TABC marked Yom Hazikaron with a moving program. Rabbi Adler began by poignantly contrasting Yom Hazikaron with Yom Hashoah and then discussing the transition from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha’atzmaut. The talmidim then heard from Evyatar Alush from Israel via Skype. Mr. Alush lost his father in a terrorist attack when he was six and he described the trauma that the families of terrorist victims have to live with for the rest of their lives. He praised the Koby Mandell Foundation for providing an opportunity for him, and people like him, to feel normal again.

Shifting emotions from sadness to joy, TABC joined all of the religious Zionist community in celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut. The day began with the entire yeshiva joining together in the singing of Hallel during Shacharit. Throughout the day rebbeim focused their shiurim on topics related to various aspects of Israel. The celebrations culminated in a barbeque; the students played kadur regel (soccer) and kadur aff (volleyball) on the closed off Amsterdam Avenue.