Memorial Day ends, as do other Jewish holidays, at nightfall, and the somber nature of the day gives way to the celebration of Israel’s Independence Day. The late Rabbi Shlomo Goren, the first Chief Rabbi of the IDF and the man who set the date of Memorial Day. explained the transition between the days, "We view the warriors who fall in battle as those who sprout forth life. The life of a nation grew out of this blood... This day must be more than mourning: We must remember, we must grieve, but it must [also] be a day of majesty and vision." Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in a special Independence Day message to Jewish communities around the world, said, “Each year that we mark the rebirth of the Jewish state after long centuries of exile is a great cause for celebration… past years show just what a free and independent Jewish nation can achieve. With scarce resources, we brought a barren land back to life and absorbed millions of immigrants. Through innovation and determination, the genius of our people has made us a leader in agriculture, medicine and science, while our creativity spawned a high-tech industry that continues to amaze the world… All this has been achieved even though Israel has lived under constant threat for 61 years. Unfortunately, Israel remains under threat. An Iranian regime that is feverishly pursuing nuclear weapons brazenly calls for our destruction. Terrorist organizations on our southern and northern borders grow stronger by the day. And a rising tide of anti-Semitism is sweeping the civilized world… Israeli Independence Day is celebrated as a religious holiday, for the following reasons: * It is a positive commandment to thank G-d for His miracles and favors, and to enact holidays to this end. * The establishment of the State, in the wake of centuries of pogroms that culminated with the Holocaust, saved many Jewish lives, and helped buttress the Jewish People's spiritual condition. * The establishment of the State removed the shame of Exile and the accompanying desecration of G-d's Name, as in Ezekiel 36, verses 4, 20, and others. * The establishment of the State of Israel facilitates, for both individuals and the nation as a whole, the fulfillment of the Torah commandment to settle the Land of Israel. - How Israeli Independence Day is celebrated: Special Prayers of thanksgiving are added to the evening and morning prayer services, including the sounding of the Shofar or Ram's horn. Hiking and picnicking, festive meals, an International Bible Knowledge Contest is televised, and lots and lots of meat is eaten at Bar-B-Que's all over the country. Many IDF bases are open to the public and the IDF has numerous presentations, awards ceremonies and tributes. And the IDF Air Force Flies over most of the country in an ongoing day long air show.

Memorial Day ends, as do other Jewish holidays, at nightfall, and the somber nature of the day gives way to the celebration of Israel’s Independence Day. The late Rabbi Shlomo Goren, the first Chief Rabbi of the IDF and the man who set the date of Memorial Day. explained the transition between the days, "We view the warriors who fall in battle as those who sprout forth life. The life of a nation grew out of this blood... This day must be more than mourning: We must remember, we must grieve, but it must [also] be a day of majesty and vision." Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in a special Independence Day message to Jewish communities around the world, said, “Each year that we mark the rebirth of the Jewish state after long centuries of exile is a great cause for celebration… past years show just what a free and independent Jewish nation can achieve. With scarce resources, we brought a barren land back to life and absorbed millions of immigrants. Through innovation and determination, the genius of our people has made us a leader in agriculture, medicine and science, while our creativity spawned a high-tech industry that continues to amaze the world… All this has been achieved even though Israel has lived under constant threat for 61 years. Unfortunately, Israel remains under threat. An Iranian regime that is feverishly pursuing nuclear weapons brazenly calls for our destruction. Terrorist organizations on our southern and northern borders grow stronger by the day. And a rising tide of anti-Semitism is sweeping the civilized world… Israeli Independence Day is celebrated as a religious holiday, for the following reasons: * It is a positive commandment to thank G-d for His miracles and favors, and to enact holidays to this end. * The establishment of the State, in the wake of centuries of pogroms that culminated with the Holocaust, saved many Jewish lives, and helped buttress the Jewish People's spiritual condition. * The establishment of the State removed the shame of Exile and the accompanying desecration of G-d's Name, as in Ezekiel 36, verses 4, 20, and others. * The establishment of the State of Israel facilitates, for both individuals and the nation as a whole, the fulfillment of the Torah commandment to settle the Land of Israel. - How Israeli Independence Day is celebrated: Special Prayers of thanksgiving are added to the evening and morning prayer services, including the sounding of the Shofar or Ram's horn. Hiking and picnicking, festive meals, an International Bible Knowledge Contest is televised, and lots and lots of meat is eaten at Bar-B-Que's all over the country. Many IDF bases are open to the public and the IDF has numerous presentations, awards ceremonies and tributes. And the IDF Air Force Flies over most of the country in an ongoing day long air show. via DoubleTapper http://ift.tt/2p1DzLk