Religion Magazine

Proposed Law: Moving Yom HaAtzmaut

By Gldmeier @gldmeier
MK Amram Mitzba (Hatnua) proposed a law the other day suggesting that Yom Haatzmaut be celebrated permanently on a Thursday, instead of a date-based day.
Mitzna explains that because of all the adjustments, Yom Haatzmaut only actually falls out on the original day. 5 Iyyar, when 5 Iyyar lands on a Wednesday. If it lands on any other day of the week  it is either pushed forward or back. Mitzna says it would be more appropriate to set a permanent day - the Thursday of the week in which 5 Iyyar falls on any given year, no matter what day of the week 5 Iyyar actually lands on.
Rabbanei Tzohar, I assume led by Rav Dovid Stav, have voiced opposition to this law. Being that they are not politicians, nor are they officially connected as rabbinical guidance to any specific political party,  I am not sure how their opposition is going to influence this proposal. Rabbanei Tzohar are opposed because they say 5 Iyyar was the day established because according to Jewish tradition the original Hebrew date on which an event happened is the day established for generations as the day of hallel and celebration. The only acceptable reason to change it is to avid situations of chilul shabbos. Changing the date of the celebration, they say, will effect a change in the holy values behind the date in halacha.
Another problem, they say, is that it might cause the day to be split with different communities celebrating different dates.
source: INN
No opinion here. I am used to holidays like in the USA that are set on dates like "the fourth Thursday in November", or the first Monday of September... It has not caused a split.. on the other hand, I can see it becoming an argument which day should be celebrated, on which day should hallel be said, etc. I can see this causing the day to be stripped of religious value or expression. Either way works for me, but truthfully I cannot see this proposal moving forward very far, especially with Tzippi Livni and Hatnua opposing the coalitions Jewish State law....
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