Yom Haatzmaut

See 3 days in Jerusalem – Yom HaZikaron to Yom Haatzmaut

Sharon A

What a week this was as the Jerusalem streets celebrated Israel at 78.

From Yom HaZikaron, Memorial Day, to Yom Haatzmaut, Independence Day, all three are packed, emotional, and impossible to attend all the events. It seemed more so this year, coming so soon after a ceasefire announcement.

The Israeli flags were up along with the April flowers as usual.

The building sites, under construction for many years, continue to rise over the Jerusalem streets.

Monday, April 20, 2026, was far from a usual day.

Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence, was decorated with the blue and white flags of Argentina and Israel.

President Isaac Herzog welcomed the President of the Argentine Republic, Dr. Javier Milei. 

President Herzog presented the “Presidential Medal of Honor” to President Milei, in recognition of his contributions to the State of Israel. 

The medal is a shiny gold. I decided to photograph myself as if it were a mirror.

Monday night was Yom Hazikron, and Beit Hanasi had faces of fallen soldiers on display.

For Yom HaZikaron, Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror, there were numerous options for online and live commemorations.

The official state event takes place at the Western Wall Plaza with the President speaking.

This year, the annual lone soldier ceremony at Ammunition Hill was prerecorded due to the security situation.

Jerusalem’s Museum of Tolerance, with the IDF Widows and Orphans, held an emotional English program for the third year.

Among the families highlighted was that of Sgt. Maj. (res.) Yossi Hershkovitz, 44, principal of the ORT Pelech High School in Jerusalem. He was killed in battle in northern Gaza on Nov. 10. His sons sang the song composed in Gaza, along with singer Yonatan Razel.

The ceremony also featured powerful personal reflections, including those from Orit Mark and Keren Emuna Kalmanson. Mark, who was 16 when her father, Miki Mark, was killed in a 2016 terror attack, has since lost five close family members over eight years to terror and war.

MORE PHOTOS HERE

Tuesday, April 21, 2026, Yom HaZikaron

Grave in Israel military cemetery with seat on Har Herzl for memorial day Yom HaZikaron

The days are filled with memorials, with the main one held at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl.

One man standing by old grave in Jerusalem cemetery on Yom Hazikaron

However, fallen soldiers are mourned in cemeteries from the north to the south.

As the day ended and the sun set, people began to gather at transition events.

The musical event at Teddy Park has grown over the years, attracting thousands for the live music as Yom Haatzmaut, Independence Day, begins.

On my way to a festive Yom Haatzmaut dinner, I went past the Yemin Moshe Synagogue with its beautiful service.

MORE TRANSITION PHOTOS HERE

Yizkor, Yom Haatzmaut transition from Yom HaZikaron

At the main official event at Har Herzl, the televised program begins with Yizkor, Remember.

Three years ago, Rabbi Leo Dee offered the prayer for his murdered wife and daughters.

Yom Haatzmaut at Har Herzl, dancers, drummers and blue and white

The somber mood transitions to song, dance, and celebration, with a military performance.

People party all night long, this year with three huge events in Jerusalem.

I was satisfied with one beautiful late-night dinner hosted by long-time friends I had missed the past few years by going to Har Herzl.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

My favorite Yom Haatzmaut event was moved from the afternoon to the morning at Beit Hanasi.

Love. Love the table with the hats.

One of the most important events gets the least coverage, the reception for Diplomats and Military attaches posted in Israel.

Important to see the Ambassadors from the Abraham Accords countries attending.

The Herzogs have showcased and supported Israeli food and wine (there was lots of it) from the north and south, which have been affected by the security situation. The items I tasted were excellent. With two BBQs, mangals, to go to that afternoon, it was hard to resist the delicacies, but I did skip the wine.

One highlight was when former hostage pianist Alon Ohel and his brother Ronen performed on stage near the end of the ceremony.

The important annual posed photo of heads of diplomatic missions in Israel,

and the military attaches, highlights that Israel is not alone.

Two Mangals – one in Modiin, another in Ramot, and then back to Jerusalem.

A day when the air is filled with the smoke of grilled meat.

