Page 10 - HaMizrachi #9 Yom HaAtzmaut 5779

Ask the Rabbi

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon
EARLY

YOM HAATZMAUT

his year the 5th of Iyar falls out Is there special significance to the of desecrating Shabbat. What a great
on Friday, as was the case when actual day of the fifth of Iyar? Kiddush Hashem! What other country
T the State was established. moves its Independence Day because
However, since celebrating Yom Regarding Purim that falls on Shabbat, of religious concerns? Only in the
HaAtzmaut on a Friday is liable to the Gemara says that during that State of Israel will Yom HaAtzmaut
cause a mass desecration of Shabbat, Shabbat, “we question and learn about change to accommodate Shabbat.
it was decided in the early years of the the matter of the day.” It is possible
State that if Yom HaAtzmaut falls on to understand that the Gemara’s This is true independence. Yom
Friday or Saturday, it will be moved to intention is that Purim remains on HaAtzmaut set by the Kingdom of
Thursday (3rd or 4th of Iyar). This, Shabbat, and only the reading of the Israel, Yom HaAtzmaut determined by
keeping Shabbat.
megillah is moved forward to Friday.
in addition to other adjustments to
the Yom HaAtzmaut celebrations, has The Shulchan Aruch states that most In practice
created a strange situation in which of the day continues to be on Shabbat.
Yom HaAtzmaut is celebrated on the The Mishnah Berura explains that Each year Yom HaAtzmaut is
5th of Iyar only if it is a Wednesday! only the reading of the megillah is on celebrated on the day determined
Friday, while “Al HaNissim” is recited by the law to prevent desecration of
What is the validity of celebrating on Shabbat. Shabbat, and that is the main date for
Yom HaAtzmaut early? Can Hallel be all celebrations that year. Therefore,
said on this day? Does the 5th of Iyar Following this, ostensibly all things this is the day on which Hallel should
(Friday) have a festive character? Do that do not violate Shabbat should be be said. Hallel is not only said about
we say Tachanun? When is shaving observed on the 5th of Iyar, and only the very act of rescue, but about the
permitted – on Thursday or Friday? the ceremonies should be held on the return of the kingdom to Israel. This
earlier date. miracle continues anew each day.
Purim that falls on Shabbat Every day our enemies call for our
Yom HaAtzmaut – in keeping with
A similar reality, in which the Sages’ Shabbat observance destruction and every day we continue
initiated changes due to the fear to feel the miracle of the existence of
of desecrating Shabbat, is when Nevertheless, it turns out that this the State of Israel. However, on the
Purim falls on Shabbat. The Gemara is not so. With regards to Purim, it 5th of Iyar, one does not say Tachanun,
(Megillah 4b) says that in this case the emerges from the Gemara that at first because on that day the miracle of the
declaration of the State took place.
Megillah is not read on Shabbat, but they would celebrate Purim on Shabbat
on Friday. itself, and only later, it was decided that We thank G-d for all the wonderful
the time of Purim should be changed things He has given us, and we pray
Rava explains that when it comes to because of Shabbat desecration. In that He will continue to merit us with
the mitzvot of megillah, shofar and our case though, Yom HaAtzmaut our country being built, evolving,
lulav, there was a danger that a person was never celebrated on Shabbat, and and shining in a light of holiness and
would learn their laws on Shabbat, and therefore it is easier to move. purity.
that he might violate the prohibitions
on carrying the objects and traversing Moreover, Yom HaAtzmaut was
four cubits in the public domain. determined by the end of the British
Rabbi Yosef has a unique explanation rule in Palestine. This was supposed
to occur on Shabbat, but to prevent
why we read the megillah early: poor desecration of Shabbat, the declaration
people wait for the reading of the of the State was advanced by a few
megillah, for that is when matanot hours, to Friday afternoon. Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon is Head of
laEvyonim are given, and if megillah Mizrachi's Shalhevet Educational Advisory
is read on Shabbat, the poor would Similarly, Yom HaAtzmaut is still Board, Chairman of the Halacha Education
suffer. moved forward because of the fear Center

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