Yom HaZikaron – Israeli Memorial Day
Packages
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Yom HaZikaron
It’s not easy to move straight from Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) into the festive, joyous Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Independence Day).
Yom HaZikaron – Masa Resource Packets
Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s remembrance day, is a national day of grief and mourning. Masa invites you to tune into this
Content Units - Masa Original Content
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Yom HaZikaron Educational Activities (English, Hebrew, Spanish, Russian)
**Masa Original Content** Designed for Masa participants, this thorough Yom HaZikaron educational program (in English, Hebrew, Spanish and Russian) provides
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Informative Articles & Videos
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Yom Hazikaron: “Families Have Been Notified”
Produced by Substantial Truth FilmMakers in honor of Yom Hazikaron, this sobering video (03:46) is a cinematic illustration of an IDF casualty
When the Siren Sounds on Mount Herzl
This blog post describes the unique experience of commemorating Yom Hazikaron at the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem. Shira Pasternak
Michael Levin: Fallen Soldier of Israel
This video (06:23) tells the inspiring and tragic story of Michael Levin, an American lone soldier who fell in the
That Moment When Mourning Becomes Celebration
In this touching blog post, Rabbi Ari Abramowitz describes the powerful transition between Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut, explaining that
With All Your Soul: Roi Klein’s Extraordinary Act of Self Sacrifice
In Hebrew with English subtitles, this moving video (03:30) tells the extraordinary story of Roi Klein, an Israeli soldier and
The Last Words of Fallen Soldiers
Produced by the IDF in honor of Yom Hazikaron in 2016, this heartbreaking video (01:03) reveals the last words of
IDF Remembers Fallen Soldier Dan Talasnikov
Produced by the IDF in 2012 in honor of Yom Hazikaron, this video (05:08) tells the tragic story of Dan
Yom Hazikaron & Yom Haatzmaut: Remembering That We Are Not Truly Independent
In this thought-provoking video (03:00), Dr. Rachael Turkienicz reflects on the importance symbolism of commemorating Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut back-to-back,
The Nine Days of ‘We’: Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron & Yom Ha’atzmaut
In this thought-provoking video (04:42), Avram Infeld suggests a unique way of understanding the process the nation goes through between
How Israeli Veterans Transition from Yom Hazikaron & Yom Ha’atzmaut
In this i24NEWS Memorial Day special (13:24), two Israeli combat veterans – an Israeli-Arab who served in the Second Lebanon
Holocaust Survivor Remembers Fallen Survivor-Soldiers
In this moving video from Yad Vashem (02:18), Holocaust survivor Yehuda Szternfeld briefly tells his own story and introduces the initiative
The Last Descendants: The Stories of Mordechai David Gantz & Shalom Tepper
This page on the IDF website introduces the concept of “The Last Descendants” – survivors who immigrated to Palestine alone
A Twice Bereaved Mother Discusses the Purpose of Yom Hazikaron
In this moving video (06:03), educator and inspirational speaker Miriam Peretz tells the story of how she continued to live
The Story of Esther Dreisinger Koifman (1923-1948)
This page tells the story of Esther Dreisinger Koifman (1923-1948), a Polish Holocaust survivor who lost who entire family in
The 35 Heroes of Gush Etzion (Video & Teachers’ Guide)
This post provides excellent educational resources about the 35 soldiers who were killed during the War of Independence trying to
A Message from the URJ for Yom Hazikaron & Yom Ha’atzmaut
In this short video, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the President of the Union for Reform Judaism, encourages viewers to commemorate, connect
The Impossible Transition Between Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut
In this 6:20 long video, Daniel Gordis describes the challenge and meaning behind the transition between the deep grief of Yom
In Search of a Poetic Ritual for Yom HaZikaron/Ha’Atzmaut
In this blog post, Rabbi Ela Merom asks complex questions about how we use communal memory as we move through
What is Yom Ha’atzmaut and How is it Celebrated?
