Yom HaAtzma’ut By Rachel Raz, Jewish Life Specialist

Yom HaAtzma’ut – Israel’s Independence Day, celebrates and commemorates the historical moment in modern times of the declaration and establishment of the State of Israel. After almost 2000 years of yearning and praying, and years of preparation such as the founding of the city of Tel-Aviv in 1909, The Technion Institute of Technology, in 1912, and the Betzalel Art school in 1906 (to name a few) – The moment that Jews were waiting for arrived! On Friday, the 5th of the Jewish month of Iyyar, the 14th of May 1948, David Ben Gurion (The future 1st Prime Minister of Israel) Proclaimed in Tel-Aviv: “By the virtue of our historical and natural right, and on based on the united national general assembly resolution, We declare on the establishment of a Jewish state in Israel, The State of Israel.”  This year, as we commemorate that moment and celebrate Israel’s 76th Independence Day, Israel and the Jewish people are again challenged for our right to be who we are wherever we are around the globe, and our right to live freely in our homeland עַם חָפְשִׁי בְּאַרְצֵנוּ (am chofshi b’artzeinu). We are reminded that freedom is not free and is not guaranteed, but we need to work together to secure it. And as the Israel anthem “The hope” states עוֹד לֹא אָבְדָה תִּקְוָתֵנוּ (od lo avdah tikvateinu). We didn’t lose hope and we will not lose hope! May this Yom HaAtzma’ut strengthen you wherever you are, and together we will bring hope and light to the Jewish People, the State of Israel, and the world.