In Jerusalem, cars and people surrounded Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, causing a gridlock.

But I got back in time for the event at the Friends of Zion Museum with Solomon Brothers and these dancers.

The celebration was to feature US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, but he was called back to the US and missed all the Yom Haatzmaut celebrations.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana was called to open the event.

The program included awards to Hillel Fuld, seen here with the ambassadors who were present.

Yoseph Haddad‎, an Israeli Arab who was injured while serving in the IDF in Lebanon, received recognition.

Australian Nate Buzz – Nathaniel Buzolic, who has voiced support for Israel during the Gaza war and visited more than 25 times since 2017, was the third winner and introduced Ben, an injured soldier he befriended.

MORE PHOTOS HERE

Of course, much more could be said about these 3 events in 3 days.

Now with the warm weather, we are back to fighting the ants invading the house.

Back to “normal” after weeks of war and days of celebrations.

Yom Haatzmaut – May tours in Jerusalem, Open Doors, next week, and more happening on the Jerusalem streets…

Hope to see you not next year, but this year in Jerusalem!

In Jerusalem new Conference, Annual Memorial and Independence Day

Sharon A

‘Tis the season of the Yoms.

After Yom HaShoah, before you know it, comes Yom HaZikaron and Yom Haatmaut.

From the mourning for those lost in the Holocaust and the fallen soldiers and victims of terror,

we turn to the celebrations of Israel’s Independence Day.

Israel at 77

began with fires out of control and missile attacks from Yemen.

The decorative lights over the Jerusalem streets were changed to blue for the season.

This week began with a new conference meeting in Jerusalem, Israel.

The Jewish News Syndicate JNS had its first International Policy Summit at the Waldorf Hotel.

There were panels of experts,

many panels, with dozens of names and faces you should recognize.

JNS has a new studio, but also used this set in the hotel to interview politicians during the conference.

There was a powerful musical performance of “October Rain” on the first day.

The Ambassadors to Israel attended, along with hundreds of participants.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar was one of many interviewees.

Barrister Natasha Hausdorff was as impressive a speaker in person as she is when interviewed on TV.

The keynote speaker for Day One was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On Day 2, the panels were not as large, but again, they had politicians and CEO leaders.

‘The Quad’ is a popular video segment on JNS, with Shoshanna Keats Jaskol, Fleur Hassan Nahoum, and Emily Schrader, with a guest panelist.

The second night keynote was US Ambassador Mike Huckabee.

He had a full house, even as the program was running late.

This being the ‘real’ streets, outside the hotel was a small but loud protest against Ron Dermer, who was the next speaker that night before the conference closed.

Wednesday at 8 pm, the siren sounded to begin Yom HaZikaron, Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror. There were multiple ceremonies in English this year. I attended the one organized by The Michael Levin Base at Ammunition Hill.

Ammunition Hill is the site of one of the most important battles for Jerusalem in 1967, during the Six-Day War, and the way the Israeli soldiers broke through the Jordanian forces to get to the Old City.

In the middle of this photo is Sid Rosenberg, his first time in Israel for Yom HaZikaron. The Host of “New York’s #1 morning talk show @sidandfriends77 on WABC radio and “Unapologetic Warrior for Truth!” He spoke at the JNS conference and made news by his recent nomination for the US Holocaust Museum board.

Israel’s former Ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, was a lone soldier, and as always, spoke well.

The mothers of Yotam Haim and Yosef Guedalia also spoke. Their sons both fell. Yosef was fighting at Kfar Aza on October 7, and Yotam was kidnapped from Kfar Aza. He escaped captivity before he was tragically killed.

Following the mourning of Yom Hazikaron, despite wildfires and the cancellation of the live ceremony at Har Herzl, on Thursday, the annual Yom Haatzmaut events went on as scheduled.

First, the President honored 120 outstanding soldiers at Beit Hanasi in the morning.

Then, the annual International Bible Quiz for Youth filled the auditorium at the Jerusalem Theater.

The second-place winner was from the US this year. It was good to see the camaraderie of the contestants. The event is broadcast live and viewed by many Israelis each year.

