More than the happy honking and the unwanted confetti sprayed at passersby, you can tell it’s Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day) in Jerusalem by the closed roads.
The more difficult it is for taxis to navigate the streets because revelers have declared them party territory, the more successful Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations are considered to be.
But my personal Yom Ha’atzmaut took place the day before on Massada, the Dead Sea fortress of defiance where Jewish rebels against Roman rule chose death rather than submission to oppression.
When the Romans quelled the revolt in the early years of the common era, Jewish self-government ended for 2,000 years until the State of Israel was created just 60 years ago.
On Yom Ha’atzmaut, rather than just representing death, Massada symbolizes the rebirth of Jewish nationhood, the renaissance of statehood and the tenacity of a proud people.
So while the joyful throngs publicly party, I can’t help hoping it’s the spirit of Massada that powers their energy.
Howard English has been travelling across Israel with CFRB 1010 talk show host Michael Coren. Listen for CFRB’s reports from Israel at 6:20 am, 12:45 pm and 3-4 pm, the week of May 5-9. And tune in for CFRB’s documentary on Israel at 60 on Thursday May 8, 7-8 pm and Sunday, May 11 at 1 pm.
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