Nov 24, 2014

Proposed Law: moving Yom HaAtzmaut

MK Amram Mitzba (Hatnua) proposed a law the other day suggesting that Yom Haatzmaut be celebrated permanently on a Thursday, instead of a date-based day.

Mitzna explains that because of all the adjustments, Yom Haatzmaut only actually falls out on the original day. 5 Iyyar, when 5 Iyyar lands on a Wednesday. If it lands on any other day of the week  it is either pushed forward or back. Mitzna says it would be more appropriate to set a permanent day - the Thursday of the week in which 5 Iyyar falls on any given year, no matter what day of the week 5 Iyyar actually lands on.

Rabbanei Tzohar, I assume led by Rav Dovid Stav, have voiced opposition to this law. Being that they are not politicians, nor are they officially connected as rabbinical guidance to any specific political party,  I am not sure how their opposition is going to influence this proposal. Rabbanei Tzohar are opposed because they say 5 Iyyar was the day established because according to Jewish tradition the original Hebrew date on which an event happened is the day established for generations as the day of hallel and celebration. The only acceptable reason to change it is to avid situations of chilul shabbos. Changing the date of the celebration, they say, will effect a change in the holy values behind the date in halacha.

Another problem, they say, is that it might cause the day to be split with different communities celebrating different dates.
source: INN

No opinion here. I am used to holidays like in the USA that are set on dates like "the fourth Thursday in November", or the first Monday of September... It has not caused a split.. on the other hand, I can see it becoming an argument which day should be celebrated, on which day should hallel be said, etc. I can see this causing the day to be stripped of religious value or expression. Either way works for me, but truthfully I cannot see this proposal moving forward very far, especially with Tzippi Livni and Hatnua opposing the coalitions Jewish State law....





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10 comments:

  1. When Mashiach comes, he can move the date however he wishes.

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  2. It's an interesting proposal but since it makes sense it's unlikely to go anywhere.
    As the Tanach itself tells us, Tisha BAv is also a compromise date yet we make do with it.

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  3. Rafi, the premise of your last paragraph is flawed. You are looking at American 'holidays' as state holidays. Rabbanei Tzohar see Yom HaAtzmaut as a religious holyday, established according to religious principles.

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    Replies
    1. my wife said the same thing

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    2. Shema bekolah! Unless of course you're that Halbertal guy from your other post... ;-)

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  4. While the day the british mandate really ended was the 6 Iyar (friday night at midnight), but as a strong symbol Ben Gurion decided that they would declare the independence before Shabbat began, the 5 Iyar.
    So I've heard that in a way, the regular moving of Yom Haatzmaut in order not to desecrate Shabbat perpetuate the founders' Kidush Hashem...

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  5. Another stupid proposal. Jews either celebrate/mourn, etc. the date on which the event occurred. After 2000 yrs of exile and to return as a nation to our Homeland, the actual date of its independence should mean something. With giving a random day of the week as the day of independence, the actual reason for celebration will eventually be forgotten. This is not a Jewish concept; again the State taking the ways of the nations and it is obvious, in so many ways, the direction the State is taking. Also, the 9th of Av was the actual date (9th/10th) of the destruction of the two Batei Mikdash.

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    Replies
    1. < Jews either celebrate/mourn, etc. the date on which the event occurred> not always. see first mishna in megilla. plus shavupt may or may not fall on the day the torah was given.

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  6. They could move it to Av 26 as an act of schadenfruede - v'hameivin yavin

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