Israeli Holidays That Are Important for Us to Commemorate

This year, more than years prior, understanding the Israeli holidays of Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day) are essential to how we stand in support of Israel.. Israel’s Memorial Day honors the brave soldiers who have lost their lives in defense of their nation and honors those who have lost their life due to terrorism. Israel’s Independence Day celebrates the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948.

Why is Memorial Day Different This Year? 

This is Israel’s first Memorial Day that has taken place since the horrific massacre that took place on October 7th, 2023. 1,200 men, women, and children, were murdered, raped, and kidnapped. These mothers, fathers, children, soldiers, and civilians were subjected to the genocidal intentions of Hamas and numerous citizens within Gaza. Not only was Israel grieving those who have been lost throughout history, but they also mourned the ones who are still being held captive in Gaza. In addition to this, nearly every person in Israel knows someone who was murdered or kidnapped on October 7th. Countless families have been torn apart due to spouses or children being called to duty on the war front. This day touched every person in Israel far more than any other memorial day prior. 

Why Should Americans Celebrate Israel’s Independence Day? 

As stated earlier, Israel established statehood in 1948, but the nation and people of Israel have a much richer history than just these few 76 years. One of the main reasons it is crucial for each and every one of us to advocate for and celebrate Israel’s independence is because Israel’s very existence is being debated and argued across the globe. As people have begun to shout that Israel is a “colonizer” we have an obligation to dispute those false claims. Israel has had a presence in their land for thousands of years and, praise God, in our lifetime, we are able to see a Jewish state reestablished in its native homeland. Not only are the last 76 years to be celebrated, but so are the last multiple millennia of the Jewish people in their homeland.

Holidays Aren’t Really News from the Land… Why Share this?

As many of you who are reading this article know, our upcoming Israel Summit had to move venues due to pressure from those who hate Israel and the Jewish people. I could have never imagined that in my lifetime, I would see terror dictate the actions of the public and, to be entirely honest, I could have never expected such lawlessness could be found so freely in America. A portion of the preamble to the United States Constitution states this:

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility….”

It is shameful that we can no longer depend on the “justice and domestic tranquility” clearly written above. In the absence of this, we are now beginning to face a reality in which we are subjected to the whims of malicious dictators who have no regard for morality, justice, or truth. 

This is why it is so critical that we celebrate these holidays with the Jewish people. They are involved in a war that has spanned for decades with Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran; they are having to fight to attend classes, to walk down the street safely, to attend synagogue, and to have the right to a life. The ones who have chosen to be in opposition to Israel have spewed blatant lies to feed the antisemitic propaganda that continues to circulate. It is well known that Jews are facing fierce anti-semitism throughout the four corners, and even those who support the Jewish people and Israel’s right to defense are beginning to face strong discrimination in their day-to-day life. The news continues to be skewed regarding the reality of the situation by claiming that Israel is guilty of apartheid, they are colonizers, genocidal, and frankly, just flat evil. We know however that all of the claims are entirely false and do not hold any reasoning in the slightest when faced with facts of what is actually happening on the ground. In the face of this fierce adversity, this article is not aimed to continue to tell you about the anti-semitism you have already witnessed, but to encourage you and to commission you to a call to action. 

This blatant Jew-hatred has been granted free reign with no restriction for far too long and the ensued result will be nothing less than complete and absolute anarchy. The unchecked terror that has been inflicted upon the Jewish people and those who support them will not stop unless good people stand up. The opposition has shouted their cause so loudly that businesses, colleges, and federal systems are allowing these anarchists to control decisions that are being made every single day. We have been allotted the opportunity to vocalize our support for the Jewish people for such a time as this, and just as Mordechai refused to bow to the terroristic intentions and actions of Haman, now is the time to boldly stand tall before the very face of evil in support of the Jewish people. 

This is a call to action to call your governing bodies, your workplace, your university, your local newspaper, and any other person possible so that you can voice your support for the Jewish people and the state of Israel and demand that action be taken in changing this antisemitic narrative. Now, more than ever, it is critical to voice your support for a sovereign Israel and to never again allow the Jewish people to be hated or murdered for the sake of being Jewish. It is time that we become engaged in this fight for the Jewish people.