The Sephardi Perspective: The Nature of Yom Ha'Atzmaut

Every year there is a major debate amongst the religious community as to how much emphasis Yom Ha'atzmaut should be given in the synagogue. In most prayer books there are special prayers to be said on the evening of Yom Ha'Atzmaut which includes parts of Leha Dodi and tehillim, one sung to the tune of the HaTikva.

While many Ashkenazi haredim will not acknowledge Yom Ha'Atzmaut, amongst the Sephardim the debate is more about the nature of the day. During the day there is a debate amongst Sephardim about whether to say Hallel with a blessing or without.

While many Ashkenazim antagonists of Zionism will declare that we can not celebrate such 'secular' events, this appears to have little basis for this in historical fact. There have always been many days added throughout Jewish history where the authorities have instructed they be commemorated in prayer and with the recitation of Hallel.

In the US, two of the oldest synagogues in America (both Sephardi), Mikveh Israel of Philadelphia and Shearith Israel of New York, actually omit tahanun (another significance of a joyful day) and recite Hallel.

Amongst the Sephardi authorities in Israel there is almost complete agreement that Yom Ha'Atzmaut is a joyful day which should include prayers of thanks and gratitude.

According to Dan Illouz of Tzipiyah (Religious Renewal), "The one who put it best (on this topic) is Rav Yossef Messas, the former Chief Rabbi of Haifa, when he was asked what to do on Yom Ha'Atzmaut." Rav Messas declared:

Rav Benzion Uziel, the first Rishon Lezion, made Yom Ha'Atzmaut a day of Simha and Hallel and thanks. Rav Yitzhack Nissim, another Rishon Lezion agreed with him and further developed the halahic ramifications of this fact - one must say Hallel, one can listen to music because the mourning period of the omer does not apply to such a happy day.

Rav Ovadia Yosef, (in Yabia Omer VI, Orah Hayyim 41), says one should say Hallel without a blessing on this day. Rav Mordechai Eliyahu says we have the obligation to say Hallel without a blessing after the regular prayers.

The practice of reciting Hallel without a blessing upon a miracle is mentioned in the Meiri's commentary to Pesahim 117a. Moreover, the practice of reciting Hallel without a blessing is familiar to Sephardi Jews who follow the opinion of the Rambam (Hilhot Hanuka 3:7) to recite Hallel without a blessing on Rosh Hodesh and the last six days of Pessah. Far from being a "cop-out," the approach of reciting Hallel without a blessing is an expression of a sophisticated recognition of the meaning of the State of Israel.

A prayer book, Siddur Beit Melukhah ke-Yom ha-Atzmaut ve-Yom Yerushalayim, edited by Uri Amos Sharki includes a section for study comprised of various Jewish sources on the subject of redemption of the Land and on Independence Day. It also includes an original work of the author, called "Behold, your light has come" (kuntras ba orekh) presenting halahic discussions on whether or not one should recite Hallel and say shehekheyanu. It received several endorsements, including one from Rabbi Shalom Messas, brother of the above mentioned Rav Yosef Messas, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, who wrote:

I give thanks to Thee, attired in grandeur,
Working wonders on the Festival of Independence
...
The end of bondage to the British,
Exodus of the broken-hearted to deliverance.
...
Our Saviour, who fights our cause,
has smitten the mixed multitude with wondrous blows.
....
The fifth of Iyyar shall be decorated,
Residents and visitors giving great thanks.

This will all seem incongruent to the Ashkenazi haredi anti-Zionist. They will wonder how great Sephardi rabbis can celebrate such a day in such a manner. These people completely miss the Sepahrdi approach to the State of Israel, which I have written at length in previous articles. The State of Israel is a joyous chapter in Jewish history and the return of the People of Israel to their Land can only be understood in a joyous manner and with thanks to God.

The answer to those antagonists was best put by Rav Ovadia Yosef who said the religious community should appreciate the incredible growth of Torah study and observance in many sectors of the Israeli population. He writes that Israel has become the world Torah center. Almost all very serious Halahic questions are referred to the great Halahic authorities in Israel for adjudication. This constitutes a sea change relative to the situation that existed in the Jewish world only a few decades ago.