Yom ha-Atzmaut is in the air: circle dancing, falafels, inexplicable inflatable squeaky plastic hammers and, of course, Israeli flags galore.

But this year’s Israeli Independence Day may be the final time the old kachol v’lavan is hoisted up the flagpole in front of Toronto’s City Hall.

Ceremonial flag raising began as a way for public institutions to spotlight local communities’ heritages and celebrate the bonds of friendship between nations. But, like all good things, it didn’t last.

For years, the questions of which local politicians did or did not show up to which particular flag raising grew into a perpetual fuel for outrage, purity tests and catalyst for demonstrations. Then, last November, Jewish organizations and activists across Canada strenuously campaigned and mounted legal challenges against municipalities raising the Palestinian flag in the wake of recognition of the state by the federal government.

Now, municipalities are throwing up their hands. Calgary and Toronto have both passed legislation ending all ceremonial flag raising; no Palestine, no Israel, no Brazil, no one.

This week on Not in Heaven, our rabbi podcasters ask: Should this be seen as a win? Was it worth it? What do we get when public institutions celebrate our particular nationalities, and is it worth the trouble?

Credits

• Hosts: Avi Finegold, Yedida Eisenstat, Matthew Leibl
• Production team: Zachary Judah Kauffman (editor), Michael Fraiman (executive producer), Alicia Richler (editorial director)
• Music: Socalled

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