Members of Hawai'i's Jewish community gathered yesterday to celebrate the 57th anniversary of the birth of Israel. The celebration, known as Yom Ha'Atzmaut, took place in a ring of blue tents housing food and information booths in Skygate Park next to Honolulu Hale.

The tents surrounded a wooden stage set up on the lawn.

A procession of Jewish school students, dancing and singing along to "Hatikvah" and "America the Beautiful," kicked off the festivities.

Kosher food, hot dogs, hamburgers and Jewish baked goods were on sale. Families sat eating under trees or on the rows of tables set up under tarps in the middle of the lawn.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann read a proclamation and praised the Jewish community for having pride in their heritage.

"One of the redeeming virtues of our community is that we welcome people of all races and backgrounds," he said, addressing the modest midday crowd. "I commend you for passing on the Jewish heritage to your young people."

In November 1947, the United Nations announced that Palestine, a British territory at the time, would be divided into two countries, one Arab, the other Jewish. The Arab world did not agree with the division and a civil war ensued.

The U.N. charter paved the way for the country's creation, and on May 14, 1948, the day the British Mandate over Palestine expired, the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel was signed at the Tel Aviv Museum.

Organizers of yesterday's event said 20,000-plus Jews are believed to live in Hawai'i.