Yom Hazikaron: 23,447 z”l
Israel Independence Day, YOM HA’ATZMAUT, will begin BH tonight. It celebrates the anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 (5708), 67 years ago.
Today, one day before the great celebration, we commemorate YOM HAZIKARON, a day devoted to honor the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the establishment of the State of Israel and its continued existence.
They are Israel’s heroes. “The silver platter” on which the State of Israel was given to us. As Rabbi Melamed says: These soldiers, most of them very young men, sacrificed all for having our land, where we will fulfill our biggest dream, that all of AM ISRAEL will be back in its land, serving HaShem. The state we have, is becuase of them. The children raised in Israel, is for their merit. The Tora studied in Israel, for their merit. We should be inspired by their devotion sacrifice, and dedicate our lifes to sanctify God’s name (leqaddesh shem shamayim).
Today in Israel tens of thousands of people attend the local cemeteries to mourn their children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, spouses and friends. We honor 23.320 soldiers and victims of terror, who fell on the wars of Israel, from the Independence war in 1948 until today.
In the morning, at 11.00 am, a siren sounds across the country. Everyone and everything stops for two minutes: people, cars, businesses, public transportation, etc. honoring the memory of the fallen heroes. Many Israelis would spend the day at home watching on the Israeli National TV the short clips prepared especially for the occasion, in which they show the lives, the bravery and the heroism, particularly of the soldiers and victims of terror who were murdered this year.
Please, light a candle in their memory.
May HaShem treasure the souls of the fallen soldiers in Gan Eden.
May HaShem protect our soldiers and shield them from the hands of our enemies.
May HaShem bring everlasting peace to Medinat Israel. AMEN

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Today is the 5th day of Iyar, 5771/20 days of Omer (2 weeks, 6 days)
The total number of soldiers and security personnel who fell since the War of Independence is 20,424.
The total, including those who fell in the struggle for the State before 1948 is 22,867.
This number includes disabled IDF veterans who later died from their wounds and non-IDF personnel who fell in the line of duty.
183 soldiers were killed since last Yom Hazikaron – 5771.
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.
Names and faces, of some of the young Israeli soldiers that fell in the last war in Lebanon, z”l http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2XkzTPhQvo&feature=related
SHIR LAMAALOT, images of operation cast lead in Gaza Strip (2008-2009) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aR_ux9Z90A&feature=related
See our program here: http://www.kanissanews.com/yomhaatzmaut63.pdf
A VERY SPECIAL HATIKVA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syUSmEbGLs4&feature=related
Rabbi Yosef Bitton. YMJC | 130 Steamboat Rd. | Great Neck | NY | 11024
Today is the 2nd day of Iyar, 5771/ 17 days of Omer (2 weeks, 3 days)
This coming Sunday night we will commemorate Yom haZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day. The day in which the citizens of Israel and the Jews all over the world remember the fallen soldiers, those who sacrificed their lives so we can have a Jewish State: Medinat Israel.
The day is dedicated to honor the memories of more than 22,000 young soldiers who died since the Independence war in 1948 until today. They were our heroes, and as Nathan Alterman called them: “The silver platter on which the State of Israel was given to us”
Read his beautiful poem here: http://zionism-israel.com/hdoc/Silver_Platter.htm
In Israel, thousands of people, attend cemeteries to mourn their children, grandchildren, parents, and grandparents who fell on the wars. Har Hertzl, in Yerushalaim, the most important military cemetery, is where most of the official ceremonies take place.
Most Israelis would spend the rest of the day at home watching on Israeli TV the short movies prepared especially for the occasion in which they show the lives, the bravery and heroism of the fallen soldiers, especially those who perished this year. We present here one short movie about Roi Klein, z’l. http://www.aish.com/h/imd/Heroes_of_Israel_Roi_Klein.html
Yom haZikaron ends Monday evening, and that same night we start the celebrations of Yom haAtzmaut, Israel independence day. To me it has always been an emotionally impossible transition: from the deepest pain to the highest happiness. But I think that this transition captures the essence of our times: honoring our fallen soldiers with sadness and respect, but honoring them, mainly, celebrating the triumph of their ultimate cause.
Shabbat Shalom!!!!
Candle lighting in NYC: 7:37 PM
DON’T MISS the commemoration of Yom haZikaron in our community.
This Sunday night, May 8th, at 7:30 PM in YMJC (130 Steamboat Road).
We will have a VERY SPECIAL and famous guest Speaker:
Dr. Mordechai Kedar.
Watch Mordechai Kedar’s famous remarks in Aljazeera TV, a very rare interview (the
only one I know so far!) Aljazeera had with a Pro-Israel Israeli scholar.
Watch what happens when someone with bravery and enough knowledge about Koran, Islam
and our rights to Israel, FINALLY says the truth!!!
Enjoy this amazing video!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHpMhAzj-Tk
Rabbi Yosef Bitton. YMJC | 130 Steamboat Rd. | Great Neck | NY | 11024