1950 MENORAH POSTER Israel INDEPENDENCE DAY FLAG Jewish JUDAICA Hebrew KKL JNF

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1950 MENORAH POSTER Israel INDEPENDENCE DAY FLAG Jewish JUDAICA Hebrew KKL JNF:
$115.00

DESCRIPTION : Here for sale is an ORIGINAL and UNCOMMON Judaica Zionist poster which was published in the 1950\'s p to the 1960\'s by the JNF ( Jewish National Fund ) - KKL ( Keren Kayemet Le\'Israel ) to commemorate and celebrate the ISRAEL DAY OF INDEPENDENCE - HE IYAR ( Iyar month Fifth ). The Independence poster depicts a group of Jewish ISRAELI CHILDREN , BOYS and GIRLS celebrating , Dancing around a giant MENORAH while numerous ISRAELI FlagS are in the background. The HEBREW text is \"The FERAST of INDEPENDENCE - ANNIVERSARY to the STATE of ISRAEL\" .Graphic design by Benny Eden. Size around 13\" x 19\". Quite good condition. Used. Somewhat worn and stained. Folding signs. A few tiny staple holes in the corners. However , Should look great behind a framed glass. ( Pls look at scan for accurate AS IS images )Will be sent rolled inside a protective sealed rigid TUBE .
AUTHENTICITY :The poster comes from a KKL- JNF old warehouse andis fullyguaranteed ORIGINAL fromthe 1950\'s - 1960\'s. It is NOT a reproduction or a recently made reprint or an immitation ,It holds a life long GUARANTEE for itsAUTHENTICITY and ORIGINALITY.PAYMENTS : Payment method accepted : Paypal .

SHIPPING : Shipp worldwide via registeredairmail is $17 . Poster will be sent rolled in a special protective rigid sealed tube. Will be sent within3-5 days after payment . Kindly note that duration of Int\'l registered airmail is around 14 days.

Independence Day(Hebrew:יום העצמאות‎‎Yom Ha\'atzmaut, lit. \"Day of Independence\") is thenational dayofIsrael, commemorating theIsraeli Declaration of Independencein 1948. It is celebrated either on the5th of Iyar, according to the Hebrew calendar, or on one of the preceding or following days, depending on which day of the week this date falls on.Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day is followed by Independence Day.Contents[hide]1 History2 Events2.1 Official events2.1.1 Independence Day eve2.1.2 Independence Day2.2 Religious customs3 Timing4 See also5 References6 External linksHistory[edit]Independence Day is founded on the declaration of the establishment of theState of Israelby the Jewish leadership headed by future Prime MinisterDavid Ben-Gurionon 14 May 1948. The mood outside of Ben-Gurion\'s home just prior to the declaration was joyous:\"The Jews of Palestine ... were dancing because they were about to realize what was one of the most remarkable and inspiring achievements in human history: A people which had been exiled from its homeland two thousand years before, which had endured countless pogroms, expulsions, and persecutions, but which had refused to relinquish its identity—which had, on the contrary, substantially strengthened that identity; a people which only a few years before had been the victim of mankind’s largest single act of mass murder, killing a third of the world’s Jews, that people was returning home as sovereign citizens in their own independent state.\"[1]Independence was declared eight hours before the end of theBritish Mandate of Palestine, which was due to finish on 15 May 1948.Declaration of the State of IsraelThe operative paragraph of theDeclaration of the Establishment of State of Israelof 14 May 1948[2]expresses the declaration to beby virtue of our natural and historic right and on the strength of theresolution of the United Nations General Assembly. The operative paragraph concludes with the words of Ben-Gurion, where he thereby declaresthe establishment of a Jewish state inEretz Israel, to be known as the State of Israel.The new state was quickly recognised by the United Statesde facto, theSoviet Union,[3]and many other countries, but not by the surroundingArabstates, whichmarchedwith their troops into the area of the former British Mandate.Events[edit]Independence Day celebrations in Tel Aviv\'sRabin Square, 2008Israeli Air ForceIndependence Day flypast, 2011Official events[edit]Most of the official events take place inJerusalem, the seat of Israel\'s government, and are broadcast live onIsraeli television.Independence Day eve[edit]An official ceremony is held every year onMount Herzl,Jerusalemon the evening of Independence Day. The ceremony includes a speech by the speaker of theKnesset(the Israeli Parliament), artistic performances, aFlag of Israel, forming elaborate structures (such as aMenorah,Magen David) and the ceremonial lighting of twelve torches, one for each of theTribes of Israel. Every year a dozen Israeli citizens, who made a significant social contribution in a selected area, are invited to light the torches. Many cities hold outdoor performances in cities\' squares featuring leading Israeli singers andfireworksdisplays. Streets around the squares are closed to cars, allowing people to sing and dance in the streets.Independence Day[edit]International Bible Contest, 1985Visitors around anIDF Caterpillar D9at theIsrael Defense Forcesexhibition atYad La-Shiryon, Independence Day 2012.Reception of thePresident of Israelfor honouring excellence in 120IDFsoldiers. The event takes place in the President\'s official