Yom Haatzmaut

Question

> With respect, please explain the relevance of this comment. Did a Sanhedrin establish lag b'omer as a day for bonfires, festive meals and the singing of "bar yochai?" Was a Sanhedrin needed to create the Purim of Fossano, the Purim of Basra, the Purim of Saragossa or any of the other dozens of community Purims that were established over the years? Was it a Sanhedrin that declared that tachnun did not need to be said on the yarzheit of certain rabonim? The point is this: Jews have always established minor holidays to mark events that had subjective meaning to the celebrants. There is nothing inherenty wrong with that, and the fact that the modern state of Israel is secular is a red herring. They are Jews. They are b'simcha because something momentous happened to them, in their minds. Take part if you like; refrain if that's your preference. But it's churlish to criticize.