Yom Ha'atzmaut

Yom Ha'atzmaut - 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.

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.)

The common tradition of many Israelis on this day is to meet for a "Mangal" (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. Army camps are open for civilians to visit and to display the recent technological achievements of the Israeli Defense Forces. 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.

 

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