Yom HaAtzmaut in Australia
Quick Facts
Many Jewish communities in Australia celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, which is Israel’s Independence Day, on the fifth day of the month of Iyar in the Jewish calendar.Name
Yom HaAtzmautYom HaAtzmaut 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009Yom HaAtzmaut 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010Note: Many Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.
See list of observations below
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
Read more about Yom HaAtzmaut.Yom HaAtzmaut Observances
Note: Many Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | Apr 22 | 1980 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | May 7 | 1981 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Apr 28 | 1982 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Apr 19 | 1983 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 8 | 1984 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Apr 25 | 1985 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | May 14 | 1986 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 5 | 1987 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Apr 21 | 1988 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | May 10 | 1989 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 1 | 1990 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Apr 18 | 1991 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | May 7 | 1992 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Apr 27 | 1993 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Apr 14 | 1994 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | May 4 | 1995 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Apr 24 | 1996 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 13 | 1997 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Apr 30 | 1998 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Apr 21 | 1999 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | May 10 | 2000 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Apr 26 | 2001 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Apr 17 | 2002 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | May 7 | 2003 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Apr 27 | 2004 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | May 12 | 2005 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | May 3 | 2006 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Apr 24 | 2007 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | May 8 | 2008 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Wed | Apr 29 | 2009 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Apr 20 | 2010 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 10 | 2011 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Apr 26 | 2012 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Apr 16 | 2013 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 6 | 2014 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | Apr 23 | 2015 | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday |
Other holidays in April 2009 in Australia
- Palm Sunday (Sunday, April 5, 2009)
- First day of Passover (Thursday, April 9, 2009)
- Maundy Thursday (Thursday, April 9, 2009)
- Good Friday (Friday, April 10, 2009)
- Holy Saturday (Saturday, April 11, 2009)
- Easter Day (Sunday, April 12, 2009)
- Easter Monday (Monday, April 13, 2009)
- Easter Tuesday (Tuesday, April 14, 2009)
- Last day of Passover (Thursday, April 16, 2009)
- Orthodox Good Friday (Friday, April 17, 2009)
- Orthodox Holy Saturday (Saturday, April 18, 2009)
- Orthodox Easter (Sunday, April 19, 2009)
- Orthodox Easter Monday (Monday, April 20, 2009)
- Yom HaShoah (Tuesday, April 21, 2009)
- Anzac Day (Saturday, April 25, 2009)
Other calendars
- Perpetual yearly calendar - make yearly calendar for any year
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