Yom Ha'atzmaut (Hebrew: יום העצמאות yōm hā-‘aṣmā’ūṯ; Arabic: عيد الإستقلال 'īd al-istiqlāl) is the national independence day of Israel, commemorating its declaration of independence in 1948.
Celebrated annually on 5th of the Jewish month of Iyar, it centers around the declaration of the state of Israel by David Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948 (5 Iyar, 5708), and the end of the British Mandate of Palestine.
It is always preceded by Yom Hazikaron, the Israel fallen soldiers Remembrance Day on the 4th of Iyar.
An official ceremony is held every year on Mount Herzl, Jerusalem on the evening of Yom Ha'atzmaut. The ceremony includes a speech by the speaker of the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament), a dramatic presentation, a ritual march of soldiers carrying the Flag of Israel, forming elaborate structures (such as a Menorah, Magen David and a number which represents the age of Israel) and the lighting of twelve torches (one for each of the Tribes of Israel). Every year a dozen Israeli citizens, who made a significant social contribution in a selected area, are invited to light the torches.
Other traditional events of Yom Ha'atzmaut:
- The International Bible Contest
- Israel Prize ceremony
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Timing
Yom Ha'atzmaut is celebrated on the 5th day of Iyar (ה' באייר) in the Hebrew calendar, the anniversary of the day in which Israel independence was proclaimed, when David ben Gurion publicly read the Proclamation of the establishment of the State of Israel. The corresponding Gregorian date was May 14, 1948.
Actually, the festival is celebrated on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday on or near to the 5th of Iyar.
If the 5th of Iyar comes out on a Friday or Saturday, the celebrations are moved up to the preceding Thursday. This rule is effective since 1951.
If the 5th of Iyar is on a Monday, the festival is postponed to Tuesday. This rule is effective since 2004.
Gregorian dates for Yom Ha'atzmaut:
- May 8, 2008 (Thursday; advanced two days to Iyar 3)
- April 29, 2009 (Wednesday)
- April 20, 2010 (Tuesday, postponed one day to Iyar 6)
Yom Ha'atzma'ut observances
The specific ritual involved in observance of this day is a matter of development:
- The Chief Rabbinate along with many other religious authorities have declared that Yom Ha'atzmaut is one of the Jewish holidays in which Hallel should be said.
- The Religious Zionist movement has created a liturgy for the holiday, which sometimes includes the recitation of some psalms and the reading of a portion of the Prophets (Haftarah) on the holiday morning. One segment of the Religious Zionist camp, similar to the Reform Movement, has promoted the inclusion of a version of Al Hanisim (for the Miracles...). This segment includes Rav David Bar Hayim of Machon Shilo[1] and The Temple Institute. The Reform Movement has also suggested such an addition.
- Other changes to the daily prayers include reciting Hallel, saying the expanded Pesukei D'Zimrah of Shabbat (the same practice that is observed almost universally on Hoshanah Rabbah), and/or blowing the Shofar. Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, who said Hallel on this day, still questioned the Halachic imperative in canonizing these changes. [2]
- The Conservative Movement instituted the reading of a Torah portion for the day as well as the inclusion of a version of Al Hanisim (for the Miracles...), which is commonly recited on Hanukkah and Purim. Some places also read the haftarah Isaiah 10:32–12:6, which is also read on the last day of Pesach.
- The Reform Movement suggests the inclusion of Ya'leh V'yavo. An addition to the Amidah that is also included on Rosh Chodesh (the New Month), Shalosh Regalim (the Pilgrimage Festivals), Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur.
- Many Israeli families regardless of observance or affiliation celebrate this day with picnics and barbecues (known in Israeli slang as a mangal – from the Arabic word منقل meaning "stove"). On the eve of the holiday, people sing and dance in the streets. Balconies are decorated with Israeli flags, and small flags are attached to car windows. Some leave the flags hoisted until after Yom Yerushalayim.
- Some Hasidim and Haredim make no changes to the usual daily prayers.
- Some Arab citizens of Israel celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut but others regard it as a tragic day in their history and call it al-Nakba ("the catastrophe").[3][4] The Druze have celebrated Israel's independence from the start.[5] Independence Day has also been celebrated by the Bedouins and the Circassians of Israel.[1]
- Some religious anti-Zionist Jews display a black flag and wear ashes and sackcloth as a sign of mourning. Members of the Satmar, Toldos Aaron, Toldos Avraham Yitzchak, Munkatch, and Vizhnitz-Monsey Chasidic sects fast to atone for what they view as the sin of having created the Jewish state before the coming of the Messiah. [6]
 Shaving cream and silly string wars are a common way of celebrating the day in Israel, as seen on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem on the holiday in 2006 |
 tank decorated with flags, in an open military exhibition for Independence Day |
 Private houses in Holon, Israel decorated with Israeli flags and emblems on the occasion of Yom Ha'atzmaut |
References
- ^ Machon Shilo Al HaNisim for Yom Ha'atzmaut and Yom Yerushalyim.
- ^ Rabbi Moshe Meiselman Commitment
- ^ Maariv article (in Hebrew).
- ^ 'The Palestinian nakba at 58', Bahrain News Agency, 1 May 2006.
- ^ Focus on Israel- The Druze in Israel
- ^ Mishpacha Magazine, Zealots and Zionism,Moishe Guttman. March 14, 2007
See also
External links
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