Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut: Israel’s ‘High Holidays’

In these special articles and videos, Shalom Hartman Institute scholars explore the meaning of Israel's Independence Day and the Memorial Day for Soldiers and Terror Victims.

We recommend that you begin with Donniel Hartman's essay, "From Yom Hashoah to Yom Ha'atzmaut - the new 'High Holidays' of Israel." This article frames the way that many in Israel view this time of year, and offers a guide to those outside Israel of the depth and meaning of these holidays in Israel.

We have also posted the iconic video of David Ben-Gurion declaring Israel's independence in 1948, as well as links to read the complete text of the Declaration of Independence in English and in Hebrew.

Yom Hazikaron, Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism, 2019 in Israel will begin the evening of Tuesday, 7 May, and ends the evening of Wednesday, 8 May, with a "tekkes ma'avar," a ceremony "transferring" from Memorial Day to a celebration of the 71st Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day, from the evening of 8 May through Thursday, 9 May.

Yom Hazikaron

Channa Pinchasi

• New for 2019: Fallen Soldiers and the Shekhina’s Wings

David Hartman

• Yom Hazikaron: Remembrance Before Celebration

Donniel Hartman

• Yom Hazikaron: The Tree is Tall

Yom Ha'atzmaut

Donniel Hartman

• The Tribes of Israel: Jewish Identities in the Jewish State

Ruth Calderon

• The Israeli Identity Challenge

David Hartman

• Israel and Judaism's Future
• The Significance of Israel for the Future of Judaism
• The Secret of Israel and its People

Sarah Mulhern

• The Call to Create Torah for a Democratic State Tears Me in Two

Avital Hochstein

• Israeli and Diaspora Jews are Siblings living in Different Homes

Tamar Elad Appelbaum

• Challenges Facing Israeli Identity

Elana Stein Hain

• 20th Century Philosophies of War

Yehuda Kurtzer

• On Kinship in Politics and Suffering

Rani Jaeger

• Between Personal and National: How Do We Create Meaning Through Memorial Ceremonies?

Videos

Dr. Ruth Calderon

Tamar Elad Appelbaum

Elana Stein Hain

Micah Goodman & Yehuda Kurtzer

Donniel Hartman

Yehuda Kurtzer

• Auschwitz or Sinai: Metaphor and the Meaning of Modern Israel

Yossi Klein Halevi

• After the Success and Failure of Zionism 

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Declaration of the Independence of the State of Israel

Tel Aviv, May 14, 1948

Read the text of the Declaration of Independence in English and in Hebrew

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