What do Israelis do on Independence Day?
Israel is a young country; It still struggles to generate a tradition, common national themes, if you will, for Independence Day.
There are several national ceremonies and celebrations that developed over the years, but I bet that if surveyed, many (if not most) Israelis would answer that they celebrate the occasion with a hearty barbecue (In Hebrew – “Mangal”…), involving family and friends.
This year, on the Eve of Independence Day, I had the privilege of attending the Ceremony of the Kindling of the Torches. This Ceremony is held every year, and it marks the end of the Memorial Day and the beginning of the celebrations of Independence Day…
This instant shift from the subdue mood of Memorial Day (most of us have lost friends and/or family members in Israel’s 59 years of continuous struggle) into the ecstatic mood of Independence Day, which I find to be one of the most defining and moving moments, was even more apparent while attending the ceremony in person.
Happy Birthday Israel! May “Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces” (Psalms 122:7)
Oh, and we did hold the traditional family barbecue on the morrow…
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