Israel Memorial and Independence Day 5785

Marking Yom Ha-zikaron and Yom Ha-atzma’ut: The Place of Israel and Zionism in Progressive Judaism

30 April 7pm on zoom – register here

Yom Ha-zikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, and Yom Ha-atzma’ut, Israel’s Independence Day, are in many ways Israel’s national High Holy Days. These back-to-back days encapsulate the profound connection between loss and renewal, grief and celebration, that lies at the heart of Israel’s story. But how are we, as Jews living outside Israel, to mark the occasion, especially at a time when light-hearted celebration would seem out-of-place?

At the cusp between the solemn time when we acknowledge that the existence of a Jewish homeland has come at a great cost and before we turn to marking the extraordinary achievement of Jewish self-determination and the ongoing journey of a modern Jewish state, we invite you to join Rabbi Lea and Progressive Jews from around the country for an education session exploring the evolving place of Israel and Zionism in Progressive Jewish thought – how we navigate our connection to the land, our responsibility to its people, and the role of Jewish values in shaping our vision for its future. The programme will conclude with a short ceremony of Havdalah – as is the custom in Reform Congregations in Israel – to mark the transition from Yom Ha-Zikaron to Yom Ha-Atzma’ut.