This 3 and a half minute long video provides a thorough introduction to Yom Ha’Atzmaut, focusing on the various religious and
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Customs
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Yizkor: The Memorial Prayer in Honor of Yom HaZikaron
This post presents the Hebrew, English and transliterated text of the special Yizkor Memorial Prayer recited on Yom Hazikaron in
A Reconstructionist Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel
This post presents the Hebrew, English and transliterated texts for the Prayer for the State of Israel from the Reconstructionist Kol
An Amended Prayer for IDF Soldiers
This post presents the English and Hebrew texts for a new version of the prayer for the soldiers of the Israel
The Traditional Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel
This post presents the English and Hebrew texts for the traditional Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel,
The Traditional Prayer for IDF Soldiers
This post presents the English and Hebrew texts for the traditional prayer for the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces,
Prayer for the Peace of Israel During Wartime
This prayer for the peace of Israel during wartime was written by the late Rabbi Ron Aigen for T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call
A Prayer for Peace and Reconciliation for Israelis, Palestinians, and all People
This prayer for peace and reconciliation for Israelis, Palestinians, and all people was written by Rabbi Sam Feinsmith for T’ruah: The Rabbinic
Beit Tefilah Israeli’s Transitional Ceremony between Yom Ha’Zikaron & Yom Ha’Atzmaut
This link opens up a PDF file of Havdalah: A Transitional Ceremony between Yom Ha’Zikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut, a Hebrew and
The Masorti Movement’s Transitional Ceremony between Yom Ha’Zikaron & Yom Ha’Atzmaut
This link opens up a PDF file of Twilight: Moving from Memorial to Independence, a ceremony written by the Masorti Foundation
WUJS’s Thought Provoking Yom Ha’atzmaut Activities for Students
This link will take you to Yom Ha’atzmaut Activities, a site with several thought provoking activities that encourage students in the Diaspora to
Traditional Practices - Learn How
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Remembrance & Renewal: Yom Ha’atzmaut Activities for Children
This post presents a series of fun and educational games and activities about the history and significance of the State
HaTikvah: The National Anthem of the State of Israel
This video presents Israel’s national anthem, HaTikvah (The Hope), with on-screen Hebrew, English and transliterated subtitles. Adapted from a poem
WUJS’s Thought Provoking Yom Ha’atzmaut Activities for Students
This link will take you to Yom Ha’atzmaut Activities, a site with several thought provoking activities that encourage students in the Diaspora to
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Music
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20 000 Brothers: A Tribute Song to Sean Carmeli
In Hebrew with English subtitles, this powerful song was written by Ariel Horowitz as a tribute to First Sgt. Nissim Sean
Yaffa Yarkoni: Bab el Wad
Written by Haim Gouri, composed by Shmuel Farshko and performed by Yaffa Yarkoni, this moving song commemorates the battles of
The Nachal Band: Song of Friendship
Written by Haim Gouri at the end of the War of Independence and most famously sung by The Nachal Band,
Yaffa Yarkoni: In the Plains of the Negev
Originally written in Russian by P. Mamaychuk in 1943 with music by L. Shokhin, this song was translated to a Hebrew
Gad Elbaz: The Prayer for the IDF
This video presents popular Israeli artist Gad Elbaz’s musical rendition of the prayer for the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, which
Kobi Oz: Prayer for the State of Israel
This video presents Israeli musician Kobi Oz’s original version for the Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel.
The Pendulum: Between Yom Hazikaron & Yom Ha’atzmaut
This somber song by Kaila Shabat touches on the challenge of moving from the intense grief of Yom Hazikaron to
The Traditional Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel
This post presents the English and Hebrew texts for the traditional Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel,
The Traditional Prayer for IDF Soldiers
This post presents the English and Hebrew texts for the traditional prayer for the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces,
With What Shall I Bless Him?
Written by Rachel Shapira in memory of her classmate Eldad Krock, a young reservist killed in the in the Six
Natan Alterman: Elifelet
Performed here by the IDF for Memorial Day, this song, written as a poem by Natan Alterman in 1959 and
Natan Alterman / Yehoram Gaon: The Silver Platter
This haunting song conveys the great sacrifices upon which the State of Israel was establishment. Soon after the release of
HaTikvah: The National Anthem of the State of Israel
This video presents Israel’s national anthem, HaTikvah (The Hope), with on-screen Hebrew, English and transliterated subtitles. Adapted from a poem
What else?
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With What Shall I Bless Him?
Written by Rachel Shapira in memory of her classmate Eldad Krock, a young reservist killed in the in the Six
Natan Alterman: Elifelet
Performed here by the IDF for Memorial Day, this song, written as a poem by Natan Alterman in 1959 and
Natan Alterman / Yehoram Gaon: The Silver Platter
This haunting song conveys the great sacrifices upon which the State of Israel was establishment. Soon after the release of
Address by Israeli President Ezer Weizman in Germany
This post presents the full text of President Ezer Weizman’s famous speech in a joint session for the two chambers
Prayer for the Peace of Israel During Wartime
This prayer for the peace of Israel during wartime was written by the late Rabbi Ron Aigen for T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call
A Prayer for Peace and Reconciliation for Israelis, Palestinians, and all People
This prayer for peace and reconciliation for Israelis, Palestinians, and all people was written by Rabbi Sam Feinsmith for T’ruah: The Rabbinic
Beit Tefilah Israeli’s Transitional Ceremony between Yom Ha’Zikaron & Yom Ha’Atzmaut
This link opens up a PDF file of Havdalah: A Transitional Ceremony between Yom Ha’Zikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut, a Hebrew and
The Masorti Movement’s Transitional Ceremony between Yom Ha’Zikaron & Yom Ha’Atzmaut
This link opens up a PDF file of Twilight: Moving from Memorial to Independence, a ceremony written by the Masorti Foundation
Remembrance & Renewal: Yom Ha’atzmaut Activities for Children
This post presents a series of fun and educational games and activities about the history and significance of the State
The 35 Heroes of Gush Etzion (Video & Teachers’ Guide)
This post provides excellent educational resources about the 35 soldiers who were killed during the War of Independence trying to