Contemporary

WHAT ARE THEY?
Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha-atzmaut are all new holidays based on the reality of Jewish history.

WHY ARE THEY?
 Yom Hashoah is Holocaust Remembrance Day, on which we acknowledge the catastrophe and enormity of the Holocaust, and memorialize the 6 million we lost. This is followed by Yom Hazikaron, Israeli memorial Day on which we recall the fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism in israel. It always precedes the next day’s festivities of Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel Independence day, celebrating the day of Israel’s statehood and establishment as the Jewish national homeland. Yom Yerushalayim--Jerusalem Day--is the most recent addition to the Hebrew calendar. Jerusalem Day celebrates the unification of the city in 1967.

WHEN ARE THEY?
 Yom Hashoah is the 27th of Nisan; Yom Hazikaron the 2nd of Iyar and Yom Ha'atzmaut is the 5th of Iyar. Yom Yerushalayim is the 28th of Iyar. In order to avoid having the festival either on Shabbat, or immediately before it the commemoration and celebrations are advanced to the preceding Thursday which might be the 3rd or 4th of Iyar). In 2004, the law was changed to include if the 5th of Iyar falls on Monday, the festival is postponed to Tuesday Iyar 6, so that Yom Hazikaron will not be immediately after the sabbath.

WHERE ARE THEY FROM?
 All these holidays are new additions to the ancient Hebrew calendar. They have all been declared “official” by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and have been accepted by all the denominations.

WHAT DO WE DO?
 On Yom Hashoah, the community offers city-wide commemorations. A special scroll called Megillat Hashoah was commissioned several years ago and is read on during that week at a major community gathering. On Yom Hazikaron there are special memorial services and in Israel a nation-wide commemoration including a  moment od silence throughout the country. On Yom Ha'atzmaut the community celebrates with dancing, singing and israeli fairs and entertainment. In israel there are huge public celebrations with fireworks. While the city of Jerusalem has significant meaning for all Jews, Yom Yerushalayim has yet to obtain the popularity of Yom Ha'atzmaut and is not observed extensively outside of Israel. 

WHAT DO WE EAT?
Israeli foods like falafel, humus, pita are eaten on Yom Ha'atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim. Although Yom Hashoah and Yom Hazikaron are not fast days, we at more simple meals on those days. 

WHAT DO WE SAY?
 “Chag Sameach”!