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The rock band Heedoosh plays for the Israel Independence Day celebration at Akiva as kids wave Israeli flags in time to the music.

Staff photos by Armando Rios

Lively music dominates

Akiva's annual celebration.

Akiva's Kol HaNeshama Gedalya Mitchell Youth Choir, made up of grades 3-5, performed
at the celebration.

Showing their Israeli spirit: Rachel Miller, 12, West Bloomfield; Estee Levi, 13, Southfield;
Leora Flatt, 17, West Bloomfield; Dena Cohen, 17, Oak Park; Shiri Wrotslaysky, 12,
Southfield; Elizabeth Kirshner, 13, Oak Park; Michelle Shumonov, 13, and Rachel Wolfe, 12,
both of Southfield.

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May 3 * 2007

spirited Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day) took place April 24
at Yeshivat Akiva in Southfield.
Lively competition ensued between Akiva students and students from
the Fuchs Mizrachi School in Cleveland. Against backdrops of homemade Israeli
flag murals, students raced to answer questions about Israel as the audience
watched, cheered and learned.
A performance by the Kol HaNeshama Gedalya Mitchell Youth Choir, made up
of Akiva students from grades 3-5, was a precious prelude to rousing performanc-
es by New York Jewish bands Heedoosh and Blue Fringe.
For a finale, the two lead singers from both bands sang together.
The standing-room-only crowd of about 700 later enjoyed Israeli refreshments
sponsored by the Akiva PTA.

- Ken Guten Cohen, story development editor

Young participants hold an Israeli flag as they listen to the rock band Blue
Fringe.