Israel Idependance day

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Israel Idependance day

Polish-Jewish history is an interesting part of Polish history and the fact that Polish jewish diaspora got an important role in Jewish immigration, American Judaism, Aliya (immigration to Israel) building, leading and forming Israel, I am curious what you find about this article of a beautiful Jewish-Israeli lady about the Israeli Independance.


Merav Michaeli

www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/what-kind-of-independence-is-this-1.360641

Is being selfcritical or critical of your own state, country or nation unpatriotic, and are anti-zionist jews anti-semitic or just against a pure Israeli state which excludes Arab Muslims and Christians as non-Jews and thus as alien elements in a Jewish state? In historical perspective it fascinates me why Marek Edelman and his Bund were anti-zionist, because they were a powerful force in Pre-war Poland together with the socialist Polska Partia Socjalistyczna. (It is part of my interest in the general -non-jewish- history of Poland, in which the jewish history was an important part). Why were the Polish jews as a minority, who lived under difficult circumstances (the economical polonisation -buy Catholic Polish goods- in the twenties and thirtees) so devided between zionists and anti-zionists/non-zionists.
A large part of them wanted to live and stay in Poland and form a brotherhood with Polish compatriots. The ideology of the Bund was solidarity between Jewish and Polish workers, and they were anti-communists. There is little known about the Bund, because in my opinion they are gone (most of them perished in the Holocaust, which targeted the poor and working class jews more than others who could escape - some of them at least, to America, England or Palestine -) and because they were leftwing. And leftwing history is unpopular in our countries nowadays.

Pieter

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Reactions of Haaretz) readers to the article!

Patriots are thinking about Israel's Independence

Rachel | 09.05.11 | 03:31

Only leftist are thinking about the Nakba law.

Nakaba as astate of mind

Richi | 09.05.11 | 03:43

This missing the issue, Nakaba is a state of mind, Jewish autonomy is a distater for palestinian and israeli arabs, it is not based on remeberance or loss of loved ones or of even a yearning for self autonomy. It is very possible that remeberance day should be extended to arabs who fell in this period, but Yom haNakaba is not based on the loss of arab life but rather on the birth of the state of Israel , would you approve a law that encourage Isreal to teach that arab uprising were a disaster to the jewish people? As uncomfortable as it is , not even in the most enlightened nations are the rights of aboriginals recognised on the back of an idea that the creation of a modern state is a disaster. * It is time that both Israelis and Palestinians stop viewing themselves as victims and instead view this time in history as an opportunity. I do not see the Nakaba law as a positive step by our legislature but it also by no means is a sign of deteriating democratic values. Near jerk reactions maybe be easy journalism but rarely have merit.

* How can you stop viewing yourself as victims when you are occupied, surrounded, and large parts of your land is taken away from you, and your own governed area's look like a little Swiss cheese with large hole in it (The Israeli settlements)?

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Pieters reaction

Comment to my two previous posts. I am Pro-Israel, though in the same time I am critical towards the Israeli government, Israeli's, the Israeli society and to Zionist jews in the diaspora. Why? Partly, because of my Polish (Western-Slav Polish Roman-Catholic) roots, and therefor my difficulties with the anti-Polonism of certain Jewish-Americans, Israeli's and European jews (Dutch jews too). Secondly the large presence of Russian jews in Israel, of whom many stay Russian, don't integrate into the Israeli Hebrew society, and in fact stay Russian nationalists or Patriots, yes, Russian jews (they are like the German jews, the Jeke's who staye(d) German, and felt more German than German. And you have such jews in the Netherlands and Poland to, Dutch or Polish Patriots or even nationalists. The present Dutch foreign minister is an example of that, Uri Rosenthal, from the Dutch PO, and his competitor, Labour leader Job Cohen). Due to the Russian jews the Israeli's have close ties with Russia, and for example in the sense of Georgia (in which Poland chose the Georgian side), Israel stayed neutral due to the Russian connection. Ukraine is another example. Israel will never side with Ukraine like Poland did. I also know that the Russian maffia is influential in Israel, like it is in Europe and America. Another thing I don't like is the influence of the Ultra-rightwing American orthodox and non-orthodox jews, who are the main sponsers of the far right Settlers block, Gush Emoniem, and extreme-right movements like the Kahanists and Kach (in Europe these movements would be Neo-Nazi or fascist, but because they are jewish ofcourse they are not Nazi). I know that arabs, druze, bedouin, Armenians and Greek are Israeli citizens as Muslims and christians, but they are not equal, and do not have the same rights. Yes, they can vote, yes, they can go to schools, study and earn a living, but they are not treated equaly. It is like the Polonosation atmosphere, movement and situation during the Interbellum in Poland. Minorities were allowed, but there was an National Catholic atmosphere, which did not prefered minority rights or saw the quality and content of the contributions of these minorities to Poland. The jews, Germans, Ukrainians and others. Pilsudski was popular amongst those minorities, because his Sanacja regime (1926-1935) protected minorities rights, due to his Polish-Lithuanian Common Wealth ideals and ideology. The fascinating fact though is that in one century (from the pioneers who built the Jewish community in Palestine the Yishuv, to the creation of Israel, and to today) a new people came to existance, the New-hebrew (Ivriet) speaking Israeli's, and they increasingly become a merger of Ashkenazi and Sefardi people. The ties between Israel and Poland are good, but I am sure that Poland knows the Israeli interest in Moscow and Moscows interest in Israel (due to the Russian roots of Russian pioneers in Israel and the 1 million Sovjet jews in Israel. From old second world war Red army veterans to new generation whizzkids, the Russian jewish elite of mathenicians, scientists, entrepreneurs, intelligentsia and etc. I sometimes wonder how a Polish jew will feel in Beershiva, Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Will he or she miss the romantic Polish parks and Boulevards, Polish Vodka, the Polish cuisine, Krakow or Warszawa?

