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How to Make Israel Independence Day a Sacred Day | Reform Judaism
One of the most amazing aspects of Israel is that it is the place where the Jewish calendar truly comes to life. It is in Israel that one is immersed in sacred time, and the place where citizens actively participate in what is holy within our tradition. Beyond the religious experience, too, there are days in Israel that are deemed sacred. Among them are Yom HaShoah, the day that memorializes those who lost their lives in the Holocaust, and Yom HaZikaron, which memorializes those whose lives were taken fighting for Israel. Immediately following Yom HaZikaron is Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s celebration of her independence, which was declared on Friday, May 14, 1948. The following year, the Israeli government declared 5 Iyar as a national holiday throughout the country. Since then, Yom HaAtzmaut has evolved into a day that often is considered as a second Exodus for the Jewish people and for Israelis. Intrinsically linked to Israel’s war of independence against the countries that surround her, Yom HaAztzmaut symbolizes the belief that by standing strong, the state of Israel will persevere for all time. The statewide celebration of Yom HaAtzmaut begins with a torch-lighting ceremony atop Mount Herzl, the burial site of Theodor Herzl, the Father of Zionism. Special prayers for Israel are added to the daily liturgy and specially–written haggadot–like the Passover haggadot–emphasize the themes of freedom and redemption. Ophir Yarden, director of educational initiatives for the interreligious coordinating council in Israel, has noted that the observance of Yom HaAtzmaut also alludes to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur–with the days preceding the holiday devoted to soul searching and identity reflection. He suggests, too, that there is an association with creation imagery and just as Rosh Hashanah celebrates the creation of the world, Yom HaAtzamut celebrates the creation of the State of Israel. Lastly Yom HaAtzmaut is associated with light imagery, a common theme throughout Judaism, particularly during Hanukkah, when it celebrates the miracle of Israel’s independence despite its trials and tribulations.1 Each of these comparisons provides evidence that Yom HaAtzmaut has molded itself into a day as holy as any commanded in the Torah or other sacred Jewish texts. It is a day set aside for spiritual renewal and connection to the State of Israel, enjoying time with family and friends, and raising Israeli flags to celebrate both Israeli independence and Jewish peoplehood. In the United States, Yom HaAtzmaut provides a perfect opportunity to explore how Israel can have meaning in our lives. By using this day for study and reflection, as well as for celebrating the state and our Israeli brothers and sisters, not only will we enrich our own lives, but also demonstrate a deep connection to both the land and her people. Ophir Yarden, The Sanctity of Mount Herzl and Independence Day in Israel’s Civil Religion, in Sanctity of Time and Space in Tradition and Modernity, ed. A Houtman, M.J.H.M Poorthuis, and J. Schwartz (Brill Publishing, Boston: 1998). P.J. Schwartz is a fifth-year rabbinic student at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, OH, and holds a master’s degree in educational administration with a specialization in Jewish studies from Xavier University.
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How to Make Israel Independence Day a Sacred Day | Reform Judaism
One of the most amazing aspects of Israel is that it is the place where the Jewish calendar truly comes to life. It is in Israel that one is immersed in sacred time, and the place where citizens actively participate in what is holy within our tradition. Beyond the religious experience, too, there are days in Israel that are deemed sacred. Among them are Yom HaShoah, the day that memorializes those who lost their lives in the Holocaust, and Yom HaZikaron, which memorializes those whose lives were taken fighting for Israel. Immediately following Yom HaZikaron is Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s celebration of her independence, which was declared on Friday, May 14, 1948. The following year, the Israeli government declared 5 Iyar as a national holiday throughout the country. Since then, Yom HaAtzmaut has evolved into a day that often is considered as a second Exodus for the Jewish people and for Israelis. Intrinsically linked to Israel’s war of independence against the countries that surround her, Yom HaAztzmaut symbolizes the belief that by standing strong, the state of Israel will persevere for all time. The statewide celebration of Yom HaAtzmaut begins with a torch-lighting ceremony atop Mount Herzl, the burial site of Theodor Herzl, the Father of Zionism. Special prayers for Israel are added to the daily liturgy and specially–written haggadot–like the Passover haggadot–emphasize the themes of freedom and redemption. Ophir Yarden, director of educational initiatives for the interreligious coordinating council in Israel, has noted that the observance of Yom HaAtzmaut also alludes to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur–with the days preceding the holiday devoted to soul searching and identity reflection. He suggests, too, that there is an association with creation imagery and just as Rosh Hashanah celebrates the creation of the world, Yom HaAtzamut celebrates the creation of the State of Israel. Lastly Yom HaAtzmaut is associated with light imagery, a common theme throughout Judaism, particularly during Hanukkah, when it celebrates the miracle of Israel’s independence despite its trials and tribulations.1 Each of these comparisons provides evidence that Yom HaAtzmaut has molded itself into a day as holy as any commanded in the Torah or other sacred Jewish texts. It is a day set aside for spiritual renewal and connection to the State of Israel, enjoying time with family and friends, and raising Israeli flags to celebrate both Israeli independence and Jewish peoplehood. In the United States, Yom HaAtzmaut provides a perfect opportunity to explore how Israel can have meaning in our lives. By using this day for study and reflection, as well as for celebrating the state and our Israeli brothers and sisters, not only will we enrich our own lives, but also demonstrate a deep connection to both the land and her people. Ophir Yarden, The Sanctity of Mount Herzl and Independence Day in Israel’s Civil Religion, in Sanctity of Time and Space in Tradition and Modernity, ed. A Houtman, M.J.H.M Poorthuis, and J. Schwartz (Brill Publishing, Boston: 1998). P.J. Schwartz is a fifth-year rabbinic student at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, OH, and holds a master’s degree in educational administration with a specialization in Jewish studies from Xavier University.
