(Courtesy of Bnei Akiva) If you passed through Westchester, New Jersey or Long Island during the week of Yom Ha’atzmaut, you probably saw hundreds of lawns dotted with colorful Magen David-shaped signs that said, “My Chag, Your Chag, Our Chag.” In partnership with local Jewish schools, Bnei Akiva distributed these signs across the country and Canada in honor of Israel’s 74th year, and we were thrilled to see so many Bnei Akiva households proudly showcase their love of Israel.

At Bnei Akiva, Yom Ha’atzmaut is our national holiday—and it’s our biggest holiday. It’s the day when our community across the United States and Canada comes together to celebrate Israel—and, following two years of smaller programming, these in-person celebrations were large, enthusiastic and full of meaning.

Our 26 Israeli shlichim, who infuse Israeli flavor and a genuine love of Israel into their communities each and every day, jumped into action, planning impressive tekesim and programming across the continent, as well as many celebrations planned in communities that are run by local teens and parent boards. Celebrations and tekesim took place in Teaneck, Scarsdale, Great Neck, Woodmere and New York City—and outside of the tri-state area in Boca Raton, Boston, Chicago, Hollywood, Houston, Lower Merion, Los Angeles, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Toronto and more!

In Teaneck, Scarsdale, and Great Neck the local shlichot spent weeks preparing festive activities, unique games and programming, and rehearsing performances with their students. In Woodmere, Hebrew Academy of Long Beach’s Tekes Hadlakat Mesuot (torch-lighting ceremony), mirroring the Har Herzl tekes, drew 400 attendees. Following months of preparation with their Bnei Akiva shlichot, middle school students performed various dances, including Daglanut, sang Hatikvah in sign language, and recited the Tefilah l’Shalom Medinat Yisrael in unison.

Together with local shuls, Bnei Akiva’s BAbayit Upper West Side hosted a beautiful event that almost 500 community members attended—marking its first community-wide, in-person Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration in two years. Beginning with a Yom HaZikaron Tekes Ma’avar, commemorating the thousands of victims of terror and soldiers who lost their lives while serving Israel, the event then transformed to usher in Yom Ha’atzamaut. BAbayit’s young professionals and the West Side community enjoyed a Tefillah Chagigit, followed by a concert with Eitan Katz and a festive party in honor of Israel.

Other community celebrations across the U.S. and Canada featured Kululam sing-alongs; torch lightings in honor of community members making aliyah, serving in the IDF or Sherut Leumi, or studying in yeshivot or midrashot in Israel; delicious Israeli dinners; blue and white cookie making; thank-you letter-writing to Israeli soldiers; Israeli flag painting; bounce houses; and laser tag. As Israel celebrated Yom Ha’atzmaut all over the country, thousands of Bnei Akiva’niks celebrated in their home communities in the U.S. and Canada.

“The purpose of leyl haseder is ‘chayav adam lirot et atzmo ke-ilu hu yatza mi-Mitzrayim.’ In order for us to understand redemption and to be part of redemption, each one of us needs to feel like we physically came out of Mitzrayim—and the same is true for modern redemption. This is the reason why we celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut with tekesim. We must each see ourselves as though we were present in ’48, ’67, ’73, and so on. That’s our mission and we’re so proud to continue this tradition in communities across the U.S. and Canada,” said Rav Shaul Feldman, executive director, Bnei Akiva of the U.S. and Canada.

To further support their communities’ festivities, Bnei Akiva sent out to over 40,000 individuals digital packets that included Israel education activities, arts and crafts projects and a Yom Ha’atzmaut playlist. Families, schools and shuls incorporated the resources into their celebrations all over the continent.

In a touching video produced by Bnei Akiva, a man named Israel shared his story of making aliyah, building a home on a religious kibbutz, serving in the Israel Defense Forces, and creating three generations of Israelis dedicated to Torah v’Avodah in Israel. His symbolic story was the amalgamation of countless Bnei Akiva’niks who have made aliyah over the past several decades and fulfilled the ultimate Bnei Akiva dream.

As the video concludes, “His story is our story.”

For more information about Bnei Akiva year-round and summer programming, visit

www.bneiakiva.org.