Last year, Israel partied hardy for the country's 60th birthday. Now that it is the 61st anniversary of Israel's birth and independence, will the celebrations be more muted? We think not.

 

Of course the week is also home to Yom Hazikaron, Israel's Memorial Day. Israelis save their parades and barbecues for Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day) and instead use Yom Hazikaron to focus on the many soldiers the young state has lost to keep said freedom. A harrowing echo of last week's Holocaust Remembrance Day, the grief of Yom Hazikaron is much more localized and marked by various memorials at cemeteries around the country, centered at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl, the country's main military cemetery.

• Israel's early years were marked by an impressive streak of wins against stronger armies. That streak has arguably continued until today. So what's more winning than a meta play-within-a-play? A play within a play called "The Winners," that's what (and the Israeli Army). Not catching it at the Kahn tonight would be a massive fail.

• One mosaic is ok. Two is better, but a whole mess of them? Well, that's the best and the Jerusalem House of Quality knows it.

•  Yael Dekelbaum, 1/3 of the popular group Banot Nechama, hits the Yellow Submarine Saturday night in support of her new album, "Ground Zero."

• After a day spent in mourning, the party gets started Tuesday night with the kickoff of Independence Day. Stages will be set up at Hillel street, Hamashbir Square and Safra Square, with live music, D.J.s and Israeli folk dancing (at Safra). Several bars will also be hosting parties, like Stardust (90's), Hataklit (Brit-pop, what better way to celebrate their leaving 61 years ago?) and a special concert by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra at the Jerusalem Theater.

• On Wednesday, Israelis will break out their grills and head to the nation's parks and beaches for some good old-fashioned al ha-aish. Gan Sacher, still recovering from last week's Mimouna barbecues, will once again be home to wafts of grilling meat. As night falls all will return to normal, that is until Jerusalem Day, just a short month away.

That's just tip of the proverbial iceberg. There's more Yom Ha'atzmaut coverage on the way, and check out our full listings for all the week's happenings.

Photo courtesy Flickr user The(?) under a Creative Commons license