Yom Hazikaron & Yom Ha’atzmaut: April 18-19, 2018
Yom Hazikaron (יום הזיכרון לחללי מערכות ישראל ולנפגעי פעולות האיבה: Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism) will be ushered in with a siren at 20:00 on Tuesday, April 17 and then again on Wednesday morning, April 18 at 11:00 AM. The day remembers the thousands who have given their lives in battle as well as those who were victims of terror. The stories on the radio and TV are moving and the music is slow and full of meaning.
Yom Ha’atzmaut (יום העצמאות: Independence Day) As we move from mourning to joy, the day ends with celebratory fireworks and patriotic music as we usher in Israel’s 70th Independence Day, celebrated on the evening of April 18 and April 19. Air shows, parks filled with barbeques, and enjoying the country are all part of the order of the day.
The traditional “Songs in the Square” event will take place on Tuesday April 17, 2018, starting at 21:00 in Rabin Square, Tel Aviv. The event will be broadcasted on Channel 12.
Tour of Independence Hall: Click here
Yom Hazikaron Tekes in Jerusalem (in English): Click here
Yom Ha’atzmaut T’filla Chagigit in Jerusalem: Click here
Yom Hazikaron Events
- Tel Aviv
The Memorial Day for Israel’s Fallen Soldiers in Tel Aviv will be held in Rabin Square in the best tradition with many speeches and participants from around the country. In addition, there will be a ceremony at the Culture Square on the Habima Plaza, a memorial ceremony at the Neve Tzedek Community Center.
- Jerusalem
The main events of Memorial Day in Jerusalem will take place in many locations in the city. Memorial ceremonies will also take place in neighborhoods around the city from 20:00.
“Singing and Remembering Evening” – will take place at the center of Safra Square at 21:00.
“Memorial Day With Musicians and Personal Stories” ceremony will take place at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, Gerard Behar.
The following day, the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Museum of Underground Prisoners, a ceremony at Safra Square, a ceremony at the Four-Day Observatory, and state ceremonies on Mount Herzl.
- Ramat Gan
On the eve of Memorial Day, a ceremony will be held in honor of the IDF Widows. The ceremony will take place at Rambam Square. From 21:00 there will be an evening of singing and remembering with the Ramat Gan and Ruthi Navon youth ensemble, Sahar Sharab, Eliana Tidhar and Nathan Goshen.
- Petach Tikva
Memorial Day events in Petach Tikva are held at the Segula cemetery in the 1948 section starting at 10:00 AM. At 10:50 AM,
“Remember the Fallen” at the Neve Gan Community Center
Songs of fighters with Uzi Rosenblatt at 11:00 AM at the Ben Hur Center
A military ceremony at the military section of the Kibbutz Segula at 11:00 AM
A ceremony in memory of the Haganah members on Haim Ozer Street in the municipality square.
- Kfar Shmaryahu
On the eve of Memorial Day, an evening of combat songs will be held at the Kfar Shmaryahu Auditorium with the participation of Sassi Keshet starting at 21:15.
- Givatayim
As part of the Memorial Day events in Givatayim, several events will take place, one of which is an evening of songs of fighters with the participation of singer Aviva Avidan.
- Haifa
During the evening there will be a communal ceremony in Kiryat Shmuel, where they will be honoring with a siren, lighting a memorial torch by Miriam Dahan, learning Mishnayos from Rabbi Eli Hakrami, Kaddish, El Maleh Rahamim, and the families of the fallen. The event will take place from 19:45.
Other ceremonies will take place in the Hofit school, the Kiryat Haim elementary school, the new Kiryat Shmuel community center, the Krieger Center, the Haifa Theater, the Gordon School, the Bat Galim monument, the Romema school, the Ben-Nave Shaanan Kindergarten, the boys’ park Neve David and more.
- Rishon LeZion
Memorial Day events in Rishon LeZion will include a ceremony in Ami Park, Kiryat Rishon, Tuesday, April 17 from 21:00.
Participating are: Avraham Tal, Agam Buchbut, Eliad, Gali Atari, Yuval Dayan, Miri Mesika, Moshe Peretz, Amit Farkash, Keren Peles, Shimon Buskila and Yaffa Kobi Meidan.
There is no fee and the ceremony will be broadcast live on Channel 13.
- Holon
The start of the Memorial Day in Holon will take place on April 15 at 19:00 at the Torani Community Center in the city. In the program: study in the library for the souls of fallen soldiers of Israel’s systems, and the personal and fascinating story of Rabbi Nachtz Hertz, the pilot who was captured by the Syrians during the Yom Kippur War.
- Rehovot
On the eve of Remembrance Day in Rehovot, the municipal memorial assembly will take place at the defenders’ garden in the city starting at 19:45. In the presence of Minister of Science Ophir Akunis, Mayor and Chief Rabbi of Rehovot.
- Kfar Saba
The Memorial Day in Kfar Saba will be marked on Wednesday, April 11 at 9:00 AM with a “March and Memorial Ceremony” attended by families of the fallen, residents, schoolchildren and the adopted military unit. The parade left Yad Labanim Plaza, the city’s cultural center for the Memorial Park.
In addition, an “official ceremony” at 11:00 AM in the city’s military cemetery, “A Rally in Memory of Those Murdered in Terrorist acts” will take place near the cemetery on Nordau Street at 13:00.
- Hadera
At 19:45 there will be a memorial ceremony on the eve of Memorial Day — the youth remembers.
- Ramla
On the eve of Memorial Day in Ramle, several ceremonies will take place. The ceremony will include a memorial ceremony at the Etzel monument at the entrance to the city from Tel Aviv, an additional ceremony at the Yad LaBanim memorial at the Ramla Museum, and evening songs of fighters with Leah Shabat and Adir Getz to be guided by Yoav Limor at the Mann Auditorium at 21:00. All other events start at 20:00.
Yom Ha’atzmaut Events
Israel’s 70th anniversary celebrations will begin on April 18 and continue for the next 70 hours.
Street events, the International Bible Quiz, the annual Air Force flight and many other attractions will be taking place throughout Israel.
To find out about the celebrations closest to you, click here.
