What Are the Spring “Yamim”?
The Hebrew word yamim (ימים) is the plural form of the word yom or “day,” and can refer to a time, a specific age, or a season. In Israel and in the Jewish diaspora, when folks talk about “the spring yamim,” they are generally referring to three national holidays on the Israeli calendar: Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Yom HaZikaron (Israeli Memorial Day), and Yom HaAtzmaut (Israeli Independence Day). All three of these yamim, or days, fall sequentially in the late spring, and although distinct, they are grouped together on some level in the consciousness of Jews all around the world.
Yom HaShoah:
- The details: The full name of the day commemorating the victims of the Holocaust is “Yom Hashoah Ve-Hagevurah“– literally the “Day of (Remembrance of) the Holocaust and the Heroism.” It is marked on the 27th day in the Hebrew month of Nisan — a week after the seventh day of Passover, and a week before Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day for Israel’s fallen soldiers). This year, Yom HaShoah will be observed from the evening of April 13 to the evening of April 14.
- Yom HaShoah themes: The overwhelming theme that runs through all Yom HaShoah observances is the importance of remembering — recalling the names and memories of the victims of this catastrophe, and ensuring that such a tragedy never happens again. The Shoah (Holocaust) posed an enormous challenge to Judaism and raised many questions: Can one be a believing Jew after the Holocaust? Where was God? How can one have faith in humanity?
- Yom HaShoah observances: Yom HaShoah has been marked in Israel by the sound of two sirens since the early 1960s; one at sundown as the holiday begins, and once again at 11 a.m. the following morning. The sirens stop traffic and pedestrians for two minutes of silent reflection. All radio and television programs exclusively offer Holocaust-related content, and theaters, cinemas, pubs, and other public venues are closed throughout Israel in solidarity with the tone of this day.
Many Jews in North America observe Yom Hashoah within synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and in other spaces as well. Commemorations include prayer services, communal vigils and educational programs. Many Yom Hashoah programs feature a talk by a Holocaust survivor or the descendant of a Holocaust survivor, recitation of solemn songs and readings, or viewing Holocaust-themed films. Some folks light a yahrzeit (memorial) candle on this day as a physical embodiment of grief and memory.
Yom HaZikaron:
- The details: The fourth day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, the day preceding Israel’s Independence Day, was declared by the Israeli Knesset (parliament) to be a national Memorial Day. This year, Yom HaZikaron will be observed from the evening of April 20 to the evening of April 21.
- Yom HaZikaron themes: Originally, this day was set aside to mourn those who lost their lives in the struggle that led to the establishment of the State of Israel, and for all military personnel who lost their lives in active duty in Israel’s armed forces. Today, Yom HaZikaron also encompasses mourning for people who have lost their lives in terror attacks. For many Israelis, Yom HaZikaron is not an abstract memorial; they are remembering friends and family members who fell in defense of the State of Israel.
- Yom HaZikaron observances: Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Memorial Day, is different in its tone and mood from the American Memorial Day. For 24 hours (from sunset to sunset) all places of public entertainment (theaters, cinemas, nightclubs, pubs, etc.) are closed. A siren is blasted twice, during which the entire nation observes a two-minutes “standstill” of all traffic and daily activities. The first siren marks the beginning of Memorial Day at 8 p.m., and the second is at 11 a.m., before public recitation of prayers in the military cemeteries and ceremonies are held in schools and communities. All radio and television stations broadcast programs portraying the lives and heroic deeds of fallen soldiers. Most of the broadcasting time is devoted to Israeli songs that convey the mournful mood of the day. Many Israelis wear a Yizkor (remembrance) sticker as a way of outwardly reflecting their grief.
Yom Ha’atzmaut
- The details: Israel’s Independence Day is celebrated on the fifth day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, which is the Hebrew date of the formal establishment of the State of Israel. (The original date corresponded to May 14, 1948.) This year, Yom Ha’atzmaut will be celebrated from the evening of April 21 through the evening of April 22.
- Yom Ha’atzmaut themes: Yom Ha’atzmaut is both a celebration of Israel’s independence and a joyous opportunity to revel in the country’s achievements in all spheres of life. It’s a time of emotional release after Yom HaZikaron, the previous day of mourning, and an opportunity for friends and family to be together in a joyous embrace of life.
- Yom Ha’atzmaut observances: In Israel, Yom Ha’atzmaut is a national holiday, so everyone has the day off of work. In the Jewish diaspora, many Jewish communities default to celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut on the following Sunday in order to accommodate the majority of people who do not have the official holiday off from work. Israelis celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut in a variety of ways. Local governments produce public shows and events attracting large crowds. Some spend the evening dancing Israeli folk dances or singing Israeli songs. During the daytime, many people go out on hikes and picnics. Army camps are open for civilians to visit and learn about recent technological achievements of the Israeli Defense Forces. Yom Ha’atzmaut is concluded with the ceremony of granting the “Israel Prize,” recognizing individual Israelis for their unique contribution to the country’s culture, science, arts, and the humanities.
The “Switch”: The “switch” refers to the stark energetic shift between Yom HaZikaron, a solemn day or mourning, and Yom Ha’atzmaut, a joyous day of celebration. Joining these two days together conveys a simple message: Israelis owe the independence and the very existence of the Jewish state to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for it. The official “switch” from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha’atzmaut takes place a few minutes after sundown, with a ceremony on Mount Herzl, the site of Israel’s national cemetery, in Jerusalem. The Israeli flag is raised from half staff (due to Memorial Day) to the top of the pole, indicating the succession of Yom HaZikaron to Yom HaAtzmaut, and 12 torches are lit to symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel. For many, the “switch” embodies the dichotomy of the national Israeli spirit, finding ways of embracing and celebrating life even amid tragedy and loss.
In the global Hillel community, the sentiment of “the switch” is particularly resonant in light of rising antisemitism on and off their campuses. Throughout these challenges, students continue to show up and bring their fullest selves to Hillel, seeking strength, wisdom, connection, ritual, and belonging with fellow students and Hillel staff. This manifestation of strength and vulnerability is at the heart of each yamim day, and is unique in this particular moment in Jewish experience.