Israel's Independence Day is unique among the nations. Its date is the anniversary of the day that the Declaration of Independence was read, but it was not actually the day that Israel became a sovereign country. The declaration was read on Friday, Iyyar 5, 5708 (May 14, 1948) at 3:30 p.m., though the British Mandate ended only eight and a half hours later, at midnight, the next day by the Jewish calendar. But this would already be Shabbat, and this was to be a Jewish state. Desecrating the country's first Shabbat would hardly be a good start. Thus, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion announced that the land was now under Jewish rule a few hours early, before Shabbat began. It was early in another sense, as well. Before, but especially during, the period of British rule, the Arabs within the Mandatory borders were not happy about the growing Jewish return to Zion. There were attacks, pogroms, murders, and of course, pressure on international bodies. Due to pressure from the local and regional Arab leadership, most of Europe's 9 million Jews could not find refuge in the Holy Land from Hitler's death machine. In 1937, after the Nuremberg Laws were passed and Germany's Jews started waking up to the reality of the Nazi goal to make Europe Judenrein, the British Foreign Office issued its White Paper, substantially limiting Jewish immigration to Palestine. Armed attacks on Jews grew harsher with time. When the United Nations voted to replace the British Mandate with its Partition Plan in November 1947, the Jews were ecstatic as they felt it defined safe borders. The local Arab leadership, on the other hand, declared war, recruiting militias such as the Army of the Holy War from Egypt. This civil war did not end with Israel's Declaration of Independence. The next morning, as the last of the British soldiers set sail off Israel's coastline, armies from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, supplemented by other Arab League members, declared war on the newly founded Jewish state. There were plenty of reasons to worry that Israel's independence was assumed too early. And yet, somehow, when armistice lines were drawn in 1949, a Jewish state remained on the map. That 600,000 Jews including many Holocaust survivors -- with one fighter plane, no tanks, and very little ammunition -- survived these attacks, was and remains an unimaginable miracle. As the Passover song "Dayenu" says, if we had only received this favor from God, it would have been enough to merit saying thanks. Coupled with victory were many tragedies, such as the 1 percent casualty rate -- fully 1% of Israel's Jews fell in the War of Independence. Among the tragic battles, the destruction of the Etzion settlement bloc south of Jerusalem and the expulsion of Jews from the Old City stand out. Because the central kibbutz in the Etzion bloc, Kfar Etzion, was destroyed (and its remaining defenders shot by firing squad after surrendering) on the day before independence was declared, it was decided to mark the day before Independence Day as the national Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror. In preparation for these two auspicious days, a group of young adults from the Ein Prat Midrasha came up with an idea to enhance the meaning of our independence. As with everything about Israel, it is unique to a people who aren't sure if we are now in the best of times or the worst of times. They propose a new national custom, parallel to the 10 Days of Repentance culminating in Yom Kippur -- the 10 "Days of Thanks." In an emotional video showing mothers, neighbors and in-laws being thanked for their love and support, Ein Prat's students and graduates invite all Israelis to use this time to recognize the good in our personal and national lives. Amid hardships and wars, in economically turbulent times, and without forgetting that we still have goals to reach, we can reflect on the positive we have and show appreciation. With chalkboards set up in major cities, a Facebook page, and virtual postcard software that allows citizens to thank anyone, anywhere, the 10 "Days of Thanks" program aims to become a national tradition. The Ein Prat Midrasha, headed by Dr. Micah Goodman, is hosting three events in Jerusalem during the 10 days -- a lecture, an evening of songs and personal stories, and a special closing ceremony at the beginning of the celebrations Monday evening, as sunset ends Memorial Day and ushers in Independence Day. Chana Rosenfelder is a wife and mother, remedial teacher, case manager for special-needs children, and community activist.
