Yom Ha'Atzma'ut is a minor festival that marks the day that the Jews in Palestine declared the creation of an independent Jewish state known as the State of Israel. This event occurred on May 14, 1948 (5th of Iyar on the Hebrew calendar).
In the years before independence, Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century until World War I. Since the war, Palestine was under the British mandate. However growing conflicts between Arabs and Jews led the British to turn the problem of Palestine over to the United Nations. The U.N. solution was to divide Palestine into two separate states, one for Arabs and one for Jews. The Jews accepted the U.N. decision; the Arabs did not. The worsening situation between Jews and Arabs led the British to give up the mandate all together and leave the country. With the British out of the picture, the Jews declared the State of Israel. It was the first time in 1900 years that Jews had an independent state of their own.
Decorations & Celebration Tips
In Israel, Yom Ha'Atzma'ut is celebrated with military parades. In the Diaspora, public celebrations include special programs devoted to Israel, concerts of Israeli music, food bazaars, Israeli dancing, etc. Most Yom Ha'Atzma-ut celebrations are done publicly, not in the home.
- Serve an Israeli meal (felafel, pita bread, hummus, halvah)
- Make an Israeli flag
- Play Israeli music
