David Ben-Gurion1, on May 14, 1948, declares the independence of the State of Israel. The Independence Day Law was enacted the following year: It was decided to celebrate “State Day” on its Hebrew date, 5 Iyar, rather than the calendar date of May 14 and name2 Independence Day (יום העצמאות – Yom Haʿatzmaut). It is also recorded that the Shabbat takes precedence over this day, and that it must therefore be moved to the next day, if the 5th falls on a Saturday or to the eve, if the 5th Iyar falls on a Friday.
In 1950, David Ben-Gurion convened a commission which decided to pay tribute to those fallen during the war of independence on the eve of Yom Haʿatzmaut. Again, preeminence is given to Shabbat3. The Heroes’ Remembrance Day4 Act was enacted in 1963. Since the Six Day War of June 1967, the ceremonies of opening stand in front of the Western Wall. This day of commemoration was extended, in 1998, to Jewish victims of terrorism. The sadness of Yom HaZikaron begins with a ringing at 8 p.m. in the evening. Another bell will ring in the morning at 11 a.m. Israel is in meditation and mourns its 24,068 martyrs.
On May 15, 1952, in the Negev desert south of Beersheba on the road to Mitzpé Ramon, soldiers founded a kibbutz. They decide to call it Sdé Boker (שדה בוקר – literally “herdsman’s field”), because they plan to farm there. In 1954, David Ben Gurion resigned as Prime Minister and joined the kibbutz; his dream, to make the Negev bloom. Returning to political life in 1955, he continued to live there. In 1962, institutes were initiated emphasizing environmental studies. David Ben-Gurion and his wife Paula are buried on the cliff overlooking the Zin Valley.
1 David Grün born in Poland in 1886 adopted the name Ben Gurion in 1909. He is the main national founder of the State of Israel. He was Prime Minister from 1948 to 1954 and from 1955 to 1963.
2 At the instigation of Avraham Elmalih (1885-1967) journalist, Zionist activist and Israeli politician.
3 Moved to Thursday if Yom Haʿatzmaut falls on a Sunday.
4 The full name: יום הזיכרון לחללי מערכות ישראל ולנפגעי פעולות האיבה (Day of Remembrance For The Victims Of The Desraeli And Desraeli Wars). >