Bergen County marks Yom Ha’atzmaut in Hackensack

The Israeli flag was raised over the Bergen County administration complex Thursday afternoon as the county marked Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom Hazikaron with a formal proclamation.

“It was a beautiful ceremony,” said Tracy Silna Zur, vice chairwoman of Bergen County’s Board of Chosen Freeholders, who served as emcee.

“Its a wonderful way of reaching out to the community and also expressing our solidarity with the State of Israel,” Ms. Zur said. The county first saluted Israel’s independence last year.

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Israeli flag flies over Bergen County administration complex.

Amir Sagie, Israel’s deputy counsul general, spoke, as did several leaders of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, which helped organize the event.

Harrison Adler holds the proclamation marking Yom Ha’atzmaut

Harrison Adler of Tenafly spoke of his experience fighting in the Israeli army as a lone soldier, as an outgrowth of what he called “a Zionism cultivated in Bergen County.”

Eden Barak and Margalit Ramirez, students at Jewish day schools in Paramus, led the singing of The Star Spangled Banner and Hatikvah as the American, Israeli, and Bergen County flags were raised.

Chabad, Conservative, Orthodox, and Reform rabbis participated, highlighting the Jewish community’s unity in supporting Israel.
“It really was very emotional to see the County of Bergen embrace our community,” Ms. Zur said.

Freeholder David L. Ganz; Harrison Adler, student and former lone soldier; Jason Shames, CEO, Jewish Federation of Northern NJ; Daniel M. Shlufman, Esq., Board of Trustees, Jewish Federation of Northern NJ; Amir Sagie, deputy consul general of Israel; County Executive James J. Tedesco; Lee Lasher, vice-president, Jewish Federation of Northern NJ; Sheriff Michael Saudino; Freeholder Vice Chairwoman Tracy Silna Zur; Cheryl Rosenberg, president of Ben Porat Yosef Yeshiva Day School; Acting Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal; County Clerk John Hogan; Freeholder Joan Voss; Freeholder Thomas J. Sullivan