Arttitud, a gallery in San Francisco, hosted “Independent and Proud,” a celebration with DJs,drinks and food. The event was organized by members of the local Russian Jewish community, including Olga Rybak (above), who arrived early and reminded people to show up by posting this photo of herself on social media.

At San Jose State, the Artists 4 Israel team created a “Peace” mural outside the student union. More than 350 students stopped by, with many adding their own artistic messages of freedom on the reverse side. Later, the mural was taken to Hillel of Silicon Valley for a Yom HaAtzmaut party. photo/hillel of silicon valley

At Rossmoor, a retirement community in Walnut Creek, an Israel Independence Day dinner drew 280, leading one person to remark, “I’ve never seen so many Jewish people in one place in Rossmoor!” The event included performances by Achi Ben Shalom and the B’nai Israel Singers.

“Israel in Color” at the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto was the Bay Area’s largest of Yom HaAtzmaut celebration, with a crowd of more than 4,000. Attendees included Zack Bodner (right), CEO of the OFJCC, with Andy David, the S.F.-based consul general of Israel.