This year, Yom Hazikaron is even more powerful and challenging than usual. Every year, the heroes who lost their lives in defense of Medinat Yisrael are mourned and memorialized, but this year takes on special significance as Israel is in the midst of Milchemet Charavot Barzel. WTA’s eighth grade has been preparing a special tekes for weeks, with a focus on soldiers who have fallen in this war and have a personal connection to the WTA community, in addition, of course, to the chatufim—the hostages—for whom all pray for a safe return home. On Monday evening, the tekes was performed for the entire community at Young Israel of New Rochelle, leading into the YINR celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut.