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{Israeli Holidays}}
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Revision as of 14:07, 14 July 2007

Yom Ha'atzmaut (Template:Lang-he yom hā-‘aṣmā’ūṯ), Israeli Independence Day, commemorates the declaration of independence of Israel in 1948.

It falls on the 5th of the Jewish lunar month Iyar, celebrating the declaration of the state of Israel by David Ben-Gurion in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948, 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 (pronounced "eeyahr").

An official ceremony is held every year on Mount Herzl on the eve 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 beacons (each for every one of the Tribes of Israel). Every year a dozen Israeli citizens, who made a significant contribution in a selected area, are invited to light the beacons.

Other traditional events of Yom Ha'atzmaut:

Timing

State of Israel
Israel
Geography
History
Conflicts
Foreign relations
Security forces
Economy
Merkava tank decorated with flags, in an open military exhibition for Independence Day
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

Yom Ha'atzmaut takes place on the 5th day of Iyar (ה' באייר) on 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.

The festival is celebrated on the 5th of Iyar unless that falls on a Friday or Saturday. This is to avoid having the festival either on Shabbat, the Jewish sabbath, or immediately before it. If this happens it is brought back to the preceding Thursday ( 3rd/ 4th Iyar).

In 2004, the law was changed to include if the 5th of Iyar falls on Monday, the festival is postponed to Tuesday Iyar 6, so that Yom Hazikaron will not be immediately after the sabbath.

NB: (The rules of the Hebrew calendar are such that Iyar 5 does not fall on Sunday.)

Gregorian dates for Yom Ha'atzmaut:

Yom Ha'atzmaut observances

This section requires revision and citation in order to be considered a factual reality
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. Some segmants of the Religious Zionist camp have promoted the inclusion of a version of Al Hanisim (for the Miracles...) such as those under the guidance of Rav Davidh Bar-Hayim of Machon Shilo.
  • Other changes to the daily prayers include reciting Hallel, reading the Torah, saying the expanded Pesukei D'Zimrah of Shabbat (the same practice that is observed almost universally on Hoshanah Rabbah), and/or blowing the Shofar.
  • Most Hasidim and Haredim make no changes to the usual daily prayers.
  • Some 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 State of Israel.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Some Arab citizens of Israel celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut just like their Jewish counterparts; especially Arabs from Druze, Christian or Beduin descent.
  • The common practice of many Israelis on this day is to meet for a "Mangal" (from the Arabic word منقل meaning "stove") - roasting meat on an open grill, a barbecue. In the evening, groups usually go to the streets to sing and dance. Children and teenagers often buy plastic hammers and foam shaving cream and silly string spray cans (which are allegedly illegal) to hit on the hand and spray on bystanders. Fireworks are also set off. Most Israelis hang the Israeli flag outside their window on their balconies, and small versions in their car windows. The flags on the houses are left by some individuals for a few weeks, not taken off before Jerusalem Day.

References

  1. Machon Shilo Al HaNisim for Yom Ha'atzmaut and Yom Yerushalyim.
  2. Mishpacha Magazine, Zealots and Zionism,Moishe Guttman. March 14, 2007

See also

External links

{Israeli Holidays}}

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