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Yom Ha'atzmaut
Israel's
Independence
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Every year since 1948,
Israel celebrates its
independence on the fifth
day of Iyar, which is the
formal Hebrew Calendar date
of the establishment of the
State, when the young
country's "provisional
government" read and signed
a Declaration of
Independence in Tel Aviv.
The secular date of
that monumental day was May
14, 1948. In Israel Yom
Ha'atzmaut is a national
holiday. Government offices,
banks, educational
institutions, and most
commercial establishments
are closed for the day. In
the synagogues Yom
Ha'atzmaut is marked with
the recital of the Hallel
prayer (Psalms of Praise),
and around the country the
Israeli government and local
municipalities conduct
official ceremonies.
Israelis celebrate Yom
Ha'atzmaut in a variety of
ways, with parades,
nighttime festivities and
public shows offered for
free by the municipalities
and the government. Many
spend the night dancing
Israeli folk dances or
singing Israeli songs, and
during the daytime thousands
of Israeli families go out
on hikes and picnics. Yom
Ha'atzmaut is concluded with
the ceremony of granting the
"Israel Prize" recognizing
individual Israelis for
their unique contribution to
the country's culture,
science, arts, and the
humanities.
For
American and other Diaspora
Jews, celebrating Yom
Ha'atzmaut has been a way to
express solidarity with the
State of Israel and to
strengthen their alliance
with it. Often, however,
celebrations are postponed
to the Sunday following Yom
Ha'atzmaut in an effort to
bolster participation. |
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Tikvah l'Chaim - Hope for Life
Ministries, Inc.
4206
North Arnold Mill Road ~ Woodstock,
Georgia 30188
Rabbi Gary
Maxted
Contact:
678-936-4125 or
rabbigary@tlchaim.com
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Website
Designed and Maintained by: Teresa
Hodges
thodges@tlcchurch.com
(c)
2010 All Rights Reserved |
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