kerem-El” in Daliyat al-Carmel- Rita, a famous Israeli singer- First Lieutenant Hadar Cohen, the commander of the Olot company at the Michve Alon training base