residence inJerusalem.International Bible ContestinJerusalemIsrael Prizeceremony in JerusalemIsrael Defense Forcesopens some of its bases to the public.Israel Defense Forces parade(1948–1973)Hebrew Song Contest (1960–1980)Israeli families, regardless of religious observance or affiliation, celebrate with picnics and barbecues (known in Israeli slang as amangal– from the Arabic word منقل meaning \"stove\"). Balconies are decorated withIsraeli Flags, and small Flags are attached to car windows. Some leave the Flags hoisted until afterYom Yerushalayim. Israeli Television channels air the official events live, and classiccultIsraeli movies and skits are shown.Religious customs[edit]Hallel recited at theDay to PraiseIsrael Independence Day event in Jerusalem, 23 April 2015In response to widespread public feeling, the Chief Rabbinate in Israel decided during 1950–51 that Independence Day should be given the status of a minorJewish holidayon whichHallelbe recited. Their decision that it be recited (without a blessing) gave rise to a bitter public dispute, withAgudath Israelrejecting the notion of imbuing the day with any religious significance whatsoever, and religious Zionists believing the blessing should be obligatory.[4]The Rabbinate also ruled that they were \"unable to sanction instrumental music and dances on this day which occurs during thesephirahperiod.\"[5]The recitation of the blessing over Hallel was introduced in 1973 by Israeli Chief RabbiShlomo Goren. The innovation was strongly denounced by his Sephardic counterpart, RabbiOvadia Yosef[6]and by RabbiJoseph B. Soloveitchik, leader ofModern Orthodox Judaismin America.[7]TheReligious Zionistmovement created a liturgy for the holiday which sometimes includes the recitation of some psalms and the reading of thehaftarahofIsaiah 10:32–12:6, which is also read on the last day ofPesachin theDiaspora, on the holiday morning. Other changes to the daily prayers include reciting Hallel, saying the expandedPesukei D\'Zimrahof Shabbat (the same practice that is observed almost universally onHoshanah Rabbah), and/or blowing theShofar. RabbiJoseph Soloveitchikquestioned the Halachic imperative in canonising these changes[8](it is not clear what his personal practice was regarding the recital of Hallel). In any case, the majority of his students recite Hallel without the blessings.[9]A number of authorities have promoted the inclusion of a version ofAl Hanisim(for the miracles...) in the Amidah prayer.[10]MostHaredimmake no changes in their daily prayers. People affiliated to theEdah HaChareidismourn the establishment of Israel on Independence Day, claiming that the establishment of a Jewish state before the coming of the Messiah is a sin and heresy. Some even fast on this day and recite prayers for fast days.[11]TheConservative Movementread theTorahportion ofDeuteronomy 7:12–8:18, and include a version ofAl Hanisim.[12]TheReform Movementsuggests the inclusion ofYa\'aleh V\'yavoin the Amidah prayer.Timing[edit]Independence Day is celebrated on the 5th day ofIyar(ה\' באייר) in theHebrew calendar, the anniversary of the day on which Israeli independence was proclaimed, whenDavid Ben-Gurionpublicly read theIsraeli Declaration of Independence. The corresponding Gregorian date was 14 May 1948.If the 5th of Iyar falls on a Friday or Saturday, the celebrations are moved up to the preceding Thursday. This rule has been effective since 1951. If the 5th of Iyar is on a Monday, the festival is postponed to Tuesday. This rule has been effective since 2004, in order to avoid potential violation of Sabbath laws by preparing forYom Hazikaronor Independence Day on aShabbat.Gregorian dates for Independence Day:16 April 2013 (Tuesday, postponed one day toIyar6)6 May 2014 (Tuesday, postponed one day toIyar6)23 April 2015 (Thursday, advanced one day toIyar4)12 May 2016 (Thursday, advanced one day toIyar4)2 May 2017 (Tuesday, postponed one day toIyar6)TheIsraeli Declaration of Independence(Hebrew:הכרזת העצמאות‎‎,Hakhrazat HaAtzma\'utorHebrew:מגילת העצמאות‎‎Megilat HaAtzma\'ut), formally the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, was proclaimed on 14 May 1948 (5 Iyar5708) byDavid Ben-Gurion, the Executive Head of theWorld Zionist Organization[2][3]and the chairman of theJewish Agency for Palestine.[4]It declared the establishment of aJewish stateinEretz-Israel, to be known as theState of Israel, which would come into effect on termination of theBritish Mandateat midnight that day.[5][6]The event is celebrated annually in Israel with anational holidayYom Ha\'atzmaut(Hebrew:יום העצמאות‎‎, lit.Independence Day) on5 Iyarof every year according to theHebrew calendar.Contents[hide]1 Background1.1 Drafting the text1.2 Minhelet HaAm Vote1.3 Final wording1.3.1 Borders1.3.2 Religion1.3.3 Name1.3.4 Other items2 Declaration ceremony2.1 Signatories3 Context and aftermath4 Status in Israeli law5 The scroll6 Official translation7 See also8 References9 External linksBackground[edit]The possibility of aJewishhomeland inPalestinehad been a goal ofZionistorganizations since the late 19th century. TheBritish Foreign Secretarystated in theBalfour Declaration of 1917:His Majesty\'s government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.