May 15, 1998 Division Bell comes back to life in Israel Although Pink Floyd are inactive as a band, the stage from The Division Bell tour of 1994 recently came back to life in Jerusalem. Beginning on 30 April, Israel celebrated the nation's 50th birthday with both parties and protests. The center of the celebration was an evening gala at Givat Ram University in Jerusalem. While preparing for the gala in past months, organizers were unable to find a stage which was large enough for the event and available for use‹until they found one of the stages from Pink Floyd's 1994 Division Bell world tour. On the stage originally designed to enhance Pink Floyd's music and light show, U.S. Vice President Al Gore and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in praise of Israel and its people. The gala also featured music from the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and the Israeli Defense Forces Orchestra, additional performances of music and dance, and finally a display of fireworks. ©1998 Dave Ward