Celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut Like an Israeli

May 1st 2016

If you are in Israel in May, you are in for a real treat because that is when this beautiful country of ours celebrates its birthday, and we want you to join in the festivities! Here are a few exciting events that you can take part in to show your solidarity with Israel on her special day.

Torch Lighting

Kick off the Independence Day celebrations with a torch lighting ceremony in Jerusalem. 12 flares will be set off on Mount Herzl, one for each tribe of Israel, a symbol of solidarity and diversity that is the Jewish people.

Visit a Museum

The Ministry of Sports and Culture sponsors this day as a way of spreading awareness about Israel’s struggles and strengths. On Thursday of Yom HaAtzmaut, you’ll find free entrance to some of the best attractions in Israel including:

Ammunition Hill
The Yellin House
The Tower of David Museum
The Gush Etzion Visitors’ Center

Tel Aviv also has sponsored admission to centers such as:
The Jabotinsky Museum
IDF Historical Collection Museum
Independence Hall
Ben-Gurion House

And there are plenty of others across Israel, so don’t limit yourself to one cultural experience. Soak in as many as you can, and feel what the Israeli citizens are commemorating.

Visit an Army Base

Even the IDF opens its doors to educate and enlighten people on this special day. You can find specific army bases available to tourists and citizens peppered across the country. Some bases include:

The Ashdod Navy Base
Beit Hillel Army Base
Hativa Merhavit
Machaneh Natan
Technical College Air Force Base
Latrun Ground Forces

These and other bases will be open to the public from 9AM-2PM on Thursday of Yom HaAtzmaut. Kids will love to see the inner workings of the world-renowned IDF, and adults can get a better picture of the army that has baffled all other forces for decades.

Easy Entertainment

If you aren’t up for trekking all over the country, you can also just sit back in one of Israel’s beautiful parks and watch the amazing air show that is orchestrated for the day. Starting from around 10:40 in the morning of Yom HaAtzmaut, lackadaisical tourists can enjoy air force jets whizzing above their heads in brilliant formation from most Israeli cities including Jerusalem, Beer Sheva, Ashkelon, Ofakim, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Tiberias, and more.

Concerts Galore

There are concerts starring some of Israel’s greatest performers all over the place as well. Catch some of your favorites (or soon to be anyway!) like Moshe Ben Ari, Sarit Chadad, Skuzzy, Avraham Tal, Barry Sacharov, and Idan Yaniv in live performances across the country. All concerts are free and open to the public, so get your dancing shoes on and have a blast!

Basically you can just walk down the street of any Israeli town on Wednesday night/Thursday (May 11th-12th), and you’ll hit a party happening.

It has been a constant struggle to keep Israel a free and peaceful place, yet there has never been more hope, joy, and prosperity throughout the land than there is today. Despite terror, adverse weather conditions, and volatile neighbors, Israel stands proud and free. Come celebrate this astonishing accomplishment in the only place a Jew can ever truly call home.