What a magical night.
Celebrating America’s 250 years of freedom on a perfect, sultry Jerusalem September night.
With Rosh Hashanah just three days away, the Jerusalem air was already charged with a deep layer of heightened spiritual reflection and service. Depending where you found yourself, the staccato or flow of random shofar blasts could be heard piercing the air, and signs lining the streets advertised musical Selichot programs across the Holy City.
Amidst this very atmosphere came something different and special.
A night to celebrate America 250 publicly, a night to express gratitude for our beloved America — with the sacred twist of celebrating this national milestone in none other than the holy city of Jerusalem.
This grand event that transpired outdoors under the evening’s sparkling stars and was hosted by the US embassy, specifically by the leader at its helm, the dear friend of Israel and the Jewish people, the Honorable Ambassador Mike Huckabee and his gracious wife Janet.
This landmark moment was held in partnership with Jerusalem’s Museum of Tolerance in the heart of Jerusalem — so close to the Old City walls itself. The visionary behind this architectural gem and consequential project that can potentially transform some of Israel’s social tensions into fruitful bridge-building — the man who transformed his vision into splendrous reality — is Denver’s Larry Mizel.
What a fusion of two powerful personas at the bedrock of the evening’s event.
Then there were the guests. So many different political and community leaders from across a large swath of society, as well as friends of the US, whose calling is stewardship and bridge-building of various kinds.
Of course, ambassadors from around the world were present — bridge-builders par excellence.
Many if not most of the rest of in the museum’s lovely amphitheater were ever so proudly blueblooded Americans, people who carry within us a deep abiding affection for Israel, and for Jerusalem, too.
Like a unique tribe, each part of which understands the other, we all celebrated America’s special 250th birthday together for the duration of the beautiful evening. Red and blue stars and stripes adorned the rafters. It felt like we were part of a meaningful and unique American family.
The evening was emceed by award winning actress Patricia Heaton, who hit every perfect note in her role as she set the emotional tone for the celebration and its context in Jerusalem.
Prior to the onset of the evening’s formal program that later included birthday greetings from both President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the atmosphere and electric energy were ones of bustling joy as guests from around the world, together with locals, mingled, toasted, chatted and connected. Just as a 250th birthday party ought to feel!
It was, though, just a prelude to the main event.
Both the Star Spangled banner and Hatikvah were sung to great pomp and circumstance under the Jerusalem night sky.
Quiet reigned as the formal military ritual of American soldiers carrying and also flanking a huge American flag proceeded down the center steps between the crowd, to the stage, preceded by the military band, bugle and all.
With my hand literally on my heart, singing both of those anthems, right then, right there, moved me to tears.
You could feel the emotional weight of the moment as we live through what at times feels like an inflection point in history.
There was also the poignant singing of “America The Beautiful,” evoking the gratitude, hope, amazement and reverence that it always does, as our voices soared.
A highlight of the evening was when Larry Mizel presented Ambassador Huckabee with the museum’s most prestigious award, as he spoke of the museum’s profound mission. And he thanked Mike Huckabee to a standing ovation.
Huckabee himself spoke inspirationally, concluding by expressing his lifelong love of music since his boyhood — music’s relevance as an integral part of a life of faith, harkening back to King David’s Book of Psalms, which traverses the spectrum of human experience as it so fluidly moves from deep despair to peaks of praise.
All that was by way of an introduction to a the evening’s wonderful surprise, as Huckabee and the Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana strapped on their respective guitars and began a duet, dynamically rocking away, riffing on each other’s chords and melodies.
The celebratory concert had already been underway, the crowd on its feet, already uplifted and infused by the soul-rock-jazz blend and spirit of Alabama legend Tres Corley and The Music City Collection. He and his band sang into the night, filling and stirring up the air — and us — with the force of his musical power.
The evening’s concluding musical moment felt especially dear to my heart. Actor and musical artist Robert Davi came on stage. With tremendous class he began speaking movingly of this being his fourth trip to Israel. There was just something about his way; you just felt the love.
He spoke of Frank Sinatra’s care and friendship for the Jewish people.
While it was Davi’s fourth trip, he said it was his wife’s first. She wept upon reaching the stones of the Western Wall, he shared.
Then he began singing.
The Frank Sinatra songs.
With tremendous grace and an emotionally laden voice that expressed the sentiment of that Americana nostalgia of a time gone by, to perfect pitch.
His voice was truly beautiful and brilliant as he recreated tender renditions of Sinatra’s “My Way,” “Fly Me To The Moon” and “The House I live In.”
It felt transportive, like I was in a time capsule, in a reality that preceded my own era.
This musical tribute was such a gentle conclusion to this perfect Jerusalem night celebrating America.
Of course, no birthday party would be complete without birthday cake! A huge triple decker of a square white-frosted cake replete with red and blue piping, and petite American flags protruding and waving in the night breeze, was wheeled in to yet another, and this time the final, round of the night’s enthusiastic applause.
For me — a magical night.
In addition to the essence of the evening’s celebration, there was the museum’s venue. Sometime in the early 2000s I stood under a tent on a blazing afternoon, in that very spot, a pit and a pile of dirt before me.
It was the museum’s groundbreaking.
Larry Mizel, who our Denver community is blessed to have as its elder statesman, conceived the idea of this museum long ago. With his combination of vision, effective leadership, drive, stamina and humility — despite many, many hurdles along the way — the museum got built.
Not just built, but built into a masterpiece that will make a difference within Israeli society. It has already brought so many distinguished people together who can play a central role within the social fabric of Israel.
As of this week, though, this Jerusalem Museum of Tolerance has already become a part of American history, as we celebrated America’s freedom and 250th birthday on its stately campus.
So, happy birthday, dear America.
Here’s to the next 250!
And thank you Ambassador Huckabee for your moral clarity and true friendship in standing with us, the Jewish people, and with Israel. You are an anchor in sometimes stormy waters.
You are a true friend.
You are interwoven within our destiny.
We appreciate you more than you’ll ever know.
G-d bless you.
And G-d bless the United States of America.
© IJN 2026
