Lighting a Torch in Dark Times
Lighting a Torch in Dark Times
It wasn't clear to many Israelis and Diaspora Jews how to celebrate or mark Yom Haatzmaut this year. What resulted was a compromise of sorts.
It seemed like the last thing that the Israeli people and Jews around the world wanted to do was celebrate. After a powerful Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror), the switch that happens each year to a mood of celebration, joy, and appreciation seemed far away from the reality.
Many Israelis weren’t sure what this special day would look like so soon after October 7th and during a war. The day that transpired seemed to be a mix of lower energy and sparks of enjoyment. I witnessed this combination achieved in a respectful way that didn’t disregard the great loss that we have all faced, but also allowed for some time to appreciate this magnificent country and to experience some joy, if only for the day.
For the last seventy six years, Yom Haatzmaut has brought many staples with it. Barbeques, a torch-lighting ceremony, air shows, military parades, sheleg spray, large public concerts featuring Israel’s greats, and inflatable hammers with the Israeli flag.
Parades that display Israeli military strength have been a highlight for many years. The first annual Yom Haatzmaut parade didn’t happen, or at least not until a month later. Maariv newspaper called it “The Parade that Didn’t March” because there were so many people and the parade was not organized well enough1. Hundreds of thousands were believed to be in attendance and it is believed that a disaster was averted with the danger of trampling. A special ceremony was also hosted by the Military Rabbinate where Rabbi Shlomo Goren, the Chief Rabbi of the IDF, read a parchment scroll inscribed with a special prayer for Yom Haatzmaut2. Interestingly enough, Chief Rabbi of Israel Chaim Herzog was not at the ceremony because he was the main speaker at an event celebrating Yom Haatzmaut at Madison Square Garden in New York City3.
Another piece of the puzzle of the celebration this year is the religious element. Not to say that the holiday is religious in and of itself, but the celebration has taken on some religious features.
During the transition from Yom HaZikaron to Yom Haatzmaut, there is a festive prayer (tefillah chagigit) that features Hallel, which is the joyous thanksgiving prayer said during major holidays, and also a blowing of the shofar. There is then another festive prayer the morning of with musical instruments aplenty. Another aspect of the celebration is that some will shave and also listen to music, which are avoided according to a custom during the Omer. From the first day of Passover through Shavuot, each day is counted and also holds a Kabalistic quality. During this time, we learn that Rabbi Akiva’s twenty-four thousand students died due to not treating each other with respect. Out of that mourning, many observant Jews refrain from certain activities. For many who hold these mourning practices, the simple acts of shaving and listening to music provide some relief and enjoyment.
During the day, I joined family for a barbeque in Park HaYarkon in Tel Aviv. It was crowded, to say the least, with barbeques everywhere, some small soccer games, a tent giving out free Turkish coffee and glasses with the Israeli flag, and music. It didn’t hold the level of energy of past years, as there wasn’t so much music blasting and people weren’t dancing. In that way, it might have been subdued to an extent, but it certainly was not a totally sad day for many. It also seemed that many gravitated towards a smaller get together with family friends, instead of larger parties.
This was my own experience in Tel Aviv and it’s possible that the celebrations of the day looked different elsewhere. However, from what I’ve heard and read, there were festivities happening in smaller doses and even public celebrations. The annual torch-lighting ceremony, which is a beautiful display of pride and unity, took place the day before but without an audience. Watching the ceremony on TV in past years, you will notice that seeing the smiling faces in the crowd are a significant part of the experience. People from many different sectors of Israeli society are honored to light a torch after a short speech on who or what they are dedicating the torch lighting to. It is a moving ceremony and the people who have lit in the past have certainly brought out smiles and tears.
A cool resource that I found online comes from the Knesset’s website and it features an excerpt from the annual speech of every Speaker of the Knesset at the torch lighting ceremony all the way back to the First Knesset of 1949.
While reading about the experiences of others, I found a different interpretation of the small pieces of celebration that did occur.
“For radio personality Omer Ben Rubin, it was also all about the kids. ‘It’s just like on October 8: we felt we needed to just get on with it for the kids. Is it natural to be celebrating? Of course not,’ he said. ‘But you know what they say, happiness is infectious. So maybe our kids’ happiness will infect us also, you know? If it wasn’t for them, we’d all be in bed with the covers pulled over our heads.’” 4
Beneath outward appearances, it’s possible that the enjoyment of some adults was done for the sake of the children5. This could very well be the case, as after October 7th, many parents and those caring for children have had to cover up some of their own emotions in order to protect the children from the current situation.
No matter who you ask, this year’s Independence Day was different from past ones in major ways. Even in these dark times, it is possible that it also granted some the opportunity to reflect about Israel - past, present, and future. It is important to realize that each person is processing these times in a different way. Purim wasn’t very long ago and there were also discussions over how it should be celebrated this year. It seemed to be subdued, but still celebrated. There are certainly ways to live in these times with respect for everyone while realizing that each person copes differently.
May next Yom Haatzmaut be one of joy and gratitude.
And to conclude, here is a video celebrating the Jewish people.
This is a video that features beautiful scenes from throughout Israel with Eyal Golan’s anthem, ‘Am Yisrael Chai’, in the background, being performed by the Special in Uniform band.
Song of the Week
This is the anthem of Israeli resilience and the song that has brought pride and hope. It was released on October 19th, very soon after October 7th. It has dominated the radio waves since then and has become a rallying cry and moving tribute to Israeli and Jewish unity.
It is sung by legendary Israeli singer, Eyal Golan.
עם ישראל חי
Am Yisrael Chai
The Jewish People lives
Slang of the Week
הכל באיזי
Ha-kol beh-easy
Everything done easily or smoothly
An ironic one this week as nothing seems to be easy these days, but there are sparks of hope.