Israel Remembrance Day, called Yom Hazikaron in Hebrew, is Israel’s
official day of remembrance for fallen soldiers of Israel and victims of
terrorism. It falls exactly one week after Holocaust Remembrance
Day and considering the fact that casualties are very close to home in
this small and young country, this day is extremely solemn. You will find
places of entertainment closed, flags at half-mast and there are many
ceremonies that take place in community centers and by memorials around
Jerusalem and Israel.
In a way very unique to Israel, Remembrance Day flows straight into Yom
Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. As is often customary in Judaism, we
remember the heartbreak with the joy. We acknowledge the direct connection
between our loss and the independence and sovereignty that we appreciate so
much today.
This year it is commemorated from the evening of Wednesday, May 8, 2019 until
the evening of Thursday, May 9 (when Independence Day begins).
Some 1.5 million people are expected to visit the 52 military
cemeteries, hundreds of military plots and thousands of graves across the
country on Memorial Day.
The Defense Ministry has organized hundreds of buses and shuttles to
transport bereaved families to the military cemeteries, while its commemoration
wing personnel will lay 135,000 wreaths on graves. Hundreds of thousands of water bottles will
be handed out to families and members of the general public visiting the
cemeteries. Magen David Adom will deploy 132 mobile units to cemeteries.
There are two sirens on Yom Hazikaron. A one minute siren sounds
at 8:00 pm on Wednesday evening and a two minute siren sounds at
11:00 am on Thursday.
Similar to the siren on Holocaust Memorial Day, people generally stop
whatever they are doing – even those driving on the highway – and stand at
attention throughout the duration of the siren. It is highly recommended to
stand outside for the sirens in order to experience the impact of almost an entire
nation coming to a standstill in honor of those who died in order to gain and
preserve our freedom.
The first thing you will notice about Yom Haatzmaut is the emotional
transition from the sadness of Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Day of Remembrance,
to Israel Independence Day, an official national holiday which has become an
important day in the Jewish calendar, being celebrated by Jewish communities
around the world.
Yom Haatzmaut begins at sundown immediately following Yom
Hazikaron and ends after sundown the following day. It celebrates the
declaration of independence of the State of Israel in 1948, making this
the 71st birthday!
This
year it falls on the evening of May 8, 2019 and celebrations last until the
evening of May 9, 2019.
The state ceremony that brings in Yom Haatzmaut takes place at Mount
Herzl, Israel’s military cemetery, by Theodor Herzl’s grave. And from there the
city erupts with events, parties, outdoor get togethers, concerts and more!
