Page 87 - big friday
P. 87
The ceremonial declaration
Four o' clock approaches. The atmosphere becomes urgent; holding its breath, as it were. The
radio broadcast is on standby.
B en-Gurion arises. There is the singing of HaTikva, resounding like a prayer of thanksgiving.
The parchment scroll is opened and Ben-Gurion reads the inscribed words, majestic in their
simplicity.
A t 4:07pm we hear the sentence that will be remembered for generations:
"We hereby declare the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz-Yisrael, to be known as the
State of Israel."
The entire audience rises. There is applause.
The foreign journalists, Stone and Kimhe and others, are astonished, and their fingers twitch
as they take down the sentence. Rays of sun penetrate from above the ceiling and fight the
artificial light of Carmel Film and Paramount and others that filmed and captured the moment.
"Placing our trust in the 'Rock of Israel', we affix our signatures to this proclamation" – and a
quiver passes though the hall.
E yes are brimming with tears. Rabbi Fishman arises, and in a voice choked with weeping,
he recites the "Shehehiyanu" blessing.
All those assembled rise to their feet, wearing head covering, and like a congregation of
worshippers they respond, "Amen."
The Tel Aviv Museum becomes, at that moment, a holy place, a house of prayer.
The longings of generations, and the wishes of millions of Jews throughout the world, are
converged at this historic moment; on this unforgettable occasion.
There is no embracing as is customary at the Zionist Congresses.
Everything is held back, as though frozen. People stand at attention in honor of the great
moment.
The special atmosphere is like that of the Day of Atonement, which is a day of inner
reckoning and the Day of Judgment.
And as Ben-Gurion reads out the first law of the State of Israel, there is a quivering again:
"The provisions of the law which derive from the White Paper of the year 1939 are hereby null
and void."
Applause. The legislators and the partners. Us. A law for Israel.
With no flowery language, with no festivity, with actions speaking louder than words, the
occasion is characterized by a sense of obligation and responsibility.
S igning the Scroll of Independence
The signing commences.
Ben-Gurion announces and invites each one, adding the title: "Mr."
S hertok holds the edge of the parchment scroll like a religious Jew holding the Torah scroll
during the reading. He does not let go of the parchment for a single moment, as a servant of
the people.
A State is Born 85
Four o' clock approaches. The atmosphere becomes urgent; holding its breath, as it were. The
radio broadcast is on standby.
B en-Gurion arises. There is the singing of HaTikva, resounding like a prayer of thanksgiving.
The parchment scroll is opened and Ben-Gurion reads the inscribed words, majestic in their
simplicity.
A t 4:07pm we hear the sentence that will be remembered for generations:
"We hereby declare the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz-Yisrael, to be known as the
State of Israel."
The entire audience rises. There is applause.
The foreign journalists, Stone and Kimhe and others, are astonished, and their fingers twitch
as they take down the sentence. Rays of sun penetrate from above the ceiling and fight the
artificial light of Carmel Film and Paramount and others that filmed and captured the moment.
"Placing our trust in the 'Rock of Israel', we affix our signatures to this proclamation" – and a
quiver passes though the hall.
E yes are brimming with tears. Rabbi Fishman arises, and in a voice choked with weeping,
he recites the "Shehehiyanu" blessing.
All those assembled rise to their feet, wearing head covering, and like a congregation of
worshippers they respond, "Amen."
The Tel Aviv Museum becomes, at that moment, a holy place, a house of prayer.
The longings of generations, and the wishes of millions of Jews throughout the world, are
converged at this historic moment; on this unforgettable occasion.
There is no embracing as is customary at the Zionist Congresses.
Everything is held back, as though frozen. People stand at attention in honor of the great
moment.
The special atmosphere is like that of the Day of Atonement, which is a day of inner
reckoning and the Day of Judgment.
And as Ben-Gurion reads out the first law of the State of Israel, there is a quivering again:
"The provisions of the law which derive from the White Paper of the year 1939 are hereby null
and void."
Applause. The legislators and the partners. Us. A law for Israel.
With no flowery language, with no festivity, with actions speaking louder than words, the
occasion is characterized by a sense of obligation and responsibility.
S igning the Scroll of Independence
The signing commences.
Ben-Gurion announces and invites each one, adding the title: "Mr."
S hertok holds the edge of the parchment scroll like a religious Jew holding the Torah scroll
during the reading. He does not let go of the parchment for a single moment, as a servant of
the people.
A State is Born 85
