Today is Yom HaZikiron which is the day on which we honor Israel’s fallen heroes.
Rabbi Lazer Brody has a good post which opens with:
Today is Israel’s Memorial Day; for some, it’s theoretical. For many of us, it’s a day of opening up old wounds and 24 hours of tears in the eyes.
Please read the whole thing to also honor those who have survived but constantly are giving up their lives through their suffering with PTSD – Post Trauma Stress Disorder.
Aish has a true story for Israel Remembrance Day called The Rabbi and the Professor.
The OU Web Site provides the following information about Yom HaZikiron:
Israel Independence Day celebrates the anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. The day preceding this celebration is devoted to the memory of those who gave their lives for the achievement of the country’s independence and its continued existence.
The total number of soldiers and security personnel who fell since the War of Independence is 20,368.
The total including those who fell in the struggle for the state before 1948 is 21,954.
(This number includes disabled IDF veterans who later died from their wounds and non-IDF personnel who fell in the line of duty)
169 soldiers fell since last Yom Hazikaron – 5764.On This Day, We Honor The Memory of the Young Men & Women Who Gave Their Lives For The Creation And Security of The Jewish State.
With their death they commanded us life!
The placing of Yom Hazikaron on the day before Yom Ha’atzmaut intentionally sends a very powerful message – it is only because of the sacrifice of those we honour today that we can celebrate Israel independence day. Without them, the State would not be able to exist.
Yehi Zichram Baruch!
I have just reviewed my pics from a trip to the Golan Heights and Har Bental overlooking the Valley of Tears (the locale of the bloodiest battle of the Yom Kipur War). Har Bental also offers a view of the Hermon which Rabbi Brody mentioned in his piece.
These soldiers are true heroes, may their collective memory be for a blessing and may Hashem grant a complete refuah to the survivng soldiers from all of their physical and mental ailments.