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Two brothers show their fallen family in the birth of Israel war 1948, the 5^th of Iyar Jewish calendar Israel became a state 

May 8 will start Yom Ha Zikaronn (Yom Ha zee ka rown) is the national remembrance day observed in Israel. This day is for all Israeli military personnel who lost their lives in the struggle that led to the establishment of the State of Israel. It also is for those who have been killed subsequently while on active duty in Israel's armed forces and more recently has been a remembrance of those killed in terrorism, private citizens too. Zikaron means memory in its word root. Yom is the word in Hebrew for day.

We as a family lost two immediate members in our family who fought for the state of Israel. Their names are etched in stone with a 24/7 candle of honor in the military museum not far from Jerusalem, Latrun.

Lighting candles at the graves on Memorial Day 

The day opens with a siren the eve before at 20:00 (8:00 pm), because in Judaism, a new day begins at sunset. A siren is heard throughout the country and lasts for one minute, We Israelis stop everything, including driving on highways, as we stand in silence and honor the fallen to show respect.

By Israeli law, all places of entertainment are closed on the eve of Yom HaZikaron, and broadcasting or Regular television cease for the day, and the names and title rank of every soldier who died for Israel are shown via a local 24-hour television broadcast.

Many of the families will attend the ceremony annually at the gravesite of the fallen.

National memorial services are also held in the presence of Israel's top leadership and our national military personnel.

Memorial candles are lit in homes, every place we live and synagogues. All public places too will light a memorial candle. Flags are flown at half-staff, all this to remember those who died for us to survive as a nation. 

Names of fallen on memorial stones in Jewish cities in Israel 

Religious Jews say prayers for the souls of the fallen soldiers on Yom HaZikaron. In Psalm chapter 9 "For the leader, on the death of the son," is read and Psalm 144, "Blessed be the Lord, My Rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle". The ceremony solemnly takes place at the Kotel, known as the Western Wall. We as believers in Jesus believe that a soul is to be reborn during this life, born of the spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. This new birth can happen upon repenting and believing in the name of Yeshua, Jesus. Yeshua means salvation. He will save his people from their sins.

The day ends at sundown (between 19:00 and 20:00; 7–8 p.m.) in a ceremony at the national military cemetery and then immediately after Independence Day begins.

Memorial Day begins just before Independence Day because it serves to remind our people the great price and sacrifice that was paid for our state Israel to be in Jewish hands again after 2,000 years. The temple mount however is still in gentile (non -Jewish) authority if you don’t know.

Authors note: The state of Israel was born over 3,000 years ago. While biblically gifting the land to Jewish people Israel has paid a price of sorrow and banishment when she sinned in the land. God made it clear in his word that Israel is to be holy for His purposes. On my father’s grave is inscribed a man lay down his life for his country. Yet there is another Jew who laid down his life for this holy land and His name is Yeshua, Jesus in Greek.

Jesus was born a Jew and sacrificed his glory in heaven for this country and all the countries of the world. His word promises the Jewish people for over 2,000 years that Israel would be rebuilt and inhabited by Jews. Decades past by us, centuries passed us too and then millenniums. God delivered his promise in 1948 to bring us back to the land and inhabit it as He promised us in His word. Not only is His word faithful for that promise but this means all His promises to us as those who love and accept Him are also true.

We as the soldiers for the kingdom often sacrifice friends and money and time and even our lives too. We live a dying life daily so we may follow the King of Israel who is to return.

The Lord has a ceremony waiting for us too as we one day will leave this earth. His light will be the candle over us flaming for his gratitude where and how we served well with our breath and life. He gave everything for us so that we may live and we honor Him in return as His hands and feet in serving others with His love. One day His siren or trumpet will blare loudly for us to awake at His coming again. The faithful will go in and banquet with Him, the non-faithful and unbeliever will be left outside eternally.

Let us remember the sacrifice of our Lord for this country too this Memorial Day. Let us remember too we are soldiers in a great battle. The battle does not only rage on the Golan Heights and the borders of Gaza but it rages on to discourage us and weaken us spiritually. Yet Messiah, the Messiah of Israel has defeated our enemy already. We have the victory in Him. This year more soldiers will die and more victims of terror in Israel. We aim to share the hope of the promised Messiah of Israel, the God of Israel to many. When the winds and the battle will rage further we can stand on the rock of ages. We stand on a rock of God’s love for us as the people of Israel here and internationally.

Those who believe in our God and Messiah are considered part of Israel in God’s word. You have inherited the fatness (goodness) of the olive tree and her blessing. Israel is the apple of God’s eye. We are spiritual soldiers and physical too.

 Israel is the olive tree. Let us partake with bold and brave hearts of the Lord, of Israel’s goodness as His children and disciples. Let us remember Israel in our prayers this year faithfully. For He will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse her. It’s one of His warning promises. God does not do things without warning us.

The Jewish memorial box for candles 

The names of the soldiers and victims of terror will be read out loud this week. Their names are written on scrolls. One day our names will be read too, if we may enter His gates or not. Today is the day of salvation. Summer in Israel draws near now. May we be as the heroes of the bible and long for our thirst to be quenched by our God in this dry and thirsty land.

Let us remember this Memorial Day as we mourn over graves as a nation, that we have a Savior. We have one who died and lives and is returning to the land. He offers this hope and we will all rise on judgement day, some to condemnation due to unbelief and others to eternal life with our Lord. May we think on that this memorial day too.