WORD OF THE MONTH

A weekly feature of Torah Tidbits to help clarify practical and conceptual aspects of the Jewish Calendar, thereby better fulfilling the mitzva of HaChodesh HaZeh Lachem...

Clarification:
When Yom HaAtzmaut falls on Friday or Shabbat, it is pulled back to Thursday, lock-stock-and- barrel. That means not only national ceremonies, observances, and festivities, but davening and any other aspects of a religious nature. This was purposely built into the shaping of Yom HaAtzmaut to avoid Shabbat violations connected with the national observances AND to not separate the religious Zionist community from the rest of Israeli society. Or vice versa.

Yom Yerushalayim is the 28th of Iyar, regardless of what day of the week it falls. When it is on Thursday night Friday (as it is this year), national ceremonies are pulled back a day, but Yom Yerushalayim stays put.

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