| Yom HaZikaron | |
|---|---|
 IDF soldiers participate in an official Yom HaZikaron ceremony to the fallen soldiers and the victims of terror attacks. | |
| Observed by | Israelis |
| Date | 4Iyar (Hebrew calendar)[a] |
| 2024 date | Sunset, 12 May – nightfall, 13 May[1] |
| 2025 date | Sunset, 29 April – nightfall, 30 April[1] |
| 2026 date | Sunset, 20 April – nightfall, 21 April[1] |
| 2027 date | Sunset, 10 May – nightfall, 11 May[1] |
| Related to | Independence Day |
Yom HaZikaron (Hebrew:יוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן,lit. 'Remembrance Day'), in fullYom HaZikaron LeHalelei Ma'arkhot Yisrael ul'Nifge'ei Pe'ulot HaEivah (Hebrew:יוֹם הזִּכָּרוֹן לְחַלְלֵי מַעַרְכוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל וּלְנִפְגְעֵי פְּעֻלּוֹת הָאֵיבָה,lit. 'Remembrance Day for the Fallen Soldiers of the Wars of Israel and Victims of Actions of Terrorism'),[2] isIsrael's official remembrance day, enacted into law in 1963.[3][4] While Yom HaZikaron has been traditionally dedicated tofallen soldiers, commemoration has also been extended to civilian victims ofterrorism.[5]
In 1949 and 1950, the first two years after the declaration of the State, memorial services for soldiers who fell in theWar of Independence were held onIndependence Day.[6] Services at military cemeteries were coordinated between theIDF and theMinistry of Defense. A concern arose, expressed by families of fallen soldiers, to establish a separate memorial day observance distinct from the festive celebrations of national independence. In response, and in light of public debate on the issue,Prime MinisterDavid Ben-Gurion – also serving asMinister of Defense – established in January 1951 the "Public Council for Soldiers' Commemoration". This council recommended establishing the 4th of Iyyar, the day preceding Independence Day, as the "General Memorial Day for the Heroes of the War of Independence". This proposal won government approval that same year.[6]
In 2023, theMinistry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism announced a new policy that non-Israeli Jewish victims of antisemitic terror attacks outside of Israel should officially be mourned as part of each year's Yom HaZikaron commemoration. The policy was conceived as a way for Israel to demonstrate solidarity with theJewish diaspora.[7]
Yom HaZikaron is the national remembrance day observed in Israel for all Israeli military personnel who lost their lives in the struggle that led to the establishment of the State of Israel and for those who have been killed subsequently while on active duty in Israel's armed forces.[8] As of Yom HaZikaron 2022, that number was 24,213.[9]
The day opens with asiren the preceding evening at 20:00 (8:00 pm), given that in theHebrew calendar system, a day begins at sunset. The siren is heard all over the country and lasts for one minute, during which Israelis stop everything, including driving on highways, and stand in silence, commemorating the fallen and showing respect.[8][10]
By law, all places of entertainment are closed on the eve of Yom HaZikaron, and broadcasting and educational bodies note the solemnity of the day.[8] Regular television programs cease for the day, and the names and ranks of every soldier who died for Israel are displayed in a 24-hour television broadcast.[11]
Since the founding of the state, Israel has chosen theRed Everlasting flower (Hebrew:דם המכבים,Dam HaMaccabim, 'blood of the Maccabees') as the national memorial flower. The flower is depicted in many memorial sites and can be seen worn as stickers on shirts and jackets throughout Yom HaZikaron. Since 2019, the non-profit organizationDam HaMaccabim, has been distributing pins with the real Red Everlasting flower throughout Israel and the United States.[12][13]
A two-minute siren is sounded at 11:00 the following morning, which marks the opening of the official memorial ceremonies and private remembrance gatherings at eachcemetery where soldiers are buried.[14]
Many Israelis visit the resting places of loved ones throughout the day.[15]
National memorial services are held in the presence of Israel's top leadership and military personnel.[8][10]
Memorial candles are lit in homes, army camps, schools, synagogues, and public places, andflags are lowered tohalf staff. Throughout the day, serving and retired military personnel serve as honor guards at war memorials throughout the country, and the families of the fallen participate in memorial ceremonies at military cemeteries.[8]
Many traditional and religious Jews say prayers for the souls of the fallen soldiers on Yom HaZikaron. Special prayers prescribed by the Israeli rabbinate are recited. These include the recital ofPsalm 9: "For the leader, on the death of the son," andPsalm 144: "Blessed be the Lord, My Rock, who traineth my hands for war and my fingers for battle" in addition tomemorial prayers for the dead.[8][16] The official ceremony to mark the opening of the day takes place at theWestern Wall.[17]
Israeli TV channels screen the names of all civilians killed in pogroms since 1851, and all fallen from 1860 (considered the date of the beginning of theYishuv by theIsraeli Ministry of Defense), in chronological order (rank, name, Hebrew date deceased and secular date) over the course of the day.[18] Originally, this was done by theIsraeli Broadcasting Authority'sChannel 33; once the IBA was dissolved and replaced by theIsraeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, the screening itself was moved toKAN 11 in lieu ofMakan 33.The day officially draws to a close at sundown (between 19:00 and 20:00; 7–8 p.m.) in a ceremony at the national military cemetery onMount Herzl, marking the start ofIsrael Independence Day,[15] when theflag of Israel is returned to full staff.[citation needed]
Scheduling Yom HaZikaron right beforeIndependence Day is intended to remind people of the price paid for independence and of what was achieved with the soldiers' sacrifice.[19] This transition shows the importance of this day among Israelis, most of whom have served in the armed forces, or have a connection with people who were killed during their military service.[citation needed]
The normative day for Yom HaZikaron is the fourth day of the month of Iyar, with Yom HaAtzmaut following immediately on the next day (fifth of Iyar). This rarely occurs. The construction of the current Hebrew calendar allows these two dates to only occur on certain days of the week, but most of those possibilities will conflict with the JewishShabbat. The holidays are adjusted so neither falls out on the Shabbat, or even on Friday and Sunday. (Falling out on Friday would interfere with Shabbat preparation and cause overlap of the events on Friday evening. Falling out on Sunday would cause a similar conflict with the end of Shabbat on Saturday evening, as Yom HaZikaron always starts at 8:00, which might be earlier than dusk on Saturday night.)
The possible normative days and their adjustments are:
No other combination is possible. The calendar never has the 4th and 5th on Monday-Tuesday, Wednesday-Thursday, or Saturday-Sunday.
...culminating with a torch-lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl at 8 pm, which ushers in Yom Ha'atzmaut
...the practice of commemorating the fallen on this day started in 1951 to mark the connection between Independence Day and the people who died to achieve and maintain this independence.
Media related toYom Hazikaron at Wikimedia Commons