The festive event, complete with multimedia shows, pyrotechnics and live performances, took place on 25 June 2008

The festive inauguration of the Bridge of Strings at the entrance to Jerusalem on Wednesday, 25 June at 20:00 brought to a climax the year-long celebrations of the 40th anniversary of Jerusalem's reunification. Entitled Halleluya, the spectacular event included lighting displays, multimedia shows, pyrotechnics and live performances by David Da'or, Dudu Fisher, the Ra'anana Symphonette Orchestra, Yishai Lapidot, choirs and hundreds of dancers.

The main character in this colorful spectacle, caught in the spotlight, was undoubtedly the soaring Bridge of Strings, at once the star and stage of the evening.

Thousands attended this unique event. The renowned Spanish architect of the bridge, Santiago Calatrava, was also in attendance.

The Bridge of Strings (Gesher HaMeitarim in Hebrew), designed by Calatrava at the request of the Jerusalem Municipality, will carry the light rail mass transit system over the busy entrance to Jerusalem and serve as a new, modern gateway to the holy city. Calatrava's stunning design of a cable-stayed, S-shaped bridge with cables anchored to a single, slender sloping pylon at the end of the 'S', evokes the strings of King David's harp – a fitting image for the city. According to the architect, the transparent bridge and the slender mast serve to highlight the cables as the major feature. "The form of the bridge came to resemble a musical instrument, with the cables as the strings," notes Calatrava. "The idea of the bridge as a harp seems to me to be very beautiful in this case." 

The bridge will become a symbol and a force for reconciliation: "Bridges join places that were separated….they even have a religious dimension. The word 'religious' comes from the Latin, meaning 'creating a link'. A bridge makes a lot of sense in a city like Jerusalem."

For more information please look at the Jerusalem Municipality website: www.jerusalem.muni.il