For anyone looking for a meaningful way to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut and commemorate Yom Hazikaron this year, and prepare for Israel’s 70th anniversary, here’s an idea: This year, people around the globe will be performing mitzvot, good deeds, to honor Israel’s fallen soldiers and service people. People who choose to participate in the project will look through fallen heros from Yizkereim: Honor Israel’s Fallen’s database (www.HonorIsraelsFallen.com), read their bios, and choose which hero speaks to them the most, and which mitzvah they feel is most appropriate. Then they’ll record or take photos of themselves performing the mitzvah, upload it to social media and tag friends, inviting them to participate as well. They’ll also post which mitzvah they did for which soldier on Yizkereim: Honor Israel’s Fallen’s website so that families of the fallen can see the deeds performed on behalf of their loved ones. A virtual candle will be displayed on each hero’s page for every action pledged, and a digital file of all actions will be kept at Mount Herzl, the site of Israel’s national cemetery and other memorial and educational facilities.

Yizkereim: Honor Israel’s Fallen is a project of Olami in partnership with The Afikim Foundation and Israel’s Ministry of the Diaspora. The goal of the project is to remember Israel’s fallen soldiers and security forces while we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel, without whom we would not be privileged to celebrate. Yizkereim: Honor Israel’s Fallen enables us to meaningfully pay tribute to each one of these fallen heroes. Olami is a global community of organizations committed to inspiring young adults to achieve their Jewish greatness through Jewish learning and practice. Their partnering programs fuse both informal and formal Jewish education modules to create an engaging, inspiring and motivating environment for further Jewish engagement. Olami member organizations offer a wide range of opportunities for student transformation and identification through text study, experiential engagement and educational trips to Israel.

23,632 people have perished defending and protecting the State of Israel to date, and the responsibility of remembering and carrying on their memories falls on the living. David Markowitz, COO of Olami, said, “Honoring the fallen soldiers and security-force men and women of Israel connects Jews all around the world to Israel in a personal and powerful way. Reading each of the stories, learning about their lives and making the commitment to honor them creates a bond and an appreciation to real people with families. We are honored to bring this campaign to the global Jewish community and to foster a new level of appreciation for Israel’s fallen.”