Nefesh B'Nefesh Yom HaAtzmaut

Inspired by the words of the Declaration of Independence, this brief five minute video is a powerful compilation of thoughts of several prominent Jewish people, ranging from government officials, rabbis, singers, comedians, Holocaust survivors, sports stars, and others on Israel’s independence and the special place this country has in the hearts of Jewish people everywhere.

Inspired by the words of the Declaration of Independence, this brief five minute video is a powerful compilation of thoughts of several prominent Jewish people, ranging from government officials, rabbis, singers, comedians, Holocaust survivors, sports stars, and others on Israel’s independence and the special place this country has in the hearts of Jewish people everywhere.

The Israeli Declaration of Independence was claimed on 14 May 1948 after the British Mandate over Palestine finally expired. Several representatives of Moetzet HaAm,the Jewish People’s Council, convened at the Tel Aviv Museum, approving the nation’s Declaration of Independence which effectively established the State of Israel. This historical motion was approved in less than 24 hours by the United States government, and three days later by the Soviet Union, but fueled anger and tension in the Arab world that would ultimately explode in regional civil war.

Segments of the Israeli Declaration of Independence translated to English read as follows:

“ERETZ-ISRAEL [(Hebrew) - the Land of Israel, Palestine] was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.

After being forcibly exiled from their land, the people kept faith with it throughout their Dispersion and never ceased to pray and hope for their return to it and for the restoration in it of their political freedom.

Impelled by this historic and traditional attachment, Jews strove in every successive generation to re-establish themselves in their ancient homeland. In recent decades they returned in their masses. Pioneers, ma'pilim [(Hebrew) - immigrants coming to Eretz-Israel in defiance of restrictive legislation] and defenders, they made deserts bloom, revived the Hebrew language, built villages and towns, and created a thriving community controlling its own economy and culture, loving peace but knowing how to defend itself, bringing the blessings of progress to all the country's inhabitants, and aspiring towards independent nationhood.

In the year 5657 (1897), at the summons of the spiritual father of the Jewish State, Theodore Herzl, the First Zionist Congress convened and proclaimed the right of the Jewish people to national rebirth in its own country...

We extend our hand to all neighboring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighborliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land. The State of Israel is prepared to do its share in a common effort for the advancement of the entire Middle East.

We appeal to the Jewish people throughout the Diaspora to rally round the Jews of Eretz-Israel in the tasks of immigration and upbuilding and to stand by them in the great struggle for the realization of the age-old dream - the redemption of Israel.”

Written by Erin Parfet

Related Articles

More From Holy Days Videos

How to Make Latkes

How to Make Latkes

Potato pancakes, also known as latkes in Yiddish, are a traditional Chanukah food.
How to Make Latkes

The Maccabeats - Pan Fry

Jewish a cappella group Maccabeats offer a parody of two songs originally performed by Lil Neis…
The Maccabeats - Pan Fry
Hanukkah Lovin'

Hanukkah Lovin'

Michelle Citrin, listed on Time.com in its top ten list of New Jewish Rock Stars and on the…
Hanukkah Lovin'

Shalom Sesame: Purim Story

Grover and his friends star in this animated version of the Purim story from Shalom Sesame.
Shalom Sesame: Purim Story
20 Things To Do With Matzah

20 Things To Do With Matzah

Passover’s over, and wouldn’t it be neat if you could use all the matzah that you didn’t eat?
20 Things To Do With Matzah

Popeye Purim

Popeye Purim.Join us for an enjoyable and fun Popeye Purim play as Popeye Mordecai beats Brutus…
Popeye Purim

Dayenu: Passover Song

The Philadelphia Biblical University Institute of Jewish Studies Class of 2000 Music Team…
Dayenu: Passover Song
Ari Goldwag - Chanukah Light

Ari Goldwag - Chanukah Light

Artist: Ari Goldwag Song: Chanukah Light Album: The English Album Directed by: Jarrod Hurwitz…
Ari Goldwag - Chanukah Light

Chanukah Rights

Are you tired of Chanukah being forgotten and mistreated by the mainstream media? Well, so is…
Chanukah Rights

What Rosh Hashanah Means

What Rosh Hashanah Means: Israelis in Jerusalem explain the Jewish New Year Holiday
What Rosh Hashanah Means

613 Commandments

Shavuot is a spring holiday celebrates the revelation of the Torah to Moses at Mount Sinai, the…
613 Commandments
Kol Nidre

Kol Nidre

The Kol Nodre (“all vows”) refers to a series of Aramaic prayers that the Jewish people sing to…
Kol Nidre

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation