Yom HaAtzmaut

hebrewpublic.org

Yom HaAtzmaut Sameach! (That’s Happy Independence Day in Hebrew if you didn’t already know).

To celebrate and recognize one of the biggest holidays in Israel, we welcome you to experience a bit of Israeli culture for yourself and enter a raffle for some really awesome prizes.

We have collected a myriad of different topics about Israeli culture for you to learn about. All you have to do is choose to watch ONE video from the experiences below. Watch the video clip. Then, use the Google Form to reflect on what you saw.

Your submission of the Google Form is your entry into the raffle.

There will be three winners per school. Prizes include . . .

Winner #1 $200 gift certificate to Delta Airlines

Winner #2 $100 to Hotel.com

Winner # 3: $50 to Hotel.com.

Participate by 4.23.2021. Raffle winners will be announced on 4.30.21

Join us in experiencing Israel!

Watch one of the videos below and click here to enter the raffle

About Yom HaAtzmaut (Israeli Independence Day)

A taste of how Israeli Independence Day started and is celebrated around the world, from the street parties and ceremonies in Israel, to festivals all around the world. From a brief history of how Israel became a country to how Israelis each feel differently about the holiday.

Ben Gurion – Israel’s First Prime Minister

Learn about Israel’s first prime minister–the truth about the man with the crazy white hair who led Israel to independence. While Ben Gurion has become a mythical figure – famed as a bold revolutionary and an idealistic founder – not everything about him was as it seemed, including his name and his ideas.

Jerusalem Street Food Tour

Israel is a pretty complicated place, but we are pretty sure that there is one thing we can all agree on, and that is FOOD 🙂 Take a tour of Jerusalem and try the tastiest foods that the city has to offer!

Israeli Nobel Laureates

With 12 Nobels, Israel actually has more prizes per capita than the U.S., France and Germany, and more actual laureates than India, Spain, and China. Take a look at why Israelis have so much chemistry with chemistry, looking at the amazing stories behind each Nobel Prize winner and asking why Israelis have done so well in the Nobel stakes.

Ethiopian Jews in Israel

While the story of their rescue from Ethiopia has become a well-known tale of daring, bravery, and sheer Israeli chutzpah, there’s far more to know about Ethiopian Jews than this event. Trace the origins of this group, unpack the different terms associated with the “Beta Israel” (as the community refers to itself), and dive into the difficult subject of racism in Israeli society, as the ongoing (and sometimes bumpy) integration of Ethiopian Jewry into Israeli society is discussed.

The Kibbutz: Israel’s Collective Utopia Then and Now

One of the founding elements of Israeli society – the kibbutz. Founded in the early 20th century, these collective settlements helped shape the country’s identity. Based on the idea that everything – from food to children – should be shared, the young immigrants who set up the first kibbutzim threw out the old European way of living and sought to create a system of complete equality. It was a totally radical concept, but without it, Israel would be a very different place today. But why were the kibbutzim founded, how did they work (did they work?) and what is left (if anything) of these communal utopias?

Israeli Dance Company: Batsheva

Founded in 1964 in Tel Aviv with Martha Graham as its first director, Batsheva Dance Company has grown to become one of Israel’s most innovative companies, renowned for their primal energy and joyful stylistic mashups. As its new season opens, film-maker Matt Heywood steps behind the scenes with artistic director Ohad Naharin as the company rehearses and discovers how dancing is all about tuning in.

Israeli Druze and Multiculturalism in Israel

The Israeli Druze–this little-known community is just one of the various ethnic groups that make up the diverse population of Israel. The Druze are known for being loyal to whichever country they live in and the Israeli Druze are no exception. So how does this community – an Arab-speaking, 1000-year offshoot of Shiite Islam – fit into Israeli society? Why do they serve in the Israeli army in higher numbers than Jewish Israelis? And just what does the controversial Nation-State Bill mean for them?

A Taste of Israeli Hip Hop

Check out the origins of Israeli hip hop music: is there anything off-limits in Israeli music? Unpack the country’s political music scene, care of three well-known, but wildly different, rappers. Hip hop might seem all-American but it’s a thing in Israel too; albeit with a sabra twist. In Israel, hip hop is not just about how it sounds. There’s a real emphasis on political, socio-political, or socially conscious lyrics that you just don’t find in most other countries.

Brief Explanation of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is complicated, to say the least. The history and the sentiments are strong for both sides and have created a narrative that is often difficult to navigate. Get a brief glimpse into what it’s all about.

Israeli Elections in 2021

You may be hearing about Israeli elections in the news right now. It’s the fourth election in only two years for Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in the thick of it — accused of trying to hang onto power. So, what’s going on? And what do corruption charges against Netanyahu have to do with it? Take a look.