There are many reasons to celebrate Israel and the word for party (or gathering or event), mesibah (מְסִיבָּה), invites us to consider some of them. The root ס-ב-ב hints at turning round by forming a sevev (סֶבֶב), a round or a turn. L’histovev (לְהִסְתּוֹבֵב) means to turn around or to wander around. This brings new meaning to the English phrase for birthdays or “celebrating another year around the sun.”
We also have the word sibah (סִבָּה), or a reason, begging the consideration of the reasons we are celebrating in the first place. A party might be an opportunity to look around at the past year, consider where we are today, and look toward the future. How do you celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut?
Also, in the Torah, the word appears in Song of Songs 1:12. Rashi connects this word to the practice of participants at a meal reclining, a practice known as haseibah (הַסֵבָּה), thus being extended more generally to a party. The Mishnah describes the mesibah as a circling ramp that led to the rooftop of the second temple. This image of the circle or a spiral suggests unity or wholeness, something we can all wish for on Yom Ha’atzmaut.