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The Shekel becomes the official currency of Israel replacing the Israeli lira.

The Yom Kippur War was an armed conflict between Israel and the Arab coalition that began on October 6 after the Arab states jointly launched a surprise attack against Israel on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Combat took place largely in the Sinai […]

On March 17, 1969, Golda Meir becomes the fourth prime minister and the first woman prime minister of Israel.(“Courtesy of the Jewish Museum of Maryland, JMM 1982.012.128.”)

Six-Day War began on June 5 as a result of years of increasing tension and border conflicts between Arabs and Israelis. Israel succeeded against all odds and prevailed over the armies of its three most powerful neighbors – Egypt, Syria and Jordan.

On July 5, 1950, the Law of Return is formally enacted by the Knesset which states that anyone of Jewish descent (or a Jewish convert), is entitled to immigrate to Israel and obtain full citizenship.

Major immigration waves to Israel begin starting with Operation Magic Carpet where 47,000 Yemenite Jews were airlifted to the new state of Israel.

January 25, 1949, is Israel’s first national election. David Ben-Gurion was elected Israel’s first Prime Minister.(“Courtesy of the Jewish Museum of Maryland, JMM 1982.012.142.”)

May 14, 1948, was the official beginning of the Arab-Israeli war and the date Israel declared itself an independent Jewish state. The new country’s population was around 806,000 people.

Arab-Israeli War, also known as Israel’s War of Independence, was fought between the newly established Jewish state of Israel and armies from five Arab states. This was the first of four major Arab-Israeli wars fought over Israel’s legitimacy or geographic size. Attribution: Micha Perry / IDF Spokesperson’s Unit