As thousands sang “Hatikvah” on a sun-splashed green, a living symbol of peace took to the skies: 55 doves, freed from their cages, circled downtown skyscrapers, diving and wheeling above the throng.
That was just one of many memorable moments at this year’s “Israel in the Gardens” community festival, dubbed by organizers the most successful yet, drawing an estimated 10,000 participants.
Held Sunday at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens, the event brought together the Bay Area’s diverse Jewish community, united — at least on this shimmering spring day — in celebration of Israel’s 55th birthday.
As at any good party there was music, dancing, fattening foods and funny hats.
With temperatures hovering in the upper 80s, sunburn seemed more of a concern than were bad guys, though the San Francisco Police Department came prepared. Uniformed officers ringed the gardens in a visible, and welcome, show of force.
It was enough to discourage the lone pair of kaffiyah-bedecked Palestinian supporters, mutely protesting at the site entrance. They left before lunch.
On the festival grounds, there was something for everyone.
Children’s craft booths sported archaeological themes. Kids — brows furrowed in concentration — made mosaics, menorot and “ancient” jars.
Moms and dads patronized booths sponsored by the likes of A Traveling Jewish Theatre, Chabad groups, the Holocaust Center of Northern California and just about every regional Jewish agency, whose representatives handed out cookies, candies and information.
Israeli native Lili Naveh, holding down the fort at the American Society for Technion-Israel booth, said, “We don’t often have occasions like this in the Jewish community. It’s important for us to see that the community cares for Israel.”
Merchants sold a mall’s-worth of Israeli-made products — everything from instant coffee, silver mezuzot and stain-resistant tablecloths, to souvenir hats, many boasting Israel Defense Force or Israeli police logos.
There was even a rep from Dish Network, selling access to Israeli television. (The monitor was tuned to a live basketball game, with the Tel Aviv Maccabees clobbering their opponents.)
On the main stage, local day school choirs sang folk songs like “Yerushalyim Shel Zahav” and “Shir l’Shalom.” Families smoothed blankets, broke open their coolers and picnicked on the lawn.
Emily Nozick of Kensington said, “We want to raise our kids to value Judaism and value Israel. This event is important to keep the connection alive.”
Robert Pearlstein, attending with his wife, Sharon, and 4-year-old daughter, Sam, added, “We’re here to show 100 percent support for Israel. Plus it’s a place to buy buy buy!”
For the huddled masses hoping to buy a kosher lunch at the food court, there was a little problem. The lines were longer than opening night at “Matrix Reloaded,” and most folks were out of sunscreen by the time they got their plates of shwarma.
Those Soviet-style queues were the event’s only bummer, but despite the wait, people cheerfully chatted with their fellow falafel-seekers.
Elsewhere, off in a corner of the park, two tough dudes dressed in black demonstrated Krav Maga, the martial art developed by the Israeli army. In another corner, Chabad of S.F. Rabbi Yosef Langer danced to the music while persuading every Jewish man within his grasp to wrap tefillin.
As morning gave way to afternoon, the crowd grew in number: It was squeezing-room-only by 3. Hebrew-speaking teenyboppers in tank tops caromed into black-coated Chabadniks shepherding the kinderlach.
The Bay Area’s sizeable Israeli ex-pat community turned out in force, lured in part by Kaveret, Israel’s biggest band back in the ’70s and reunited for the day.
Kind of a Jewish Fleetwood Mac, the band had the crowd on its feet from the opening power chord. It was rock ‘n’ roll heaven for Israelis in attendance, though to uneducated American ears, Kaveret seemed more reminiscent of a Jewish wedding band.
No matter. The band brought a blithe spirit to the festivities. As one native in the crowd said, “Their music is from a hopeful era in Israel.”
Even as the event drew to a close, the mood of irrational exuberance refused to dissipate. It was a glorious moment in the sun, and nobody wanted to call it a day.
“It was spectacularly successful by any measure,” said Rabbi Doug Kahn, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, which along with the Jewish Community Federation’s Israel Center was one of many S.F.-area communal organizations sponsoring the event. “This was a testament to how many people in our community care about Israel and want to celebrate its accomplishments.”