Am Yisrael Chai: Israel Independence Day
Yesterday was Israel Memorial Day, honoring fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terrorism, and today is Israel Independence Day, marking the modern rebirth of Israel. Israel existed thousands of years ago, the nation of God’s Chosen People (the Jews), and again the Jews control the land promised to them by God.
There are many Bible verses promising the land of Israel to the descendants of Abraham in perpetuity. For instance, God told Abraham (Gen.13:15), “All the land which thou seest, I will give to thee, and to thy seed for ever.” And again (Gen. 17:8): “And I will give to thee, and to thy seed, the land of thy sojournment, all the land of Chanaan for a perpetual possession, and I will be their God.” And again, the Lord God speaks through Moses in Lev.20:24, “But to you I say: Possess their land which I will give you for an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the Lord your God, who have separated you from other people.”
This year’s celebration of Israel Independence Day is more sober than other years, in light of the devastating Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023. As I wrote for PJ Media on Israel Memorial Day:
“Oct. 7 was the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust. Radical Islamic Hamas terrorists burned alive and/or beheaded babies, gunned down whole families, raped to death women, and kidnapped civilians of all ages. The atrocities were so horrific that about 50 survivors of the music festival where Hamas murdered over 360 people have since committed suicide.
Just in the initial Hamas onslaught, 620 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and 62 police were reportedly killed, and more have died or been wounded since in the ongoing conflict with Hamas…Thirty-eight children were among those murdered on Oct. 7.”
Hamas has vowed to wipe Israel off the map and genocide Israelis, and Hamas has the support of nearly three-fourths of Palestinians in this aim. But Israel has survived decades of terrorism, and hopefully will survive to conquer the Islamic jihadis as the Biblical Israelites conquered their enemies.
The State of Israel, in fact, specifically mentioned the hostages still being held by Hamas in an inspiring tweet for the two Israeli holidays of Memorial and Independence Day:
“Israel Memorial Day and Israel Independence Day are two sides of the same coin.
On Memorial Day we mourn those who sacrificed their lives. On Independence Day we celebrate their legacy.
This year the transition between these two days is especially difficult.
We are not fully free while 132 of our loved ones are in capacity.
While we mark Independence Day, our brave men and uniform are on the front lines fighting for our country.
This Independence Day is complicated and painful, but our resolve is strong.
We will get through this.
We will dance again.
Here’s to 76 and many more years of independence.”
Am Yisrael Chai! The people of Israel live!