Building the Jewish Future: A Yom Ha'atzmaut Reflection
- WireNews
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
by Ram ben Ze'ev
As the sun sets on the 30th of April, we will enter יום העצמאות (Yom Ha'atzmaut – Day of Independence), commemorating the miraculous rebirth of our Nation, the State of Israel.
Seventy-seven years ago, the impossible became reality as עם ישראל (Am Yisrael – the Nation of Israel) stood up from the ashes of exile and devastation to reclaim sovereignty over our ancestral homeland.
This is a time of joy and gratitude, a time to recognise the goodness that השם (HaShem – the Name) has bestowed upon us. Every Jew, whether living in ארץ ישראל (Eretz Yisrael – the Land of Israel) or across the vast Diaspora, shares in this miracle. Our existence is proof that prophecy stands, that השם (HaShem) keeps His promises, and that no force in this world can extinguish the Jewish flame.
Yet celebration must come with responsibility. We must remember that physical independence is not the end; it is the beginning. The true strength of עם ישראל (Am Yisrael) lies not in our armies or our cities, but in our connection to התורה (HaTorah – the Torah), to mitzvot, and to each other.
In the spirit of this Yom Ha'atzmaut and as we journey through the remaining days of ספירת העומר (Sefirat HaOmer – the Counting of the Omer), I urge every Jew to accept upon themselves a small but powerful mission for the coming year:
Study Torah daily: Even five minutes each day strengthens the soul and draws Divine blessing.
Perform mitzvot (מצוות – mitzvot, commandments) with care and love. Prioritise acts of kindness, especially צדקה (Tzedakah – charity), done anonymously, following the highest standard of giving.
Be kind to your fellow Jew: Our greatest weapon is unity. When we treat one another with dignity and love, we defeat our enemies without lifting a sword.
Pray for our brothers and sisters still held captive. Particularly during ספירת העומר (Sefirat HaOmer), include heartfelt prayers that השם (HaShem) should release the hostages and heal the broken-hearted.
Resist assimilation: Never allow the Nations to define us. Learn עברית (Ivrit – Hebrew) if you do not yet speak the Holy Language. Use our sacred words – פסח (Pesach), מגן דוד (Magen David – Shield of David), and others – not the idolatrous terms the Nations try to impose upon us.
Each small effort builds the collective strength of עם ישראל (Am Yisrael). Each Jew who studies, who prays, who acts with righteousness, helps hasten the ultimate redemption.
This Yom Ha'atzmaut, let us rejoice not only in what we have achieved but in what we can still become. May this year, 5785, close with a world where every Jew stands tall in Torah, in mitzvot, in unity, and in dignity.
May we soon greet משיח צדקנו (Mashiach Tzidkenu – our Righteous Messiah), and may השם (HaShem) bless עם ישראל (Am Yisrael) with peace, prosperity, and protection.
May we soon rejoice together with a heartfelt cry: Chag Atzmaut Sameach (חג עצמאות שמח) – Happy Independence Day!
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Bill White (Ram ben Ze'ev) is CEO of WireNews Limited, Mayside Partners Limited, MEADHANAN Agency, Kestrel Assets Limited, SpudsToGo Limited and Executive Director of Hebrew Synagogue.
