Lori Palatnik of Momenutm Selected to Light the “Diaspora torch” at the 2020 Israel Independence Day Ceremony

/

On Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day, Momentum Founding Director Lori Palatnik lights the Diaspora torch on behalf of Jewish people around the world. “Unity without uniformity” was the compelling message.

Lori Palatnik, founding director of Momenutm, has been selected to light the “Diaspora torch” at the 2020 Israel Independence Day Torch Lighting Ceremony on April 28 celebrating Israel’s 72nd year of statehood. 

Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miri Regev announced no Saturday evening, April 11, 2020, that Lori was chosen following the recommendation of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. Every year, at the main Independence day ceremony 12 torches are lit, each signifying a specific category.

Previous Diaspora Torch Honorees include:

  • In 2017, (first Diaspora Torch) Rabbi Marvin Heir of the Wiesenthal Center with Michael Steinhard speaking in English

  • In 2018,  Mayim Bialik (who was not able to attend)

  • In 2019, Jeff Finkelstein, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh, received this honor for his leadership after the devastating events that occurred earlier that year.

The 72nd Israel Independence Day Torch Lighting ceremony will focus on bringing together and unifying the varied voices in the Israeli society. This event typically is a grand production with thousands of guests and dignitaries. This year, due to COVID-19, the ceremony will be broadcasted internationally from Har Herzel - for the first time with no live audience – with the likelihood of the highest viewership ever due to social distancing and stay at home orders.

In the words released by Minister Regev: “I’m happy to announce my decision for Rebbetzin Lori Palatnik to light the diaspora torch in Israel’s 72nd Independence Day ceremony. Lori is an outstanding educator, a Zionist at heart and the founding director of “Momentum” – who works tirelessly to strengthen both Jewish identity and the close connection to the State of Israel through her work with young mothers at their communities", said Minister Regev. She also added  that “Momentum’s signature program, an eight-day journey to Israel that is followed by Jewish engagement opportunities by the participating young mothers in their hometowns upon return. So far, more than 20,000 women from the Diaspora have taken part in the Momentum Israel journey, which Regev said has served to strengthen both Jewish identity and the connection to the Jewish state. Rebbetzin Lori is a leading, unique and exciting version of the ‘Queen of the Desert' and a Zionist who loves Israel, for which momentum never ceases."

Regev went on to say that “Palatnik, who lives part-time in Jerusalem and part-time in Washington, is gifted with incredible qualities which enable her to create a strong connection with the varied voices in the  Israeli society, bearing the eternal and victorious relationship between us and our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora.”

Read more in this article from The Jerusalem Post.