[7]AfterWorld War I, theUnited Kingdomwas given amandatefor Palestine, which it had conquered from theOttomansduring the war. In 1937 thePeel Commissionsuggestedpartitioning Mandate Palestineinto an Arab state and a Jewish state, though the proposal was rejected as unworkable by the government and was at least partially to blame for the renewal of the1936–39 Arab revolt.The UN partition planIn the face of increasing violence afterWorld War II, the British handed the issue over to the recently establishedUnited Nations. The result wasResolution 181(II), a plan to partition Palestine intoIndependent Arab and Jewish States and the Special International Regime for the City of Jerusalem. The Jewish state was to receive around 56% of the land area of Mandate Palestine, encompassing 82% of the Jewish population, though it would be separated from Jerusalem. The plan was accepted by most of the Jewish population, but rejected by much of the Arab populace. On 29 November 1947, the resolution to recommendto the United Kingdom, as the mandatory Power for Palestine, and to all other Members of the United Nations the adoption and implementation, with regard to the future government of Palestine, of the Plan of Partition with Economic Unionwas put to a vote in the United Nations General Assembly.[8]The result was 33 to 13 in favour of the resolution, with 10 abstentions. Resolution 181(II):PART I: Future constitution and government of Palestine: A. TERMINATION OF MANDATE, PARTITION AND INDEPENDENCE: Clause 3provides:Independent Arab and Jewish States and the Special International Regime for the City of Jerusalem, ... shall come into existence in Palestine two months after the evacuation of the armed forces of the mandatory Power has been completed but in any case not later than 1 October 1948.The Arab countries (all of which had opposed the plan) proposed to query theInternational Court of Justiceon the competence of the General Assembly to partition a country against the wishes of the majority of its inhabitants, but the resolution was rejected.Drafting the text[edit]The first draft of the declaration was made by Zvi Berenson, theHistadruttrade union\'s legal advisor and later a justice of theSupreme Court, at the request ofPinchas Rosen. A revised second draft was made by three lawyers, A. Beham, A. Hintzheimer and Z.E. Baker, and was framed by a committee includingDavid Remez,Pinchas Rosen,Haim-Moshe Shapira,Moshe SharettandAharon Zisling.[9]A second committee meeting, which includedDavid Ben-Gurion,Yehuda Leib Maimon, Sharett and Zisling produced the final text.[10]Minhelet HaAm Vote[edit]On 12 May 1948, theMinhelet HaAm(Hebrew:מנהלת העם‎‎, lit.People\'s Administration) was convened to vote on declaring independence.[11][12]Three of the thirteen members were missing, withYehuda Leib MaimonandYitzhak Gruenbaumbeing blocked inbesiegedJerusalem, whileYitzhak-Meir Levinwas in the United States.The meeting started at 1:45 in the afternoon and ended after midnight. The decision was between accepting the American proposal for a truce, or declaring independence. The latter option was put to a vote, with six of the ten members present supporting it:For:David Ben-Gurion,Moshe Sharett(Mapai);Peretz Bernstein(General Zionists);Haim-Moshe Shapira(Hapoel HaMizrachi);Mordechai Bentov,Aharon Zisling(Mapam).Against:Eliezer Kaplan,David Remez(Mapai);Pinchas Rosen(New Aliyah Party);Bechor-Shalom Sheetrit(Sephardim and Oriental Communities).Chaim Weizmann, chairman of theWorld Zionist Organization[2]and soon to be the firstPresident of Israel, endorsed the decision, after reportedly asking \"What are they waiting for, the idiots?\"[9]Final wording[edit]The draft text was submitted for approval to a meeting ofMoetzet HaAm(Hebrew:מועצת העם‎‎, lit.People\'s Council) at theJNFbuilding inTel Avivon 14 May. The meeting started at 13:50 and ended at 15:00, an hour before the declaration was due to be made, and despite ongoing disagreements, with a unanimous vote in favour of the final text. During the process, there were two major debates, centering on the issues of borders and religion.Borders[edit]The borders were not specified in the Declaration. On the day of its proclamation,Eliahu Epsteinwrote toHarry S. Trumanthat the state had been proclaimed \"within the frontiers approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its Resolution of November 29, 1947\".On the border issue, the original draft had declared that the borders would be that decided by the UN partition plan. While this was supported by Rosen andBechor-Shalom Sheetrit, it was opposed by Ben-Gurion and Zisling, with Ben-Gurion stating, \"We accepted the UN Resolution, but the Arabs did not. They are preparing to make war on us. If we defeat them and capture western Galilee or territory on both sides of the road to Jerusalem, these areas will become part of the state. Why should we obligate ourselves to accept boundaries that in any case the Arabs don\'t accept?\"[9]The inclusion of the designation of borders in the text was dropped after the provisional government of Israel, theMinhelet HaAm, voted 5–4 against it.