As part of the events taking place this year in honor of Israel's 60th year of independence, a new project was launched called "Following in the Paths of Our Heroes" (or, alternatively, "In the Footsteps of the 1948 Combatants"). The endeavor was initiated by Brigadier-General Avigdor Kahalani, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense and Minister Ruchama Avraham-Belila, director of the committee organizing Israel's 60th Independence Day celebrations.
During the three weeks preceding the Passover holiday (30 March—16 April 2008), some 45,000 students from the 10th and 11th grades, over 3000 a day, came from all over the country to make the journey to Jerusalem, passing through the pivotal battle scenes of the War of Independence and the Six-Day War. The students were transported by bus to the actual battle sites, where guides (supplied and coordinated by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation) recounted stories of the fierce battles waged en route to Jerusalem and inside the city itself.
The project is designed to connect the youth with their roots and to strengthen their identification with Israel's heroes who fought for the creation of the State and for the liberation of Jerusalem. In the words of Avigdor Kahalani, "In this way, we pass the torch from generation to generation."
At the end of each day, the groups converged at the Western Wall for a festive ceremony in the presence of Brig.Gen. Kahalani, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, and various Members of Knesset and Israeli government officials. The dignitaries who addressed the students on different days of the project included Minister of Defense Ehud Barak, Minister of Public Security Avi Dichter, President Shimon Peres, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.