TORONTO, ON (May 1, 2017) – On May 2, Israel will be celebrating IndependenceDay – otherwise known as Yom Ha’atzmaut – which marks the anniversary of the1948 establishment of the state of Israel. Jewish communities celebrate thisday with public ceremonies, and numerous cities in Canada will show theirsupport of Israel by commemorating the day with flag-raising ceremonies andevents.

“It is encouraging tosee this type of support from government officials and communities throughoutCanada as we celebrate this critical point in Jewish history,” Avi Benlolo,President and CEO of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC), states.

Benlolo is available toprovide media with comments on this special anniversary as well as give insightinto significant issues relating to Israel, such as: Can peace be achieved inthe Middle East? How will Israel continue to deal with existential threats? Isantisemitism having a positive effect on immigration to Israel?

Toarrange an interview with Avi Benlolo, please contact:

Avital Borisovsky 
Communications Associate  
416.864.9735 x 29 
aborisovsky@fswc.ca

Atara Cadesky 
Communications Associate 
416.864.9735 x 30 
acadesky@fswc.ca

Followus on Twitter at @CanadianFSWC for latest news and organization updates.

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Friends of SimonWiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a top Jewish human rightsfoundation in Canada's organized Jewish community. It directly impacts over100,000 people each year and 500,000+ peripherally. FSWC is committed tocountering racism and antisemitism and to promoting the principles of tolerance,social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy andeducational programs including workshops, Freedom Day, Spirit of HopeBenefit, Tools for Tolerance and the widely acclaimed Tour for Humanity.FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewishhuman rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles which has won twoAcademy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built inJerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Councilof Europe and the Latin American Parliament. Visit us at www.fswc.ca. 

Canadian Headquarters: Toronto  Branches:Los Angeles • New York • Chicago • Paris • Buenos Aires • Israel