[10]TheRevisionists, committed to a Jewish state on both sides of theJordan River(that is, including Transjordan), wanted the phrase \"within its historic borders\" included but were unsuccessful.Religion[edit]The second major issue was over the inclusion of God in the last section of the document, with the draft using the phrase \"and placing our trust in the Almighty\". The tworabbis, Shapira andYehuda Leib Maimon, argued for its inclusion, saying that it could not be omitted, with Shapira supporting the wording \"God of Israel\" or \"the Almighty and Redeemer of Israel\".[9]It was strongly opposed by Zisling, a member of the secularistMapam. In the end the phrase \"Rock of Israel\" was used, which could be interpreted as either referring to God, or the land ofEretz Israel, Ben-Gurion saying \"Each of us, in his own way, believes in the \'Rock of Israel\' as he conceives it. I should like to make one request: Don\'t let me put this phrase to a vote.\" Although its use was still opposed by Zisling, the phrase was accepted without a vote.Name[edit]The writers also had to decide on the name for the new state.Eretz Israel, Ever (from the nameEber),Judea, andZionwere all suggested, as were Ziona, Ivriya and Herzliya.[13]Judea and Zion were rejected because, according to the partition plan, Jerusalem (Zion) and most of Judean mountains would be outside the new state.[14]Ben-Gurion put forward \"Israel\" and it passed by a vote of 6–3.[15]Official documents released in April 2013 by the State Archive of Israel show that days before the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948, officials were still debating about what the new country would be called in Arabic: Palestine (Filastin), Zion (Sayoun) or Israel (Eesra’il). Two assumptions were made: \"That an Arab state was about to be established alongside the Jewish one in keeping with the UN’s partition resolution the year before, and that the Jewish state would include a large Arab minority whose feelings needed to be taken into account\". In the end, the officials rejected the name Palestine because they thought that would be the name of the new Arab state and could cause confusion so they opted for the most straightforward option: Israel.[16]Other items[edit]At the meeting on 14 May, several other members of Moetzet HaAm suggested additions to the document.Meir Vilnerwanted it to denounce the British Mandate and military but Sharett said it was out of place.Meir Argovpushed to mention theDisplaced Persons campsin Europe and to guarantee freedom oflanguage. Ben-Gurion agreed with the latter but noted that Hebrew should be the main language of the state.The debate over wording did not end completely even after the Declaration had been made. Declaration signerMeir David Loewensteinlater claimed, \"It ignored our sole right toEretz Israel, which is based on the covenant of the Lord withAbraham, our father, and repeated promises in theTanach. It ignored the aliya of theRambanand the students of theVilna Gaonand theBa\'al Shem Tov, and the [rights of] Jews who lived in the \'Old Yishuv\'.\"[17]Declaration ceremony[edit]A celebratory crowd outside theTel Aviv Museumto hear the DeclarationThe invitation to the ceremony, dated 13 May 1948.David Ben-Guriondeclaring independence beneath a large portrait ofTheodor Herzl, founder of modernZionismThe ceremony was held in theTel Aviv Museum(today known as Independence Hall) but was not widely publicised as it was feared that the British Authorities might attempt to prevent it or that the Arab armies might invade earlier than expected. An invitation was sent out by messenger on the morning of 14 May telling recipients to arrive at 15:30 and to keep the event a secret. The event started at 16:00 (a time chosen so as not to breach thesabbath) and was broadcast live as the first transmission of the new radio stationKol Yisrael.The final draft of the declaration was typed at theJewish National Fundbuilding following its approval earlier in the day.Ze\'ev Sherf, who stayed at the building in order to deliver the text, had forgotten to arrange transport for himself. Ultimately, he had to Flag down a passing car and ask the driver (who was driving a borrowed car without a license) to take him to the ceremony. Sherf\'s request was initially refused but he managed to persuade the driver to take him.[9]The car was stopped by a policeman for speeding while driving across the city though a ticket was not issued after it was explained that he was delaying the declaration of independence.[15]Sherf arrived at the museum at 15:59.At 16:00, Ben-Gurion opened the ceremony by banging hisgavelon the table, prompting a spontaneous rendition ofHatikvah, soon to be Israel\'snational anthem, from the 250 guests.[15]On the wall behind the podium hung a picture ofTheodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, and two Flags, later to become the officialFlag of Israel.After telling the audience \"I shall now read to you the scroll of the Establishment of the State, which has passed its first reading by theNational Council\", Ben-Gurion proceeded to read out the declaration, taking 16 minutes, ending with the words \"Let us accept the Foundation Scroll of the Jewish State by rising\" and calling on RabbiFishmanto recite theShehecheyanublessing.