Yom Ha’atzmaut (Hebrew: יום העצמאות Yōm hā-ʿAṣmāʾūṯ lit. “Independence Day”) is the national day of Israel, commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. It is celebrated either on the 5th of Iyar, according to the Hebrew calendar, or on one of the preceding or following days, depending on which day of the week this date falls on. Yom Ha’atzmaut is preceded by Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day.
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To the true Heroes and leaders of Am Israel |
Nahal Haredi was founded on the premise that physical strength alone is not enough – the spirit of Torah and Mitzvot must underlie all that is achieved. The Nahal provides religious men who seek to contribute to Israel’s military defense with a framework for personal and professional achievement that in every way promotes a Torah-true lifestyle.Nahal Haredi was created in 1999 by a group of rabbis in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces and the Ministry of Defense, as a venue for young men who wish to serve the national interests of Eretz Yisrael while adhering to the highest religious standards. From a small unit of 30 soldiers, Nahal Haredi has become an IDF battalion of close to 1,000 troops, and now aims to reach the requisite threshold for designation as a fully operative infantry brigade. Nahal Haredi continues to develop and implement programming designed to provide military, educational, and economic opportunity to Israel’s growing Haredi community. |
![]() The Jerusalem Chords Bridge or Jerusalem Bridge of Strings גשר המיתרים, Gesher HaMeitarim, also called the Jerusalem Light Rail Bridge is a cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge at the entrance to the city of Jerusalem, Israel, designed by the Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava. The bridge is used by Jerusalem Light Rail’s Red Line, Incorporated in the structure is a glass-sided pedestrian bridge enabling pedestrians to cross from Kiryat Moshe to the Jerusalem Central Bus Station. |
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Ani Maamin – Mordechai Shapiro Single |
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![]() Medina & Halacha – Exploring the Jewish State through the lens of Jewish Law by Rabbi Shimshon HaKohen Nadel Medina & Halacha – Exploring the Jewish State through the lens of Jewish Law by Rabbi Shimshon HaKohen NadelIsrael’s Declaration of IndependenceTorah Tidbits #1327 – B’ha’aalot’cha – June 14-15 – 12 Sivan 5779 website: www.ttidbits.com Last week, MK Bezalel Yoel Smotrich of Ichud Leumi (who is seeking the post of Minister of Justice) said in an interview that Israel should “return to the way it was run in the days of King David and King Solomon.” He continued, “My desire long-term is that the State of Israel be run according to the Torah.” In response, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced that “the State of Israel will not be a Medinat Halacha.” I do not know if the Prime Minister is a reader of this column, but I would be very happy to sit down with him and discuss just what a Medinat Halacha might look like. Either at his home or mine. The truth is, since the very birth of the State of Israel, this nascent Jewish Nation has struggled with its Jewish character: Would the Jewish State be a ‘Jewish’ state or a state ‘for the Jews’? A religious state, or just another Western Democracy? One vivid example of this ‘identity crisis’ is the disagreement and debate that took place over the text of Israel’s Declaration of Independence. This met with much opposition by secular party leaders, and changes and additions were made by Zvi Berenson, the Histadrut trade union’s legal advisor and later a justice on Israel’s Supreme Court. Berenson’s version was also problematic for some, and so in the days and weeks preceding the withdrawal from Palestine by British Mandatory authorities, a new draft was prepared by politicians, lawyers and writers (including Shai Agnon). The final draft of the Declaration of Independence was drafted by a small committee including David Ben-Gurion, Moshe Sharett, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Fishman- Maimon, and Aharon Zisling. Rabbi Maimon, head of the Mizrachi party and later Israel’s first Minister of Religion, along with other Religious Zionist leaders, believed strongly that Israel’s Declaration of Independence should mention Hashem. After much opposition, Rabbi Maimon recommended using “Tzur Yisrael V’Go’alo – Rock of Israel and Redeemer”, an expression found in Tanach and our liturgy. The Declaration of Independence begins by affirming the Jewish People’s ancestral and spiritual connection the land, but instead of the word “Torah”, uses “Book of Books”: “The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.” The Declaration concludes: “Placing our trust in the Rock of Israel, we affix our signatures to this proclamation at this session of the provisional Council of State, on the soil of the Homeland, in the city of Tel-Aviv, on this Erev Shabbat, the 5th day of Iyar 5708, 14 May 1948.” Ben-Gurion was comfortable in using “Rock of Israel”, as he felt every individual can decide for himself what the “Rock of Israel” means to him. But it is clear from Tanach that “Rock of Israel” is an expression of our steadfast faith in Hashem as our rock, our strength, and our protector. On his deathbed, King David says, “The Rock of Israel has spoken to me: ‘Become a ruler over men; a righteous one, who rules through the fear of G-d'” (Shmuel Bet 23:3). “Rock of Israel” is a also mentioned in Yishayahu 30:29. In Chana’s prayer, she recognizes “there is no Rock like our G-d” (Shmuel Alef 2:2). In Tehillim 18:3, Hashem is the “Rock in Whom I take shelter,” and in Tehillim 19:15 he is “my Rock, and my Redeemer”. In Tehillim 62:3, “He alone is my Rock and my Salvation,” and in Tehillim 73:26 Hashem is the “Rock of my heart.” According to some, Rav Yitzchak HaLevi Herzog’s choice to begin the Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel with “Tzur Yisrael V’Go’alo” was no coincidence. His intention was to invoke Israel’s Declaration of Independence and imbue it with religious meaning. Just hours after its final wording was decided, party leaders lined up to sign their names to the Declaration of Independence. Rabbi Yehuda Leib Fishman-Maimon added something small just above his signature: The Hebrew letters Bet, Ayin, Zayin, Hei, representing “Be’ezrat Hashem.” |
