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RELATIONSHIPS GENERAL INTEREST

Rabbi Moshe Berliner

Yom HaAtzmaut

and Marriage

om HaAtzmaut, Israel’s Day of nations. Independence also means the lives we lived the moment before we
Independence: a remarkable day, freedom to be the kind of nation we married. A wedding is a momentous
Ya day of Hallel for our spirit, and decide to be. act we celebrate each year. We mark
mangal, the traditional Israeli barbecue, As much as Yom HaAtzmaut is a cele- our anniversary as the opportunity to
for our bodies. After 2,000 years, the bration of our independence from the celebrate the extraordinary transforma-
Jewish people have regained sover- nations of the world, it is also a crucial tion our marriage brought to our lives.
eignty. Atzmaut means independence. transformation in history which chal- We embark together on a new chapter
We live our national life in a world of lenges us to create the ideal Jewish soci- of our lives.
interdependent nations, each having ety in Eretz Yisrael, the peoplehood that Moreover, celebrating our anniversary
the autonomy to act according to their G-d outlined in the Torah: םיִנ ֲ ה ּ ֹכ ת ֶ כ ֶ ל ְ מ ַ מ provides us with another challenge. It
values and interests. Yom HaAtzmaut ׁ שֹוד ָ ק יֹוג ְ ו – a kingdom of priests and a should also imbue us with renewed
marks the restoration of our political holy nation. An independent Israel is to commitment to work together to build
independence. It proclaims our free- be the unique homeland of our spiritual our marriage, to clarify the ideals which
dom to determine our fate within the renaissance. It is vital that our goal in underpin our relationship, and to con-
family of the nations of the world. celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut be twofold. tinue to craft the distinctive life which
Our return to national independence To maintain the sense of the miracle by expresses those values. That is the work
is a Divinely-given miracle. Like all restoring our political freedom, and to of a lifetime.
miracles, it took place in an historical strengthen our resolve to build a Torah
context. We celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut society in the Land He returned to us. A wedding creates a new reality. It too
each year to renew our gratitude to G-d is a day of atzmaut, a day of separation
for the precious gift we have received. These two elements of independence from the status of being a single person.
are also reflected in marriage. Marriage It is also a day of independence for the
The word תּוא ָ מ ְ צ ַ ע is derived from the has its own Yom HaAtzmaut – the day couple to deepen their commitment
root ם ֶ צ ֶ ע, which means the essence. of our wedding. When we marry, we to each other and to continue to build
Inherent in Yom HaAtzmaut are two transform our status from single people their unique essence, as one.
different elements, both of which are into a married couple. Yesterday we
crucial for Am Yisrael to live its essen- were distinct individuals living our own Yom HaAtzmaut Sameach!
tial purpose.
lives. As separate individuals, we lived
The first is for Am Yisrael to be inde- full lives with goals to achieve and values
pendent from the nations of the world. to live by. When we marry, we create a Rabbi Moshe Berliner is an author, M.S.W.
We must be able to take responsibility new reality. We are a couple, a married and therapist specializing in family and
for our actions within the family of the unit. We act together, separate from the marriage.

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