Yom Ha'atzma'ut
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Template:Israelis Yom Ha'atzma'ut (יום העצמאות yom hā-‘aṣmā’ūṯ), Israeli Independence Day, commemorates the declaration of independence of Israel in 1948.
Yom Ha-Atzmaut is Israel's independence day. It falls on the 5th of the Jewish lunar month Iyyar. It celebrates 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 in Israel.
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 on the eve of Yom Ha'atzma'ut. The ceremony include speeches from senior Israeli officials, an artistic part, 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'atzma'ut:
- The International Bible Trivia Quiz חידון התנ"ך העולמי.
- Israel Prize ceremony טקס חלוקת פרס ישראל.
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Timing
Yom Ha'atzma'ut falls on the 5th day of Iyar ( ה' באייר) on the Hebrew calendar. But the festival is celebrated on the Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday closest to that date, so it could actually occur between 3rd and 6th of Iyar. The Gregorian date for the day in which Israel independence was proclaimed is May 14th, 1948 when David ben Gurion publicly read the Proclamation of the establishment of the State of Israel.
Gregorian dates for Yom Ha'atzma'ut:
- May 12, 2005 (Thursday)
- May 3, 2006 (Wednesday)
- April 24, 2007 (Tuesday)
- May 8, 2008 (Thursday)
- April 29, 2009 (Wednesday)
New Israeli/Jewish holidays
Since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, the country has established four new holidays.
- Yom Ha'Shoah - Holocaust Remembrance day, on 27th of Nissan, commemorates the date of the uprising in Warsaw Ghetto in 1943.
- Yom Hazikaron - Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and terror victims, on the day preceding Yom Ha'atzma'ut.
- Yom Ha'atzma'ut - Israel Independence Day.
- Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day, on 28th of Iyar, the date that IDF conquered the Old City during the Six-Day War in 1967.
These four days are national holidays in the State of Israel, and have since been accepted as religious holidays in general by the following groups: The Union of Orthodox Congregations and Rabbinical Council of America; The United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth (United Kingdom); The Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel; All of Reform Judaism and Conservative Judaism; The Union for Traditional Judaism and the Reconstructionist movement.
These four new days are not accepted as religious holidays by Hasidic Judaism and Haredi Judaism. These groups view these new days as Israeli national holidays. The specific ritual involved in observance of this day is a matter of controversy. 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. This view has, however, not been accepted by many Orthodox Jewish halachic decisors. Some Jewish groups affiliated with anti-zionism go so far as to say Tachanun. Although many recite Hallel, and some read the Torah and say Pesukei D'Zimrah of Shabbat on Yom Ha'atzmaut, Hasidim and Haredim do not due to the lack of Halachic basis for these customs.
The common tradition of many Israelis on this day is to meet for "Mangal" - Roasting meat on an open Grill. In the evening groups usually go to the streets to sing and dance. Kids and Teenagers buy plastic hammers and foam spray cans (which are illegal) to hit on the hand and spray on bystanders.
See also
External links
- Yom Haatzmaut
- Photos from Independence Day in Jerusalem
| Jewish holidays | |
|---|---|
| Shabbat | Rosh Hashanah | Fast of Gedalia | Yom Kippur | Sukkot, Hoshanah rabbah and Shmini Atzeret | Simchat Torah | Hanukkah | Tenth of Tevet | Tu Bishvat | Fast of Esther & Purim | Fast of the firstborn | Pesach (Passover) | Counting of the Omer | Lag Ba'omer | Shavuot | 17th of Tammuz, The three weeks & The nine days | Tisha B'Av | Tu B'Av | |
| National holidays of Israel | |
| Yom HaShoah | Yom HaZikaron | Yom Ha'atzma'ut | Yom Yerushalayim | |