www.taubephilanthropies.org/node/17

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Yom Ha'atzmaut



Yom Ha'atzmaut commemorates Israel's declaration of Independence in 1948. It is celebrated on 5 Iyar according to the Hebrew calender. Yom Ha'atzmaut is preceded by Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day.

History

Yom Ha'atzmaut centers around the declaration of the state of Israel by The Jewish Leadership led by future Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, on 14 May 1948. This was declared 8 hours before the end of the British Mandate of Palestine, which was due to finish on the 15th May 1948.


Declaration of State of Israel 1948

The Israeli declaration was based on United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 regarding the Partition Plan for Palestine, adopted on 29 November 1947. The new state was quickly recognised by the Soviet Union, the United States, and many other countries, but not by the surrounding Arab states, who declared war.

Yom Ha'atzma'ut observances

Official events

Most of the official events take place in Israel's capital city Jerusalem,though the international community recognize Tel Aviv as the capital and are broadcast live on television.

Yom Ha'atzmaut eve



An official ceremony is held every year on Mount Herzl, Jerusalem on the evening of Yom Ha'atzmaut. The ceremony includes a speech by the speaker of the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament), artistic performances, a Flag of Israel, forming elaborate structures (such as a Menorah, Magen David and the ceremonial lighting of twelve torches, one for each of the Tribes of Israel). Every year a dozen Israeli citizens, who made a significant social contribution in a selected area, are invited to light the torches. Many cities hold outdoor performances in cities' squares featuring leading Israeli singers and fireworks displays. Street around the squares are closed to cars, allowing people to sing and dance in the streets.

Yom Ha'atzmaut day

* Reception of the President of Israel for honoring excellence in 120 IDF soldiers. The event takes place in the President's official residence in Jerusalem.
* International Bible Contest in Jerusalem
* Israel Prize ceremony in Jerusalem.
* Israel Defense Forces opens some of its bases to the public.
* Israel Defense Forces parade (1948- 1973)
* Hebrew Song Contest (1960-1980)

Non-official celebrations

Israeli families, regardless of observance or affiliation, celebrate with picnics and barbecues (known in Israeli slang as a mangal – from the Arabic word منقل meaning "stove"). Balconies are decorated with Israeli flags, and small flags are attached to car windows. Some leave the flags hoisted until after Yom Yerushalayim. Israeli Television channels air the official events live, and classic cult Israeli movies and skits are shown.

Religious observances

* The Chief Rabbinate along with many other religious authorities have declared that Yom Ha'atzmaut is one of the Jewish holidays in which Hallel should be said.
* The Religious Zionist movement has created a liturgy for the holiday, which sometimes includes the recitation of some psalms and the reading of a portion of the Prophets (Haftarah) on the holiday morning. Segments of the Religious Zionist camp, has promoted the inclusion of a version of Al Hanisim (for the Miracles...). This segment includes Rav David Bar Hayim of the Hardal camp who heads Machon Shilo Institute and The Temple Institute. The Reform Movement has also suggested such an addition.
* Other changes to the daily prayers include reciting Hallel, saying the expanded Pesukei D'Zimrah of Shabbat (the same practice that is observed almost universally on Hoshanah Rabbah), and/or blowing the Shofar. Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, questioned the Halachic imperative in canonizing these changes (it is not clear what his personal practice was - some of his student claim that he recited Hallel and some claim that he remained silent while the congregation recited Hallel).
* The Conservative Movement instituted the reading of a Torah portion for the day as well as the inclusion of a version of Al Hanisim (for the Miracles...), which is commonly recited on Hanukkah and Purim. Some Conservative synagogues also read the haftarah Isaiah 10:32–12:6, which is also read on the last day of Pesach.
* The Reform Movement suggests the inclusion of Ya'leh V'yavo. An addition to the Amidah that is also included on Rosh Chodesh (the New Month), Shalosh Regalim (the Pilgrimage Festivals), Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur.
* A few Hasidim and Haredim recite Hallel while many others make no changes in their daily prayers.

