Israel’s Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism — the numbers speak with heartbreaking clarity.
According to the Ministry of Defense, 25,644 soldiers have fallen in Israel’s wars and military operations since 1860. In the past year alone, 170 more names were added to that list, along with 54 disabled veterans who passed away as a result of their injuries and were posthumously recognized as fallen soldiers.
The circle of military bereavement today encompasses 59,583 family members: 8,420 bereaved parents, 4,872 widows, 14,430 orphans, 31,814 bereaved brothers and sisters, 12 bereaved fiancées, and 35 guardians.
As for civilian victims, the National Insurance Institute records 5,313 civilian victims since the founding of the Jewish settlement in 1851, including 4,587 since the establishment of the State—among them, 810 children and young people. Since the massacre of October 7 and the outbreak of the war known as “Swords of Iron,” 1,017 civilians have been killed.
On this Yom HaZikaron, we remember them all — soldiers and civilians, young and old, those who fell decades ago and those who fell last week.
יהי זכרם ברוך.
May their memory be a blessing.
