Typically observed in April, Yom HaZikaron will be observed from April 24 to April 25 this year. It is an Israeli memorial day commemorating the martyrs of the Israeli War of Independence. Yom HaZikaron is succeeded by the Israeli Independence Day celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut. The message conveyed by Yom HaZikaron is that Israel attributes its independence to the soldiers who gave their lives for its existence. This day commemorates the Israeli independence war martyrs.
The background of National Tile Day
On Israel’s Independence Day, the sacrifices and services of the combatants in Israel’s War of Independence were initially recognised in 1949. Nonetheless, it was emotionally perplexing, as observers did not know whether to mourn the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom or to commemorate its liberation. The relatives of the martyrs ultimately proposed establishing a separate national day of mourning.
The background of Yom HaZikaron
In 1951, David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s defence minister at the time, declared that the General Memorial Day for the Heroes of the War of Independence (Yom HaZikaron) will be observed annually on the fourth of Iyar. In 1980, it was renamed Memorial Day for the Fallen of Israel’s Wars Law. Prior to that, it was renamed Heroes’ Remembrance Day in 1963, and then Heroes’ Remembrance Day in 1974.
After these modifications, this memorial day included not only the martyrs of the War of Independence, but also all the fallen soldiers in pre-state conflicts and every person who sacrificed his or her life, including police officers, Mossad agents, victims of terrorism, etc. Memorial Day festivities begin at sunset the evening before and continue throughout the day.
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5 FACTS CONCERNING YOM HAZIKARON
4,000 military officers and 2,400 civilians perished during the American Revolution.
In 1973, Israel lost 2,569 soldiers in the Arab-Israeli War.
The suicide attack on the Bus 405 resulted in 16 fatalities.
In 2004, bombings in Sinai claimed the lives of 34 individuals.
The most recent assault occurred in 2016, and fortunately no lives were lost; however, twenty individuals were injured.
YOM HAZIKARON DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | May 4 | Wednesday |
| 2023 | April 24 | Monday |
| 2024 | May 12 | Sunday |
| 2025 | April 29 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | April 20 | Monday |
