14 Women Who Will Light Up Israel Independence Day – Literally!

These 14 incredible women will come together at the official Israel Independence Day ceremony at Mount Herzl to light the 12 beacons, one for each of the tribes of Israel.

1. Tali Peretz-Cohen

Tali helps victims of sexual assault by running a crisis center in Galilee and Golan. Photo: Haaretz

2. Adina Bar Shalom

Adina Bar Shalom has spent her life advocating for higher education among ultra-Orthodox women and will receive the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement Tuesday. Photo: Wikimedia/Bgoz22

3. Pascale Bercovitch

Pascale Bercovitch is a paralympic athlete, mother, speaker, and mentor to girls worldwide. Photo: Pascale Bercovitch

4. Geula Cohen

Voted 64th-greatest Israeli of all time by Ynet, Geula Cohen is a political leader, former Knesset member, Israel Prize recipient, and Yakir Yerushalayim (Worthy Citizen of Jerusalem) winner. Photo: Wikimedia

5. Orna Barbivai

Orna Barbivai made rank – literally – when she became the first female major general in the Israel Defense Forces. Photo: IDF

6. Shahar Peer

Ranked number 11 in the world, Shahar Peer is a fierce Israeli athlete who has made a name for herself in professional tennis. Photo: Flickr/Keith Allison

7. Maxine Fassberg

A leader in technology and CEO of Intel Israel, Maxine Fassberg is Israel’s tech powerhouse. Photo: Flickr/FD Sudarmadi

8. Gal Yoseph

At just 17 years old, Gal Yoseph is the chairwoman of the National Students Council.

9. Carmela Menashe

Carmela is an award-winning reporter for Israel public radio and currently serves as director of military reporters. Her work has won her the nickname of “the mother of the soldiers.” Photo: wikicommons/Ido Kenan

10. Miriam Peretz

Miriam lost two sons, Uriel and Eliraz, who were serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Photo: IDF

11. Belaynesh Zevadia

Belaynesh immigrated from Ethiopia to Israel when she was 13 years old. Now, she serves as Israel’s ambassador to Ethiopia. Photo: EthiopiaForums.com

12. Miriam Zohar

Miriam is a leading theatre actress and was awarded the Israel Prize in 1986 for her outstanding work. Photo: Izrael.org.il

13. Kira Radinsky

Kira has used her computer skills to serve her country in the IDF, successfully predict disasters around the world, and found her own start-up. Photo: Vice.com

14. Hindia Suleiman

Hindia, the only Arab among the torch-lighters, is founder of a groundbreaking women's entrepreneurial venture in the Israeli Arab village of Bu'eine-Nujeidat.