Tonight, Israelis are celebrating their Independence Day. Fireworks have lit up the Jerusalem sky. Young people are singing on the streets and most Israelis will celebrate tomorrow like Americans do on July 4th with picnics and barbeques.
But what was it like 62 years ago when the nation was born? What were those early pioneers like? What was the feeling, the mood of the people?
Recently, we talked to David Rubinger, the Time/Life photographer for many years and author of a book called Israel through My Lens.
He recalled to us those early days of the Jewish state. Rubinger - often a critic of Israel's policies - nevertheless sees a remarkable historical phenomenon in Israel's birth and survival to this day.