[15]The entire declaration ceremony wasrecordedand broadcast live onKol Yisrael(Voice of Israel) radio station.Signatories[edit]Ben Gurion (Left) Signing the Declaration of Independence held by Moshe SharetAs leader of theYishuv,David Ben-Gurionwas the first person to sign. The declaration was due to be signed by all 37 members ofMoetzet HaAm. However, twelve members could not attend, eleven of them trapped inbesiegedJerusalemand one abroad. The remaining 25 signatories present were called up in alphabetical order to sign, leaving spaces for those absent. Although a space was left for him between the signatures ofEliyahu DobkinandMeir Vilner,Zerach Warhaftigsigned at the top of the next column, leading to speculation that Vilner\'s name had been left alone to isolate him, or to stress that even a communist agreed with the declaration.[15]However, Warhaftig later denied this, stating that a space had been left for him (as he was one of the signatories trapped in Jerusalem) where a Hebraicised form of his name would have fitted alphabetically, but he insisted on signing under his actual name so as to honour his father\'s memory and so moved down two spaces. He and Vilner would be the last surviving signatories, and remained close for the rest of their lives. Of the signatories, two were women (Golda Meir(Meyerson/Myerson) andRachel Cohen-Kagan).[18]WhenHerzl Rosenblum, a journalist, was called up to sign, Ben-Gurion instructed him to sign under the name Herzl Vardi, his pen name, as he wanted more Hebrew names on the document. Although Rosenblum acquiesced to Ben-Gurion\'s request and legally changed his name to Vardi, he later admitted to regretting not signing as Rosenblum.[15]Several other signatories later Hebraised their names, includingMeir Argov(Grabovsky),Peretz Bernstein(then Fritz Bernstein),Avraham Granot(Granovsky),Avraham Nissan(Katznelson),Moshe Kol(Kolodny),Yehuda Leib Maimon(Fishman),Golda Meir(Meyerson/Myerson),Pinchas Rosen(Felix Rosenblueth) andMoshe Sharett(Shertok). Other signatories added their own touches, includingSaadia Kobashiwho added the phrase \"HaLevy\", referring to the tribe ofLevi.[19]After Sharett, the last of the signatories, had put his name to paper, the audience again stood and theIsrael Philharmonic Orchestraplayed \"Hatikvah\". Ben-Gurion concluded the event with the words \"The State of Israel is established! This meeting is adjourned!\"[15]Context and aftermath[edit]Main article:1948 Arab-Israeli WarPart ofa serieson theHistory ofIsraelAncient Israel and JudahPrehistoryCanaanIsraelitesUnited monarchyNorthern KingdomKingdom of JudahBabylonian ruleSecond Temple period(530 BCE–70 CE)Persian ruleHellenistic periodHasmonean dynastyHerodian dynastyKingdomTetrarchyRoman JudeaMiddle Ages(70–1517)Roman PalaestinaByzantine PalaestinaPrimaSecundaSasanian dynastyMamluk SultanateModern history(1517–1948)Ottoman ruleEyaletMutasarrifateOld YishuvZionismOETABritish mandateState of conflictStart-up NationHistory of theLand of Israelby topicJudaismJerusalemZionismJewish leadersJewish warfareNationalityRelatedJewish historyHebrew calendarArchaeologyMuseumsvteThe declaration was signed in a context ofcivil war between the Arab and Jewish populations of the Mandatethat had started the day after the partition vote at the UN six months earlier. Neighbouring Arab states and theArab Leaguewere opposed to the vote and had declared they would intervene to prevent its implementation. In acablegramon 15 May 1948 to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States claimed that \"the Arab states find themselves compelled to intervene in order to restore law and order and to check further bloodshed\".[20]Over the next few days after the declaration, armies ofEgypt, Trans-Jordan, Iraq, andSyriaengaged Israeli troops inside the area of what had just ceased to be Mandatory Palestine, thereby starting the1948 Arab–Israeli War. A truce began on 11 June, but fighting resumed on 8 July and stopped again on 18 July, before restarting in mid-October and finally ending on 24 July 1949 with the signing of thearmistice agreementwith Syria. By then Israel had retained its independence and increased its land area by almost 50% compared to the 1947 UN Partition Plan.Following the declaration, Moetzet HaAm became theProvisional State Council, which acted as the legislative body for the new state until thefirst electionsin January 1949.Many of the signatories would play a prominent role inIsraeli politicsfollowing independence; Moshe Sharett and Golda Meir both served as Prime Minister,Yitzhak Ben-Zvibecamethe country\'s secondpresidentin 1952, and several others served asministers.David Remezwas the first signatory to pass away, dying in May 1951, while Meir Vilner, the youngest signatory at just 29, was the longest living, serving in theKnessetuntil 1990 and dying in June 2003.Eliyahu Berligne, the oldest signatory at 82, died in 1959.Eleven minutes after midnight, the United Statesde factorecognizedthe State of Israel.[21]This was followed byShahMohammad Reza Pahlavi\'sIran(which had voted against the UN partition plan),Guatemala, Iceland,Nicaragua,Romania, andUruguay. TheSoviet Unionwas the first nation to fully recognize Israelde jureon 17 May 1948,[22]followed byPoland,Czechoslovakia,Yugoslavia, Ireland, and South Africa.[citation needed]The United States extended official recognition after the firstIsraeli election, as Truman had promised on 31 January 1949.