Brooke Goldstein, founder and executive director of the Lawfare Project, was honored to serve as this year’s master of ceremonies at the 76th anniversary of Israel’s Independence Day event at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Hosted by Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog and his wife, Shirin, the event theme was “United in Hope.”
Goldstein, along with author Avi Jorisch, co-hosted the event. Jorisch is a seasoned entrepreneur and the author of six books, including Thou Shalt Innovate: How Israeli Ingenuity Repairs the World (2018), which appears in more than 40 languages, and NEXT: A Brief History of the Future (2023). He is also the CEO and co-founder of the Israel Economic Forum (IEF), a membership organization of deeply committed pro-Israel CEOs, business executives and world leaders who leverage their success and influence to ensure the future of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.
A total of 128 yellow chairs were set up in the event hall to represent the 128 hostages who remain in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip. Guests also viewed a series of photos taken by renowned Israeli photographer Avishag Shaar-Yeshuv, whose work has been featured in The New York Times, of Israel post-Oct. 7. The photos show Israelis from all walks of life and the communities of the Gaza Envelope in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, providing a deeply human perspective of Israeli society.
“It was an honor to MC this year’s event, and I want to thank Mr. and Ms. Herzog for inviting me,” said Goldstein. “While this celebration took place on the backdrop of the ongoing effort to eliminate Hamas and bring the remaining hostages home, we must remember to unite to ensure that tyranny is defeated, peace is restored and Israel continues to prosper for future generations.”
The 1,200-plus attendees came from a wide variety of sectors, including government officials, members of the U.S. Congress, civil society leaders, members of the media, and representatives of the Jewish and Israeli communities.
Click here to view additional pictures from the event.
