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Declaration of Independence

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April 16, 2026, 12:36 pm
Live on Sunday: Declaration of Independence at the Kotel
At the egalitarian Kotel, Jews from Israel and around the world gather to read the Declaration of Independence, affirming shared values and Jewish peoplehood.
By Dr. Yizhar Hess
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Reading of the Declaration of Independence from a previous year’s event. (Courtesy)
April 14, 2026, 12:03 pm
Live on Sunday: Declaration of Independence at the Kotel
At the egalitarian Kotel, Jews from Israel and around the world gather to read the Declaration of Independence, affirming shared values and Jewish peoplehood.
By Dr. Yizhar Hess
Cartoon illustrating Israelis' first election, January 25, 1948. (AP Photo/H. E. Munhall)
May 1, 2025, 11:58 am
Daily Briefing May 1: Day 573 – Ben-Gurion’s anguish upon the founding of Israel
In a special Independence Day episode, senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur takes us back to the first prime minister’s conflicted emotions as the nascent state fought enemies and division
By Amanda Borschel-Dan and Haviv Rettig Gur
A copy of David Ben-Gurion's diary from May 14, 1948 (Ben-Gurion Archives)
April 28, 2025, 1:00 pm
Ben-Gurion diary entries on day of independence revealed: ‘I mourn among the joyful’
Document found in archives reveals how first PM worried over Arab invasion, writing on May 14, 1948, that nascent state’s fate was ‘in the hands of the security forces’
By ToI Staff
A reenactment of the American Revolution's Battle of Great Bridge takes place in Chesapeake, Virginia, December 8, 2024. (iStock photos/ Bill Chizek)
April 18, 2025, 5:11 pm
How Jewish patriots in the US Revolutionary War helped shape the First Amendment
In new book ‘A Promised Land,’ history professor Adam Jortner looks at the role of Jews – then just 0.1% of the population – in fighting for independence and forging America
By Rich Tenorio
Left: Conservative Rabbi Shalom Tzvi (Harry) Davidowitz (public domain); right: From right to left, Rabbi Mauricio Balter, executive director of Masorti Olami, Dr. Yizhar Hess, Rabbi Ashira Konigsberg, Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, CEO of the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, look up at the street sign named for Shalom Tzvi (Harry) Davidowitz, Herzliya, December 11, 2024. (Herzliya Municipality)
December 15, 2024, 6:06 am
1st street in Israel named for Masorti rabbi who influenced Declaration of Independence
In Herzliya, the Conservative Movement celebrates the commemoration of US cleric Shalom Tzvi Davidowitz, who is likely responsible for adding God into the historic 1948 statement
By Mati Wagner
A group of people in Jerusalem mark Israel's 75th Independence Day with a ceremonial reading of the Declaration of Independence, on April 26, 2023 (Credit: Mabua).
May 14, 2024, 9:01 am
Emerging Independence Day ritual inspires unity and gratitude in shadow of October 7
Reading the Declaration of Independence together in public bridges between secular and religious Israelis in a new-old tradition that can be adapted to any citizen’s faith
By Maya Zanger-Nadis
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaks at an awards ceremony for outstanding officers, at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, September 3, 2023. (Shahar Yorman/ Defense Ministry
September 21, 2023, 10:52 pm
Gallant: Undermining Declaration of Independence harms Israel’s moral standing
Defense minister appears to rebuke stance taken by government’s lawyer Ilan Bombach, who told High Court founding document was hastily written, lacks legal authority
By ToI Staff
A statue depicting Israel's first prime minister David Ben-Gurion that was set on fire on the beach in Tel Aviv, September 16, 2023 (Flash90)
September 21, 2023, 9:33 pm
Court orders release of suspect in torching of Ben Gurion statue to house arrest
Tel Aviv judge gives police 24 hours to appeal, criticizes their handling of probe into incident, says they were influenced by media attention
By ToI Staff
A statue depicting Israel's first prime minister David Ben-Gurion that was set on fire on the beach in Tel Aviv, September 16, 2023 (Flash90)
September 16, 2023, 11:57 am
Iconic Ben-Gurion headstand statue on Tel Aviv beach badly burned in attack
Homeless man arrested; security increased at first PM’s home, which laments ‘increasing vitriol’ toward Israel’s founders days after gov’t lawyer rapped Declaration of Independence
By ToI Staff
Supreme Court President Esther Hayut and all 14 other judges hear petitions against the 'reasonableness law' at the court in Jerusalem on September 12, 2023. (DEBBIE HILL / POOL / AFP)
September 13, 2023, 4:49 pm
With Israel’s ethos at stake, 13-hour court hearing proves riveting, fateful TV drama
Rothman came to insult the judges, the coalition’s lawyer Bombach trashed the Declaration of Independence, and several on the bench intimated they may indeed intervene on Basic Law
By David Horovitz
Attorney Ilan Bombach, representing the Israeli government, arrives at a court hearing on petitions against the government's reasonableness law, at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, September 12, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 13, 2023, 5:59 am
Government lawyer spurns Declaration of Independence at fateful High Court hearing
Drawing ire during reasonableness law adjudication for saying ‘hasty’ document was endorsed by unelected signatories, attorney elaborates that it has value but no legal authority
By ToI Staff
'Signed, Sealed, Delivered?' A series of interviews with descendants of the 37 signatories of the Declaration of Independence. (Israel Story)
June 25, 2023, 2:45 am
New podcast explores legacy of 37 signatories of Israel’s Declaration of Independence
According to Israel Story founder Mishy Harman, series ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered?’ is a deep dive into the way the founders of the state envisioned Israel and how Israel has fared
By Deborah Danan
Then-prime minister Menachem Begin during a debate in the Knesset on March 20, 1979. (AP Photo/Max Nash/File)
May 16, 2023, 8:08 pm
Menachem Begin championed judicial review now under Likud attack, former aide says
Arye Naor says former Likud leader planted concepts now being undone by government in his attorney general Aharon Barak, who was also given larger role to scrutinize decisions
By Jeremy Sharon
The signers of Israel's Declaration of Independence, at a ceremony at the Tel Aviv Art Museum, May 14, 1948. First prime minister of Israel David Ben Gurion stands up to speak during a session of the new Israeli government. (AP Photo)
April 26, 2023, 9:00 am
Daily Briefing Apr. 26: What would Israel’s founding parents think about it at 75?
Israel Story creator Mishy Harman and producer Mitch Ginsburg track down descendants of Declaration of Independence signatories in a new series, ‘Signed, Sealed and Delivered?’
By ToI Staff
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