Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) marks the anniversary of the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948. It is observed on the 5th of the Hebrew month of Iyar on the Jewish calendar, which usually falls in April. On May 14, 1948, soon-to-be Prime Minister David Ben Gurion declared the independence of the State of Israel, which was recognized by the United States and the Soviet Union, though not by its surrounding states. The day is still a source of international tensions and is known as the Nakba for Palestinian people around the globe.
Israelis often celebrate on the erev with outdoor concerts, parties, and fireworks displays. People gather during the day at nature reserves, museums, and other public institutions, which are open to the public free of charge for the holiday. The day ends with speeches and a military parade. The religious nature of the holiday is still subject to debate. Today some North American Jewish communities hold the public celebrations on a corresponding weekend. There is not yet an accepted tradition of how to celebrate this holiday internationally, and not all communities observe it. Most Israelis consider it a national holiday rather than a religious holiday.
Celebrating Israel Independence Day 1954. ORT Photographic Collection. [Digitized]
MACHAL [Mitnadvei Hutz LaAretz] and Aliyah Bet Records, I-501
The MACHAL, the acronym for “Mitnadvei Hutz LaAretz” ("Volunteers from Abroad"), consisted of about 3500 men and women from over 40 countries from a variety of social and religious backgrounds who volunteered to fight for the establishment of Israel.
Memorandum of Conversation : between King Abdul Aziz al Saud and President Roosevelt [Digitized]
Memo with summary of conversation between His Majesty Abdul Aziz al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, and President Roosevelt concerning the issue of European Jewish refugees (1945).
Contains, in part, memorial books for Israeli soldiers, research on various Jewish topics, mainly the Jewish community of Egypt, the Middle East and Israel.
AJHS
American volunteers and Israel's war of independence / A. Joseph Heckelman. New York: Ktav Pub. House, 1974.
Current Israeli attitudes toward American Jews: contexts, problems, and recommendations / Yaron Ezrahi; with an introduction by David Clayman. Bel Air, Calif.: Center for Policy Options, University of Judaism, 1999.
Israel independence day program materials / Compiled and edited by Shoshana Perla, Sam E. Bloch and Abraham P. Gannes. New York: Dept. of Education and Culture of the Jewish Agency-American Section, 1970.
ASF
The birth of Israel: the drama as I saw it / Jorge García Granados. New York: A.A. Knopf, 1948.
LBI
Zionist writings essays and addresses / Theodor Herzl. Translated from the German by Harry Zohn. New York: Herzl Press, 1973.
YIVO
The Making of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1947-51 / Ilan Pappé. London; New York: I.B. Tauris; New York, NY: Distributed in the U.S. and Canada by St. Martin's Press, 1992.
The Making of Modern Israel, 1948-1967 / Leslie Stein. Cambridge: Polity, c2009.
YUM
The Israelis: Photographs of a Day in May / Amos Elon and 55 photographers. New York: Keter Pub. House, 1985.
Israel's money and medals, 1948-1973 / Valley Stream, N.Y.,: A.H. Kagan, [1974].