Yom HaAtzmaut in Australia

Many Jewish Australians remember Israel’s Independence Day, also known as Yom Ha’Atzmaut (or Yom HaAtzmaut). Celebrations are annually held on or around the fifth day of the month of Iyar, according to the Jewish calendar.

The flag of Israel is often seen at Yom Ha'Atzmaut celebrations.

©iStockphoto.com/Lior Filshteiner

What do people do?

Some Jewish families may say special prayers in remembrance of Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Some schools may have learning activities for students to understand what Yom Ha’Atzmaut is about. It is customary in some Jewish schools for children to come to school dressed in blue and white, which are the colors of the Israeli flag.

Concerts to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut have been held in cities such as Melbourne and Perth in recent years. These concerts featured local Jewish talent as well as international music stars originally from Israel. Some evangelical Christians in Australia have also celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut in the past to show their support to Jewish communities and to Israel. This has brought about mixed reactions, including both criticism and support.

Public life

Yom Ha’Atzmaut is not a public holiday in Australia.

Background

Many Jewish people in Australia celebrate Israel’s independence on Yom Ha’Atzmaut. It commemorates when David Ben-Gurion, who was Israel’s first prime minister, publicly read the Israel’s Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948. According to the Jewish calendar, this was the fifth day of Iyar, the eighth month of the civil year, in the year 5708.

According to the Jewish calendar, the fifth day of the month of Iyar cannot fall on a Sunday. If this date falls on a Friday or Saturday, Yom Ha'Atzmaut is observed on the third or fourth day of the month. If the date falls on a Monday, it is observed on the sixth day of Iyar. This is so that the festivities do not fall just before, on, or just after the Sabbath.

Symbols

Israel’s flag is often the most prominent symbol seen at events that celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut. This flag comes in the shape of a white rectangle in the ratio 11:8 with two horizontal blue stripes, one at the top and one at the bottom. A regular hexagram, known as the Star of David, or Megan David, is depicted in blue between the stripes.

About Yom HaAtzmaut in other countries

Yom HaAtzmaut Observances

Other holidays in April 2013 in Australia

• Easter Monday ―Monday, April 1, 2013
• Last day of Passover ―Tuesday, April 2, 2013
• Easter Tuesday ―Tuesday, April 2, 2013
• Daylight Saving Time ends ―Sunday, April 7, 2013
• Yom HaShoah ―Monday, April 8, 2013
• Anzac Day ―Thursday, April 25, 2013
• Lag B'Omer ―Sunday, April 28, 2013