Students in Yeshivat He’Atid’s Kitah Gimmel learned that there was a British Mandate to govern Israel until 1947, when the UN voted for the partition plan. They reenacted the vote and then watched the actual vote on YouTube. The class discussed the joyous feelings that Jews around the world had toward the decision.

They continued on the historical timeline and received an invitation dated May 13 1948 to a secret meeting in Tel- Aviv. The students were invited to participate in the ceremony declaring Israel’s independence. They experienced the happiness and excitement of the moment, and they understood that the excitement was short-lived because a war broke out that day between the surrounding Arabs and the Jews.

Kitah Gimmel also learned about David Ben Gurion. They made and wore hair like Ben Gurion’s, read a story about him, and posed to replicate some of his famous photographs.

The students celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut with a special daglanut performance.