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OU Israel Yom HaAtzmaut 70th Anniversary Celebration |
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Nefesh B’Nefesh Yom Haatzmaut 2014: 66 Israeli Heroes Share a Powerful Message | NBN |
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“Home” – Nefesh B’Nefesh Yom Ha’atzmaut 2017 |
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We will continue no matter what happens with unity and love for Am Israel |
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Our lands and tribal borders in the past |
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גלי עטרי – אין לי ארץ אחרת Ein li eretz acheret (I have no other country)![]() Note that there are two images of Israel. The more “Westernised” business-suited version of herself (at 30) and her remembering her early “oriental” look. אין לי ארץ אחרת אין לי ארץ אחרת אין לי ארץ אחרת בגוף כואב, בלב רעב |
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EIN LI ERETZ ACHERETEin li eretz acheret Gam im admati bo’eret Rak mila be’ivrit choderet el orkai el nishmati – Beguf ko’ev, belev ra’ev Kan hu beiti –Lo eshtok ki artzi shinta et panehaLo avater lehazkir la Ve’ashir kan be’ozneha Ad shetiftach et einehaEin li eretz acheret Gam im admati boeret Rak mila beivrit hoderet el orkai el nishmati Beguf koev, belev raev Kan hu beiti –Lo eshtok ki artzi shinta et paneha Lo avater lehazkir la Veashir kan beozneha Ad shetiftah et einehaEin li eretz aheret Ad shetichadesh yameha Ad shetiftah et einehaEin li eretz aheret Gam im admati boeret Rak mila beivrit hoderet el orkai el nishmati Beguf koev, belev raev Kan — hu beitiBeguf koev, belev raev Kan — hu beiti |
I HAVE NO OTHER COUNTRYI have no other country even if my land is aflame Just a word in Hebrew pierces my veins and my soul – With a painful body, with a hungry heart, Here is my home.I will not stay silent because my country changed her faceI will not give up reminding her And sing in her ears until she will open her eyesI have no other country even if my land is aflame Just a word in Hebrew pierces my veins and my soul – With a painful body, with a hungry heart, Here is my home.I won’t be silent because my country has changed her face. I will not give up reminding her And sing in her ears until she will open her eyesI have no other country until she will renew her glorious days Until she will open her eyesI have no other country even if my land is aflame Just a word in Hebrew pierces my veins and my soul – With a painful body, with a hungry heart, Here is my home.With a painful body, with a hungry heart, Here is my home. |
![]() Nefesh B’Nefesh: Live the Dream US & CAN 1-866-4-ALIYAH | UK 020-8150-6690 or 0800-085-2105 | Israel 02-659-5800 https://www.nbn.org.il/ info@nbn.org.il It’s time to come home! Nefesh B’Nefesh: Live the Dream 1-866-4-ALIYAH UK 0800-085-2105 Come home to the Land of Emuna |
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Thank you Yerushalayim Torah Academy for Girls! |
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![]() Speech by the president of the Czech Republic at the reception held to celebrate Israel’s Independence DayMiloš Zeman, the president of Czech Republic, gave the following speech last Monday at a reception to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day. Many thanks to Gemini for the translation from the official text posted at the Czech government’s website. May 26, 2014
— Miloš Zeman, president of the Czech Republic, Hilton Hotel, 26th of May 2014 |
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![]() Independence Means Never Having To Say You’re SorryBy Tamar Yonah 06May2014 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Blogs/Message.aspx/5706#.U3LmfYZxMxA Independence means never having to say you’re sorry. (updated version from a blog I wrote in 2011) Independence means never having to ask another country for arms and how we can use them. Independence means never having to ask another nation where Jews can and cannot live. Independence means never having to ask the U.N. to condemn terrorist attacks against us, because Israel would have already dealt out justice herself! Independence means never having to apologize for hitting an anti-semitic, terror supporting, anarchist in the face with your gun. Independence means never having to put a soldier on trial for cocking his gun while being threatened by enemies of the Jewish people. Independence means never having to board a terrorist-supporting flotilla ship, where we arm our soldiers with paint guns, instead of meaning business. Independence means not giving in to the Obamas and Kerrys of the world and releasing murdering terrorists out onto the streets for a goodwill gesture. Independence means not having to cave into world pressure and cut yourself in pieces to carve out a terrorist state in your belly. Independence means never having to ask another entity for permission… to exist. |
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Latma’s song for Yom Haatzmaut – Please give me back my country! |
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New initiative – 10 days of gratitude |