NEW YORK – Thousands of people from 50 countries, of all ages, faiths, and backgrounds, have joined the World Jewish Congress in compiling a special gift of hope for the State of Israel, to celebrate 70 years of Independence – singing Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, in one voice. 
The World Jewish Congress received hundreds of video submission from groups and individuals in places as far away as Albania to Colombia, the Ivory Coast to Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines to the United Kingdom, singing the anthem in Hebrew. The submissions were compiled into a single video, showcasing the diversity of love and support for Israel worldwide.
World Jewish Congress President Ronald, S. Lauder, welcomed each of the submissions and said: “Israel is an integral part of Jewish identity, and will always be our home, no matter where we choose to live in the world. Jewish life in exile was sustained by 2,000 years of hope and the dream that we would one day return as a free nation to the Land of Israel. It is the same hope that fuels the State of Israel today as it grows and prospers in the realization of Theodor Herzl’s vision as a country of innovation on its ancient and historic land. Let us keep that hope alive, as we celebrate 70 years of Israel’s achievements, and look ahead to another 70 years and beyond.”
The video project was one of a series of events and programs carried out by the World Jewish Congress in honor of Israel’s 70th birthday, including an official Declaration of the Diaspora Jewry’s Commitment to the State of Israel signed by the leaders of 83 Jewish communities worldwide, presented last month to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
Each of the individual video submissions, from countries around the world, can be viewed here. For more information, visit the project website at hatikvah.wjc.org/
Hatikvah video
