David Ben Gurion declared an independent State of Israel on May 14, 1948 and a new chapter
of Jewish history began.
The British had controlled Palestine under the British Mandate but that expired at midnight
and so the early Zionists declared a new nation.
Some of them had lived in the land for generations and some were new arrivals from Nazi Europe.
For a couple years, May 14th was a day for mourning lost soldiers.
Then in 1951 Israel decided to split the day into two parts - Yom Hazikaron - Remembrance
Day - and Yom Haatzmaut - Independence Day.
It is celebrated on the 5th of Iyar, or one of the days right around it.
In 1953, Yom Ha'Shoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, was also added to this period, happening
eight days earlier.
Yom Hazikaron begins at night with a minute long siren where the whole country stops and
stands in silence.
Another siren, the next morning, kicks off the official memorial ceremonies as well as
private ones where people remember their loved ones.
As night falls, the memorial mood shifts quickly as Israelis move into party mode and Yom Ha'atzmaut
begins, starting with the formal State torch lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem
to fireworks over Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, to street parties everywhere!
As the night goes on, the party gets more raucous of course, and the next day, while
possibly nursing an Arak hangover is all about a barbecue on the beach or at the park...with
absolutely everyone else.
Around the world, Jewish communities join in solidarity with those in Israel by wearing
Blue and White to celebrate the Israeli Flag, eating classic foods like hummus, falafel,
watermelon-feta kabobs and of course, Bamba.
Folk-dancing is a fun old school tradition, and lots of communities host big parties featuring
Israeli rock bands, artists and nonprofits.
In synagogues, some communities say the psalms of praise called Hallel or the prayer for
miracles - Al Hanissim.
Why?
Because for some Jews, the founding of the State was a religious historical event, the
fulfillment of a Biblical promise to Abraham and Sarah that the land they walked would
one day be home to their children's children.
There is some difference here about who says what but the basic idea for these Religious
Zionists is that Yom Ha'atzmaut is a modern holy day.
Not so for secular Zionists, who remember and celebrate, but without the religious overtones.
Some Jews differ very strongly and see the founding of the State as heresy.
These Haredim, or Ultra-Orthodox Jews, say that the promise to Abraham and Sarah was
to be fulfilled by God, not by people.
They don't mark the Founding of the State - even if they choose to live there.
Finally, about 20% of the state is not Jewish at all - they are Muslim, they are Christian,
they are Druze or they are foreign students and workers of different religions.
They see the day differently.
Some feel - despite their religious difference - a patriotism and respect for the Holy Land
as a Jewish and democratic state.
Others mark the day with protests and memorials on behalf of the Arabs who fell in battles
or fled the land in 1948.
Taken together, Yom HaShoah, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut constitute a week that is
sometimes called the Israeli High Holidays.
Donniel Hartman writes:
The sadness of Yom Hazikaron does not give new meaning to Yom Haatzmaut; rather it gives
it gravitas.
It reminds us of the price we paid and, as a result, the care, responsibility and duty
we have to build a great country and to live and to give our lives special meaning.
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