Yom HaZikaron

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!

What Happened on Israel Independence Day 76 Celebrated in Jerusalem?

Sharon A

In Jerusalem this past week we celebrated Yom HaZikaron and Yom Haatzmaut, Israel’s 76th Independence Day immediately preceded the Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror.

However, Israel 76 was not like those in the past, with an ongoing war and hostages held in Gaza.

Every year, the official state Yom Hazikaron ceremony was held at the Kotel, Western Wall Plaza, and was again broadcast live on television with the Israeli President speaking.

One of the hardest battles for Jerusalem in 1967 took place at Givat Hatachmoshet, Ammunition Hill.

Today it is a museum and memorial for Israeli soldiers who fell in 1967, and it was the setting for a Yom Hazikaron ceremony hosted by the Michael Levin Base for lone soldiers and b’not sherut. This was one of many ceremonies throughout Jerusalem this year specially designed for English speakers.

Robin Lubin, mother of Rose Lubin h”yd, who was murdered while on guard duty in the Old City, spoke movingly of her daughter’s commitment and and service fighting in the south after October 7, before she returned returning to Jerusalem where she was murdered by a terrorist.

Not all the fallen soldiers were Jewish; Sufian, a Druze Israeli, was eulogized by Efraim Abrams, his partner in the Combat Engineering Corps. They were the first armored bulldozers to enter Gaza.

Rabbi Leo Dee said the Yizkor and Kaddish, then spoke of his wife and daughters, Lucy, Maia, and Rina h”yd, who were murdered last year as they drove to a holiday family get-together on Passover.

In the cold and wind, 900 people sat and appreciated the impact of the impressive memorial service broadcast live online for those who could not attend in person. More Yom HaZikaron photos HERE

Multiple large musical prayer services and transitions from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Haatzmaut ceremonies in Jerusalem made it hard to decide which one to attend. We opted for a smaller meaningful local Israeli one in Modiin, where the youthful flag dancers had practiced to perfection, or close enough.

The Hidon HaTanakh, International Bible Quiz, was held as in the past at the Jerusalem Theater on Yom Haatzmaut morning with the 16 international contestants down to the last eight finalists.

Then down to four, the final two teens tied for an exciting finish. Last year two girls tied. The big difference this year was that the President and Prime Minister did not attend, so there was no visible security, no metal detectors, and no standing in line outside in the sun. However, you needed a ticket to get into the auditorium, as every seat was filled by family and friends. Impressive was how the audience respected each participant with applause whether the answers were correct or not. More photos HERE

From the Jerusalem Theater, it was a race to get around the corner to Beit Hanasi, The Israeli President’s Residence for the annual Diplomatic Reception. I love those hats lined up on the table, this year placed so that Herzl could gaze at the display of the international military officers in attendance.

While the world media makes it sound like Israel is alone and isolated, it was uplifting to see so many different uniforms and countries represented.

International military attaches and their spouses in traditional dress were willing to pose for a photo.

Smiling ambassadors from far and wide were attending the reception.

Ok, not all were smiling all the time, but they accepted the President’s invitation.

The annual official posed photo for Israeli Independence Day 76 was taken as usual.

The President spoke and there was a carefully planned program to reflect the current situation.

Everyone entering the Beit Hanasi grounds passed this display of yellow tee shirts, one for each hostage.

The food served was outstanding, for more on Beit Hanasi for Diplomats see HERE

Did you know that May 15 is Declaration Day? Israel Forever Foundation and Elana Heidelman want to make sure the world knows and for the second year hosted a special event – on May 15, 2024.

The speeches from the Ambassadors to Israel from the Philippines, Guatemala, and Uraguay were warm and positive. More Declaration Day HERE

And finally, to close off another busy week of the ‘Yoms,’ there was a special opening at the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem of the “KUMA” exhibition, the work of Eitan Rosenzweig, hy”d, the gifted artist and poet, was only 21 when he was killed in battle in the Gaza Strip.

Yet, even at such a young age, he left behind a treasure trove of artistic creation. His talent and explosive creativity are evident in his works, with his masterpiece KUMA being an award winner in high school.

The material found in his sketchbooks was amazing! More photos from KUMA HERE

To close out a week of highs and extreme lows, the flowers and flags of the Jerusalem streets, displayed in front of the home of a fallen soldier, with the sign – AM YISRAEL CHAI!

Next week is Lag B’Omer. Time to cut the tall dry weeds and see if people will follow the instructions not to light fires. Here’s to hoping for a safe and quiet week on the Jerusalem streets.

Yom HaZikaron to Yom Haatzmaut and more in Jerusalem

Sharon A

So much happens over the short time period of Yom HaZikaron and Yom Haatzmaut, the transition from Remembrance Day to Independence Day, it was hard to keep up and impossible to do all I wished I could.

