Ben Porat Yosef welcomed Naftali Gross, a medic and veteran of Operation Protective Edge, and Matan Dansker, squad commander veteran of Operation Protective Edge to present to students and to speak at a jointly-sponsored, community-wide Yom Hazikaron program on Tuesday, April 17th. During the school day, in three different age-appropriate presentations, Naftali and Matan spoke to students in first through eighth grades and painted a picture of an IDF soldier’s dedication to protecting Israel from terror and war and keeping its civilians, and comrades-in-arms safe from harm. Naftali and Matan remembered some of their fallen brethren, took students through a typical day in the life of a chayal in the IDF and explained that while no one celebrates a war or looks forward to fighting, sometimes, these things are necessary to keep Israel safe, strong in the face of enemies, and a state and homeland for the Jewish people. Students listened to a siren to remember those we have lost from terror or while defending Israel from harm, sang Hatikvah and Am Yisrael Chai, and observed a very meaningful Yom Hazikaron.

Over 300 people were in attendance in the evening at the community-wide observance, sponsored in partnership with Yashar La’chayal, Friends of the IDF, Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, One Family Fund and BPY. Middle school students led a moving tekes incorporating spoken word, song and artwork in Ivrit, displaying their understanding of the significance of Yom Hazikaron, while paying tribute to Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror. Featured speakers, Matan Dansker and Naftali Gross spoke to the audience about their experiences serving in the army and defending Israel, often at great personal cost, as they had both lost several friends in battle and to terror attacks. The ceremony was both meaningful and moving for all in attendance.