Memorial Day (yom hazikaron) יום הזיכרון

Established unofficially with the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, and enacted into law in 1963, the day preceding Yom Ha3atsma'ut (Israeli Independence Day) is observed as a Memorial Day for soldiers who lost their lives in battle and while otherwise defending Israel.

Celebrated on the fourth of Iyar every year, Yom Hazikaron is one of four new holidays that were added to the Jewish national calendar since the creation of Israel. The other three are: Yom HaSho'ah (Holocaust Heroes and Martyrs' Day),Yom Ha3atsma'ut (Independence Day), and Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day).
Perhaps because much of the Israeli population has relatives or close friends who have died defending Israel, Yom HaZikaron is widely observed throughout all sectors of Israel, with the exception of most Arabs (Druze and Beduin, many of whom have served in the Israeli military, being a notable exception). Throughout the entire day (beginning at sunset the night before) places of entertainment are closed by law and shops, restaurants, movie theaters are shut down by tradition. The radio and television stations play programs about Israel's wars and show programming that convey the somber mood of the day.

In tune with the Jewish tradition of recognizing joy in times of sadness and sadness in times of joy, Yom HaZikaron's somber end heralds the beginning of the joyous and festive Yom Ha3atsma'ut, Independence Day.

126 fallen IDF soldiers and Israeli terror victims in the past year (compared to 183 during the year before)

10,524 bereaved families who have lost 22,993 loved ones, including 2,396 orphans and 4,992 widows

22,993 fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism killed since 1860

יִזְכֹּר

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יִזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת בָּנָיו וּבְנוֹתָיו, הַנֶּאֱמָנִים וְהָאַמִּיצִים, חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכָל לוֹחֲמֵי הַמַּחְתָּרוֹת וַחֲטִיבוֹת הַלּוֹחֲמִים בְּמַעַרְכוֹת הָעָם, וְאַנְשֵׁי קְהִילוֹת הַמּוֹדִיעִין, ְהַבִּטָּחוֹן וְהַמִּשְׁטָרָה אֲשֶׁר חֵרְפוּ נַפְשָׁם בַּמִלְחָמָה עַל תְּקוּמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכָל אֵלֶּה שֶׁנִּרְצְחוּ בָּאָרֶץ וּמִחוּצָה לָהּ בִּידֵי מְרַצְּחִים מֵאִרְגּוּנֵי הַטֵּרוֹר. יִזְכֹּר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִתְבָּרַך בְּזַרְעוֹ וְיֶאֱבַל עַל זִיו הָעֲלוּמִים וְחֶמְדַת הַגְּבוּרָה וּקְדֻשַׁת הָרָצוֹן וּמְסִירוּת הַנֶּפֶשׁ של הניספים בַּמַּעֲרָכָה הַכְּבֵדָה. יִהְיוּ חללי מִעַרְכוֹת יִשְֹרָאֵל עֲטוּרֵי הַנִּצָּחוֹן חֲתוּמִים בְּלֵב יִשְֹרָאֵל לְדוֹר דּוֹר