[23]By virtue ofGeneral Assembly Resolution 273 (III), Israel was admitted to membership in the United Nations on 11 May 1949.[24]In the three years following the1948 Palestine war, about 700,000 Jews immigrated to Israel, residing mainly along the borders and in former Arab lands.[25]Around 136,000 were some of the 250,000 displaced Jews of World War II.[26]And from the1948 Arab–Israeli Waruntil the early 1970s, 800,000–1,000,000 Jewsleft, fled, or were expelledfrom their homes in Arab countries; 260,000 of them reached Israel between 1948 and 1951; and 600,000 by 1972.[27][28][29]At the same time, a large number of Arabsleft, fled or were expelledfrom, what became Israel. In theReport of the Technical Committee on Refugees (Submitted to the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine in Lausanne on 7 September 1949)- (A/1367/Rev.1), in paragraph 15,[30]the estimate of the statistical expert, which the Committee believed to be as accurate as circumstances permitted, indicated that the refugees from Israel- controlled territory amounted to approximately 711,000.Status in Israeli law[edit]Independence Hallas it appears todayParagraph 13 of the Declaration provides that the State of Israel wouldbe based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex;. However, theKnessetmaintains that the declaration is neither a law nor an ordinary legal document.[31]TheSupreme Courthas ruled that the guarantees were merely guiding principles, and that the declaration is not a constitutional law making a practical ruling on the upholding or nullification of various ordinances and statutes.[32]In 1994 the Knesset amended twobasic laws,Human Dignity and Libertyand Freedom of Occupation, introducing (among other changes) a statement saying \"the fundamental human rights in Israel will be honored (...) in the spirit of the principles included in the declaration of the establishment of the State of Israel.\"The scroll[edit]Although Ben-Gurion had told the audience that he was reading from the scroll of independence, he was actually reading from handwritten notes because only the bottom part of the scroll had been finished by artist and calligrapherOtte Wallishby the time of the declaration (he did not complete the entire document until June).[17]The scroll, which is bound together in three parts, is generally kept in the country\'s National Archives, though it is currently[when?]on display at theIsrael Museum.Official translation[edit]Translation of the Declaration by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.After being forcibly exiled from their land, the people kept faith with it throughout their Dispersion and never ceased to pray and hope for their return to it and for the restoration in it of their political freedom.Impelled by this historic and traditional attachment, Jews strove in every successive generation to re-establish themselves in their ancient homeland. In recent decades they returned in their masses. Pioneers, ma\'pilim [(Hebrew) - immigrants coming to Eretz-Israel in defiance of restrictive legislation] and defenders, they made deserts bloom, revived the Hebrew language, built villages and towns, and created a thriving community controlling its own economy and culture, loving peace but knowing how to defend itself, bringing the blessings of progress to all the country\'s inhabitants, and aspiring towards independent nationhood.In the year 5657 (1897), at the summons of the spiritual father of the Jewish State, Theodore Herzl, the First Zionist Congress convened and proclaimed the right of the Jewish people to national rebirth in its own country.This right was recognized in the Balfour Declaration of the 2nd November, 1917, and re-affirmed in the Mandate of the League of Nations which, in particular, gave international sanction to the historic connection between the Jewish people and Eretz-Israel and to the right of the Jewish people to rebuild its National Home.The catastrophe which recently befell the Jewish people - the massacre of millions of Jews in Europe - was another clear demonstration of the urgency of solving the problem of its homelessness by re-establishing in Eretz-Israel the Jewish State, which would open the gates of the homeland wide to every Jew and confer upon the Jewish people the status of a fully privileged member of the comity of nations.Survivors of the Nazi holocaust in Europe, as well as Jews from other parts of the world, continued to migrate to Eretz-Israel, undaunted by difficulties, restrictions and dangers, and never ceased to assert their right to a life of dignity, freedom and honest toil in their national homeland.In the Second World War, the Jewish community of this country contributed its full share to the struggle of the freedom- and peace-loving nations against the forces of Nazi wickedness and, by the blood of its soldiers and its war effort, gained the right to be reckoned among the peoples who founded the United Nations.On the 29th November, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a Jewish State in Eretz-Israel; the General Assembly required the inhabitants of Eretz-Israel to take such steps as were necessary on their part for the implementation of that resolution. This recognition by the United Nations of the right of the Jewish people to establish their