An illumination system includes a light source having multiple solid state sources, such as LEDs, and emits light of a color temperature of about 5500.degree. K. The system further includes a flexible optical cable formed by a centrally located optical fiber and five corresponding peripheral optical fibers distributed around the center fiber and a sheath for maintaining the optical fibers in a predetermined spatial relationship, with each of the solid state sources is butt-coupled to one end of a single optical fiber. The solid state sources are thermally coupled to a cooling system, which may include fans or other active cooling elements.