Happy 66th Birthday, Israel - 66 Heroes Share Israel's Message on Yom HaAtzmaut

Today is Yom Ha'Atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day and 66th birthday. All over the country, Israeli families, regardless of religious observance or affiliation, celebrate with picnics and barbecues. 

Balconies are decorated with Israeli flags, and small flags are attached to car windows. Some leave the flags hoisted until after Yom Yerushalayim. Israeli Television channels air the official events live, and classic cult Israeli movies and skits are shown.

Nefesh B'Nefesh, the nonprofit organization that promotes, encourages and facilitates Aliyah from North America and the United Kingdom, created a video for the day that shows 66 Israelis who they call heroes sharing a powerful message -- Am Yisrael Chai (The people of Israel lives). The heroes include the president, prime minister, Orthodox and Conservative rabbis, tennis and soccer players, soldiers, a comedian, and Israelis from all walks of life.

See the names below (in order of appearance), and click here to read their profiles.

0:22 Natan Sharansky -- Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel
0:27 Rabbi Jerry Epstein -- Former VP and CEO of the USCJ
0:31 Shahar Pe'er -- Professional Tennis Player
0:34 Edan Tamler -- Israel X-Factor Finalist & NBN Oleh
0:39 Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau -- Former Chief Rabbi of Israel
0:55 Gabriela Shalev -- Former Israeli Ambassador to the UN
1:00 Sussman kids -- Sabra kids of NBN Olim
1:03 Frances Greenberg -- Exodus passenger and NBN Olah
1:08 Gilad Schalit -- Former MIA soldier of the IDF
1:29 Ariel Shain -- NBN Oleh named for Ariel Sharon
1:32 Goldstein Family -- Nefesh B'Nefesh Olim 2011
1:38 Doreet Freedman -- Nefesh B'Nefesh Director of Strategic Partnerships
1:42 Benji Lovitt - Stand--up Comedian and NBN Oleh
1:44 Rami Kleinstein -- Israeli singer and composer
1:45 Nir Barkat -- Mayor of Jerusalem
1:48 Jay Shultz -- President of the Am Yisrael Foundation
1:50 David Gerstein -- Contemporary Israeli artist
1:52 Dr. Asael Lubotsky -- War hero and Physician
1:55 Noam Gershony -- Wheelchair tennis player & Olympic Gold Medalist
2:09 Josh Hoffman -- NBN Oleh and Social Media Entrepreneur
2:10 Geulah Cohen -- Irgun and Lehi member, politician and journalist
2:17 Titi Aynaw -- First Ethiopian Miss Israel
2:44 Ruth Zuman -- Holocaust Survivor
2:53 Natalie Silverlieb -- Former Broadway performer and NBN Olah
3:05 Yael Arad -- First Israeli Olympic medalist
3:08 Alyssa Magid -- NBN Olah and Business Co-Director
3:11 Hilary Faverman -- NBN Olah and Business Co-Director
3:14 Noah Miller -- Israel National Lacrosse Team
3:15 Matthew Cherry -- Israel National Lacrosse Team
3:26 Atara Solow -- NBN Staff
3:29 Benji Davis -- NBN Staff
3:32 Yakir Hyman -- G-Nome Project band Member
3:32 Zecharia Reich -- G-Nome Project band Member
3:35 Eric Michaelson -- Executive VP of NBN
4:00 Randi Weiss -- Young Leadership Director, Save a Child's Heart
4:05 Eliezer Davish -- NBN Oleh
4:09 Joseph Gitler -- Founder and Chairman of Leket Israel
4:12 Marvin Casey -- Dance Choreographer
4:15 Elan Neiger -- Israel Football League Player
4:15 Sagen Zavelo - Israel Football League Player
4:15 Jonathan Curran - Israel Football League Player
4:15 Ronny Moscona - Israel Football League Player
4:21 Adam Weiner -- Oleh Lone Soldier*
4:40 Caroline Fitouchi -- NBN Staff
4:43 Prime Minister of Israel, Binyamin Netanyahu
4:42 Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
4:45 Tal Brody -- Goodwill Ambassador of Israel
4:49 Debra Applebaum -- Veteran Olah
4:51 Sarah Hindman -- Marketing Director, Israel Experience
4:57 Rabbi Yehoshua Fass -- Executive Director and Founder, Nefesh B'Nefesh
5:07 President of Israel, Shimon Peres

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)