On April 30, 2025, SHAI & Temple Israel of Great Neck joined to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, commemorating the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948. This festive event, held at TIGN, featured dancing and singing by Hazzan Brian Shamash & Hazzan Galit Douden-Cohen, marking with joy the re-establishment of the sovereign nation of the Jews after generations of exile.  We were also honored to host two Israeli soldiers, Ben Barel (Bral) of Persian descent and Yaniv Galkovsky, both wounded in the Gaza War, along with their escort Ladan Shalom.  They joined us courtesy of El Ami, an organization which brings wounded Israeli soldiers to New York.