Much as Americans celebrate the 4th of July with backyard barbeques, Israelis enjoy picnics and barbeques on Yom HaAtzmaut.
One way observance of Israeli Independence Day is unique is that it is preceded immediately by Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Day of Remembrance.)
Israel transitions from a “Memorial Day” of mourning, through a ceremony, and then directly into a joyous celebration of their independence.
While this may seem an extreme of contrasts, to Israelis it makes perfect sense as it is the sacrifices of those who lost their lives defending their country that directly led to, and continues to sustain, Israel’s independence as the world’s only Jewish State.
As Andres Spokoiny reminds us so poignantly in this Jewish Funders Network article about Yom HaZikaron: “Israel has two major memorial days: Yom Hazikaron—the remembrance day for fallen soldiers of Israel and Israeli terror victims—and Yom Hashoah Vehagevurah, Holocaust and Heroism memorial day. One is a reminder of the cost of having a Jewish State; the other is a reminder of the cost of not having it.”
On both Yom HaZikaron and on Yom Hashoah Vehagevurah, Israelis stop whatever they are doing when they hear the sirens calling them to remember.
You can watch the day siren from last year’s Yom HaZikaron in the busy shuk/market below.
After sundown, a ceremony on Mt. Herzl will elevate the flag from where it flew at half-mast during Yom HaZikaron, back to the top of the flag pole. Israel’s President will deliver a speech, and a parade will be followed by a torch-lighting ceremony, celebrating Israel’s many achievements. Yom HaAtzmaut is concluded with the awarding of The Israel Prize, regarded as the State’s highest cultural honor.
This short Bimbam video highlights the transition well:
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