(Courtesy of Honor Israel’s Fallen) With the joy of independence comes the reminder of sacrifice and loss as Israel prepares to celebrate 73 years since the establishment of the Jewish state.
Yom Hazikaron, which falls this year from sundown on Tuesday, April 13, to Wednesday, April 14, is Israel’s Memorial Day for its fallen soldiers. It is a solemn time usually marked by large communal ceremonies, not only in Israel, but in Jewish communities across the globe. It’s a time when families and friends of the bereaved come together to pay tribute to the 23,921 fallen soldiers and security forces who gave their lives for the creation and protection of a Jewish state.
Yizkereim: Honor Israel’s Fallen is an online platform created by The Afikim Foundation and global Jewish outreach organization Olami, as an opportunity for the global community to help keep alive the memories of those who gave their lives defending the Jewish homeland. This year, it’s even more poignant as the world is still faced with travel bans due to COVID-19 and in-person visits to military cemeteries are limited.
The honorisraelsfallen.com interactive website allows visitors to learn about the life of each of the fallen and honor that person by choosing a positive action to perform in their memory.
These positive actions—kindness, learning, prayer and charity (tzedakah)—recorded on the website will provide a meaningful way for individuals, families and communities to honor these fallen heroes.
In addition, many of the bereaved families have asked to be notified when these deeds are performed and to connect with those who have honored their loved ones. This is a rare opportunity to connect with Israel and its citizens from afar.
“This is an incredible opportunity for us to show our unity with Israel and give great comfort to thousands of bereaved—knowing that their loved one’s memory is being kept alive. In the past four years, Honor Israel’s Fallen has had over 40,000 positive actions performed and recorded on the site,” said Rabbi Raphael Butler, president of The Afikim Foundation.
The campaign is a project of Olami, in partnership with The Afikim Foundation, Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Yad Labanim and the organization for the IDF’s Widows and Orphans.
To join the campaign this Yom Hazikaron and perform a positive action in memory of one of the 23,921 soldiers and security forces who sacrificed their lives defending the state of Israel, visit https://honorisraelsfallen.com/. For more information, email [email protected].
Choose a positive action in memory of one of Israel’s fallen.
