Dvrei Torah | Yom Ha'atzmaut
April 21st, 2026
As we mark Yom Ha’atzmaut, we are invited into a moment that holds both complexity and meaning. The journey between memory and independence, between vulnerability and sovereignty, continues to shape how we understand Israel and our role within it.
The two reflections shared here offer distinct yet complementary perspectives on this moment in the Jewish calendar. In her Dvar Torah, MERCAZ President Rabbi Debra Newman Kamin explores the emotional and historical transition from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha’atzmaut, reflecting on resilience, peoplehood, and the enduring strength of the global Jewish community.
MERCAZ Executive Director Rabbi Mauricio Balter examines the deeper theological and ethical questions that emerge between Yom Hashoah and Yom Ha’atzmaut, challenging us to consider not only the existence of a Jewish state, but the kind of society we are called to build.
Together, these texts invite us to engage with Yom Ha’atzmaut not only as a celebration of independence, but as an ongoing responsibility shaped by memory, values, and collective action.
Click below to read them in English, French, or Spanish.
