Knesset to celebrate its 70th ‘birthday’ on Tu BiShvat
The Agriculture Ministry will decorate the Knesset with fruit in the spirit of the holiday.
By LAHAV HARKOVUpdated: JANUARY 20, 2019 14:16The Knesset building(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
The Knesset will celebrate the 70th anniversary of its inaugural meeting on Monday.The celebrations will be more modest this year because of the upcoming elections, and will focus more on the public than on lawmakers.However, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said the circumstances “do not make this special day any less important or celebratory.We expect thousands of visitors from all parts of the population to come to a day filled with especially enjoyable activities.”More than 2,000 students, soldiers and senior citizens are expected to attend the Knesset’s annual open house in honor of its 70th year.As on every year, the Knesset’s birthday falls on the holiday of Tu BiShvat, and thus will be celebrated in conjunction with KKL-JNF this year.Visitors will be able to plant blue and white flowers to create the number 70 in the Knesset’s entrance square.The Agriculture Ministry will decorate the Knesset with fruit in the spirit of the holiday.There will also be a celebratory prayer in the Knesset’s synagogue with Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau.In addition, Dialogue in the Dark Museum in Holon will use a room in the Knesset to offer visitors the experience of what it is like to be blind. The Knesset will also host a lecture on its efforts to employ people with disabilities.
Sand artist Shelly Ben-Nun plans to sculpt portraits of politicians in the Knesset.In addition, there will be arts and crafts for children visiting the Knesset using only recycled materials, and an exhibit about children’s books in the Knesset library.
