{"id":20755,"date":"2025-04-25T00:00:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T21:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/?p=20755"},"modified":"2025-04-24T23:56:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T20:56:32","slug":"ai-expert-nova-survivor-and-nba-star-chosen-for-mount-herzl-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/ai-expert-nova-survivor-and-nba-star-chosen-for-mount-herzl-ceremony\/","title":{"rendered":"AI Expert, Nova Survivor, and NBA Star Chosen for Mount Herzl Ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"

Minister Miri Regev, who is overseeing Israel\u2019s 77th Independence Day celebrations, announced this evening (Thursday) the names of four new torch lighters for the official ceremony on Mount Herzl. All were selected from candidates proposed by the public advisory committee.
\nThis year\u2019s theme is \u201c<\/em>Bridges of Hope,\u201d<\/em> highlighting efforts that connect communities, nations, and worlds.<\/p>\n

Inbar and Raz Ben Simhon \u2013 The Courage of the Home Front
\n<\/strong>One of the torches will be lit by Inbar and Raz Ben Simhon. Raz, a reservist in the Alexandroni Brigade, was wounded during combat in the Netzarim corridor last June, yet chose to return to service despite the challenges.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Torch-lighting ceremony, archive | Photo: Hadas Parush\/Flash90<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inbar, his wife, supported him with strength and determination throughout this time and continued to hold their family together.
\nMinister Regev stated: \u201cChoosing Inbar represents the deep gratitude that an entire nation feels for the wives of our reservists.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Eli David \u2013 AI-Driven Public Diplomacy
\n<\/strong>Dr. Eli David, one of Israel\u2019s most prominent artificial intelligence researchers and an internationally recognized figure, will also take the stage at the torch-lighting ceremony. David co-founded groundbreaking startups such as Deep Instinct and Marpai Health. During the war, he became a key figure in online hasbara<\/em> (public diplomacy), actively engaging on social media.<\/p>\n

Despite facing online attacks, Dr. David used his popular X (formerly Twitter) account to become a central voice in Israeli digital advocacy from within the high-tech and AI sectors. He is now regarded as one of the most influential Israeli tech entrepreneurs online.<\/p>\n

\"\"
X (formerly Twitter), illustration | Photo: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Artifex \u2013 The Track That Never Ended
\n<\/strong>DJ Yarin Benyaminov, known by his stage name Artifex, survived the brutal terrorist attack at the Nova music festival and has also been chosen to light a torch. He played the final track at the party, and after surviving the massacre, chose to continue spreading the music of the “Nova Tribe” as a path toward healing and unity.<\/p>\n

\u201cArtifex is the man who played the final track before the music of life was silenced at the Nova party on October 7,\u201d said Minister Regev. \u201cSince then, he has continued to create powerful moments of resilience and has shown that music and joy truly can heal the soul.\u201d<\/p>\n

Omri Casspi \u2013 From the Court to the Heart of the Nation<\/strong>
\nOmri Casspi, the first Israeli to play in the NBA, has become a key figure in international hasbara<\/em> since October 7.
\nRegev praised his extraordinary contribution: \u201cOmri inspired an entire generation and proved that with talent, faith, and ambition\u2014it\u2019s possible to reach heights that once seemed out of reach.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cSince October 7, Omri has devoted himself to Israel\u2019s hasbara<\/em> efforts, using his stellar reputation to give voice to the just cause of the State of Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Ceremony of Hope<\/strong>
\nThis year\u2019s ceremony, under the theme \u201c<\/em>Bridges of Hope,\u201d<\/em> will feature torch lighters\u2014both women and men\u2014whose actions help bridge divides across Israeli society, in the military, scientific, cultural, and social arenas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Minister Regev has announced four new torch lighters for the Mount Herzl ceremony, among them: a leading AI researcher, a Nova survivor, a soldier\u2019s wife, and an NBA icon. All the details below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":20757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,129,2276,88],"tags":[4751,4743,4744,4746,4490,4750,4748,4749,4745,4747],"class_list":["post-20755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-judaism","category-people","category-will-remember","tag-ai-in-israel","tag-artifex","tag-dr-eli-david","tag-inbar-ben-simhon","tag-israel-independence-day","tag-israeli-hasbara","tag-mount-herzl-ceremony","tag-nova-festival-survivor","tag-omri-casspi","tag-raz-ben-simhon"],"yoast_head":"\nAI Expert, Nova Survivor, and NBA Star Chosen for Mount Herzl Ceremony - REGA news<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"AI Expert, Nova Survivor, and NBA Star Chosen for Mount Herzl Ceremony\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Minister Regev has announced four new torch lighters for the Mount Herzl ceremony, among them: a leading AI researcher, a Nova survivor, a soldier\u2019s wife, and an NBA icon. 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