Israel’s Fallen Honored in Yom Hazikaron Ceremony
JEWISH TIME PODCAST JEWISH TIME PODCAST SUBSCRIBE TODAY SUBSCRIBE TODAY
search
home page
Local NewsCommunity

Israel’s Fallen Honored in Yom Hazikaron Ceremony

As a siren sounded, hundreds gathered in the sanctuary at AA Synagogue, standing silent in memory of Israel’s war dead and civilian victims of terror attacks.

By Dave Schechter May 15, 2019, 10:39 am Edit

Dave Schechter is a veteran journalist whose career includes writing and producing reports from Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East.

  • Memorial candles arranged to spell the Hebrew word Yizkor, to remember, outside the sanctuary at Ahavath Achim.
    Memorial candles arranged to spell the Hebrew word Yizkor, to remember, outside the sanctuary at Ahavath Achim.
  • Students from The Weber School sing the song “Peace” during the annual community Yom Hazikaron commemoration.
    Students from The Weber School sing the song “Peace” during the annual community Yom Hazikaron commemoration.
  • Israel Scouts carry Israeli flags into the sanctuary at Ahavath Achim.
    Israel Scouts carry Israeli flags into the sanctuary at Ahavath Achim.
  • The singing of the Israeli national anthem “Hatikvah” concluded the annual community Yom Hazikaron ceremony.
    The singing of the Israeli national anthem “Hatikvah” concluded the annual community Yom Hazikaron ceremony.

As a siren sounded, several hundred men, women and children gathered in the sanctuary at the Ahavath Achim Synagogue, standing silent in memory of Israel’s war dead and civilian victims of terror attacks.

The vast majority of those gathered May 7 to observe Yom Hazikaron (Day of Remembrance) were from Atlanta’s Israeli community.

On the eve of the commemoration, Israel’s Defense Ministry listed 23,741 casualties of war and the National Insurance Institute of Israel reported 3,146 civilian victims of terrorism, counted since 1860, when Jewish settlers began establishing neighborhoods outside the Old City of Jerusalem, according to The Times of Israel.

“We bow our heads in eternal gratitude” for the sacrifice of those lives lost, Ambassador Judith Varnai Shorer, Israel’s Consul General for the Southeastern U.S., said in English at the ceremony sponsored by the Israeli consulate. A video by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also in English, was shown. And family members of fallen soldiers recited prayers.

Students from The Davis Academy, Atlanta Jewish Academy, The Epstein School and The Weber School participated in the event, along with rabbis and representatives of Jewish communal organizations.
Also taking part were members of the Israel Scouts, including in the procession of Israeli flags throughout the sanctuary that preceded the singing of the Israeli national anthem “Hatikah” at the close of the event.

read more:
comments