State is irrevocable.This right is the natural right of the Jewish people to be masters of their own fate, like all other nations, in their own sovereign State.ACCORDINGLY WE, MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE\'S COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF ERETZ-ISRAEL AND OF THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT, ARE HERE ASSEMBLED ON THE DAY OF THE TERMINATION OF THE BRITISH MANDATE OVER ERETZ-ISRAEL AND, BY VIRTUE OF OUR NATURAL AND HISTORIC RIGHT AND ON THE BASIS OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HEREBY DECLARE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JEWISH STATE IN ERETZ-ISRAEL, TO BE KNOWN AS THE STATE OF ISRAEL.WE DECLARE that, with effect from the moment of the termination of the Mandate being tonight, the eve of Sabbath, the 6th Iyar, 5708 (15th May, 1948), until the establishment of the elected, regular authorities of the State in accordance with the Constitution which shall be adopted by the Elected Constituent Assembly not later than the 1st October 1948, the People\'s Council shall act as a Provisional Council of State, and its executive organ, the People\'s Administration, shall be the Provisional Government of the Jewish State, to be called \"Israel\".THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.THE STATE OF ISRAEL is prepared to cooperate with the agencies and representatives of the United Nations in implementing the resolution of the General Assembly of the 29th November, 1947, and will take steps to bring about the economic union of the whole of Eretz-Israel.WE APPEAL to the United Nations to assist the Jewish people in the building-up of its State and to receive the State of Israel into the comity of nations.WE APPEAL - in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now for months - to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions.WE EXTEND our hand to all neighbouring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighbourliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land. The State of Israel is prepared to do its share in a common effort for the advancement of the entire Middle East.WE APPEAL to the Jewish people throughout the Diaspora to rally round the Jews of Eretz-Israel in the tasks of immigration and upbuilding and to stand by them in the great struggle for the realization of the age-old dream - the redemption of Israel.PLACING OUR TRUST IN THE \"ROCK OF ISRAEL\", WE AFFIX OUR SIGNATURES TO THIS PROCLAMATION AT THIS SESSION OF THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE, ON THE SOIL OF THE HOMELAND, IN THE CITY OF TEL-AVIV, ON THIS SABBATH EVE, THE 5TH DAY OF IYAR, 5708 (14TH MAY,1948).[33]See also[edit]Balfour DeclarationBritish Mandate for Palestine (legal instrument)Mandatory PalestineChurchill White Paper1929 Palestine riotsPassfield white paperWhite Paper of 1939United Nations Partition Plan for PalestineThe Recording of the Israel Declaration of Independence1948 Arab–Israeli WarYom Ha\'atzmautAbout Independence DayIndependence Day, Israel national holiday, marks Israel’s Declaration of Independence with the end of the British Mandate. It is the only full holiday in the calendar decreed by law without a tradition of hundreds or thousands of years.Independence Day is on the fifth day of the Jewish month of Iyar (from the end of April till mid-May), the day in which David Ben-Gurion, the state’s first prime minister, declared the country’s independence in 1948. It was declared a full holiday in a law enacted in the Knesset in 1949. Over the years various traditions evolved to celebrate the holiday, and it is now marked by family picnics in scenic spots all over the country.Independence Day celebrations begin on the evening of the fifth of Iyar with the end ofYom Hazikaron, the Remembrance Day for the Fallen of Israel’s Wars, with special ceremonies marking the transition from mourning to celebration. The main ceremony is held inHar (Mount) HerzlinJerusalem. During Independence Day, the World Bible Quiz is held in Jerusalem and the prestigious Israel Prizes are distributed to the year’s winners in a special ceremony.Most businesses are closed on Independence Day, but cafes restaurants and other places of entertainment are open because it is not a religious holiday.Back To TopHoliday CustomsFlags– Many Israelis fly Flags from their houses, porches or cars, often with colorful decorations.Entertainment Stages– Because of Independence Day’s profoundly secular nature, a tradition of evolved of free entertainment by performers, dancers and comics on stages set up in the center of cities and other communities on the eve of Independence Day. The shows are often accompanied by fireworks.The main streets of towns and cities are usually packed with people.Barbeque- Independence Day has become Israel’s unofficial barbeque holiday with families picnicking huge amounts of meat in every green spot they can find in the country.Visits the IDF camps– Many of the army’s camps are open to the public on Independence Day, offering Israelis a chances to see arms, navy ships, tanks and aircraft.Israeli Movies- Local channels devote all of their programming to the holiday and often screen old Israeli movies which have become cult items.Prayer– Even though this is