Yom Ha'atzmaut

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Yom Ha'atzmaut (Hebrew: יום העצמאות 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 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'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:

The International Bible Trivia Quiz חידון התנ"ך.
Israel Prize ceremony טקס חלוקת פרס ישראל.

1 Timing
2 Yom Ha'atzmaut observances
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Timing

Yom Ha'atzmaut falls 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 14th, 1948.

The festival is celebrated on the Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday closest to that date. This is to avoid having the festival either on Shabbat, the Jewish sabbath, or immediately before or after it. If Iyar 5 falls on Saturday, the festival is advanced to Thursday, Iyar 3, and if on Friday, then it is advanced to Thursday, Iyar 4. In 2004, the law was changed to provide that if Iyar 5 falls on Monday, the festival is postponed to Tuesday Iyar 6, so that Yom Hazikaron will not be immediately after the sabbath. (The rules of the Hebrew calendar are such that Iyar 5 does not fall on Sunday.)

Gregorian dates for Yom Ha'atzmaut:

May 12, 2005 (Thursday)
May 3, 2006 (Wednesday)
April 24, 2007 (Tuesday)
May 8, 2008 (Thursday)
April 29, 2009 (Wednesday)

[edit] Yom Ha'atzmaut observances

Image:Merkava4-atzmaut1.jpg Image:IsraelShaving.jpg 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.
Alternatively, some fast and mark it as a day of mourning for all of the victims of Israeli wars and terrorism, as this was the day when the first Israeli war began.
The Kibutz HaDati and Modern Orthodox religious movement in Israel have 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.
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-Zionists wear ashes and sackcloth as a sign of mouring and recite Selichos. ^{(dubious; discuss)}
The Conservative Movement instituted the reading of a Torah portion for the day.

The common tradition 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, essentially 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 illegal) to hit on the hand and spray on bystanders. Most importantly, Israelis proudly hang out the Israeli flag outside their window on their balconies, and small versions in their car windows. The flags on the houses are sometimes left for a long time, traditionally not taken off before Jerusalem Day.