Shalom friends,

As Jews around the world excitedly prepare to celebrate Israel’s 70th Independence Day, we’d like to take a moment to focus on the moment before Yom Haatzmaut, before the parties and the parades – Yom Hazikaron, Memorial Day for IDF soldiers and victims of terrorism.

There is something magical about the transition between Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut. The essence of Israel is not in big celebrations, parades or fireworks (fun as those are) but in that quiet, yet momentous transition between Yom Hazikaron to Yom Haatzmaut.

One day follows the other with mindfulness, the juxtaposition is purposeful and gut wrenchingly difficult. There is no real seam between the two days. There is no break where it becomes possible to stop grieving and begin celebrating because the grief does not end, the loss cannot be filled and it is a price we are forced to pay over and over. And that is exactly the point – we celebrate the miracle of Israel with the knowledge that our Independence is attained and held only through unspeakable sacrifice, honoring those who sacrificed so that we may live by being joyful and ALIVE.

How does one celebrate a miracle anyway?

Yom Haatzmaut is one day. It is impossible to encompass the miraculous achievement of 70 years in a single day, event or program. That is why we have decided to create the 70 Faces of Israel initiative and dedicate the entire year, between this Yom Haatzmaut and the next Yom Haatzmaut to present the many “faces” of Israel. Look for the first 70 Faces post in upcoming mailings!

	Memory of Our Fallen: A Nation Unites By Dr. Elana Yael Heideman Every year, as Yom HaZikaron arrives, native Israelis and those who moved here from the four corners of the world, unite in memory of the fallen soldiers of Israel. Read More
	Families have been notified By Forest Rain Marcia “Families have been notified” is a laconic sentence used to describe an unspeakable moment. Normally fearless Israelis are terrified of this moment, the knock on the door that changes everything, forever. Read More
	Make A Difference These are some ways you can get involved and make a difference in the lives of Israelis traumatized by terrorism and war and help continue the legacy of those who died defending the Nation of Israel. Read More
	For This I Am Thankful By Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman Despite the pain inspired by Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) and the cloud which it spreads over Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, Yom Ha’atzmaut at its core is a day in which we must learn the art of celebration and giving thanks. A day in which we put aside our self-criticism and aspirations, and connect to the gift that we have, and declare, dayenu. Read More
	The Story Of A Vote - November 29th, 1947 Those of us who were born after this fateful vote have difficulty imagining a time when there was no Jewish State. This short video gives us a glimpse into that nerve wracking night of anticipation and the joyous celebrations that followed. Where were your parents when this happened? Make sure your children see this! Read More

Every day of Israel’s existence is a miracle. This Yom Haatzmaut we celebrate the culmination of 70 miraculous years and the fulfillment of biblical prophecy: “Old men and women shall sit once more in the open spaces of Jerusalem… and the open spaces shall be full of boys and girls playing there.”
Zechariah 8: 4-5

This is what a miracle looks like.

Happy 70th birthday Israel!