Yom HaZikaron & Yom HaAtzmaut - Israeli Memorial Day & Independence Day

In 2014, these holidays are celebrated on May 4th and May 5th

From ReformJudaism.org

Since the establishment of the State of Israel, four new holidays have been added to the Jewish calendar - Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day), Yom HaAatzmaut (Independence Day), and Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day). In Israel, these holidays are observed as national holidays.

The Israeli Knesset established the day before Yom HaAtzmaut as Yom HaZikaron, a Memorial Day for soldiers who lost their lives fighting in the War of Independence and in other subsequent battles.

Yom HaAtzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, marks the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948. It is observed on or near the 5th of Iyar in the Hebrew calendar, which usually falls in April.

For more information, check out Jvillage Network's Holiday Spotlight Kits.  You'll find ways to celebrate, commemorate, videos and the history of all the holidays.

Also: Check out Jvillage’s Modern Jewish Holiday page    page.