Timing

Yom Ha'atzmaut is nominally celebrated on the 5th day of Iyar (ה' באייר) in the Hebrew calendar, the anniversary of the day in which Israel independence was proclaimed, when David Ben Gurion publicly read the Israeli Declaration of Independence. The corresponding Gregorian date was May 14, 1948.

If the 5th of Iyar falls on a Friday or Saturday, the celebrations are moved up to the preceding Thursday. This rule has been effective since 1951.

If the 5th of Iyar is on a Monday, the festival is postponed to Tuesday. This rule has been effective since 2004, in order to avoid having Yom Hazikaron or Yom Ha'atzmaut on (or following) a Shabbat.

Since the only other day of the week that the 5th of Iyar can fall on is a Wednesday, it is actually now relatively rare for the festival to be observed on the 5th Iyar itself.

Gregorian dates for Yom Ha'atzmaut:

* May 10, 2011 (Tuesday, postponed one day to Iyar 6)
* April 26, 2012 (Thursday, advanced one day to Iyar 4)
* April 16, 2013 (Tuesday, postponed one day to Iyar 6)

Anti-Israel and anti-Zionist events



Some Arab citizens of Israel celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut but others regard it as a tragic day in their history and call it al-Nakba ("the catastrophe"). The Druze have celebrated Israel's independence from the start. Independence Day has also been celebrated by the Bedouins and the Circassians of Israel.


Satmar

Some religious anti-Zionist Jews display a black flag and wear ashes and sackcloth as a sign of mourning. Members of the Satmar, Toldos Aaron, Toldos Avraham Yitzchak,and Munkatch sects fast to atone for what they view as the sin of having created the Jewish state before the coming of the Messiah. Many fast on this day and some recite prayers for fast days.

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Yom Hazikaron



Yom Hazikaron (Hebrew: יום הזכרון לחללי מערכות ישראל ולנפגעי פעולות האיבה‎, lit. Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day) is Israel's official Memorial Day. In 2011, Israel honored the memory of 22,867 soldiers killed in the line of duty and 3,971 civilian terror victims.



Observance

Yom Hazikaron is the day on which Israel honors its fallen servicemen and women. National memorial services are held in the presence of Israel's top leadership and military personnel. The day opens with a siren the preceding evening at 20:00 (8:00 pm), given that in the Hebrew calendar system, the day begins at sunset. The siren is heard all over the country and lasts for one minute, during which Israelis stop everything (including driving, which stops highways) and stand in silence, commemorating the fallen and showing respect. Many religious Jews say prayers for the souls of the fallen soldiers at this time. The official ceremony to mark the opening of the day takes place at the Western Wall, and the flag of Israel is lowered to half staff.

A two-minute siren is heard at 11:00 the following morning, which marks the opening of the official memorial ceremonies and private remembrance gatherings at each cemetery where soldiers are buried. The day officially draws to a close between 19:00 and 20:00 (7–8 p.m.) in the official ceremony of Israel Independence Day on Mount Herzl, when the flag of Israel is returned to full staff.

Scheduling Yom Hazikaron right before Yom Ha-Atzma'ut is intended to remind people of the price paid for independence and of what was achieved with the soldiers' sacrifice. This transition shows the importance of this day among Israelis, most of whom have served in the armed forces or have a connection with people who were killed during their military service.

Date

Yom Hazikaron is observed on the 4th day of the month of Iyar of the Hebrew calendar, always one day before Israel Independence Day on the 5th day of Iyar, the anniversary of the Proclamation of the State of Israel in 1948. Both holidays are observed one or two days earlier (the 3rd and 4th, or the 2nd and 3rd, of Iyar) when the 5th occurs on a Friday or Saturday, the Shabbat. Similarly, both days are moved one day later when Yom Hazikaron falls on Sunday. During the first year of Israel's existence, politicians were unable to agree on a date for a memorial day.[citation needed] As the year came to a close without a decision, the memorial day was celebrated on Israel's first independence day (1949), and the same arrangement was made the following year (1950). Celebrating the holidays together proved difficult both logistically and emotionally, so in 1951, following the recommendation of a public commission, the memorial day was moved one day back. This arrangement was enacted into law in 1963.