An Insider’s Look at an Israel Memorial Day Ceremony

Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day) is one big national party in Israel. However each year, the previous day is commemorated as Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers (Yom HaZikaron). It helps us remember the terrible sacrifice we had to pay, and continue to pay to live in our small country.

A few years ago we attended a Yom HaZikaron ceremony at the military cemetery in Kibbutz Degania with graves dating back to 1902. Degania is one of the oldest settlements in Israel, right by the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) and just down the road from our village. It’s also where we produce our Galilee Green Olive Oil.

Wooded benches and plastic stools were set out under a canopy of expansive branches from trees so wide you’d need three people holding hands to circle their trunks. The Memorial Kaddish Prayer was said and the military rabbi from the area spoke about the soldiers partnering with God to protect Israel. Our son’s army unit was part of the ceremonies. Along with 13 other soldiers he fired his gun in the air in salute.

It was a relatively small affair and almost all the attendees were parents, siblings or children of soldiers who died serving their country.

Here’s an intimate look at a part of Israeli culture that the average tourist never gets to see…