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The famous Yom Haatzmaut mangal
Photo: Ahiya Raved
Photo: Gabi Menashe
Flags abound in Israel on Independence Day
Photo: Gabi Menashe
Photo: Hagai Aharon
Children make Independence Day their own
Photo: Hagai Aharon
Fireworks light the night on Independence Day
Photo: Roni Schitzer
Photo: GPO
Pride in Israel's power is evident on Independence Day
Photo: GPO

Yom Haatzmaut around the world

Israel's Independence Day is not only celebrated in Israel, it has become a global event for Jews throughout the world. Send us your event, and we'll list it here

Independence Day - Yom Haatzmaut in Hebrew - is one of the year's biggest holidays. It is a day of pride in and reflection on the accomplishments of the Jewish state. It has also become a global event for Jewish communities around the world. 

 

Israel's 57th Independence Day began Wednesday evening, May 11, and ran through sundown on Thursday, May 12, but the parties and concerts around the world in support of Israel and in commemoration of the day are continuing through June.

 

Yom Haatzmaut this year in Israel was a day of celebration for virtually all. The country's parks and beaches were chock full of revelers, partaking in the national sport of barbecue. The Israeli way is called "mangal," and involves the use of a small portable grill fired by charcoal fanned endlessly with anything people can get their hands on: a scrap of cardboard, a plastic paddle or, in some cases, electric hair blowers.

 

There was hardly a square centimeter of grass in the country that was not covered by some family having a picnic. The Parks Authority reported record crowds throughout the country; beaches and campgrounds were packed, and roads were full of travelers.

 

Photo: Joel Schwitzer

Israel-related events around the world 

 

Israeli Independence Day events have taken hold in the United States, as well as in other countries.

 

On May 3, students at University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana, celebrated Israel independence day with a barbecue and party. Read an account of that event contributed by a university student here.

 

There are still some events being held in the next few weeks in honor of Israeli Independence Day:

 

  •  June 5: Israel in the Gardens, San Francisco. Concert featuring Israeli rock group Machina and festival.  Estimaed crowd: 12,000-15,000.
  • June 5: Salute to Israel Parade, New York City. Annual parade featuring floats, schools, bands. Organizers predict 750,000 to 1 million attendees, depending on the weather.


 

Other recent events:

 

  • May 11: BBQ Party, Toronto. Hillel Toronto party with Israeli movies, drum circles, Israeli music and more.
  • May 11: Dor Chadash annual event, Crobar club, New York City. Speakers included New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
  • May 11: "The Miracle of Operation Solomon," 92nd Street Y, New York City. Prof. Stephen Spector and Riki Mullu spoke on Operation Solomon, the Israeli airlift of the Ethiopian Jews in May 1991.
  • May 11: Yom Haatzmaut and Israel Solidarity Day, Budapest, Hungary. Israeli rap group "HaDag Nahash" performed.

 

(Information on some of these events was supplied by PlanitJewish.com, a website providing tools for Jewish communities to improve their services and their connections to each other.)

 

Other U.S. events, as compiled by Planit Jewish:

 

 

  • Editor's note: We invite organizations in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and worldwide to send (news@ynetnews.com ) details and links to their events. We'll post them as we get them. Also, take pictures of your events and send them to us afterward. We'll publish the best pictures in the days following the holiday.

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.08.05, 16:37
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