Q1 I need to build a ceremony for Yom Hazikaron, the Memorial Day for Israel's Fallen, especially the readings.
Please see the attached file, p.3
Q2 I'm looking for general resources for Yom Hazikaron, for different ages.
Please see the attached file, pp.1-2
Q3 We would like to commemorate fallen soldiers and victims of terror in the ceremony.
The significance of Yom Hazikaron today is as a Memorial Day for all those who fell in Israel's wars: the pre-state underground movements, the IDF and Machal (overseas volunteers), victims of terror, and our MIAs. The main database of the IDF fallen is in Hebrew only, but there are dedicated websites to the victims of terror, the MIAs; various websites have sections about the IDF fallen. Numbers of the fallen in defence of the country, from 1860 through 17th April 2007, excluding victims of terror: 22,305.
Links for resources can be found in the attached Word file [download, or view online]
Please see the attached file, p.3
Q4 Is Hatikvah officially Israel's national anthem, or not, and what is the connection with Shir Hama'alot?
Hatikvah was voted over Shir Hama'alot as the anthem in the World Zionist Congress in 1933, after 36 years when both were popular and sung separately or together, at different venues. Therefore, they were also sung in many Jewish circles, together. In Israel it was adopted as the Israel National Anthem de facto - but not de jure until November 2004!
This is a Hadracha Guide to Hatikvah.
I am attaching an article from early 2005 about the 2004 Hatikvah law, in pdf format;
Please also see:
http://www.jafi.org.il/education/jerusalem/chapters/chapter11.html
http://www.knesset.gov.il/holidays/eng/independence_day.htm [recording of Hatikvah].
Learn more about Hatikvah from our Interactive Hatikvah Project - Sing Hatikvah, read, join in! See www.60israel.org
Q5 I'm looking specifically for educational programming around Israel, towards Yom Haatzmaut.
Please see the attached file, pp 5-6
Q6 Why are 12 torches lit for Yom Haatzmaut and what is the theme this year [2008]?
The 12 torches represent the 12 Tribes of Israel.
The theme this year is Youth. We have information about the 12 outstanding people chosen for their work with youth who lit the torches this year on Yom Ha'atzmaut.
The Twelve Ceremonial Yom Ha'atzmaut Torch bearers [H/E].
The theme in 2006 was the Development of the Negev and the Galilee, this information is in Hebrew on http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMO/vadot/sig-events/des4651.htm
Q7 Please point me to information about the Israeli flag, and we need to buy flags, maps, etc
Please see file Israel Image Galleries YH.doc, pp5-9
Q8 Can we show places in Israel - downloadable photos, galleries, movies, powerpoints?
They may not all be downloadable, but there is no lack of virtual tours and photo galleries online. Please see file Israel Image Galleries YH.doc, pp1-4
Q9 Some Israeli bumper stickers and Israel graphics would be cool.
Please see file Israel Image Galleries YH.doc, pp8 onwards
Q10 I'd like some fun facts or did-you-know? items about Israel.
See the Israel Fun Facts file in pdf format.
Q11 I need to create a musical evening and I need Israeli songs, preferably with English translation.
Here is a thematic Israel songbook - The Israeli Song Finder - with links to authorized song websites (because of copyright problems) and a quiz/challenge; you will find it under Yom Ha'atzmaut. Not all the songs have translations on authorized sites...
Songs for Yom Hazikaron are in the file attached in Q1.
Songs for Rabin Memorial Day are on our Yitzhak Rabin Memorial page and linked from Chapter #2 of the Israeli Song Finder.