Israel
- Israeli Independence Day
Yom Ha'atzma'ut (יום
העצמאות yom hā-‘aṣmā’ūṯ), Israeli Independence Day, commemorates the
declaration of independence of Israel in 1948.
Yom Ha-Atzmaut is Israel's independence day. It falls on the 5th of the
Jewish lunar month Iyyar. It celebrates 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.
Yom Ha'atzma'ut falls on the 5th day of Iyar ( ה' באייר) on the Hebrew
calendar. When the 5th of Iyar falls on a Friday or Saturday, as in
2005, the official celebration may be moved to the preceding Thursday.
The Gregorian date for the day in which Israel independence was
proclaimed is May 14th, 1948 when David ben Gurion publicly read the
Proclamation of the establishment of the State of Israel.
An official ceremony is held every year on Mount Herzl on the eve of Yom
Ha'atzma'ut. The ceremony include speeches from senior Israeli
officials, an artistic part, 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'atzma'ut:
* The International Bible Trivia Quiz חידון התנ"ך העולמי.
* Israel Prize ceremony טקס חלוקת פרס ישראל.
Gregorian dates for Yom Ha'atzma'ut:
* May 12, 2005 (Thursday)
* May 3, 2006 (Wednesday)
* April 23, 2007 (Monday)
* May 8, 2008 (Thursday)
* April 29, 2009 (Wednesday)
New Israeli/Jewish holidays
Since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, the Chief Rabbinate
of Israel has established four new Jewish holidays.
* Yom Ha'Shoah - Holocaust Remembrance day
* Yom Hazikaron - Memorial Day
* Yom Ha'atzma'ut - Israel Independence Day
* Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day
These four days are national holidays in the State of Israel, and have
since been accepted as religious holidays in general by the following
groups: The Union of Orthodox Congregations and Rabbinical Council of
America; The United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth (United
Kingdom); The Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel; All of Reform
Judaism and Conservative Judaism; The Union for Traditional Judaism and
the Reconstructionist movement.
These four new days are not accepted as religious holidays by Hasidic
Judaism and Haredi Judaism. These groups view these new days as Israeli
national holidays.
The specific ritual involved in observance of this day is a matter of
controversy. The Cheif Rabbinate as weel as all Religious authohroities
have declared that Yom Ha-Atzmaut is one of the Jewish Holidays in which
Hallel should be said. This view has, however, been rejected by the
majority of Orthodox Jewish halachic decisors.. Some Jewish groups
affiliated with anti-zionism specifically mourn this day.
The common tradition of many Israeli's on this day is to meet for 'Mangal'
- Roasting meat on an open Grill.
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Ha%27atzma%27ut
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