28 Iyar · יום ירושלים
Jerusalem Day — Yom Yerushalayim
Celebrating the reunification of Jerusalem and the restoration of Jewish access to the Old City and the Western Wall.
What is Yom Yerushalayim?
Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) is an Israeli national holiday commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem on 28 Iyar 5727 (June 7, 1967), when Israeli paratroopers reached the Western Wall during the Six-Day War, ending 19 years in which the Old City, the Temple Mount, and Judaism's holiest sites had been under Jordanian control and off-limits to Jews. The day was established as a national holiday by the Knesset in 1998.
Why It Matters — Significance
- Restored Jewish prayer access to the Kotel (Western Wall) after nearly two millennia.
- Reunified Jerusalem as a single municipal city under Israeli sovereignty.
- Marked by many religious Zionists as a day of thanksgiving with the recitation of Hallel.
- Recognized as a turning point in modern Jewish and Israeli history.
When Is It?
Yom Yerushalayim falls on the 28th of Iyar in the Hebrew calendar, typically in May or early June. Observances begin the evening before with festive services and continue through the following day with prayers, public ceremonies, parades, and concerts.
Religious Practices & Prayer Services
- Hallel: Many synagogues recite the full Hallel (some with a blessing, some without) during Shacharit.
- Special Tefilla: Al HaNissim-style additions and prayers of thanksgiving are recited in many communities.
- Torah Reading: Some communities read from the Torah and Haftarah selections related to Jerusalem.
- Hakafot at the Kotel: Festive dancing, singing, and Torah processions at the Western Wall plaza.
- Mincha & Maariv: Many neighborhoods host outdoor evening services followed by community meals.
Find a service near you in our Jerusalem Synagogues directory.
Main Events — Who, What, Where
Rikud Degalim — The Flag March
The signature event of the day. Tens of thousands of mostly religious Zionist youth march with Israeli flags from downtown Jerusalem through Sha'ar Yafo (Jaffa Gate) and the Old City, ending with singing and dancing at the Kotel plaza. Begins mid-afternoon.
State Ceremony at Ammunition Hill
Official state memorial honoring the paratroopers and soldiers who fell liberating Jerusalem, held at Givat HaTachmoshet (Ammunition Hill), site of one of the war's fiercest battles.
Mercaz HaRav Tefilla
Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav in Kiryat Moshe hosts one of the largest and most spirited Hallel services of the day, drawing thousands.
Free Concerts & Street Festivals
The Municipality of Jerusalem sponsors free concerts at Safra Square, Sacher Park, and throughout the city center. Light shows are projected on the walls of the Old City.
Birkat Kohanim & Kotel Gatherings
Crowds gather at the Western Wall throughout the day and night for prayer, song, and community celebration.
How to Celebrate
- Attend a Hallel service in the morning at your local synagogue.
- Join the Flag March from Gan Sacher / Kikar Safra to the Kotel.
- Visit the Old City, the Temple Mount overlooks, and the Western Wall tunnels.
- Tour Ammunition Hill museum and the reunification sites.
- Host a seudat hodaya (festive meal of thanksgiving) with family and friends.
- Sing songs of Jerusalem: Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, Ki Mitzion, Im Eshkachech.
Sponsoring Organizations
- Jerusalem Municipality — city-wide concerts and ceremonies
- Western Wall Heritage Foundation — Kotel events
- Ammunition Hill Heritage Site — state memorial ceremony
- Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav — Hallel and Flag March
- Ir David Foundation (Elad) — City of David events
- IDF — official military ceremonies
Plan Your Day in Jerusalem
📸 Photo Gallery — Coming Soon
We're collecting photos of the Flag March, Kotel celebrations, and street festivities. Have a great shot from Yom Yerushalayim? Send it our way to be featured here.