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What You May Not Know About Israel Independence Day
The land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here
their spiritual, religious and national identity was formed. Here they achieved
independence and created a culture of national and universal significance. Here
they wrote and gave the Bible to the world….
We…HEREBY PROCLAIM the establishment of the Jewish State in
Palestine, to be called ISRAEL. We offer peace and unity to all the neighboring
states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent
Jewish nation for the common good of all.
Our call goes out the Jewish people all over the world to rally to
our side in the task of immigration and development and to stand by us in the
great struggle for the fulfillment of the dream of generations — the redemption
of Israel.
With trust in Almighty God, we set our hand to this Declaration,
at this Session of the Provisional State Council, in the city of Tel Aviv, on
this Sabbath eve, the fifth of Iyar, 5708, the fourteenth day of May, 1948
— From Israel’s Declaration of Independence (PBS.org)
The quest for an independent
Jewish state began well before World War II left hundreds of thousands of
Jewish People with no place to call home. The Peel Commission of 1937, The
British White Paper of 1939, and the United Nation’s Partition Plan were all rejected
by Arabs in the region.
When the UN forged ahead and officially announced its
Partition Plan, Arab rioting erupted. From the end of November 1947 through
March 1948, 1,427 Arabs and 1,035 Jews died in confrontations as well as at
least 46 British (Jewish Virtual Library). Hundreds more were injured.
On the eve of the British
departure from the region, David Ben-Gurion – Israel’s primary founder – read
the Declaration of Independence of the newly formed State of Israel.
“That
day, Ben-Gurion sat in his living room and watched while outside in the street,
the Jews of [the Palestinian region] were dancing. They were dancing because
they were about to realize what was one of the most remarkable and inspiring
achievements in human history: A people which had been exiled from its homeland
two thousand years before… but which had refused to relinquish its identity …
was returning home as sovereign citizens in their own independent state” (New
Essays on Zionism, “Ben-Gurion and the Return to Jewish Power,” Michael B.
Oren)
The day was May 14, 1948, or Iyar
5 on the Hebrew calendar. The 5th of Iyar stands today as Yom HaAtzmaut,
Israel’s Independence Day.
But
before celebration comes honor – Israel’s Memorial Day
What you may not know is that
Israel’s Independence Day is preceded by Yom HaZikaron, the nation’s Memorial
Day. On Iyar 4, all Israel remembers those who have lost their lives defending
the nation – fallen soldiers as well as others who have given their lives
protecting Israel from terrorist attacks.
At first glance, it may seem odd
to place these two holidays right next to each other on the calendar. But, in
truth, it’s a beautiful pairing. They are irrevocably intertwined with each
other. If not for the soldiers who gave their lives for the cause of a Jewish
State, Israel would not have been reborn. If not for the soldiers who
sacrificed all to defend their country, Israel would not remain today.
You see, on May 15, 1948, the day
after Israel declared their independence as a sovereign state, surrounding
nations declared war on them. The Israeli Independence War, also known as the
Arab-Israeli War, lasted over a year. By mid-1949, when separate armistice
agreements were made with each invading nation, 6,373 Israelis had given their
lives for Israel’s freedom. Many have fallen protecting their country in the
decades since.
First, Israel honors the fallen.
Then Israel celebrates the achievements made possible and maintained through
their sacrifice.
A Somber
Day
Israel’s 2016 Memorial Day begins
at sunset on May 10. May 11 will be a somber day of remembrance and honor. For
24 hours, a television channel will show the names of soldiers and terrorist
victims who have died since Israel’s original Independence Day.
Hanan Cidor’s
family will leave the TV tuned to this station all day. “I know many other families in Israel do the same,” says Cidor, “and I think there’s something very Jewish
about that act. In a sense, it’s our way of reminding ourselves that every
person matters, that everyone had a name and an entire life to go with it – a
whole universe that was lost in a tragic way” (An Israeli Perspective,
ReformJudaism.org).
It is “a full day of grief and remembrance, something that is very much
relevant from a personal standpoint to literally every Israeli,” says Cidor
(An Israeli Perspective, ReformJudaism.org).
Yom HaZikaron ends with a special
ceremony at Jerusalem’s Military Cemetery, and then the flag that has flown at
half-mast all day is raised high once again.
Thus begins the celebration of
Independence Day.
Yom
HaAtzmaut – Israel’s Independence Day
On the heels of a sobering
Memorial Day, Israel’s Independence Day is a joyous celebration of Israel’s
freedom and its many achievements as a nation.
“Those achievements are indeed very impressive. In
less than a century of existence, Israel has managed to become a regional
power, a modern, flourishing democracy in a region that has very little. In
almost every possible measurement of world countries and societies, the Jewish
state – especially when taking into consideration its small size – is at the
top of the ladder alongside countries that have been around for centuries. When
you think about the fact that all of this was done while facing constant
security threats, some of them even starting literally from day one, the
amazement and sense of awe is even greater” (An Israeli Perspective,
ReformJudaism.org).
A Joyous
Day
The day is filled with parades,
flags, and free public shows in the major cities. Families often take advantage
of the national holiday by going hiking or enjoying picnics. Army bases open
for tours, and Israel’s president delivers a speech.
Festivities end with an
evening torch lighting ceremony and the awarding of the “Israel Prize” in
recognition of individual Israelis who have uniquely contributed to the
country’s culture, science, arts, and humanities.
The fact that Israel exists as a
nation today is a miracle. It is God’s design and proof of His hand in the
preservation of His chosen People. We rejoice alongside them and say, “Happy Independence Day, Israel!”
Find out more about the
miraculous story of Israel’s restoration with “The Miracle of Israel,” an inspiring documentary and
companion booklet.
To learn more about the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, “Is Peace Possible?” will help
you gain a historical and biblical understanding of the ongoing Middle East
crisis.
HaTikvah ("The Hope")
Israel's
National Anthem
The words to Israel's
national anthem were written in 1886 by Naphtali Herz Imber, an English poet
originally from Bohemia. The melody was written by Samuel Cohen, an immigrant
from Moldavia. Cohen actually based the melody on a musical theme found in
Bedrich Smetana’s "Moldau."
As long as the Jewish spirit is
yearning deep in the heart,
With eyes turned toward the East,
looking toward Zion,
Then our hope - the
two-thousand-year-old hope - will not be lost:
To be a free people in our land,
The land of Zion and Jerusalem
.
|
Kol ode balevav
P'nimah -
Nefesh Yehudi homiyah
Ulfa'atey mizrach kadimah
Ayin l'tzion tzofiyah.
Ode lo avdah tikvatenu
Hatikvah bat shnot alpayim:
L'hiyot am chofshi b'artzenu -
Eretz Tzion v'Yerushalayim. |
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