Amid Fires, Israel Observes Independence Day
Stand for Israel | May 1, 2025
While Israel goes from Yom HaZikaron (Israel Memorial Day) to Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day) – from sadness to joy, from mourning to celebration – many of the public events marking Israel’s 77th birthday have been cancelled due to wildfires still raging across the country:
The pre-recorded dress rehearsal of Israel’s 77th Independence Day opening ceremony was broadcast on Israeli television on Wednesday evening after heavy winds in the Jerusalem area forced the cancellation of the live ceremony.
The winds later caused fires to flare and spread widely outside the capital, leading to the evacuation of citizens, the closure of roads, and the cancellation of almost all Independence Day parties.
The annual ceremony opened with a large dance number while the final letters of fallen soldiers to their families were intermittently read aloud by an announcer.
But this is still a day to celebrate. Happy birthday, Israel! May you continue to act as the “light unto the nations” promised in Scripture, may your hostages come home soon, and may you see the blessings of shalom, peace, across the entire Holy Land.
