I2:
Memorial & Independence Days

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Introduction

For a thousand years the Jewish people lived in the Land of Israel, but for the following two thousand years Israel lived in the Jewish people. Throughout 2000 years of exile and wanderings, Israel was the centre of Jewish life. Their hope was to see the fulfilment of the biblical promise:

"And I will bring back again my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards to drink wine from; and they shall plant gardens to eat fruit from." (Amos 9:14)

Finally, in this century, the promise was indeed fulfilled when the independent Jewish State of Israel was declared and the nation re-born. On May 14, 1948, the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel was read out by David Ben-Gurion and signed by the 35 members of the National Council. At exactly 4.32pm, Ben-Gurion announced the words the Jewish people had been waiting to hear for two millenniums: "The State of Israel is established…." What should have been cause for long celebrations and feelings of joy, almost immediately turned to horror when less than 24 hours later this infant country was attacked on all sides by the armies of 5 neighbouring enemies determined to wipe the tiny Jewish State off of the map. Despite losing over 6,000 citizens in defence of her right to exist, Israel remained firmly on the map and within 15 months fighting ceased and the newly born State was able to begin to grow.

The dream had come true, we had our State. However, as Chaim Weizmann (First President of the State of Israel) put it: "A state is not presented on a silver platter."

Yom Ha'Zikaron - Israel's Memorial Day

The day which precedes Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day) is Yom Ha'Zikaron, Memorial Day. This was introduced by the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) as a day to remember those who fell whilst fighting for the State of Israel. It is important to note that the Knesset made these two days inseparable, as it was the strong belief of it's politicians, like that of all Israelis, that the premature death of all soldiers of the Israeli Defence Forces, as well as the deaths of all those who fell while fighting during the days before the establishment of the State, prepared the ground for the State and its independence.

From Commemoration to Jubilation

Yom Ha'atzmaut follows Yom Ha'Zikaron as naturally as day follows night. After all, what was all this sacrifice for, if not to protect the infant country? So, when people in Israel leave the graveyards before sunset on Memorial Day, the scent of expectation begins to fill the air, because when night falls it brings with it the highlight of most Israeli's year - Independence Day. As the sun slowly sets, the sombre, reflective mood of Yom Ha'Zikaron gives way to the celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut - a transition which emphasises the lasting tie between the sacrifice of the country's fallen and the continued existence of a vibrant dynamic State of Israel. It's time to party!

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