Country Update: Israeli Independence Day

Today, Tuesday, May 10 2011, is Yom Ha’atzmaut, the celebration of Israel’s independence in 1948. This event marks the day that Israeli citizens were granted their independence, and in some senses, their right to live in a land that belonged to them. This day was monumental in that it recognized the Israeli people who had been so adamantly fighting for their independence for so long. The event is a fun day for all in Israel, and an article from http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/yom-haatzmaut, discusses all of the traditions associated with the day. The day offers performances, kosher food, face painting, camel rides, special barbeques, and more.
Despite the fact that this day is such a meaningful day for the rights of Israeli’s, and Jews in general, an article in the “Opinion” Paper, called “The Quality of Independence,” author Yedidia Stern discusses how the long time without any sense of national identity has led israeli’s to have a weak sense of identity, and he stresses the importance of building “national confidence” (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4066776,00.html). Perhaps celebrating holidays like Yom Ha’atzmaut is beneficial in the formation of a stronger national identity in many ways. It reaffirms Israeli citizens’ freedoms and rights, while giving them an identity to be proud of. I find this topic very interesting - it is interesting to study the identity of newly formed countries, and it is interesting to study the development of identity within a country who has recently been granted their human rights and freedoms.