a national and not a religious holidayt, religious Zionists tend to say a special prayer composed by the chief rabbinate. This prayer sometimes includes blowing a shofar (a ram’s horn).Back To TopImportant InformationMost sites in the countryside are usually packed on Independence Day, also because this is the only holiday in which both religious and secular Israeli Jews can travel. Since so many Israelis use this day to visits these sites, tourists might wish to stay inside the cities, the main streets of which are also full of people.Yom Ha\'atzmaut- Israeli Independence DayJewish Holidays:Table of Contents|Upcoming Dates|Festivals in IsraelHeld on the fifth day of the Hebrew calendar month ofIyar,Yom Ha\'atzmautis a modern holiday celebratingIsrael\'s independencein 1948. Israeli Independence Day is always immediately preceded byYom Hazikaron- Memorial Day for theFallen Israeli Soldiers. The message of linking these two days is clear: Israelis owe theirindependence-the very existence of the state - to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for it.PM Ben-Gurion Announces Israel\'s independence in 1948The official \"switch\" fromYom HazikarontoYom Ha\'atzmauttakes place a few minutes after sundown, with a ceremony atJerusalem\'sMount Herzl military cemetery in which the national Flag is raised from half staff to the top of the pole. Usually, thepresidentof Israel will deliver a speech of congratulations while soldiers representing all the various branches and units of theIsrael Defense Forcesparade with their Flags. In recent decades this smaller-scale ceremony has replaced a much larger daytime parade which was the main event during the 1950s and \'60s. The evening parade is followed by a torch lighting (hadlakat masuot) ceremony, symbolically marking the country\'s achievements in all spheres of life.Other than the official ceremonies, Israelis celebrateYom Ha\'atzmautin a variety of ways. In the major cities such asJerusalemandTel Aviv, nighttime festivities are focused on the main streets where crowds gather to watch public shows offered for free by the municipalities and the government. In rural communities, many people spend the night dancing Israeli folk dances or singing Israeli songs. During the daytime thousands of Israeli families go out on hikes and picnics. Many army bases are also opened for civilians to visit to display the achievements of theIsraeli Defense Forces.Yom Ha\'atzmautis concluded with the ceremony of granting the \"Israel Prize\" recognizing individual Israelis for their unique contribution to the country\'s culture, science, arts, and the humanities.The religious character ofYom Ha\'atzmautis still in the process of formation, and is subject to debate. The Chief Rabbinate of the State has decided that this day should be marked with a recitation ofHallel(Psalms of Praise), similar to other joyousJewish holidays, and with the reading of a specialhaftarah(prophetic portion). Most ultra-Orthodox Jews, inIsraeland abroad, have not accepted this ruling, and some Orthodox Jews chant theHallelpsalms without the blessing which precedes it.Israeli Air Force jets fly over Israel onYom Ha\'atzmaut2011On the other hand,HaKibbutz HaDati(Modern OrthodoxKibbutzMovement) initiated a version of the prayerAl HaNissim(\"Concerning the Miracles\") to be added to theAmidah(the central prayer recited while standing) onYom Ha\'atzmaut, as it is onHanukkahandPurim. This special addition to the liturgy of the day was not approved by the Chief Rabbinate but was adopted by the Masorti (Conservative) and the Progressive (Reform) congregations in Israel. Somerabbisargue thatYom Ha\'atzmautshould be viewed in conjunction with Hanukkah and Purim, since all three commemorate a \"miraculous\" victory of the Jews over an enemy of superior military might. It should be noted that most Israelis do not considerYom Ha\'atzmauta religious holiday at all.Aside from Israel, most Jewish communities around the world have also incorporatedYom Ha\'atzmautinto their calendars, though it has become customary from some to hold the public celebrations on the closest Sunday in order to attract more participation. InIsraelit is a formal holiday; so almost everyone has the day off.ForAmerican Jews, celebratingYom Ha\'atzmauthas been a way to express solidarity with theState of Israeland to strengthen their alliance with it. In many communities, it is one of few occasions in which Jewish organizations andsynagoguesof different ideologies and denominations cooperate in forming a common celebration. In many North American congregations, the joint public celebration often is augmented by a religious service. In some cases, this would occur on theShabbatclosest toYom Ha\'atzmautand would consist of additional readings added to the service and, usually, the singing ofHatikvah(the Israeli national anthem).There is not yet an accepted \"tradition\" of how to celebrate this holiday, and only time will tell whether certain customs, foods, prayers, and melodies will be linked in the Jewish mind with this holiday, as with holidays that emerged many centuries before Yom Ha-Atzmaut. For Jews around the world, joining with Israelis celebrating Yom Ha-Atzmaut has become a concrete link in the Jewish connection to the land of Israel.