Beginning at sundown on Tuesday April 21, 2026, right as Yom HaZikaron ends, and ending at sundown on Wednesday, April 22, is Yom HaAtzmaut – Israel Independence Day. It was on this date, the fifth day of the Hebrew month Iyar, when the state of Israel was formally established, as members of the provisional government read and signed a Declaration of Independence in Tel Aviv.
The History of Yom HaAtzmaut – Israel’s Independence Day
On May 14, 1948, the fifth day of the month of Iyar, Jewish leaders gathered in Tel Aviv to sign the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel. This extraordinary document states, “By virtue of our natural and historic right and on the strength of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, [we] hereby declare the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz-Israel, to be known as the State of Israel.”
This pivotal event, which is celebrated annually as Independence Day in Israel, was succeeded by the First Arab-Israeli War. The Declaration had been backed by the United Nations, and the U.S. was the first country to recognize the new state. However, Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq immediately invaded Israel. In 1949, the Armistice Agreement brought an end to the war.
Yom HaAtzmaut is a day of jubilation—a day for Jews to mark the re-establishment of their sovereign nation after generations of exile and to celebrate the history and accomplishments of the modern state of Israel.
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Connection to Yom HaZikaron
Since 1963, Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut have been observed one after the other with Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, observed first. Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, declared it a holiday in response to families of fallen soldiers’ request for a solemn day of remembrance separate from the festivities of Israel’s Independence Day. And so, Yom HaZikaron leads directly into Yom HaAtzmaut in symbolic recognition that Israel’s freedom and independence could not have come without sacrifice.
How is Yom HaAtzmaut Celebrated in Israel?
The deep and reflective observance of Yom HaZikaron gives way to the celebratory day of Yom HaAtzmaut. It begins with official state ceremony at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem where 12 torches (representing the 12 Tribes of Israel) are lit by citizens who made significant contributions to the Jewish state. This is also known as “the switch” to reflect the change from solemnity to celebration. From there, all entertainment establishments open after being closed for the last 24 hours and parties are held in the streets. Independence Day in Israel is also celebrated in the following ways:
- IAF flyovers — The flyovers on Yom HaAztmaut across the country throughout the day by the Israeli Air Force symbolize the strength, freedom, and defenders of the Holy Land.
- School celebrations — While schools close for Israeli children on Yom HaAztmaut, they host a special day of ceremonies, programs, and performances for communities.
- Religious observances –Special prayers and liturgical additions, such as psalms expressing gratitude and joy, are recited in synagogues.
- Fireworks and family gatherings –As night falls, fireworks light up the sky in cities across Israel. Families and friends gather for barbecues, which are a popular tradition. Parks and beaches are often filled with people celebrating, enjoying food, music, and each other’s company on Israel’s birthday.
What is Yom HaAtzmaut’s Significance?
From the very beginning, Israel extended a hand of friendship to neighboring states, encouraging them, as Israel’s Declaration of Independence puts it, to “establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people.” Despite this, most of Israel’s neighbors still do not recognize the Jewish state to this day. Even in the West, with its values of democracy and liberty—values fully embraced by Israel—her legitimacy is routinely questioned in academic circles, on newspaper op-ed pages, and even in some churches. Decades after its birth, it seems Israel is still the only nation on earth that is continually called on to justify its existence.
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Why Celebrating Israel’s Independence Matters
For Israelis and friends of Israel—indeed, for anyone who values democracy and freedom—Yom HaAztmaut should be, first and foremost, a day for celebration. On this day, let’s thank God for a nation that stands as a beacon of democracy in the midst of authoritarian regimes, for a nation where every day scientific and technological advances are made that benefit the entire world, and for a nation that, since its inception, has worked to fulfill the biblical promise, “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isaiah 60:3).