From the Jerusalem Theater, I walked around the corner to Beit Hanasi for the annual Independence Day Diplomatic reception.

Unique this year were the lines of yellow chairs the dignitaries had to walk through to get to the reception in the back garden.

The garden setting was casual this year, not the usual lines of chairs.

There was wine,

cheese and food, from businesses affected by the war.

Diplomats walked and talked,

and mingled as usual.

The hats on the table were piled up, almost as usual. I was not sure about the upside-down striped one.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee posed with the new Canadian Ambassador and the Herzogs.

As the dignitaries sat and stood around the garden, the President and Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke.

Rachel Goldberg-Polin gave the closing, powerful address, calling those in the audience to act, to do something to release the remaining hostages.

The official photos went on as usual, with the heads of missions

and military attachés.

Yom Haatzmaut started with fires out of control, not in a way anyone planned or wanted.

It ended with a fiery colored sunset as we enjoyed a family dinner. One with a newly engaged couple.

There is no way to change the past, but many weddings are being planned – and that is the future.

The hope for the future is the way to proceed – Next year in Jerusalem!

From Jerusalem a Week of Loss and Memorials

Sharon A

In Jerusalem, we have begun the annual roller coast emotional time of the Yoms – Yom Shaoh, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom Ha’atzmaut going from mourning those lost in the Holocaust and fallen in Israel, followed by Independence Day.

This year after the October 7 Massacre with 132 hostages still held captive in Gaza by Hamas, mourning is more intense and personal, and celebrations more tempered to mark 76 years of independence.

The flags at the entrance of Har Herzl Military Cemetry were at half-mast as Yom Hashoah was to begin.

As usual, an honor guard stood for the official opening ceremony of Yom Hashoa at Yad Vashem.

The Israeli flag was lowered and the trumpet sounded as all stood for the televised program with 6 survivors, each honored to light a torch in memory of the 6 million murdered in the Holocaust.

Photographers were around to capture the moments as usual in the Warsaw Ghetto Plaza.

But I had already taken a photo earlier of what was new, the yellow chair symbolic of the hostages placed next to the seat of former President Reuven Rivlin in the row for dignitaries.

The crowd as usual extended well back in the plaza.

The torch lighters as usual stood in quiet and dignity waiting to be called upon to light the torch.

As their impressive stories were shared in videos, one for each survivor, I often wondered what they were thinking, standing there before hundreds of people with thousands more watching on TV.

The torches were lit, the President and Prime Minister spoke and the memorial ceremony by the Chief Rabbis went on as in the past, without interruptions.

This week the Israeli flags have been spotted popping up on cars as usual.

But not usual was the gathering before Yom HaZikaron at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s Residence.

Survivors of fallen soldiers were asked to share their stories with the President and his wife.

Sadly more babies and young children were in the audience that day than usual.

The next day a special showing of Sheryl Sandberg’s “Screams Before Silence” was shown. The hour-long video is available for free on YouTube. The retelling of the horrible events of sexual abuse on October 7 is done with respect toward the victims and should be mandatory viewing for all deniers.

The panel afterward included the director and others involved in the important production.

Outside, the Beit Hanasi back garden was being set up for Yom Haatzmaut’s annual ceremonies.

Flyover rehearsals were heard over the Jerusalem streets. Not everyone was pleased by the loud sounds of the planes, but they went so fast that I could not get a clear image. However, the sounds of cars honking in appreciation were evident after the first ones.

Cemetery in Gush with view of military graves

There are too many new graves this year, and the numbers go up too often, the number of 1,541 has changed again with five new soldiers killed in Gaza.

The posters for “LetThemGoNOW” and yellow ribbons increase daily.

But to end the week of memorials, well into the night, Eden Golan represented Israel well and with dignity in the Eurovision musical competition held this year in Sweden.

She showed that even by coming in fifth place one can truly shine as a winner. Under exceptional pressure from anti-Israel mobs, she performed with class and proudly held the Israel flag overhead.

We have a choice on Yom HaZikaron to be broken or proud, Eden has chosen to be proud.