Celebrate Israel at Home
Held on the fifth day of the Hebrew calendar month of Iyar, Israel’s Independence Day (Yom Ha'atzmaut) marks the creation of the modern State of Israel in 1948. Much like Americans celebrate the Fourth of July, Jewish people in Israel honor Yom Ha’atzmaut with fireworks, barbecues, and concerts. Outside of Israel, Jewish communities generally host parties. This year, with social distancing in place around the world, communities will instead gather in virtual celebration. On Wednesday, April 29, our Federation is joining other Jewish federations from across the country for a global online celebration of Israel’s 72nd Independence Day. We are also partnering with The Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest on their #Sing4Israel event on Tuesday, April 28, and the Israeli-American Council which is hosting a virtual Yom Ha’atzmaut concert on Wednesday, April 29.
The PJ Library Yom Ha’atzmaut Hub offers many ways that families can celebrate Israel from home. You can wear blue and white clothes, create, and wave your own Israeli flags, or do a pretend archaeological dig in your garden or living room! If you are feeling musical, head to the Sounds of Israel playlist on PJ Library Listen. Children can discover Israel or learn some Hebrew words by watching Shalom Sesame, Israel’s version of Sesame Street, or learn about Yom Ha’atzmaut with BimBam.
Cooking and eating tasty food is a special part of Israeli culture. Sampling delicious Israeli food is a staple at many Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations. Traditional favorites are hummus, falafel, and pita – often eaten together in a delicious sandwich! You can have fun in the kitchen with kids by making these tasty recipes to eat while you celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut this year:
- Make this hummus in a bag with PJ Library
- Cook crunchy falafel using this recipe from Super Healthy Kids
- Bake homemade pita with this recipe from Cooking with My Kids
However you choose to celebrate, we hope you have lots of fun! Chag Sameach – Happy Holiday!
