CARBONDALE - In 1948 Israel became independent. Sixty years later, Jews in Southern Illinois are still celebrating.

"The main purpose is to celebrate Israeli independence," said Revital Yona, Israeli emissary to the Jewish Federation of Southern Illinois. "The fact that Israel has even survived until now is not something to be taken for granted."

Yona said a similar celebration took place in Benton last year. Sunday afternoon, an event titled "Israel at Sixty" was the first time the fete was in Carbondale, marking the 60th anniversary of Israeli independence.

Activities around the Carbondale Civic Center allowed patrons to participate in a number of Hebrew and Israeli games. Jewish food was available for purchase, as well as jewelry and arts and crafts.

Yona said she was happy with the event, which marks one of her last projects before returning to Israel.

"I find that I get along with Americans very well," she said. "I have enjoyed my time here."

Yona said she will return to her home country in several months after serving a year in the U.S. Although she will miss the scenery of Southern Illinois, she said she is happy to be going home.

"There is life waiting for me back there," she said. "I love the nature here. It is stunning. There are so many lakes. I love snow and I love the ice. I rarely get to see that back home."

For Yona all things on display Sunday were merely a sample of the culture that she said is not always accurately portrayed by American news media.

"People see what is on the news," Yona said, but there are "normal people there and normal life."

Einat Kapach, also from Israel, said she also felt the Independence Day celebration was an opportunity for Southern Illinois residents to take a different look at the Israeli and Jewish culture.

"We want to make people happy and see Israel in a positive point of view," she said. "It is a beautiful country with beautiful people."

Kapach said she is the field director for an Israeli organization called Soul Train. Sunday marked her third trip to the U.S. to participate in the Independence Day celebrations, before returning to her hometown of Jerusalem.

"There's a Jewish community in very many places," she said. "There are small Jewish communities all over the world."

Traveling the world isn't something unfamiliar to Neil Barnett of Hollywood, Calif., who spent part of his Sunday afternoon visiting the various exhibit booths with his children, who live in West Frankfort with their mother.

Barnett said he was born in England but his family moved to South Africa. From there he ran away from home and made his own way, working up the ranks of the Israeli army.

"I ran away to Israel in 1969," he said. "That was a good year, a hippie year. I wanted to be an Israeli soldier."

Barnett said he didn't speak a word of Hebrew when he arrived in Israel, but quickly learned to love the country.

"Every Jewish person is considered a citizen in Israel," he said. "They are all welcome."

tara.fasol@thesouthern.com / 351-5824