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Israel's 60th Independence Day



"The ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly..."

Isaiah 33:7 - In memory of those who have fallen while on duty in the Israeli Foreign Service

(IFM) Israel Independence Day is celebrated annually, according to the Hebrew calendar, on 5 Iyar, the anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. As this date falls this year on the Sabbath, celebrations have been moved up to Thursday, May 8 (3 Iyar). The day preceding this celebration is devoted to the memory of those who gave their lives for the achievement of the country's independence and its continued existence.

On Yom Hazikaron, Remembrance Day, which will begin on Tuesday evening, May 6, the entire nation remembers its debt and expresses eternal gratitude to its sons and daughters who gave their lives for the achievement of the country's independence and its continued existence. It is a day of collective and personal anguish mingled with awe and honor for the fallen.

The official events begin on Tuesday, May 6, at 8:00 PM with a moment of national silence heralded by a one minute siren. The following morning, ceremonies commence at 11:00 AM at 43 IDF military cemeteries located all over the country and at the Bedouin Soldier's Memorial at Movil Junction following a two minute blast of the siren.

A total of 22,437 men and women have been killed defending the land of Israel since 1860, the year that the first Jewish settlers left the secure walls of Jerusalem to build new Jewish neighborhoods.

In the past year, since Remembrance Day 2007, 132 members of the security forces - police, IDF, Border Police, Israel Security Agency and other organizations - have been killed in the service of the state.

David Ben-Gurion declares the establishment of the State of Israel.

IFM Photo

Israel's 60th Independence Day celebrations will commence on Wednesday evening, May 7, when the state flag is raised to full mast at a national ceremony on Mount Herzl, at which twelve torches are lit.

With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Jewish independence, lost two thousand years earlier, was restored.

Independence Day is a celebration of the renewal of the Jewish state in the Land of Israel, the birthplace of the Jewish people. In this land, the Jewish people began to develop its distinctive religion and culture some 4,000 years ago, and here it has preserved an unbroken physical presence, for centuries as a sovereign state, at other times under foreign domination. Throughout their long history, the yearning to return to the land has been the focus of Jewish life.

The events and projects for Israel's 60th anniversary reflect the Government resolution that they will center around the "strengthening of Israel's children".

The Israel at 60 events are designed to reach all the citizens of Israel wherever they may be, and a major proportion of the events shall be held in outlying regions. The events will showcase Israel's achievements over the 60 years since its founding. Special emphasis will be placed on Holocaust survivors and other sectors of the population.

The events and projects to mark 60 years of Israel's independence will focus on inculcating educational, cultural and artistic values among the youth. Emphasis shall also be placed on strengthening religious tolerance and civic awareness, strengthening the connection with the history of the State of Israel and the Jewish people, and strengthening awareness of nature, heritage, landscape and environmental values. Part of the budget for the Israel at 60 events shall be earmarked for infrastructure projects, that will bear fruit in the coming years.

PM Ehud Olmert's Letter to Children of the Diaspora
State of Israel's 60th Yom Ha'atzmaut



Dear Children,

I am happy to send you my warm greetings from Jerusalem - the eternal and undivided capital of the State of Israel and the Jewish people - on the occasion of the State of Israel's 60th birthday.

Sixty years ago, brave Jews from all over the world fought for the independence and freedom of the State of Israel - and won. Since then, the State of Israel has become a modern and vibrant democracy.

Some of you may wonder why the State of Israel should be an important part of your lives. There are many reasons. The modern State of Israel ties us to our proud history in our Land - from the glorious days of the Kings of Israel, through the ancient height of our civilization and to the heroic stand of the Maccabees. The modern State of Israel serves as a safe haven for Jews across the world and embraces and absorbs their cultures - beginning with the Holocaust survivors of Europe, the Moroccans, Yemenites, Russians, Ethiopians, and Jews of every color and speaking 110 different languages. The Jewish people, wherever they may be, belong to each other - we are truly brothers and sisters - and we must ensure that we always have somewhere to come home to, even if we live in different places.

I invite you to become a part of Israel - learn our shared history and language and come visit us. We need each other to ensure our future as a people and as a country, and I call on youy to play a role in this important mission.

Chag Sameach.

Sincerely,
Ehud Olmert