Shabbat Shalom for Jerusalem, Israel.
שבת שלום
Yom HaZikaron: Remembering in Jerusalem
On Yom HaZikaron, Memorial Day, Israel remembers 23,646 fallen soldiers and 3,134 victims of terror.
The official opening memorial is held at the Western Wall, the Kotel, each year, with the Israeli President as the main speaker, and the lighting of the memorial flame.
There are numerous community memorials, some led by Scouts and other youth groups.
In 1967, Givat Hatachmoshet, Ammunition Hill, was site of an important battle. Today there is a memorial for Jewish soldiers on the memorial site.
A wall with plaques for fallen Jewish soldiers, from all countries, not only Israel, goes back to 1948, identifying the soldiers by the armies to which they belonged. Since before the establishment of the State of Israel, volunteers have come to defend and fight for a Jewish state. Too many have fallen.
“The Sons We Lost” was the theme of the memorial ceremony held by the Lone Solider Center in memory of Michael Levin at Givat Hatachmoshet.
Harriet Levin, mother of Michael z”l (right), Evie Steinberg, mother of Max z”l, and Tuvia Book who spoke for the family of Alex Singer z”l, were the main speakers. Such wonderful young men were lost. But each of their families have dedicated themselves to continuing the dedication of their fallen heroes, each in their own way.
Yom HaZikaron starts at night with the wail of a siren.
Memorial torches are lit throughout Israel.
Memorial prayers are recited.
The fallen are remembered in words
and with the solemn sounds of soulful music.
But after a day of memorial services, visits to cemeteries with graves of the fallen soldiers and victims of terror,
as night falls, Israel begins to celebrate 70 years.
From the tears of Har Herzl Military Cemetery to the cheers of Har Herzl Yom Haatzmaut, Independence Day fireworks.
#Israel70 a modern day miracle, dreamed of for centuries from afar.
Jerusalem Colored Blue & White and Red for Israel 70
Every year as soon as Passover ends, the Yoms begin, Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, Yom Ha’tzmaut, and Yom Yerushalyim. After remembering the victims of Holocaust, fallen IDF and terror, then celebrating Israel Independence and the unification of Jerusalem begin.
Flags come out. Jerusalem goes blue and white.
Official flags of Israel, Jerusalem and Beit Hanasi, the President’s House are displayed.
But also some private residences get into the holiday spirit. Cars, taxis, and motorcycles can be seen flying small flags.
There are new signs in Jerusalem for celebrating Israel’s 70th lining some streets.
The practices for Yom Ha’atzmaut air show have taken place over several days.
It is one of my favorite times of year. This year I got some of it on video to share with you.
The show seems bigger this year. Everything seems bigger this year for Israel 70.
The annual World Conference of Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal had over 1000 people at its opening gala dinner in the Jerusalem International Conference Center. From all over the world they came, so many from South America, I thought the event should have been done in Spanish, instead of English.
But all is not just blue and white, yellow roses are in full bloom, as are purple flowers and more. Perhaps a whole blog again of Jerusalem colors?
These red flowers on the Jewish Agency Building are part of a light projection video by JNF in honor of Israel 70.
Seats were set up in the plaza for public viewing. Jerusalem is too often under a magnifying glass, maybe we get more attention than is desired.
JNF supporters are found around the world, country flags highlighted in this photo from the video.
The projection is scheduled to be seen only nights this week, so I recorded part of the video to share with you.
State celebrations for Independence Day will begin on Wednesday night with a torch lighting ceremony at Har Herzl. I plan to attend and share highlights as usual.
But first along with the blue and white flags, memorial flames are found on many buildings. Before the celebrations begin, we remember the fallen defenders of Israel and victims of terror.
The state televised ceremony is held at the Kotel, Western Wall. Communities throughout Israel host their own.
I am planning to be at a ceremony at Givat Tachmoshet, Ammunition Hill. Near the memorial for fallen lone soldiers, an event sponsored by lone soldiers. Young men and women who come from around the world to serve the Jewish people and State of Israel.
As the Prime Minister said in his remarks at the UIA gala dinner last night,
We live in momentous times. The founders of modern Zionism did not say that the attacks on the Jewish people would seize once we establish a Jewish state. They said that we could defend ourselves against those attacks. And that’s exactly what the State of Israel has done. It’s restored the capacity of the Jewish people to defend ourselves, by ourselves, against any threat. And we are as powerful as we’ve never been before.
We will mourn the fallen, then we will celebrate the living and life.