Yom Ha'atzmaut (Hebrew: יום העצמאות yōm hā-'aṣmā'ūṯ; Arabic: يوم الإستقلال Yawm Al-Istiqlāl) is the national independence day of Israel, commemorating its declaration of independence in 1948.
Celebrated annually on or around the 5th of the Jewish month of Iyar, it centers around the declaration of the state of Israel by The Jewish Leadership led by future Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, on 14 May 1948. This was declared a day earlier than the end of the British Mandate of Palestine, which was due to finish on the 15th May 1948. The new state was quickly recognised by the Soviet Union, the United States, and many other countries, but not by the surrounding Arab states.
It is always preceded by Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism 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.
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. Segments of the Religious Zionist camp, has promoted the inclusion of a version of Al Hanisim (for the Miracles...). This segment includes Rav David Bar Hayim of the Hardal camp who heads Machon Shilo Institute [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 Conservative synagogues 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.
A few Hasidim and Haredim recite Hallel while many others make no changes in their 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,and Munkatch sects fast to atone for what they view as the sin of having created the Jewish state before the coming of the Messiah. [6]
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יום העצמאות למדינת ישראל 63 שניםby IWIinc179 views
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