0 shares A medical worker prepares a coronavirus vaccine at Barzilai Medical Center in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, Dec. 20, 2020. (Photo by Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP via Getty Images/JTA) Next week Israel will celebrate its 73rd year of independence as a Jewish and democratic state, and its accomplishments are astounding and cause for tremendous pride. This year’s Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day) celebrations in Israel will look very different than they did last year during Israel’s first national lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Celebrations were held over Zoom and Israelis watched the annual torch-lighting ceremony from their homes.