The World Zionist Organization Center: Happy Birthday Israel

Yom HaZikaron is Israel’s officially memorial day. It is a day set aside for remembering Israel’s fallen soldiers and civilian victims of terror. Yom HaZikaron is observed annually on the 4th of Iyyar, the day preceding Israel’s Independence Day.
In Israel, Yom HaZikaron begins with a siren that sounds at 8:00 PM. It is heard throughout the country, and at this time, all activity stops, and Israelis stand in silence to commemorate the fallen soldiers. The opening ceremony of Yom HaZikaron is held at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where the Israeli flag is lowered to half mast in honor of the dead. The following morning, another siren is heard at 11:00 AM, which lasts for two minutes. Again, the entire country stands silently at this time, remembering the soldiers who gave their lives for the State of Israel. Throughout the day, memorial ceremonies take place at military cemeteries across the country, and many Israelis visit the graves of their loved ones. Yom HaZikaron ends in the evening, when Yom HaAtzmaut celebrations begin at the national military cemetery on Mount Herzl.
The decision to schedule Yom HaZikaron, Memorial Day, the day before Yom HaAtzmaut, Independence Day, came out of the desire to remind people of the price paid for independence and the continued existence of the State of Israel. The Center for Diaspora Communications and Countering Antisemitism of the World Zionist Organization recognizes Yom HaZikaron as being representative of the sacrifices made by soldiers prior to the establishment of the State of Israel and up through the modern day, so as to ensure the continued safety of the Jewish people and existence of the Jewish State.
On this page, you will find information about Yom HaZikaron, as well as activities and campaigns related to the day.

SOURCE: http://izionist.org/eng/
MORE INFORMATION AND EVENTS: http://izionist.org/eng/zionist-federation-of-the-uk-celebrates-yom-haaztmaut/ / http://izionist.org/eng/global-moment-of-silence/

GOD BLESSES ISRAEL TODAY AND FOREVER!
SHALOM!