Hey Israel Story listeners, it's Mishi.

At sunset tonight, we'll transition from Yoma Zikaron, or Memorial Day, to Yomat's 78th Independence Day.

It's always a meaningful, slash jarring, slash unique shift.

And for so many, the juxtaposition has become even more powerful since October 7th.

In 2016, when Israel celebrated its 60th birthday, we released a big project,

which also went on the road as a live show, called 68 and counting.

And today, a full decade later, we want to reshare it.

Part one of the double episode today, part two, tomorrow.

Here we go.

Thank you. tomorrow. Here we go. The first broadcast of Voice of Israel, Israeli Radio, was at one minute before 4 o'clock in

the afternoon on May 14, 1948, just one minute before David

Ben-Gurion began to declare the State of Israel.

How did the radio begin? What did they say?

The announcers, there were two announcers. They said, listen to voice of Israel.

And the two announcers were at the same place where the ceremony of the Declaration

of State of Israel was held. This was in Museum of Tel Aviv.

Iziman, a veteran voice of Israel broadcaster and the country's chief radio historian, is describing

what would have normally been the highlight of any broadcasting career.

But reality, it turns out, was a bit less glamorous.

They were sitting in the toilet cabins of the museum

because there was not enough place for them to sit.

That's right.

...