Modern commemorations
Jerusalem Dayיוֹם יְרוּשָׁלַיִם
1 day – celebrated only in some communities · 28 Iyar
- History
- Halakhah
- Minhag
- Modern practice
- Interpretation
- Transliteration
- Yom Yerushalayim
- Pronunciation
- JOM je-ru-ša-LA-jim
- Duration
- Israel: 1 day (from evening to evening), a national day of commemoration
Diaspora: 1 day – celebrated only in some communities
In 60 seconds
Yom Yerushalayim recalls that on 7 June 1967 (28 Iyar), during the Six-Day War, the Israeli army captured the Old City and East Jerusalem, and Jews thus regained access to the Western Wall after nineteen years. The holiday was proclaimed by the Israeli government in 1968 and enshrined in law by the Knesset in 1998. For Religious Zionists it is a day of thanksgiving with Hallel; for many Palestinians and for a large part of the international community it marks the beginning of the occupation of East Jerusalem. The most visible event, the so-called flag march through the Old City, is a subject of dispute every year.
Next date
When
Begins
Thursday, 3 June 2027, at sunset (21:04)
Ends
Friday, 4 June 2027, after nightfall (22:12)
1 day
Begins
Tuesday, 23 May 2028, at sunset (20:53)
Ends
Wednesday, 24 May 2028, after nightfall (21:58)
1 day
Begins
Saturday, 12 May 2029, at sunset (20:37)
Ends
Sunday, 13 May 2029, after nightfall (21:39)
1 day
Times for Prague · Diaspora
History and origins
From 1948 to 1967 Jerusalem was divided; the Old City with the Temple Mount and the Western Wall was administered by Jordan, and Jews had no access to them. On 7 June 1967 the Israeli army captured the Old City. Israel then extended its administration to East Jerusalem; the international community largely does not recognize this step.1
The holiday was proclaimed by the government in 1968 and regulated by the Jerusalem Day Law in 1998.
Religious meaning
Jerusalem is the center of Jewish prayer and hope; tradition mentions it in the daily Amidah and in the blessing after meals. For many Jews the day is an expression of this centuries-old bond.2,3
At the same time, the day has a strongly political dimension. For Palestinians it recalls loss and occupation; within Israeli society, too, its form is debated.
Core traditions
Festive assemblies, pilgrimages to the Western Wall and the so-called "flag dance" (rikud degalim) from the western part of the city through the Old City take place. The procession through the Muslim Quarter is repeatedly criticized because of provocations and violence.
How it is observed
The Chief Rabbinate has established the recitation of Hallel; Religious Zionists recite it with a blessing. Haredi communities do not celebrate the day. The holiday is not a day off work.
Prayers and blessings
In Religious Zionist communities Hallel and festive prayers of thanksgiving are recited.4
Symbols and objects
The Western Wall, the Israeli flag and the song Yerushalayim Shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold) by Naomi Shemer, written shortly before the 1967 war.
Traditional foods
There are no established special dishes.
Differences between communities
The day is celebrated above all by Religious Zionists; secular Israelis perceive it less strongly, the Haredim do not celebrate it, and for the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem it is associated with loss. In the diaspora it is celebrated mainly by Modern Orthodox communities.
In the Czech lands
In the Czech Republic Jerusalem Day is little celebrated in public; some Jewish communities and organizations mark it.
For children
Jerusalem Day recalls the time when, after many years, Jews could once again pray at the Western Wall in the Old City. For other people who live in Jerusalem, however, it is a sad day, and so people speak about it in different ways.
FAQ
Why is Jerusalem Day controversial?
For many Jews it recalls the reunification of the city and the return to the Western Wall; for Palestinians and much of the world, the beginning of the occupation of East Jerusalem. Criticism is directed mainly at the flag march.
Is Hallel recited?
In Religious Zionist communities, yes, following the ruling of the Chief Rabbinate. In Haredi communities, no.
When does it fall?
On 28 Iyar, one week before Shavuot.