^{Credit: CIP/CJP}

The beginning of Israel's 78th Independence Day was celebrated in Porto and worldwide, marked by a theme of "Awakening the Dawn", emphasizing active rebuilding and Jewish national resilience following recent years of conflict in Israel and with acts of anti-Jewish hatred occurring in different parts of the world. Because Yom Haatzmaut is preceded by Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day), the celebrations were famously characterized by a sudden shift from somber remembrance to national joy.

At the Porto Jewish Museum, next to the memorial for the victims of the Inquisition, Gabriel Senderowicz, the president of the local Jewish community reminded those present that "the state of Israel is not only a homeland — it is a source of strength, of protection, and of continuity for Jewish communities around the world."

While dozens of children enjoyed the garden, speaking Hebrew, running, playing and eating Israeli delicacies, the president added that "it was no longer easy to slaughter a Jewish community, with no possibility of defense for the victims and no consequences for the perpetrators. We live to work and produce life and culture, and that is truly how it will continue to be."

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In turn, Itay Mor, today's representative of the Israelis who are part of the community, expressed his feelings when the minutes of the end of Yom Hazikaron and the beginning of Yom Haatzmaut were still mingling.

Itay Mor's impressive speech:

"There is one moment each year that defines, perhaps more than anything else, who we are as a people. The moment when we move from Memorial Day to Independence Day.

As a child in Israel, I remember this sharp transition. On Memorial Day, we would arrive in white shirts for the ceremonies, pinning on the red everlasting flower, sitting quietly, remembering the incredible heroes of our people. And then, in a single moment, everything changes.

Music. Celebrations. Snow spray. Cotton candy. And life that continues late into the night.

This transition always felt both strange and natural to me. Very sharp, yet precise. A transition that only we, as Jews and Israelis, can truly understand. And it highlights something deep for me. Who we are, and what our strength is. Our ability to rise. Not to ignore the pain, but to grow from it.

To look at the ruins, and choose to rebuild. This is a rare strength. And it is not something that happened by chance. This strength comes from our deep faith. Faith that there is meaning. Faith that there is a path. Faith that there is purpose. But faith alone is not enough.
Our unique ability lies in taking that faith and turning it into reality. To create. To realize. To build. For us, spirit and matter are not separate.

They are connected. And that is exactly what makes us who we are.

The idea of the State of Israel was born out of strong faith. Faith in our mission in this world as Jews. But the state itself did not remain an idea. It was built by people. People who chose to act. To build homes.

To establish communities. To create an economy. To defend, to initiate, to dare.

To go through hardship, without taking their eyes off the light on the horizon. And this is perhaps the essence of our story. To acknowledge what was. To appreciate what is. And to choose, every single day, to keep building. Because the Jewish people do not tell stories in order to remain in the past. We remember in order to build the future. And today, in a complex and challenging reality, this message is more relevant than ever.

There are challenges. There is pain. There is uncertainty. But if we truly look, we see something else as well. We see divine protection. We see miracles. We see resilience. We see creation. We see life. We see a people that does not give up. And a people that, in its hardest moments, comes together and rises. And this brings me to what is perhaps the most important point. Unity.

We are a diverse group of people. With different opinions. With different voices. And that is a strength. But for that strength to work, it must be connected. As Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook said: “When there is love and unity among the people of Israel, no force in the world can overcome us.”

Unity does not erase differences. It gives them a framework. It reminds us that we are part of something greater. And perhaps in the end, this is where everything comes together. This transition from pain to joy, from memory to building, from faith to realization. It is not a sharp break. It is a continuum. It is who we are. A people that knows how to carry pain without breaking. A people that knows how to believe without escaping reality. And a people that knows how to build, even when the path is not simple.

To acknowledge what was. To appreciate what is. And to keep moving forward, even when not everything is clear. Without giving up. Without taking our eyes off the horizon.

I stand here now and think about my children, who are here, growing up here. And about the next generation, here, in Israel, and everywhere in the world. Those who came before us lit the torch, and carried it with pride along the way. And now, it is being passed on to you, the younger generation. Not as a declaration, but as a reality. To continue carrying the torch. To be proud of who we are. Jews. Israelis. Our story is already your story. And with God’s help, it is a story that will continue. To be built. To be written. To be told for many generations to come.

We have remarkable people. We have a remarkable country. And we have a great God. The people of Israel live. The State of Israel lives."

^{Credit: @ Lucca N. Dirsch}

Israel

These are two exciting days and only those who are in Israeli territory can have even a small idea of why. The Israeli Air Force conducts its annual spectacle over major cities, symbolizing national strength. Israelis flock to national parks and beache for the traditional mangal (barbecue). Held at Mount Herzl, the main ceremony features the traditional lighting of twelve torches by citizens chosen for their contributions to society. The World Zionist Organization hosts a live-streamed festive reading of Megillat Ha’atzmaut (the Declaration of Independence) at the Egalitarian Kotel. Major concerts take place in Independence Park and Safra Square. The day concludes with the prestigious Israel Prize ceremony, honoring achievements in culture, science, and the arts.