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Yom HaAtzmaut in United States

Quick Facts

Many Jewish communities in the United States celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, which is Israel’s Independence Day, on the fifth day of the month of Iyar in the Jewish calendar.

Local names

NameLanguage
Yom HaAtzmautEnglish
Yom HaAtzmautSpanish

Yom HaAtzmaut 2012

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Yom HaAtzmaut 2013

Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Note: Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.
List of dates for other years

Many Jewish Americans in the United States 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.

Israeli Flag

Israeli flags are often visible at events that celebrate Yom Ha'Atzmaut. ©iStockphoto.com/ kreicher

What do people do?

Many Jewish organizations, including community centers, university student groups, and some schools, organize events to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Many of these events are open to the general public and include entertainment such as:

Some Jewish communities also celebrate Israel’s Independence Day with benefit concerts featuring bands from Israel, as well as local bands. A variety of music is usually offered, ranging from traditional music with a rock twist to modern music from Israel. Various art and craft activities for children and young teenagers are also incorporated into events that celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut.

Public life

Yom Ha’Atzmaut is not a federal public holiday in the United States.

Background

Many Jewish Americans 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

The most prominent symbol seen at events that celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut is Israel’s flag. This is 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: Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.
WeekdayDateYearNameHoliday typeWhere it is observed
MonApr 211980Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
ThuMay 71981Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
WedApr 281982Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
MonApr 181983Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
MonMay 71984Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
ThuApr 251985Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
WedMay 141986Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
MonMay 41987Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
ThuApr 211988Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
WedMay 101989Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
MonApr 301990Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
ThuApr 181991Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
ThuMay 71992Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
MonApr 261993Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
ThuApr 141994Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
ThuMay 41995Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
WedApr 241996Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
MonMay 121997Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
ThuApr 301998Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
WedApr 211999Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
WedMay 102000Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
ThuApr 262001Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
WedApr 172002Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
WedMay 72003Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
TueApr 272004Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
ThuMay 122005Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
WedMay 32006Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
TueApr 242007Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
ThuMay 82008Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
WedApr 292009Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
TueApr 202010Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
TueMay 102011Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
ThuApr 262012Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
TueApr 162013Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
TueMay 62014Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 
ThuApr 232015Yom HaAtzmautJewish holiday 

Other holidays in April 2012 in United States

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