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yom haatzmaut

Observance of Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel Independence Day)

The following is a short discussion of the rules of when Yom Haatzmaut falls, based on a shiur given by Rav Dov Oron shlit"a (the Rav of Ginot Shomron) on Shabbat Tazria-Metzorah תשנ"ח

The declaration of the independence of the State of Israel occured on the fifth day of Iyyar (אייר ה) which was a Friday. In spite of the halachic difficulties arising from the fact that it was the day before Shabbat, the rabbinic authorities (chief rabbinate) agreed that this was a step that had to be taken right then and there and time was not to be wasted.

Until the year 1954 (תשי"ד), Yom Haatzmaut was observed on the fifth of Iyyar (אייר ה) no matter on what day of the week it fell (even Shabbat). However, in תשיד, when Yom Haatzmaut would again fall on Shabbat, the chief rabbinate proposed postponing the celebration till Sunday (יום א). At the urging of Rav Shlomo Goren, it was decided that if Yom Haatzmaut fell on Erev Shabbat or Shabbat, it would instead be advanced to the preceding Thursday (יום ה) in order to prevent the desecration of Shabbat by the preparing and planning for Yom Haatzmaut on Shabbat.

In תשי"ד, this move created some confusion with some reciting Hallel on Thursday, some on Shabbat, and some on both. In subsequent years, all celebrations (including both religious and secular aspects of the day) were observed on the officially sanctioned day. That is, if the fifth of Iyyar fell on Erev Shabbat or Shabbat, and was therefore moved up to Thursday, all celebrations including the festive tefillah (including Hallel) would be observed on this Thursday and not on Shabbat. It was decided that as a matter of principle, for the sake of the unity of the Jewish people, all segments of the population (religious and non-religious) should observe Yom Haatzmaut on the same day - no matter if the celebration centered around the Korban Mangal (well, this isn't exactly how Rav Oron phrased it :-) or Hallel.

Starting in 2004 (ה'תשס"ד) the Chief Rabbinate decreed that if Yom Hazikaron falls on a Sunday, it will be pushed off till Monday, and that Yom Haatzmaut will be pushed off till Tuesday. This is in order to avoid desecration of Shabbat.

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