​Israel's Yom HaZikaron - Memorial Day - began the evening of April 29 with the sounding of a siren at 8 PM Israel time and a solemn ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The siren marks the start of a somber day of remembrance in honor of soldiers who died in defense of the Jewish State and civilians murdered by terrorists since the rebirth of Israel in 1948. A second siren will sound across the country Wednesday morning, April 30, and flags will be at half-mast until the end of the day.

Every year, Yom HaZikaron is a sobering reminder of the cost of having a Jewish state. All those who have lost their lives - soldiers and civilian alike - were murdered solely because they were Jews who wanted to live in peace in their ancient homeland. 

From 1948 until 2025, the total number of men and women killed in defense of the reestablished Jewish State exceeds 25,000. This number continues to rise as the IDF maintains its campaign against terrorists in Gaza to secure the release of 59 remaining hostages and destroy the jihadists' ability to ever again be able to attack Israel like they did on October 7, 2023.

The number of deaths of Israeli defense personnel is high by any standard, but it is extreme relative to the total population of Israel. It is also jarring because every Israeli citizen has been personally impacted in some way by one or more of these deaths.

This past Sunday, as Yom HaZikaron approached, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Israeli Ministry of Defense Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram met with bereaved families at the National Memorial Hall for Israel's Fallen.

 

Defense Minister Katz remarked: "As we remember the immense sacrifice and deep devotion of our finest sons and daughters, the fallen heroes of Israel's defense forces throughout generations, the IDF and security forces continue to fulfill the sacred mission for which they fought and fell: defending against our enemies. With profound gratitude and immense pride, we bow our heads in respect for the fallen, embrace their families in our hearts, and persist in our mission to ensure Israel's existence for generations to come. Together we shall act and prevail."

​

The solemn observance of Memorial Day ends Wednesday evening and the celebration of Yom HaAtzma'ut - Independence Day - begins immediately. Israelis go from mourning on Yom HaZikaron to celebrating the existence of Israel in just one day. The transition from Memorial Day to Independence Day is marked by the traditional torchlighting ceremony on Har HaZikaron - Mount Herzl - the site of Israel's national cemetery. The lighting of torches in this location symbolizes the connection between the sacrifice of the fallen and the freedom of the country. Indeed, there could be no celebration of Independence Day without those who have given their lives in defense of the Jewish State.

Yom HaAtzma'ut is traditionally a day of festivities, during which the entire country celebrates the rebirth of the Jewish State in 1948. However, since the war with Hamas is still ongoing, this year's observance will be subdued, just as it was last year. Many Israelis are still in the process of recovering and rebuilding their lives after the atrocities and loss of October 7, 2023. In addition, the entire country feels the unimaginable pain of having 59 hostages still held captive in Gaza, up to 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

For last year's Independence Day - the first after the horrendous invasion of Israel on October 7th - leading rabbis called on the Israeli public to celebrate the holiday to send a clear message to Israel's enemies who - among other things - wanted to stop the Jewish people from rejoicing. Remember, the terrorist attack on October 7th was carried out on Simchat Torah - the holiday on which the Jewish people celebrate God's gift of the Torah. The horrible events of October 7th were an intentional attack on the people's joy.

Therefore, in agreement with the rabbis, as an act of resistance to terrorists who chose a holiday of joy to commit horrific atrocities, and in complete support of Israel's actions to defend itself against all those who intend to annihilate it, CAMERA's Partnership of Christians and Jews joins with Israel in celebrating the 77th anniversary of the rebirth of the Jewish State!

​

Am Yisrael Chai! The people of Israel live!
Happy 77th Independence Day!!

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

The Partnership's Most Recent Interview Now Available!
 

CAMERA's Partnership recently had the honor of interviewing Lord Andrew Roberts, an English historian, journalist and member of the British House of Lords. He is the chairperson of a multi-party group of Parliamentarians, commissioned by the UK-Israel All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to produce the recently released 7 October Parliamentary Commission Report, also known as The Roberts Report. 

The 318-page report meticulously documents Hamas' October 7, 2023, assault on Israel by providing an essential and indisputable record of facts on the ground, eyewitness testimony, forensic evidence, and the identity and age of every one of the victims. Just as importantly, it addresses rampant conspiracy theories and ongoing denial of what actually happened, all of which surged within hours of the brutal attack.

As he expressed his deep appreciation to the British Parliamentarians who produced the report, Israel's President Isaac Herzog commented that it, “reflects on how the attack was premeditated, and designed to kill and kidnap, rape and mutilate, murder and maim as many innocent people as possible.” 

​

You can read the entire 7 October Parliamentary Commission Report here and watch the Partnership's interview with Lord Andrew Roberts on the Partnership's video page.