Yom Hazikaron Lechal’leh Tzahal

Hazikaron - Memorial Day: Israel Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day) is an Israeli national holiday.

 Yom Hazikaron is observed on the 4th of the month of Iyar of the Hebrew calendar. It always precedes the next day's celebrations of Israel Independence Day, or Yom Haatzmaut, on the 5th of Iyar which is the annual holiday of the public Proclamation of the State of Israel in 1948. Both days may be moved one day earlier (the 3rd and 4th of Iyar) if the 5th happens to occur on a Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. Iyar is the eighth month of the ecclesiastical year and the second month of the civil year on the Hebrew calendar. The Hebrew, or Jewish, calendar is the annual calendar used in Judaism. Yom Haatzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, commemorates the declaration of independence of Israel in 1948.

 This state holiday honors veterans and fallen soldiers of the State of Israel and the Israel Defense Force who died in the modern Arab Israeli conflict. Yom Hazikaron also commemorates civilians murdered by Palestinian acts of terror. Terror is a pronounced state of fear, an overwhelming sense of imminent danger.

The day includes many national ceremonies for the fallen soldier, in which senior public officials and military officers are present. The day opens the preceding evening at 20:00 (8:00 pm), given that in the Hebrew calendar system days begin at sunset, with a one-minute siren during which most Israelis stand in silence, commemorating the fallen and showing respect. Many national-religious (Zionist) Jewish people say prayers for the souls of the fallen soldiers at this time as well.

A two-minute siren is heard the following morning, at 11:00, which marks the opening of the official memorial ceremonies and private remembrance gathering which are held at each cemetery where soldiers are buried. The day officially draws to a close between 19:00 - 20:00 (7-8:00 p.m.) in the official ceremony of Israel Independence Day on Mount Herzl, when the flag of Israel is raised to the top of the pole. Israeli Independence Day commemorates the declaration of independence of Israel in 1948.

Scheduling the Memorial Day right before the Independence Day is supposed to remind people of the price that's paid for independence and of what was achieved with the soldiers' sacrifice. This transition shows the importance attached to this day in Israel, where many people have served in the armed forces and where almost everybody have a connection to people who were killed during their army service.

Historically, however, this date was chosen because during the first year of Israel's existence politicians were not able to agree on a date for a memorial day. As the year came to a close without a decision, the Memorial Day was celebrated on Israel's first Independence Day (1949), and the same arrangement was made the following year (1950). Celebrating the holidays together proved difficult (both logistically and emotionally), so in 1951, following the recommendation of a public commission, the memorial day was moved one day back. This arrangement was enacted as a law in 1963.

Certain sects of Chareidi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews do not attribute any specific significance to this day, however other Chareidi serve in the armed forces and celebrate the Memorial Day. Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ...

 

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