On May 14, 1948, the day the British Mandate expired, the new Jewish state - the State of Israel - was formally established in parts of what was known as the British Mandate for Palestine. With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Jewish independence was restored after 2,000 years.
Israel’s Independence Day is a celebration of the renewal of the Jewish state in the Land of Israel, the birthplace of the Jewish people who developed its distinctive religion and culture some 4,000 years ago.
Independence Day is celebrated annually on the anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel, according to the Hebrew calendar, on 5 Iyar (this year celebrated one day later because of the Sabbath). The day preceding this celebration is devoted to the memory of those who gave their lives for the achievement of the country's independence and its continued existence.
This proximity is intended to remind people of the heavy price paid for independence. On this day the entire nation remembers its debt and expresses eternal gratitude to its sons and daughters who gave their lives for the achievement of the country's independence.
Officer places a flag on a fallen soldier's grave (Archive photo: IDF Spokesperson)
Upon wrapping up the Memorial Day, Israel went on to celebrate its 66th anniversary under the theme "Women - Achievements and Challenges". Celebrations commenced with the customary lighting of torches ceremony in Mount Herzl, Jerusalem. Fourteen Israeli women from various roads of success were chosen to light Independence Day torches one of whom was our Ambassador here in Addis Ababa, Mrs. Belaynesh Zevadia.
Ambassador Belaynesh Zevadia speaking on the occasion, lighting torch
The torch lighter women are:
· Belaynesh Zevadia, Ethiopian-born, today Israel’s ambassador to Ethiopia
· Adina Bar Shalom, promoter of higher education among ultra-Orthodox women
· Orna Barbivai, first female IDF major-general
· Pascale Bercovitch, Paralympic athlete
· Geula Cohen, a fighter in the prestate underground
· Maxine Fassberg, CEO of Intel Israel
· Carmela Menashe, veteran military affairs reporter for Army Radio
· Shahar Peer, tennis player
· Miriam Peretz, educator and mother of two Israeli army officers killed in the line of duty
· Tali Peretz-Cohen, director of center to help victims of sexual assault
· Kira Radinsky, Technion researcher
· Hindia Suleiman, founder of a women’s entrepreneurial venture in the Israeli Arab village of Bu’eine-Nujeidat
· Gal Yoseph, chairwoman of the National Students Council
· Miriam Zohar, theater actress
Several international media outlets reported the news highlighting detailed bios of these great women. Here are just a few:
Independence Day is filled with festivities and celebrations including picnics, barbecues, family gatherings, and nature trips. Balconies, car windows, store fronts, and more are liberally decorated with Israeli flags.