However, until Yom Yerushalayim – or Jerusalem Day, on May 18, this year,

the flags will still be seen on the Jerusalem streets. Here’s a quick review of what you missed this year in Jerusalem!

At night there were multiple large events and small in most communities, again we attended a program for Yom HaZikaron sponsored by the Michael Levin Base, and this year the program included JNF participation. The program was conducted in English.

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What an honor to meet leaders present from the Jewish War Veteran of the United States, one of many groups in the 1500-person crowded Givat Tachmoshet, Ammunition Hill amphitheater.

The speeches were all powerful and meaningful, and the IDF band added to the emotional aspect of the event.

Givat Tachmoshet was the scene of an important battle in 1967 with the Jordanian Legion, in the reunification of Jerusalem, MORE HERE.

While the Har Herzl Military Cemetery is the main venue for Yom HaZikaron, the next morning I decided to go to a smaller, less well-known Jerusalem cemetery.

Gravestones of the fallen have a small flag and black ribbon placed each year.

This year small groups gathered around a few of the graves.

A ceremony was held around the time of the morning siren.

I overheard one woman saying how much more meaningful the smaller ceremony was to her and her family.

The memorial siren went off as I walked to the cemetery.

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In various locations around Jerusalem, there are memorials for fallen soldiers, on my way home I passed this stone. Notice the second name, Herzl Halevy z”l, the uncle and namesake of the current head of IDF who was killed in the Six-Day War.

Nightfall brought the transition from mourning for the fallen on Yom HaZikaron to the celebrations of Independence Day, the Diamond Anniversary year of Yom Haatzmaut. Israel at 75.

At Har Herzl, all negative predictions proved very wrong, the program was the best I have seen by far, even for the live enthusiastic audience.

As the sun sets, the program starts with Yizkor, the Jewish prayer for the dead. This year Rabbi Leo Dee was chosen, his voice sounded strained from having spoken to so many people and in interviews since the murder of his wife and daughters.

However, the transition to the celebration was fast and wonderful.

The dancers were impressive against the huge stage constructed each year by Herzl’s grave at the top of the mountain.

The live audience was also treated to a great show this year.

The seat I was told to take had a fabulous view.

As a tradition, the Knesset Speaker leads this program, Amir Ohana spoke well and then lit the first torch.

The audience was given lights to add to the production.

Twelve individuals are honored to lit a torch, one for each biblical tribe. The torch lighters were excellent selections this year, each person impressive for their accomplishments.

And more on with the show, bright and flashy, but more tasteful than usual.

Of course, the military flags were paraded,

and the lights attached to the seats changed colors for the audience’s enjoyment and participation.

But, viewing the formations worked much better on screens from above.

There were Israeli-based themes from over the past 7 decades,

concluding with Salah Shabbati for a crowd-pleasing ending.

What a shame this was not as widely covered as in the past, it was a winner.

Then, in the morning, after some celebration throughout the night, there was still much more.

All shops are closed as Yom Haazmaut is a national holiday.

I was impressed by the multiple Jerusalem Municipality cleanup trucks I passed on my way to the Jerusalem Theater.

The Chidon Tanach HaOlami, or International Bible Quiz, is another Yom Haaztmaut tradition for many families.

The international group of Bible students was down to the final eight contestants for the televised annual program.

The Jerusalem Mayor had asked a previous question and the Prime Minister asks one of the last questions.

This year two girls won first and second place, with a tense competition at the end. Here you can see more of the competition with a pleasant ending.

Good thing I got the flyovers at rehearsal, no such luck on Yom Haatzmaut.

And then, the “75 Years of Creation” celebration, the diplomatic reception held at Beit Hanasi, Israel President’s House, in the afternoon.

Ambassadors and military heads of their mission arrived on the red carpet.

This year 7 Israeli wineries in the Golan were featured.

Cheeses, made from cow, goat, and sheep milk, were beautifully displayed.

The main program is held in the back garden with a new stage this year.

I love the hats that are placed on the table each time.

Michal Herzog looked happy as she came out to greet the guests.

They posed with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and his wife,

over and over again with the various Ambassadors to Israel.

People were smiling as they posed at the afternoon garden party.

Then seated for a program in the back garden,

which included musical interludes.

Eli Cohen mentioned in his remarks that there are 97 countries with representatives in Israel, and expects the number to rise to 100 next year.

The afternoon was another feel-good for Israel 75 celebration.

Besides so many hats and uniforms, wine and cheese, there was specialty ice cream and designer chocolates. After enough sugar and wine, I decided to go home and skip the Israel Prize, the other national program at the end of the day for Yom Haatzmaut. Time to review all the family photos of a day filled with hikes and BBQs. The smell of meat grilling filled the Jerusalem streets from thousands of Israeli Independence Day mangals.

At the national events, signs of protests were put away and Israel at 75 celebrations in Jerusalem went on in grand style.

Time for you to start planning next year in Jerusalem for 76!