Independence Day: The first Thursday in Iyar?
I was a kid when the US decided to make most of their holidays be on Monday's so that people could have long weekends. I thought it was pretty dumb then (George Washington was not born on the first Monday in February and I doubt most kids in the US today know when he was actually born), but at least there were some days that were not changed. One of them was Independence Day, which remains July 4 in the US, and not 'the first Monday in July.'Israel is about to change its Independence Day to 'the Thursday of the week in which the 5th day of Iyar falls.' Well, forgive me for being a traditionalist but I think that's a pretty dumb idea, even if we Anglos already joke about Independence Day being 'the only Sunday of the year.' (We refer to it that way, because it's the only weekday holiday on which there is no prohibition against doing work and there is no need to be back before sundown).
Ministers unanimously voted in favor of the bill proposed by MK Lia Shemtov (Yisrael Beytenu), which makes Independence Day on the Thursday of the week in which the fifth day of the Hebrew month of Iyyar falls.Why not make it the next month while you're at it? The weather would be warmer and we wouldn't have to worry about rain. Sorry, but I think this is a farce.
According to Shemtov, Israel's founders did not realize that Yom Haatzmaut falls on Fridays and Saturdays in many years. When that happens, independence is celebrated on a Thursday.
The Yisrael Beytenu MK explained that her bill will not cost the state anything, and will make it easier for employers and municipalities to prepare for the holiday.
Tourism Minister Stas Meseznikov, who is the chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Ceremonies and Symbols, said that the bill "will prevent special vacation days in the middle of the week, which are disruptive to the Israeli market."
Meseznikov added that the legislation will make it easier for bereaved families to prepare for Remembrance Day, which will fall on a Wednesday each year, and prevent people from desecrating the Sabbath, as the holidays will not take place during the weekend.
Shemtov's bill is likely to be brought to the Knesset for a preliminary reading this Wednesday. It will then have to pass three more votes, as well as committee discussions, before becoming law.
Labels: Yom HaAtzmaut
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:35 PM
3 Comments:
What a brilliant idea now we'll probably never be able to say Hallel with a bracha.
On the contrary! Another day without Tachanun! :)
Due to religious and other reasons, its now very rare for Israel's Independence Day to actually be celebrated on the Fifth Of Iyar. A fixed date is not a bad idea at all - and that is why this change is being adopted.
If any one has a better proposal, they should put it forward.
Post a Comment
<< Home