26 April 2023
Shlomi Rosenfeld
Memorial Day and Independence Day
Two consecutive days that remind Israelis (Jews) of their very existence as a people in an independent state.
Many countries around the world have a national Memorial Day, and many have an Independence Day. But such a powerful and close connection between the two is rare and unique to the State of Israel.
The two days are the climax of The National Season in the Israeli spring, and they conclude the season.
They are adjacent to one another and are in stark contrast in their character and content - the first is a day of mourning and somberness, and the second is a day of joy and pride. Since the establishment of the state, together they mark, one after the other, independence and the price paid for it.
This heavy price has a number: about 27,000 men and women who have died or been killed during their military service or in acts of terror and defense since the beginning of Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel. And the number keeps climbing every year, reminding everyone that there is a price for the ongoing maintenance of independence. The blood is still being spilled, and the perfect tranquility of independence is not yet in sight.
The two days became attached to each other immediately after the establishment of the state. Since then, they have been together as if it were a given, and any attempt to raise a public discussion about separating them has failed.
On the 75th anniversary of the state's independence, this pair of days holds a central place in the Israeli heritage - moving between the joy of freedom and the deep sorrow of horrific memories. Between a flag waving in the wind and a flag lowered to half-mast, between scorching heatwaves and a spring chill that brings with it a pleasant breeze on star-studded nights.
Only the haze that emerges from the desert and covers the horizon in a greyish hue, without prior warning, reminds everyone who has gathered here to live in the State of Israel that after seventy-five years, nothing is certain or clear in the country - Israel is an independent state, but its borders are not fixed, the narrative of its citizens is not uniform, the next war is expected to occur in the north or perhaps the south, peace with its neighbors is still lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, and in the meantime, it's necessary to remain vigilant and ready for any trouble that may come.
Memorial Day
A sacred day in Israeli society.
Its full name: Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of the IDF and the Security Forces and Victims of Hostile Acts, but it is better known by its shortened name: Yom HaZikaron (The Memorial Day).
On Memorial Day, Israel's national mood takes on an air of solemnity and a serious expression on every face. The day's agenda is strictly solemn and leaves no room for cheerfulness. There are no celebrations or pleasures. Even in the settlements and communities of the Arab minority, the day is respected, and they abide by the seriousness and solemnity, even though they have no part in the Jewish narrative told on Memorial Day and Independence Day.
Two memorial sirens pierce the air and the atmosphere on this day and are heard clearly throughout the country.
The first one opens the official ceremonies in the evening before the day itself. This siren lasts for one minute, lowers the flags to half-mast, and locks the doors of cafes and restaurants, entertainment venues, and movie theaters.
The second siren, the most powerful of the year, is heard the next day at 11:00 AM and lasts for two long minutes. These will be minutes of general silence that will halt all work, stop cars on the road, and silence all conversation, songs, and prayers. Almost every Israeli citizen has a relative, friend, or acquaintance whose name appears on the long list of the dead and fallen. And there's nothing like these two minutes dedicated to reflective memory. Wherever they are, they will stand with bowed heads to honor the memory of the dead and the fallen.
Between and after the sirens, hours of ceremonies will take place in cemeteries, educational institutions, public halls, on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, and in the Knesset of Israel. In many homes, memorial candles are lit, and people will put on a serious and somber expression, remembering and recalling a family member or friend who was killed in the line of duty. Public and private media channels switch to a format of mourning and deal exclusively with everything related to the memory of the victims and their families.
At the end of the day, all eyes are on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, where the torch-lighting ceremony is about to take place.
Israelis stand for the Memorial Day siren
The Torch-Lighting Ceremony
As the sun sets behind the cypress trees on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, at the very last hour of Memorial Day, the signal is given for the ceremony that will change the mood: the Torch-lighting Ceremony.
One solitary hour in the life of the nation, when national pride hovers over the land, uniting factions, streams, and sectors of all genders, ethnicities, and ages. The flag returns to waving at the top of the mast, and the Speaker of the Knesset, along with 12 other chosen individuals, light torches of fire that move hearts in every corner of the country and throughout the Jewish world.
Radio and television channels, as well as internet channels, broadcast the ceremony live, and the eyes and ears of Israeli citizens are turned to the plaza on the Jerusalem mountain, where the ceremony of transition from sorrow to joy, from a bowed head to one raised in pride, takes place.
The torch-lighting ceremony began with the establishment of the state, and since the 1950s, its format has barely changed.
It is enveloped in an atmosphere of sanctity and is conducted like a religious ritual, year after year, at the same time and in the same place. Only the human composition of its participants changes, as do the patriotic words in the speeches and the performances in the artistic part.
When the evening has fallen and darkness is spread over the surrounding mountains, the honor guard shoulders its weapons. The honor guard stands at attention. The flag bearers, in a theatrical marching procession, form the number of the state's age, correct for the day of the ceremony. Fireworks are shot into the skies of Jerusalem and on all television channels - and it's all live.
Memorial Day is over.
Now, wipe away the tear, open your heart, raise your hands, sing, and smile.
Brigadier General (res.) Avigdor Kahalani lights a torch on the 75th Independence Day of the State of Israel
Independence Day
From the moment the official Independence Day events begin, every Israeli will find a place to celebrate—in the streets and squares, in clubs and private parties, at resorts and in the lap of nature. Those who don't celebrate in all of these will find themselves watching television programs in the spirit of the day—all Hebrew, Israeli, national.
Here is a collection of snapshots of Israeli life on Independence Day.
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The entertainment stages in the large cities gather around them masses of locals who come to dance and sing, and listen to the singers the municipality succeeded in recruiting for a handsome fee.
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Outings in the lap of nature. Lots of barbecues and "al ha'esh" (on the fire).
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The Nature and Parks Authority announces that there are no more parking spaces at...
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Stand-up comedians fill halls and make the crowd roar with laughter.
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Youth parties with lots of wine and alcohol.
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Senior citizen parties celebrating in the backyard with communal singing.
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Special holiday prayers in synagogues, with a special addition of reading the Hallel (a special holiday prayer).
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An endless playlist of Hebrew songs on all radio channels.
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Screenings of Israeli films on all television channels.
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The International Bible Quiz for youth broadcast live on television.
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The President of the State hosts outstanding soldiers live.
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The Israel Prize ceremony.
And that's more or less it.
Every man and woman celebrates how they see fit, because that is the essence of the idea of independence.
P.S.
Everything stated above is true for 75 percent of Israel's citizens.
Independence Day is not a holiday for the two million Arabs living in the State of Israel. The independence of the Jewish state is not part of their narrative, which is in conflict with the narrative of the Jews. They respect the day, and most of them will spend it without any special activity, in the normal atmosphere of a day off that is forced upon them.
And not just them.
Independence Day is also not a holiday for about half a million citizens from the Haredi sector, who do not connect with the Zionist idea, the foundation of the State of Israel's independence. For them, too, this day has no special meaning, and for them, it is another day of regular activity in their communities.
This is part of "The Israeli Story 1948-2025" project
What is The Israeli Story ?
A curated selection of Israeli snapshots, those that were and still are with us. Each one deserves an updated definition with a few words of explanation along with a tiny bit of history. Just a little – and all of them together go into the virtual Israeli Story that will remain online for future generations. You can see what's included in it by clicking on the icon below.
